Originally published at: ‘Lucky to Have Him’: Why Eric Morris Kept Patrick Cobbs on Staff During North Texas Takeover
FRISCO, Texas — When Eric Morris took over at North Texas, he brought in an entirely new group of assistant coaches with one exception, UNT running backs coach Patrick Cobbs. “I had heard great stuff about him and interviewed him,” Morris said last week at Big 12 Media Days. “Patrick’s the best running backs coach I’ve ever been with, and it’s not even close. His knowledge of the game, I think he’s gonna make a great coordinator someday and then eventually head coach.” Selling Cobbs, a Tecumseh alum who rushed for 4,279 yards back in high school, on returning to work in his home state, was critical in securing the commitment from another in-state star as running back Caleb Hawkins made it clear he wanted to continue being coached by Cobbs. “I fully committed to following coach (Patrick) Cobbs to Stillwater,” Hawkins said. “Because he’s the one that really gave me the chance on playing Division I football, so I feel like I owe my loyalty to him and everything he’s done for me.” Cobbs was the only FBS coach to offer Hawkins, who finished his freshman season with an all-time freshman record for touchdowns scored (29). Of course, Morris…
So how much of this whole thing is “one and done”? Cobbs, Murti, Mestemaker, Hawkins, even Morris himself. And others. What happens if this team blows the roof off and way outpaces even the raised expectations that they have? Who bails? Who stays? How much of a reset happens after this year?