Worried about many things, but Todd Graham to Texas is not one of them

Sep 12, 2013, 4:59 PM | Updated: 5:00 pm

Follow @Burnsy987...

There are plenty of things I worry about: Paying for college, my soon-to-be-driving teenage son, too much debt, too much fried food, too much caffeine and not enough exercise, water and sleep.

I worry about the Cardinals’ offensive line and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen.

You know what I don’t worry about? Todd Graham taking over the Texas job. Not a wisp of worry about that.

I keep hearing from people (listeners of the show, respected media colleagues, friends) who insist this is something I should be worried about, that this could happen if the dominoes fall the right (or in this case, the wrong) way.

I was reminded by a friend that former ASU coach John Cooper’s ascent to one of the thrones of college football followed a similar path. Tulsa to ASU to Ohio State. I understand that Graham is from Texas. And I respect the job he’s done so far in a year and a half at Arizona State.

But Todd Graham at Texas?

First of all, Mack Brown is still employed there and while his team’s performance against BYU put his status at DEFCON 2, he got the vote of confidence from A.D. DeLoss Dodds in a way that sounded as if it would be up to Brown whether he stayed there or not.

Maybe I’m overselling the Longhorns job as one of the elite destinations in the sport, though I really don’t think I am. Maybe I’m underselling the job that Graham has done here after just 14 games. He’s infused this program with verve and passion. They’ve had more stars than I can remember in the last decade under Dennis Erickson or Dirk Koetter, and a potentially magic season awaits.

Perhaps after these next four games Graham and his Sun Devils will be the talk of college football. If you go 4-0 against this slate you deserve to be mentioned as one of the best teams in the country. But that’s a Texas-sized “if,” isn’t it?

It seems to me if the Texas job comes open, that job and their boosters will demand the elite candidates in the game. Does Coach Graham have the body of work that demands his inclusion in that conversation? I have a hard time envisioning that. Texas football is too much of cash cow to turn the operation over to a relatively unproven commodity.

There are just too many unconnected dots between Todd Graham – two days before his team takes the field against Wisconsin – and a yet-to-be-vacated Texas job.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona State Football

Arizona State football's new turf field at Camp Tontozona. (Sun Devil Football / Facebook)...

Wills Rice

Arizona State football to return to Camp Tontozona in August

Arizona State football and new head coach Kenny Dillingham announced the team will be returning to Camp Tontozona in Payson again in August.

1 day ago

Place kicker Ian Hershey #10 of the Idaho State Bengals gets a nearly mishandled punt off against t...

Arizona Sports

ASU football lands former Idaho State kicker, punter Ian Hershey

Place kicker Ian Hershey announced his commitment to Arizona State football after transferring from Idaho State.

4 days ago

Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Panthers, college football...

Arizona Sports

Larry Fitzgerald, 3 ASU players on 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Former Arizona Cardinals great Larry Fitzgerald and three Arizona State Sun Devils are on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

4 days ago

Follow @AZSports...

Arizona Sports

ASU’s Dillingham: QB Jaden Rashada ‘addicted to trying to be better’

The beginning of the Kenny Dillingham era in Tempe comes with an unknown at quarterback but also a few interesting options.

9 days ago

Kenny Dillingham, ASU football head coach...

Arizona Sports

2023 ASU football schedule includes FS1 appointments in nonconference

The Arizona State Sun Devils will begin the Kenny Dillingham era with a favorable schedule of four home games in a row.

9 days ago

(Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)...

Tom Kuebel

ASU receives commitment from 2024 prospect Albert Smith III

Arizona State football added a commitment from EDGE rusher Albert Smith III for its 2024 recruiting class, Smith announced on Twitter Sunday.

19 days ago

Worried about many things, but Todd Graham to Texas is not one of them