Now or Never: A devil's-advocate view of Noel Mazzone's hiring

The Good Book warned us that there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We just didn’t know it would be in reaction to Kevin Sumlin’s choice of offensive coordinator.

Seriously, the imminent hiring of Noel Mazzone has some lamenting the future of Texas A&M football. Some are already predicting the 2016 season will be an abject failure.

True, hiring the 58-year-old Mazzone doesn’t come off like the coup of stealing Defensive Coordinator John Chavis away from LSU. Nor is Mazzone viewed as a hot commodity like TCU’s Doug Meacham.

Therefore, the disappointment is understandable to a degree. 

But rather than invite doom and gloom, Aggies should heed the words of a great, sideburns-wearing Texas philosopher who gained renown in the 1960s and ‘70s.

I am, of course, referring to Stephen Stills, who told us: ‘If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.’

Now, this column should not be interpreted as a whole-hearted endorsement for Mazzone. Heck, my recommendation was Cal offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.

Instead, the message here is to have an open mind. You may not love the one you’re with right now, but if Mazzone can fix A&M’s malfunctioning offense you can learn to love him.

Frankly, there are reasons to believe he can. Just the fact that he’s spent nearly a quarter-century as a college football offensive coordinator indicates that he is not as incompetent as some seemingly want to believe.

You won’t last that long if you can’t get the job done. Mazzone has often gotten the job done rather quickly.

In fact, he’s previously taken over seven struggling offenses. Six showed modest to major improvement in the first year under Mazzone’s guidance.

For example, in 2009 Arizona State averaged 22.3 points per game and ranked 90th nationally in total offense at 335.3 yards per game.

That was the year before then-Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson brought Mazzone to Tempe.

The next season the Sun Devils averaged 32.3 points and 425.7 yards per game. This was accomplished with Steven Threet, a two-time transfer, at quarterback.

Two years later, Mazzone took over a UCLA offense that ranked 87th nationally in points per game and 72nd in total offense. In Mazzone’s first year the Bruins averaged 465.9 yards (28th in the nation) and 34.4 points (31st).

We're only looking at his first seasons because dramatic improvement is needed immediately. This cannot be a long-term rebuilding process.

True, Mazzone also had some mundane starts at Auburn and Ole Miss, but their talent level was quite low then.

He’ll have talent with which to work at A&M, especially since receivers Ricky Seals-Jones and Josh Reynolds on Wednesday announced their intentions to forego early entry into the NFL Draft and return to A&M next season. Their presence, along with Christian Kirk and perhaps Speedy Noil, will give A&M one of the most talented receiver groups in the country.

Also, the recent announcement that quarterback Trevor Knight is transferring from Oklahoma to A&M gives Mazzone two quarterbacks with varied skill sets.

Knight is an accomplished runner. Jake Hubenak, who threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns in the Music City Bowl, looks like an adequate passer.

Running back Keith Ford, who sat out last season after transferring from Oklahoma, figures to give the running game a boost.

Of course, none of that matters if the offensive line doesn’t make significant progress.

There were rumors that A&M offensive line coach Dave Christensen and former offensive coordinator Jake Spavital didn’t always work in concordance and that there was friction on the coaching staff.

Mazzone has the resume to demand respect and cooperation. That is, if he even keeps Christensen. Mazzone might be given the freedom to assemble an offensive staff of his choosing.

Indeed, that would be a prudent move by Sumlin, who needs a strong 2016 season to guarantee his job security.

Offense was A&M’s main problem in 2015. So why not let the offensive coordinator do whatever he deems necessary to fix that problem?

If that problem isn’t fixed, then neither Sumlin nor Mazzone stay around.

Then, Aggies can find someone else to love.