Jeff Grimes has been a welcome addition for both the Wisconsin Badgers football team and for Badger fans. In Wisconsin’s 42-10 win over Middle Tennessee, Grimes’ second-half adjustments on offense were critical in the Badgers’ second-half surge. Grimes’ adjustments were something that the previous offensive coordinator sorely missed.
And that former offensive coordinator is not doing too well in his new head coaching job.
Phil Longo and Sam Houston remain winless
Phil Longo is off to a poor start in his inaugural season as head coach of the Sam Houston Bearkat football team. After three games, the Bearkats are off to a 0-3 start, coming off a 37-20 loss at Hawaii. Sam Houston’s loss led Longo’s Bearkats to place second in ESPN’s Ryan McGee’s Bottom 10.
In that game, Sam Houston was outgained 417-248 and committed nine penalties for 105 yards. One of which was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty charged to Longo.
Mabrey Mettauer, a former Wisconsin Badger who followed Longo to Sam Houston, got the start for the Bearkats but threw for 91 yards and one interception on 12-of-18 passes.
Longo’s offense has been mediocre through the beginning of the season. The Bearkats rank eighth in Conference USA in offensive efficiency and have 185 passing yards per game. All three quarterbacks, Mettauer, Hunter Watson, and Landyn Locke, have thrown for two touchdowns and three interceptions…combined.
But what is ailing Sam Houston’s team is its defense. Not only are the Bearkats giving up 38.6 points per game, but they rank 119th in FBS in defense, where they are giving up a ghastly 442.3 yards per game.
It’s not going to get easier for Longo and the Bearkats moving forward. This week, the Bearkats have a bye, which they will most assuredly need before facing the seventh-ranked Texas Longhorns in Austin on September 20th.
Wisconsin’s offense is not where it needs to be, but there is upside with Jeff Grimes heading the show. With Longo off to a slow start at Sam Houston (on both sides of the ball), Badger fans might be ready to put the 2023 and 2024 offenses in the rearview mirror.