COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Coker returns to the 'dark side'
Former University of Miami coach Larry Coker joked about his upcoming second year in the media and said he would consider coaching again: `We'll see what's out there.'
Posted on Wed, Jul. 23, 2008
BY PETE PELEGRIN
NEW ORLEANS --
It's not that bad, Larry.
When introduced as the guest speaker Tuesday morning at the Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days, former University of Miami coach and current ESPN college football analyst Larry Coker cracked about joining the media ranks: ``I'm now part of the Heath Ledger/Joker/Batman dark side.''
Although the self-effacing Coker did not wreak any havoc on New Orleans, he did talk about his job as a college football commentator, possibly getting back into coaching, and the two Miami college football teams.
Coker begins his second season this fall as a game analyst on ESPNU's noon broadcasts.
''I think [TV] is going pretty well,'' Coker said. ``I did it last year and they asked me to do it again this year so I didn't get fired so that part about it is good. But you don't have the ups and downs [in TV] like when you coach. You don't leave the stadium knowing I was great today or I lost. I think I miss that part of coaching.''
Coker was a finalist for the Tulsa and SMU jobs last season, but did not land either.
Still, he would not rule out a return to the sidelines.
''It's a possibility,'' said Coker, who lives in Fort Myers.
``I'm not really pursuing anything right now. We'll see what's out there and we'll see if there's interest in me. I like to stay busy and stay around college football.''
For six seasons, Coker was very busy leading UM to a 59-15 record, five bowl games and the national championship in 2001, which was his first season as coach.
However, in 2006 after a 6-6 regular season, Coker was fired and took a job in TV, but maybe not for too long.
''I see him getting back into coaching,'' said FIU coach Mario Cristobal, a former assistant under Coker.
``He's got a lot of football knowledge to share. When you look back at 1998-99 and those young [Hurricanes] were coming around like Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Ken Dorsey, that's when Miami turned the corner with Larry as the offensive coordinator.''
Now getting paid to watch college football, Coker sees both of Miami's college football teams turning the corner soon.
''I think this year [UM] should win,'' Coker said. ``[They] had a great recruiting class this year and there's no reason they can't be successful.''
Coker has similar thoughts about Cristobal's Golden Panthers.
''Mario is a great recruiter,'' Coker said. ``They are putting together an outstanding team and staff. You are going to see a lot of positive things at FIU. Plus, they got the new on-campus stadium going, which in college football is a real special thing.''
Although there is no on-campus stadium in Coral Gables, Coker thinks UM's move from the home-field advantage of the Orange Bowl to cavernous Dolphin Stadium could work.
''It's got to be a positive move for [UM],'' he said. ``They have to make it work and make it right. I don't think they'll have the same atmosphere that they had in the Orange Bowl, but if you bring wins that will bring atmosphere.''
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