Local Sports
MIKE CUMMINGS: Intensity: It’s obvious Paul Rhoads has it
By Michael A. CummingsPaul Rhoads shook my hand and looked me square in the eyes Thursday night. And I can’t, for the life of me, remember the color of his eyes.
Let’s back up.
It would be more correct to say Rhoads, the new defensive coordinator at Auburn, stared me down after greeting guests and signing autographs for about half an hour.
Maybe it was because I’d been pestering his wife with questions during that time, trying to figure out what makes the man tick. Or maybe he’s already developed a distaste for the media.
It doesn’t matter. When he shook my hand — saying, “Alright, whaddya got?” — nothing from my prepared list of questions sprang to mind.
No questions about how he’ll attack SEC offenses or how he’ll compare to the fiery Will Muschamp — Auburn’s former defensive coordinator and current employee of the University of Texas.
Instead, coach put on a clinic in intimidation and anticipation.
Rhoads, 41 years old since early February, could easily pass for 31 — if only it weren’t for that salt-and-pepper hair.
Clearly a fitness junkie, the Akeny, Iowa, native strutted across the stage looking like a star football player: Muscular, tall, even borderline cocky.
And the handshake. Even a female member of the Cullman County Auburn Club confirmed its vice grip quality.
All that is to be expected, though. After all Rhoads was a player at Missouri Western, where he played cornerback from 1985-88.
But there was something else, a quality everyone in the audience at the Cullman Civic Center surely spotted immediately.
Rhoads is charismatic. He’s youthful but authoritative. He is confident in his defense and in his players. He held the attention of an audience of over 350 people — including many children — for about half an hour.
And that’s why these two qualities — his youthful confidence and obvious charisma — are going to make Rhoads a success at Auburn.
Think about it: Coaching college football is as much about the sort of rah-rah motivational speaking practiced by coaches like Pete Carroll as it is about teaching the fundamentals of the game.
In the SEC especially, where any team can beat any other, games often come down to who wants it more.
So what could be better for firing up college football players than a youthful, muscular, intimidating and somewhat cocky new coach?
Heck, I couldn’t even remember what color the man’s eyes were after looking him in the eye for a good 10 minutes. I was too excited to see what his defense would do on the field this fall.
Imagine how psyched-up his players must be.
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Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
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Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
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Heading into its Class 5A quarterfinal tonight at Russellville, Cullman High’s football team has already avenged two of its three losses from the 2008 season.
In week six, the Bearcats beat Erwin 42-16 to avenge a 25-20 loss from last season. And in week eight, Cullman downed Mountain Brook 28-13 to get revenge for last year’s 49-34 defeat.
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