CC: Question About Chuck Heater

Submitted by michgoblue on
With Urban Meyer's exit, I was looking over Florida's coaching staff and I noticed that their co-DC was Chuck Heater, one of Michigan's most successful RBs from the early 1970s. This is not a "who can replace RR?" post. But, if there is some shake-up in Florida's coaching staff, is there any possibility of luring Heater to come up north as a possible DC candidate? Regardless of whether RR or JH is our HC, we will likely be in the market for a DC, and this guy seems to have a great resume: Former M player, has been a DC and/or recruiting coordinator for several big name schools, presumably has a decent Florida pipeline. Does anyone have any info on him?
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snoopblue

December 8th, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^

Good point. Hope someone in the AD is keeping an eye out on all this. In his press conference, Urban Meyer said that announcing his retirement now is "in the best interest for recruiting," and it sent a shiver down my spine. Hope David Brandon was watching. I have a feeling Urban Meyer is going to be the Brett Favre of coaches.

Joined: 11/11/2009

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Kal

December 8th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^

I can't tell if this sarcasm but I'll bite... 2 NCs in a 3 year window is probably the definition of college coaching success. I hope for all of our sakes Brandon knows what he is doing with this timetable, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt because I'm assuming he has some well-ordered plan(s) for after the bowl game to ensure an improved Michigan team year after year.

Joined: 07/10/2008

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Section 1

December 8th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^

I do.  I remember him as a good blocker, and a 'tweener FB/TB.  But Wikipedia says that once upon a time he threw a couple of td passes (!?).  I remember him getting a lot of carries in the days when we would pass 5 or 10 times in an entire game.  I don't remember him as a very flashy ball carrier, although he ran hard and made a couple of guys get on him to bring him down.  Trouble was, a couple of guys could get to Chuck Heater without too much difficulty.  I'll bet Bo loved him in practice.  (All except the practice he missed to spend a day on his honeymoon.)  Four 100-yard games in his career, I read, which sounds about right.

Somebody with more time than I should try to compile a list of all the Bo-era Wolverine players and assistants who are now in coaching.  From college, to h.s. head coaches.  It would be a mighty long and important list.

Joined: 06/29/2009

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Don

December 8th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^

I do too, and I think you're underselling his achievements as a RB a bit. According to what I can glean from the UM statistics archive, when Heater finished his career after the 1974 season, he was #4 on the all-time rushing yardage list in Michigan history. He was passed pretty quickly by a large number of RBs, and right now he's at #20. Still, he was a pretty decent back. Unless there's a radical change in their achievements, such ballyhooed backs as Michael Shaw and Fitz Toussaint won't come close to what Heater did.

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rdlwolverine

December 8th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^

He started at tailback as a sophomore (his freshman year was the last the freshmen were ineligible).  He was second on the team in rushing to fullback Ed Shuttlesworth who was Bo's prototype big bruising fullback early in his tenure.  Heater carried 140 times for 669 yards.  Shuttlesworth gained 713 yards on 157 carries.  Franklin carried 142 times for a net of 497 yards. Clint Haslerig was the main wingback that year.  The next year, Heater split time at tailback with Gil Chapman and soph Gordon Bell.  He was again the 2nd leading rusher (114 att/666) yds behind Shuttlesworth (193 att/745 yds).  Chapman had 552 yds on 111 carries and Bell  464 yds on 80 att.  Franklin added 425 net yards on 101 carries.  As a senior, SHuttlesworth and Bob Thornbladh were gone.  Without his typical fullback, Bo moved Heater to fulllback, Chapman to wingback and Bell split time with soph Rob Lytle at tailback.  Bell carried 174 times for 1048, Lytle 802 on 140 carries, Heater 660 on 153 and Franklin 290 on 108.  With Heater gone, the next year Lytle moved to fullback and he and Bell both rushed for over 1000 yards. 

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VAWolverine

December 8th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^

a candidate for DC. DB will ask RR to replace everyone on the defensive side and that is where the break down will occur.

Next Florida coach will be Kyle Whittingham.

I know but am not THE_ KNOWLEDGE.

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Maize and Blue…

December 8th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^

I'll bite this time though.  Despite a terrible offense Florida's D gave up 302.9 yards/game and 21.1 points/game.  Bama and LSU only SEC teams to give up less yards and add Miss St. as a SEC school that gave up less points.  It puts them 8th in nation in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed.  We would likely be at worst 10-2 with those type of D stats

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Undefeated dre…

December 8th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^

Would there be a better name for a pitcher than Chuck Heater? Bob Walk wants a do-over.

Interesting question is if Mullen goes to FL, does he take Diaz with him? Probably yes, but one can always hope...

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