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No Bedlam grudge for Young
OSU's defensive leader recalls time at OU as 'great.'

THEN AND NOW
Bill Young: OSU defensive coordinator served on John Blake's staff at OU from 1996 to '97 but left after he was asked to give up his defensive coordinator role and take a demotion to defensive line coach. In one season with OSU, Young and the Cowboys have amassed more wins (nine) than the Sooners had in Young's entire Norman tenure (seven).
 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/26/2009  2:31 AM
Last Modified: 11/26/2009  4:43 AM

 In 1980-84 at the University of Tulsa, in 1985-87 at Arizona State and in 1988-95 at Ohio State, Bill Young was comfortably employed on John Cooper's football coaching staffs.

But when John Blake became Oklahoma's coach in 1996, he invited Young — an Oklahoma City native — to become the Sooners' defensive coordinator. Young accepted. After two difficult seasons (3-8 in 1996 and 4-8 in 1997), Blake made changes.

Forced out, according to media reports at the time, were offensive coordinator Dick Winder, secondary coach Chris Thurmond and defensive ends coach Kenith Pope. Young learned of Blake's moves not by hearing it from anyone at OU, but from his wife Lawana, who had heard the news on an Oklahoma City radio station.

Blake's plan for Young was a demotion to defensive line coach.

Young's response: No, thank you.

Bobby Proctor, who had been an OU defensive assistant under Barry Switzer and Gary Gibbs, was critical of Blake's decision-making.

"The good guys are gone," Proctor told the Tulsa World. "Bill Young is a good coach. John practically had to beg Bill Young to leave Ohio State."

After departing from OU, Young became defensive coordinator at Southern Cal in 1998-2000, coached the Detroit Lions' defensive linemen in 2001, coordinated the Kansas defense in 2002-07 and the Miami (Fla.) defense in 2008.

Now the first-year defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Young is preparing for a return to Norman. In Saturday's 11:30 a.m. Bedlam contest, the 11th-ranked Cowboys clash with OU.

A perpetually pleasant and positive man, Young was asked this week to reflect on his two seasons at Oklahoma. In spite of the 7-16 record and Blake's decision to strip his defensive coordinator title, Young remembers 1996-97 as having been "a great experience."

"We didn't win as many games as we had hoped to, but the program was going through a transition," Young said. "Facilities weren't anywhere near what they are now. In fact, I had a double-wide trailer as my office.

"This is a tough business. People have to do what they have to do. I understand that. There are so many variables in having success."

Of Blake, who was fired in 1998 after posting a three-year record of 12-22 and now coaches defensive linemen at North Carolina, Young said, "John and I are good friends. We really are. Merv Johnson (OU's director of football operations), you couldn't meet a better man than him. There were a lot of really nice people in that program."

When Blake offered the chance to join the Sooner staff, it gave Bill and Lawana Young an opportunity to return to Oklahoma — and for Mrs. Young to spend time with a brother who was seriously ill. The brother died during the 1997 season.

After the 1997 season, Bill Young says, "we would have probably been looking to leave, anyway."

Last year, OSU was 93rd nationally in total defense and 52nd in rushing defense. Entering Bedlam, the Cowboys are 31st in total defense and No. 4 against the run. Because of the turnaround, Young is a nominee for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.

In January, when looking to hire a new coordinator, Cowboy coach Mike Gundy liked that Young had played football at OSU. Gundy liked Young's track record. He also liked Young's age. Young is 63 and apparently not inclined to jump at job offers. He bought a house in Stillwater and says he'd like to coach at Oklahoma State for several more seasons.

"There were two or three young guys that we were looking at but in the back of my mind, I thought if these guys come here and do good, they're going to leave," Gundy said. "I'm going to be right back in this boat again."

Acknowledging OSU's dramatic improvement in defensive performance, Gundy said, "I would think that it would be hard for a new coordinator to have as much success as (Young) has had in his first year here. You're hesitant to pat yourself on the back or pat anybody on the back because you've still got to go play. But we feel very good about the way things have worked out."

The Sooners are without injured stars Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham. Their offensive line has been erratic and diminished by injuries. In a 41-13 defeat at Texas Tech last week, OU rushed for only 48 yards.

But in Bedlam, on their home field, the Sooners "will come out there with both guns blazing," Young predicted.

"When they show up to play, they play really well," Young said. "I just got through watching the (Kansas State-OU video), and, wow, (the Sooners) were an impressive football team. We watched the OU-Texas game the other day, and we know that's the effort we'll see when we face (the Sooners)."

BEDLAM 2009

No. 11 OSU at Oklahoma

11:30 a.m. Saturday

TV: FSOK-27

OSU radio: KFAQ am1170, KRVT am1270

OU radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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7 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "OSU's Young prepares for return to Norman," which was published on 11/25/2009.
Report Comment
ikesdad, Tahlequah (11/25/2009 2:12:01 PM)
We are glad to have him! Go Pokes!
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (11/25/2009 2:22:38 PM)
He is a good one indeed.
Report Comment
signalbob, Signal Hill CA 90755 (11/25/2009 4:50:56 PM)
The OSU rush defense has been stellar, ranked up around 6th in the country. That's a dramatic improvement, especially given that OSU blitzes a lot, which usually means some big gainers on draw plays or bubble screens. OSU does give up a lot of passing yards as a result of the agressive defense, but it makes the opponent's offense one-dimensional to not have a good rushing option. If OSU can put pressure on Landry, they can force some bad throws, maybe a couple of ints, or sacks. SB would have been a tougher challenge, I'm glad OSU doesn't have to face him again.
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Merked, (11/25/2009 9:52:21 PM)
Go Pokes! Run up the score in norman!
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Rhymeister, International (11/26/2009 6:21:49 PM)
Young has done an incredible job and Ok State's defense will be better next season.
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/26/2009 10:54:03 PM)
Young is a class act! Go Pokes!
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FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/27/2009 12:18:53 AM)
It's all about available talent. A coach can have the greatest playbook in teh game. But if the talent available is not up to the task that book will be useless.
 

 
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