Did anyone mention George Darlington is now the La Tech Defensive Coordinator?
La Tech link
Yeah, I just read the article in the
OWH.
LINCOLN - Wait long enough in life and everything seems to come full circle. For George Darlington, a good example arrives next week.
The 30-year Nebraska assistant coach returns to Memorial Stadium as the first-year defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech when the Bulldogs open the football season against NU on Sept. 2.
And it won't mark the first time he has been there as a coach to witness a pass-happy Nebraska offense.
"Surprisingly, I was at Nebraska so long that when I first arrived, we were not a running football team," Darlington said Thursday. "In that day and age, around 1974, '75, we were heavily into throwing the ball."
A few minutes of conversation make clear that Darlington remains the same good-humored and energetic coach who tutored defensive backs for 17 years and outside linebackers for another 13 at Nebraska.
The 67-year-old native of Charleston, W. Va., said he's looking forward to his trip "home." He still uses that word, what with his three children and nine grandkids living in Lincoln. Someday, in fact - though not anytime soon if Darlington gets his way - he'll retire here.
For now, he said, he enjoys his new job in Ruston, La.
"I was involved in recruiting in May and spent two weeks in California," Darlington said. "I told some people if I had any issues about ever thinking of retiring, that might have been the time to find out. I enjoyed it. I was out running around.
"I'll continue coaching for quite a while, as long as my health allows and as long as we have enough success to stay employed. If you've played golf with me, you know why."
Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich fired Darlington in December 2002 after Darlington became the first assistant in Division I-A history to win 300 games at one school.
He landed in his home state at Marshall, where he coached defensive backs, outside linebackers, special teams and served as the recruiting coordinator during three seasons.
Then in February, he was hired by Jack Bicknell to coach defensive backs at Louisiana Tech, a Western Athletic Conference school that finished 7-4 a year ago. Darlington went through spring practice with the Bulldogs before defensive coordinator Randy Bates left for the same position at Northwestern.
Bicknell's father, former Boston College coach Jack Bicknell II, coached high school football in New Jersey with Darlington some 40 years ago. The younger Bicknell said it was a "no-brainer" to hire the old family friend. Darlington learned of Bicknell's desire to promote him in July as he vacationed in Lincoln.
"I was walking into Mahoney Golf Course and got a call (from Bicknell)," Darlington said. "We've been scrambling ever since."
Louisiana Tech must replace nine starters from a defense that allowed 25.5 points per game last year and ranked fifth nationally in turnover margin.
"I'm optimistic about this group of kids," he said. "They play very hard. We have a young team. You see some improvement almost every day, but they have a long way to go. A lot of our young players are going to find out the facts of life in a hurry as far as playing major college football."
With Darlington and his 42 years of coaching experience at the defensive controls, Bicknell isn't worried about the Bulldogs' readiness.
"He's done a fantastic job," the eighth-year head coach said. "He's a great person. I know this: We will be prepared. That won't be a problem."
After opening in Lincoln, Louisiana Tech visits Texas A&M and Clemson in September. Not only that, the Bulldogs are one of just two WAC teams in the Central time zone. They bus to just one road game - at North Texas.
"For everything else, we might drive to another larger airport before we fly halfway across the world," Darlington said.
Darlington said it will be strange next week to coach from the west sideline in Lincoln.
"The only thing I can relate it to is that when we scrimmaged for all those years," he said, "I was usually on the visitor's side."
He still coaches from the press box, saying he likes "Diet Coke and comfort." Unless he brings his own drink, he'll have to settle now for Diet Pepsi. Other things have changed Memorial Stadium, too, like the towering new north side of the stadium.
"I know there have been tremendous, positive changes," Darlington said.
Surprisingly, Darlington said, he wasn't even aware of this game until after he took the position at Louisiana Tech.
"When I saw it on the schedule, I started laughing," Darlington said. "If nothing else, at least I can help the bus driver find the stadium."
