Shortly after promoting offensive coordinator Major Applewhite to the head coaching spot following the departure of Tom Herman for the Texas job, Houston super-booster and Board of Regents chairman Tilman Fertitta made a rather interesting statement.
"I think you can look forward to Major being here for many years, but he better win 9, 10, 11 games a year, too, from our standpoint."
"We did get rid of a coach that won eight games a few years ago," Fertitta added. "Don't ever forget that. We expect to win at the University of Houston."
Here's that moment from just over two years ago now.
Following Houston's rough 70-14 loss to Army tonight, a report from
Sources to @SBNation: Houston coach Major Applewhite’s future in doubt following blowout loss to Army, 5-loss season https://t.co/3lz6FRhPXy
— Steven Godfrey (@38Godfrey) December 23, 2018
" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SB Nation points out that Major's future as the leader of the program is in doubt. The loss ties the worst loss in the history of the program, and is only the second time ever a team has hit 70-points in a bowl game.
As the game unfolded, it was tough for many to not reflect back on Fertitta's statement from two years ago. The loss dropped to 8-5 on the year and Applewhite to 18-11 overall in two full seasons and a bowl game in 2016 as the leader of the program.
After the game, Bruce Feldman tweeted that Houston offensive coordinator Kendal Briles had resigned, and many reports have long expected him to become the new offensive coordinator at Florida State. And he likely isn't the only one heading to Tallahassee, as Houston offensive line coach Randy Clements (and others) and expected to join him.
If, or when, that takes place, Briles will be on the hook for $900,000 as part of his buyout, the Houston Chronicle shares.
Stay tuned to The Scoop as this plays out.