A really good story on coaches going to other schools and programs to pick the brains of their colleagues.

No one knows the first time one coach took off in the spring to learn from another. But any history book or biography from the old days mentions them. One example: After Stanford rushed for 383 yards and whipped Army 26-0 at Yankee Stadium in the final game of the 1928 season, Army assistant coaches Ralph Sasse and Harry Ellinger traveled across the continent to Palo Alto, Calif., to learn the double-wing formation from legendary Stanford coach Pop Warner.
…
A lot of times, coaches aren’t looking for plays or formations. They may be in search of something as basic as how a practice is run, or how a skill is taught. Hall of Fame coach Red Blaik wrote in his book “You Have to Pay the Price” that when he coached at Dartmouth, he invited Pittsburgh coach Jock Sutherland to Hanover “because I admired his fetish for detail and fundamentals.” Coaches today are looking for the same thing. Rodriguez said, “Last year, we got a drill on how to get off a block and make a tackle from Georgia and we used it. We showed it to Florida and they may run it.”
…
One thing you can guarantee about coaches: If you win, other coaches will come find you. Take this spring. In the wake of West Virginia’s 11-1 finish and Sugar Bowl upset of Georgia, coaches from Penn State, Ohio State, California, Memphis and Bowling Green went to Morgantown.

“That’s kind of neat,” Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez said. “It’s a cheaper way for us to not have to go out there. We don’t let them come to campus without us asking them a few questions.”

I was all set to start questioning and wondering whether Coach Wannstedt and the staff — especially OC Matt Cavanaugh and DC Paul Rhoads — were taking trips like this. Exposing themselves to new ideas, ways of doing things and such. Seems like such a good idea.

Of course then I started thinking about the ill-advised decision by former Coach Harris to install the spread offense after visiting Northwestern and Randy Walker in 2001. It made me reconsider my position.

So those are the questions right now. The factual is simply wondering whether the football coaching staff is getting out to other schools and talking with other coaches to discuss things and compare notes.

The other question is should they be doing that? Or should they be simply trying to figure out the best way to use the talent on hand and be out there recruiting non-stop.

I lean towards hoping the staff is making some visits and trying to learn some new things. I have to think that regardless of the talent level issues, it would be better to at least listen and consider some other approaches.