53 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Malzahn said he would only come interview at MD if he was guaranteed to take the job. At the time, I would not have given him the job without interviewing him but I absolutely would have done it if the alternative was Edsall.

 

Also, Franklin was under contract and would have certainly stayed if offered the job initially. Which, again, I wouldn't have done but if it was him or Edsall, I absolutely would have done it. And no way was Vandy a better job than MD at the time.

 

And Mike Leach having character issues is YOUR OPINION. If you want to let the media cloud your judgment and make conclusions for you, then that's on you. I've done my research on Lech and know people who know Leach, and he isn't a crazy man. In fact, if you're talking about character issues, I'd say the way Edsall handled his departure at UCONN is worse than a guy who likes pirates or who didn't get a long with a player who EVERYONE has come out and said was a prima donna and who was trying to hang off of his daddy's titty.

 

Leach is an interesting, intelligent guy. Loved him on 60 minutes at the height of the Texas Tech success. Don't think I agree with Zack saying he had character issues. Do think it is fair to say that MD did not want him or his personality.. don't think it is reach to say they were scared off by the issues that were surrounding Leach at the time with James.

Those issues might have been basically nothing, but it's not like a bunch of other schools were banging down Leach's door either. He might yet build up Washington State, but the fact that Washington State is where he is at says something, right?  That even if MD's perception of Leach was wrong, that plenty of other schools had the same perception?

[Oriole85]

Malzahn said he would only come interview at MD if he was guaranteed to take the job. At the time, I would not have given him the job without interviewing him but I absolutely would have done it if the alternative was Edsall.

 

Also, Franklin was under contract and would have certainly stayed if offered the job initially. Which, again, I wouldn't have done but if it was him or Edsall, I absolutely would have done it. And no way was Vandy a better job than MD at the time.

 

And Mike Leach having character issues is YOUR OPINION. If you want to let the media cloud your judgment and make conclusions for you, then that's on you. I've done my research on Lech and know people who know Leach, and he isn't a crazy man. In fact, if you're talking about character issues, I'd say the way Edsall handled his departure at UCONN is worse than a guy who likes pirates or who didn't get a long with a player who EVERYONE has come out and said was a prima donna and who was trying to hang off of his daddy's titty.

You can't just hand someone a blank check, so no you can't allow Malzahn to dictate the terms and conditions he would come here. If he were 1-6 this year, you wouldn't be saying that. It looks a lot better with how Malzahn is doing at Auburn, but I'm guessing some of the framework was there before took over. Let's see how he does in a few years.

 

Whether Vandy or Maryland is the better job is debatable -- Maryland coming off a good season but Vandy in the better conference. I'd probably myself say Maryland was a slightly better job at the time.

 

Edsall wasn't the only candidate, so saying in regards to Malzahn or Franklin either or isn't so valid even though I get what you are saying. Also, you know this, you cover sports after all, even though you're saying you would've done this or that if you were Kevin Anderson, you have to appease the higher ups in administration, donors, etc. It's not too much like someone else in subordinate position making a major decision.

 

I agree with you on the way Edsall handled his UConn departure, it's not as bad as Todd Graham or Bobby Petrino, but it was bad.

[Oriole85]

Leach is an interesting, intelligent guy. Loved him on 60 minutes at the height of the Texas Tech success. Don't think I agree with Zack saying he had character issues. Do think it is fair to say that MD did not want him or his personality.. don't think it is reach to say they were scared off by the issues that were surrounding Leach at the time with James.

Those issues might have been basically nothing, but it's not like a bunch of other schools were banging down Leach's door either. He might yet build up Washington State, but the fact that Washington State is where he is at says something, right?  That even if MD's perception of Leach was wrong, that plenty of other schools had the same perception?

I don't want to speak for Zack, but I think good chance the "character issues" he speaks of is the Adam James scandal and Maryland didn't want to touch that hot potato which at the time was an ongoing litigation matter.

 

He was rumored for a bunch of other but Maryland was really the only one that gave him serious consideration until Wazzu. And yeah I agree with you the fact he's at Wazzu speaks volumes, if he could get a better position I think he would've held out. Here's a guy who was living in Key West at the time he was hired there, about the longest distance you could go in the continental US.

 

I'd imagine if he starts to win at Wazzu he'll be gone, but that would be a good problem for them to have.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I don't want to speak for Zack, but I think good chance the "character issues" he speaks of is the Adam James scandal and Maryland didn't want to touch that hot potato which at the time was an ongoing litigation matter.

 

He was rumored for a bunch of other but Maryland was really the only one that gave him serious consideration until Wazzu. And yeah I agree with you the fact he's at Wazzu speaks volumes, if he could get a better position I think he would've held out. Here's a guy who was living in Key West at the time he was hired there, about the longest distance you could go in the continental US.

 

I'd imagine if he starts to win at Wazzu he'll be gone, but that would be a good problem for them to have.

 

I'm sure that was what Zack was referring to, I'm saying I agree with Pete that character issues is not the right characterization.... while at the same agreeing with Zack's real point that it's understandable that it scared off MD since it also scared of basically everyone else.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Gene Smith: 'Staying at Ohio State'

 

http://espn.go.com/c...s-longhorns-job

 

Not sure if this leaves KA as the only candidate of color. Ohio State to Texas wouldn't be that much of an upgrade if at all.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I'm sure that was what Zack was referring to, I'm saying I agree with Pete that character issues is not the right characterization.... while at the same agreeing with Zack's real point that it's understandable that it scared off MD since it also scared of basically everyone else.

 

I think the character issues were much more perceived than real. That perception may have given UM cold feet. I'm not sure how much stock I put into his lawsuit vs ESPN influencing MD specifically. ESPN is also one of the Pac-12's TV partners and I didn't hear of any hesitations when WSU hired him. Now whether the ACC might have tried to intervene because they were concerned about how it would affect the conference's relationship with ESPN is another question. When WSU hired Leach the Pac-12 already had their TV deal cut, and while the ACC also had a long term deal in place when UM was interested in Leach, the ACC still had further expansion on the front-burner and knew that more negotiations with ESPN would be forthcoming. Would love to know the truth there, even though we never will.

 

I think the biggest thing with Leach is that while he may not have character issues, he does have a tendency to clash with authority and marches to his own beat. And as is usually the case with UM, they prefer to go with the "safe" hires.

[BSLMikeLowe]

ESPN: Gene Smith: 'Staying at Ohio State'

 

http://espn.go.com/c...s-longhorns-job

 

Not sure if this leaves KA as the only candidate of color. Ohio State to Texas wouldn't be that much of an upgrade if at all.

 

I think they are usually ranked #1 and #2 in terms of revenues, so no, not much difference. Plus Smith is an Ohio native, so there probably isn't as much appeal to Texas from his perspective....unless he's sick of cold winters, and apparently he isn't yet.

[DJ MC]

http://collegefootba...nalists-emerge/

 

Sounds like Anderson is out of the running.

 

Also, just an aside from that post...I don't know if it was mentioned in here, but Texas' athletics department is so big they have separate Men's and Women's Athletic Directors. That's crazy.

[bnickle]

http://collegefootba...nalists-emerge/

 

Sounds like Anderson is out of the running.

 

Also, just an aside from that post...I don't know if it was mentioned in here, but Texas' athletics department is so big they have separate Men's and Women's Athletic Directors. That's crazy.

Of course he is out of the running.

 

Rooney Rule.

[Oriole85]

http://collegefootba...nalists-emerge/

 

Sounds like Anderson is out of the running.

 

Also, just an aside from that post...I don't know if it was mentioned in here, but Texas' athletics department is so big they have separate Men's and Women's Athletic Directors. That's crazy.

That used to be more standard I believe, UTenn recently eliminated that practice. Texas might be the last one left, they'll probably merge eventually.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Rooney Rule.

 

I highly doubt Texas has that. Oregon has been the only state I'm aware of to enact such a rule for coaches at public universities.

[Oriole85]

Not sure if anyone posted this but KA has now said he won't be pursuing other opportunities. (College Football Talk)

 

“I must confess I am humbled to be mentioned in connection with such a position but more importantly, I feel it speaks volumes to the outstanding progress we have made at the University of Maryland and to the new heights our athletic department is destined for in the future,” Anderson’s statement says.

“Let me be clear, I am not pursuing any other professional opportunities at other institutions. I am steadfast in my commitment to the University of Maryland.”

[Oriole85]

Of course he is out of the running.

 

Rooney Rule.

Did he even interview?, if you're just talking about consideration than you have to include Gene Smith.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Source: Steve Patterson to be AD

 

http://espn.go.com/c...hletic-director

 

The Texas Longhorns will hire Arizona State athletic director Steve Patterson to be the Longhorns' next AD, a high-ranking school official told ESPN's Joe Schad.

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