Lots of people to blame, but AD should have seen this coming

[exHerdSID]

I can't blame CS for the total predicament we found ourselves in. You can blame Huff, the players, the staff, ESPN, Congress, the Supreme Court, whoever you choose. I do think some reasonable planning could have helped, however. You are the AD, you know weeks ahead of time that Huff is leaving. You have a new coach ready to go. You pick an assistant and tell him that he will be interim coach for the bowl game, but only if he can talk enough players into sticking around. He make sure you have a chance to address the team immediately before or after Huff leaves. You let it be known that entering the portal, and leaving school, is taking a chance that some else will give you a scholarship or any NIL. You insist that Marshall will not take you back. You have enough NIL lined up for next year that your new coach (or your NIL people) can start making offers, but only if they play in the bowl game. You tell trainers and other people in contact with players what's up. You know some of the best players will leave, like they always do in today's free market.
While you cannot pay the players that stay directly, you can put in place an NIL deal where all they need to do is show up in a photo promoting some product or service and get some money. I am not sure how the money from the bowl is handled, whether through the Sunbelt or directly. I am sure we must be giving up some funds. I am not sure if all of the above is possible or even legal.
So, I would think it is within possibility that we saw this coming and just figured we'd bale out if and when needed.

This is a PR nightmare and I do realize that after a few days, most people around the country won't know or care about it. There is a perception that sometimes when teams start losing, that the coach has lost the players. In this case, the school lost the players.
When someone like Cole Pennigton leaves, with a chance at a bowl game to show what he can do and get an NIL or just an offer from another school, something is wrong more than Huff leaving.
I would like to hear from the AD or some spokesperson more than just how great Coach Gobson is going to be and how Huff wanted to leave. Tell us what the school, the department did to try to keep the players. Or, as I suspect, they may have just decided to let them leave and give Gibson an open locker room. If that was the strategy, I can live with that. But not the current perception that Huff stole the players like the Grinch at Christmas.

 

[KyMUfan]

But not the current perception that Huff stole the players like the Grinch at Christmas.

The perception or the reality? I believe the latter while you apparently believe the former.

A lot of defeatists are showing their colors around here. I was at the game today. I spoke to Coach Gibson. I heard his speech at halftime. I saw him work the crowd. I didn't see him applying for another job today.

When Huff was hired I thought the Walmart bag and the jersey was bush league. Perhaps Hamrick knew something the rest of us didn't and that was his response.

 

[MUMAN3419]

The perception or the reality? I believe the latter while you apparently believe the former.

A lot of defeatists are showing their colors around here. I was at the game today. I spoke to Coach Gibson. I heard his speech at halftime. I saw him work the crowd. I didn't see him applying for another job today.

When Huff was hired I thought the Walmart bag and the jersey was bush league. Perhaps Hamrick knew something the rest of us didn't and that was his response.

If you don’t mind. Is there a video of his halftime speech or can u give us a rundown?

 

[KyMUfan]

If you don’t mind. Is there a video of his halftime speech or can u give us a rundown?

There may be a video somewhere. It was very low-key. He was wearing jeans and a MU quarter zip. Earlier the remnants of the current team came out carrying the conference trophy. Steve Williams read a nice proclamation honoring the team and naming the area around the Joan Champions Square or Square of Champions.

Coach Gibson gave a very humble, sincere and short speech. He introduced himself as MU's new undefeated HC. He told Steve Williams to have another proclamation ready as we are going to win the conference again next year.

Hung around after that and made himself available to the fans in attendance.

 

[herdfan93]

I can't blame CS for the total predicament we found ourselves in. You can blame Huff, the players, the staff, ESPN, Congress, the Supreme Court, whoever you choose. I do think some reasonable planning could have helped, however. You are the AD, you know weeks ahead of time that Huff is leaving. You have a new coach ready to go. You pick an assistant and tell him that he will be interim coach for the bowl game, but only if he can talk enough players into sticking around. He make sure you have a chance to address the team immediately before or after Huff leaves. You let it be known that entering the portal, and leaving school, is taking a chance that some else will give you a scholarship or any NIL. You insist that Marshall will not take you back. You have enough NIL lined up for next year that your new coach (or your NIL people) can start making offers, but only if they play in the bowl game. You tell trainers and other people in contact with players what's up. You know some of the best players will leave, like they always do in today's free market.
While you cannot pay the players that stay directly, you can put in place an NIL deal where all they need to do is show up in a photo promoting some product or service and get some money. I am not sure how the money from the bowl is handled, whether through the Sunbelt or directly. I am sure we must be giving up some funds. I am not sure if all of the above is possible or even legal.
So, I would think it is within possibility that we saw this coming and just figured we'd bale out if and when needed.

This is a PR nightmare and I do realize that after a few days, most people around the country won't know or care about it. There is a perception that sometimes when teams start losing, that the coach has lost the players. In this case, the school lost the players.
When someone like Cole Pennigton leaves, with a chance at a bowl game to show what he can do and get an NIL or just an offer from another school, something is wrong more than Huff leaving.
I would like to hear from the AD or some spokesperson more than just how great Coach Gobson is going to be and how Huff wanted to leave. Tell us what the school, the department did to try to keep the players. Or, as I suspect, they may have just decided to let them leave and give Gibson an open locker room. If that was the strategy, I can live with that. But not the current perception that Huff stole the players like the Grinch at Christmas.

I would add that Everett should not be allowed anywhere near the Shewey.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Why in the world would we still be paying anyone on the old staff, especially if the rumors are true about encouraging the apparent mass exodus? Why would we not have our AD in on any coach/player interaction? So many ?

 

[sluggo72]

Why in the world would we still be paying anyone on the old staff, especially if the rumors are true about encouraging the apparent mass exodus? Why would we not have our AD in on any coach/player interaction? So many ?

Cause he’s too busy messin w other stuff that makes him look good

 

[exHerdSID]

It will be interesting how many players end up at SoMiss. I see only one currently committed to SoMiss. Others I have seen linked somewhere are other places than there. As far as paying staff, I would assume some have contracts or did all of them end after the title game?
A lot of schools are going to have a lot of players in the portal, some as many or more than us. My question is still, "How hard did our athletic department try to keep enough players to field a reasonable team?" I didn't roster count but if the number I read staying was 51, that would seem to be low considering we would have been allowed 128? It will be 105 going forward. The most I see in the portal for our players was 30?
Now, it does seem we would be very short of starters, so I have to assume it is not that we had enough players, we did not have enough from the last two-deep to field a competitive team. That's seems like a good reason to not play, and I hesitate to criticize that decision.

 

[mlblack16.]

It will be interesting how many players end up at SoMiss. I see only one currently committed to SoMiss. Others I have seen linked somewhere are other places than there. As far as paying staff, I would assume some have contracts or did all of them end after the title game?
A lot of schools are going to have a lot of players in the portal, some as many or more than us. My question is still, "How hard did our athletic department try to keep enough players to field a reasonable team?" I didn't roster count but if the number I read staying was 51, that would seem to be low considering we would have been allowed 128? It will be 105 going forward. The most I see in the portal for our players was 30?
Now, it does seem we would be very short of starters, so I have to assume it is not that we had enough players, we did not have enough from the last two-deep to field a competitive team. That's seems like a good reason to not play, and I hesitate to criticize that decision.

The key playmakers from our team who are in the portal aren't going to end up at USM.

They are getting interest from bigger programs with more lucrative NIL than Huff can scrape together. To hear their fanbase tell it, they have limitless funds but they also claimed Huff was being hired at a base of 1.4 million yet the official contract amount was almost half a million less.

 

[greengeezer]

This whole portal mess makes me sick. Somehow, it must be addressed and regulated if there is any hope of preserving college football.

 

[HerdGradinFL]

I can't blame CS for the total predicament we found ourselves in. You can blame Huff, the players, the staff, ESPN, Congress, the Supreme Court, whoever you choose. I do think some reasonable planning could have helped, however. You are the AD, you know weeks ahead of time that Huff is leaving. You have a new coach ready to go. You pick an assistant and tell him that he will be interim coach for the bowl game, but only if he can talk enough players into sticking around. He make sure you have a chance to address the team immediately before or after Huff leaves. You let it be known that entering the portal, and leaving school, is taking a chance that some else will give you a scholarship or any NIL. You insist that Marshall will not take you back. You have enough NIL lined up for next year that your new coach (or your NIL people) can start making offers, but only if they play in the bowl game. You tell trainers and other people in contact with players what's up. You know some of the best players will leave, like they always do in today's free market.
While you cannot pay the players that stay directly, you can put in place an NIL deal where all they need to do is show up in a photo promoting some product or service and get some money. I am not sure how the money from the bowl is handled, whether through the Sunbelt or directly. I am sure we must be giving up some funds. I am not sure if all of the above is possible or even legal.
So, I would think it is within possibility that we saw this coming and just figured we'd bale out if and when needed.

This is a PR nightmare and I do realize that after a few days, most people around the country won't know or care about it. There is a perception that sometimes when teams start losing, that the coach has lost the players. In this case, the school lost the players.
When someone like Cole Pennigton leaves, with a chance at a bowl game to show what he can do and get an NIL or just an offer from another school, something is wrong more than Huff leaving.
I would like to hear from the AD or some spokesperson more than just how great Coach Gobson is going to be and how Huff wanted to leave. Tell us what the school, the department did to try to keep the players. Or, as I suspect, they may have just decided to let them leave and give Gibson an open locker room. If that was the strategy, I can live with that. But not the current perception that Huff stole the players like the Grinch at Christmas.

You really lost me with the Cole comment. He is currently talking to low level 1-AA (FCS) programs. I am hearing he might be going to Gardner-Webb of the Big South-OVC conference. He might even end up in a lower division level than FCS.

Plus their is a rumor that we are down to 41 players and only 3 offensive lineman.

 

[exHerdSID]

When I read that Cole was in the portal I tried to imagine why? Here you have a QB that knew he would be the starter in a bowl game. He also knew that he was leaving his Dad's alma mater without a QB with any snaps. I do not fault him for leaving if he feels he has no chance to be the starter next year. Perhaps he wanted to get an early start in the portal (not a bad idea) or he was told they would be shopping for more QBs (also a good idea). Or some other reason. Anyway, I think my reference to him was more about what happened to the rest of the players, those not in the portal. Did they just quit, were told to leave, or just were not on the 2-deep. Why would you leave if you thought you finally had a chance to start?
We list 112 players on the roster. If 30 are in the portal, and we should have had 81 not 51 or 41 available. Or close to that. As I said, I do not question the move to drop out of the bowl if everything was done to keep as many players as possible.

 

[greengeezer]

The future of football for many colleges may be to drop down a level or band together to start a new category where there is no NIL and portal transfer rules are stricter. The whole present system is out of control.

 

[HerdGradinFL]

When I read that Cole was in the portal I tried to imagine why? Here you have a QB that knew he would be the starter in a bowl game. He also knew that he was leaving his Dad's alma mater without a QB with any snaps. I do not fault him for leaving if he feels he has no chance to be the starter next year. Perhaps he wanted to get an early start in the portal (not a bad idea) or he was told they would be shopping for more QBs (also a good idea). Or some other reason. Anyway, I think my reference to him was more about what happened to the rest of the players, those not in the portal. Did they just quit, were told to leave, or just were not on the 2-deep. Why would you leave if you thought you finally had a chance to start?
We list 112 players on the roster. If 30 are in the portal, and we should have had 81 not 51 or 41 available. Or close to that. As I said, I do not question the move to drop out of the bowl if everything was done to keep as many players as possible.

FYI: If you are using the football roster, it hasn't been updated since September. Again, reports are that we have around 40 players left. Some of the players are not being reported on the portal list since some of them have not posted there plans on social media. Seniors may have opted out of playing in the bowl game. Since we are down to around three offensive lineman, are you suggesting playing a defensive back on the line? It isn't the amount of players lost, it is the players we have lost at various positions.

Plus you have to factor that a lot of the players who were not first or second team played on the SCOUT offensive and defensive teams. Those players have little to no practice experience in the Marshall offense and defense. The scout teams replicate the opponents offense and defense each week. It would be difficult to get the scout players ready for the game. Practice makes perfect.

 

[exHerdSID]

I never suggested playing players out of position. My comments are about the efforts to retain the rest of the team. As I said, if we did not have enough 2-deep players, then opting out of the bowl was the only choice. Here's a question that I would like to see answered. If you drop from the team, seniors, portal, or just say you are not going to play, do you get to keep your scholarship or any NIL money? Are these players that are not in the portal but not playing, still attending classes? Just wondering. Portal guys are looking for scholarships elsewhere, but I am not sure about the rest. I would expect Marshall to fulfill those players' scholarships. They played, or practiced with those expectations, bowl game or not. With the turnover we seem to have each year, our program must have figured that a lot of guys would be leaving anyway. Especially those not on the 2-deep.

The end result of all of this, no matter who is at fault, is that Marshall looks bad in the short term. The good news is that once we start signing guys from other schools, we will all get excited again. It is sort of like when we used to just sign HS players. Signing day was full of excitement and optimism. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, "We haven't used up our potential yet."

 

[HerdGradinFL]

I never suggested playing players out of position. My comments are about the efforts to retain the rest of the team. As I said, if we did not have enough 2-deep players, then opting out of the bowl was the only choice. Here's a question that I would like to see answered. If you drop from the team, seniors, portal, or just say you are not going to play, do you get to keep your scholarship or any NIL money? Are these players that are not in the portal but not playing, still attending classes? Just wondering. Portal guys are looking for scholarships elsewhere, but I am not sure about the rest. I would expect Marshall to fulfill those players' scholarships. They played, or practiced with those expectations, bowl game or not. With the turnover we seem to have each year, our program must have figured that a lot of guys would be leaving anyway. Especially those not on the 2-deep.

The end result of all of this, no matter who is at fault, is that Marshall looks bad in the short term. The good news is that once we start signing guys from other schools, we will all get excited again. It is sort of like when we used to just sign HS players. Signing day was full of excitement and optimism. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, "We haven't used up our potential yet."

Scholarships are a year to year commitment. Scholarships no longer last for four years.

The new coach will decide what players he wants to keep in the program and make changes accordingly.

 

[bris1112]

"AD should have seen this coming"

He almost certainly did. If he didn't he should look for a different line of work.
When he went on radio and said he / the BOG / admin decided to NOT use available funds to buy out Huff and move on this was set into motion.
There should have been a plan in place to make the change before this season if the decision was made.
They brought all kinds of variables into play and let it get out of control in terms of messaging/PR/roster mgmt.

The roster was going to experience heavy turnover related to a coaching change at some point 2023 or 2024.
They delayed it a year and got a title out of it.

 

[exHerdSID]

The latest message about health and safety rings weird. That's the kindest thing I can say about it. Do you think the scout team and backups sat around and watched practice? We were not going to play the NFL All-stars. Just go ahead and say we did not have enough quality players or position players to field a competitive team. Compliment Army on being a very good team and say it would not be fair to them to field a team of backups. Moneywise this probably does not hurt us. The proceeds go to first pay expenses, then any remaining goes to the conference and is distributed among the schools.