Since I haven’t seen it posted - DD’s contract has ended!

[W-S HerdFan]

Mana from heaven

Now, this is coming from Grant Traylor, not Chuckie, so I believe it to be factual. Christian Spears may have been called a lot of things during his 25 years in athletics administration, but I’d bet “unintelligent” hasn’t been one of them. There will not be a better opportunity….
discuss!!

 

[bbneutralfan]

Since Mr Spears just got here I think he will have serious discussion with Dan and probably give him one more year so that he can fairly evaluate Dan, his staff, and players - whoever we have. Just saying.

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

Since Mr Spears just got here I think he will have serious discussion with Dan and probably give him one more year so that he can fairly evaluate Dan, his staff, and players - whoever we have. Just saying.

If that's true, Dan will have another out.if he stays and is terrible for another year.

According to Bleeds, Dan blamed COVID, the president change, and now he can blame the AD change.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

No way in hell! - can anyone prove the negative for these next 2 statements?

Brad Smith, in creating a company worth billions, disrupted the field in which he played.

Christian Spears, in 25 years of experience in his field, learned how to disrupt athletic departments by innovative fund raising techniques and not being afraid to ruffle feathers in order to achieve his goals.

Dan is gone, period. We can’t afford a Coach K - esque farewell tour in ‘22-‘23…….

 

[FreddyReef]

No way in hell! - can anyone prove the negative for these next 2 statements?

Brad Smith, in creating a company worth billions, disrupted the field in which he played.

Christian Spears, in 25 years of experience in his field, learned how to disrupt athletic departments by innovative fund raising techniques and not being afraid to ruffle feathers in order to achieve his goals.

Dan is gone, period. We can’t afford a Coach K - esque farewell tour in ‘22-‘23…….

Could you imagine… as bad as our athletic marketing department is and fan experience… if they tried to do something to replicate the Coach K send off. Lol. I can’t even imagine how awful it would be. Sure, Dan is a son of Marshall, (so am I)… sure he played for Marshall (so did I)… sure he coached for the herd and got them, I mean elmore, got them to the NCAA. But he’s not a god. He doesnt honestly deserve a year extension on his contract to “prove himself” or “fix what Covid broke”, yadda yadda. He has failed. He will get a few more wins next season Bc the SBC is a little less competitive (on paper).
You’re 77 bro. Just hang it up. Enjoy retirement. Spend some of that money you’ve earned.

 

[MU PIKE]

I heard Dan interviewed on the radio yesterday, he seemed to indicate by his tone and his careful answers he wants to come back but seems to think he is done.

 

[Catfanatic1979v1]

Let's get a new coach!

 

[RhinoD]

I heard Dan interviewed on the radio yesterday, he seemed to indicate by his tone and his careful answers he wants to come back but seems to think he is done.

I think he's smart enough to understand the situation... Really this is a no-win scenario for DD... If he doesn't get renewed its a signal he has failed and is being let go. If he gets one more year so Spears can "evaluate the program" he is basically a lame duck barring a miracle turnaround (highly unlikely looking at this roster).

The only way DD "wins" is if he is offered a multi-year extension and I don't think anyone sees that happening.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

I think he's smart enough to understand the situation... Really this is a no-win scenario for DD... If he doesn't get renewed its a signal he has failed and is being let go. If he gets one more year so Spears can "evaluate the program" he is basically a lame duck barring a miracle turnaround (highly unlikely looking at this roster).

The only way DD "wins" is if he is offered a multi-year extension and I don't think anyone sees that happening.

Agree. I just hope that the separation is good with everyone. We need the Dantoni family to be on board with the program and MU in general - for many reasons. jmho

 

[Tonycried2]

Agree. I just hope that the separation is good with everyone. We need the Dantoni family to be on board with the program and MU in general - for many reasons. jmho

I too do not want to see hard feeling with the Dantoni's who are in essence the "first family" of " MU basketball. But I too do not want to see Dan "coaching" this team next season. The two may be mutually exclusive at this point....tough call for our new AD to be sure.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

I too do not want to see hard feeling with the Dantoni's who are in essence the "first family" of " MU basketball. But I too do not want to see Dan "coaching" this team next season. The two may be mutually exclusive at this point....tough call for our new AD to be sure.

Yeah, tough situation for Spears.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

My initial read on CS: Cool as a cucumber. He will let Danny down easy. Lots of admiration for his ability to rescue the program from Herrion’s dumpster fire. Taking the program back to the Dance & getting that 1st tourney win. Winning the CIT. Thanking him for his almost 60 year association with MU basketball. Then the forming of a search committee……

 

[Tonycried2]

My initial read on CS: Cool as a cucumber. He will let Danny down easy. Lots of admiration for his ability to rescue the program from Herrion’s dumpster fire. Taking the program back to the Dance & getting that 1st tourney win. Winning the CIT. Thanking him for his almost 60 year association with MU basketball. Then the forming of a search committee……

Does that happen this Spring?

 

[Weirgreen]

My initial read on CS: Cool as a cucumber. He will let Danny down easy. Lots of admiration for his ability to rescue the program from Herrion’s dumpster fire. Taking the program back to the Dance & getting that 1st tourney win. Winning the CIT. Thanking him for his almost 60 year association with MU basketball. Then the forming of a search committee……

totally agree with your read.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Since Mr Spears just got here I think he will have serious discussion with Dan and probably give him one more year so that he can fairly evaluate Dan, his staff, and players - whoever we have. Just saying.

All he has to do is review the last 4 years and the trend of this program and then take the temperature of the fans. MOVE ON. Dan's deal has fun it's full course. Giving him another contract after this season, even if it just one more season, is absolutely moronic.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

If that's true, Dan will have another out.if he stays and is terrible for another year.

According to Bleeds, Dan blamed COVID, the president change, and now he can blame the AD change.

He did. Watch his post game presser. He said that the instability of the school president and athletic director did not promote the right atmosphere for the players to perform at their highest. Then he leaned on COVID. At no point did he take any responsibility for anything. It's time to move on.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I think he's smart enough to understand the situation... Really this is a no-win scenario for DD... If he doesn't get renewed its a signal he has failed and is being let go. If he gets one more year so Spears can "evaluate the program" he is basically a lame duck barring a miracle turnaround (highly unlikely looking at this roster).

The only way DD "wins" is if he is offered a multi-year extension and I don't think anyone sees that happening.

The bad part is what is the bar for a "turnaround"? Compared against MU MBB history of the last several decades Dan could easily "earn" and extension and that is just bad for this program. I have been saying this since I was in school. Marshall has got to raise the bar for the MBB program. It needs to echo that of the football program. We Play for Championships. If that isn't the case or possible then @The Real SamC is correct in saying we only sponsor basketball because we have to.

Stop looking for the hometown discounts. Go out and find the absolute best basketball that MU MBB is able to get no matter the cost. If we can't afford to get a winning D-I coach than I am sure there are some D-II coaches that are worthy of getting a promotion to D-I.

Shoot go out and find another young gun like Billy Donovan. Why is it that other smaller D-I schools can find young up and coming coaches that are good, but we can't.

 

[THUNDERGround]

I know he’s had his troubles, but we’d probably get him a at a discount…. And is a proven winner…. Greg Marshall?

 

[bbneutralfan]

I know he’s had his troubles, but we’d probably get him a at a discount…. And is a proven winner…. Greg Marshall?

Nope baggage and been here before. Better ones out there.

 

[bbneutralfan]

The bad part is what is the bar for a "turnaround"? Compared against MU MBB history of the last several decades Dan could easily "earn" and extension and that is just bad for this program. I have been saying this since I was in school. Marshall has got to raise the bar for the MBB program. It needs to echo that of the football program. We Play for Championships. If that isn't the case or possible then @The Real SamC is correct in saying we only sponsor basketball because we have to.

Stop looking for the hometown discounts. Go out and find the absolute best basketball that MU MBB is able to get no matter the cost. If we can't afford to get a winning D-I coach than I am sure there are some D-II coaches that are worthy of getting a promotion to D-I.

Shoot go out and find another young gun like Billy Donovan. Why is it that other smaller D-I schools can find young up and coming coaches that are good, but we can't.

We want a an alumni hero coach that’s why. Hopefully the new AD - with no ties to Marshall, will make the correct choices moving forward.

 

[herdfan06]

Does Mike want a retirement gig?

 

[muthed]

Does Mike want a retirement gig?

I hope not. DD is 75. And MD is just a couple of years behind him.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Nope baggage and been here before. Better ones out there.

Nope. We give football players who did worse, second chances. Give the guy a chance. We might be able to actually afford him. No big school assistant is gonna come here. Don’t want an older retread.
Or get a young D2 guy whose been successful and can recruit.

 

[The Real SamC]

We Play for Championships. If that isn't the case or possible then @The Real SamC is correct in saying we only sponsor basketball because we have to.

That is the decision we have to make.

I was slammed for this, but the fact is that in the most recent version of CUSA, the level of ability and commitment to MBB by MOST of the schools is very low. Many simply do not try. Many simply can not. Look at the HS gym type arenas and the handful of randos, girlfriends, and otherwise EMPTY SEATS. No, CUSA was a group of schools together to TRY (ultimately the experiment failed, that is an irrelevancy) to play football at the same level, dragging MBB (and everything else) programs at vastly different levels. Vastly different levels of commitment and just plain old interest in MBB. Many simply had no fans, no interest, and no commitment.

Now, substitute the new SBC for CUSA, and its really not that different. Average 15 seed. This year's champion is brackeetologyied to be a 16. Last. The new schools improve the league, but it is the same thing. These are schools that wish to play FOOTBALL at a certain level. Everything else is brought along.

Now look at MU. Now, the whole nostalgia for this great past that is a big part of the DD act is, of course, false. It never actually happened. But MU has put up representative and competitive MBB for a long time. The old MFH was, what, the 11th largest arena in the Midwest when built? And we sold it out. The HC, for all its Rockefailure caused shortcomings and issues, is a solid just short of 10K arena with multiple fixes and upgrades (and is available full time to the two teams, no PF needed).

Even with our poor team, we draw OK. We sell merch. We have media coverage (Challenge: go on line and look at the local newspapers, radio or TV news from many of our conference mates, old or new, and see if the MBB there is even mentioned). We have fans. We do. We, if we put a proper team on the floor, could easily grab not just local, but statewide attention, and easily draw 8K every time. We have potential. And, bluntly, a lot of our conference mates, old and new, could go 24-4 and still draw randos and girlfriends and what time do the (Tar Heals/Gamecocks/Tide/Longhorns/Rebels/Etc.) play on TV?

So we have a choice. Do we try, given all we have going for us? Or do we admit that we won't spend the resources to win even at the s*** level we are at? Is this a token effort, which we are doing just because we have to, or do we understand that we should WIN the SBC at least every 4th year and that 4th in the league is a bad finish. There to be grabbed by the throat and controlled.

I say have some pride and go for it.

- Fire DD
- Fire his staff
- Paint over all this throwback false nostalgia crap, burn the uniforms
- Run off as many of his players as possible
- Get a hot young coach
- Spend some $$ on travel (which is better in the SBC) and etc.

Win.

 

[muthed]

That is the decision we have to make.

I was slammed for this, but the fact is that in the most recent version of CUSA, the level of ability and commitment to MBB by MOST of the schools is very low. Many simply do not try. Many simply can not. Look at the HS gym type arenas and the handful of randos, girlfriends, and otherwise EMPTY SEATS. No, CUSA was a group of schools together to TRY (ultimately the experiment failed, that is an irrelevancy) to play football at the same level, dragging MBB (and everything else) programs at vastly different levels. Vastly different levels of commitment and just plain old interest in MBB. Many simply had no fans, no interest, and no commitment.

Now, substitute the new SBC for CUSA, and its really not that different. Average 15 seed. This year's champion is brackeetologyied to be a 16. Last. The new schools improve the league, but it is the same thing. These are schools that wish to play FOOTBALL at a certain level. Everything else is brought along.

Now look at MU. Now, the whole nostalgia for this great past that is a big part of the DD act is, of course, false. It never actually happened. But MU has put up representative and competitive MBB for a long time. The old MFH was, what, the 11th largest arena in the Midwest when built? And we sold it out. The HC, for all its Rockefailure caused shortcomings and issues, is a solid just short of 10K arena with multiple fixes and upgrades (and is available full time to the two teams, no PF needed).

Even with our poor team, we draw OK. We sell merch. We have media coverage (Challenge: go on line and look at the local newspapers, radio or TV news from many of our conference mates, old or new, and see if the MBB there is even mentioned). We have fans. We do. We, if we put a proper team on the floor, could easily grab not just local, but statewide attention, and easily draw 8K every time. We have potential. And, bluntly, a lot of our conference mates, old and new, could go 24-4 and still draw randos and girlfriends and what time do the (Tar Heals/Gamecocks/Tide/Longhorns/Rebels/Etc.) play on TV?

So we have a choice. Do we try, given all we have going for us? Or do we admit that we won't spend the resources to win even at the s*** level we are at? Is this a token effort, which we are doing just because we have to, or do we understand that we should WIN the SBC at least every 4th year and that 4th in the league is a bad finish. There to be grabbed by the throat and controlled.

I say have some pride and go for it.

- Fire DD
- Fire his staff
- Paint over all this throwback false nostalgia crap, burn the uniforms
- Run off as many of his players as possible
- Get a hot young coach
- Spend some $$ on travel (which is better in the SBC) and etc.

Win.

Nothing Marshall ever does will be up to the "SamC Standard."

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

That is the decision we have to make.

I was slammed for this, but the fact is that in the most recent version of CUSA, the level of ability and commitment to MBB by MOST of the schools is very low. Many simply do not try. Many simply can not. Look at the HS gym type arenas and the handful of randos, girlfriends, and otherwise EMPTY SEATS. No, CUSA was a group of schools together to TRY (ultimately the experiment failed, that is an irrelevancy) to play football at the same level, dragging MBB (and everything else) programs at vastly different levels. Vastly different levels of commitment and just plain old interest in MBB. Many simply had no fans, no interest, and no commitment.

Now, substitute the new SBC for CUSA, and its really not that different. Average 15 seed. This year's champion is brackeetologyied to be a 16. Last. The new schools improve the league, but it is the same thing. These are schools that wish to play FOOTBALL at a certain level. Everything else is brought along.

Now look at MU. Now, the whole nostalgia for this great past that is a big part of the DD act is, of course, false. It never actually happened. But MU has put up representative and competitive MBB for a long time. The old MFH was, what, the 11th largest arena in the Midwest when built? And we sold it out. The HC, for all its Rockefailure caused shortcomings and issues, is a solid just short of 10K arena with multiple fixes and upgrades (and is available full time to the two teams, no PF needed).

Even with our poor team, we draw OK. We sell merch. We have media coverage (Challenge: go on line and look at the local newspapers, radio or TV news from many of our conference mates, old or new, and see if the MBB there is even mentioned). We have fans. We do. We, if we put a proper team on the floor, could easily grab not just local, but statewide attention, and easily draw 8K every time. We have potential. And, bluntly, a lot of our conference mates, old and new, could go 24-4 and still draw randos and girlfriends and what time do the (Tar Heals/Gamecocks/Tide/Longhorns/Rebels/Etc.) play on TV?

So we have a choice. Do we try, given all we have going for us? Or do we admit that we won't spend the resources to win even at the s*** level we are at? Is this a token effort, which we are doing just because we have to, or do we understand that we should WIN the SBC at least every 4th year and that 4th in the league is a bad finish. There to be grabbed by the throat and controlled.

I say have some pride and go for it.

- Fire DD
- Fire his staff
- Paint over all this throwback false nostalgia crap, burn the uniforms
- Run off as many of his players as possible
- Get a hot young coach
- Spend some $$ on travel (which is better in the SBC) and etc.

Win.

Damn, lots of stuff here.
I'll read your post on the sh*tter.

 

[Catfanatic1979v1]

Let's get someone else.

 

[Marco93]

We want a an alumni hero coach that’s why. Hopefully the new AD - with no ties to Marshall, will make the correct choices moving forward.

Agree... Ever since Jim Donnan and Billy Donavan bolted that seems to be an obsession with this school.

 

[19MU88]

Sure that's why we hired holiday and huff, Herrion, freeman, and Jirsa.

I mean call for new hires offer suggestions, express your opinion that you don't want a Marshall person but let's not throw out foolish hyperbole

 

[The Real SamC]

Has every hire been some connection to MU ?

No, but it is undeniable that the "local hero comes home" and "he is home, he will never leave us" meme has played out here more than most places.

The result in football was spectacular (BP). IMHO we also got a solid AD (MH). But in basketball, disastrous. Mainly because we rushed to hire two guys with local connections forgetting that the first had a losing record at the small college level and wanted to live 60 miles away (GW) and the second was a retired HS coach and gym teacher. Without their local connection, neither would have been considered.

And that is the difference, BP was a guy that had a resume that would have gotten him a job somewhere eventually, and MH actually was already AD at a larger and more successful school. Neither DD nor GW would have gotten an interview anywhere else. When you are hiring basketball coaches that no other school in the country wants, you have a problem.

And we have a problem.

Fire DD.

 

[19MU88]

That is true...White and DD would not have gotten an interview at similarly situated D1 schools at the time they were hired. So the question is, is that due to our desire or obsession to have a hometown hero come home OR due to our continued lack of investment in BB? I wish we'd just invest in basketball.

ironically, the two you mention - - one did something no other coaches (those that would have gotten interviews elsewhere that we hired) have done and reached an all time high in MU basketball. you know the one lucky 8 day run that no one else can do?? but the other coach you mention is White - he came one bounce of the ball or call away from the second NCAA tourney appearance since Huck. not bad for clowns that didn't even deserve an interview.


DD - hey I like his first 5 years, seemed like a good hire. the last three? his lazy recruiting and bad judgement in roster management has been fully exposed. they were always there but masked by elmore, burks and a few others.

GW - Honestly, he didn't get us where we want to be but I never looked at him as a failure, plus he didn't try to stay too long which helps with that. I liked his program and honestly the biggest problem with White was that our fans were too stupid to know how big of an upgrade the MAC was from the SC.

Now...let's look at those other hires, MU connections and no MU connections, you know the ones Sam likes.

Herrion - Deserved an interview!! Had some nice success with DJ's players until he packed his roster with his own trouble makers and the bottom collapsed. Ultimately a failure but some good seasons, he should thank Donnie for Kane, Shaq, Pitts etc.

DJ - Another MU boy that Sam wouldn't like. Decent success. Program moving in the right direction. Good talent brought in. Jumped ship on us before we accomplished anything. Herrion owes him.

Jirsa - Now this guy deserved an interview !!! total failure from beginning to end.

So, it is time for a change but even more importantly it's time to invest in basketball. it's amazing the support we get for having done so little for decades and decades.

 

[Herdmaster]

In all sports at the D-1 level a "good" coach will recruit the right players who really want to win and not the players who just want to show-up on game day and put forth a token effort. It appears that Marshall may have found a good football coach now, but the basketball program needs a huge change in both the coaching staff and players.

I watched the TN vs KY and the VT vs Duke games yesterday and one could see that the winners had a coach and players really wanted to play to win the game in lieu of just showing up to play a game. The coach of both games from tip-off the to the final buzzer was coaching the players to make the correct plays while the other coach just got mad and screamed at the referees and players.

If Marshall is going to make any changes, Marshall needs to find a "good" coach who knows talented players and how to coach them in practice as well as the games. Once we find a good coach we need to pay based upon success and not just pay more for just paying more.

I am hoping and praying that we have found a good new AD who understands the needs of Marshall and will make to correct moves and not fold under to the good boy attitude of days gone by.

Let's Go Herd!!!

 

[raleighherdfan]

No big school assistant is gonna come here.

🙄. Not this again…

 

[GeauxHerd]

If DD heads out now, he’ll still be known as the guy to win the first NCAA tourney and CIT. if he stays and keeps losing, he’ll get the Mark Snyder stink to his legacy.