AH1971

Winning instantly (because of the portal) doesn't translate to building and establishing a culture. We've had one coach do that the last 25 years (Crean) and he was by far and away our best coach since RMK. The portal alleviates 6-25 seasons in year 1, but if you're buying 7-8 guys every single offseason, you aren't building or establishing anything. I'd much rather a coach spend his first year or two identifying, developing, and building a culture that sets up for much further long term success regardless of record than purchasing a bunch of rentals because it might mean you win 20 games and play in the NCAAT. Call me old school, call me an outlier, call me whatever you want but you aren't going to eliminate 30+ years of frustration in one or two seasons because of the portal. That I promise.

Dusty May's agent is probably lighting up like a Christmas Tree right now just as Bruce Pearl's agent was last year. We get taken to the cleaners every cycle and never learn.

We don't hire the "wrong" coaches. We hire the best available candidates. Those thinking IU voluntarily hired Archie over Billy Donovan or chose to retain Woodson over Bruce Pearl don't live in an accepted reality. Anybody who operates on the line of thinking that the IU job is one you cannot turn down hasn't been paying attention the last few decades. The IU job is a good job as in it: a) pays well b) gives you the resources to succeed c) rewards you for success But to think that the IU job is on a tier of its own is pure nonsense. It isn't.

Yep every great coach is rumored to IU..until they aren't. Beilein, Donovan, Stevens, Pearl. Can't believe IU has missed out on multiple HoFers the last 3-4 cycles. IU basketball leads the country in almost hiring the best coaches. Crazy how that works and not one has ever come to fruition. Things that make you go hmmmm

You want to talk about track records now...lol

IU has the least amount of expectations of any football program in the country. Cignetti literally said on Game Day that he looked at the football schedule and decided it was a place where could win immediately and the rest is history. But comparing the IU football job to the IU basketball job is asinine.

So when this job is turned down by Stevens and Pearl and May sticks around in Ann Arbor then what? Those guys aren't worth their salt I suppose?

If you don't understand the demands and expectations for this job, then I can't help you. Sometimes those demands aren't met in in the first couple of years. It isn't for everybody, clearly. We're on what, coach 6 this century?

When you bail on a coach after two seasons (like you just admitted with Archie) it becomes next to impossible to survive here. So you either: a) win and win big out of the gate b) have the stones to block out the noise That's why hiring somebody who has never managed expectations like the ones that have been set here rarely work out.

I've given my three candidates, and I believe all three would accept if offered. But it's also not my job to give.

Never going to build or sustain anything firing coaches every 2 years. And I think that's painfully obvious given the trajectory this program has taken dating back nearly 30 years.

Should have hired him over Archie

No way of substantiating that, but if I had to answer, probably better with Dusty. But who cares? Dusty isn't my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice. If keeping Woodson a year too long means we get somebody better than Dusty, I'm all for it.

Noted. (and still don't care)

Pope is 20 games into his tenure, let's not put him in the Hall of Fame quite just yet. But yes, you need more than X's and O's to win at this job, clearly.

The whole extortion thing with his assistant coach was weird and I'm sure that played a part. But I do think Mack is one of the few coaches with the personality, the demeanor, and the ego to handle a job with this kind of noise.

Yes I absolutely believe Woodson deserved a 4th season even with hindsight. Firing a coach, especially an alum, after 3 years is terrible optics, considering Archie had just gotten 4 years. Now had Woodson finished with multiple losing seasons, no tournaments, etc it would have been a tougher conversation but you're getting 4 years at IU unless you have a Sampson level scandal.

Let me off the hook for what? I was very practical and level-headed this summer in saying that Woodson deserved a 4th season and wasn't going to join the mob just yet while readily acknowledging he was now on the clock. I wasn't ready to dance on any graves before Thanksgiving. IU put together a nice little run a few weeks back but could not handle any kind of sustained success. The energy level and effort reflected the last two games signals that the players have quit on their coach. For that, a change is not only needed, but warranted. It's as simple as that. I didn't buy into the mid-season rumors that Bruce Pearl was leaving Auburn and I didn't take Woodson's comments on senior day at a personal level.

Chris Beard, Chris Mack, and Will Wade wouldn't win many press conferences but all have giant stones that could handle all the noise that comes with the territory.

He's not been interested in the job either of the last two times its been open. I think it goes without being said where his heart lies. But I'm not going to stop you from thinking the third time is the charm.

IDGAF what you think

Reading sure is a skill. Where did I ever doubt his ability to coach /win? Assuming he's 100% committed to the job along with all the nuances of being a college head coach (which are different than being an NBA head coach and executive), sure sign him up. I'm questioning his commitment because every career move he has made suggests he's committed to being a college head coach. I'm not asking for you to agree with my opinion either.

How are they made up concerns? Every career move he has made suggests otherwise. How many guys leave college for the NBA and come back successful or come back at all?

I think the questions surrounding Stevens have little to do with his resume. Does he have the drive to get back into college coaching? Is he prepared to recruit not just locally but nationally 8-9 months out of the year? Does he want to babysit 18-22 year old college students? I think these are all legitimate concerns and a big reason why he transitioned out of college and out of coaching altogether. I don't want Stevens here unless he's 110% committed, rather than simply fulfilling some childhood dream.

That would seem to be like the most likely scenario. Team isn't due to play at home until 1/26 with two road games prior. Lose both and I would guess there is some kind of announcement regarding Woodson's future before they tip off.