(08-03-2017 11:13 AM)Hambone10 Wrote: (08-02-2017 09:59 PM)tanqtonic Wrote: (08-02-2017 09:08 PM)Hambone10 Wrote: (08-02-2017 04:55 PM)Owl1998 Wrote: The "killing the program" comment is simply referring to the uncertainty of the OG's contract situation and the failure to hire an assistant to replace Van Hook.
I thought I pretty well took blame for misreading you... I used your quote because whether you meant it that way or not, numerous others have suggested the same sentiment in numerous threads.
I think they should give him a rolling 5 year contract with a 3 year 'hook', meaning when he's ready to hang them up or we go in a different direction, we will reassign him in the department for 3 years. Consider it a golden parachute for all he's done.... and of course he DOES have some value he could bring to the program outside of coaching.
The issue is one of the definition of a contract -- it has to be bilateral. I don't have any first hand insight, but do you think that OG would agree to that setup? I would suspect that there are a number of people (at least on this board) that probably doubt whether OG would actually agree to this setup.
Do you think that OG would cede that control to the AD in that manner? If so, why doesnt he ostensibly agree to a 'head coach in waiting' set up?
The fact that the situation is where it is, kind of seems to imply to me that the parties arent really interested in a halfsy type arrangement. The inactivity (and some comments) seem to imply (to me at least) that both sides are in a 'take it or leave it' stance. And the clock *is* ticking....
We don't know that he hasn't. I think it just as likely that the AD hasn't.
I don't see how it's meaningfully different than what he's had before... we're merely giving him a built-in 3 year 'post-coaching' gig which of course he can decline later if he doesn't want to do it... which makes it similar to what would happen if we fired him with 3 years remaining on his contract... in exchange for the security and recruiting stability of a 5 yr rolling contract... not saying we'd ever do that (fire him)... but that eliminates (or at least quantifies) the risk to the University to 3 years of getting SOME value from him (i.e. perhaps we're paying him 650k to do a job that is only worth 250k, but still... it's worth SOMETHING) and it allows OG the respect to remain and then retire on his terms.
The risk is for the HC in waiting, but there's really not a lot of risk there as he has a high profile position with a top baseball school and is learning from one of the best in history... and would likely still be pursued by other universities... but we'd have HIM under a 3yr or so contract as well so while certainly the top dogs could take him, we wouldn't likely lose him to Sam or DBU.
The only thing we do know for sure is the inexorable progression of the clock tick tocking down on this.
I am sure the AD realizes the status quo is a very bad state.
It might be that OG realizes that. If he doesnt, that is an inexcusable victim of pride. If he does, that is not a great testament to his drive to keep Rice top notch.
If OG thinks he can run the Rice program in the manner that it was run and with comparable results to the 2000 - 2010 time frame, that is his opinion.
The last two issues about this team show that that is not the case.
In the perfect world, OG would say "Been a great run, lets make sure my successes are a foundation for the future" and the AD would say "Awesome, how can we honor your service?"
Instead Rice has a 80 some odd year old coach that seems determined to keep his fingers in it until they are pried away. From an outside optics standpoint, this path that is being taken by both sides is a friggin recipe for disaster. I think the loss of the assistants and the de-commits are the canary in the coal mine at this point.
And granted, from an outside optics point of view if the AD simply unilaterally 'retires' Graham, that is as bad as Graham's insistence at maintaining his iron grip on the program as it heads to the looming 20 car pileup that is less than a year away.