bitcruncher Wrote:

Quote:The suit, filed July 8 in U.S. District Court here, contends the school breached its obligation to pay Stewart the remainder of his contract through 2001 and refused to give him a chance to tell his side of the story.

It sounds to me like he was tried, convicted, and sentenced on hearsay evidence, without any chance to defend himself. Like I said, show me some proof. And an article about a non-issue that happened over 10 years ago isn't it.

Yeah, it's a non-issue. I read on the VPI forums that many folks around VMI, including many of the players (black and white), were behind Stew 100% and disputed the accounts of what happened. And in any event, at worst he used a word that perhaps he shouldn't have, but it wasn't in a racist, or derogatory, context.

The players at WVU love him, and this is not something that anybody is thinking about, nor should we.

It was used in a racist and derogatory manner. Just because he didn't directly use it to the call the player that name, doesn't mean in that context it is not racist or derogatory.

I think it is a non issue, but expect for it to come up almost everytime the media talks about your new coach. ESPN is already saying "Stewart was forced to resign from VMI for reportedly using a racial slur:.

subflea Wrote:It was used in a racist and derogatory manner. Just because he didn't directly use it to the call the player that name, doesn't mean in that context it is not racist or derogatory.

I think it is a non issue, but expect for it to come up almost everytime the media talks about your new coach. ESPN is already saying "Stewart was forced to resign from VMI for reportedly using a racial slur:.

Anybody who saw Stew with those players last night on the field will find it utterly ridiculous that anybody might think he has a racist bone in his body, so I really could give a rat's azz whether or not ESPN mentions it. The (black) head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers has already been on record praising Stewart and encouraging WVU to hire him - - and this was before the Fiesta Bowl.

Screw ESPN. They don't have the best interests of WVU and the rest of The BEast football at heart.

wvucrazed Wrote:

subflea Wrote:It was used in a racist and derogatory manner. Just because he didn't directly use it to the call the player that name, doesn't mean in that context it is not racist or derogatory.

I think it is a non issue, but expect for it to come up almost everytime the media talks about your new coach. ESPN is already saying "Stewart was forced to resign from VMI for reportedly using a racial slur:.

Anybody who saw Stew with those players last night on the field will find it utterly ridiculous that anybody might think he has a racist bone in his body, so I really could give a rat's azz whether or not ESPN mentions it. The (black) head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers has already been on record praising Stewart and encouraging WVU to hire him - - and this was before the Fiesta Bowl.

I believe you need to judge the man by his actions. Sometimes it is the intention behind a comment vs. the actual comment. All black players at WVU obviously love the guy. I just hope he can manage all the assistant coaches and keep everyone on the same track. WVU will be a force in the BE no matter what as long as WVU got Pat White.

SF Husky Wrote:

wvucrazed Wrote:

subflea Wrote:It was used in a racist and derogatory manner. Just because he didn't directly use it to the call the player that name, doesn't mean in that context it is not racist or derogatory.

I think it is a non issue, but expect for it to come up almost everytime the media talks about your new coach. ESPN is already saying "Stewart was forced to resign from VMI for reportedly using a racial slur:.

Anybody who saw Stew with those players last night on the field will find it utterly ridiculous that anybody might think he has a racist bone in his body, so I really could give a rat's azz whether or not ESPN mentions it. The (black) head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers has already been on record praising Stewart and encouraging WVU to hire him - - and this was before the Fiesta Bowl.

I believe you need to judge the man by his actions. Sometimes it is the intention behind a comment vs. the actual comment. All black players at WVU obviously love the guy. I just hope he can manage all the assistant coaches and keep everyone on the same track. WVU will be a force in the BE no matter what as long as WVU got Pat White.

They will still be the team to beat next year, but losing Owen Schmitt will be tough for them. Look at what happened to Ray Rice and Rutgers when they lost the big fullback to run behind.

SF Husky Wrote:I think it is a great hire. I hope he can retain the current staff. They need to keep their OC and DC. Rich Rod was a good recruiter so someone has to step it up for WVU.

The oc is going with r rod to Michigan, maybe they can steal UCons, ambrose, he has shown me inconsistancy thats it, Edsall likes to blame the kids=though, the question is can Edsall fire his friend, and do whats best for the team.......

I'm curious to see who fills the vacancies in the WVU coaching staff. Those will be very crucial decisions for Stewart.

subflea Wrote:It was used in a racist and derogatory manner. Just because he didn't directly use it to the call the player that name, doesn't mean in that context it is not racist or derogatory.

I think it is a non issue, but expect for it to come up almost everytime the media talks about your new coach. ESPN is already saying "Stewart was forced to resign from VMI for reportedly using a racial slur:.

-- Its sad when our media hits someone for "alledgedly" saying a single sentence a decade ago on the best day of his profesional career. Does anyone care Mike Tomilin went to bat for Stewart in the Pittsburgh media? Nope. Anyone care that Pat White went to bat for Stewart last night? Nope. Anyone care that Stewart's players love him? Nope.

Here are some of the quotes from Tomlin...Stewart sounds horrible (sarcasm) doesn't he

Jackson


Steelers' Tomlin cheered by former boss Stewart's hiring at WVU
ALAN ROBINSON

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Don't tell this to anyone at Pitt: One of new West Virginia coach Bill Stewart's biggest fans coaches right next door to the Panthers.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is only two days away from coaching his first NFL playoff game, but he took a few minutes Thursday to praise Stewart , the man who gave him his first assistant's job, as the wide receivers coach at VMI in 1995.

Tomlin spent only one season under Stewart, who was so impressed with Tomlin as a player at William & Mary that he added him to his staff only a few months after Tomlin's college career ended.

Tomlin said he learned much in that single season from Stewart, a longtime assistant coach who was unexpectedly hired by West Virginia hours after leading the Mountaineers to a 48-28 rout of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday night.

Stewart appeared to hug everyone in sight who was wearing Mountaineers gold and blue after the stunningly one-sided game, displaying the passion and love for the sport that, to Tomlin, is Stewart's biggest strength.

"He's a special man in my life for a lot of reasons. He gave me my first job. He showed me how to express the love and enthusiasm I have for this game as a coach," Tomlin said. "He cares about people. It oozes out of his everyday existence. He's an awesome coach, an awesome man, and I'm extremely happy for him."

Stewart, formerly the assistant head coach, was expected to coach West Virginia on an interim basis only for the bowl game and wasn't considered to be in the running for the full-time job.

Still, Tomlin isn't surprised that Stewart, who is much liked by the West Virginia players, was able to refocus the Mountaineers so quickly after a tumultuous and distraction-filled month.

The then-No. 2 Mountaineers were beaten by Pitt 13-9 on Dec. 1 in the greatest upset loss in school history, costing them a national title shot, then lost coach Rich Rodriguez to Michigan only days later. The school is suing Rodriguez, saying he owes $4 million as a contract buyout.

Despite all that unrest and unhappiness, West Virginia rallied for what arguably is the best victory in school history, and with a coach who was running his first game at a BCS school.

Tomlin couldn't have been happier that a self-described football lifer like Stewart, a loyal assistant for most of his 33 years in coaching, finally gets to be a head coach on one of college football's biggest stages.

"It was football justice, if you will," Tomlin said. "If you know Bill Stewart, you love Bill Stewart and last night was football justice."

Tomlin called West Virginia officials on Wednesday , apparently, president Mike Garrison among them , to express his support for Stewart.

"Yeah, I'd like to leave that private," Tomlin said. "What I don't want to leave private is my support and love I have for coach Stewart."

Hours before, Tomlin reacted to the news of Stewart's hiring by saying, "Bill Stewart! That's the best news of the day!"

When Tomlin was hired by the Steelers last January, Stewart heaped praise on his former assistant, saying, "He was born to coach."

Tomlin apparently feels the same way about his former boss, a native of New Martinsville, W.Va., whose first job was as a newspaper delivery boy.

"They picked the right man for the job," Tomlin said.

subflea Wrote:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footbal...i_lawsuit/

Quote:According to the suit, Stewart dressed down a player for "high-stepping" down the sideline after intercepting a pass during an October 30, 1996 practice, telling the player it was unacceptable conduct.

Stewart then told the player to avoid giving others a reason to call him by a racial slur, the suit said.

I am sure it was the N word. But what he was trying to help the player to understand is not so bad. I understand what he was trying to do. He was trying to help the kid obviously. It was an unfortunate situation and I am sure there were some folks who were very sensitive to the word. Sure, being those kids leader, he should have known better. But perhaps he was so comfortable with his players and they were as confortable with him that everyone knew there were no hurtful intentions that he felt he could say it. I wont hold that against him. I thought it was much worse, and I am African American.

tufinal4 Wrote:This strategy of hiring the trusted assistant who the players love fails far more often than it succeeds. I'm sure there are examples of where it has succeeded, and therefore I said that, but I don't personally know of any, so I welcome anyone pointing them out.

The only time my school did this, it was right after Mack Brown had taken Tulane, rebuilt the program, and earned an Independence Bowl bid vs. Washington in 1987. He took the North Carolina job, and the school immediately took his recommendation and hired the unanimous choice of the players, Mack's OC, Greg Davis. It was an absolute, unmitigated disaster. He couldn't recruit, couldn't coach, we wound up down to 1-10 and chased off 15-20,000 fans from 1988-1996.

Sometimes it works. Jamie Dixon was Ben Howland's trusted assistant. Foge Fazio was Jackie Sherrill's. So there's 2 examples from Pitt. One worked out, the other didn't.

Shannon Panther Wrote:Sometimes it works. Jamie Dixon was Ben Howland's trusted assistant. Foge Fazio was Jackie Sherrill's. So there's 2 examples from Pitt. One worked out, the other didn't.

It would seem to me it's much easier to pull off in basketball than in football. In football, you have to worry about building and maintaining a larger staff of assistants, and much more goes into game preparation and adjustment.

I know I'm late to the party, but congrats on the shellacking of OU last night and the hiring of Stewart today! Boy were Stewart's words prophetic before the game when the sideline reporter asked him about his team being distracted vs. being ready...and he said something like, 'I think you will see how ready they are here shortly!'

bitcruncher Wrote:I'm curious to see who fills the vacancies in the WVU coaching staff. Those will be very crucial decisions for Stewart.

I hope they don't do it on the cheap. They should spend some of that 4 mil they will be getting from RR.

During the press conference what stood out to me is he said he has the best interest of WVU at heart. He also said that he will know if/when it is time for him to leave the program. I think he knows that they are taking a risk on him and he will need to prove himself. If he does not succeed he will readily step down. I also think he probably views this as his last and best shot at being a head coach and he will be driven to succeed.

Concerning the racial comment. I found this quote from the SI article telling. With the player involved it was settled.

"The suit said Stewart subsequently learned that the player, who was not identified in the court papers, may have misconstrued his comment, but the player opposed Stewart's suggestion of a team meeting to discuss the matter and told Stewart "the air was clear" as far as he was concerned."

Don't know whether this decision will workout or not but what I don't like about it was it was an emotionally decision. Business decision should never be based on emotion; it's almost always a mistake. He was 8-25 as a head coach before being fired. That being said, I hope it works out.

HollywoodTig Wrote:Don't know whether this decision will workout or not but what I don't like about it was it was an emotionally decision. Business decision should never be based on emotion; it's almost always a mistake. He was 8-25 as a head coach before being fired. That being said, I hope it works out.

No offense Tiger fan, and I am not picking on you, but how do you or I or anyone else know if it was an emotional decision? Maybe the WV adm purposfuly waited to see how he would do in the bowl with all of these odds stacked against him. Maybe they noticed how he had so much respect from his players that they decided to take a wait and see approach, after they had gotten logjammed with the few candidates that they were struggling to decide on.
I'm not saying it was or wast an emotional decision, but these folks are very intelligent people and they have made some great decisions these past few years that have really paid off.

It may well have been an emotional decision that will blow up in their face, but at this point I think it will workout fine.

LaRue777 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:I'm curious to see who fills the vacancies in the WVU coaching staff. Those will be very crucial decisions for Stewart.

I hope they don't do it on the cheap. They should spend some of that 4 mil they will be getting from RR.

During the press conference what stood out to me is he said he has the best interest of WVU at heart. He also said that he will know if/when it is time for him to leave the program. I think he knows that they are taking a risk on him and he will need to prove himself. If he does not succeed he will readily step down. I also think he probably views this as his last and best shot at being a head coach and he will be driven to succeed.

Concerning the racial comment. I found this quote from the SI article telling. With the player involved it was settled.

"The suit said Stewart subsequently learned that the player, who was not identified in the court papers, may have misconstrued his comment, but the player opposed Stewart's suggestion of a team meeting to discuss the matter and told Stewart "the air was clear" as far as he was concerned."

They got Stewart for a bargain. I'd say $800K is cheap for a BCS Bowl Champion's coach. Incentives are heavily built into the contract, so if he does well he won't be poor. Not in WV.

But he's got to make some crucial decisions very soon. According to reports, 5 assistant coaches are following Rodriguez to Michigan. Those hires will do a lot to determine how WVU will play in the future.

Getting a good Offensive Line coach is a big one for me. Their play always seems to be big key to the WVU team.

I'm hoping we grad Satterfield and Elliot from App State as OC and OL coach
http://www.goasu.com/football/coach/

Looks like Casteel is staying and Bruce Tall might as well.

I think Stewart is an excellent coach and an excellent motivator and, apparently, and outstanding recruiter. He had those kids breathing fire against Oklahoma! And he made some outstanding adjustments on both sides of the ball. And he was aggressive, something that Rodriguez wasn't, and it probably cost WVU a couple of cracks at the national championship. If Stewart surrounds himself with the right staff and stays aggressive, WVU will continue to be the team to beat in the Big East, and a national title contender.