I'll let you read the links and wait for your commentary...

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketb...next-coach

http://belmontvision.com/2011/03/21/byrd...e-opening/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/63300...rd-in-hand

Hoping this isn't true.

Wow....my heart sank. I really hope Byrd stays, because he is the reason for our success. Year in and year out he has taken kids with inferior talent and size and made them into a cohesive unit...no one does it better. I feel like if we could just hang on to him for another 5-10 years we really could be the next Gonzaga because we will get some big wins eventually.

I think it would be hard for Byrd to integrate into Tennessee's system. He'd have to completely change everything around. Plus, players would have to go to class. I don't see it happening, here's hoping he stays...

I dont think that he will go, but you certainly cant blame him if he does. Ut might be the only job in the country that Byrd would be interested in- and that fact combined with the fact that they might be interested in him in the first place- is a compliment to him and your program.

As a ETSU fan, we had the same issue with Ed Dechellis. Penn State might be the only place he would have went, and the job became available. As much as it hurt to lose him, we cant blame him.

I actually think he might be offered- he is the Derek Dooley in this situation- a quality classy guy to replace a guy that was perceived to be a jerk and liar.

(03-21-2011 09:25 PM)BelmontSuperFan Wrote:  I'll let you read the links and wait for your commentary...

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketb...next-coach

http://belmontvision.com/2011/03/21/byrd...e-opening/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/63300...rd-in-hand

Hoping this isn't true.

We need resolution to this, and fast. If UT is indeed interested in Coach Byrd, there is a worst case scenario where Casey takes a job over the next week or so and then UT hires Byrd. If Rick goes, we need to keep Casey. I have a feeling that UT will go for a higher-profile name who can recruit. Look at a guy like Lebo. A highly respected coach, but without a major name in recruiting. He crumbled at Auburn, as he couldn't attract talent. Frankly, Byrd would coach up UT, but he'd have a hard time attracting the big 4's and 5's due to reputation as a perimeter coach. That's the difference in mid-major and major conference hoops. For that reason, I don't think Rick is a fit at UT and I don't think he'd have major success.

My $0.02...

Well the good news is not a single credible news source has said anything about this to my knowledge. AOL, Belmont Vision, and BleacherReport do not count. Media speculation doesn't mean anything.

Speculation seems to be running more towards young guys like VCU's Shaka Smart. Which is fine with me. Rick Byrd has owned ETSU since we've moved to the ASun. But his continued presence in the conference is a strong incentive for every school in the ASun to get better... including the Bucs.

Apparently Byrd has expressed interest in the job. UT has yet to express interest in having him. UT is going for top nationally known names that they have no chance at all in getting.

(03-25-2011 06:56 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  Apparently Byrd has expressed interest in the job. UT has yet to express interest in having him. UT is going for top nationally known names that they have no chance at all in getting.

Source? Not challenging it.. I would just be interested to know where that's coming from.

I saw this referenced in a couple of articles- all citing "unnamed sources". Byrd and Oakland's coach were cited as the two that had expressed interest.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/mar/...rested-ut/

UT picked up Cuonzo Martin from Missouri St.

All is good in Nashville once again!

It's a good thing for everybody in the conference. Byrd forces teams to try to raise their game to keep up.