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http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/...cart_river

The hyperbole surrounding this hire just keeps growing. Again, everyone should just reserve judgment until the end of his second year.

If he bolts to be come an assistant coach under his replacement at JSU, we'll have a definitive answer.

(01-24-2014 09:44 AM)Grammar-Nazi Wrote:  The hyperbole surrounding this hire just keeps growing. Again, everyone should just reserve judgment until the end of his second year.

If he bolts to be come an assistant coach under his replacement at JSU, we'll have a definitive answer.

I'm excited about the hire, but having not won more than we lost since 2004, it can hardly be argued that UAB fans don't have patience.

Do I want to win immediately? Hell yes, but I don't know how realistic that is.

What I damn sure expect is to see a better football team on the field in '15 than the one on the field next year.

That's really when I began to sour on McGee. Having a year under his belt didn't seem to make him a better coach.

Clark is already a better coach than McGee.

"Temper my optimism"? Why? A better coach would have beaten Rice, MTSU, and Troy last year.

No, we have not yet seen anything at all on the field. I still think our coaching situation is much improved. Even given how late in the recruiting season we hired Clark, I fully expect him to at least double last year's win total. I don't think that's green glasses, I think it's a pretty low bar to clear.

I haven't heard anything on it since yesterday, but about all of the coaching staff was at the high school conference in Montgomery yesterday making UAB's presence known.

I suspect we had a greater presence there yesterday than we have had in awhile, if ever.

That is what it takes for UAB succeed right now.

Who among us does NOT feel like we just traded up ?

(01-24-2014 10:19 AM)Smaug Wrote:  I'm excited about the hire, but having not won more than we lost since 2004, it can hardly be argued that UAB fans don't have patience.

Do I want to win immediately? Hell yes, but I don't know how realistic that is.

What I damn sure expect is to see a better football team on the field in '15 than the one on the field next year.

That's really when I began to sour on McGee. Having a year under his belt didn't seem to make him a better coach.

Clark is already a better coach than McGee.

"Temper my optimism"? Why? A better coach would have beaten Rice, MTSU, and Troy last year.

I really thought he was a worse coach this year. His game management was awful.

I'm not certain, because the entire interview isn't put into the article...but the headline is a bit off.

The headline makes you think that Mackin is saying Bill Clark is a godsend, but what it looks like in the article is that Mackin is saying the situation that lead to Bill Clark's hiring (McGee leaving) was a godsend...which I agree with.

Both.

McGee was the debil.

I don't think many employers would normally call a new employee a "godsend" before they've even been on the job...just doesn't look good for yourself. Which is why I think the quote was more about McGee leaving and the circumstance than calling Bill Clark a godsend...but I could be wrong.

(01-24-2014 12:29 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  I don't think many employers would normally call a new employee a "godsend" before they've even been on the job...just doesn't look good for yourself. Which is why I think the quote was more about McGee leaving and the circumstance than calling Bill Clark a godsend...but I could be wrong.

That makes sense, as it was a godsend for Mackin........it bailed him out of his disastrous hire, and UAB actually gained $150,000, and a good coach in the process.

I think we traded up if only for the good relations with in-state high school coaches. Not having seen a Bill Clark-coached team perform on gameday I think it would be disingenuous to assess it any further.

That said, I am definitely of the school of thinking that says "first year with new staff" should always equal very low expectations...the exact details are almost irrelevant. Yes, you can point out exceptions but they are the ones that prove the rule.

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(01-24-2014 09:44 AM)Grammar-Nazi Wrote:  The hyperbole surrounding this hire just keeps growing. Again, everyone should just reserve judgment until the end of his second year.

If he bolts to be come an assistant coach under his replacement at JSU, we'll have a definitive answer.

I believe the current euphoria is heightened by the combination of circumstances. UAB football was going nowhere but downhill under Garrick McGee's leadership, and no change was in sight. Then all of a sudden things changed significantly, and optimism has returned to the program. It's a good thing to have hope.

Unfortunately, my hope for the basketball team is gone.

(01-24-2014 01:09 PM)blazr Wrote:  I think we traded up if only for the good relations with in-state high school coaches. Not having seen a Bill Clark-coached team perform on gameday I think it would be disingenuous to assess it any further.

That said, I am definitely of the school of thinking that says "first year with new staff" should always equal very low expectations...the exact details are almost irrelevant. Yes, you can point out exceptions but they are the ones that prove the rule.

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While I tend to agree with having low expectations for a first year staff, the mechanics of the game is not different from Pop Warner up to the NFL. If the talent level between the teams is relatively equal, the game is won and lost by coaching, preparation and play calling.

I think UAB just upgraded all three.

We'll see with play calling. The OC hire is very important.

(01-24-2014 11:53 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Both.

McGee was the debil.

Says Bobby Boucher's mamma...

"But what I tried to do with the help of Bill (Carr), was we narrowed down to that profile," Mackin said. "If somebody had a "name" that would have come in here and maybe won the press conference and greet the team at 5:00 and is not going to make a difference in their lives and this program, that's where we have to be committed to the cause."

THIS!!!!!!

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. JMHO, but I think Mr. Mackin learned from the McGone experiment.

(01-24-2014 02:46 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  We'll see with play calling. The OC hire is very important.

+1. Very interested to see who we hire.

Has Mackin said anything about the NSD reception in the G&G Room to go over the new signing class - and introduce new coaches?