I hope we can sneak one more by you guys this year before you do figure it out. That being said, I hope to see USM in a bowl next season.

(01-08-2015 12:14 PM)NanoDawg Wrote:  

(01-07-2015 12:28 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  It was similar to our situation in 2011.

However, instead of hiring a proven, winning head coach like we should have, we've opted for an old loser (Ellis Johnson) and a so-far-failed project (Todd Monken).

USM football situation reminds me of our Techster WBB: great program but falling like a rock due to a series of bad hiring.

USM football did fall like a rock due to bad hiring. However, your Techsters fell like a rock due to major conferences adding womens basketball, not bad hiring, thereby steering the finest recruits away from Tech. Must remember that schools like Tech, Old Dominion, Delta State, Sam Houston State, etc were the initial schools fielding womens basketball teams. ALL of these went downhill when the major schools added the sport.

(01-08-2015 05:06 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(01-08-2015 12:14 PM)NanoDawg Wrote:  

(01-07-2015 12:28 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  It was similar to our situation in 2011.

However, instead of hiring a proven, winning head coach like we should have, we've opted for an old loser (Ellis Johnson) and a so-far-failed project (Todd Monken).

USM football situation reminds me of our Techster WBB: great program but falling like a rock due to a series of bad hiring.

USM football did fall like a rock due to bad hiring. However, your Techsters fell like a rock due to major conferences adding womens basketball, not bad hiring, thereby steering the finest recruits away from Tech. Must remember that schools like Tech, Old Dominion, Delta State, Sam Houston State, etc were the initial schools fielding womens basketball teams. ALL of these went downhill when the major schools added the sport.

half right half wrong - hiring of Chris Long and TSpoon played a big role. We weren't final 4 team but we were tournament capable team. Chris Long and TSpoon brought our team all the way down to rock bottom.

(01-07-2015 09:11 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  I remember a lot of folks being down on the Holtz hire.

Not to toot my own horn, but I defended it and even told some La Tech fans that the sky wasn't falling and that he was a solid football coach.

USF is just......bleh. The guy can coach and ALSO can adapt with the changing landscape (these La Tech teams and the ECU teams are quite different, although solid defense is always there)

I was in the same camp.


Side note: you look good in blue. Congrats

(01-08-2015 05:06 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(01-08-2015 12:14 PM)NanoDawg Wrote:  

(01-07-2015 12:28 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  It was similar to our situation in 2011.

However, instead of hiring a proven, winning head coach like we should have, we've opted for an old loser (Ellis Johnson) and a so-far-failed project (Todd Monken).

USM football situation reminds me of our Techster WBB: great program but falling like a rock due to a series of bad hiring.

USM football did fall like a rock due to bad hiring. However, your Techsters fell like a rock due to major conferences adding womens basketball, not bad hiring, thereby steering the finest recruits away from Tech. Must remember that schools like Tech, Old Dominion, Delta State, Sam Houston State, etc were the initial schools fielding womens basketball teams. ALL of these went downhill when the major schools added the sport.

For once I agree with you.

I disagree with EE. Barmore was doing very well after the big schools started investing in Women's BB. Mulkey left Tech and won a couple of national championships at Baylor recently (and they had no tradition when she got there). There are other former Barmore assistants that are doing very well too. It's mostly about the coaching. I think if we would have promoted Mulkey to HC, we wouldn't have missed a beat.

Could care less about WBB. I hope for success but don't consider it essential.

(01-08-2015 05:06 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(01-08-2015 12:14 PM)NanoDawg Wrote:  

(01-07-2015 12:28 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  It was similar to our situation in 2011.

However, instead of hiring a proven, winning head coach like we should have, we've opted for an old loser (Ellis Johnson) and a so-far-failed project (Todd Monken).

USM football situation reminds me of our Techster WBB: great program but falling like a rock due to a series of bad hiring.

USM football did fall like a rock due to bad hiring. However, your Techsters fell like a rock due to major conferences adding womens basketball, not bad hiring, thereby steering the finest recruits away from Tech. Must remember that schools like Tech, Old Dominion, Delta State, Sam Houston State, etc were the initial schools fielding womens basketball teams. ALL of these went downhill when the major schools added the sport.

Well . . . I agree. That was weird.

I also figured when the WNBA was created money would start to flow into the college game and put the smaller schools at a disadvantage.

Lady Techsters under Leon Barmore:

1983: Lost the nat'l championship game (31-2)
1984: Final 4 (30-3)
1985: Elite 8 (29-4)
1986: Elite 8 (27-5)
1987: Lost the nat'l championship game (30-3)
1988: National Champions (32-2)

Bigger schools started building up around this point...

1989: Final 4 (32-4)
1990: Final 4 (32-1)
1991: Lost in 1st round (18-12)
1992: Lost in 1st round (20-10)
1993: Elite 8 (26-6)
1994: Lost the nat'l championship game (31-4)
1995: Sweet 16 (28-5)
1996: Elite 8 (31-2)
1997: Sweet 16 (31-4)
1998: Lost the nat'l championship game (31-4)
1999: Final 4 (30-3)
2000: Elite 8 (31-3) (Barmore announces retirement, Kim Mulkey goes to Baylor, so Barmore doesn't retire)
2001: Elite 8 (31-5)
2002: Lost in 1st round (25-5)

Barmore retires with 576-87 record.

Kurt Budke:
2003: Sweet 16 (31-3)
2004: Sweet 16 (29-3)
2005: Lost in 1st round (20-10)

Budke hired by Oklahoma St

Chris Long:
2006: Lost in 1st round (26-5)
2007: Did not make postseason (17-13)
2008: Did not make postseason (16-15)

Chris Long fired

Teresa Weatherspoon:
2009: WNIT 2nd round (21-13)
2010: Lost in 1st round (23-9)
2011: Lost in 1st round (24-8)
2012: Did not make postseason (17-15)
2013: Did not make postseason (14-17)

Teresa Weatherspoon fired.

Tyler Summit hired.

Kim Mulkey at Baylor:
2001: Lost in 1st round (21-9)
2002: Lost in 2nd round (27-6)
2003: Lost WNIT championship game (24-11)
2004: Sweet 16 (26-9)
2005: National Champions (33-3)
2006: Sweet 16 (26-7)
2007: Lost in 2nd round (26-8)
2008: Lost in 2nd round (25-7)
2009: Sweet 16 (29-6)
2010: Final 4 (27-10)
2011: Elite 8 (34-3)
2012: National Champions (40-0)
2013: Sweet 16 (34-2)
2014: Elite 8 (32-5)

Mulkey's record at Baylor (405-87)

(01-08-2015 06:59 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  Could care less about WBB. I hope for success but don't consider it essential.

You mean the hijack into a thread about WBB ?

As far women's basketball, certainly you need to be able to recruit for a high level of success along with a good budget, but coaching is key as ODU fans have learned since Wendy Larry's departure. LaTech and ODU can certainly return back to their winning ways with the right guidance.