The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(03-30-2015 04:14 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  I haven't seen the figures, but I wonder how much money there's left to demand in exchange for not leaving. He's already made that play what, twice now? Unless there's an untouched oil supply deep underneath Richmond and VCU owns the rights to it, there must be a ceiling for Shaka's pay.

At some point he's going to be the coach that cried wolf.

Schools will either stop trying to woo him or VCU will stop bumping pay.

Didn't he turn down a raise after the last flirtation, instead asking for more money for his assistants and for travel? I guess it's possible that he thinks Texas will pony up enough that it forces VCU higher than it did for Marquette, but unless it's a really long game, it doesn't seem Shaka's style at all.

Yes, he didn't get the money, but it's still more out of pocket for VCU.

What better way to take care of your guys than having UT foot the bill?

My money (if I was a betting man) is on Shaka going to Texas. I don't know how he can pass it up.

(03-30-2015 05:51 PM)djnva Wrote:  Yes, he didn't get the money, but it's still more out of pocket for VCU.

What better way to take care of your guys than having UT foot the bill?

Speaking of his guys, I wonder if Wade and Rhodes wish they held off for a year or two. Probably easier to get to a power conference from the Texas bench than Rice or Chattanooga.

What happened to Capel is what happened to Grant is what's happening to Smart. They all realized that they've taken VCU as far as it can go. While VCU has been to the dance 5 years in a row, the prospects of another Final Four run seem distant. I'm sure Smart isn't after the paycheck. He wants to lead a team to an NCAA championship. During Capels' welcome speech at OU, he vowed to lead the Sooners to a championship. I think it's about goals and the Texas job seems like the best opportunity for Smart to achieve them.

Shaka has lost a ton of assistance, maybe he's tried of that. At Texas he won't have that problem.

There's so little downside to leaving. Even if Shaka flames out after 5 years he'll bank serious $$$, maintain a high profile and still have his pick of high mid-major or mid-low power conference jobs.

(03-30-2015 06:08 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 05:51 PM)djnva Wrote:  Yes, he didn't get the money, but it's still more out of pocket for VCU.

What better way to take care of your guys than having UT foot the bill?

Speaking of his guys, I wonder if Wade and Rhodes wish they held off for a year or two. Probably easier to get to a power conference from the Texas bench than Rice or Chattanooga.

I would imagine one of them gets the VCU job.

Possible trouble in paradise:


http://wtvr.com/2015/03/30/shaka-watch-2...xas-bound/

RTD reported that VCU said no school has asked for permission to talk to Shaka and he's still in Richmond.

I said yesterday I wouldn't be shocked if Rhodes says buh bye to rice to head back to VCU

(03-30-2015 07:10 PM)odu83alumni Wrote:  Possible trouble in paradise:


http://wtvr.com/2015/03/30/shaka-watch-2...xas-bound/

Nice article. I found it interesting that if you scroll down to the bottom, CBS miss the opportunity to add a link where ODU put the beat down on VCU at the Ted!

So, a lot of VCU fans are hanging their hats on the "no school has contact VCU for permission to speak to Shaka Smart" thing.

Of course, it's important to note that permission is NOT required. Which kind of renders that whole statement meaningless.

Here's a quote from VCU's AD 5 months ago:

"Asking for permission to contact, and stuff like that — that stuff doesn't happen anymore. The professionalism in giving someone a heads up or letting them know — that's gone. That never happens."

(03-30-2015 09:54 PM)djnva Wrote:  So, a lot of VCU fans are hanging their hats on the "no school has contact VCU for permission to speak to Shaka Smart" thing.

Of course, it's important to note that permission is NOT required. Which kind of renders that whole statement meaningless.

Here's a quote from VCU's AD 5 months ago:

"Asking for permission to contact, and stuff like that — that stuff doesn't happen anymore. The professionalism in giving someone a heads up or letting them know — that's gone. That never happens."

Saw you posting on our boards, thought I'd add here. Most VCU fans are reassured more due to the fact that parents of current players stated Shaka was not talking to Texas. If you saw ESPNs special on Shaka from earlier this month, the players state that he constantly keeps them in the loop whenever there is a rumor about him leaving.

Shaka also does not, and has not in the past, used an agent. Therefore, Texas would have to contact him rather directly. If he leaves, I would assume Rhoades would be VCU's target.

Thanks for popping in.

I mean more that a search firm could contact Shaka, meaning that the statement that a "school" has not contacted him would still be 100% accurate, in legalese :)

My whole take on the Shaka situation regarding VCU Basketball:

VCU did well to build off of the Capel to Grant to Shaka hires. They sustained success through three coaching regimes and capitalized on it unlike George Mason. I have to hand it to the fan base (as much as I despise them as rivals) on their general enthusiasm for their team. They have built a solid basketball program, there is no arguing that. However, I think Shaka realizes that he may have reached the pinnacle as far as success at VCU goes. He took them to the Final Four and has seen how tough it really is at a school like VCU to repeat it compared to the upper majors in college basketball. They have lost in the first round the last two years. Getting back to the Final Four at VCU is going to be extremely hard.

Reading some of the VCU fans on Ram Nation in regards to Shaka winning a National Championship at VCU is comical as an observer on the outside. I won't argue that he has built VCU into a perennial Top 25 program. He has certainly done that. But to honestly think that he has built VCU into a National Championship contender is delusional.

The resources at these schools like Duke, Kentucky, UNC and even Texas are unlimited. Shaka is going to leave. No question. Now it might not be this year but he will be gone within the next three years. He is too young and too sought after to stay at VCU for much longer. Some of the VCU fans don't want to realize that.

Regardless of whether or not he gets the job, just having his name out there has to hurt VCU recruiting. He would do well to take the job, if it's offered. His gimmicky style is no longer as effective as it once was and he has already peaked. All down side from here.

(03-31-2015 06:16 AM)Old Dominion Wrote:  Regardless of whether or not he gets the job, just having his name out there has to hurt VCU recruiting. He would do well to take the job, if it's offered. His gimmicky style is no longer as effective as it once was and he has already peaked. All down side from here.

Agree, and this is the perfect time to cash out and take his shot. With Graham and Weber graduating, VCU ought to be taking a step back next season.

http://texas.scout.com/story/1532972-tex...g-on-smart

Quote:And Patterson's search appears to be zeroing in on the 37-year-old Shaka Smart, whom Patterson has already spoken to twice, the sources said.

"Things are warm right now, but they could be heating up," one source close to the situation told HD Monday night.

Another source said they expected Patterson to offer Smart the Texas job, possibly as early as Tuesday.

My favorite part of all this is that I learned Shaka has a clause in his contract that says he gets a (small) bonus if he defeats ODU.