(03-01-2019 02:06 PM)emu79 Wrote: I get this thread irritates certain people and I have to admit there is a part of me that hopes Murphy wins the MAC tournament and we go to the NCAAs as any other chance of another post season tourney is gone. Unfortunately that isn't likely to happen no matter how much I wish it would. Murphy had some wonderful seasons and a lot of unfulfilled ones like the Raven Lee, Toney Mangum senior team and this year's team. I would agree that if Murphy is at .500 or above at the end of this season he is probably back next year and will be a lame duck. I don't think based on the current composition of the Regents that you will find much support for Murphy but they love not spending money when they don't have to so Murphy may be back for economic reasons. I really don't have any faith left that Murphy will take this team where we would all like it to be. I started this thread because whether Murphy doesn't come back this year or after next year a change is needed. Yeah maybe Murphy wins 20 next year I guess anything can happen right?
As much as I don't think Rob is a D1 NCAA coach, keeping him another year is probably the prudent choice.
First and foremost we don't have $300K to buy him out.
He does one thing quite well and that is recruit. In a do or die situation that next year presents, I see him returning to his previous strategy of recruiting JUCO players like Toney and Mangum for 2020. This not only presents a brighter picture for next season but also does not saddle a successor with a recruiting class like that of two years ago. Peterson, Ballard, etc... A new coach will have a true opportunity to build a program as he will inherit mostly upperclassmen.
I also want the athletic director to devote his full time to searching and selecting the best candidate, instead of defending Title IX issues as he is now.
As much as we might hate to admit it, EMU is perceived by many as a "graveyard job" to many qualified P5 assistants. I expect that Chris Creighton will have a great season this year and serve to dispel this notion about EMU athletics. This could expand the pool of applicants.
Right now I would be leaning towards Bronkema from Ferris State as our best option. Despite losing his center as a grad transfer to Xavier, he has had another good season after winning a national championship.