(02-16-2021 12:04 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote: She was allowed to continue losing because she was not embarrassing the University and there was no pressure on them to do anything else.
That investigation over the past couple of years was pretty embarrassing. There's more to the story we're not hearing (Bowen, women's bb admin, contract, investigation, abuse, etc.).
I met her a couple of times and actually liked her. But she proved to be a mediocre coach, and there were evidently other issues as well. This was long overdue.
before the investigation two years ago , she was not embarrassing the University. Two years ago DURING and after the investigation at the highest level they made the decision to extend her contract when it was obvious that from an organizational AND basketball perspective that keeping her made not sense. SO.. The Administration felt getting rid of her two years ago was less risky from a PR perspective than giving her an extension.(for whatever reason)
I don't think I read that right. You said they decided to extend her contract 2 years ago when it was obvious that it made no sense, but the organization felt getting rid of her was less risky 2 years ago than giving her an extension. I'm not following what you are saying.
Here is what we know:
She was extended in the middle of an investigation that was not flattering to her or the program. Her teams on court performance to that point could not in any way be responsible for the extension and yet they extended it.
At the end of the underserved extension mcFerrin abruptly resigns before season is out.
It is pretty obvious that as much as the investigation was not good PR for the University they felt that extending her was the best PR move and it looks like they were correct in their assessment. women’s basketball did poorly but did not burn down the Athletic Department or any administrators that we know of
thank you for breaking it down for me. I gotcha now.
(02-15-2021 07:54 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote: Really you are comparing a coach destroying the golden goose to a coach doing poorly with a money losing program?
If Tubby did not go then our basketball program would have not qualified for the FedExForum lease terms for 2 straight years , the grizzlies would have cancelled the lease and imposed whatever terms they wanted, we would be in a totally untenable position in the sport that pays all the bills.
My question was, "Why did we keep her so long in spite of her mediocrity?" Not "Why did we fire Tubby Smith?"
She was allowed to continue losing because she was not embarrassing the University and there was no pressure on them to do anything else.
That investigation over the past couple of years was pretty embarrassing. There's more to the story we're not hearing (Bowen, women's bb admin, contract, investigation, abuse, etc.).
I met her a couple of times and actually liked her. But she proved to be a mediocre coach, and there were evidently other issues as well. This was long overdue.
before the investigation two years ago , she was not embarrassing the University. Two years ago DURING and after the investigation at the highest level they made the decision to extend her contract when it was obvious that from an organizational AND basketball perspective that keeping her made not sense. SO.. The Administration felt getting rid of her two years ago was less risky from a PR perspective than giving her an extension.(for whatever reason)
(02-16-2021 12:04 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote: She was allowed to continue losing because she was not embarrassing the University and there was no pressure on them to do anything else.
That investigation over the past couple of years was pretty embarrassing. There's more to the story we're not hearing (Bowen, women's bb admin, contract, investigation, abuse, etc.).
I met her a couple of times and actually liked her. But she proved to be a mediocre coach, and there were evidently other issues as well. This was long overdue.
before the investigation two years ago , she was not embarrassing the University. Two years ago DURING and after the investigation at the highest level they made the decision to extend her contract when it was obvious that from an organizational AND basketball perspective that keeping her made not sense. SO.. The Administration felt getting rid of her two years ago was less risky from a PR perspective than giving her an extension.(for whatever reason)
I don't think I read that right. You said they decided to extend her contract 2 years ago when it was obvious that it made no sense, but the organization felt getting rid of her was less risky 2 years ago than giving her an extension. I'm not following what you are saying.
Here is what we know:
She was extended in the middle of an investigation that was not flattering to her or the program. Her teams on court performance to that point could not in any way be responsible for the extension and yet they extended it.
At the end of the underserved extension mcFerrin abruptly resigns before season is out.
It is pretty obvious that as much as the investigation was not good PR for the University they felt that extending her was the best PR move and it looks like they were correct in their assessment. women’s basketball did poorly but did not burn down the Athletic Department or any administrators that we know of
I think there is one more layer on top of that.
At about the same time, there was something going on with Bowen-McFerrin. She was making threats to Rudd about the AD.
I THINK all of this led to the extension and (unannounced) agreement to retire in 2 years.
(02-16-2021 03:03 PM)Tiger87 Wrote: That investigation over the past couple of years was pretty embarrassing. There's more to the story we're not hearing (Bowen, women's bb admin, contract, investigation, abuse, etc.).
I met her a couple of times and actually liked her. But she proved to be a mediocre coach, and there were evidently other issues as well. This was long overdue.
before the investigation two years ago , she was not embarrassing the University. Two years ago DURING and after the investigation at the highest level they made the decision to extend her contract when it was obvious that from an organizational AND basketball perspective that keeping her made not sense. SO.. The Administration felt getting rid of her two years ago was less risky from a PR perspective than giving her an extension.(for whatever reason)
I don't think I read that right. You said they decided to extend her contract 2 years ago when it was obvious that it made no sense, but the organization felt getting rid of her was less risky 2 years ago than giving her an extension. I'm not following what you are saying.
Here is what we know:
She was extended in the middle of an investigation that was not flattering to her or the program. Her teams on court performance to that point could not in any way be responsible for the extension and yet they extended it.
At the end of the underserved extension mcFerrin abruptly resigns before season is out.
It is pretty obvious that as much as the investigation was not good PR for the University they felt that extending her was the best PR move and it looks like they were correct in their assessment. women’s basketball did poorly but did not burn down the Athletic Department or any administrators that we know of
I think there is one more layer on top of that.
At about the same time, there was something going on with Bowen-McFerrin. She was making threats to Rudd about the AD.
I THINK all of this led to the extension and (unannounced) agreement to retire in 2 years.
Like I said, it is all over now. Nobody got hurt. Nobody (except Bowen )}lost their job and all is well and we have the same opportunity that we had 2 years ago to hire a new coach
Bowen did a lot for the university. Cleaned up the financial mess, helped get football into the best position it's ever been, got some key funding for the L-W basketball complex & the IPF for football. It's also true that he may have screwed up some stuff that led McFerrin to hold a Title IX threat over Rudd's head.
(02-23-2021 11:22 AM)Tiger87 Wrote: Bowen did a lot for the university. Cleaned up the financial mess, helped get football into the best position it's ever been, got some key funding for the L-W basketball complex & the IPF for football. It's also true that he may have screwed up some stuff that led McFerrin to hold a Title IX threat over Rudd's head.
So Bowen went, and now McFerrin has.
The End?
I’m really not sure what Bowen did or didn’t do. Seems like the commitment to football was made before he arrived with the hiring of Justin Fuente. A committee did that. I guess he may have got the ball rolling on the IPF. He seems to get the blame for the Pastner extension, but I wonder how much of that he really had to do with as well. It’s really odd how he left and hasn’t to my knowledge found another job.
(02-23-2021 11:22 AM)Tiger87 Wrote: Bowen did a lot for the university. Cleaned up the financial mess, helped get football into the best position it's ever been, got some key funding for the L-W basketball complex & the IPF for football. It's also true that he may have screwed up some stuff that led McFerrin to hold a Title IX threat over Rudd's head.
So Bowen went, and now McFerrin has.
The End?
I’m really not sure what Bowen did or didn’t do. Seems like the commitment to football was made before he arrived with the hiring of Justin Fuente. A committee did that. I guess he may have got the ball rolling on the IPF. He seems to get the blame for the Pastner extension, but I wonder how much of that he really had to do with as well. It’s really odd how he left and hasn’t to my knowledge found another job.
(02-23-2021 11:22 AM)Tiger87 Wrote: Bowen did a lot for the university. Cleaned up the financial mess, helped get football into the best position it's ever been, got some key funding for the L-W basketball complex & the IPF for football. It's also true that he may have screwed up some stuff that led McFerrin to hold a Title IX threat over Rudd's head.
So Bowen went, and now McFerrin has.
The End?
I’m really not sure what Bowen did or didn’t do. Seems like the commitment to football was made before he arrived with the hiring of Justin Fuente. A committee did that. I guess he may have got the ball rolling on the IPF. He seems to get the blame for the Pastner extension, but I wonder how much of that he really had to do with as well. It’s really odd how he left and hasn’t to my knowledge found another job.
The decision to invest in football was made pre-Bowen.
That's why they hired Bowen - an absolute football guy.
Of course he doesn't get all the credit. But he was part of the reason, for sure.
And he was key to the Norvell hire - ask Norvell.
He had about as much to do with hiring/firing Pastner and Tubby, as he did with Penny. Decisions made above his pay grade.
And evidently there was enough Title IX smoke with Bowen to get him fired, and to get McFerrin a negotiated settlement in the middle of an investigation.
(This post was last modified: 02-23-2021 11:09 PM by Tiger87.)
The video is priceless. My favorite is at the 1:00 minute mark for the next few seconds. Look in the background - I think Tom Bowen was asking himself..."who the **** was that, and how can I get out of here?"