The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(03-29-2020 08:29 AM)Kellyhawkins Wrote:  Hello all,
Coach Hawkins wife here. I know it may not be the right thing to get on a message board and express my feelings but I just feel compelled to share some information with all of the very passionate and loyal Bronco basketball fans. I may get criticized for doing such but I thought it was best to put my name out there instead of doing anonymously. I was very entrenched in many aspects of Bronco Basketball the past 12 years.

First of all, thank you all for caring about the team. With that said, I know not all of you were fans of my husband and that’s okay. I understand that. It comes with with the business.

First, to defend the past two years, what I would like to share is some information that I feel has been overlooked. It’s not a secret the team really struggled the past few years but there are reasons. Not excuses but reasons. Mainly, there was an incredible bout of just plain bad luck. A season can be very fragile! 3 years ago, they won 10 games in a row and went from last place to first place in the west. Had Reggie Jones and Bryce Moore not transferred (which is a huge problem in college basketball now and WMU is below the national average in transfers) they would have had 5 seniors this year with Jared, Adida, Reggie, Bryce and Brandon. Last year they had 3 players that never played a minute due to injuries. That’s 1/4 of the team. The past two years could have looked a lot different as they no longer are a young, inexperienced team but more of a veteran team and those are the teams that thrive in the MAC. All of those things were out of anyones control. 3 years ago at the end of the year had they beat CMU they become the 3 seed and go right to Cleveland, instead Brandon Johnson goes down with an injury, Mike Flowers isn’t there because his mother passed away, Seth is playing on an injured ankle and Josh Davis with an injured wrist and they lose the game and don’t advance to Cleveland. This year, Squeaky goes down with a season ending injury and again they lose another veteran, starting player and already are ranked 299 out of 335 in experience. They were young, only 2 seniors. It all was just a string of very bad luck and series of unforeseeable events. Unfortunately, it cost the team a lot of possible wins. Next years team will be a veteran team and has a real shot at being great. Unfortunately, we won’t be around to see it.

I know that 2 MAC wins, 2 tournament appearances and 8 West titles in 17 years doesn’t impress many on this board but I would venture a guess that EMU, CMU, NIU, Ball State and Toledo don’t feel this way. I know the team did their very best and fought hard. I’m sorry that wasn’t good enough for some. Hopefully someone new can come in and do better.

As far as my husband goes, it has been a very tough time. For anyone that wished he would get fired, I remind you that there is a pandemic, a recession and the sports world is shut down and we have a 7, 8 and 14 year old to support. Please have a heart. Steve loves his players and I feel bad for so many of his past players that called WMU their second home because of Steve.

Lastly, as for Clayton getting the job, all I can say is that Steve has been cut a lot throughout his career and this is the deepest one of all. Steve was a very loyal Bronco and gave almost half his life to WMU basketball. Clayton and his wife are wonderful people and we wish them the very best. Clayton is very deserving of a head coaching job but this was handled extremely poorly for many reasons. It was said publicly there needed to be a change in leadership, well Steve has a great relationship with past and present players and hired the next head coach 3 times and half the current coaching staff who will be retained so I don’t think leadership was actually the issue. It was about wins and losses and yes there were more losses as of recent than wins but as stated above there were reasons and the facts are that Steve was the second winningest coach in WMU history after Buck Read and the 4th winningest coach in MAC history. That should count for something. His total wins exceed his losses.
Thank you all for everything the past 20 years! I hope they made you proud.

Great words! So nice to read. I have always been a fan of Coach Hawkins and have defended him all along for a lot of the reasons you have stated. A lot of people think I'm crazy but at this level of college athletics it is about more than wins and losses, in my opinion. Coach has always run a great program, one that I have been proud of to be a fan. I'm sure he will land on his feet and you guys will start the next chapter but I will miss Coach Hawkins. Thanks to you and him for many great years.

There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

Bad hire, even worse process. Shame on you for chiding your fellow Broncos for seeing this situation for what it is. Even the ex-coach’s wife said that Bates’ hire “cut” Hawkins like a knife. He’s a less qualified version of Hawkins.

Csnbbs than 7 years ago.

Fire Fleck
https://csnbbs.com/thread-648369.html

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

I am fired up because I expected this program after 17 years of the same HC to do a little better job of searching for a replacement. KB has obviously just mailed it in.

Given this hire I would have rather they kept Hawkins for another two/three years and worked with him on facilities and how to grow his replacement if it was from within. Why the hell they didn't reach out to Saddi before letting Hawkins go and realizing he wasn't interested is ridiculous. Now they are using this virus as an excuse to why they incompetently stumbled into this move...

Its just incredibly frustrating to see them bumble along without taking any risks... You know damn well that Hawkins would have bent over backwards to make the financials work given the current state of affairs... Vanderwal seemed like a dark horse from a lower level program who would likely have jumped on board just for the opportunity... Bringing with him an energy from OUTSIDE of the program that may have been a nice change of pace.

Going with Bates just seems like someone woke up with a hangover and needed to get it done so they just took the easy route...

The way they handled Hawkins exit is even more pathetic. That guy bled brown and gold for over 17 years... put his own health at risk to be there on game days when he was going through his seizures.... And they let him just "not return"... no pomp and circumstance... they didn't even take an ad out in the Western Herald thanking him for his service... Just bush league... Hawks wife actually comes here to post about it because even she is seething with frustration and anger... This is a black eye that KB brought upon this program. She's has really never recovered from the PJ Cotton Bowl year... its like she saw what it was like to be near big time mid-level and couldn't handle the pressure and speed at which things were moving... Time for a change.

Thats why I am frustrated... I hope the best for Bates... but the optics alone are just garbage. Will be interesting to see if we can hold on to our seniors next year or we see a run to the portal.

(03-29-2020 02:59 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

I am fired up because I expected this program after 17 years of the same HC to do a little better job of searching for a replacement. KB has obviously just mailed it in.

Given this hire I would have rather they kept Hawkins for another two/three years and worked with him on facilities and how to grow his replacement if it was from within. Why the hell they didn't reach out to Saddi before letting Hawkins go and realizing he wasn't interested is ridiculous. Now they are using this virus as an excuse to why they incompetently stumbled into this move...

Its just incredibly frustrating to see them bumble along without taking any risks... You know damn well that Hawkins would have bent over backwards to make the financials work given the current state of affairs... Vanderwal seemed like a dark horse from a lower level program who would likely have jumped on board just for the opportunity... Bringing with him an energy from OUTSIDE of the program that may have been a nice change of pace.

Going with Bates just seems like someone woke up with a hangover and needed to get it done so they just took the easy route...

The way they handled Hawkins exit is even more pathetic. That guy bled brown and gold for over 17 years... put his own health at risk to be there on game days when he was going through his seizures.... And they let him just "not return"... no pomp and circumstance... they didn't even take an ad out in the Western Herald thanking him for his service... Just bush league... Hawks wife actually comes here to post about it because even she is seething with frustration and anger... This is a black eye that KB brought upon this program. She's has really never recovered from the PJ Cotton Bowl year... its like she saw what it was like to be near big time mid-level and couldn't handle the pressure and speed at which things were moving... Time for a change.

Thats why I am frustrated... I hope the best for Bates... but the optics alone are just garbage. Will be interesting to see if we can hold on to our seniors next year or we see a run to the portal.

I will add one thing regarding your post. Steve did offer to come back at a very reduced salary to coach for one season just to get them through the Corona virus until they could conduct a national search. It was a dire situation because many schools were contacting the players and players were talking about transferring and the program was starting to fall apart. Steve talked to every player and they were all confused on what to do. He was highly concerned. It would have been an unprecedented move but it was during an unprecedented time.

(03-29-2020 03:27 PM)Kellyhawkins Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 02:59 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

I am fired up because I expected this program after 17 years of the same HC to do a little better job of searching for a replacement. KB has obviously just mailed it in.

Given this hire I would have rather they kept Hawkins for another two/three years and worked with him on facilities and how to grow his replacement if it was from within. Why the hell they didn't reach out to Saddi before letting Hawkins go and realizing he wasn't interested is ridiculous. Now they are using this virus as an excuse to why they incompetently stumbled into this move...

Its just incredibly frustrating to see them bumble along without taking any risks... You know damn well that Hawkins would have bent over backwards to make the financials work given the current state of affairs... Vanderwal seemed like a dark horse from a lower level program who would likely have jumped on board just for the opportunity... Bringing with him an energy from OUTSIDE of the program that may have been a nice change of pace.

Going with Bates just seems like someone woke up with a hangover and needed to get it done so they just took the easy route...

The way they handled Hawkins exit is even more pathetic. That guy bled brown and gold for over 17 years... put his own health at risk to be there on game days when he was going through his seizures.... And they let him just "not return"... no pomp and circumstance... they didn't even take an ad out in the Western Herald thanking him for his service... Just bush league... Hawks wife actually comes here to post about it because even she is seething with frustration and anger... This is a black eye that KB brought upon this program. She's has really never recovered from the PJ Cotton Bowl year... its like she saw what it was like to be near big time mid-level and couldn't handle the pressure and speed at which things were moving... Time for a change.

Thats why I am frustrated... I hope the best for Bates... but the optics alone are just garbage. Will be interesting to see if we can hold on to our seniors next year or we see a run to the portal.

I will add one thing regarding your post. Steve did offer to come back at a very reduced salary to coach for one season just to get them through the Corona virus until they could conduct a national search. It was a dire situation because many schools were contacting the players and players were talking about transferring and the program was starting to fall apart. Steve talked to every player and they were all confused on what to do. He was highly concerned. He never heard back from president or Kathy. Next thing you know, it’s announced that Clayton is the coach. We thought maybe they would name him interim coach for one season to get through the pandemic. That’s not what happened.

I know I was at times very frustrated with the W's and L's the last few seasons... but overall I have always taken pride in how Coach Hawk handled himself, his players and his program. True Bronco pride.. I just hope that he understands that as alumni we stand behind what he brought to this University even if the University itself seems to have turned its back on him... I was always hoping that Hawk would be the successor to KB...

WMU needs a damn voice of reason during these trying times... especially within the Athletic department.. I was hoping that voice would be Coach Hawk... So disappointed in my school right now.

BS CS 2000

The shutdown was announced after it was confirmed the school was bringing in a new coach.

You don't say 'oh, just kidding, we're gonna bring him on one more year.'

Lot of 2-face people on here pretending they were big Hawkins fans when in actuality they were screaming for his head, & now are saying they feel the school betrayed him.

Needed a new guy, that was announced, search began, commence shutdown & following announcement school couldn't make external hires. Therefore Bates. As stated, only other option was Clipfell @ that point.

I had no issues with Hawkins as a whole, thought he was a good coach for us overall. Also thought it was probably time for a change. It's a rare coach that wouldn't hit that point by year 17. Not really a knock on him, he made it far longer than most.

The fact that WMU reportedly did reach out to Saddi Washington would lead me to believe they probably were willing to offer more money for the right guy. A 2 year/$220k contract tells me they are anticipating a strong possibility of conducting another search soon.

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for posting on here. I know that Steve is a class act. His Facebook post was proof of that. I have always supported Hawk and wish this hadn't happened. I wish your family the best and you will always be Broncos. I hope to see you both in the future. Blessings.

Bates was a good hire for many reasons as we will see in the coming years.

Many thanks to Coach Hawkins for years of dedication to WMU.

(03-29-2020 03:27 PM)Kellyhawkins Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 02:59 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

I am fired up because I expected this program after 17 years of the same HC to do a little better job of searching for a replacement. KB has obviously just mailed it in.

Given this hire I would have rather they kept Hawkins for another two/three years and worked with him on facilities and how to grow his replacement if it was from within. Why the hell they didn't reach out to Saddi before letting Hawkins go and realizing he wasn't interested is ridiculous. Now they are using this virus as an excuse to why they incompetently stumbled into this move...

Its just incredibly frustrating to see them bumble along without taking any risks... You know damn well that Hawkins would have bent over backwards to make the financials work given the current state of affairs... Vanderwal seemed like a dark horse from a lower level program who would likely have jumped on board just for the opportunity... Bringing with him an energy from OUTSIDE of the program that may have been a nice change of pace.

Going with Bates just seems like someone woke up with a hangover and needed to get it done so they just took the easy route...

The way they handled Hawkins exit is even more pathetic. That guy bled brown and gold for over 17 years... put his own health at risk to be there on game days when he was going through his seizures.... And they let him just "not return"... no pomp and circumstance... they didn't even take an ad out in the Western Herald thanking him for his service... Just bush league... Hawks wife actually comes here to post about it because even she is seething with frustration and anger... This is a black eye that KB brought upon this program. She's has really never recovered from the PJ Cotton Bowl year... its like she saw what it was like to be near big time mid-level and couldn't handle the pressure and speed at which things were moving... Time for a change.

Thats why I am frustrated... I hope the best for Bates... but the optics alone are just garbage. Will be interesting to see if we can hold on to our seniors next year or we see a run to the portal.

I will add one thing regarding your post. Steve did offer to come back at a very reduced salary to coach for one season just to get them through the Corona virus until they could conduct a national search. It was a dire situation because many schools were contacting the players and players were talking about transferring and the program was starting to fall apart. Steve talked to every player and they were all confused on what to do. He was highly concerned. It would have been an unprecedented move but it was during an unprecedented time.

Man, I’m sorry. WMU treated you all terribly. They botched it from start to finish.

To hire Bates after SH’s offer is a slap in the face.

(03-29-2020 05:08 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  I had no issues with Hawkins as a whole, thought he was a good coach for us overall. Also thought it was probably time for a change. It's a rare coach that wouldn't hit that point by year 17. Not really a knock on him, he made it far longer than most.

The fact that WMU reportedly did reach out to Saddi Washington would lead me to believe they probably were willing to offer more money for the right guy. A 2 year/$220k contract tells me they are anticipating a strong possibility of conducting another search soon.

Why not just make Bates “interim” for a year? It make no GD sense to make him the “permanent” coach if COVID 19 is curtailing the search.

Which is why KB is full of bull poop. She thought Bates was the best candidate, period. And she’s using the virus to soften the blow to the fan base.

If other schools were contacting players, they need to be turned into the NCAA.

(03-29-2020 07:19 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  If other schools were contacting players, they need to be turned into the NCAA.

Grow up Pollyanna.

(03-29-2020 07:22 PM)wmutkelaw Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 07:19 PM)StrikeGold1 Wrote:  If other schools were contacting players, they need to be turned into the NCAA.

Grow up Pollyanna.

Good grief. Those are literally the rules.

(03-29-2020 02:09 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

Bad hire, even worse process. Shame on you for chiding your fellow Broncos for seeing this situation for what it is. Even the ex-coach’s wife said that Bates’ hire “cut” Hawkins like a knife. He’s a less qualified version of Hawkins.

It gets old that no matter what happens with this program people complain. One "fan" said right after Hawkins was let got something about it being about time they should have done it 5 years ago. Well 6 years ago WMU won the MAC so based on what that "fan" was saying, they should have fired him the year after he won the MAC. So many spend no time or money supporting the program and complain about everything they do.

Not that Bates was hired, but the reason he was told they were making a change and hiring Bates didn't follow what KB told him.

Besides, what would you know, when was the last time EMU won anything!!

(03-29-2020 02:59 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

I am fired up because I expected this program after 17 years of the same HC to do a little better job of searching for a replacement. KB has obviously just mailed it in.

Given this hire I would have rather they kept Hawkins for another two/three years and worked with him on facilities and how to grow his replacement if it was from within. Why the hell they didn't reach out to Saddi before letting Hawkins go and realizing he wasn't interested is ridiculous. Now they are using this virus as an excuse to why they incompetently stumbled into this move...

Its just incredibly frustrating to see them bumble along without taking any risks... You know damn well that Hawkins would have bent over backwards to make the financials work given the current state of affairs... Vanderwal seemed like a dark horse from a lower level program who would likely have jumped on board just for the opportunity... Bringing with him an energy from OUTSIDE of the program that may have been a nice change of pace.

Going with Bates just seems like someone woke up with a hangover and needed to get it done so they just took the easy route...

The way they handled Hawkins exit is even more pathetic. That guy bled brown and gold for over 17 years... put his own health at risk to be there on game days when he was going through his seizures.... And they let him just "not return"... no pomp and circumstance... they didn't even take an ad out in the Western Herald thanking him for his service... Just bush league... Hawks wife actually comes here to post about it because even she is seething with frustration and anger... This is a black eye that KB brought upon this program. She's has really never recovered from the PJ Cotton Bowl year... its like she saw what it was like to be near big time mid-level and couldn't handle the pressure and speed at which things were moving... Time for a change.

Thats why I am frustrated... I hope the best for Bates... but the optics alone are just garbage. Will be interesting to see if we can hold on to our seniors next year or we see a run to the portal.

I agree with just about everything you said. I don't know you personally but know you are a great fan and even when we don't agree I always respect your opinion.

A lot of things you mentioned are exactly why I have been saying all along that Coach Hawkins isn't as bad as people are making him out to be. He runs a good program and most years is competitive. He has won more than he has lost. I even said before he was let go that I hope he is kept and all those wishing he was gone should be careful because the grass isn't always greener. By the reaction I am seeing from some, I think they now agree that the grass isn't always greener.

(03-29-2020 07:31 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 02:09 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

Bad hire, even worse process. Shame on you for chiding your fellow Broncos for seeing this situation for what it is. Even the ex-coach’s wife said that Bates’ hire “cut” Hawkins like a knife. He’s a less qualified version of Hawkins.

It gets old that no matter what happens with this program people complain. One "fan" said right after Hawkins was let got something about it being about time they should have done it 5 years ago. Well 6 years ago WMU won the MAC so based on what that "fan" was saying, they should have fired him the year after he won the MAC. So many spend no time or money supporting the program and complain about everything they do.

Not that Bates was hired, but the reason he was told they were making a change and hiring Bates didn't follow what KB told him.

Besides, what would you know, when was the last time EMU won anything!!

I agree the narrative of some folks on this board gets old...like some posters who can’t even handle constructive criticism of the administration.

(03-29-2020 03:27 PM)Kellyhawkins Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 02:59 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(03-29-2020 12:55 PM)WMUPorter Wrote:  There is a lot of negativity here and I just wonder if some of you will ever be happy. Many of you have been screaming for a long time to fire Coach Hawkins and predictably are not happy with the new coaching hire. I am happy with this hire. I wasn't expecting miracles especially with our world being turned upside down right now. Clayton Bates is dedicated, respected and has proven to be a really good recruiter.

Good luck Coach Bates and go Broncos!!

I am fired up because I expected this program after 17 years of the same HC to do a little better job of searching for a replacement. KB has obviously just mailed it in.

Given this hire I would have rather they kept Hawkins for another two/three years and worked with him on facilities and how to grow his replacement if it was from within. Why the hell they didn't reach out to Saddi before letting Hawkins go and realizing he wasn't interested is ridiculous. Now they are using this virus as an excuse to why they incompetently stumbled into this move...

Its just incredibly frustrating to see them bumble along without taking any risks... You know damn well that Hawkins would have bent over backwards to make the financials work given the current state of affairs... Vanderwal seemed like a dark horse from a lower level program who would likely have jumped on board just for the opportunity... Bringing with him an energy from OUTSIDE of the program that may have been a nice change of pace.

Going with Bates just seems like someone woke up with a hangover and needed to get it done so they just took the easy route...

The way they handled Hawkins exit is even more pathetic. That guy bled brown and gold for over 17 years... put his own health at risk to be there on game days when he was going through his seizures.... And they let him just "not return"... no pomp and circumstance... they didn't even take an ad out in the Western Herald thanking him for his service... Just bush league... Hawks wife actually comes here to post about it because even she is seething with frustration and anger... This is a black eye that KB brought upon this program. She's has really never recovered from the PJ Cotton Bowl year... its like she saw what it was like to be near big time mid-level and couldn't handle the pressure and speed at which things were moving... Time for a change.

Thats why I am frustrated... I hope the best for Bates... but the optics alone are just garbage. Will be interesting to see if we can hold on to our seniors next year or we see a run to the portal.

I will add one thing regarding your post. Steve did offer to come back at a very reduced salary to coach for one season just to get them through the Corona virus until they could conduct a national search. It was a dire situation because many schools were contacting the players and players were talking about transferring and the program was starting to fall apart. Steve talked to every player and they were all confused on what to do. He was highly concerned. It would have been an unprecedented move but it was during an unprecedented time.

That is incredible and I would expect nothing less from the Coach Hawkins I have gotten to know. I have told my wife and some friends that they need to do something before the players start transferring and the program falls apart. I even said and posted, Just hire Clayton Bates and be done with it. I knew they were limited by this virus with their coaching search and thought hiring Bates would give them the greatest chance of keeping most of their roster in tact.