(01-05-2021 08:13 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 07:16 PM)holybovine Wrote:  I am proud of NIU for making the correct decision, emotions be damned.

There is no way in hell we would ever have the foresight or courage to do something like this.

NIU is going through COVID, just like us. NIU is poor, just like us. What's our excuse going to be when Murphy is retained next year?

Cow I simply, like Steve see ZERO reason to let a coach go this early in the season if the decision was made solely on team performance, UNLESS they have a high caliber assistant in waiting, unlike EMU. Otherwise any recruiting efforts for 2021-22 will be on hold and will be until a permanent coach is named. I still think Monty had issues beyond the usual W-L record.

I passionately hate Murphy ball, his lack of involvement in the community and his penchant for deflecting any responsibility for poor play. I want him gone. That being acknowledged, I think he at a minimum, deserves this full season before we make a decision. I would say the same about Wetherbee, whom I don't value either.

I absolutely adore Creighton but he has not ever won the Michigan MAC trophy, Murph has done so in three of the last four years. That in itself merits this year.

I've heard some Uber ridiculous statements on this board about financials:

"You can find that money somewhere in the machine" REALLY?? Have at it you gold prospector, let us know when you find it, OK?

"Man up or get out of athletics" I am pretty versed in financials, this delusional, idiotic and irrational poster would present a choice that most certainly would force the action to leave athletics. A typical unintelligent post from him.

Cow, just because NIU does something while being as financially strapped as us does not make it correct. The State of Illinois has a balance sheet that looks like a "dumpster fire", firing a coach early is revenue neutral but it hardly is beneficial to the long term health of their basketball program.

We can assess Rob's performance in March.

Look, the season is lost. It makes no difference if he is let go now or in March. Most couldn't care less. What we want is for Murphy to never coach another game beyond this season and end his 10 year run of mediocrity. The thought here was that he would get a free pass this season due to Covid. Ten years?! He had 10 freakin' years!

I like to see what Matt Cline could do as head coach either here or somewhere else.

(01-05-2021 08:13 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 07:16 PM)holybovine Wrote:  I am proud of NIU for making the correct decision, emotions be damned.

There is no way in hell we would ever have the foresight or courage to do something like this.

NIU is going through COVID, just like us. NIU is poor, just like us. What's our excuse going to be when Murphy is retained next year?

Cow I simply, like Steve see ZERO reason to let a coach go this early in the season if the decision was made solely on team performance, UNLESS they have a high caliber assistant in waiting, unlike EMU. Otherwise any recruiting efforts for 2021-22 will be on hold and will be until a permanent coach is named. I still think Monty had issues beyond the usual W-L record.

I passionately hate Murphy ball, his lack of involvement in the community and his penchant for deflecting any responsibility for poor play. I want him gone. That being acknowledged, I think he at a minimum, deserves this full season before we make a decision. I would say the same about Wetherbee, whom I don't value either.

I absolutely adore Creighton but he has not ever won the Michigan MAC trophy, Murph has done so in three of the last four years. That in itself merits this year.

I've heard some Uber ridiculous statements on this board about financials:

"You can find that money somewhere in the machine" REALLY?? Have at it you gold prospector, let us know when you find it, OK?

"Man up or get out of athletics" I am pretty versed in financials, this delusional, idiotic and irrational poster would present a choice that most certainly would force the action to leave athletics. A typical unintelligent post from him.

Cow, just because NIU does something while being as financially strapped as us does not make it correct. The State of Illinois has a balance sheet that looks like a "dumpster fire", firing a coach early is revenue neutral but it hardly is beneficial to the long term health of their basketball program.

We can assess Rob's performance in March.

Agree to disagree on Murphy, Jerry. But I appreciate your point of view and your passion for the program.

As you suggested, firing Murphy would be revenue neutral. I think we’ve seen enough from him to make a decision. I think it would be interesting to see what Cline would do for the rest of the season.

(01-06-2021 08:36 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I like to see what Matt Cline could do as head coach either here or somewhere else.

Agreed. I’d like to see what he can do this year, with this team.

(01-06-2021 08:36 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I like to see what Matt Cline could do as head coach either here or somewhere else.

I don't disagree with that statement. Cline is by far the most engaged assistant during games. Unfortunately canning Murph early now as NIU did would indicate that the "assistant head coach" Mondro assume head coach duties. Selecting Cline would be a genuine slap in the face to Mondro and I would genuinely doubt about his contribution should such a situation come about. That is my take.

Hiring Cline after this season, in essence emulating the WMU strategy, is not at all a ridiculous idea. You get a coach at half price for a two year commitment and let him see what can do. Personally I would rather hire and pay a successful D-2 coach like Braun, but I can see the Cline option as more viable financially. It might be worth a try.

Bye the way Cow, I think you are 100% spot on. Rob will leave EMU basketball better than he found it and I want to acknowledge that. You are correct, however, that does not entitle him to an 11th year because he clearly will continue to conducting business as he always has. He will continuously do the same thing and expect a different result, Einstein's definition of insanity.