Post Mortem on Saban and Harbaugh

[Alouha27]

Does anyone know if Malzahn was really considered? I believe he said before Mack was even gone that UT was his dream job. Seems like he was politicking for the position before it was even open. Or was that another Sexton move to get a new contract?

 

[steveh9801]

steve, not only most fans but Vegas had Strong 2/1 for weeks.

I forgot about that, good point.

 

[JKW-Hook 'em]

I never thought Fisher was a real possibility. I just couldn't see a coach leaving the school that he took to the MNC game, and probably wins, in only his 4th year as their head coach, not to mention, having the Heisman trophy winner returning. Yes, I know we are Texas and could easily out bid them, but just didn't think he could pull trigger and do that to the school and players.

Saban certainly was a real possibility before Black Friday but I think our inability to control Mack during that meeting gave Saban little comfort and confidence that this was the culture/administration he wanted to hitch his final coaching years to.

John Harbaugh would have been a splash hire for sure, but do we really know how much interest he had (he's already making 7 mil)? If Patterson was worried about his (JH) lack of real college experience and his ability to make a dent in Sumlin's and Briles Texas recruiting momentum, who would blame him? Yes, a super bowl ring would impress some recruits, but not all. I think JH was clearly the biggest risk of the other two mentioned.

So, of the remaining realistic options, I think you can make the case Strong was the best fit, especially given Briles didn't like being perceived as contingency plan and withdrew. Maybe his ego got in the way. Clearly he did not want it as badly as Strong if that is all it took to sour Briles on the opportunity.

Of course, all of this is just speculation on my part. I just don't see Patterson as the type to not be thorough and we probably will never know the real opportunity we had for any of them. We got the one that fought for it (apparently) and that is always a major plus in any interview process.

 

[aowells]

I think the whole story about Harbaugh would prove to be very underwhelming. A bunch of fans and BMDs thought he'd be great, but he was never seriously interested.

I didn't see anything that supported that speculation other than a couple of "insiders" saying he was liked and a few more "close to Harbaugh" people claiming he could be interested.

Although a great idea, it was always an extreme longshot.

 

[H-town Horn]

BMDs don't deserve any explanation to the hiring of a football coach. If they donate money only because of football they need to reevaluate what the university's purpose is. I think at this point we have to go with what Saban and Patterson has said. Saban was never an option. End of story. Harbaugh is a little tougher but in the end I'm not sure he had any real interest in taking the job. Our entitled BMDs ran off candidates that want to work for a professional organization.

This. If "Friend of Bevo" is angry today he and his buddies can look in the mirror. Why would a Saban or Harbaugh want to work in those conditions, where he's expected to glad hand and never knows who his boss is. Donors can give, and if they want to voice their opinion then they can stop giving. But not their place to schedule behind the back clandestine meetings with coaches. I imagine Saban and Harbaugh were saying what a bunch of buffoons, who is running the show over there.

And I wanted Saban. But I'm glad Patterson went with his guy and I'm excited about Strong.

 

[theknighttrain]

I just want Steve Patterson to say at the PC that Briles and Mora refused to interview and were NOT offered the job. Just to show those Baylor folks that Briles did flirt but didn't want to do the formal process, which is to interview. We're not going to give him the job sight unmet.

 

[Alouha27]

I just want Steve Patterson to say at the PC that Briles and Mora refused to interview and were NOT offered the job. Just to show those Baylor folks that Briles did flirt but didn't want to do the formal process, which is to interview. We're not going to give him the job sight unmet.

Don't worry I think it's pretty much agreed upon by everyone that Briles was very interested in the job, and I'm sure everyone in Waco knows that.

 

[johnabeard]

Saban was in play because of sexton, sexton not only got saban a raise, but also got fisher a raise. Fisher was never going to leave fsu doesn't make sense, same for saban look at the class he has coming in.

We got played by the best agent in the business right now, and congrats to him for getting his guy raises.

that being said I love strong, 100 percent behind him lets go horns.

 

[NLeininger]

...more than likely, "friend of bevo" is probably furious...

More than likely friend of bevo will not have the access he had before.

 

[NLeininger]

Without these insiders using people like McPhaul, Burton, and Shuttleworth to get their agenda published the search would have gone a lot smoother than it did. I think based on what we've learned about Patterson is that the Big Cigar, Friend of Bevo, and others are going to have a lot less access than they had under Dodds and Mack. Personally I think that is for the best.

 

[Cantinflas]

I think we all got a little played by the new web sites trying to gain viewers from OB

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Without these insiders using people like McPhaul, Burton, and Shuttleworth to get their agenda published the search would have gone a lot smoother than it did. I think based on what we've learned about Patterson is that the Big Cigar, Friend of Bevo, and others are going to have a lot less access than they had under Dodds and Mack. Personally I think that is for the best.

I'm going to disagree.

Jesus' Big Cigar said Dodds would retire. OB said Dodds would not retire. Burton said Dodds would not retire and would be back next year.

Jesus then says not only will he retire, he'll first say he won't retire, then he'll retire between this date and that date.

Jesus' Cigar was right. Dodds retired. OB, Burton were flat wrong. Where is the agenda? What agenda could that be?

I seriously, seriously doubt that these folks are going to have less access. These people call Patterson by his first name.

 

[UTK66]

Saban was in play because of sexton, sexton not only got saban a raise, but also got fisher a raise. Fisher was never going to leave fsu doesn't make sense, same for saban look at the class he has coming in.
We got played by the best agent in the business right now, and congrats to him for getting his guy raises.

that being said I love strong, 100 percent behind him lets go horns.

Well said.

 

[UTK66]

I'm going to disagree.
Jesus' Big Cigar said Dodds would retire. OB said Dodds would not retire. Burton said Dodds would not retire and would be back next year.

Jesus then says not only will he retire, he'll first say he won't retire, then he'll retire between this date and that date.

Jesus' Cigar was right. Dodds retired. OB, Burton were flat wrong. Where is the agenda? What agenda could that be?

I seriously, seriously doubt that these folks are going to have less access. These people call Patterson by his first name.

I'll have to disagree with your disagreement. The insiders may be able to call Patterson by his first name (hell, I can and would do that as well) but not one of the insiders had Strong pegged as anything as more than a fall back option. Patterson played this like a champ and no one actually knew what was going on. There is a new sheriff in town like many have said but it's apparently Steve Patterson more so than Charlie Strong.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

I have no post mortem because I never believed either one was coming here. I am 100% satisfied with Strong

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I'll have to disagree with your disagreement. The insiders may be able to call Patterson by his first name (hell, I can and would do that as well) but not one of the insiders had Strong pegged as anything as more than a fall back option. Patterson played this like a champ and no one actually knew what was going on. There is a new sheriff in town like many have said but it's apparently Steve Patterson more so than Charlie Strong.

I'm fine with your stance. I'll stick with mine. Patterson's performance says nothing about whether or not these millionaire donors have access. They always have, they always will, regardless of the sheriff.

I'll go even further and say this idea that Patterson somehow wants them shut out is just bogus. The first time one of them is asked to write a check, the non-access would come up and would be addressed, but it will never get to that because there will be no effort to shut them out.

Some of you are acting like this is gospel and it's not even a friggin rumor.

 

[UTK66]

I have no post mortem because I never believed either one was coming here. I am 100% satisfied with Strong

Good point. There is absolutely no need for a post mortem for a couple of coaches that were never coming here. What's done is done. Charlie Strong will lead our program now and it's time for people to get behind him and support him and quit worrying about pipe dreams of the past.

 

[Juan]

Does it matter what happened or why? .......

Yes and no.

No in terms of we have out coach now and are moving forward. That train has left the station.

But yes in terms of Patterson's job performance. As AD, he has certain contractual, legal and fiduciary duties to fulfill, among them, due diligence.

If he never had a conversation with Saban or Harbaugh -- and I am going to include Fisher in this group -- then an argument can be made that he failed in his duty of due diligence at least so far as performing this duty goes. If this is true, if he never had conversations with these potential job candidates and if one or more of them wanted to be considered as a candidate, then I would go do far to say this could be grounds for early termination. Or, it could also be something reviewed during job performance evaluation and any future retention decision. By all appearances, it was Patterson's decision alone to roll the dice on Strong. Thus, his ability to hold the UT AD job for an extended period is going to be heavily reliant on Strong's job performance.

Looking ahead, my best guess is that Strong will have a grace period. Everyone will be excited by September. Change and new toys always bring interest and optimism. However, I would expect the fanbase to be looking for solid improvement by the 2015 season. This may be when the heat is really turned up on Patterson. As always, we will see.

 

[UTK66]

I'm fine with your stance. I'll stick with mine. Patterson's performance says nothing about whether or not these millionaire donors have access. They always have, they always will, regardless of the sheriff.
I'll go even further and say this idea that Patterson somehow wants them shut out is just bogus. The first time one of them is asked to write a check, the non-access would come up and would be addressed, but it will never get to that because there will be no effort to shut them out.

Some of you are acting like this is gospel and it's not even a friggin rumor.

You seem to have gotten somewhat upset since your original response. Why so?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

You seem to have gotten somewhat upset since your original response. Why so?

Not at all. But it's ironic that we're talking about agendas while forcing an idea with zero substance but saying the idea is correct, like an agenda.