Coach Search Options after Autry

[orlandoorange]

as Jeremy noted, they have tried but I'd argue they're not doing it the right way. Round peg in square hole type of thing. You needed people with different skillsets and new ideas. Traditional university fundraisers is not the way you do it.

100% agree. Just watched the new AD intro. Love that he comes from a family with an entrepreneurial father, it sounds like he has the right mindset/vision.

I appreciate that a lot more that someone who comes from pure academic or corporate background. He seems humble with the eat what you kill attitude. I'd hire someone like him every day.

I think he and Haynie can make a good team.

Only thing left now is the easy part, execution

 

[phil77]

we all know its Gerry.

Maybe one of his kids will be ready when we have to hire again in a couple years.

 

[tptcuse]

If we hire Gmac, I will attend games. I am not sure he is the right coach, but I will attend a few more games next year than I did this last year.

Whether we want to admit it or not, Gmac will hold a special spot in all of our hearts.

You know if he comes back and coaches he is bringing Onuaku.


I hope we go a different direction, but you can talk me into Gmac. And if he wins today, hire him on the spot.

I agree with most of this and it seems correct for the community. The problem will be there will be less patience if he loses.

 

[Newhouser]

I went to Hartwick undergrad and have a friend who is close to our BOT. I see these men and women scratching and clawing to keep the college alive. I don't think it's long for the world unfortunately with finances and demographics looming, but they're innovating and putting up the good fight. And they've actually stabilized a bit after COVID thanks to a couple of programs they've implemented that have helped revenue and enrollment.

Then I see SU and an anemic endowment that's way lower than it should be, declining rankings, declining athletics, declining standing, but increased tuition and increased admin salaries. Syracuse has truly awful leadership.

The decline of Hartwick has been a conversation piece for a while, yet their leadership continues to keep it going. Valiant effort and I don't think schools like Cuse and other privates are immune from the same fate. People need to pay attention.

 

[phil77]

I agree with most of this and it seems correct for the community. The problem will be there will be less patience if he loses.

Again if we hire GMac after we get beat down in Vegas, then the Dome will be like it was this year. There will be people there if we are playing someone good.

If you win, they will come should be the motto. Not lets hire GMac because those crowds before we go to Vegas will be good but then fall off a cliff just like what happened this year.

 

[Dcuse]

we all know its Gerry.

Yep, just like we knew it was Hodgson.

 

[OttosShoes]

FWIW, a real shark takes the Syracuse job if given the opportunity to have it. Sharks see and chase the ceiling they don't worry about the floor.

So much this. Especially if NIL was what broke this.

Look at the stuff Fran has done to drum up NIL, like it or not it's part of the job here. A candidate that insists part of the job be done before they get here is...probably not the best fit for the job.

 

[Fly Rodder]

In the 5 years the basketball team has missed the postseason, the football team has made 3 bowl games, one of those being a 10th win just two years ago. I don't understand the mindset that winning 6-10 games a year in football is some impossible task.

Two of those bowl games were with a .500 record and SU went 1-2 in those. Bowl games are no where near as meaningful as an indicator of success as they were even ten years ago. Players routinely skip them. In the last 20 seasons, SU Football has had a .500+ record in conference in 5 seasons and that's when they have been the focus of the AD to not suck.

SU basketball could have gone to the NIT tourney in 2023-24 but declined.

 

[RyanCuse44]

everything can be stomached if we're winning. if we hire the wrong coach, nothing else matters.

I'd be fine with Gmac winning somewhere else if we're winning.

If we make a boneheaded hire and he wins elsewhere...well that's just another kick in the shorts but shouldnt drive the decision. Cant let fear guide our decisions.

Now if you could get that through the donors heads.

 

[JeremyCuse]

And that’s the problem. There was no plan even though anyone who knows the game knew Reds third yr would be another disaster. This university is so blind.

There's a plan and there's reality, again your talking about getting NIL for bball at 10 mill or north of that. All the planning in the world isn't gonna magically make that kind of money suddenly appear.

 

[littlereg]

There's movement in the background at SU. JW, Blair and others are no idiots, they know the score/deal whatever saying you wanna use. They are gonna pound the pavement to get in additional funds but we also need an updated plan for moving forward to increase the outside NIL moneys.

Ehhh speak for yourself. Blair has no blood in the this yet so he has nothing to be held accountable for but the rest…. Yeah i dont know. being as ignorant and behind on the entire matter going back to the start of the NIL era as theyve been That’s reluctant compliance, and reactionary, in a place that needs to be proactive. I wouldn’t call them idiots that’s unnecessary,completely uncalled for and incorrect , they’re in these positions for a reason. However, I also wouldn’t call them geniuses of their proffession and back their work here either because again, we’re in this position for a reason, not because we’re “little ole Syracuse”

 

[littlereg]

In the 5 years the basketball team has missed the postseason, the football team has made 3 bowl games, one of those being a 10th win just two years ago. I don't understand the mindset that winning 6-10 games a year in football is some impossible task.

Keep in mind I’m not Syracuse football fan so my expectations, wants, etc are different but why would any p4 program strive for bowl games in 2026. That’s not competing in big boy p4 football.

 

[RyanCuse44]

Blair did not sound like a guy who wants to hire Gerry.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Ok, I’ve been perusing through this thread the last few days and I’m not sure anyone has pointed out the elephant in the room.

So, what is that, you ask?

Ok, while everyone debates who should be the next coach and where the money is coming from to pay players (by the way, the term should be Play for Pay instead of NIL, but that’s insignificant), we’re missing the bigger picture.

This isn’t sustainable. Play for Pay (PFP) can’t last as it’s currently structured. Ok, maybe it can survive at some of the elite schools, the wealthy programs from the Big 10, SEC, Big 12 and ACC, but even that’s not a guarantee. It’s a matter of time before the money train dries up. Many schools can’t continue to expect donors to keep funding their programs with little in return. It’s okay for a few years, but then donor fatigue becomes real,

The richest schools will manage..They have their bottomless donors, huge alumni bases and massive TV contracts. But for the schools next in the pecking order, life isn’t so grand. A school like Syracuse finds itself scrambling for money to appease potential coaching hires. It’s not sustainable. It’s a money race that many schools can’t win.

We all want a winner now. We want to return to our glory years. We want someone to come up with the money to make it possible. But at what price? And when does it end?

We can try to satisfy our craving in the short term, but is it really sustainable?

I’ve thought about this as well - as long as the fundraising isn’t interfering with the schools ability to grow its endowment and servicing academics I see no problem riding this sports money train as long as possible. There’s such an amazing divide between the wealthy and the rest of us in this country that it shouldn’t take many donors to make things work.

On the other hand, my level of frustration with the current state of college athletics has grown to the point where I’m starting to wonder whether we do something completely different - including getting into a lesser league with more regional ties. Hearing that money is the reason our team isn’t competitive or we can’t hire a great coach is not something I want to hear again. And we will hear it until there’s a salary cap or something of that nature - and even that won’t stop bad actor schools from getting a bag in the hands of top athletes. Who’s going to stop them? The NCAA? (pauses for laughter)

I do understand the argument saying we would be well served by a national marketing strategy for our sports branding. We seem well positioned to be an even more powerful college sports brand … but how does that play when we can only afford a mediocre product on the court? Ugh this stuff makes my head hurt.

 

[phil77]

His Q&A with media isn't streaming any place right?

 

[granthath9]

Saw some clips of Blair’s presser. He seems confident they can get the ship righted. Hopefully he’s correct.

 

[tptcuse]

Again if we hire GMac after we get beat down in Vegas, then the Dome will be like it was this year. There will be people there if we are playing someone good.

If you win, they will come should be the motto. Not lets hire GMac because those crowds before we go to Vegas will be good but then fall off a cliff just like what happened this year.

That’s the reality for next season for sure. We’ve been hostage to these November tournaments for years. It’s maddening.

 

[BomberOrange]

There's a plan and there's reality, again your talking about getting NIL for bball at 10 mill or north of that. All the planning in the world isn't gonna magically make that kind of money suddenly appear.

Or you don’t let Red have a third year. Thats the biggest error. Everyone knew it.

 

[NKR1978]

The decline of Hartwick has been a conversation piece for a while, yet their leadership continues to keep it going. Valiant effort and I don't think schools like Cuse and other privates are immune from the same fate. People need to pay attention.

I'm shocked it's still in alive. Ultimately I assume it will be folded into Oneonta, but it really is a valiant effort.

 

[RyanCuse44]

And that’s the problem. There was no plan even though anyone who knows the game knew Reds third yr would be another disaster. This university is so blind.

Well there were some on here when they started winning and said they had turned the corner or we are back. I was never drinking the kool-aid.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Saw some clips of Blair’s presser. He seems confident they can get the ship righted. Hopefully he’s correct.

Gerry can't fail, he can only be failed. And we'll all forget about basketball next year when the football team is in the playoffs.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Ehhh speak for yourself. Blair has no blood in the this yet so he has nothing to be held accountable for but the rest…. Yeah i dont know. being as ignorant and behind on the entire matter going back to the start of the NIL era as theyve been That’s reluctant compliance, and reactionary, in a place that needs to be proactive. I wouldn’t call them idiots that’s unnecessary,completely uncalled for and incorrect , they’re in these positions for a reason. However, I also wouldn’t call them geniuses of their proffession and back their work here either because again, we’re in this position for a reason, not because we’re “little ole Syracuse”

What part of that post was me not speaking for myself? Blairs been here what a week. No offense but you have no idea the circumstances and what goes on behind the scenes at Syracuse in terms of the AD's office working within the parameters set by educational side of the house/chancellor etc. The people in charge an SU overall has made mistakes and probably not been as proactive as they should have been but let's also not act like were suddenly BC or Wake Forest.

SU's in this position because the entire landscape has changed and pay to play is now it for the major sports. SU's a private school with zero state funding dealing with a handful of major large donors versus dozens for the top end schools. They are spending the max amount allowed internally and have rushed resources to the fball program which will undoubtedly decide if SU is left in or out when the final conference realignment occurs over the next decade.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Or you don’t let Red have a third year. Thats the biggest error. Everyone knew it.

I would have moved on, others felt different unfortunately.

 

[CuseFan]

Holy Cow. Traveled for 2 days and couldn't log in, and this thread is 142 pages longer since Tuesday 6:34pm.

 

[JRHEETER]

Keep in mind I’m not Syracuse football fan so my expectations, wants, etc are different but why would any p4 program strive for bowl games in 2026. That’s not competing in big boy p4 football.

Because those bowls pay money to the school. The gifts that players receive for these are paramount in recruiting.

If you are making it to a bowl game every year, your school is getting more $$ and your student athletes are getting some great gifts.