Samurai meant Jim from Lyons, and implied that's who has control of this (and not Blair/Haynie)... unless Melo is now "the old man"
That may may be the case, since the Mrs. came out and tried to soften everyone up for this in the last 24 as well. She usually doesn't come out of nowhere with random public comments, especially on a contentious issue like this methinks. Just speculation trying to read the tea leaves. I may very well be wrong.
He didn't say Jim from Lyons has control, he said he's made it his mission. Seems to me like it's JW, BB, and JAB "leading the search."
The problem is, only one of those three would try to run off other candidates to leave only his guy standing... And his guy is GMac.
There was a rumor Hodgson became uncomfortable with the position when he found out JAB only wanted Gerry. The implication is he'd be undermined from the jump. Same thing may be happening to Schertz. Nobody is going to want to come here with JAB undermining them, so it he's willing to do that he gets to pick the coach and everyone else gets to kick rocks.
It puts BB in a very awkward spot. If he loses a power struggle here, everyone in the University will know it and it could be a problem for him on future major decisions. On the other hand, he certainly doesn't need JAB going on the radio and calling him an idiot, and that's likely to happen if BB gets his way.
I'll say this: if it's Gerry I hope he is incredible and we win natties and he coaches here til he's 70, and if he fails I'll still love him for his playing days and for his effort in trying... but it it ends up being true JAB is undermining candidates, I will forever resent JAB no matter how it turns out.
He seems to think that just because he built it, he owns it forever. That's not how it works. The players own it, the alums own it, the fans own it. If he personally wants to pony up a couple mil that's only for Gerry, have at it, but otherwise he shouldn't be trying to influence this beyond a spirited recommendation.