John Wildhack joins Orange Nation today at 12:15

[BomberOrange]

I think you’re probably right on that men’s lax outdrawing women’s basketball currently. However, I think JW sees that the upside revenue earning potential in women’s basketball is higher than men’s lacrosse which is probably also true. So I can understand why that is a higher priority in the revenue sharing. I wouldn’t say it’s only due to optics of only investing in men’s sports. We are a lot slower than other schools embracing the growth of women’s basketball

Outdrawing currently isn’t accurate. M lax has been outdrawing women’s hoops my entire lifetime (well at least since the 80s anyways. I wonder where the earning potential is. We had a good team last year and nobody came. Just being realistic here. IMHO, No need to force something that isn’t going to work that never has. I know I have never had a conversation with someone about the women’s hoops team. They’re an Olympic sport at best.

 

[Scooch]

Here’s the thing:

Eve IF Red can “map out his needs” and gets them,
does anybody think he’s got the coaching chops to be successful anyway?

I do not.

I love Red, what he’s meant for the program, yada yada yada.
But he’s clearly NOT the guy we need, if we’re going to ever get back to competitiveness and relevance again.

PS - JW totally lucked into Fran.
Yes, he gets credit for hiring him, but Fran got himself hired.

You're not alone, a lot of people think Red is a lousy coach.

Honestly, his handling of last offseason, from fundraising to roster construction, was so abysmal that I haven't invested much time in assessing his teaching and in-game skills. They seem poor but I'm far from and Xs and Os expert.

If he's as bad as you suggest then we'll be here about a year from now as he's let go.

 

[powdersmack]

I saw this quote and I thought JW's response is correct. He's putting forth that the program is Red's, and that John's job is to provide all of the necessary resources that Red wants.

Red has to be the one who's the architect of his staffing, player compensation funding, practice agenda, etc. Wildhack is saying that he'll do what any good senior executive should do -- give someone what he or she needs to be successful.

If Red can't map out what those needs are, then he'll fail and he'll rightfully be canned.

As soon as expanded staffs were allowed, the AD should be right there saying "here is your budget for new coaches". And, on the other side, Red should have been beating down the door asking for that money.

 

[kingtidge]

Ancient Japanese Proverb from the 1970's:

 

[Owens guy]

Red's not coming back because of his contract, his buyout is almost non-existent.

So you know or have been told that we could get rid of Red now and not owe him much money?

That is different than what some insiders have said that it would cost about $9 million if we fired Red now to pay him for the remaining 3 years left on his deal (plus paying his assistant coaches).

 

[baggerbob]

That's not the train of thought moving forward, its the train of thought on whether Red is the coach after next year. Clearly SU has higher expectations then just making the tournament but again when you haven't' made it in closing in on 5 years you also can't still act like its 2004. I also don't think if SU barely gets in and gets bounced 1st round that Red is somehow safe and sound. This team needs to show a huge amount of improvement next season.

Wouldn't be surprised if we are 20-12 make the tournament and lose first round and they keep Red. We are in this position because we let JB stay because of his supporters, even though the program was fading.
Those supporters are still there and Red is part of the past they want to preserve.

Until we decide to make a clean break wouldn’t expect things to get a lot better.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Red’s future will all be determined in the next 60 days. Next season’s success is almost entirely dependent on his ability to build a successful roster via the portal. If he assembles a roster that looks like this past season we know what the result will be.

60 days. It will all be determined within the next 60 days.

 

[AcAndAc]

True. And yet, I doubt Wildhack even needs to say anything specific to Autry. Red's not an idiot, he's been in the coaching game for a long time and he knows how this works. I doubt JW needs to spell it out for him. Like, if he goes 19-12 next year and misses the tourney I doubt he's going to be blindsided when he gets canned.

What if his snowball was just about to catch fire???

 

[syrBossHogg]

Not surprised Red will be back, but he's a dead man walking

 

[Scooch]

Wouldn't be surprised if we are 20-12 make the tournament and lose first round and they keep Red. We are in this position because we let JB stay because of his supporters, even though the program was fading.
Those supporters are still there and Red is part of the past they want to preserve.

Until we decide to make a clean break wouldn’t expect things to get a lot better.

LOL, what ACC team is making the tourney at 20-12?!

 

[Scooch]

Red’s future will all be determined in the next 60 days. Next season’s success is almost entirely dependent on his ability to build a successful roster via the portal. If he assembles a roster that looks like this past season we know what the result will be.

60 days. It will all be determined within the next 60 days.

Totally agree. The portal is either crushed or I don't think this ends well.

 

[baggerbob]

Not surprised Red will be back, but he's a dead man walking

And unless someone can find about 25 million lying around somewhere, you aren't going to be able to buy enough talent to be successful next year and be ranked in the top 20.

 

[AcAndAc]

Give me a break Indiana would beat us by 20.

Nebraska football is the best comp but they don't even suck as badly as Cuse hoops right now we've fallen further.

Their is no former power that is currently this pathetic across all sports.

Admin has to keep Fran happy and probably would botch the hire this year that's my justification for this cowardly and moronic move.

I dunno... Nebraska football has been pretty bad. 2017 4-8, 2018 4-8, 2019 5-7, 2021 3-9, 2022 4-8, 2023 5-7, 2024 7-6. Discounting 2020 (3-5), that is an average of 4.2 wins per year from 20-17-2024. An average of 4-8. They didn't fire their coach for only going 7-6 last year.

 

[JeremyCuse]

So you know or have been told that we could get rid of Red now and not owe him much money?

That is different than what some insiders have said that it would cost about $9 million if we fired Red now to pay him for the remaining 3 years left on his deal (plus paying his assistant coaches).

Paying out the rest of his deal is way different then a buyout which the other poster was referencing. I don't know about 9mill but yes SU would owe millions on the contract of Red and others if he was fired. From what I know $$ is not the reason he is back

 

[Red2003]

More and more Sounds like He's been put on a PIP. It's pretty standard in Corp America now days especially for ppl in new jobs.

Helps HR and Legal depts when they fire people so they don't get lawsuits after.

Rarely does this end well for the employee, Autry in this case. At least the administration will have their butts covered.

It’s been beat to death but our school is not serious about our sports programs. They are quite serious about many other things that they don’t do well either.

 

[Bulldog04]

I told you he will be back next year. I’m telling you he will be gone if there isn’t a REALLY good season next year. I’m telling you Melo is going to raise money like a mad man and be in Syracuse full time. I’m telling you everyone knows exactly what needs to happen on the staff this offseason. I’m telling you I need nachos grande to deal with all of this

 

[PoppyHart]

JW with a masterclass in saying nothing. "Meaningful". "Significant".

Our game on Tuesday is "meaningful" ffs. We can go on an NCSU-like run. Heck, Theo Pinson told us 10 times on Tuesday that the team believes they are primed for a run.

 

[BomberOrange]

I told you he will be back next year. I’m telling you he will be gone if there isn’t a REALLY good season next year. I’m telling you Melo is going to raise money like a mad man and be in Syracuse full time. I’m telling you everyone knows exactly what needs to happen on the staff this offseason. I’m telling you I need nachos grande to deal with all of this

Can you tell us that the staff didn’t know what needs to happen the last two years?
Can you tell us that Red will be able to coach better?
Can you tell us that after Melo’s kid is gone that we will be able to compete with NIL?

I’ll buy your nachos grande if you can say yes to these questions. (well the first won’t be positive!)

 

[Red2003]

I told you he will be back next year. I’m telling you he will be gone if there isn’t a REALLY good season next year. I’m telling you Melo is going to raise money like a mad man and be in Syracuse full time. I’m telling you everyone knows exactly what needs to happen on the staff this offseason. I’m telling you I need nachos grande to deal with all of this

Prepare to be slaughtered on this message board.

Honestly though I said a few times here. If Carmelo pulls the fire alarm and says he needs something I’ll wake up and I think a lot of people will too. They won’t for Autry or JW or anyone else I don’t think.

Former players and big alums need to show up and support Autry next year. If people thought he was a lame duck or a dead man walking now. Imagine if those guys cut the umbilical cord too.

 

[AcAndAc]

Can you tell us that the staff didn’t know what needs to happen the last two years?
Can you tell us that Red will be able to coach better?
Can you tell us that after Melo’s kid is gone that we will be able to compete with NIL?

I’ll buy your nachos grande if you can say yes to these questions. (well the first won’t be positive!)

I think it provides some necessary wiggle room. What if we are 18-2 and ranked #6, but then our three best players get injured for the season... and we finish 21-13 (despite playing very well effort-wise relative to our lack of depth) and miss the Big Dance as the last four out. I think most of us would say "c'mon, no need to fire him... he seems to be figuring it out."

Conversely, if we are 19-15... but we win the ACCT because other teams pull the upsets for us... and then get blown out by 35 in Dayton... is that really the significant improvement?

Along the same lines... what if we are 25-8... we get screwed on the seed (#9) and have to play a #8 seed that started slow but got healthy and strong at the end depsite a worse record.. or end up playing a #1 seed in a quasi home game (MSU in Detroit). You cannot force a coach to win 2 games in the Big Dance to keep his job.

 

[cardiac]

I told you he will be back next year. I’m telling you he will be gone if there isn’t a REALLY good season next year. I’m telling you Melo is going to raise money like a mad man and be in Syracuse full time. I’m telling you everyone knows exactly what needs to happen on the staff this offseason. I’m telling you I need nachos grande to deal with all of this

How much money do you expect them to have for next season between rev share, NIl tournament and fundraising?

 

[sufan59]

I told you he will be back next year. I’m telling you he will be gone if there isn’t a REALLY good season next year. I’m telling you Melo is going to raise money like a mad man and be in Syracuse full time. I’m telling you everyone knows exactly what needs to happen on the staff this offseason. I’m telling you I need nachos grande to deal with all of this

I’ll take REALLY good as a season that can propel momentum for the following 5 seasons atleast that come after it. We all just want Syracuse to be back. If we do ever get back though it will be so sweet. I envy UConn fans for the turnaround they’ve had. It will be so nice if we can join the rest of our Big East foes (kinda literally, but I know a lot needs to happen for that to materialize again without jeopardizing our football program). But rejoining them in running this sport.

 

[walsh2012]

i know things are bad, but i think a third year is fine here. He's a first time coach, and like it or not it's the best option here.

this is the tournament or bust season. How many years did UW give mike hopkins? Far more than three

 

[sufan59]

i know things are bad, but i think a third year is fine here. He's a first time coach, and like it or not it's the best option here.

this is the tournament or bust season. How many years did UW give mike hopkins? Far more than three

I’ve accepted Autry is returning, but seriously the best option right now at Syracuse? We are not Washington, we are Syracuse. Even though Washington does have a lot of cash. We’re a unequivocally Top 15 program that hasn’t been ranked in conference play in over a decade.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

I told you he will be back next year. I’m telling you he will be gone if there isn’t a REALLY good season next year. I’m telling you Melo is going to raise money like a mad man and be in Syracuse full time. I’m telling you everyone knows exactly what needs to happen on the staff this offseason. I’m telling you I need nachos grande to deal with all of this

He's going to neglect his announcing gig to fundraise and attend every game? Not sure I buy that.

I guess if Kiyan shows up and is Brycen Goodine level we can blame red and say he'll be better with the next coach.