McDonald

[IthacaBarrel]

Just to be devils advocate. With the relationship these guys all have/had, isn't the following plausible?

Shafer sits in the office after watching the game tape and says "Man we gotta shake this up a bit". Calls McDonald and says something to the effect of, "George, I'm going to shake some things up just to see if we can move forward a little, Timmy is going to call plays, like last year but with final say but lets see if he can help get this ball rolling." George says, "OK Coach whatever you think is best for the team." (WHY SHAFER THOUGHT HE WAS BEING A TEAM PLAYER).

After the call McDonald stews on it and realizes I am losing my job and calls his Mommy. She goats him on and adds fuel to his frustration and he's like well I better call some folks to see what my options are (i.e. Agent). Agent leaks to press which really precipitated the move to go public as the report was out there.

I truly believe Shafer believed he was close enough with these guys to shake things up internally, but McF*&K it went calling everyone. Which is why we are here today. I don't think in a million years Shafer was like ya, Ill run to the press with this.

Exactly, GMC created the shite storm and Shafer knew that he would lose GMC at the end of the season, but it blew up on him. And again, just another opportunity for people to throw turds at Shafer after he lost 3 straight. Wash, rinse, repeat. Amazing how quickly, the mighty have fallen around here, cant wait for it to get ratcheted up another notch Saturday. Lester will be next as well.

 

[Millhouse]

I will always believe there was WAY more to this demotion than we'll ever know. I’d think there would have been a meeting of the minds before it got to the demotion level (the football staff version of a PIP) and I’m guessing there have been many conversations. Something doesn’t add up.

(so maybe someone 'had' to be demoted because he wouldn't move over and share).

 

[GoSU96]

Really ? or are you being sarcastic? can you give me some examples?

Didn't Charlie Weiss just get fired?

June Jones "resigned" a couple of weeks ago.

Kiffen got bounced last year during the season.

Speculation that Hoke and Wilchamp will be gone sooner rather than later.

Grob was dismissed prior to the ND game.

 

[TheCusian]

Why the do people keep saying he's smart. His interviews are total nonsense and/or offensive, his behavior is that of a spoiled 7 year old, and what's with that stupid hat and all the camo?

You're confusing intelligence for professionalism and immaturity.

You can be smart and immature at the same time.

 

[statsgrad]

Post Standard is really going to miss this guy when he leaves.

 

[CarolinaCuse]

You can debate whether the demotion was warranted or not at this point in time but, McD could have prevented this sh-tshow if he had been willing to adapt the offense a bit to the talents of the players he had at his disposal rather than saying, "We're close to breaking this thing open. -ckit. We'll stay the course."

 

[cuseinchina]

You're confusing intelligence for professionalism and immaturity.

You can be smart and immature at the same time.

That is definitely true. I'm still not seeing the smart part. Are you getting that from the brilliant play calling, the poor judgment, or the bumbling interviews?

I don't think recruiting takes brains btw, it is a skill but I don't think it implies intelligence, just likability and ability to sell. That's also how you manage to get hired at so many places in so few years - likability. Unfortunately for McD (and us) when you get into positions with responsibility you start getting judged by results rather than personality. And it seems that the personality is a façade as well since under pressure that breaks down.

 

[PhatOrange]

Didn't Charlie Weiss just get fired?

June Jones "resigned" a couple of weeks ago.

Kiffen got bounced last year during the season.

Speculation that Hoke and Wilchamp will be gone sooner rather than later.

Grob was dismissed prior to the ND game.

There's over 1,000 coaches in college football. You're batting less than 1%.

Weiss has been a 3 year epic disaster. That's not going to cause a problem.

Kiffin and USC are a different animal. The guy was 28-15 though. USC will survive. (and if Kiffin was so bad I doubt Saban would've hire him)

Hoke has been a disaster and is now setting UM records. Again, like Weiss mid season would not be a problem.

Muschamp? the guys is 3-1, 2-1 right now. He's not getting canned midseason unless the off field problems keep adding up. A backup QB is now under investigation for rape.

Coaches like Gump getting shyt canned with one or two games left is normal. I read all the happenings around college football daily - and I rarely see anybody getting canned or demoted mid-season.

Spin it how you want it, but what happened is not normal and imo just as unprofessional. Don't confuse what I'm saying here for not believing McDonald was in over his head and should be let go.

 

[UelSU]

Then do what Marrone apparently did in 2009.

But don't go public until the end of the season.

This created a needless distraction and embarrassed a guy who is not completely responsible for what we have seen on the field.

Do we know for sure that the demotion was meant to be public. I have a feeling there is more to this story than meets the eye.

 

[Scooch]

This saga is symptomatic of what appears to be a larger issue. This program is coming across as unprepared, disorganized and undisciplined. Dumping McDonald as OC feels like rearranging the proverbial deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Millhouse]

This saga is symptomatic of what appears to be a larger issue. This program is coming across as unprepared, disorganized and undisciplined. Dumping McDonald as OC feels like rearranging the proverbial deck chairs on the Titanic.

the head coach follows every verb with "our asses off"

there's the you dabo, you moment

there's that penalty against maryland(?) where he was out on the field

he could stand to dial it back a bit

 

[TheCusian]

That is definitely true. I'm still not seeing the smart part. Are you getting that from the brilliant play calling, the poor judgment, or the bumbling interviews?

I don't think recruiting takes brains btw, it is a skill but I don't think it implies intelligence, just likability and ability to sell. That's also how you manage to get hired at so many places in so few years - likability. Unfortunately for McD (and us) when you get into positions with responsibility you start getting judged by results rather than personality. And it seems that the personality is a façade as well since under pressure that breaks down.

I've never met the guy - but people who have - on this board and in the media all say he's a really bright guy. Maybe that's just a trick of personality - I don't know. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt .

 

[Alsacs]

Shafer is a good man and is not as bad and unprepared as Greg Robinson he got the HC job IMO because Marrone left so late in college football coaching carousel that most potential candidates were gone. I like Shafer but he guy never oozed head coach while he was our defensive coordinator. I want him to succeed but he has has many frustrating moments but is loyal to our program. I believe if Marrone left a little more high end talent he would have been able to so better. Shafer had depth but the playmakers on both sides of the ball was not that great.
Shafer hired buddies and while he is 9-9 we are 1-4 against non-conference P5 teams, 4-5 in ACC games, 4-0 against non-P5 OOC games. Not exactly extension worthy numbers.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

the head coach follows every verb with "our asses off"

there's the you dabo, you moment

there's that penalty against maryland(?) where he was out on the field

he could stand to dial it back a bit

Yet, if he won everybody would love it, just like people ripped Marrone for being to stoic on the sideline, This is what happens when you lose games, plain and simple. It took me 10 years to figure this our for myself. I liked Marrone as a whole, but was furious at the 5 game skid in 2011 but the best thing to do is give Shafer at least 1 more year after this, make staff corrections, regroup and see where you are. Rutgers did and apparently they have righted the ship for now, only reason they won a few games last year is because of the conference they are in. It's his ship and he will go down with it or weather the storm, right or wrong.

Nobody will ever confuse Flood with Nick Saban but nobody will ever confuse Rutgers for Bama either. Big Picture and expectations

 

[OrangePA]

Just to be devils advocate. With the relationship these guys all have/had, isn't the following plausible?

Shafer sits in the office after watching the game tape and says "Man we gotta shake this up a bit". Calls McDonald and says something to the effect of, "George, I'm going to shake some things up just to see if we can move forward a little, Timmy is going to call plays, like last year but with final say but lets see if he can help get this ball rolling." George says, "OK Coach whatever you think is best for the team." (WHY SHAFER THOUGHT HE WAS BEING A TEAM PLAYER).

After the call McDonald stews on it and realizes I am losing my job and calls his Mommy. She goats him on and adds fuel to his frustration and he's like well I better call some folks to see what my options are (i.e. Agent). Agent leaks to press which really precipitated the move to go public as the report was out there.

I truly believe Shafer believed he was close enough with these guys to shake things up internally, but McF*&K it went calling everyone. Which is why we are here today. I don't think in a million years Shafer was like ya, Ill run to the press with this.

What you have described is certainly plausible.

 

[OrangePA]

i wouldn't expect McDonald to go along with that quietly

i suspect shafer wanted to be hush hush and mcdonald was the one that tipped off coaching69.com or whatever that site is

Certainly possible.

The internal infrastructure of the program is not in order.

And it would seem that that has been reflected on the field and in other ways.

It was evident during the first series against Villanova.

 

[phil77]

It is embarrassing the way this all went down. If you are invested in this program or an alum of this university you should be embarrassed today. This is a circus. If he isn't getting the job done then fire him no need to demote him. Just cut him lose. The whole things looks like amateur hour. If I was Syverud I would be taking a long look at the program the rest of the year. No matter how fiery Shafer is he looks totally over his head. If we go down in flames the rest of the season I could see Syverud cleaning house from Gross all the way down.

Everyone stating that McDonald is a hard worker and passionate but it really immature. Doesn't that describe our head coach? Hard working and passionate? But immature as he gave that last speech after the game and his on the field antics are immature at times. McDonald is taking his HC's lead on how to act. Take a step further our team acts the same way. They are hard working and passionate but they are immature and undisciplined just like Shafer. Our head coach needs to lead by example and I think we are all still waiting for that.

The more I think about it I hope Syverud has had enough and just cleans house. This program needs a better leader on and off the field.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

It is embarrassing the way this all went down. If you are invested in this program or an alum of this university you should be embarrassed today. This is a circus. If he isn't getting the job done then fire him no need to demote him. Just cut him lose. The whole things looks like amateur hour. If I was Syverud I would be taking a long look at the program the rest of the year. No matter how fiery Shafer is he looks totally over his head. If we go down in flames the rest of the season I could see Syverud cleaning house from Gross all the way down.

Everyone stating that McDonald is a hard worker and passionate but it really immature. Doesn't that describe our head coach? Hard working and passionate? But immature as he gave that last speech after the game and his on the field antics are immature at times. McDonald is taking his HC's lead on how to act. Take a step further our team acts the same way. They are hard working and passionate but they are immature and undisciplined just like Shafer. Our head coach needs to lead by example and I think we are all still waiting for that.

The more I think about it I hope Syverud has had enough and just cleans house. This program needs a better leader on and off the field.

Easy.

 

[Whitey23]

My twitter timeline is a full rehash of everything that happened last night. What an embarrassment this season has become. Feel terrible for the players.

 

[Franz69]

Hunt changed the play call on that!

Whose bright idea for the audible there would be a deep pitch in the end zone?

 

[phil77]

Easy.

Sorry it is all true.

 

[Millhouse]

Yet, if he won everybody would love it, just like people ripped Marrone for being to stoic on the sideline, This is what happens when you lose games, plain and simple. It took me 10 years to figure this our for myself. I liked Marrone as a whole, but was furious at the 5 game skid in 2011 but the best thing to do is give Shafer at least 1 more year after this, make staff corrections, regroup and see where you are. Rutgers did and apparently they have righted the ship for now, only reason they won a few games last year is because of the conference they are in. It's his ship and he will go down with it or weather the storm, right or wrong.

Nobody will ever confuse Flood with Nick Saban but nobody will ever confuse Rutgers for Bama either. Big Picture and expectations

i expect to want him fired but not yet. my only point was that he's a loose cannon

 

[HeaterCuse22]

I've never met the guy - but people who have - on this board and in the media all say he's a really bright guy. Maybe that's just a trick of personality - I don't know. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt .

Again McDonald does have a handle on a spread offense, he can recruit well. Problem is all of that works at a SEC School with SEC Players. And while we may have gotten there sometime, he was trying to fit the round peg in the square hole. And apparently wouldn't compromise off that principal.

It is embarrassing the way this all went down. If you are invested in this program or an alum of this university you should be embarrassed today. This is a circus. If he isn't getting the job done then fire him no need to demote him. Just cut him lose. The whole things looks like amateur hour. If I was Syverud I would be taking a long look at the program the rest of the year. No matter how fiery Shafer is he looks totally over his head. If we go down in flames the rest of the season I could see Syverud cleaning house from Gross all the way down.

Everyone stating that McDonald is a hard worker and passionate but it really immature. Doesn't that describe our head coach? Hard working and passionate? But immature as he gave that last speech after the game and his on the field antics are immature at times. McDonald is taking his HC's lead on how to act. Take a step further our team acts the same way. They are hard working and passionate but they are immature and undisciplined just like Shafer. Our head coach needs to lead by example and I think we are all still waiting for that.

The more I think about it I hope Syverud has had enough and just cleans house. This program needs a better leader on and off the field.

If the new chancellor after having been here for a minute. Fires gross and shafer and "cleans" house. I would never attend another SU event

 

[orangepassion]

A few points on the whole Mcdonald thing:

• Don't think he was the man for the job, but like many others, I would've given him till the end of the year for several reasons, including how it looks to everybody, including recruits, future possible coaches etc. The possible positives are we see what Lester has, though it might be mitigated by not having Hunt
• I'm not as mad at Mcdonald as most. I would have left off the "I wouldn't have come" comment, but I understand his frustration and I wish him good luck (The chances of him staying after this are probably slightly higher than beating FSU on Saturday). We complain about coachspeak and we complain about honesty. Hard to have it both ways. If anything, I think it's SU's fault for having him available to the media so soon.
• Very interested to see if we can keep White and what we do with Mcdonald on the recruiting trail now. Do we pull him off? Can he still be effective, and more importantly, does he even care enough to be effective or will he be a detriment? If so, we're down a recruiter and probably our best one and how do we adjust to that. Could really use a couple of AJ Long-types to help keep everything together.

 

[Statesman1]

Question: why the full demotion from OC/Asst Head coach? If the issue was simply play calling this switch could have been made on the down low with no change in titles/game planning responsibilities and George might not have liked it but it wouldn't have been the emasculating beat down that it is- then you make whatever decisions need to be made in the off season. I agree with previous posters that there is way more to this story. Too bad- this has the potential to demoralize any players who remain loyal to McD perceive this as unfair and undermine team unity, let alone reinforcing SU as anything but a preferred destination for asst coaches. Who want to be underpaid and put up with this circus?