GMAC to IOWA

[joecooll6]

OK, IF that happened, and it probably wont, I would laugh. What a circus that would be.

[General_Panther]

Guys. I'm hearing that Mac will be a FINALIST for the Iowa job.

Okay it's not that I don't believe you, because I do believe that Barta wants MAC, but I'd like to know your sources. Sorry but I don't see Mac going anywhere for a long time. Unless of course he uses ISU as a stepping stone for like UCLA or something. (I hope the sarcasm was seen in that)

Plus I have to say this, if Mac's Ultimate goal was to get to Iowa why leave UNI last year and go to ISU just to pick up and move his family again to Iowa the next year if it were open. We all knew, including Mr. McDeromott that the Iowa Job was probably going to be open this year, if that was his ultimate goal why not stay at UNI for one more season and ride it out, so to speak.

As far as Greg McDermott, I for one will always be indebted for Coach Mac for everything he did for me as a person. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he treated me like a person not like some pion during his tenure at UNI. some of you are probably saying, "so what it was UNI it's not like it was Duke." Well let me say why this was so important to me. I had the preception that a majority of the Division 1 basketball coaches were mean gusses who didn't care about anyone that didn't help their program. I don't know why I felt that way I just did. So it meant a lot to me that Coach Mac would take the time to stop and talk to myself and other students on campus, or welcome students to come into his office just to say hi and shoot the breeze.

Was I sad when he left, Yes, why? Mostly because I couldn't believe he left for ISU, and yes honestly I cried, for about 10 minutes. I was completely crushed. Greg McDermott is and in my eyes forever will be a classy guy, he's a hell of a basketball coach and I wish him sucess no matter where he goes, even if that means it's a school I have hated my entire life. I know I may have taken his kindness too personally, but Coach Mac will forever be one of my favorite college coaches, sure his methods may have been shady, but I don't think that when he started at UNI 6 years ago he thought, "well I'll ride this out till Iowa or Iowa State come calling." Could be me just being biased towards him, but I just don't think it happened.

Bottom line is I understand why certian people are upset with Mac for the way he left and for how things went down when he did so. I also understand those people like myself who will always have a sense of indebtedness for him. You can say all you want about our program but if it were not for Coach Mac we wouldn't have the McCleod Center, we wouldn't have had 3 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and most importantly we wouldn't have Coach Jacobson.

I am sorry if this post makes no sense what so ever, but I had some stuff I needed to get off my chest as well.

[Newsbreaker]

I don't think, with a high seed and finally a good Big Ten season, that anyone thought a year ago that Alford would be gone this quickly (that is until they lost in the NCAA's, but that's another story.) It LOOKED like SA had finally started to turn things around down there, a year ago.

I, for one, thought McDermott needed to jump at the ISU job, because Iowa was just never going to happen for him

Now, a year later, it's open, the fan base will be electrified by any new blood, and Mac has the 'clout' of at least having wadded into the major conference waters.

I don't think it will happen, but it wouldn't shock me.

[Marc Wigim]

Count me among the stunned as well. If Mac leaves for Iowa after only one year at ISU, I sure hope the Iowa faithful are looking for a commitment from Mac.

[Jesse Schieltz]

I don't think, with a high seed and finally a good Big Ten season, that anyone thought a year ago that Alford would be gone this quickly (that is until they lost in the NCAA's, but that's another story.) It LOOKED like SA had finally started to turn things around down there, a year ago.

I agree. Also, Bowlsby was still the AD one year ago. If Bowlsby was still at Iowa, I think Alford would be too.

[Purple Reign]

what a classy guy coach mac is. Out looking for a new job while UNi is daring to dream they can beat georgetown last year.

I am telling you money corrupts absolutely.

Oh and don't give me the sob story about how he could not live on 300K a year. And his wife had cancer so he needed to be a millionaire. Please!

Somteimes I think college atheltics should find a soul and get back to reality.

Here is a thought pay coaches 100 or 200 K a year. But what about all the money they make from atheltics you ask. Give to school, lower ticket prices, give it back to the state of iowa.

I do not want coaches to be payed nothing but millionaires, give me a break.

oh and do not mention that argument about job security not be good so they need more money.

Most people make 40 to 50 K a year and are one recession away from unemployment.

They are coaches not gods. If they want millions go to the NBA. A for profit company that can pay and charge whatever they want.

Willie---
get a grip for cryin' out loud. Nobody said he was looking to move. It's a "somebody said" post and you go into pit bull mode.

PR

[GonzoCat]

What makes me sad is that I think the whole situation shows what Mac's view of the Valley was. Instead of sticking around to see if you could eventually create something the way Altman has at Creighton, he wanted out. Until guys like Altman decide to stick around and see if they can help build something special, the Valley will probably have to get used to 2 bids a year in the NCAA tourney. Especially if it's the way their own coaches perceive them.

Yes that is one thing that will be required for the Valley to continue to improve and stay ranked amoung the elite conferences. You have to remember though that the coaches who have stayed and spurned BCS offers are the ones who are making almost the same money in the Valley and about 3-4 times as much as the other coaches in the league. It would be great to have the kind of support at UNI that we could pay our coach like that, but it's probably never going to be possible, we don't have the big money alumni base. Most UNI grads come from Iowa, stay in Iowa after grad and make below average pay for a college grad.

However there is a much bigger factor involved and that is TV. For the MVC to ever get close to a level playing field with the BCS conferences we would need to get a TV contract similar to theirs which would provide each school with millions to spend on coaches pay, facilities, etc. TV controls who are the haves and the have nots in college athletics and TV is controlled by how large the viewer markets are for those teams. It is however somewhat a chicken and egg situation. The more you are on TV the more fans you get and the more fans you have the more you get on TV.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the whole "dream job" thing with McDermott. He said the same thing at ISU (and their fans actually bought it). Apparently it is just an expression he likes to use, it doesn't mean what you would naturally assume it to mean.

[jman2004]

He said the same thing at ISU (and their fans actually bought it). Apparently it is just an expression he likes to use, it doesn't mean what you would naturally assume it to mean.

This is kind of ironic now if he really is a "finalist" for the Hawkeye job. Didn't he also tell Cyclone fans that he loved beating the Hawkeyes?

[Coachdags]

So you're telling me that just because Mac "made the first move" at coming to UNI that that's why he decided to shove it in UNI's face and leave last year? That's absurd.

Every program in the Country should be so Lucky to have such Success "Shoved in its face".....What I said was Greg wanted to Coach UNI (He intiated contact and apllied), UNI did not originally seek out Greg McDermott

"what have you done for me lately" excuse?

This year "Jake" lost 8 out of 9 games, alot were questioning his moves and credintials, Wait til a Coach has a losing season at UNI Basketball and see how long his support lasts, the bar has been elevated.

I agree with one of your statements that we dont see eye to eye on this topic.

[jman2004]

Dags, I must've misread the "making the first move" part of your post, but I don't take back anything else about Mac. I love what he did for UNI, but he left in a horrible, kind of dirty way.

[Newsbreaker]

This is kind of ironic now if he really is a "finalist" for the Hawkeye job. Didn't he also tell Cyclone fans that he loved beating the Hawkeyes?

Being a "finalist" in this sense does not mean he's actually displayed any interest. Besides, even if he has, he "loved" to beat the Cyclones when he was here.

[UNIChippewa]

FWIW fellas, I remember before the ISU-UNI game back in November that McDermott said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that he would have liked to have handled the situation of leaving UNI for ISU better than he did. I took that to mean that he didn't get the sense of closure with the players or the program the way he wanted to. Both Coleman and Stout also said that they kept in regular contact with McDermott with text messages and phone calls. McDermott also said something along the lines of "as long as that coaching staff and those players are there, I'm always going to be a UNI fan". Once again, I'm paraphrasing here, but I distinctly remember that article.

All this being said, as a dual Panther/Cyclone fan, if he did leave for Iowa after only one year, I would be seriously PISSED. In fact, if that did happen, I think all the scorn and derision heaped upon Adam Haluska for transferring (somewhat justified, IMO) would pale compared to the negative feelings that would be focused on Greg McDermott.

[Coachdags]

UNICippewa...

I too have Dual Citizenship Panthers/Cyclones, and you are exactly correct that Greg and Ben talk almost daily (Except ISU vs UNI Week)....

Greg also was UNI's biggest fan this year, he texted coaches, players, and friends of the program with messages of support.

His extension at ISU will be announced soon and all this stuff will stop.

[Panthers to the Bone]

A couple things that I feel need to be cleared up.

1.) Mac DID NOT interview for the K-State job on the way back from Dayton. He flew on the team flight back to Cedar Falls. In fact, his KSU interview was post-ISU interview. Neither ISU, nor K-State talked to Mac prior to the UNI game vs. Georgetown. Remember, ISU canned Wayne only the day before, or 2 days before the NCAA tourney game.

2.) Mac made a move that many didn't like. Some are calling it selfish, and maybe that's true, but I also know that his best friend (Jake) wouldn't have doubled his salary...nor would the assistant coaches he took with him increased their salary...nor would guys like Chris Foster be able to become an assistant coach at UNI...nor would guys like Erik Crawford and John Little both be able to get their foothold into the college basketball coaching fraternity at age 23. Mac's decision was obviously one of benefit for him and his family, but it goes beyond just one man and his family. Mac had the opportunity to affect several families lives with his decision. He was able to do that, stay in-state, and be close to his friends/family.

IMO, if Mac doesn't go to ISU (i.e.- they offer), Mac ends up in Manhattan. Everything works similar to that as it has now, except instead of being 200+ miles from Cedar Falls, he's only 90.

Yes, Mac will/has sign(ed) an extension...just as Fennelly has, probably Sanderson will, etc... No, he won't go to Iowa.

Does anyone remember when Mac signed with ISU that he actually had a clause that prevented him from moving to Iowa, from ISU? I thought I remembered reading that, but maybe I'm getting that confused.

[williebat]

Most UNI grads come from Iowa, stay in Iowa after grad and make below average pay for a college grad.
.

Lets don't get crazy here. This statement is not true. UNI grads like myself and many of my college friends make plenty of money. By the way I just returned to Iowa from Texas and most of my college friends live outside of iowa.



I am thankful for what gmac did for UNI BB. But he is getting a little to much credit for "saving the program". Eldon miller has done a lot for UNI BB so has hartzell and former president Koop.