Topic: Known issues with Coach Huff

[Always THE HERD]

What are the know issues that coach Huff had with the administration, fans, etc. while he has been at Marshall? I remember something about Fancher (sp?). What are the other facts and not rumors or hearsay?

[BerkshireHerdFan]

Tried to Get Duke job, tried to get VT job, tried to get any other job then the one he had.   I think it is clear to most folks  that he had no plans to be here long term.

[herdly4]

Not sure there?s anything wrong with that. 98% of coaches will want to go big time and make more money. Trying to get a higher salary and/or build resume should not be held against anyone.

[THECHAMPISHERE]

Tried to Get Duke job, tried to get VT job, tried to get any other job then the one he had.   I think it is clear to most folks  that he had no plans to be here long term.

I think what rubs Herd fans the wrong way is he didn't even have plans to be here SHORT term. He was trying to get out before having any sustained success or significant accomplishments here.

[BerkshireHerdFan]

Not sure there?s anything wrong with that. 98% of coaches will want to go big time and make more money. Trying to get a higher salary and/or build resume should not be held against anyone.

There is nothing wrong with it, but we can't use the narrative that he really wanted to be here and our admin is to blame

[VA Herd Fan]

From ESPN
"Huff's move to Southern Miss isn't a surprise. With Huff in the final year of his deal, he had been involved in multiple searches as Marshall won the Sun Belt East and went on to claim the league title.

Prior to this season, Huff turned down the opportunity to extend his contract at Marshall because of steep buyout terms and coached through the deal, essentially betting on himself."

So MU made an offer to keep him, knowing he has been looking to leave, with a buyout that they felt protected the university.  Huff reportedly wanted no buyout so he could leave whenever he found a better offer.  A few on here said keep Huff at any cost. How upset would our fan base be if they agreed to no buyout just to keep him maybe one more year and get nothing in return?

[CharlestonHerdGuy]

From ESPN
"Huff's move to Southern Miss isn't a surprise. With Huff in the final year of his deal, he had been involved in multiple searches as Marshall won the Sun Belt East and went on to claim the league title.

Prior to this season, Huff turned down the opportunity to extend his contract at Marshall because of steep buyout terms and coached through the deal, essentially betting on himself."

So MU made an offer to keep him, knowing he has been looking to leave, with a buyout that they felt protected the university.  Huff reportedly wanted no buyout so he could leave whenever he found a better offer.  A few on here said keep Huff at any cost. How upset would our fan base be if they agreed to no buyout just to keep him maybe one more year and get nothing in return?

Very interesting. Do you have a link?

[VA Herd Fan]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42851886/sources-last-place-southern-miss-targets-champ-marshall-coach

[Always THE HERD]

Very interesting. Do you have a link?

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[MicDrass1]

If he left that would mean he?s still kicking ass.  Situation would be no different than it is now.  Buyout thing shouldn?t have been an issue.  Or make it smaller.  Damn he had so much potential

[BerkshireHerdFan]

Which part is a DIRECT quote from ESPN?

"Prior to this season, Huff turned down the opportunity to extend his contract at Marshall because of steep buyout terms and coached through the deal, essentially betting on himself. He has led the Thundering Herd to high-profile wins at Notre Dame and over Virginia Tech over the past three seasons."

[Thundering In MD]

Here is my list:

1. Withheld information from fans; changed culture by closing practices to press.  Shifted information flow to short social media posts that he controlled. 

2.  Came into town ate a hotdog (reminded me of Donnan and grits at Georgia) then proceeded to tell us how he was going to get fans in the stands.  Which is how we got the short lived fan fest street party his first year, and DJHerdThat.

3.  Repeatedly made statements about fan opinions.

4.  Refused to give another QB a chance last year and kept playing Fancier when he was hurt. 

5.  For the administration, I think it would be when he made false statements about Fancier and fans.  Then got called out publicly by Fancier's parents and called into office, which resulted in Huff making an apology.

6.  Turning down contract extension offers waiting for a better job, then coming back and asking for extension last year when everything tanked.

7.  Choke job at Statesboro.  Then once again telling everyone they can't have an opinion on the matter.  Dude does not like to have any of his decisions questioned.

8.  Having drama with his OL coach (rooftop or elsewhere) that resulted in the OL coach who was instrumental in the victory over ND leaving.  Then replacing him with Bill frickin Legg.

9.  Hubris of hiring Bill Legg who he knew was not popular with fans. (Nothing against Legg as a person, but he was a horrible OC and not as good an OL coach as the guy who beat ND).

10.  Embarrassing Bowl performances.  With exception of win over UConn, his teams weren't prepared.

11.  Comments by both he and his wife about Huntington being a blue collar town.  Not sure what makes them better than us.  Plus it was really stupid to make a condescending comment about a community that has historically had to fight against the odds to make advancements.

13.  Consistently being inconsistent after a big win.  The choke job in Bowling Green comes to mind.

Please note, I would be OK if he were to get an extension.  He overcame his self destructive QB decisions and got a solid OC.  This year he finally looked like the coach I thought we were getting after the Navy game.

I am just trying to answer your question.

[Always THE HERD]

Here is my list:

1. Withheld information from fans; changed culture by closing practices to press.  Shifted information flow to short social media posts that he controlled. 

2.  Came into town ate a hotdog (reminded me of Donnan and grits at Georgia) then proceeded to tell us how he was going to get fans in the stands.  Which is how we got the short lived fan fest street party his first year, and DJHerdThat.

3.  Repeatedly made statements about fan opinions.

4.  Refused to give another QB a chance last year and kept playing Fancier when he was hurt. 

5.  For the administration, I think it would be when he made false statements about Fancier and fans.  Then got called out publicly by Fancier's parents and called into office, which resulted in Huff making an apology.

6.  Turning down contract extension offers waiting for a better job, then coming back and asking for extension last year when everything tanked.

7.  Choke job at Statesboro.  Then once again telling everyone they can't have an opinion on the matter.  Dude does not like to have any of his decisions questioned.

8.  Having drama with his OL coach (rooftop or elsewhere) that resulted in the OL coach who was instrumental in the victory over ND leaving.  Then replacing him with Bill frickin Legg.

9.  Hubris of hiring Bill Legg who he knew was not popular with fans. (Nothing against Legg as a person, but he was a horrible OC and not as good an OL coach as the guy who beat ND).

10.  Embarrassing Bowl performances.  With exception of win over UConn, his teams weren't prepared.

11.  Comments by both he and his wife about Huntington being a blue collar town.  Not sure what makes them better than us.  Plus it was really stupid to make a condescending comment about a community that has historically had to fight against the odds to make advancements.

13.  Consistently being inconsistent after a big win.  The choke job in Bowling Green comes to mind.

Please note, I would be OK if he were to get an extension.  He overcame his self destructive QB decisions and got a solid OC.  This year he finally looked like the coach I thought we were getting after the Navy game.

I am just trying to answer your question.

Thank you for your reply.

[VA Herd Fan]

If he left that would mean he?s still kicking ass.  Situation would be no different than it is now.  Buyout thing shouldn?t have been an issue.  Or make it smaller.  Damn he had so much potential

The buyout seems to have been an issue for both sides. If Huff's comments in the press conference about being here 5 or 6 more years then why would he be opposed to a buyout? Perhaps he overvalued himself. On MU's side, if I know a coach is and has been continually looking for other jobs then I want compensation. I would suspect that is not the only issue but that's a guess.

[MUonium]

Here is my list:

1. Withheld information from fans; changed culture by closing practices to press.  Shifted information flow to short social media posts that he controlled. 

2.  Came into town ate a hotdog (reminded me of Donnan and grits at Georgia) then proceeded to tell us how he was going to get fans in the stands.  Which is how we got the short lived fan fest street party his first year, and DJHerdThat.

3.  Repeatedly made statements about fan opinions.

4.  Refused to give another QB a chance last year and kept playing Fancier when he was hurt. 

5.  For the administration, I think it would be when he made false statements about Fancier and fans.  Then got called out publicly by Fancier's parents and called into office, which resulted in Huff making an apology.

6.  Turning down contract extension offers waiting for a better job, then coming back and asking for extension last year when everything tanked.

7.  Choke job at Statesboro.  Then once again telling everyone they can't have an opinion on the matter.  Dude does not like to have any of his decisions questioned.

8.  Having drama with his OL coach (rooftop or elsewhere) that resulted in the OL coach who was instrumental in the victory over ND leaving.  Then replacing him with Bill frickin Legg.

9.  Hubris of hiring Bill Legg who he knew was not popular with fans. (Nothing against Legg as a person, but he was a horrible OC and not as good an OL coach as the guy who beat ND).

10.  Embarrassing Bowl performances.  With exception of win over UConn, his teams weren't prepared.

11.  Comments by both he and his wife about Huntington being a blue collar town.  Not sure what makes them better than us.  Plus it was really stupid to make a condescending comment about a community that has historically had to fight against the odds to make advancements.

13.  Consistently being inconsistent after a big win.  The choke job in Bowling Green comes to mind.

Please note, I would be OK if he were to get an extension.  He overcame his self destructive QB decisions and got a solid OC.  This year he finally looked like the coach I thought we were getting after the Navy game.

I am just trying to answer your question.

did you have a tea party with 4 year old girls to come up with all that ribbons and bows stuff?

[MUfan08]

"Prior to this season, Huff turned down the opportunity to extend his contract at Marshall because of steep buyout terms and coached through the deal, essentially betting on himself. He has led the Thundering Herd to high-profile wins at Notre Dame and over Virginia Tech over the past three seasons."

Supposedly Huff didn't want to have any buyout in his extension, so I'm sure any amount would have been seen as steep haha.

[rileylives]

Supposedly Huff didn't want to have any buyout in his extension, so I'm sure any amount would have been seen as steep haha.

Legit question. Are there any FBS coaches that have zero buyout? That would have been something to look into.

But yeah that's how negotiations work and it doesn't seem like something on the surface that should prevent concessions from happening. I just think this was two parties that didn't get along for whatever reason. Which is very unfortunate.

[MUfan08]

I just think this was two parties that didn't get along for whatever reason. Which is very unfortunate.

BOOM

[Buffalo Bop]

https://x.com/SSN_Herd/status/1865780964544176540

[rileylives]

https://x.com/SSN_Herd/status/1865780964544176540

So legit question. Would Gibson coach the bowl game, will we be able to run the same O without Doege? Will Doege stay!?

That would be fantastic if we can somehow keep our current coaching tree for the most part intact.

[elginherd]

As usual TIM pretty much hit the nail on the head. The only point that I disagree with is that Huff's comments about Huntington being a blue collar town was meant as condescension or made with that tone of voice.

[MarshallSteve]

So legit question. Would Gibson coach the bowl game, will we be able to run the same O without Doege? Will Doege stay!?

That would be fantastic if we can somehow keep our current coaching tree for the most part intact.

Hearing that Bartrum will likely coach the bowl game. We'll lose some coaching staff but some will stay. Thats currently being worked out.

[Always THE HERD]

Oklahoma State university and their coach just renogoiated the coaches contract with an end result of lesser pay. How about that?

[Buffalo Bop]

Hearing that Bartrum will likely coach the bowl game. We'll lose some coaching staff but some will stay. Thats currently being worked out.

Perhaps also Chad P could be considered to help out with the bowl game if interested.

[rileylives]

Perhaps also Chad P could be considered to help out with the bowl game if interested.

I literally just said the same thing! Weird man