Topic: Our Administration

[Tim Hensley]

While I don't like it, I support Smith and Spears 110 percent in opting not to participate in the Independence Bowl.  You can't have the inmates running the asylum!  I'm sure there are a lot of good kids --- Logan, Chad's boy and many others -- who were hurt by this, but it is what it is.   Three linemen can't be expected to block a fully-staffed Army program.

This is all on Huffy, who has hurt himself in the long run by encouraging entrance in the portal; I doubt if he ever gets a P-4 job as a result of his actions.  Hopefully, the spineless NCAA will amend its rules to the effect that a player can't enter the portal until after bowl season/the playoff is completed.

Some have criticized the Sun Belt for making the announcement before we did.  But, after all, the bowl tie-in belongs to them -- not us.  So we rightfully did not usurp their protocol. I also support  the very capable Commissioner Keith Gill.  In the immediate future, he is going to have his hands full in keeping us and Southern Miss from each other's throats.  Thank God, we're not in the same division!

Huffy has left us a pile of dukie on the 20th Street curb.  Be patient with Coach Tony until he can get it cleaned up.

[MarshallHerdFan99]

I dont. They have handled this so poorly. I no longer have any faith in Spears. When is the last interview hes done? Embarrassing


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[MarshallHerdFan99]

https://x.com/brett_mcmurphy/status/1868366815426134095?s=46&t=Rw4Rdsu66ljhDBgxaaqkWw

Not a good look


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[s1uggo]

I dont. They have handled this so poorly. I no longer have any faith in Spears. When is the last interview hes done? Embarrassing


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He?s waiting to bask in the sun of the soccer  team.  He made a great hire you know. ( tic)

[miltonherdfan]

I dont. They have handled this so poorly. I no longer have any faith in Spears. When is the last interview hes done? Embarrassing


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Dave Wilson had him on metronews talkline this wk after the coaching change happened

[MarshallHerdFan99]

Dave Wilson had him on metronews talkline this wk after the coaching change happened

Okay i forgot about it. However hes a terrible AD.

https://x.com/brett_mcmurphy/status/1868369674850779491?s=46&t=Rw4Rdsu66ljhDBgxaaqkWw


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[jdonaccbus]

Spears made a decision at the end of last season.

He stated on Metronews that the idea was to let the season go & that "we would talk" once the season was complete. Having a coach work on an expiring contract is unheard of in this day and age. And then when we got to 7 or 8 wins, I would think you would want to talk then and get this thing ironed out. Spears didn't do that. I don't know how anyone can think Spears handled this well. Huff let admin know he was talking with Southern Miss. What is he supposed to do when his contract is expiring, you are on a drive for a championship and you don't have a good feel for your two bosses. And I don't think Huff is innocent in all this. But Spears judgement should be questioned on how his plan was to handle this coaching situation.

People may like the administration. That is fine. They have their opinion. But they haven't been real impressive in how they have handled the two main sports the past couple of years. I think when a conference commissioner works hard to secure good bowls for your conference, I don't think it is a good look to assure a bowl you will be playing & then opt out two weeks before the game.

[bighat]

Our administration made a business decision.  Apparently, it was based on trust.  Having run an office close to fifty years, there are certain things that will make me fire an employee, one being trust.  If trust isn't there anymore you have to get rid of them no matter what time or cost it takes.  If you don't it will cost you more in the long run.

[MUther]

So tired of the righteous indignation.  Except for not getting to watch our boys play another game together this hasn't hurt the fans or the school one bit.  It's not embarrassing unless you're trying to make it about yourself. 

Please tell me what the school or administrators could have done to force the players to play in the bowl.  I'll wait. 

Given they felt the need to get a different coach for whatever reason they deemed it necessary, as is their right to do so, they have no control over the short term outcome of that decision.  It would not have been worth keeping that spineless SoB another year to go to a bowl game.  You want him holding every game next season hostage now that he knows he can?  Want to have to fire him in the middle of the season for lack of trust next year or be dealing with the same bowl ransom again to get another season here if a P4 doesn't want him again next year?  Our best move was to rip off the band-aid, learn from it, and move on.  That's what they did.  And they tried to be magnanimous about it, giving Huff credit at the new coach presser.  We still got burned by that PoS.  But he cannot ever do it again.  And we won't let anyone do it to us again.  Now move on.

[whf]

So tired of the righteous indignation.  Except for not getting to watch our boys play another game together this hasn't hurt the fans or the school one bit.  It's not embarrassing unless you're trying to make it about yourself. 

Please tell me what the school or administrators could have done to force the players to play in the bowl.  I'll wait. 

Given they felt the need to get a different coach for whatever reason they deemed it necessary, as is their right to do so, they have no control over the short term outcome of that decision.  It would not have been worth keeping that spineless SoB another year to go to a bowl game.  You want him holding every game next season hostage now that he knows he can?  Want to have to fire him in the middle of the season for lack of trust next year or be dealing with the same bowl ransom again to get another season here if a P4 doesn't want him again next year?  Our best move was to rip off the band-aid, learn from it, and move on.  That's what they did.  And they tried to be magnanimous about it, giving Huff credit at the new coach presser.  We still got burned by that PoS.  But he cannot ever do it again.  And we won't let anyone do it to us again.  Now move on.

This is your opinion, and you're entitled to it. But I have already heard from a number of folks with comments like "what the f" is Marshall up to? Or what the F is going on at Marshall.  WHile you may feel it as simple as not watching the team play again, many of us don't.  And we had the numbers, we just didn't have the desire.  You can't subtract 38 or 40 from 105 and get 41; not in the math I learned in good ole Hurricane, WV anyway.

I get your point, but I don't get the emphasis on making it out like everyone who doesn't agree with you is some kind of super selfish person.  And that POS wasn't treated like anyone else I've ever heard of in 54 years of watching college football; the POS just might be the one who tried to stiff arm him in these negotiations, not saying that he is, but who in their right mind would be setting at 8 and 3 and not been able to get their administration to talk about their contract. 

Oh well, we don't agree, but I'll not insinuate your stupid or super selfish for having your opinion.

[muherd34]

This is your opinion, and you're entitled to it. But I have already heard from a number of folks with comments like "what the f" is Marshall up to? Or what the F is going on at Marshall.  WHile you may feel it as simple as not watching the team play again, many of us don't.  And we had the numbers, we just didn't have the desire.  You can't subtract 38 or 40 from 105 and get 41; not in the math I learned in good ole Hurricane, WV anyway.

I get your point, but I don't get the emphasis on making it out like everyone who doesn't agree with you some kind of super selfish person.  And that POS wasn't treated like anyone else I've ever heard of in 54 years of watching college football; the POS just might be the one who tried to stiff arm him in these negotiations, not saying that he is, but who in their right mind would be setting at 8 and 3 and not been able to get their administration to talk about their contract. 

Oh well, we don't agree, but I'll not insinuate your stupid or super selfish for having your opinion.

If we could have played the game that is a bad look.  There is more to it than just portal entries.  Would like to know the opt outs, injuries and number of players available at each position before I can make a decision on if I should be mad or not.  Simple fact is no one on here has those numbers and MU needs to release actual facts as to why we couldn?t play.

[THECHAMPISHERE]

Tony Gibson needs to back out. We need to just shut it all down. We don't know how to FBS.

[HerdEcon]

Tony Gibson needs to back out. We need to just shut it all down. We don't know how to FBS.

Who is "we"?

[MarshallFan64]

I don?t understand how the damn AD hasn?t made a statement yet. This is a masterclass on how not to handle situations like this. Make a statement, go on radio, tv interviews etc explaining how portal, injuries, coaching loss etc impacted it. We are a laughing stock right now. Look for this to have repercussions for years to come.

[THECHAMPISHERE]

Who is "we"?

Christian Spears, Brad Smith, the BOG, and anyone else involved in letting stuff get like this.

I mean we couldn't even JOIN the SBC without screwing the whole thing up and looking stupid...dragging it out, saying stupid sh!t like: "We don't know if we are joining (the SBC) because Marshall has many options". Gill and our other conference mates are probably furious and embarrassed at the disfunction here. Marshall doesn't know how to do it right. Just shut it all down. We look like idiots.

I made it through 2016...when thousands left. But this is likely the straw for me. I've got maybe 5 posts left in me and a half a #^@&! to give. It's not fun anymore. It's a waste of time. Many High Schools have it more together. You guys are awesome. I feel for all the fans. But we have complete morons running things and it's so deep rooted incompetence it won't change in our lifetimes because we have incompetent people picking the incompetent people. That's tough to overcome.

[pdunn]

Some folks here need to get a grip.

If Marshall wins the conference they get their pick of the games available to the SBC.

If they are bowl eligible Marshall is available for a bowl berth.  Most years it's a struggle to fill the games with 6-6 or better teams.  This year there were 82 eligible teams for 82 slots.  This bit of dropping out wouldn't have happened if the administration didn't have reasonable grounds for it.  I'm sure those grounds have been communicated to those who need to know and we will get the whole story in good time. 

If we go 3-1 ooc conference next year and 3-5 in conference that's 6 wins.  If you look at our home conference schedule next year it sets up favorably.. two of our road games are against Coastal and App, both are in rebuilds.

This wont even be talked about by spring ball.  It will be a distant memory by next November.

[Johnnyherd]

So tired of the righteous indignation.  Except for not getting to watch our boys play another game together this hasn't hurt the fans or the school one bit.  It's not embarrassing unless you're trying to make it about yourself. 

Please tell me what the school or administrators could have done to force the players to play in the bowl.  I'll wait. 

So Marshall and the Sunbelt did not lose any money whatsoever by not playing in the conference?s top bowl?

I don?t think anyone has said the administration should?ve held the team at gunpoint and forced them to play in the bowl.

Obviously, we are using hindsight to judge, but it appears no one was with the team to try to calm the situation and assuage players.  I say this because so many went in the portal and apparently many left campus and went home (with a freaking bowl game scheduled) We left a bunch of 18,19,20 year olds in chaos and panic and we are surprised they all distanced themselves from the chaos by transferring or going home.   There is no reason Charles Huff should be the last person that spoke to the team on a Sunday when the portal opens Monday.

I don?t know for sure but it seems like Speers makes this massive decision and he distanced himself by running off with the soccer team to avoid an uncomfortable situation and problems that he helped create. 

Speers expects Tony Gibson whom is a complete stranger to all these kids but 1, to quell  and handle the situation?  That was completely unfair to him and setting him up for failure.  In the transfer list there are many starters.  I would be surprised if 80% of the starting lineup has left. 

All that was built in terms of culture is gone.  What Huff did as far as reconnecting the former players to the program has to be redone.  Seeing Marshall as a family environment that cares about it own and a close community that athletes can trust is out the window. 

We are a business that just makes business decisions.  The 75 game is just a marketing strategy and is apart of a business plan.  Hell Pennington and Yates were some of the first kids in the portal. They might have went anyway, but I can?t see all the kids getting the portal and especially half the kids just going him leaving campus.

This whole situation was a strategy to avoid the program falling completely apart because we were afraid Huff would leave for a P4 without notice.  So we force him out to a competitor and the results are worse. 

Do you think recruits and their parents are gonna notice that half the team left and refused to play and the coach was let go after winning a championship and the school really didn?t give a valid public explanation, which leads to a bunch of rumors and gossip. 

Even if the recruits, parents and agents didn?t follow the situation, I?m sure they know something doesn?t smell right and when faced with going to a G5 that has stability and culture or going to our strange, disgruntled mess with a brand new unproven coach, which do they chose?

I noticed posters saying that they will come here to be a D1 starter.   Every good D1 talent is told by every team that recruits them they will be a starter.  The only kids that transfer just to be a starter are the kids that are 2nd string level and want to play.

Again, this was all done to protect Marshall?s best interests and I think it backfired and damaged our reputation and did the opposite of what it was intended.  A classic Dunning Kruger.

[muherd34]

Literally most people in the USA could care less about MU.  This will be forgotten about by the weekend.

[MicDrass1]

People are not going to forget bc during the bowl game this situation will be rehashed during live broadcast

[SuperAnjario]

No one cares about this bowl situation, guys.  No one will remember in a few days.

[FilmJunky]

Spears hasn?t handled this well, but what did you all really expect?? He fired a baseball coach less than a week after they had a photo op of him holding a fat check. He extended the volleyball coach because he thinks she?s hot. He hired the new women?s basketball coach even though the hiring committee did not agree he went around them for ?his pick?. And now this football situation. He brags about hiring 9 or 10 head coaches since he?s been here 3 or 4 years. And we?ve went back to the old Marshall way on this HC hire which I hope Gibson can take us to new levels. But there wasn?t a national search done?this was planned and had the support of Coach Pruett who we all LOVE don?t get me wrong, but this has disaster written all over it.

[Flat Tire 2]

Spears hasn?t handled this well, but what did you all really expect?? He fired a baseball coach less than a week after they had a photo op of him holding a fat check. He extended the volleyball coach because he thinks she?s hot. He hired the new women?s basketball coach even though the hiring committee did not agree he went around them for ?his pick?. And now this football situation. He brags about hiring 9 or 10 head coaches since he?s been here 3 or 4 years. And we?ve went back to the old Marshall way on this HC hire which I hope Gibson can take us to new levels. But there wasn?t a national search done?this was planned and had the support of Coach Pruett who we all LOVE don?t get me wrong, but this has disaster written all over it.

One has to wonder about Spears, if the above is correct. The two main Marshall sports and Spears didn't make the hires? Remember, Smith hired the basketball coach.

[herdfifteen]

One has to wonder about Spears, if the above is correct. The two main Marshall sports and Spears didn't make the hires? Remember, Smith hired the basketball coach.

Pruett getting involved is scary, I loved him as a coach but his time passed long ago. The 'good ole boy network' evidently continues to carry considerable weight at Marshall.

[elginherd]

Generally speaking, in a failed relationship there is fault on both sides.

With 20-20 hindsight, could've the admins handled Huff's ambitions & bowl withdrawal better? Probably.

Could Huff have negotiated in better faith? Yes.

It's like the line from a Dave Mason song, "There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy. There's just you and me and we just disagree."

Huff was going to leave one way or another after 4 or 5 years, anyway. The sudden timing of the CH out, TG in just made it awkward.

[thunderingon]

Would the better response have been to play the game and then spend 2 weeks 1) shouting from every outlet imaginable the problem with the transfer portal, but honoring the commitment to play the bowl.  Spin a "we keep our commitments" story line while others do not.  Make it a national headline in a more positive way. 2) recruiting the players back that entered the portal.  We expect a drubbing by Army, but we still get paid and save face at the same time, while running the NCAA portal rules through the mud on every national outlet.  This also gives outgoing seniors that opt to play a proper send off and added exposure.