*Official* Marshall Staying in Wichita

[Rlh04d]

Didn't doubt it at all, but I love hearing it confirmed from Marshall himself.

The only thing unexpected for me was that I thought the Illinois job would get filled first. Once Smart turned them down, there was word that Hamilton at Florida St and Grant at Alabama might be interested. With Illinois' reported desire to hire an African-American, if Hamilton took Illinois, that would leave Florida St open. Would Martin rather pursue that opening and if he did, or got it, would Marshall be back in the mix at USC? Would Marshall consider Florida St? I'd think better job than USC.

Nevertheless, I'm very glad for the way it has come down. Great day to be a Shocker!!

As an FSU alum ... FSU basketball coach is a terrible, terrible job.

I believe Hamilton just got a raise to something like $1.6M this year, and that's after winning the ACC tournament, a Sweet 16 bid last year, multiple NCAA bids, I believe five 20 win seasons in the last 6 (with one 19 win season tossed in), etc., etc. I believe FSU ranks dead last in basketball revenue among the ACC schools. Hamilton is constantly fighting to get his assistants paid better. The fanbase is generally lukewarm on basketball, and we play at the Tallahassee Civic Center off-campus, which seats slightly more than WSU's (around 12k), but is about 25 years older. Even at the best FSU's basketball program has been in decades for the 2010-2011 season we only averaged 9k fans (about 75% capacity ...) and only really selling out the Duke/UNC/Florida games. It's a traditional football school, and basketball is getting a lot more support now (I believe the Duke game was the fastest sellout for students in FSU sports history), but it's still not even in the ballpark that football is in.

Coaching WSU basketball is a better job than FSU. Hamilton is a great coach for building the kind of success he has there with such limited support from the fan base or front office. He's just started getting the kind of recruits that he needs to be even middle of the pack in the ACC. I love FSU, but him leading us to the ACC title last year was like Duke winning the ACC in football in regards to the talent level, fan support, and money involved. Realistically, we don't deserve the success we've had the last few years and still haven't made the commitment to basketball we need to make to sustain it.

And Hamilton isn't likely to go to Illinois. The guy is almost 70. He'll retire at FSU unless he gets really pissed off. I was a little worried until I found out his age ... I don't see a guy almost at 70 taking on a rebuilding job when he has a solid program already in place.

I think Martin unquestionably would have gone for the FSU job over USC, though. FSU IS a better job than SC, and Martin would rather be in Florida.

I think the only schools we should be worried about Marshall going to, and that Marshall should ever care to look at, are traditional basketball powerhouses. Schools that will pay him $2-3M, are basketball focused over football, are in major conferences, have a history of success, and where Marshall is the first choice. That should be the checklist, and it's very possible one of those schools will come calling. But for now I wouldn't worry.

[_kai_]

Somehow I think the guy writing the check and writing up the contract (Dr. Sexton) has more say in it than a departing President, no matter how influential the Beggs' have been for our athletic program during their time here.

Also, I find it odd that people are making disparaging remarks about our AD, after he has retained the best coach to coach at WSU in 30 some odd years, 2 seasons in a row. The year we win the NIT in dominating fashion, and a year after we go to the dance.

I guess I put more stock in wins and losses, than some do in timeout entertainment...

[SubGod22]

Retained? He wasn't going anywhere anyway.

[ABC]

Retained? He wasn't going anywhere anyway.

First, you know this how.

Second, you think what Sexton did last year and this year made no difference?

I would really like you to list all of the bad things Sexton has done to the Athletic Department during his tenure.

[_kai_]

Retained? He wasn't going anywhere anyway.

I guess the 2 consecutive contract renegotiations don't count as retaining a coach?

[im4wsu]

Somehow I think the guy writing the check and writing up the contract (Dr. Sexton) has more say in it than a departing President, no matter how influential the Beggs' have been for our athletic program during their time here.

Also, I find it odd that people are making disparaging remarks about our AD, after he has retained the best coach to coach at WSU in 30 some odd years, 2 seasons in a row. The year we win the NIT in dominating fashion, and a year after we go to the dance.

I guess I put more stock in wins and losses, than some do in timeout entertainment...

I would be willing to wager your house, Kai, that Dr. Beggs has far more influence with far bigger contributors than Eric Sexton. It is not Dr.Begg's responsibility to be the fundraiser for the AD, but he, in fact, oversees it. It is quite presumptuous to state absolutely that Eric > Dr. Beggs in this deal.

Bottom line, though, what does it matter? Perhaps Dr. Beggs and Eric worked together, hand-in-hand, like teammates. And perhaps even 3G was part of this teeam to make certain the plan was viable to be completed.

[1972Shocker]

I guess the 2 consecutive contract renegotiations don't count as retaining a coach?

Perhaps that is Sub's point. If Coach Marshall wasn't going anywhere anyway, renegotiating his contract, not once, but twice, was apparently unnecessary and illogical. So right there are two of the dumb things Sexton has done.

OTOH, some might say ADES has been proactive in his attempts to keep 3G happy, content and wanted and because of that ADES has set the bar that it will take to entice 3G away at a pretty high level.

As 3G has been quoted as saying he has always pretty much gotten everything he has aked for and wanted. Somebody is making that happen.

[ABC]

I would be willing to wager your house, Kai, that Dr. Beggs has far more influence with far bigger contributors than Eric Sexton. It is not Dr.Begg's responsibility to be the fundraiser for the AD, but he, in fact, oversees it. It is quite presumptuous to state absolutely that Eric > Dr. Beggs in this deal.

Bottom line, though, what does it matter? Perhaps Dr. Beggs and Eric worked together, hand-in-hand, like teammates. And perhaps even 3G was part of this teeam to make certain the plan was viable to be completed.

I think it is you that is being presumptive. The outgoing President, who will be gone five months before the season starts, had more influence than the direct supervisor? Is this how you negotiate your eemployment? With someone who is leaving?

[1972Shocker]

Perhaps Dr. Beggs and Eric worked together, hand-in-hand, like teammates. And perhaps even 3G was part of this teeam to make certain the plan was viable to be completed.

I suspect this, in fact, was the case. There was a reason (or a set of reasons) Dr. Beggs hand-picked Eric to succeed Jim Schaus, especially in light of Eric's lack of experience in athletic administration. One reason, no doubt, was that he was comfortable that he and Eric could work well together.

[1972Shocker]

One thing is for sure. 3G would be gone (probably last year) if he did not have a very good personal and working relationship with Eric (or maybe Eric would be gone.)

Just look at the havoc an apparently strained relationship between AD and Coach is causing at K-State.

[ABC]

Perhaps that is Sub's point. If Coach Marshall wasn't going anywhere anyway, renegotiating his contract, not once, but twice, was apparently unnecessary and illogical. So right there are two of the dumb things Sexton has done.

OTOH, some might say ADES has been proactive in his attempts to keep 3G happy, content and wanted and because of that ADES has set the bar that it will take to entice 3G away at a pretty high level.

As 3G has been quoted as saying he has always pretty much gotten everything he has aked for and wanted. Somebody is making that happen.

Now are entering some weird territory.

Another way to look at it is that Sexton did what was appropriate after a great NIT run. Remember GM had been here four years, no NCAA tournaments and no MVC championships. It is a different case this year. You don't think that most coaches get some sweeteners after successful seasons, no matter the contract? In fact sometimes the contract calls for it, as it did in Frank Martin's case.

[1972Shocker]

Another way to look at it is that Sexton did what was appropriate after a great NIT run. Remember GM had been here four years, no NCAA tournaments and no MVC championships. It is a different case this year. You don't think that most coaches get some sweeteners after successful seasons, no matter the contract? In fact sometimes the contract calls for it, as it did in Frank Martin's case.

Absolutely. And rewarding a employee over and above contractual obligations is being proactive in tryin to keep them happy. Nothing weird at all about that.

[ABC]

I meant weird territory for Sexton to be criticized for altering the contract last year and this year.

[1972Shocker]

I meant weird territory for Sexton to be criticized for altering the contract last year and this year.

I was just being a little bit of a smart-a** with that comment.

[jocoshock]

One thing is for sure. 3G would be gone (probably last year) if he did not have a very good personal and working relationship with Eric (or maybe Eric would be gone.)

Just look at the havoc an apparently strained relationship between AD and Coach is causing at K-State.

The relationship HCGM has with the University (Beggs AND Sexton) as well as the WSU community at large cannot be underestimated. HCGM would not tolerate any foolishness. If nothing else ADES is smart enough to recognize this. Sometimes the best thing your boss can do is stay the heck out of your way unless you ask for his help. Marshall is happy here and ADES has a lot to do with that whether anyone wants to accept that or not...