New coach search...

[imauafan]

To be the AD?

Clark didn't say. Perhaps he may be the new AD-in-training since we lost both Lyons and Hart in recent years.

 

[imauafan]

I kept a scorebook, listening to the radio, in the early 70's when we beat beat Manhattan, on a last second shot by Glen Garrett, in the N.I.T.
My Mom and I jumped up and down and ran through the house. Dad chuckled and said, "I told you we'd be 'em".
I was a student at Bama, in the 70's, when we were ranked as high as number two in the nation.
I remember Florida's student section storming the court because they miraculously beat "Alabama" on a tip in at the buzzer.
Think about that.
My buds and I watched us lose a heartbreaking game to Indiana in 1976, in the Mid-East Regional.
That Indiana team was the last team to win the national title undefeated.
We had a three point lead with three minutes left.
Don't tell me about my low expectations. I have incredibly high expectations.
I've seen how good we can be, and have been.
But I can tell you one thing. We're going to have to take a chance on a coach.
No "PROVEN" head coach is going to take the job at an average SEC basketball program.
Especially when the team is playing in the same arena as it did when I was a student 40 years ago.
Say what you will, I'm telling the truth.
Riddle solved?
sip

Ben Howland says hello!

 

[bamahippie]

I kept a scorebook, listening to the radio, in the early 70's when we beat beat Manhattan, on a last second shot by Glen Garrett, in the N.I.T.
My Mom and I jumped up and down and ran through the house. Dad chuckled and said, "I told you we'd be 'em".
I was a student at Bama, in the 70's, when we were ranked as high as number two in the nation.
I remember Florida's student section storming the court because they miraculously beat "Alabama" on a tip in at the buzzer.
Think about that.
My buds and I watched us lose a heartbreaking game to Indiana in 1976, in the Mid-East Regional.
That Indiana team was the last team to win the national title undefeated.
We had a three point lead with three minutes left.
Don't tell me about my low expectations. I have incredibly high expectations.
I've seen how good we can be, and have been.
But I can tell you one thing. We're going to have to take a chance on a coach.
No "PROVEN" head coach is going to take the job at an average SEC basketball program.
Especially when the team is playing in the same arena as it did when I was a student 40 years ago.
Say what you will, I'm telling the truth.
Riddle solved?
sip

What you call "truth", I call speculation. Why, you might ask? Because IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. YOU DON'T KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW.

 

[imauafan]

Charles Koch Arena is a 10,506-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is home to the Wichita State Shockers men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams. Wikipedia

Capacity: 10,506
Opened: December 3, 1955

WSU cannot match UA in resources. I'm not being arrogant by saying that, it is simply a fact. To be completely fair there is also this from Wikipedia:

Following a $6 million endowment from Charles Koch[2] the arena underwent a $25 million renovation in 2002–03, popularly known as the "Roundhouse Renaissance." The old arena concourse was completely demolished and a new one built around the original playing/seating area. A portion of the seating bowl was remodeled to make for more legroom. All new seating was installed as well as a video scoreboard, and virtually every surface that was not renovated was given a fresh coat of paint.
....
In December 2012, ESPN ranked Charles Koch Arena at number 10 in the nation in a poll on home-court advantages in College Basketball. In January 2013, ESPN's Jason King listed Koch Arena as the 7th best home court advantage in college basketball.[3]

 

[CrimsonPride25]

ESPN Ticker is showing that: "Alabama will be making a big run at Marshall once Wichita State's season is finished."

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

ESPN Ticker is showing that: "Alabama will be making a big run at Marshall once Wichita State's season is finished."

Still looks to me like Marshall is giving WSU -- and anybody else -- plenty of time to pull together their best offer.

 

[imauafan]

Still looks to me like Marshall is giving WSU -- and anybody else -- plenty of time to pull together their best offer.

Can't say that I blame him for that. It's good to be in high demand....

 

[GreatDanish]

ESPN Ticker is showing that: "Alabama will be making a big run at Marshall once Wichita State's season is finished."

ESPN's really on top of it there.

 

[imauafan]

Darron Boatright bio

Darron Boatright enters his fifth year as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Wichita State University. His background includes 18 years in college athletics in both coaching and administration.

Boatright joined the Wichita State staff in 2011 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he had served as Associate Athletic Director for Development beginning in November 2009.

Boatright's duties include the supervision and leadership of marketing, development, fundraising, corporate sponsorships, radio/TV broadcasting, media relations, ticket operations and day-to-day oversight of the men's basketball and baseball programs for WSU Athletics.

At UAB, Boatright focused on development and donor relations while managing the day-to-day operations of the "Blazer Club." This annual giving and priority seating program generated funding for student-athlete scholarships, capital projects, facility improvements, enhancement of sport programs and general operating budget.

The native of Benton, Ky., served as Associate AD for External Affairs from 2005-08 at Murray State University where he had administrative oversight of baseball, men's and women's golf and all spirit groups. Boatright also had administrative oversight of marketing and promotions, athletic development, the "Racer Club" priority seating program and ticket operations.

Boatright was a member of the University of Alabama basketball coaching staff from 1998-2005 and was part of four NCAA Tournament teams and two NIT teams while serving as Director of Basketball Operations. The Crimson Tide made an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2004 and an NIT championship game appearance in 2001. Also at Alabama, Boatright served as Special Campaigns Director in the Office of Athletic Development.

While serving as a student assistant coach at Murray State from 1995-98, Boatright was part of three conference championship teams that participated in two NCAA Tournaments and made one NIT appearance.

Boatright earned a bachelor's degree from Murray State in 1998, graduating with a double major in political science and history. He earned a master's degree in Higher Education Administration at Alabama in 2004.

Boatright and his wife Kim have four children: Fletcher, Maddie, Zoe and Sarah Frances.

 

[TitleWave]

ESPN Ticker is showing that: "Alabama will be making a big run at Marshall once Wichita State's season is finished."

Hey, maybe Boatwright can orchestrate a package deal wherein 'Bama gets Wichita State's basketball and baseball coaches and brings himself home, cuz, to boot.

 

[BamaMoon]

If Battle's plan is to lure Marshall through Boatwright and for him to secure Boatwright as his successor, that could be the biggest coups is the history of modern day althletics.

Nice "Battle plan" is so!

 

[Athens-LA-Tide]

BAMM! Starting to be to much smoke for no fire going on here. RTR

If Battle's plan is to lure Marshall through Boatwright and for him to secure Boatwright as his successor, that could be the biggest coups is the history of modern day althletics.

Nice "Battle plan" is so!

 

[Rama Jama]

I will be a long couple of days until we hopefully get some movement one way or another. I hope all this is true. I suspect WSU would like to pitch an offer, but I don't see how they could be anywhere close in terms of money. Athletic programs like Wichita State live and die by coaching hires. They pretty much expect to lose their top coaches every so often to richer major conference schools. WSU's athletic dept loses money now so coming up with cash to keep a coach is solely dependent on outside sources. We'll find out Friday or Sunday.

 

[Drifter]

The question is who let this Marshall Plan leak?

There are only 2 possibilities.

1. Battle's camp
2. Marshall's camp



There is no reason for Battle to do so.

There is every reason for Marshall('s agent) to do. To drive up his value with us or someone else.

I hope it came from Myles Solomon and not Battle.
If Battle, he's not so smart.

 

[GreatDanish]

If Battle's plan is to lure Marshall through Boatwright and for him to secure Boatwright as his successor, that could be the biggest coups is the history of modern day althletics.

Nice "Battle plan" is so!

I hear Battle is now trying to get the Koch brothers to pay for a new stadium on our campus.

 

[RTR91]

The question is who let this Marshall Plan leak?

There are only 2 possibilities.

1. Battle's camp
2. Marshall's camp



There is no reason for Battle to do so.

There is every reason for Marshall('s agent) to do. To drive up his value with us or someone else.

I hope it came from Myles Solomon and not Battle.
If Battle, he's not so smart.

I'm curious as to why the information has leaked as well. Solomon going public like he did yesterday isn't great, either. Just shows WSU and other schools what the price needs to be to get Marshall.

 

[Matt0424]

If Battle's plan is to lure Marshall through Boatwright and for him to secure Boatwright as his successor, that could be the biggest coups is the history of modern day althletics.

Nice "Battle plan" is so!

If this happens, it will completely change my perspective of Battle.

 

[Bamaboda1]

If Battle's plan is to lure Marshall through Boatwright and for him to secure Boatwright as his successor, that could be the biggest coups is the history of modern day althletics.

Nice "Battle plan" is so!

I'd like to think Sarah Patterson would get a look when the next AD is hired.

 

[GP for Bama]

I always liked Daron Boatwright. It would be great to have him back at Bama.

 

[RobK]

One factor to consider here (as I know a few of you have alluded to on this board) is the autonomy of the Power 5 schools and the changes that it is going to bring to bear on college basketball, as well as the gusher of money that is flowing into the Power 5 from TV networks, football’s explosive growth, etc.

As much as eligibility changes and the one-and-done trend have narrowed the gap in college basketball between the mid-majors and the Power 5 teams, these changes that coincide with autonomy are likely to open that gap widely again. With full-cost-of-attendance coming, mid-majors will have to choose between ponying up to match the big boys or watching the bottom-feeder teams in the Power 5 become more appealing than the marquee mid-majors. And the money for mid-majors to pay to keep up has to come from somewhere. They typically don’t have gigantic pots of TV money, widespread booster/alum bases, or truckloads of profit from football.

And the bulging TV revenues from Power 5 TV deals and their own networks is funding spectacular facility upgrades, salary increases, and other improvements that will further widen the gap. And if the Power 5 ever begin paying stipends to athletes, the gap will become even more pronounced.

If I’m Gregg Marshall (or any other successful mid-major coach), I have to see the trends that are emerging and decided whether I want to cash in on them or swim harder upstream.