Lets not fire McDermott just yet (long)

**zach** · 01-14-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Cyfan13

I didn't want to be the one to say it, but I think you're exactly right. People in Iowa didn't like Morgan because they didn't get Morgan. He's an African-American from NY, who doesn't go out of his way to be extra nice and friendly. I agree Morgan was not the easiest person to like, but that was just his personality and didn't (and shouldn't) have anything to do with the way he coaches. A lot of coaches in D1 are good at pretending to be nice and putting a smile on in front of the cameras and then turning into something totally different behind closed doors. It's part of the business, and Morgan just didn't get that part of the business.

I work with people on the east coast all the time. I travel from Mass to FL on business and I am sorry I don't buy this argument that he is an "African-American from NY"......

Better said is, "Wayne is from NY", who doesn't go out of his way....... Now, that might be true and it may of bothered some people, I really don't know. I know white people in Iowa that are the same way. Nothing to do with color in my mind, nothing.

**CY ST8T** · 01-14-2008, 10:33 PM

The only thing I can agree with here is this:
Was Wayne black? Yes
Could he recruit? SOME
Was the majority of Cyclone Nation believing we were headed in the right direction with Wayne? I believe Not!
I do have to say that I absolutely loved Wayne's defensive coaching philosophy. But Wayne's downfall was his lack of intensity and control. It had nothing to do with looking like an Iowan, who he talked to or what he said. Larry wasn't a people person either, but he got the job done and he was so intense that you didn't even dare challenge his coaching. We couldn't get a better combo then we had with Wayne recruiting and Larry coaching. Damn Natural Light!

**Steve** · 01-14-2008, 11:34 PM

I don't understand why anyone would try to use the opportunity given to Wayne to try to evaluate GMac's future. There should be no such comparison if the person making the decision is a competent manager. The only criteria for any coach (or employee for that matter) is how one's superior ranks the pros and cons of either retaining or dismissing someone. The make or brake decision is always on the table, whether it be after 1 yr, 3 yrs, 5 yrs, 15 yrs, whatever number of years.

Even if Wayne had been more successful, his days were probably numbered if the perception that he didn't have a good relationship with his boss is true. It doesn't matter who's to blame, something has to change. It's usually much easier to change people that to attempt to change behavior. Two other major problems for Wayne were that his past track record as well as the results at the time were not that favorable. Wayne had 3 so-so years at LBST followed by one good year followed by a 2 year slide back to so-so. The 3 year composite at ISU left fans clamoring for more success along with legitimate doubts about achieving it.

There are 2 factors that justify giving GMac a longer evaluation period. One is that he has a better track record of elevating a program without it sliding back down. The other is that he and Pollard paired up after they had the chance to evaluate each other's styles and objectives in the interview process. It's fair to assume that they would be more on the same page in terms of the direction of the program.