Coach Mac on KXNO

[swarthmoreCY]

What good does "stability" do if it's of a losing nature? Good god. I don't want to go 4-12 or 6-10 in the Big XII just for the sake of "stability."
Should Minny bball not have fired Dan Monson for the sake of "stability?" Where in the hell would they be now? Do they regret cutting him loose and hiring Tubby?
How about Oklahoma State? Should they have kept Sean Sutton longer for the sake of "stability?" Was firing him and hiring Ford a mistake?

"Stability" only counts when you're winning, or making tangible progress.
If you're losing, you're just digging a deeper ditch...

Exactly. It has been shown coaches that represent ISU with integrity will be given the chance to make tangible, lasting, progress or they will be replaced.

[jaretac]

Exactly. It has been shown coaches that represent ISU with integrity will be given the chance to make tangible, lasting, progress or they will be replaced.

But sometimes it takes a little time and stability to make that happen. Look at Dan McCarney- longest tenured coach for the Cyclones, led us to 5 bowls in 6 years yet didn't have a winning season until year 5. If we would have ditched Dan in 1999, we may still be looking for our first bowl win.

Just becuase he has that in his contract doesn't mean he can't get fired. Recruits do look for stability and when a coach is on a bit of a hot seat like Mac is, seeing that he is signed through 2014 (or whatever it is), might be enougth to prosuade a recriut to come to ISU. I think almost everyone wants to see Mac be sucessful, some don't think he can be, but we would all like to see him suceced.

Again, I agree with above that it is crazy to have to rehash this all the time.

[swarthmoreCY]

But sometimes it takes a little time and stability to make that happen. Look at Dan McCarney- longest tenured coach for the Cyclones, led us to 5 bowls in 6 years yet didn't have a winning season until year 5. If we would have ditched Dan in 1999, we may still be looking for our first bowl win.

Just becuase he has that in his contract doesn't mean he can't get fired. Recruits do look for stability and when a coach is on a bit of a hot seat like Mac is, seeing that he is signed through 2014 (or whatever it is), might be enougth to prosuade a recriut to come to ISU. I think almost everyone wants to see Mac be sucessful, some don't think he can be, but we would all like to see him suceced.

Again, I agree with above that it is crazy to have to rehash this all the time.

Like I said, coaches will be given the chance to make tangible, lasting, progress. McD is not on the hot seat.

[cyclonenum1]

Like I said, coaches will be given the chance to make tangible, lasting, progress. McD is not on the hot seat.

Not on the hot seat? Then why did he sign a juco guy that only has one year left to play? Is this the vaunted "doing things the right way" that everyone always talks about? I'm curious where all of you that have hammered us over the past three years with talk of the complicated "McDermott system" taking time to implement...I guess that gets thrown out the door with this juco coming in for one season, huh?

[dbronco7sc]

If the Cyclones could go to the final 4 every year with a brand new set of 8 Jucos every year... would you do it?

I think I would... you bring in the best players you can each year... whether it be one year or not. You play one season at a time and you give your team it's best chance at winning each year. If that means bringing in a guy who only plays one year (Juco or One and Done)... then I'm fine with it.

[coachdags]

Not on the hot seat? Then why did he sign a juco guy that only has one year left to play? Is this the vaunted "doing things the right way" that everyone always talks about? I'm curious where all of you that have hammered us over the past three years with talk of the complicated "McDermott system" taking time to implement...I guess that gets thrown out the door with this juco coming in for one season, huh?

I would think that you are smart enough to already know the answer to that, but here let me help you....

The 1st three seasons Mac has had some "Bad Luck" in the player retention area....aka Mike Taylor, Wes Johnson and with the uncertainty if Craig was staying or going pro, Mac was looking for the best available athlete the could possibly step in and help right now...

If you go back and search Greg's career he has signed very few Jr College players (especially with 1 year remaining, which we still could get 2 out of if the NCAA gives us a favorable ruling), he would much rather build from the HS grad on up....

But, go ahead this gives you a yet another chance just to spew your hatred for our Head Coach....

[Cydkar]

I would think that you are smart enough to already know the answer to that....

Based on what evidence?

[chadm]

Based on what evidence?

That gave me a laugh.

[Frak]

Not on the hot seat? Then why did he sign a juco guy that only has one year left to play? Is this the vaunted "doing things the right way" that everyone always talks about? I'm curious where all of you that have hammered us over the past three years with talk of the complicated "McDermott system" taking time to implement...I guess that gets thrown out the door with this juco coming in for one season, huh?

Would you avoid taking HB knowing that he is probably a one year player? I doubt it. You take the best players you can get even if it is only for one year.

I think that GMac needs to show something this year regardless of contract. And, we don't know the buyout numbers of the contract anyway.

[CB21]

Nice interview. Thanks for posting.

[cyclonenum1]

I would think that you are smart enough to already know the answer to that, but here let me help you....

The 1st three seasons Mac has had some "Bad Luck" in the player retention area....aka Mike Taylor, Wes Johnson and with the uncertainty if Craig was staying or going pro, Mac was looking for the best available athlete the could possibly step in and help right now...

If you go back and search Greg's career he has signed very few Jr College players (especially with 1 year remaining, which we still could get 2 out of if the NCAA gives us a favorable ruling), he would much rather build from the HS grad on up....

But, go ahead this gives you a yet another chance just to spew your hatred for our Head Coach....

Unlike you, this is not personal for me. I have no hatred for McDermott whatsoever.

Frankly, I want him to do what it takes withing the confines of the rules to produce winning basketball at ISU...period. Clearly, he is feeling the heat, whether self-imposed or imposed from external forces because he understands a lot of people are not happy with the direction of the program from a won/loss standpoint.

If you read my original post more closely you will see that I am really pointing out the conflicting statements made by the die-hard McDermott supporters on this site over the last few years.

PS: Bad luck?!? Yes you can have bad luck crop in a given year but when you consistently have bad luck I'm not sure it should be defined as bad luck.

[cykadelic2]

If you read my original post more closely you will see that I am really pointing out the conflicting statements made by the die-hard McDermott supporters on this site over the last few years.

PS: Bad luck?!? Yes you can have bad luck crop in a given year but when you consistently have bad luck I'm not sure it should be defined as bad luck.

Regarding Gilstrap, he is essentially replacing the lost year(s) from the Wesley Johnson transfer. If Johnson doesn't transfer, Gilstrap likely isn't at ISU.

If you listen to the interview, GMac mentioned that some of the issues with the program since he took over have been out of his control (Wesley's transfer, Taylor's behavior, Lucca's injury, Eikmeier's health, etc.) and some have been within his control (guard recruiting and the lack of production from them so far - Brister, McIntosh, Eikmeier, Lucca, Buckley).

Bottom line, if Johnson doesn't transfer and if Brister, Eikmeier, or Buck produce last season, ISU is in the NIT last season (at a minimum) and tracking on schedule in what was Year 3 of a major rebuilding effort for GMac.

[ISUChippewa]

But sometimes it takes a little time and stability to make that happen.

IMO, this is the most underrated factor in why this program has had its recent struggles. Since JO retired in the mid-90's, out of the four coaches we've had since then, the longest stay so far for any of those coaches was LE at five years. TF lasted 4 years before his ambition got the better of him, and WM lasted for 3 before an underacheiving season cost him his job (the scheduling "scandal" was nothing more than a red herring, IMO). GM will be going into his 4th year.

Look at other conference schools....How long has Rick Barnes been at Texas? 10 years or so now? Bill Self has been at Kansas now for what, five seasons? And Roy Williams was there for quite a while before that too. Same thing with Sampson at Oklahoma before Capel took over. My point is successful programs have some longevity at the head coaching spot that contributes enormously to their success. We certainly haven't had that since the days of Johnny Orr.

From that standpoint, you can't fire a coach too soon. I think an objective argument could have been made for giving WM another season to rebound from a disappointing year, but that is water under the bridge at this point. Now if we have another losing season next year with all the returning talent and a good recruiting class, an objective argument could be made to make another change. Stability for the sake of stablility isn't the end-all, be-all of success, but it is important.

[Aclone]

PS: Bad luck?!? Yes you can have bad luck crop in a given year but when you consistently have bad luck I'm not sure it should be defined as bad luck.

Why not? I have a friend who is convinced he has long term bad luck. Matter of fact, that might even be his username on here...

If the "bad luck" were the same thing repeatedly, then I might question it. But losing players for radically different reasons isn't a trend, though it gets to be more like...bewildering. What's going to hit you next.

The good thing being that, pending the school year actually beginning, I think that with Craig staying, the pattern has been broken.

[swarthmoreCY]

Clearly, he is feeling the heat, whether self-imposed or imposed from external forces because he understands a lot of people are not happy with the direction of the program from a won/loss standpoint.

If you read my original post more closely you will see that I am really pointing out the conflicting statements made by the die-hard McDermott supporters on this site over the last few years.

Please explain the indications you are seeing that McD is feeling an increase in "heat".
Please develop the conflicting statements made by a singular poster.
If it is wrong to generalize you as a McD hater, please define what constitutes a die-hard McD supporter and why it is acceptable to generalize them.