Coach Mac on KXNO

**jaretac** · 06-28-2009, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

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.

Let me first state that I support GMac and I think he will have success at ISU, not final four success (unless he becomes the luckiest man on earth like several of the recent threads have dreamed), but should be able to keep ISU a contender.

Now, Coach Mac is on the hot seat! If he doesn't win this season, I don't see how anyone can support him anymore. He will have been here for 4 years without finishing once in the top 6 in the conference and never winning a conference tournament game. He had a string of bad luck and we stood by him, now he has had a string of good luck, his best incoming recruiting class yet, one of the best players in the nation returning; I don't care if the Big 12 is loaded, he has to be able to win more than 4 conference games this year.

I don't think anyone wants to see him fail, but if he can't win with what he has now, it is hard to believe he will ever win in the Big 12. If KF was on a hot seat going into this past year, Mac is on a hot seat now. If he makes the NCAA, he will be safe, but he has to win this year.

**BryceC** · 06-28-2009, 04:18 PM

Coach Mac is a good man and anybody who values that wants to see him succeed. However if he doesn't win this year, with all of the expectations on the program, his seat will be liquid magma hot, only because the fanbase will turn on him like Jekyll on Hyde. I'm talking CU-lite attendance in 2010-11 if we don't make some kind of noise this year.

**swarthmoreCY** · 06-28-2009, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Coach Mac is a good man and anybody who values that wants to see him succeed. However if he doesn't win this year, with all of the expectations on the program, his seat will be liquid magma hot, only because the fanbase will turn on him like Jekyll on Hyde. I'm talking CU-lite attendance in 2010-11 if we don't make some kind of noise this year.

Perhaps, but once you start talking about "if this does not happen in the next year or the year after then he is on the hot seat", imo, means he is yet to be on the hot seat. I mean the same could have been said after year two: it was clear Year 3 was not going to be successful, Year 4 had promise- but perhaps no CB, Year 5 it was doubtful CB would be back- so rebuilding. So I guess with that logic, after just two season's McD has been on the hot seat.
When McD's seat is hot, it shall be hot, but it is too early to allow deterministic views of a two/three year horizon to determine the temp. That said, I do not think 12 years is needed before you use this reasoning. Given the contract, if things have not improved by the end of Year 6, then Year 7 he will be on the hot seat.

**jaretac** · 06-28-2009, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

Perhaps, but once you start talking about "if this does not happen in the next year or the year after then he is on the hot seat", imo, means he is yet to be on the hot seat. I mean the same could have been said after year two: it was clear Year 3 was not going to be successful, Year 4 had promise- but perhaps no CB, Year 5 it was doubtful CB would be back- so rebuilding. So I guess with that logic, after just two season's McD has been on the hot seat.
When McD's seat is hot, it shall be hot, but it is too early to allow deterministic views of a two/three year horizon to determine the temp. That said, I do not think 12 years is needed before you use this reasoning. Given the contract, if things have not improved by the end of Year 6, then Year 7 he will be on the hot seat.

No, we are saying that him staying here is based on what he can do this season, that is indeed a "hot seat". If he goes 4-12 this season he I can't see how ISU can keep him. If you go into a season in do or die mode, how can you say he is not on the hot seat?

**Tornado man** · 06-28-2009, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

No, we are saying that him staying here is based on what he can do this season, that is indeed a "hot seat". If he goes 4-12 this season he I can't see how ISU can keep him. If you go into a season in do or die mode, how can you say he is not on the hot seat?

I agree, and most sitting in my section (132) would agree too. We shot lots of uncomfortable glances at each other during last season, as Hilton turned quiet. Anyone who went to the games saw tons of empty seats, with "actual" attendance nowhere close to the announced attendance of tickets sold. This is the defining year, and there's no way GMac can survive 4-12.

**swarthmoreCY** · 06-28-2009, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

No, we are saying that him staying here is based on what he can do this season, that is indeed a "hot seat". If he goes 4-12 this season he I can't see how ISU can keep him. If you go into a season in do or die mode, how can you say he is not on the hot seat?

Yes if ISU loses all of there games, McD's seat willbe hot...from there, if McD does not make improvement, then his seat will be warm. You can say that about many coaches. However, this is not a do or die season, but perhaps you would like it to be. IMO regardless of how ISU does next year, keeping McD will be in ISU's best interest. Like it or not, he will be here for 2010-11. If it becomes a situation like Dmac's, then we will move on.

**jaretac** · 06-28-2009, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

Yes if ISU loses all of there games, McD's seat willbe hot...from there, if McD does not make improvement, then his seat will be warm. You can say that about many coaches. However, this is not a do or die season, but perhaps you would like it to be. IMO regardless of how ISU does next year, keeping McD will be in ISU's best interest. Like it or not, he will be here for 2010-11. If it becomes a situation like Dmac's, then we will move on.

Hay, I like Mac, I want him to win, I would be willing to put up with another losing season if necessary, but like it or not he is on the hot seat and this is do or die. 90% of the fans think so and who would come to games if we lose this year? Let's face it, if Mac can't improve the win column this year, why keep him? He has the talent to, he has a established system, now he has to do it or there will be no one in the stands the next year (and there is no way JP can deal with that)

**swarthmoreCY** · 06-28-2009, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

Hay, I like Mac, I want him to win, I would be willing to put up with another losing season if necessary, but like it or not he is on the hot seat and this is do or die. 90% of the fans think so and who would come to games if we lose this year? Let's face it, if Mac can't improve the win column this year, why keep him? He has the talent to, he has a established system, now he has to do it or there will be no one in the stands the next year (and there is no way JP can deal with that)

So you think he will be fired if the team does not improve? What would you like to wager?
Whether it would be justified or not (I say not), financial reasons alone prevents this from being a do or die.

**MontyBurns** · 06-28-2009, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

So you think he will be fired if the team does not improve? What would you like to wager?
Whether it would be justified or not (I say not), financial reasons alone prevents this from being a do or die.

Even if all of these things occur:
(1) GMac doesn't win this year.
(2) Brackins leaves for the NBA one year early.
(3) Harrison Barnes doesn't sign with ISU.

GMac will still not be on the hot seat. Why not? Because:
(1) He will still be less than halfway through his standard issue nine-year contract.
and
(2) Pollard has spent more than $4 million in the last 4 years firing coaches and the reserve fund is dry.

Fans may think his seat will be hotter than hot liquid magma, but Greg has nothing to worry about.

**jaretac** · 06-28-2009, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

So you think he will be fired if the team does not improve? What would you like to wager?
Whether it would be justified or not (I say not), financial reasons alone prevents this from being a do or die.

What financial reasons, it will cost ISU allot more to not have fans coming to games then it will to buy out coach Mac's contract. Keep in mind that just because he has a contract through 2014 or something like that, doesn't mean that he will get that much money. Most contracts have a buyout clause.

**MontyBurns** · 06-28-2009, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

What financial reasons, it will cost ISU allot more to not have fans coming to games then it will to buy out coach Mac's contract. Keep in mind that just because he has a contract through 2014 or something like that, doesn't mean that he will get that much money. Most contracts have a buyout clause.

To terminate McDermott after the 2009-2010 season would cost $2.5 million ($500k/year) plus whatever is called for in his assistant's contracts (probably 1 year). He can go 0-30 and he'll be back next year.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/***...t_contract.pdf

**swarthmoreCY** · 06-29-2009, 02:26 AM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

To terminate McDermott after the 2009-2010 season would cost $2.5 million ($500k/year) plus whatever is called for in his assistant's contracts (probably 1 year). He can go 0-30 and he'll be back next year.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/***...t_contract.pdf

Good, having people thin your coach is on the way out is never good for recruiting. That situation is worse than losing.

**Cydkar** · 06-29-2009, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

So you think he will be fired if the team does not improve? What would you like to wager?
Whether it would be justified or not (I say not), financial reasons alone prevents this from being a do or die.

He doesn't have to be fired to be "done".

If he doesn't win this year he will be "done", fired or not. That's my opinion.

**cyclonenum1** · 06-29-2009, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by cykadelic2

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.

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...

You need to remember that few people have control over their situation like a head coach in college basketball or football.

**BryceC** · 06-29-2009, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Cydkar

He doesn't have to be fired to be "done".

If he doesn't win this year he will be "done", fired or not. That's my opinion.

Exactly. I should have clarified myself in my post - we all know he's not gone after this year. We flat out cannot afford to pay for a 2.5 million dollar buyout. That just ain't happening. His seat won't be hot with Pollard, but it will be with the fans.

He won't be fired but he'll be the walking dead if we have the same kind of year we've been having. Zombie coach.

That being said I expect something good to happen this year.