McDermott: 2-8 presser transcript

[louienad25]

Because of players like Brock Jacobson. The only reason Wayne wanted him to walk on was because of his 4.0 GPA. If you'll re-read my post, you'll see that I stated that we've turned the corner APR wise. But it did affect recruiting early in Mac's tenure, especially when everyone transferred out and he had to sign a lot of players in a hurry. The players I'm talking about are the ones who decided the semester was over after their last tournament game in their final season and yes, Tim got that ball rolling and handed it to Larry, who handed it to Wayne.

And the fact that all of those players in that first class transferred, or were kicked off the team had as much to do with this excuse as anything Morgan's players leaving did. The same with his second class, and his third.

I am too tired of this argument to go through the list, but Mac has had more turn over than Morgan did. I understand that it's convenient to blame this guy FOUR YEARS LATER, but it isn't true in this case.

As far as players stopping going to class after their last season is over, that is an NCAA epidemic. There are many examples at many schools.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

Unless I am mistaken...they figure the APR every four years. Wayne was here for three. How he can be mixed in this issue the day GMAC was hired is puzzling. Especially by ISU fans who blamed LE recruits for all of Morgans success.

 

[kingcy]

I am too tired of this argument to go through the list, but Mac has had more turn over than Morgan did. I understand that it's convenient to blame this guy FOUR YEARS LATER, but it isn't true in this case.

Morgan has issues keeping players around. He was only really here 2 off seasons so there is no way to farily compair the players he lost vs the players Mac lost. Some of the players in the change year were going to leave no matter who the coach was.

 

[singsing]

Not surprised we're 2-6 in the conference right now? I'll be in the wrestling board and women's basketball board the rest of the season. Do you think Bill coming into the season would not be surprised if we were 2-6 in women's basketball. He had more question marks coming into the season than Mac and has done a great job with the women's team. Time for a change.

 

[louienad25]

Morgan has issues keeping players around. He was only really here 2 off seasons so there is no way to farily compair the players he lost vs the players Mac lost. Some of the players in the change year were going to leave no matter who the coach was.

Reggie George got in trouble and was kicked off the team. Robert Faulkner flunked out after a semester. Tasheed Carr was leaving, and maybe Stinson and maybe Blaylock were as well. So that is 3 for sure and as many as 5. Yeah I can see how close that was.

Amazingly, you seem to forget the class that he did keep together. Before he ever coached a game here, he kept Stinson, Blaylock, and the rest of that class together. That class that led Iowa State to its last NCAA appearance.

The sad part is that I am sitting here defending Morgan. I wasn't sad the day he was fired. However, the fact that people keep making stuff up about the guy to try to defend what we have seen the last four years is just sad .

 

[cyclonenum1]

I completely understand and agree. I don't know how you do that as a coach. I don't know how you find a balance between your son and your team. In the end I think you put family first. The only thing I would say to defend him directly is that that game was a game damn close to home and he was actually home not on the road, same with Marshalltown. I don't know for sure how many games he gets to but I would venture to guess it isn't many so when they're close, I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he is taking advantage of his best opportunities.

About the team chemistry. One night, there was a thread about 4 guys being at the intramural games. It was I think Colvin, Gilstrap, Dendy, and I think Oliver. I thought that was interesting because they are all new to ISU this year. Are there cliques within this team? I don't know. Maybe the last three live together and Gilstrap was just tagging along. I just found it interesting. Probably reading way too much into it but it was just a thought.

Listen, I have expressed my concern about GM a bunch on this site but knocking him for trying to get to his kids games when he has a chance to do so is stretching the criticism a little too far.

You always try to put family first but whether you are the HC at ISU or you work for some corporation there are times when business conflicts with personal and you have to "balance" that...which sometimes means missing family events. I'm sure GM has missed his share of Ames High games this year due to traveling with ISU.

My sense is that some of you that are knocking him for this may not have kids. Someday, if you do, you will understand better. Those 18 years go by in a blink of an eye and at the end of that time you sometimes kick yourself for letting work get in the way of family when you were younger...I would not be surprised if that is the case with GM (this is his first child...correct?).

 

[BryceC]

Because of players like Brock Jacobson. The only reason Wayne wanted him to walk on was because of his 4.0 GPA. If you'll re-read my post, you'll see that I stated that we've turned the corner APR wise. But it did affect recruiting early in Mac's tenure, especially when everyone transferred out and he had to sign a lot of players in a hurry. The players I'm talking about are the ones who decided the semester was over after their last tournament game in their final season and yes, Tim got that ball rolling and handed it to Larry, who handed it to Wayne.

The APR issues Mac inherited were largely because of the mass transfers that occured when he was hired. At that time transfers counted against the APR regardless of academic performance. If Mac was coaching under the same rules as Wayne we'd likely still be in a huge APR mess.

 

[usedcarguy]

And the fact that all of those players in that first class transferred, or were kicked off the team had as much to do with this excuse as anything Morgan's players leaving did. The same with his second class, and his third.

I am too tired of this argument to go through the list, but Mac has had more turn over than Morgan did. I understand that it's convenient to blame this guy FOUR YEARS LATER, but it isn't true in this case.

As far as players stopping going to class after their last season is over, that is an NCAA epidemic. There are many examples at many schools.

True, but hanging that all on Mac really isn't fair. Wayne had the advantage of continuity within the program, as he was instrumental in the recruitment of the players who stayed, just as Ben had at UNI. Much tougher for an "outsider."

Yes, it is common knowledge that some mistakes were made in the rebuilding process, (assistants who can recruit and underestimation of talent necessary) but comparing what Mac inherited to what Morgan inherited just isn't fair.

The talent level is on the upswing, and we've got a guy who has the kids best interest at heart. As long as things continue to improve, we need to stick with him because if we dump him, we'll have to start all over again.

 

[usedcarguy]

The APR issues Mac inherited were largely because of the mass transfers that occured when he was hired. At that time transfers counted against the APR regardless of academic performance. If Mac was coaching under the same rules as Wayne we'd likely still be in a huge APR mess.

That makes sense. I didn't realize that transferring, even with a good gpa damaged us in that way. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[KCy]

He has brought in a lot of good players but they leave. If it is his fault they are leaving then he should go. If it really is just bad luck then he should stay. If the luck balances out, we have four straight undefeated national titles to look forward to.