tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post1993207482932846471..comments2023-11-03T04:07:19.586-05:00Comments on Vanderbilt Sports Line: Don't Fall into the Ralph Friedgen/Clay Travis/Maryland Played Us TrapSeamus O'Toolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811017078765515449noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-6636486228999744942010-12-21T16:45:48.102-06:002010-12-21T16:45:48.102-06:00After knowing me for nearly a decade, he says this...After knowing me for nearly a decade, he says this as if it comes as some surprise. I thought by now I was pretty clearly on the record as being a jackass, but maybe I need to work harder.Seamus O'Toolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11811017078765515449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-36304539461629085352010-12-21T16:35:45.256-06:002010-12-21T16:35:45.256-06:00Even while agreeing with me, Seamus has to take a ...Even while agreeing with me, Seamus has to take a shot. What a guy!Bobby O'Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06690105481225344056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-80121757151496066892010-12-21T16:04:39.615-06:002010-12-21T16:04:39.615-06:00I agree with Bobby O'Shea: the facts don't...I agree with Bobby O'Shea: the facts don't support the conclusion that we "got played" by Maryland. I find it rankly inconsistent that Bobby failed to apply this exact same logic to the <a href="http://www.vanderbiltsportsline.com/2010/12/vanderbilt-fans-and-stockholm-syndrome.html" rel="nofollow">Malzahn situation</a>, but I guess that's neither here nor there at this point. <br /><br />Despite my agreement, I also can't say that I blame the casual observer for raising eyebrows at the recent news reports. It might appear to an objective person that Vanderbilt has just hired a first-time head coach who was apparently (a) not impressive enough to Maryland's new AD for Maryland to make a play to keep him, and possibly (b) on the verge of being fired anyway (though I take Kevin Anderson at his word when he says this isn't true, especially since Franklin hammered home at the presser what a great situation he had left at Maryland). Whether or not Maryland's AD wanted an entire staff of his own guys in place, it's understandable for people to be concerned about the fact that Maryland appears pleased as punch to see Franklin go.<br /><br />It's hard to know at this point how prescient the hire of Franklin will turn out to be. I'm excited about him because I think he has the energy and the savvy to be able to sell Vanderbilt to recruits and their parents, he's saying all the right things about winning and changing the culture and being a CEO, and he's young enough to be able to build something for the long haul. He's received some ringing endorsements from people who know the game a lot better than I do, so all I can do at this point is give CJF, and David Williams, the benefit of the doubt. <br /><br />In short, nobody pawned this guy off on us; DW wanted him. This hire should be judged by the results, not by Clay Travis.Seamus O'Toolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11811017078765515449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-35728392787635728682010-12-21T14:26:08.141-06:002010-12-21T14:26:08.141-06:00BobbyO'- 1
Bob- 0BobbyO'- 1<br />Bob- 0Mazenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-51827350091960097632010-12-21T08:55:29.956-06:002010-12-21T08:55:29.956-06:00I think your resuscitation of facts is correct. Al...I think your resuscitation of facts is correct. All of those things did happened. With that said, so what? I don't believe the facts support the ultimate conclusion that Vanderbilt got played. If Vanderbilt believes James Franklin is there guy, then what does the university care if, in getting the coach who is going to rebuild our program, we help another school save some coin? Again, it's not a zero-sum game between Vanderbilt and Maryland. <br /><br />The circumstances surrounding Franklin's departure are only suspicious if one wants them to be. Not surprisingly, a sports talk radio host/columnist wants them to do. It creates more fodder and advances a narrative he is comfortable with (Vanderbilt football being perpetually terrible). The problem, is the "suspicions" depend on 2 incorrect assumptions: 1) Franklin was forced upon us, and 2) Maryland and Vanderbilt are in direct competition with one another. But neither of these statements are true. Vanderbilt wanted Franklin (even if some fans are unimpressed). Commodore fans are, in my view, too hung up on the fact that Maryland didn't do anything to keep him. Again, so what? The fact that Maryland's AD, who had nothing to do either with hiring or making him the coach-in-waiting, was unwilling to make a long term commitment to James Franklin says very little about Coach Franklin or Vanderbilt's decision to hire him.Bobby O'Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06690105481225344056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640778288989151924.post-75655607042654750032010-12-21T07:50:01.678-06:002010-12-21T07:50:01.678-06:00The basic facts are these:
1. Vandy expresses inte...The basic facts are these:<br />1. Vandy expresses interest in hiring James Franklin.<br />2. Franklin has a $1MM buyout clause in his contract through the end of 2011 if he doesn't get hired as HC at Maryland.<br />3. Maryland shows no interest whatsoever in keeping Franklin around.<br />4. Vandy hires Franklin.<br />5. Maryland fires Friedgen.<br /><br />Maybe Maryland didn't handle their coaching arrangement intentionally to the detriment of Vanderbilt, but Vanderbilt clearly made it easier and more importantly CHEAPER for the Terps to clean house and start over. Franklin leaving meant that the price tag for firing Friedgen just went on clearance to the tune of $1 million off. My personal misgivings about Franklin aside, the circumstances surrounding his exit from Maryland are certainly specious. I'm not a big Clay Travis fan, but he's not totally off base.Anything but Gatoradehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17006770456109241897noreply@blogger.com