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Topic: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Topic: Here's a nightmare scenario....

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Bobcat Love
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 1,193

Status: Offline

Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 1:16:04 AM

I'm prefacing this by saying I really like Jim Schaus. He's done a heck of a job for us the past few years, and in my limited contacts with him - I actually think he's a very nice man, who's done wonderful things in an absolutely thankless position (OCF, Shuttles, you know the drill). When he took over a few years ago, I wasn't mature or level headed enough to realize what a great hire he was for the University. Especially after being so mentally poisoned by the god awful disaster that was Kirby Hocutt (Joke-Cutt).

I'm sure I made comments about Jim and the department that were in poor taste, but much of that was dictated by the carpetbagger status that had been attained by Hocutt and Boeh when they held the chair prior to Schaus. I was sick of the job being a stepping stone, and our fan base being constantly stomped on by these short timers. It ripped me apart pretty good to watch Hocutt take a giant crap on us, then walk away for Miami, and I would have expressed anger towards anyone in the AD position. Anyways, I digress, but before I mention this scenario - I want my positive feelings about Jim known and expressed.

Also, I have to credit Bobcat28 for getting me thinking about the Schaus angle in all of this. So, here's the nightmare scenario:

What if Schaus also has one foot out the door? Does Groce know of Schaus's career aspirations? Does Schaus put in 110% to retain Groce? As IPF and Locker Room wrap up, has Schaus shifted his focus to his next job? What is McDavis's role in a retention plan? Does Schaus even think it's prudent to pay an Ohio Coach significantly more than the MAC Market dicatates? Have we broached an increased student fee?

Simply put - have we exhausted every avenue to make sure the nightmare scenario doesn't come to fruition?

I remember when I worked in the Candy Business in Chicago. Fannie May Chocolates for those who want to be nostalgic. I joined the Company when it was in Chapter 11 and the Management Team was in the process of trying to save a sinking ship. As the first couple years passed by, it was clear the ship was going down faster then the Titanic. My Manager and I talked at length about our Career Aspirations and Goals during that period. It wasn't because we were great friends, it was because we spent a ton of time collaborating, and that conversation was part of a natural progression. The conversations were mostly informal, but I'm sure I presented body language and wording that told my Boss where my head was at, and vice versa.

Bringing it back to Schaus/Groce, I'm just wondering aloud if all of this will factor in. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but it wouldn't be looking at ALL possible angles, if we didn't look at Schaus's role in this.

My assumption, as I've tweeted all week - Schaus and McDavis have been ready for this. I believe Groce got the offer today and Schaus/McDavis knew it was going to happen. The lag between the offer and the press conference (Dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow) is allowing them to confirm that their contingency plans for a Groce offer can still be executed. Whether this means a contract counteroffer, or cutting Groce loose in favor of another strong candidate, or something entirely different - I don't know. But I believe both Jim and Rod (Jack and Rod - Stern anyone?) were ready for this.

The nightmare to me will be finding out that Groce left and we didn't do EVERYTHING in our power to prevent it, or that others were (god forbid please) complicit in helping him leave. If our Administration leaves it all out on the floor like Coop, Walt, Ivo, Nick, Reg, Jon, etc - I'll be happy. If we fold up shop like US Soccer, you'll see a side of the LOVE that won't be pretty for anyone.

LOVE

RSBobcat
General User

Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,437

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 1:26:11 AM

gee thanks - just had to check in one more time before I (tried) to go to sleep...........................

RS Bobcat

Cat4ever
General User

Member Since: 12/29/2007
Location: Oakland, FL
Post Count: 447

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 7:51:27 AM

Love,
You and I and "everyone else" (excluding trolls) who attends these board meetings is born and raised on Green and White. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone came along who was born a Bobcat (or who married into OUr family and became fully assimilated) and whose heart's desire -- their dream job -- was to be the best Ohio coach or AD there ever was ... a person who was not only as good as it gets in all the ways that make a coach or AD great (such as, I believe, Jim Schaus and John Groce) ... but a person for whom Green and White was the proverbial "end of the rainbow"?
Speaking from a career of experience, I can tell you that following rainbows in a quest for a pot of gold does not bring happiness. It is beholding the rainbow itself and basking in its glow that is the treasure.
A fact: There always will be someplace that can dangle the lure of money, but if that's what's steering your boat, then be prepared for the consequences.
There are false notions about "worth" that have warped our society and led a whole lot of people to plod through life with a bulging bank balance and a bankrupt psyche.

The only thing that is a fact is that nothing is a fact.
If this statement is true, it is also false.
--Dr. Donald Horning, circa 1965

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,764

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 8:52:48 AM

As usual, you are clueless, BL. You haven't the foggiest idea of my relationship with Schaus. Your gratuitous swipes at me in your back from exile posts are very lame.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

HeHateMiami
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Mason, OH
Post Count: 473

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 9:01:52 AM

I don't know. The end in your nightmare scenario is pretty much the same as the end in the undesirable scenario, the means of getting us there are just different. If you went on to explain that Schaus was already checked out, quickly exits himself, we hire an uninspiring coach, and 3 players transfer, THEN I'm starting to have a nightmare.

bobcat695
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Parkersburg, WV
Post Count: 1,345

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 9:30:49 AM

1. I've been a big Jim Schaus fan since he got to Athens. He looks you in the eye and talks rationally and calmly about whatever the topic is. He has the respect of the staff, and from all accounts, the respect of the coaches and Dr. McDavis. He has a great pedigree (father AD at WVU) and a proven track record at Wichita St. I trust him to lead the department by doing everything he can to retain our great coaches, as well as having a solid back-up plan to replace the ones he can't.

2. Frank Solich makes a lot of money. I seriously think we have enough in reserves to make a decent offer to keep Groce in Athens. The difference is that Groce is going to be a hotter commodity than Solich probably based on age. While Solich has been great, he is not being recruited heavily (at least publicly) by big time programs. I don't think any of us are naive enough to think Groce won't be mentioned for every big opening that comes along, even if he does stay right now.

3. Ohio is Ohio. We are always going to be a victim of the mid-major status and our bank roll. Bad coaches won't be tolerated for more than 4-5 years and good coaches will get hired somewhere else in 4-5 years. There are only two scenarios that would keep a coach in Athens for a long time. One is mediocrity, which we kind of had with Larry Hunter. The other is having a coach who has some other reason for being attached to the town (alum, Ohio native, family ties, etc.). In the second scenario, we would ultimately have to pay up to keep that person for a long time because they are worth market rate.

I have been fortunate to be close to the university since graduation in 1995. The first coach I really felt was cut from a different cloth was Jim Grobe. I was sad when he announced his departure to Wake Forest., but liked him so much that I felt selfish if I had any ill feeling about him leaving. I've known John Groce was special since the day I met him. I'm sure everyone else at Ohio feels the same way. I know nothing has been announced, and I really hope we have him for 20 years, but I also know that is unlikely. I feel the same way right now that I did when it was announced that Jim Grobe was in Winston Salem. It may happen right now, it may happen next year and there is nothing we can do about it. I just appreciate that our coaches will ultimately leave their programs in much better shape than they found them so the next guy can start from the top.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

bobcat28
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: United States
Post Count: 808

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 1:30:10 PM

Dont be surprised is Schaus is the next one on a plane...

Bobcat Love
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 1,193

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 9:03:07 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

As usual, you are clueless, BL. You haven't the foggiest idea of my relationship with Schaus. Your gratuitous swipes at me in your back from exile posts are very lame.

I'm sure Jim considers you the heartbeat of the Athletic Department. I know nothing gets done until your rubber stamp is firmly in place. Shuttle service be damned.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you start a thread a few weeks ago wondering aloud where I was (and also including a swipe in my direction)?

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,764

Status: Offline

RE: Here's a nightmare scenario....

Posted: 3/27/2012 9:14:56 PM

Bobcat Love wrote:

OhioCatFan wrote:

As usual, you are clueless, BL. You haven't the foggiest idea of my relationship with Schaus. Your gratuitous swipes at me in your back from exile posts are very lame.

It was an attempt at least to be humorous, complete with a semi-appropriate emoticon. I think I said something about maybe you were too busy to post on bobcat attack because you were too busy planning your next boycott. It was meant to be a little sarcastic, but not mean spirited -- a little light humor. If you took it otherwise, I hereby apologize. Your swipes at me always seem much more nasty than my swipes at you, which usually are tinged with my warped sense of humor. So, perhaps, we should just agree to lay down our hatchets and agree that neither of us has covered ourselves with glory in these interchanges. I think bobcat attack would be better for it. OK?

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