News Article: Sarkisian letting Texas dictate his staff hiring

[Ole Man Dan]

Kind of like people taking a Bribe.
They are on the hook from here to eternity.
NO GOING BACK.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I remember only one time one of our head football coaches was not in complete control of his staff.

Counter–intuitively, it was Stallings.

At the time, assistant football coaches didn’t make anywhere near the money they do today, so they didn’t draw near the attention they do today.

Our offense was falling behind the times (Stallings’ great blind spot), and Hootie Ingram forced him to hire Homer Smith for a second tour in Tuscaloosa as OC. Don’t know if boosters influenced Ingram, but I tend to think not.

I definitely don’t remember boosters forbidding any head coaches to hire someone they wanted, though I guess that could have happened behind the scenes and not in the public eye. And I’m positive that we never rescinded a job offer because boosters objected to the candidate.

Saban was not allowed to hire Freeze in any capacity, but that was by UA and SEC Admin, not boosters.

Also, while I’m not naive enough to think there was no outside influence, I’ve always felt that Bryant, Jr. kept a lid on that. He‘s the biggest of big money boosters, but makes a point of keeping his nose out of the inner workings of the team, and lays a quiet but heavy hand if someone else tries to do so.

The influence that Alabama had been bad about (pre-Saban) was tugging on coaches to attend events — play in my alumni chapter’s golf tournament, speak at my company’s team-building event, speak at my kickoff party, speak at the fundraiser for my Rotary Club, etc., etc., ad infinitum.

Long story short, Saban teamed up with the National Alumni Association and they quashed that early on.

Going on a small tangent here, but I think this overall culture has spread to the University‘s academic side. We refunded the $25M that Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. donated to the law school when he tried to influence faculty selection and subject matter taught. Told him his money was too expensive. I was never prouder of the University than when they did that.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Does he have a choice?

Should have been a condition of taking the job......... my assistants, my choice or I don’t come

 

[allybama2009]

Def not a good look for texas flexing their muscles.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I remember only one time one of our head football coaches was not in complete control of his staff.

Counter–intuitively, it was Stallings.

At the time, assistant football coaches didn’t make anywhere near the money they do today, so they didn’t draw near the attention they do today.

Our offense was falling behind the times (Stallings’ great blind spot), and Hootie Ingram forced him to hire Homer Smith for a second tour in Tuscaloosa as OC. Don’t know if boosters influenced Ingram, but I tend to think not.

I definitely don’t remember boosters forbidding any head coaches to hire someone they wanted, though I guess that could have happened behind the scenes and not in the public eye. And I’m positive that we never rescinded a job offer because boosters objected to the candidate.

Saban was not allowed to hire Freeze in any capacity, but that was by UA and SEC Admin, not boosters.

Also, while I’m not naive enough to think there was no outside influence, I’ve always felt that Bryant, Jr. kept a lid on that. He‘s the biggest of big money boosters, but makes a point of keeping his nose out of the inner workings of the team, and lays a quiet but heavy hand if someone else tries to do so.

The influence that Alabama had been bad about (pre-Saban) was tugging on coaches to attend events — play in my alumni chapter’s golf tournament, speak at my company’s team-building event, speak at my kickoff party, speak at the fundraiser for my Rotary Club, etc., etc., ad infinitum.

Long story short, Saban teamed up with the National Alumni Association and they quashed that early on.

Going on a small tangent here, but I think this overall culture has spread to the University‘s academic side. We refunded the $25M that Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. donated to the law school when he tried to influence faculty selection and subject matter taught. Told him his money was too expensive. I was never prouder of the University than when they did that.

When it comes to deep pocket boosters, a "donation" is NEVER a "donation".

 

[dirtroadlizard]

If Stoops is that good , why isn't he the DC at another program !

 

[Bamabuzzard]

If Stoops is that good , why isn't he the DC at another program !

Staff members can bring significant value to a team and not be an OC, DC or HC. Whatever value this particular Stoops brother brings to Alabama, it obviously was enough for 1. Nick Saban to hire him and 2. Sark wanting to poach him.

 

[DrollTide]

Having boosters meddling intimately in the structure of you program does not augur well for long-term success there. Pretty soon they will be in his post-game debriefs, asking what the heck just went wrong, and what he is going to do about it. Then you lose institutional control, and then you are gone with a show-cause.

 

[Guido]

I was hoping Sark had a long conversation with mac brown before he took the job, as it looks now, this did not happen.

 

[OSUTideFan]

Going on a small tangent here, but I think this overall culture has spread to the University‘s academic side. We refunded the $25M that Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. donated to the law school when he tried to influence faculty selection and subject matter taught. Told him his money was too expensive. I was never prouder of the University than when they did that.

Wow!!!

 

[The Ols]

I was hoping Sark had a long conversation with mac brown before he took the job, as it looks now, this did not happen.

Charlie Strong was in the other room...

 

[stlimprov]

I dare say that the Texas powers would rather argue over who gets to hold the map than find their way out of the wilderness.

 

[Guido]

Charlie Strong was in the other room...

Good point, I didn't think of that. The Texas job is like fooling around with another man's woman, you get what you get.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I was hoping Sark had a long conversation with mac brown before he took the job, as it looks now, this did not happen.

Sometimes the idea of coaching again overrides the red flags that pop up warning you not to do it.........good luck to him, as he will need all he can get

 

[CoolBreeze]

I guess Sark got hypnotized by the $$$$ and didn't negotiate terms very well. When Mal went after Nick it was like - here are the keys, do what you want. At some point a coach needs to negotiate full control and have it in the contract to insure success. At least, that is what I would have done. But then again, $$$$ is very mesmerizing.

 

[BearFoot]

Heck...Charlie Strong was here on staff with him. Don’t you think that he might have hit ‘ol Charlie up for some insight into the UTx landscape? Either Charlie lied...or Sark dismissed what he said

I was hoping Sark had a long conversation with mac brown before he took the job, as it looks now, this did not happen.

 

[Tenntiderman]

I dare say that the Texas powers would rather argue over who gets to hold the map than find their way out of the wilderness.

Fact. And..they like it that way.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Heck...Charlie Strong was here on staff with him. Don’t you think that he might have hit ‘ol Charlie up for some insight into the UTx landscape? Either Charlie lied...or Sark dismissed what he said

Methinks it’s the latter...........

 

[Guido]

I guess Sark got hypnotized by the $$$$ and didn't negotiate terms very well. When Mal went after Nick it was like - here are the keys, do what you want. At some point a coach needs to negotiate full control and have it in the contract to insure success. At least, that is what I would have done. But then again, $$$$ is very mesmerizing.

If I had a 35 mill check in my pocket, I wouldn't be able to walk straight, but I'm gonna win the lottery soon so I'll let you guys know how it feels.

 

[Tenntiderman]

Sometimes the idea of coaching again overrides the red flags that pop up warning you not to do it.........good luck to him, as he will need all he can get

Yeah...but Coach Royal has been gone a long time. Seems like every coach SINCE Royal has had issues. Even Mack had to look over his shoulder once per week. They really got on him for losing to Bama in the '09 NCG.