pc in NM
11-13-2002, 08:16 PM
I've been struck by several similarities between the UNM BBall situation and Az's FBall situation for some time. Today's revelations cement the deal for me. Here's what I've been thinking.
Both programs had a longtime coach (Bliss/Tomey) who had taken the program to heights not previously achieved. UNM was consictently going to the Big Dance; Az was getting bowl bids and higher rankings & accomplisgments (Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, Nebraska, etc.) than ever before.
But, in spite of these accomplishments, significant proportions of the fans were not satisfied, because the ultimate prize was not being accomplished (UNM - Sweet 16 and beyond; Az - the Rose Bowl). Their cups were "half-empty", not "half-full".
Both coaches were player guys, but lacked in media saavy. Bliss was wooden on the air, and Tomey was too "down home"....
In both cases, the internet played a big role in the eventual demise of the coach's tenure. Internet discussion boards and news sites became focal points for dissatisfied fans' frustration and criticism. In both instances, the fans were demanding what had NEVER been accomplished at either institution before (arizona hadn't won an outright conference championship since the thirties!!!)....
The end came unceremoniously for both coaches - neither got the sendoff that their performance and accomplishments deserved. Each retired "under pressure" and left with hard feelings, hardly an appropriate sendoff for either.
Both coaches were replaced by guys with questionable histories, but also with some positive "buzz". Each (Frachilla/Macovic) had been early rising stars in the profession, only to fail misreably in their last jobs. Each probably deserved a "shot" somewhere, but didn't really arrive with their respective carreers on the "upswing". Neither had positive momentum. But both were known by an abbeviation of their name (Fran/Mac)
Both new coaches promised "the moon and stars", and soon, to boot!
Both coaches underperformed and fell short of their expectations from day one. But both had a built-in excuse that they were left with the former coach's leftovers.
Each had a season saving victory in their first season: Fran beat a highly ranked U of A team, laying the groundwork for the anti-Lute movement in 'Burque (about the only energetic thing in that entire program...); Mac won over ASU, always a charm for Cat fans, and an energizer for the off season....
Both were discovered to treat coaches and players disrespectfully, and the result was increasing dissention, low morale, and flat performances in games.
When Fran was finally fired, the "cupboard" was more bare than ever, the replacement was of a lower stature then either Bliss or Frachilla, and years of rebuilding appeared necessary to even return to the level consistently achieved by Bliss....
Mac's final chapter(s) are yet to be written, but the eventual outcome may even be as bad - and football is much harder to "rebuild", IMHO, than is basketball.
Some are glibly suggesting firing Mac and going out and getting "Mr. Right", but that guy, whoever he might be, will be even harder to land than before, I fear!
Both programs had a longtime coach (Bliss/Tomey) who had taken the program to heights not previously achieved. UNM was consictently going to the Big Dance; Az was getting bowl bids and higher rankings & accomplisgments (Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, Nebraska, etc.) than ever before.
But, in spite of these accomplishments, significant proportions of the fans were not satisfied, because the ultimate prize was not being accomplished (UNM - Sweet 16 and beyond; Az - the Rose Bowl). Their cups were "half-empty", not "half-full".
Both coaches were player guys, but lacked in media saavy. Bliss was wooden on the air, and Tomey was too "down home"....
In both cases, the internet played a big role in the eventual demise of the coach's tenure. Internet discussion boards and news sites became focal points for dissatisfied fans' frustration and criticism. In both instances, the fans were demanding what had NEVER been accomplished at either institution before (arizona hadn't won an outright conference championship since the thirties!!!)....
The end came unceremoniously for both coaches - neither got the sendoff that their performance and accomplishments deserved. Each retired "under pressure" and left with hard feelings, hardly an appropriate sendoff for either.
Both coaches were replaced by guys with questionable histories, but also with some positive "buzz". Each (Frachilla/Macovic) had been early rising stars in the profession, only to fail misreably in their last jobs. Each probably deserved a "shot" somewhere, but didn't really arrive with their respective carreers on the "upswing". Neither had positive momentum. But both were known by an abbeviation of their name (Fran/Mac)
Both new coaches promised "the moon and stars", and soon, to boot!
Both coaches underperformed and fell short of their expectations from day one. But both had a built-in excuse that they were left with the former coach's leftovers.
Each had a season saving victory in their first season: Fran beat a highly ranked U of A team, laying the groundwork for the anti-Lute movement in 'Burque (about the only energetic thing in that entire program...); Mac won over ASU, always a charm for Cat fans, and an energizer for the off season....
Both were discovered to treat coaches and players disrespectfully, and the result was increasing dissention, low morale, and flat performances in games.
When Fran was finally fired, the "cupboard" was more bare than ever, the replacement was of a lower stature then either Bliss or Frachilla, and years of rebuilding appeared necessary to even return to the level consistently achieved by Bliss....
Mac's final chapter(s) are yet to be written, but the eventual outcome may even be as bad - and football is much harder to "rebuild", IMHO, than is basketball.
Some are glibly suggesting firing Mac and going out and getting "Mr. Right", but that guy, whoever he might be, will be even harder to land than before, I fear!