Coach Mac

[HandDownManDown]

I just did.

[HandDownManDown]

PAY COACH MAC

Gonzaga had a huge surge in its applications , alumni donations etc as a result of its basketball success so many years ago.

This affects way more than the athletic department. Keep CU moving forward. Keep Coach Mac

It’s happened here too.

[bluejayfan00]

There’s something really funny about all this: the things that are being repeated to fan the flames by Mr. Insistence00 are things that are a re-hash of what was said last year around this time, yet everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion (or coming close to it) that the apocalypse is nigh.

Here’s the truth: there are a bunch of arrows pointing in several different directions here. And no one has even stopped to think that at 60 he not only might not go, it can be a huge obstacle to even be chosen. The guy at OSU wasn’t even there when they tried to hire Mac.

I know ‘people’ too, and those people have repeatedly said his next stop is the golf course. They aren’t changing their tune because the Field of 68 and Norlander think he should get a call.

Whether or not Mac should get a raise is a different discussion entirely. In fact the irony is the better we do the more likely it is someone will pay up for a guy his age even though he’s pretty open about what he plans on doing after coaching, unlike a guy like Pitino who’ll be doing this in a Weekend at Bernie’s basketball remake. Who’s paying a ton for a guy who’ll likely be lining up putts in five years?

I'm not posting what I have heard to "fan the flames", I posted it because it's relevant. Our head coach has had his name thrown into the ring by people who cover the sport for a living. I think that alone is enough to ilicit conversation on a Creighton basketball message board. I went into detail about what I have heard about the relationship or lack thereof Mac has with Blossom/Hendrickson, etc. I didn't think anything I posted was "news", but some on the board apparently had no idea what some of the "behind the scenes' issues were, so I answered to not purposely leave things vague, like some on this board with "inside" info do. And nothing I have heard or believe to be true have anything to do with what people like Matt Norlander or people on the Field of 68 say. They obviously report on what they hear and what they think could/would happen, in their opinion pieces.

I have no idea, nor have I pretended to, have information whether or not Mac has specific interest in OSU, or if they'd have interest in him. Don't think anyone on this board does. My post and my angle in this discussion has centered around what I've heard and what I know in regards to Mac/Blossom/Hendrickson. So, when his name gets brought up in coaching searches, I feel it's relevant to fear having him poached because of that fractured relationship behind the scenes. I don't doubt you also "know people", you've proven that with some good insight over the years. The whole golf course thing is something that's also been out there for awhile, that he hopes to retire 'younger' and enjoy his time. All I'm saying is, and it's not specific to OSU, there's smoke to him listening to other jobs, because of the Blossom/Hendrickson dynamic.

[HandDownManDown]

Fair enough. Carry on.

But there’s a ton of reasons why this won’t come to fruition. Even Helmzy says this isn’t the one to sweat.

[SeattleJay]

What’s he saying tonight for those of us without twitter

It's at 8:30

Any update?

[bluejayfan00]

Fair enough. Carry on.

But there’s a ton of reasons why this won’t come to fruition. Even Helmzy says this isn’t the one to sweat.

well...nevermind lol.

But yeah, I don't personally think he's going to go to OSU. My fear is that the issues that have been created in the last 3 years could make *something* happen at some point. And like I posted earlier, even when/if he doesn't take another job, everything about the whole situation is worrisome and troubling. Coaches talk, and if Mac is able to stick it out and retire here, if we attempt to hire anyone he is close with, they will certainly know about the issues. Posted earlier about a tidbit I've heard is how DRock won't "touch" the job with the current leadership. That's worrisome.

[bluejayfan00]

What’s he saying tonight for those of us without twitter

It's at 8:30

Any update?

Some notes from it so far: he made it clear this is a combination of what he has heard from good sources, plus what he THINKS.

-Thinks Michigan and Ohio State will have a pretty similar pool of candidates.

-Thinks there are AD's in there with burners or anonymous which is funny bc Blossom was in there last year lol

-Heard a week ago Mac was already talking to OSU. They engaged him. Referenced the Mac/Blossom issues, said it's not a well kept secret. He personally doesn't put a lot of stock in that because tons of people don't get along with their bosses.

-Referenced Ed Cooley's quote from last night about Mac.

- Doesn't assume he's the frontrunner, but thinks it's "crazy" to not think he's in the mix.

- Said Mac has one of the best coaching trees, but if the AD/leadership stuff is real, would the AD want to go outside the coaching tree. Mentioned Huss and DeVries would "covet" it, doesn't think Porter Moser would want it.

- Last 6 months, he has also heard Macs name tied to West Virginia and Arizona State, and how Mac owns 2(?) homes in the area. Said he thinks Bobby Hurley is looking for an out, and that could be DePaul.

- Thinks ASU could be a good spot for him because of the weather, golf, lower taxes, etc. Mentioned Randy Bennett from St. Marys could also be interested in it.

- Said OSU can pay Mac more than ASU, but ASU offers the better lifestyle. Said other jobs Mac could covet won't open until the season ends, which I thought was a dumb comment because, no duh?

He's going into other candidates for OSU now, but that seems the end of the heavy Creighton talk. If there's more I'll update

[Creighton77]

Was accused of "beating around the bush" with what I've heard, in another thread. Figured I'd just copy and paste my response to that here as well

Hendrickson wanted Mac fired for the plantation comment. Ras said no. Stood up for Mac. Hendrickson wanted something to happen. Ras retired.

Mac was unhappy with how the university seemingly didn't have his back after one mistake, given his track record of being a good guy to everyone who has ever encountered him. Mac was peeved by Hendrickson.

A lot of the old/long timers in the AD wanted Burgers promoted to AD. Heard he didn't even get an interview. Blossom was hand picked by Hendrickson, came in and shook everything up, and multiple associate AD's were basically told their services weren't wanted anymore, and if they wanted to stay, would have to be in a diminished role. That didn't sit right with many, including Mac.

I don't have any reason to think there are a ton of personal issues with Mac and Blossom, but who knows. It's obviously difficult going from someone who you trusted 100% and was one of your best friends, to someone you have no relationship with, and was hand picked by someone who wanted you fired and has disrupted the entire athletic department.

We don't have any public record of what Mac's salary is- but he is severely underpaid. I don't think he's likely in the top 25 in the country, which to me is insane. Mac doesn't strike me as the type of guy who has unrealistic wants and needs, but he should be compensated fairly and I don't think he is, compared to his peers. People mention that it wouldn't make sense for him to leave foe all these different reasons, and many are valid. But when he turned down OSU in 2017, he said you don't "mess with happy", well, when you're not as happy anymore, for all the reasons I stated above, you are more willing to hear and listen to other opportunities.

Again, many have shot these things down over the years. I trust MULTIPLE people who have told me a lot of these things and have told them consistently over the years. They'd really have no reason to just make it up, and they'd be in a position to know. I didn't think anything I posted above was a secret, I assumed it was pretty well known. It is on X/Twitter amongst CU fans, and on other board(s).

Bottomline IMO- Hendrickson isn't well liked, by anyone really. Blossom hasn't done much to gain the trust of Mac. IMO, Mac wants a raise and deserves one. I don't think Mac is looking for a way out, at all. He loves Omaha and CU, and wants to be here. But he wants to be compensated fairly and felt appreciated by his bosses. As far as basketball only, I don't know how much sense it makes for him to go elsewhere when he's stated he doesn't want to coach forever. But then again, if everything else behind the scenes is true, and I think a lot of it is, I don't blame him for being open to the possibility.

This is pretty well-established, and what it means is what I continue to find most worrisome and infuriating.

We have a president who would’ve denied this program a Sweet 16 & Elite 8 (no way that ‘21 team makes a run if Mac gets fired, and no way we get the recruiting & coaching to take us even further last year).

And we have a president that would’ve ruined the career of what I hope we can all agree is not only a hell of a coach, but a good man.

To put it kindly, that president deserves to have his judgement and priorities questioned, and he hired the current AD.

If Mac leaves now, this played a role. Even if he doesn’t, Hendrickson deserves nothing but contempt. Concerned about any future that involves him & Blossom.

[omajay]

Father is in his 9th year as president. It is time for a change. He seems to love the attention and likes the spotlight on him.

[Helmzy]

The guy who is doing the Space… Did he think Mac was going to Notre Dame last year? Trying to figure out his track record.

According to BluejayFan00’s summary, the guy has most of that right.