Craig Smith

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PMWinSTP said:
There were a lot of folks clamoring to go after him before Ben got hired and kept bringing him up after. No thanks. People told me Brian Dutcher was too old back then when I suggested it...I would take him now. I bet he could bring some players with him who would have an immediate impact.
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I think age is barely a factor

If you’re trying to set up your program for 10-20 years it is. But the way of the world 2026 matters more than 2036 for the hire.
There isn’t a hire we could make that will be the coach in 2040
 

Some guy said:
I think age is barely a factor

If you’re trying to set up your program for 10-20 years it is. But the way of the world 2026 matters more than 2036 for the hire.
There isn’t a hire we could make that will be the coach in 2040
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I don't think it mattered either way, but it seemed to be for many posters back then. I would take him in a heartbeat.
 


Some guy said:
I think age is barely a factor

If you’re trying to set up your program for 10-20 years it is. But the way of the world 2026 matters more than 2036 for the hire.
There isn’t a hire we could make that will be the coach in 2040
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I think the age factor can also be from Brian Dutcher's perspective.

With only so many years left in the profession, his father that much older, at this point in his life I don't see such a move as likely.

He's the one I was hoping got the gig in 2021.
 

Ope3 said:
I think the age factor can also be from Brian Dutcher's perspective.

With only so many years left in the profession, his father that much older, at this point in his life I don't see such a move as likely.

He's the one I was hoping got the gig in 2021.
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I have no idea what he thinks but I’m only speaking from the U’s perspective

No ones age should scare the U off
There is a nearly 100% chance the next guy they hire isn’t the head coach in 2040 anyways

I do think 10-15 years ago age scares people away because you don’t want to make a 6 year hire. But I think the world is different now
 


Some guy said:
I have no idea what he thinks but I’m only speaking from the U’s perspective

No ones age should scare the U off
There is a nearly 100% chance the next guy they hire isn’t the head coach in 2040 anyways

I do think 10-15 years ago age scares people away because you don’t want to make a 6 year hire. But I think the world is different now
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I agree with that.

If one can get a productive HC for what only might be a 3-5 year horizon, go for it.
 

Yeah...since players leave yearly now we dont have to worry about the long term. Fix the short term and build from there.
 

Spaulding!No! said:
I thought Ark. got the Walmart money. What is the Mo. connection?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Walton_Laurie

"With her husband, she donated US$25 million to the University of Missouri for the construction of a new sports arena for the Missouri Tigers in 2001, to be named after their daughter Paige Laurie, who did not attend the university. They have also endowed the E. Paige Laurie Professorship for the Equine Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri."
 






GopherBlood777 said:
They were scheduled to meet after sdsu was done in the tourney but Coyle canceled and hired Ben. As to why, we only know Coyle was blown away.
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Spottedmuskie said:
We can't let this guy get away to Northern Illinois!
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It's just like when the Vikings hired Brad Childress on the spot to stop him from going to Green Bay. When you spot a quality coach you need to pounce. A winning decision.
 

howeda7 said:
It's just like when the Vikings hired Brad Childress on the spot to stop him from going to Green Bay. When you spot a quality coach you need to pounce. A winning decision.
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Or like when they drafted Ponder 11th overall
 




howeda7 said:
At least in that case, every QB in that draft was a bust so it doesn't look as bad.
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It was still a gigantic reach regardless of how the other qb's ended up performing. The vikes panicked, much like the gophers when hiring this coach.
 


Gophers1992 said:
Dalton or Kaepernick had far superior careers.
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Sure but they were picked long after 11. No one credibly suggested they should go ahead of Ponder at the time. The narrative was they wanted Jake Locker or Blaine Gabbert and panicked took Ponder when they were gone. All three were flops.
 


Zeppelin Gopher said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Walton_Laurie

"With her husband, she donated US$25 million to the University of Missouri for the construction of a new sports arena for the Missouri Tigers in 2001, to be named after their daughter Paige Laurie, who did not attend the university. They have also endowed the E. Paige Laurie Professorship for the Equine Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri."
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Missouri also has Rams/Avalance/Nuggets/Arnenal owner Stan Kroenke, who married into the Walmart fortune. He went to Missouri and his son played basketball at Missouri.

So, Missouri has two dudes (Stan Kroenke, Bill Laurie) who married daughters of Bud Walton.
 


tjgopher said:
Missouri also has Rams/Avalance/Nuggets/Arnenal owner Stan Kroenke, who married into the Walmart fortune. He went to Missouri and his son played basketball at Missouri.

So, Missouri has two dudes (Stan Kroenke, Bill Laurie) who married daughters of Bud Walton.
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Damn I wish I'd have married for money!
 


Bad Gopher said:
I just saw speculation that Utah would pursue Richard Pitino. I think it was just speculation, not inside info.
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He's doing a good job at New Mexico but I wonder if he's much of an upgrade over Smith.
 


GopherWeatherGuy said:
I really wanted Smith 4 years ago, but the biggest question with him was always if he could recruit at a high enough level to win in a P4 conference. For now, that answer is no. He had a lot of success at his other stops due to finding under the radar high school and international players, and building them within his system. Eric Peterson was his main international recruiter, and he left after season 1 at Utah to become the head coach at the University of South Dakota.

Smith will likely drop down to a lower level for his next stop. I don't think he'll be an option for the Gophers this time, and I think that'll be the right choice.
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He couldn't ... at Utah, in the PAC 12 and then the new Big 12.

Switch Smith to Iowa State and TJO to Utah. I'm curious what you think would happen.

It's a fun thought experiment. Could even try to play it with Ben Johnson. But, at the end of the day, what happened is what happened.
 


howeda7 said:
Reusse claims that who Coyle wanted but he was over-ruled.
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So Gable really did screw over Gopher basketball, if you believe that. And/or the Regents. Those would be the only two with that power?

If eggs weren't so damn expensive!...
 

GopherGrit said:
He couldn't ... at Utah, in the PAC 12 and then the new Big 12.

Switch Smith to Iowa State and TJO to Utah. I'm curious what you think would happen.

It's a fun thought experiment. Could even try to play it with Ben Johnson. But, at the end of the day, what happened is what happened.
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It is an interesting question, my thought is that although I really like the system Smith runs, TJO has always been a better recruiter.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
It is an interesting question, my thought is that although I really like the system Smith runs, TJO has always been a better recruiter.
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Queta was a great player for them, in the MW. But your earlier point was you're saying the guy who got him to Utah State left early on.
 

GopherGrit said:
Queta was a great player for them, in the MW. But your earlier point was you're saying the guy who got him to Utah State left early on.
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Yeah he was good at finding under the radar recruits, which you still need to do, especially at a place like Minnesota. But TJO has always been better at recruiting higher end talent, which you also need to do to be successful in a major conference.
 

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