metrolax
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PRESS RELEASE- The University of Minnesota's quest for a new football coach is closing
in on the beginning of month number four, and pressure is mounting as recruiting season
is coming to a climax before signing day.
All other Division I coaching positions have been filled for over four weeks. Sources in
Minnesota seem to indicate that people within the administration are under such
intense pressure to, in the words of one source "not screw this one up", that a form
of tense paralysis has overtaken the search. Where in November there seemed to be
several well-qualified candidates contacted, the momentum of those first 50 days
has disintegrated.
Now the school must make up its mind: Either hire somebody quickly to salvage what is
left of the recruiting season, or simply hire Jeff Horton on a permanent basis. Neither
seemed possible just a few short weeks ago. The top candidates from November and early
December have either been sweetened by their current schools or plucked up by others
more decisive. The school has been reduced to contacting those out of work- some with good
reason- in an effort to stem the tide of hopelessness that is currently creeping in on
the school.
The fan base is all over the place. Some are furious, while others have simply lost hope altogether. One who asked not to be identified simply said, "I saw this day coming twenty
years ago."
Membership on popular online communities such as The Gopherhole has reportedly plummeted.
With Gopher basketball and hockey in full swing, its a puzzling development. On a possibly
unrelated note, however, the mental health care community in the Twin Cities area has seen
an increase of 77% in new patients since December 2nd. The school responded resoundingly to
any such relationship between that increase and the coaching search. In an official
statement, a University spokesman said, "it is ludicrous to conclude that a coaching search
could result in such a personal human tragedy on this scale. For the U to accept any sort
of responsibility for this problem is foolhardy."
Tragedy, indeed. Last week's tragic death of three hunger strikers that vowed to stay atop
a billboard sign until a new coach is named has brought international attention to the search.
As you recall, in the immediate aftermath of that "event" the U doubled up its contacts in
the search, bringing in such notables as Bobby Ross, Danny Ford, Emory Ballard, and others for
interviews, only to come up empty-handed.
As one source close to the school grimly admitted, "we cannot figure this out. We have a great
stadium, a great league, a good sum of money to invest, and a great business community
in the area. Why can't we find a lousy coach!"
Finding a lousy coach shouldn't be a problem. It would, however, create new ones.
07 January 2011, Minneapolis.
in on the beginning of month number four, and pressure is mounting as recruiting season
is coming to a climax before signing day.
All other Division I coaching positions have been filled for over four weeks. Sources in
Minnesota seem to indicate that people within the administration are under such
intense pressure to, in the words of one source "not screw this one up", that a form
of tense paralysis has overtaken the search. Where in November there seemed to be
several well-qualified candidates contacted, the momentum of those first 50 days
has disintegrated.
Now the school must make up its mind: Either hire somebody quickly to salvage what is
left of the recruiting season, or simply hire Jeff Horton on a permanent basis. Neither
seemed possible just a few short weeks ago. The top candidates from November and early
December have either been sweetened by their current schools or plucked up by others
more decisive. The school has been reduced to contacting those out of work- some with good
reason- in an effort to stem the tide of hopelessness that is currently creeping in on
the school.
The fan base is all over the place. Some are furious, while others have simply lost hope altogether. One who asked not to be identified simply said, "I saw this day coming twenty
years ago."
Membership on popular online communities such as The Gopherhole has reportedly plummeted.
With Gopher basketball and hockey in full swing, its a puzzling development. On a possibly
unrelated note, however, the mental health care community in the Twin Cities area has seen
an increase of 77% in new patients since December 2nd. The school responded resoundingly to
any such relationship between that increase and the coaching search. In an official
statement, a University spokesman said, "it is ludicrous to conclude that a coaching search
could result in such a personal human tragedy on this scale. For the U to accept any sort
of responsibility for this problem is foolhardy."
Tragedy, indeed. Last week's tragic death of three hunger strikers that vowed to stay atop
a billboard sign until a new coach is named has brought international attention to the search.
As you recall, in the immediate aftermath of that "event" the U doubled up its contacts in
the search, bringing in such notables as Bobby Ross, Danny Ford, Emory Ballard, and others for
interviews, only to come up empty-handed.
As one source close to the school grimly admitted, "we cannot figure this out. We have a great
stadium, a great league, a good sum of money to invest, and a great business community
in the area. Why can't we find a lousy coach!"
Finding a lousy coach shouldn't be a problem. It would, however, create new ones.
07 January 2011, Minneapolis.
