Teague called out the media and message boards

[John Galt]

One of the more interesting comments from Teague today was saying that according to the media and message boards he interviewed and offered the job to a variety of candidates that he couldn't remember meeting with.

It was also an embarrassing display by the local media to keep asking questions about specific recruits. Most of the people on GH understand this, but the media that gets paid to do this for a living doesn't know the basic rules? Yet another example of how little knowledge they have of college sports.

 

[littlebigboy]

GOOD FOR NORWOOD. HE RUNS THE SHOW, NOT THE MEDIA. If you are going to be held responsible you should do it your way!

 

[phipho]

One of the more interesting comments from Teague today was saying that according to the media and message boards he interviewed and offered the job to a variety of candidates that he couldn't remember meeting with.

It was also an embarrassing display by the local media to keep asking questions about specific recruits. Most of the people on GH understand this, but the media that gets paid to do this for a living doesn't know the basic rules? Yet another example of how little knowledge they have of college sports.

I will go to the penalty box and feel shame !

 

[gopherdiehard]

the media in minnesota is bunch negative assholes especially fat pat. why doesnt he move to florida nobody wants him here

 

[Iceland12]

Yes that was the best move to avoid the question.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

While I don't doubt some of the "offers" never happened, I also think part of that is Teague covering himself and the program so it doesn't look like he was out of options when he offered Pitino the job.

 

[jaymil]

I don't think we'll ever know if Flip was actually offered or not.

 

[littlebigboy]

If you ask someone if they want to be considered for the post and they say no, and get an extension where they are, does that mean they were offer and refused? Come on people quit being so negative. Norwood is responsible and did it his way. Finally someone with brains and guts.

 

[Goldy Gopher]

One of the more interesting comments from Teague today was saying that according to the media and message boards he interviewed and offered the job to a variety of candidates that he couldn't remember meeting with.

It was also an embarrassing display by the local media to keep asking questions about specific recruits. Most of the people on GH understand this, but the media that gets paid to do this for a living doesn't know the basic rules? Yet another example of how little knowledge they have of college sports.

The fact that a couple of the media people who ask questions about recruits and naming guys that couldn't even get the names right was the most embarrassing things to me, its Reid Travis NOT Travis Reid amazing that people in the media still screw that up.

 

[John Galt]

While I don't doubt some of the "offers" never happened, I also think part of that is Teague covering himself and the program so it doesn't look like he was out of options when he offered Pitino the job.

Pitino wasn't the first choice, but outside of UNC, Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas, most school's won't ever get their top choice. UCLA is probably the most prestigious job in the western half of the United States, and they ended up with Steve Alford. If the job was offered to Smart or Stevens, I can't fault Teague for not getting them. I commend him for going after some big names as the first step in the process.

 

[Iceland12]

If you ask someone if they want to be considered for the post and they say no, and get an extension where they are, does that mean they were offer and refused? Come on people quit being so negative. Norwood is responsible and did it his way. Finally someone with brains and guts.

Uh yeah it does and that's not a bad thing. We are people so thin skinned about admitting it? UCLA was turned down too. Not sure if their fans are so worried about admitting it. Oh, and they DO have something to worry about with their new hire.

 

[John Galt]

The fact that a couple of the media people who ask questions about recruits and naming guys that couldn't even get the names right was the most embarrassing things to me, its Reid Travis NOT Travis Reid amazing that people in the media still screw that up.

Yep. It's been my opinion for a long time that 90% of the Twin Cities media couldn't name 5 players on the Gopher football team without looking it up.

 

[RockinRanger]

I don't think we'll ever know if Flip was actually offered or not.

This Is college sports, no one is ever offered a job until they've already accepted it.

 

[...]

Uh yeah it does and that's not a bad thing. We are people so thin skinned about admitting it? UCLA was turned down too. Not sure if their fans are so worried about admitting it. Oh, and they DO have something to worry about with their new hire.

Offered means we offered them the job, not we offered to consider them for the job. I don't count these because often when coaches say they don't want to be considered it has more to do with them liking where they are than not liking the job they were called about. Fred Hoiberg is in this category, we likely called him just to do our due diligence knowing he'd likely say no and he said I like it here (he's an alum).

 

[Monty519]

I actually find it hard to believe Flip was offered the job, and then after that they bring up assistants. Just seems like that would come up sooner than that point.

 

[Gopher Bandanna Guy]

Pitino wasn't the first choice, but outside of UNC, Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas, most school's won't ever get their top choice. UCLA is probably the most prestigious job in the western half of the United States, and they ended up with Steve Alford. If the job was offered to Smart or Stevens, I can't fault Teague for not getting them. I commend him for going after some big names as the first step in the process.

This.
There's nothing wrong with swinging for the fences and coming up empty. The swings needed to be taken, before moving down to the 'realistic' candidates. If we hadn't taken those swings, I'd be fuming.

Side note: Sid's complaint at this morning's press conference that the search took too long, for a 'basketball genius' was hilariously ludicrous.

 

[Iceland12]

Offered means we offered them the job, not we offered to consider them for the job. I don't count these because often when coaches say they don't want to be considered it has more to do with them liking where they are than not liking the job they were called about. Fred Hoiberg is in this category, we likely called him just to do our due diligence knowing he'd likely say no and he said I like it here (he's an alum).

If your position is Teague asked everybody "Do you want to go into a pool of potential candidates to be interviewed for the job" then yeah, I'd agree with you. Teague wouldn't do that. He's given no indication that he's an idiot.

Still don't know why this is such an issue for people around here.

 

[Iceland12]

This.
There's nothing wrong with swinging for the fences and coming up empty. The swings needed to be taken, before moving down to the 'realistic' candidates. If we hadn't taken those swings, I'd be fuming.

This. Now Bandana Guy, why in the world are people so upset about it. Even if they're ticked about the hire why does it bother them that Pitino wasn't the first choice? If they think he WAS the first and only choice, do they realize that they're calling Billy Donovan a liar too?

 

[...]

If your position is Teague asked everybody "Do you want to go into a pool of potential candidates to be interviewed for the job" then yeah, I'd agree with you. Teague wouldn't do that. He's given no indication that he's an idiot.

Still don't know why this is such an issue for people around here.

No, he had a pool of candidates, some realistic, some not. In order to narrow it down you call them and see if they're interested and to get a feel for how they'd fit. Sort of like a pre-interview. I don't count people who said no at this point in the process. I think we probably only got past that point with Flip and possibly Shaka before coming to Pitino.

 

[GopherJake]

I don't think Teague ever offered Flip the job. It is certainly the antithesis of hiring Little Ricky. Hiring Flip would have given Flip the upper hand. Boosters have his back at every turn, local hero, etc. I'm guessing they talked to him, realized Flip wanted total control and said no thanks, that doesn't fit with our plan. Teague and Ellis want to mold the program. Hiring Flip would not have allowed that.

I don't blame them one bit, if that's how it went down.

LOVE the hire. Very un-Minnesotan move. LOVE IT!

JMHO.

 

[...]

I don't think Teague ever offered Flip the job. It is certainly the antithesis of hiring Little Ricky. Hiring Flip would have given Flip the upper hand. Boosters have his back at every turn, local hero, etc. I'm guessing they talked to him, realized Flip wanted total control and said no thanks, that doesn't fit with our plan. Teague and Ellis want to mold the program. Hiring Flip would not have allowed that.

I don't blame them one bit, if that's how it went down.

LOVE the hire. Very un-Minnesotan move. LOVE IT!

JMHO.

My opinion is that they talked in good faith and both realized that it wasn't the right fit.

 

[joshvanklomp]

I don't think we'll ever know if Flip was actually offered or not.

From Doogie:

• The real story will likely never come out, but multiple sources insist that Flip Saunders was never offered the Gophers job.

 

[GopherJake]

My opinion is that they talked in good faith and both realized that it wasn't the right fit.

Agree.

 

[bga1]

I don't think Teague ever offered Flip the job. It is certainly the antithesis of hiring Little Ricky. Hiring Flip would have given Flip the upper hand. Boosters have his back at every turn, local hero, etc. I'm guessing they talked to him, realized Flip wanted total control and said no thanks, that doesn't fit with our plan. Teague and Ellis want to mold the program. Hiring Flip would not have allowed that.

I don't blame them one bit, if that's how it went down.

LOVE the hire. Very un-Minnesotan move. LOVE IT!

JMHO.

I love this hire too.

My firm belief is that Flip was offered a non-offer, offer. There are too mny credible people that confirm this. This means to me that they gave him an offer that was the opposite of the Godfather. It was an offer too bad to accept. They knew they had to do it because they couldn't get the initial first round of candidates, and they got pressure from the boosters to try for Flip. Didn't want to do it, but came up with a plan to eliminate him by offering him less control than he would live with. It worked and they moved on as planned.

Once again, I love this hire and it will work out great, I firmly believe.

 

[MaxyJR1]

I think the problem in this system are agents and media. Media all wants the scoop and agents want to get their guy a bump in pay or new job. What is the definition of offering a coach the job? Is it calling to ask if they are interested? Meeting with them in person? I think Smart and Hoiberg were the only two coaches offered the job outright. Flip was likely offered but with some condtions. Sides went their own ways and we came to Coach Pitino.

I think the reasons for Teague to hire Flip had more negative than positive outcomes for the future and I'm glad we ended up with Coach Pitino.

 

[MaxyJR1]

From Doogie:

• The real story will likely never come out, but multiple sources insist that Flip Saunders was never offered the Gophers job.

Doogie also said on 1500espn that he has good sources that Hoiberg nearly took the job. I think the extension probably means he was.

 

[harrys ghost]

Uh yeah it does and that's not a bad thing. We are people so thin skinned about admitting it? UCLA was turned down too. Not sure if their fans are so worried about admitting it. Oh, and they DO have something to worry about with their new hire.

So, a headhunter calls me and asks me if I would like to interview for a particular job. Does that mean I have a job offer? I don't think so.

 

[phipho]

Doogie also said on 1500espn that he has good sources that Hoiberg nearly took the job. I think the extension probably means he was.

Doogie had a source means he read it on Gopherhole.

 

[leftyslefty]

My opinion is that they talked in good faith and both realized that it wasn't the right fit.

Full Disclosure. I wanted Flip. I am certainly happy with Pitino given the circumstances, and I hope Saunders and the braintrust agreed to disagree. I think Flip's "I'll always bleed maroon and gold" is a good sign, and I hope he is still a friend of the program.

 

[John Galt]

So, a headhunter calls me and asks me if I would like to interview for a particular job. Does that mean I have a job offer? I don't think so.

Exactly right. Yet the local media says we were rejected and didn't get our top X number of choices. As part of the process, we reached out to a lot of people, as we should have. Part of this process is Teague gathering information and sizing up different candidates.