U of M playing the media

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Rescooter

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As we go through the revolving door of coaching candidates, has it ever occured to anyone that the U of M Athletic Department is vetting candidates through media leaks? This would be a way to guage the public's reaction before compiling a "Short List".

Think about it....first Mangino, then Trestman, then Leach, then Shannon, then Fullmer and now they're using Doogie to guage the reaction to Sumlin. I hope Doogie has better sources than anyone affiliated with the Athletic Department because I think much of the information leaked, is meant to provide discussion, bide time, and guage public interest in potential candidates.

There are two big names that are out there that have not been conveniently leaked (yet): Mark Richt and Tommy Bowden. Richt is under contract (but a cheap buyout mght be negotiated) and Bowden is available, looking, and interested in another BCS coaching gig.
 

Could be that is the case, but unlikely. I think the coaches the U are most interested in the public will be fine with any of them. People keep saying we are early in the process. The new coach is going to be announced in 3-4 weeks. I really don't think we are early in the process. They better be narrowing it down soon and announcing the hire as soon as the hires regular season is over.
 

That's not happening.

Maturi would not have hired Tim Brewster the first time around if public opinion meant anything.

Also, the majority of the people who "react" to names floated out there on this board are going to pay attention next year if they name Lassie the head coach. Maturi's not stupid, he knows if he wants immediate appeal to the more casual fan base he needs a name that's recognizable.
 

I will break this news.....Maturi is a CIA operative.
 

I think that may have been what happened with the Trestman thing. But not all of those guys.

The only way Maturi thought he could possibly get away with hiring a little-known guy on the cheap would be to hire an "inside guy" (though I would hardly call him that). They floated the name out there --- if the public reacted positively, they might jump at him. If they don't embrace the idea, then the search can continue with no harm done.

Or it could be that Maturi is a smart guy and would consider Trestman for nothing higher than a coordinator spot.
 


You all might be overthinking this.
 

Mulligan said:
You all might be overthinking this.
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Bingo! You tell they have a PR plan and it's mostly to reassure people that things are going well. I doubt a lot people will get their collective undies in a bundle over who gets hired. Granted some people will find fault with whoever they hire (i.e. wren), so no reason to go banding about names in order to determine whether or not they'll be acceptable to internet cranks.
 

wels0081 said:
That's not happening.

Maturi would not have hired Tim Brewster the first time around if public opinion meant anything.

Also, the majority of the people who "react" to names floated out there on this board are going to pay attention next year if they name Lassie the head coach. Maturi's not stupid, he knows if he wants immediate appeal to the more casual fan base he needs a name that's recognizable.
Click to expand...

I could live with "Lassie" if she were hired.

She'd be a tough coach to play for, but her bark is probably worse than her bite.

I wonder if she'd bring the "Rin-Tin-Tin" defense with her?

lassie-and-timmy.jpg
 

My theory is that none of these "leaks" are leaks. They're simply reporters trying to act like they have some special insight or connections or web sites trying to bump up hits. There is simply no reason to believe any of this. As I've question in another thread, where's the attribution, where's the source? "A little birdie" - now that carries serious weight! So far, the only reliable news I've seen is the news on Fulmer because it came from him - probably because he was told thanks but no thanks. Ask yourself, "What "leak" have I read that I couldn't have written myself?" At least the guys on this board will say something like,"I have no reason to believe it but a big time booster told me..." The only difference is that a reporter won't both with the "I have no reason to believe it" part.
 



Duluthguy said:
My theory is that none of these "leaks" are leaks. They're simply reporters trying to act like they have some special insight or connections or web sites trying to bump up hits. There is simply no reason to believe any of this. As I've question in another thread, where's the attribution, where's the source? "A little birdie" - now that carries serious weight! So far, the only reliable news I've seen is the news on Fulmer because it came from him - probably because he was told thanks but no thanks. Ask yourself, "What "leak" have I read that I couldn't have written myself?" At least the guys on this board will say something like,"I have no reason to believe it but a big time booster told me..." The only difference is that a reporter won't both with the "I have no reason to believe it" part.
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Agreed.
 


corcoran1 said:
Maturi is not close to that clever or devious.
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You mean the guy that said he can't believe the quality of coaches that would actually consider coming to Minnesota? Sheesh....

Yes, I have to agree with you. The conspiracy part of my brain is getting the best of me.

But the Trestman thing really got me wondering.
 

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