Lavin Turns Down NC State (Update 4:50 pm)

General Media NCS Basketball133

Headline on ESPN.com

“Lavin will stay in broadcasting; turns down NC State”

StateFansNation comments on Monday:

If NC State really did offer the job to Lavin, then the offer should have been pulled the moment The Sporting News reported it on Friday night. Everyone knows that the leak came from Lavin’s side. Why are we even speaking to someone that did this to us? Why is all of this coming out on Monday? Did nobody work this weekend? Was the weather at Fowler’s lake house too nice to worry with the coaching search and trying to nail down these terms and conditions?

On Sunday AND Monday we suggested that, in addition to pulling the offer from Lavin, NC State should have immediately issued a press statement dis-crediting the story and pronouncing that it was completely false and Steve Lavin has never had an offer from NC State.

Q: What did Lee Fowler do, instead?

A: Fowler continued to let his personal friend (Lavin) fester for a full week and publicly embarass NC State LEE FOWLER (again) in the national media.

What did we tell you on Monday about the report that Lavin was “close to accepting the job except for some specific terms and conditions”?

We are a little fearful that this information is a set-up for NC State to save face in a scenario where Lavin turns down the job. If the afternoon rumor that Lavin is NOT the guy holds up, then the NC State spin-machine will most definitely be looking to blame something outside of their control as the reason why the deal didn’t work with Lavin. It would never cross their mind – or anyone at NC State’s – that they just f’d up by chasing the wrong guy, for the wrong reasons, in the wrong way.

Any coach would accept the NC State job contingent on coming to agreement on “certain terms and conditions”!! In principal why wouldn’t Lee Fowler privately pull the offer from Lavin immediately upon Lavin breaking the agreement not to share information in the press about the job?

This could be a case where the deal is done with John Beilein and Steve Lavin is backing away from the process. If true, it is good news. But, it is also unacceptable that NC State is in this public position with a broadcaster that isn’t even a basketball coach on Wednesday, April 26th when Lee Fowler knew of Arizona State’s interest in Herb Sendek over thirty days ago. The telephones up at Fowler’s Lake house, where he has spent more time than in Raleigh in recent weeks, must have a hard time connecting to the rest of the world.

We don’t care if the real truth is that NC State chose John Beilein over Steve Lavin. Don’t know, and don’t care. That is inconsequential to the fact that Fowler unnecessarily put NC State in another comprimising public position in this search.

Please don’t misread any of our comments into frustration about missing on Steve Lavin. SFN was obviously struggling with the Lavin candidacy since its origin. (Need we take you all the way back to April 7th?) We are relieved by the outcome related to Lavin, although disappointed in the execution of how the results came to light. In fact, Lee Fowler’s simple interest in Lavin just puts another nail in Jed’s coffin at NC State.

NC State’s search can end successfully (Beilein) without having been executed competently. The two can be relatively exclusive of each other.

But, leaders get paid to make good decisions; and Lee FOWLER’s decisions are what created this public “third strike” through gross incompetence of (1) originally choosing to pursue someone as unqualified as Steve Lavin, and (2) continuing to talk to Lavin despite the obvious and significant risks once Lavin leaked the confirmation of our talks to the media. There is nobody, nowhere, no way to blame for this fiasco other than Fowler for allowing it to unravel in this manner.

Additionally, how was this allowed to go on for at least a frigging week? What the hell did Lavin need to think about? work on? get through? Why has NC State allowed Lavin (or anyone) to mull over a job for a friggin week? Either you want it, or you don’t. Jay Bilas alluded to Fowler’s poor execution across many facets of the search in his interview with 610 WFNZ on Tuesday morning, and this Lavin situation is the specific example of all of Bilas’ points – lack of strategy, tardiness, moving too slowly, not valuing/marketing the job effectively.

SFN is excited about the prospects of John Beilein coaching at NC State – more excited than we think many would have expected of us. We hope that the Lavin situation means that Beilein is locked up and ready to roll. We should know very, very soon.

In the meantime, we’ll share a picture that came our way last week via email from a friggin Rhode Island undergraduate to memorialize the national perception of Lee Fowler’s coaching search:

CoachingPic

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General Media NCS Basketball

133 Responses to Lavin Turns Down NC State (Update 4:50 pm)

  1. Broncommish 04/26/2006 at 5:09 PM #

    SFN, if not on its own during the debrief, could you please keep us in the loop as to what “those who matter” think of this whole process and LF’s role in it. More importantly, if they think its time for another AD to run the ship.
    There has been too many (one should be enough in itself) bad judgement calls and poor decisions to merit the posting he has. Is there anything on the wire?
    Our school has NOT been represented well, nor it’s donor/fan base.

  2. packeroo 04/26/2006 at 5:11 PM #

    Now wait a minute…..”The other thing this shows is that Lavin has no confidence in his ability to coach whatsoever.” Who wouldnt keep his cushy job with his pay over a tuff job at State with the likes of the blue just down the road??? Seems to me, (sleaze ball as he is), he made a smart ass choice.

  3. NCSU94GRAD 04/26/2006 at 5:13 PM #

    Not my ideal choice but I’ll support JB. Lavin seemed too much of a arrogant smuck that would bring a sleaziness to the program that we surely don’t need.
    Anyway…I want to thank Lee Fowler for making all of WPN feel like the fat kid that is picked last in every school yard game. Anybody else experiencing that same sentiment?

  4. PBdafan 04/26/2006 at 5:15 PM #

    LF: Steve, remember a few weeks ago when you called me and asked me to consider you for the coaching job?

    SL: Yes?

    LF: And remember I told you when hell freezes over?

    SL: Yes?

    LF: Well, I just wanted to let you know we have our guy – John Beilen.

    SL: Okay. In that case I regret to tell you I’m removing my name from consideration.

  5. Dan 04/26/2006 at 5:16 PM #

    Its not simply his handling of the coaching search. Its how he handles everything.

    Its Lee Fowler that has given the national media the idea that some of the fans are ‘lunatics’. I understand backing a coach you have faith in, but you dont discredit your fan base at the cost of a coach. Its neither helpful or necessary. Its that ‘lunatic’ idea that Fowler furthered that was one of the coals on the national media fire during this process.

  6. BoKnowsNCS71 04/26/2006 at 5:18 PM #

    Get over it.

  7. flotownwulf 04/26/2006 at 5:19 PM #

    I think BEilein will do fantastic here at State. Don’t pass judgement on the man before it is time(if that comes).

    That picture of the bum holding the cardboard is one of the funniest things I have seen in a while! Everyone who is worried about looking like fools, just relax. Once this has past and bball season starts, this will all be forgotten!!!

  8. 88fan 04/26/2006 at 5:19 PM #

    Check out the last couple of lines on this site:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Beilein

    Not that this is a reliable source….

  9. PackMan97 04/26/2006 at 5:20 PM #

    “Resist the Urge to Criticize Right Now” -StateFansNation April 19th, 2006 at 7:37 am

    So, it’s OK to criticize now? That didn’t take long.

  10. newt 04/26/2006 at 5:21 PM #

    “Its Lee Fowler that has given the national media the idea that some of the fans are ‘lunatics’.”

    That I agree with.

  11. packeroo 04/26/2006 at 5:22 PM #

    PackMan97…..ALOT has happened since then…

  12. Metalhead 04/26/2006 at 5:22 PM #

    Contrary to what alot of us State fans think, this isn’t the biggest news in the media. I personally think that Steve Lavin smelled like he wasn’t gonna get the job, so being the 2nd choice on the outside looking in, he decided he’d end it so HE doesn’t look bad. Thats why my guess is that he decided to stay with ESPN and decline the job. Had he played the waiting game and lost, he would have lost credibility for leaking it (to only 1 source) and lost face employer (ESPN). Rejecting it before the we officially hire our next coach, he looks like HE turned us down to stay with ESPN. This way it looks like he had the “ball in his court” all along, and he is the guy that turned us down.

    To me its typical of a person who knows how to play the media being part of them. Leak it, with plan B if it falls apart on you. In this case it was Plan B-line. After its all said and done with our new coach in place, I would love to see LF refute SL’s story to discredit him and JC for that matter, just to show the world the scumbags that they really are. I don’t think that’ll happen though.

  13. packeroo 04/26/2006 at 5:25 PM #

    “my friends brother”…….after all we have been through these last 3 weeks….nuff said

  14. Girlfriend in a Coma 04/26/2006 at 5:26 PM #

    I would like to know when the following event will take place:

    [quote]

    Cardiff Giant Says:

    April 24th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
    I am serious. If this horse’s ass pays $3 million to hire Herb Sendek Part Deux, I am going to demonstrate in front of said horse’s ass offices – probably wearing a gorilla suit and holding a sign: “Sex Ape Sez: Lee Fowler Sucks Doggy Doo.â€?

    [/quote]

    Several of us want to set up chairs and bring popcorn to see this. Be sure to keep us posted Cardiff!

  15. PBdafan 04/26/2006 at 5:26 PM #

    C’mon, of course Lavin turned it down AFTER he found out he didn’t get it. Don’t you think the timing is just a little coincidental?

    SFN – you obviously don’t understand the fact that he turned it down in public. Don’t you think that is a little stupid that we allowed this to happen in the media? Almost as stupid as Fowler tyring to hiring the loser in the first place?

  16. Metalhead 04/26/2006 at 5:26 PM #

    We wouldn’t be a state fans if we weren’t excited about the possibility of a new coach.

  17. thebigwood 04/26/2006 at 5:28 PM #

    everyone talks about JB like he has been offered and accepted the job…should we make this assumption?

  18. PackMan97 04/26/2006 at 5:28 PM #

    “You’ve gotten this far down the line, you might as well continue to provide Fowler the benefit of the doubt until all is said and done.” – StateFans Nation 4/19/2006

    Sure, a lot has happened. Why don’t we just see wait for the end result as SFN advised a week ago?

    SFN – Have we NOT just SEEN the END RESULT of the Steve Lavin fiasco? Help us on what we are missing here? When are we allowed to comment on the “execution” of the certain components of the search?

    NC State’s search can end successfully (Beilein) without having been executed competently. The two can be relatively exclusive of each other.

  19. KenMan 04/26/2006 at 5:30 PM #

    Dodged another bullet.

    I called a talk radio show last week and asked Mike Gminski to comment on the possibility of Davidson’s Bob McKillop and his only stated reason against him was his age. He’s practically the same age as John Beilein!

    Fowler has already dug his own grave, so why not just make the offer to Haith and let everyone else worry about how that sort of thing shouldn’t be done in a “gentleman’s” league?

  20. [waves] 04/26/2006 at 5:31 PM #

    I was mad with Herb when he left. Like Dan in that other thread, I felt the investment was close to paying off. The team ranked in the top #4 in every major statistical catagory for the year — including scoring and field goal % defence. The lone exception was rebounding — we ranked above Duke tho. And Herb was recruiting TO the N.C. State offence.

    However, Herb left plenty behind — good players, good academic reputation. And he didn’t leave. In all honesty, he was run off… by loyal Wolfpack fans.

    Oh, well, five years of Lavin would have put us back to 1990. And even Whitt would not want the job then! So, good riddence.

  21. Lock 04/26/2006 at 5:35 PM #

    At this point, it’s obvious who the people who won’t give the guy a chance are, and it’s obvious who the people who realize we have nothing but hope to go with for the next several years are. What happens will happen, and we’ve got to roll with it.

    Frankly, after everything that’s happened, we should be fortunate to end up with Belein. Again, I say…do we really expect him to do WORSE here than he’s done at WVU?

    God, that headline looks ugly though. I’m relieved as hell his name’s out of the picture, but for ESPN to boldly pronounce HE rejected US…ick.

    Ick.

  22. GAWolf 04/26/2006 at 5:37 PM #

    If it’s Beilein, and I’m assuming from everyone’s reaction it is, I am going to wait and see what he says at the press conference till taking my initial stand on how I feel about him as our coach… versus how I feel about him right now as a candidate. I’m all for supporting our coaches. I don’t even make them earn it. I do, however, make them maintain it. As long as they’re doing their jobs, I’ll continue to support them. The same goes for Coach… gulp… Beilein.

    Beilein as a coach is going to have to speak to me as a fan when he sits down in the plush, tv-screen-infused confines of the Wolfpack Basketball Media Room. He needs to speak to me, not the philosophy professor sitting over in Tompkins Hall. He needs to tell me that things are going to get better because he will settle for nothing less. He needs to tell me that there are games that are more important than others and some can even be described as “must wins.” He can use big words or small words or street jive for all I care. It’s the substance of what he says that is going to speak to me, not the words he chooses to say it with. I want answers, promises, expectations… not a worthless diatribe of blabber.

    I want to hear that he’s happy to be here at NC State and he’s excited about returning this program to it’s past glory. He should tell me that he’s excited about the talent we have and the talent he thinks he can bring in. He better be excited about having the opportunity to play for the emotional, basketball-savvy, hardnose fan base that sits here in and around Raleigh waiting to explode behind a successful coach. He better tell me that he sees NCSU as the place he’s going to ride to greatness… the place that week in and week out he knows he’s going to have the opportunity to sit beside, to compete with, and to beat the best in the business.

    In fact, if he really wants to speak to me he best say that we deserve to expect more and that by God he’s going to do everything in his power to give us more. He better speak to the fan (me) that is tired of being not-excited about Wolfpack Basketball. And when he’s said all he’s going to say, he better leave me thinking there’s more out there for a college basketball fan than cussing at six minute scoring droughts and wondering why our most dominant inside man is dribbling around the timeline.

    Show me what you got Beilein… I sure hope you shoot out of the gate with a bang.

  23. StateRed44 04/26/2006 at 5:38 PM #

    When the media makes fun of our program using the EXACT words of our AD…I don’t know how you can excuse it away.

    His labeling of the fanbase as “50 lunatics” and unrealistic expectations of actually competeing withing our immediate 30 mile radius has been the rallying cry of the NC State bashers.

    How do you excuse away those comments by an atheletic director.

    Would you have an engineering dean say we can’t expect to compete with Duke/UNC engineering???

  24. GAWolf 04/26/2006 at 5:39 PM #

    By the way… the analogy that Herb left before our “investment paid off” is possibly the funniest thing I’ve read on here to date. I respect y’all for your opinion, but it completely baffles me how you thought we were anything away from another year of wait-till-next-year. Baffles me…

  25. ncsuman 04/26/2006 at 5:43 PM #

    ^ I guess it depends on what kind of investment we are talking about. Something low risk low reture maybe?

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