Manny Diaz Comments on Chuck Amato

Couple quick comments from the Dennis Burton written article at The Technician.

On how much credit or blame a coach deserves for the success or failure of a program:

“I think a coach deserves a ton of credit if he builds a program. You look at N.C. State six years ago when we came there. Outside of Raleigh and maybe the ACC, nobody knew about N.C. State. It’s all about relevance to me. Six years ago N.C. State was not relevant nationally. But now, the program is nationally known. We used to have to explain to recruits where N.C. State was, and now they know. Now N.C. State’s on the map. But no one wins every game, and you can’t expect to. The number one thing about what Amato has done there is that N.C. State football is now relevant.”

On the fan base’s unhappiness and criticism of the football program under Amato:

“I don’t think the fan base as a whole is unhappy. The part of the fan base that’s unhappy is just a small minority. It’s a squeaky wheel type of thing. It’s a small voice that’s reacting to what they read in The News and Observer or on other media outlets about the coaching situation.”

About StateFans

'StateFansNation' is the shared profile used by any/all of the dozen or so authors that contribute to the blog. You may not always agree with us, but you will have little doubt about where we stand on most issues. Please follow us on Twitter and FaceBook

'06 Football Chuck Amato General

82 Responses to Manny Diaz Comments on Chuck Amato

  1. choppack1 09/27/2006 at 12:50 PM #

    “Do we really care what the BIG donors think? If it was up to them, we’d still have Sendek.”

    I do. I want our big donors happy – preferably ecstatic. I don’t want them mad – that’s for sure.

  2. joe 09/27/2006 at 1:07 PM #

    One of the things coaches like about pro football is there are no big donors to please, except the owner. At least that is just 1 guy.

    Pro FB coaches do not have to glad hand a lot of Billy Joe Bob’s from all over their state who are donors.

  3. packpigskinfan23 09/27/2006 at 1:27 PM #

    joe-“One of the things coaches like about pro football is there are no big donors to please, except the owner. At least that is just 1 guy.”

    true… but we all see how that worked out for the Titans!(sorry… I had to. what a bunch of morons… passing up on Leinhart who would have fit into their system in WAY less time than Young. THAT was stupid.)

    The big donors do need to be happy. but do you really think (at SOME times) they dont respect Amato for some of the things he does say… that need to be said? or his love of the team? and passion for what he is doing?

    he may not be the best, but the man has heart.

  4. beowolf 09/27/2006 at 1:27 PM #

    If Chuch can just hold out till Maryland fires Friedgen, he can solve his offense problems …

  5. Mr O 09/27/2006 at 1:32 PM #

    Why in the world would any NC State fan want to put pressure on Amato prior to Fowler leaving his post as athletic director?

    I asked the same question prior to Sendek leaving. Do we really want Fowler to make another big hire at NC State?

  6. joe 09/27/2006 at 1:37 PM #

    I thought Sidney Lowe was a great choice? That’s what I keep reading on the net.

    It seems like an odd tactic to say you can’t get rid of a coach until you get rid of the AD first. For 1 thing, I can’t recall very many ADs in the ACC getting fired – they leave on their own for another job or retire in most cases. I simply cannot recall an ACC AD getting fired in the past 20 years but I am probably missing 1 case.

  7. cfpack03 09/27/2006 at 1:40 PM #

    Honestly, I’m just glad to see someone publicly taking up for Amato. Regardless of its relevance, its nice to see positive statements in press, (even if it is the school newspaper).

  8. cfpack03 09/27/2006 at 1:44 PM #

    I just read beo’s post…
    imagine our program with Amato as HC/recruiter/def, Friedgen as AHC/off, and Cowher as AD. I know I’m dreaming

  9. Mike 09/27/2006 at 1:45 PM #

    Anyone ever heard the phrase about bad publicity? Bad publicity is better than no publicity. I would much rather have good pub, but what the heck, we are still getting pub. Puts our name on the map. VT gets plenty of bad pub too, but look where they are.

    I know I will get grilled for saying this, but I liked Jesse Helms, thought he did a great job for the people of NC. He said some STUPID things, and most of the time, when he said them, his intentions were good, but something was lost in translation from brain to mouth. I think Chuck falls into the same boat. His intent to speak is good, but the way it comes out, especially after the media twists and turns it, makes him look like the village idiot.

  10. joe 09/27/2006 at 1:49 PM #

    What if MD fans want Fridgen to hold out long enough so that after Amato is axed he can be there DC? 🙂

  11. packbackr04 09/27/2006 at 2:02 PM #

    joe^^^ i love your comment above about glad handing every tom, dick , and harry with a couple million dollars. it gave me the funniest thought of Herb being the toast of the town to those guys. All sitting around a table talking about what good tug jobs herb gives… classic.

    wiping the tears from my eyes.

  12. redfred2 09/27/2006 at 2:16 PM #

    ^Joe, you did read that 100% correct statement on the internet. I guess you were out of the country on an extended leave, for months no less, and missed how Sidney Lowe was finally decided upon, and by the AD now in question?

    As far as the the big donors go, I think they want to win as much anyone, most of them just can’t remember what it feels like. Some of the younger of them may never have had that experience before. But don’t forget, those guys still want everything to be done oh… so… properly and they’re so dead set on reminding everyone that this isn’t “Moo U” anymore, that they can’t even get out of their own way.

    If big wins and true success ever start happening around here again, those overall attitude will change. Only the dinosaurs among them will remain complacent, and we’ll have some deep pockets who’ll really want to keep NCSU athletics up there on top once again.

  13. BJD95 09/27/2006 at 2:20 PM #

    Mr O – who say the big donors grumbling about Amato haven’t also been grumbling about Fowler?

  14. Pack Laddie 09/27/2006 at 2:21 PM #

    I think the fact that Green, Doc and Herring were “unavailable for comment” speaks volumes. And, to their credit, the old– if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all–maxim holds true for them.

  15. joe 09/27/2006 at 2:22 PM #

    My comment about Lowe was only somewhat serious. I know all about how he was hired.

    I could be wrong, but most of the big donors I know about are not young – they are all at least 50 years old so they have seen at least 30 years of NCSU sports after they graduated from school, and I’m sure many of them were NCSU fans as kids too. For 1 example, Wendell Murphy graduated from NCSU around 1960.

  16. Pack Laddie 09/27/2006 at 2:24 PM #

    I was at an annual NC State event Friday night, the Lifetime Givings Society, and among the people I visited with, the support for Chuck was lacking.

  17. joe 09/27/2006 at 2:26 PM #

    I have always heard one of the perks a big donor gets is invites to closed practices. I’ve also heard Amato does not do that – if true that certainly can’t help him out.

  18. BoKnowsNCS71 09/27/2006 at 2:33 PM #

    Funn – I heard on the radio soemt time by a donor who called saying that he got to go to closed practices. So I’m not sure of the facts on what CA allows or does not allow.

    Personally, I rather CA spend more time with the team and less on appeasing visitors and attempting to answer why he made or didn’t make a call in some game.

  19. duckmanjw 09/27/2006 at 2:33 PM #

    Laddie,

    Most programs will not let their assistant coaches talk to the media at all, even it is the school paper. Them being unavailable for comment means little.

    That is the reason Amato has problems now, B. Bowden used to not allow anyone but himself to speak to the media. Chuck has 20+ years of coaching under his belt and 6 in the media.

    And with the big time donors thing, just because they have tons of money to give doesn’t mean their opinion is worth the paper their money is printed on.

    How soon we forget that Mr. Murphy is the one who had Phil Ford on the phone with Fowler during the BB hiring debacle!!

  20. redfred2 09/27/2006 at 2:36 PM #

    ^Mike

    You won’t get grilled from me. You don’t always have to agree with everything or on every point, but knowing exactly where someone stands, without all the BS, is always a good thing, in my mind anyway.

    Amato’s personality is the draw for the young recruits and he has drawn the target on his own chest. I hate to say it, but this, and his, program wouldn’t be receiving half the press coverage without his personality being injected right now. Good or bad, kids are getting a feel for a coach who has a heart.

    I have a feeling, and I really hope it happens, that those on his back in the media right now, would gladly sing a much different tune, if Coach Amato can just show a little consistency.

  21. Pack Laddie 09/27/2006 at 2:41 PM #

    duckman, that is fine, but I know that all three of the guys mentioned would not be complimentary of Chuck, if they chose to speak freely

    and, as others have said, you better listen to your big donors. you don’t necessarily have to do everything they want, but you at least owe them the courtesy to listen

  22. for2n8son 09/27/2006 at 2:50 PM #

    Since Chuck has been here, we have had all the elements of at least an ACC championship team, if not a contender for the national championship. We just have not had them all at the same time. Granted, we seemed to be moving backwards since Phillip left. That was mainly because of the lack of a QB that had the skills and cool to manage the offense on field, that and maybe the fact that we haven’t recruited OL very well. I don’t think it debatable that Chuck is a good motivator and recruiter. Those are the two most important skills for a head coach. Your coordinator should be handling the rest. Does Chuck frustrate me with some of his game-day decisions? You bet, but so would Cowher if he replaced him.

  23. choppack1 09/27/2006 at 2:58 PM #

    for2n8son – The coordinator may not have that leeway.

  24. redfred2 09/27/2006 at 3:05 PM #

    ^chop

    Agreed.

    But he is an adult, he has a job to do, he’d better be man enough to make a stand and stick to it.

  25. BJD95 09/27/2006 at 3:14 PM #

    I would be remiss not to point out that SFN is very glad to have Pack Laddie reading and posting here. Is this the final, conclusive sign of “legitimacy?”

Leave a Reply