We’re Back! And By The Way, We Have a Coach

Debbie Yow Mark Gottfried151

SFN has been overloaded with traffic the past few weeks. We’ve hit records that have TRIPLED our previous record. Over the past month, we’ve had nearly 400,000 unique visitors. We had a single day record of 28,161 unique visitors yesterday (reporting for today isn’t yet over – but I expect our prolonged downtime will not overtake yesterday’s record). For the books, our previous record 10,135 unique visitors on October 12, 2010 (Carolina scandal). After some much needed maintenance, hopefully we’re back on track.

Oh by the way, we have a coach. Welcome Coach Gottfried! Expect analysis from the SFN crew on Mark Gottfried, Debbie Yow, Gary Williams, and the search in general as stories are confirmed in the coming days.

In case you’re wondering, yes, FireMarkGottfried.com was registered today (not by us). It may not be what you think it is.

Debbie Yow Mark Gottfried

151 Responses to We’re Back! And By The Way, We Have a Coach

  1. MrPlywood 04/05/2011 at 10:06 PM #

    At this point, all we can do is gather here next year and review. The same as we’d do with any hire.

  2. BamaPack 04/05/2011 at 10:06 PM #

    Gottfried is light years better than our previous coach and a better hire arguably than Smart or Marshall. Utah also offered him. Unfortunate, there are two sunnyside eggs on BJD’s face so he can’t see much right now. 😉

  3. Cardiac95 04/05/2011 at 10:08 PM #

    The good news: We’ll be better off than the last 5 years.

    The bad news: We may or may not be better off than the 5 years before that.

    The best news: The contract sounds like it might be structured to reward success and (hopefully) have an easy exit strategy in the event of failure.

  4. slickRC 04/05/2011 at 10:08 PM #

    I don’t see the issue here. I think Yow is a good AD for where we are right now (post-Fowler). She is a bold and brassy woman and potential coaches know that. If that makes them not want to come here, so be it.

    She did her due diligence and talked to all the hot candidates. Is it her fault that they said no? I don’t think so. And why should she make formal offers to candidates that have already said, “No thanks”?

    Whether we like it or not, whether we (as individuals) were a part of the problem or not: we are where we are. We have to accept responsibility for our situation and either work to make it better (any way you can) or get over it. Judging from the reactions on this site, I wouldn’t want to work here either. Keep it real, people!

  5. BamaPack 04/05/2011 at 10:09 PM #

    On a side note…if you go back and review the transcript from yow’s presser talking about the search expectations you will see that Gottfried matches quite well.

  6. Cardiac95 04/05/2011 at 10:12 PM #

    >>>Summary of coaching search:

    1 – Went after Barnes and Miller who both listened but decided to stay at their current great situations.

    2 – Threw everything at Shaka Smart, who decided to stay in the comfort of VCU and > $1M (wussy)

    3 – Talked with Marshall and Cronin but found them lacking chutzpah.

    4 – Released highly criticized letter responding to Internet fever that had us hiring some secret superhero (ironic, isn’t it?)

    5 – Continued down list; quickly found good fit with Gottfried – experienced, has a plan, daring.<<<

    Perfect summary Newt…

  7. albunde6 04/05/2011 at 10:13 PM #

    DY did do a couple of things right, she did not give names of who she talked too. She showed excitement over his initial discussion of staff.

    Only thing that could have been said differentyly was the commitment to the existing letters of intent. Second should have responded to question about rebuilding, with No not a rebuilding job, look at the great players that Lowe brought to State.

    Just saying.

  8. beeeejay 04/05/2011 at 10:13 PM #

    I am certainly not thrilled with the hire. My dad who was a freshman in 74 immediately called me to say wtf who is this guy. Hopefully it will work but I fall in line with BJD, I mean what was Yow thinking, first with the letter and then the GW comments at the presser? All she had to do if she was going to say something was to say something like you all know that me and GW didn’t get along and just leave it at that. Her comments were very unprofessional on a Fowler cougar hunting type level.

  9. NCSU84 04/05/2011 at 10:16 PM #

    Comments from Bama fans (those who know Gottfried best):

    FAN#1
    “I’m a Bama fan, and I believe Mark Gottfried will do well at NC State. He took Alabama to five straight NCAA appearances, and to the Elite 8, and he could repeat that or do better at NC State. For whatever reason,
    Gottfried just couldn’t keep the momentum going in his last years at Bama. But that doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach. Sometimes things just don’t work out. He’s got the ability, and he can recruit. And at NC State, he’ll have a great opportunity to show what he can do. I like the guy, and he deserves this chance to coach again with a good program.”

    FAN#2
    “As a bama fan, i am glad to see mark back with a coaching job. i know he isn’t what NC State fans were looking for but he is an awesome recruiter and did a pretty good job at Alabama. i will be pulling for NC State now”

  10. blpack 04/05/2011 at 10:17 PM #

    I liked what I heard in the presser. MG is serious about hoops and I think he used his time away from coaching wisely. We will find out if he has learned anything or not fairly quickly next season. We have stunk as a basketball program the last 20 or so years and we have hit the reset button again. Hope it works this time. Welcome Coach!

  11. baxter 04/05/2011 at 10:18 PM #

    BJD is like the site’s pissed off Uncle who was in Vietnam. The avatar is perfect.

    Personally, I like the hire. It has balls, he seems passionate, and he is gunning for one of the best staffs in the nation. If that comes together, I think Mark has a GREAT chance of succeeding here. I mean, god forbid an actual college coach with winning records and success come here, with a fire in his belly to succeed after a big failure.

    Best resume to be our coach since Sloan.

  12. Brinman7 04/05/2011 at 10:20 PM #

    Come on guys, give the new guy a chance. If he doesn’t prove his self then we can bash him, but at least let him start coaching before you start wanting to get rid of him. First, he needs to keep as many players as possible. Then, find some good assistants. Finally, coach his but off and kick the blues asses.

  13. drgreenhouse 04/05/2011 at 10:20 PM #

    I think the kicker was the letter. Without the letter, so much could have easily been explained away. Barnes and Miller are already in good situations, Donovan was a dream, and Gottfried has a better resume than Cronin and Marshall (I personally believed neither of the two were offered). Shaka turned down the job, that could be expected from a second year coach who is now a hero on his campus. The letter though, that is the stickler. Without it, we would have had doubts, but we would have been a-ok. With the letter, it seemed that our worst fears were coming true.

    To play devil’s advocate, the good thing is we got out our frustrations early on, and we didn’t take them out on our new coach. I’m hoping in a few years, we are all looking back at this episode and laughing after enjoying a long trip into the NCAA tournament. We’ll see.

  14. Master 04/05/2011 at 10:22 PM #

    I’m not upset with DY addressing the GW issue. Heck, why did the press think it was appropriate to ask the question 3 times during the press conference? Who were they trying to embarrass?

  15. BamaPack 04/05/2011 at 10:23 PM #

    Let’s be honset…BJD is more upset about being wrong than anything else. Just like shades of the TOB hissy fit after the Clemson game. He will be back on board within 48 hours…sooner if the pharmacy is open. 🙂

  16. wolfie91 04/05/2011 at 10:25 PM #

    Interesting that someone referenced Norman Dale. Been thinking about that comparison today.

  17. newt 04/05/2011 at 10:25 PM #

    I already have heard naysayers comparing his Bama record to Sendek’s record here. #1 – His Bama record is better. #2 – He did it at Bama and Sendek did it here. I thought we had already cleared up the naturaly advantages that Sendek had here (e.g. built-in top-15 recruiting situation).

  18. BamaPack 04/05/2011 at 10:25 PM #

    It is unprofessional and embarrassing to trash the guy before he has coached one damn game. Even the current players are commenting on the negativity.

  19. El Scrotcho 04/05/2011 at 10:27 PM #

    I dunno whether the load melted the servers, or you guys were smart enough to keep the site down today. In either case, it’s probably best.

  20. quypack93 04/05/2011 at 10:27 PM #

    Ok, like most here, MG really came from nowhere for me. I had the same feelings when Tom O’brien was announced. But, unlike most here, I am not going to say that this is not a good hire because he is someone I never thought of three weeks ago. Most fans don’t realize that most names that they are familiar came from rumors in the media circles. Anyway, I never liked the ideas of chasing “dream hires” like Donovan, Barnes, Miller (especially Miller since he is only at UA for two years). I think you should focus on one or two you like and go after them. If you like Marshall, you go after Marshall, for example. You can’t tell someone you would hire him if another doesn’t want the job (ie Shaka, Marshall, Cronin, if that is the case). You can’t do that when you propose someone to marry you, right? But that’s how things go now a day I guess.

    The more I looked into Gottfried, like TOB before, the more I like him. Yes, I think it is a good hire. I think this is the best coach we have since Valvano. Would he be as successful as Valvano was? Who knows. But I am optimistic. If you can put Alabama basketball on the map, you can certainly do it here. Welcome coach!

  21. btownwolfpack 04/05/2011 at 10:27 PM #

    Wow…the commentary here is amazing. DY delivered exactly what she said she would…a solid hire. WE MADE UP that the so-called big three were interested. Welcome to reality…they weren’t. The guy most influenced by Williams was likely Smart, who was only interesting to half the people here and DID NOT meet the stated goal (the dude has two years as head coach and one NCAA appearance). Now Shaka is one of the basketball gods that got away? No wonder people say we are crazy!!!

    Welcome to Mark Gottfried!

    One more thing…let’s just be really clear that Rick Barnes has turned down THREE athletic directors…MAYBE he just doesn’t care to be here!!!

  22. Wolfman 9806 04/05/2011 at 10:28 PM #

    Very impressed with the hire and the hiring process. DY tried to lure one of the big names and none would bite. The entire process was kept quiet and professional. Unlike Fowler, she didn’t wet the bed but rather went out and made a solid hire. She didn’t offer an overly extravagant contract either. I also like the fact that she is very familiar with Mark as a person and a coach.

    Welcome Coach!

  23. triadwolf 04/05/2011 at 10:28 PM #

    Would this candidate have worked a couple weeks ago:

    – Assistant at very successful major conference school including a national championship, known as a recruiter and helped land a #1 recruiting class;

    – Success at a mid major school including 2 NCAA’s, 3 conference championships & and NIT in 3 years;

    – Took SEC Football school to 5 straight NCAA tournaments, including a sweet 16; won a regular season championship, reached post season 9 of 11 years (5 NCAA, 3 NIT, 1 CBI-declined)

    Overall
    – 14 years as a head coach
    – 12 post season appearances (7 NCAA, 4 NIT, 1 CBI)
    – Elite 8 Appearence
    – 4 Conference championships
    – overall record 278-155

  24. Boyd 04/05/2011 at 10:32 PM #

    ^ Yes

  25. Pack85EE 04/05/2011 at 10:33 PM #

    I’m more dissapointed in you poor mouthing fans than anything else.

    I’m dissapointed in DY for the Williams much during the press conference but giving her the benefit of doubt, I wonder what happened. There is some hidden history here. I guess the two really did not get along and he probably did slam her and us to some candidates. I think she lost her cool a little and showed her frustration. I would have been worse but I’m not a high paid AD.

    As to the hire. I bet it took a while before his hat was in the ring but as Deb indicated, when she found out he was available, he had too have moved up the ladder, because as has been stated several times in these posts, this guy fits the bill. He is less of a gamble than any other name mentioned, except maybe Donovan. He may be a better hire than Miller. He is nothing like the blind gamble that Smart would have been, so why be down on him. I think comparing him to O’Brian makes sense. Here is a guy who can build a solid program, slow and true. LETS GO PACK!!!!

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