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Maine Off Season 2011

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Re: Maine Off Season 2011

MEbear said:
Worse?!
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Of course it could be worse. Maine could end up hiring someone less capable than Whitehead. Assuming that person doesn't have the negotiating skill of a gerbil, he's going to arrive in Orono in possession of a shiny new 4+year contract.

That's worse because it pushes things even further back than they already are.

I'm willing to change my mind about all this if Maine puts out feelers, and finds out that there are specific candidates who want to come to Orono. Absent that . . . yes, it can get worse. We can waste even more time than we already have. And if Maine turns the coaching transition into a rush job, that's probably what we're looking at.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

Also, when we're talking about raising money, we're not necessarily talking about fishing for whales to support a specific team. I'm thinking his efforts will be more along the lines of lowest-common denominator projects like separate facilities for hoops and hockey, maybe some equipment that the football team needs, or a modest renovation project for the football stadium (no idea what that might be - I don't follow football).

Getting the whales (if there are any left) back on board with Maine hockey will be the job of the next AD (or the current one, if he wins the search), working in tandem with the next hockey coach.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

walrus said:
I guess I have alot more faith in my fellow Oronian:D then you guys do. I'll bet Blodgett is history next year, Timmay will be on the hot seat once again but I'll bet he keeps his job after next season also.
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Nice post Walrus, and he acted faster than any of us could have expected. Think he saw and heard enough in one year, and that's why he was a perfect hire at this time. He will put his stamp on things. Good to see a first step taken with the athletic department and it should put all the coaches on notice!
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

Who bought her out? Release says private sources. Which makes me wonder why Pres Kennedy would allow the buyout of Blodgett and not of Timmy? Hard to believe the new pres could have been involved in this that fast.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

I don't think his first act on the job is firing coaches, and I don't think it should be, as much as i'd like to se Whitehead gone. But that's just a stupid thing to do, just com in and clean house with no long term plan for the future.

That said, his first act is to make it clear to those coaches that their performance is lacking, and that things will have to change if they expect to keep their jobs. To use hockey as an example, he can make it clear to TIMMAY that changes in the way the team is run are necessary, whether that means an overhaul of coaching strategy and the way things get done, or an overhaul of assistant coaches. Changing assistant coaches is easy, and if he's smart, he'd mandate that TIMMAY make that change, and he'd also give him the resources to be able to hire a full-time goalie coach.

If I was Danny Kerluke, I'd be worrying a bit about my future right about now.

Edit: In light of the Blodgett news, perhaps Danny isn't the only one that should be worried. Firing Cindy I can see though, as her record has been demonstrably far worse than TIMMAY's. If he isn't gone though, this might just be the shot across the bow that forces him to do whatever needs to be done to make his team better, whether that be finally listening to and implementing other's input, or letting Danny go himself, and bringing in a defensive coach.
 
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Re: Maine Off Season 2011

rufus said:
Changing assistant coaches is easy, and if he's smart, he'd mandate that TIMMAY make that change, and he'd also give him the resources to be able to hire a full-time goalie coach.
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The NC$$ only allows for 2 paid assistants in college hockey. Even Grant's last year was as a Volunteer Assistant. So no such thing as a full-time goalie coach unless he is also recruiting coordinator and in charge of defense. Meanwhile the basketball teams can have almost one staff person per scholarship with assistants and trainers and the like. Boy I love the NC$$ and their neat rules!
 
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Re: Maine Off Season 2011

If there is private money to buy Blodgett out then there is DEFINITELY private money to buy Whitehead out.

I think that big donors are saying enough is enough and are putting their money where their mouths are.........and Abbott has the spine and the smarts to make a big move like this and put the other coaches on notice that it will not be "business as usual". Woodward and Whitehead are now on the watch list............
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

walrus said:
1. I also don't believe he is going to run any coaches out of town this year.
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Steeeeeerike 1! ;)

walrus said:
2. I'll bet Blodgett is history next year,
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Steeeeerike 2!
abbott had you out in front on the change-up in the dirt

walrus said:
Timmay will be on the hot seat once again but I'll bet he keeps his job after next season also
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come on stevie, strike this bum out! :D
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

I realize we have high standards and those standards don't include almosts or with a bounce of the puck we're there. But Blodgett was totally inept, its not surprising that a true rink rat didn't make a good coach. You could never be in the gym enough to satisfy her. Her team quit on her, 4 of them just quit including the player with the most minutes. Tim on the other hand hasn't been totally inept. Its not as easy to justify. Maybe I'm wrong on his length of service if he doesn't turn it around though. Look like Abbott means business and I'll bet he's trying to justify it and I'll also bet other coaches are on notice
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

gscott13 said:
Steeeeeerike 1! ;)


Steeeeerike 2!
abbott had you out in front on the change-up in the dirt


come on stevie, strike this bum out! :D
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It was a good call on his part, she sucked more than Timmay
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

As fun as it would be, I hope this Steve guy is more even-tempered than that.

Firing Whitehead isn't the hard part. That's easy. It's the hiring part that they have to be careful with. I'd think this would be obvious after the last 10 years. ;)

To change directions, what do we have to sell to our incoming hockey savior? Unless anyone has some great ideas about blackmailing a top coach, we're going to have to sell them on Maine. Coaches want some combination of money, prestige, opportunity to win, and security.

1. We don't have money. Maybe if boosters get involved, Maine can make an average offer. Maybe even a bit above. But that's much easier said than done. We're probably below average.
2. There are prestigious jobs in big-time athletic programs (Big10) and prestigious hockey jobs (BU, North Dakota), and elite jobs in both (Michigan). Maine is not in either of those groups. Sad to say, but true. Maine may still be a notch above average, but that's it. It's not a top job.
3. Opportunity to win will be determined by how much support (e.g., budget) the University will give. Hard to know that without a more permanent AD.
4. Security is the easy one.Given the above 3 challenges, Maine isn't going to be in a position to lowball a prospective coach on years.

Which raises the stakes even further. If you're not making a short-term offer, you really can't afford to make a bad choice.

If this were about firing Whitehead, I'd say let her rip. But it's making a good hire. Don't eff it up, Maine. There is something worse than angry fans. No fans.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

walrus said:
I realize we have high standards and those standards don't include almosts or with a bounce of the puck we're there. But Blodgett was totally inept, its not surprising that a true rink rat didn't make a good coach. You could never be in the gym enough to satisfy her. Her team quit on her, 4 of them just quit including the player with the most minutes. Tim on the other hand hasn't been totally inept. Its not as easy to justify. Maybe I'm wrong on his length of service if he doesn't turn it around though. Look like Abbott means business and I'll bet he's trying to justify it and I'll also bet other coaches are on notice
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So true. Timmy is way better than Cindy, like it or not. It's not "easy" to get rid of her because her shirt's hanging in Alfond, but it is easy based on her performance. Its also the perfect new sheriff in town move....scares the other coaches into performing better.

Still the fundraising aspect is a puzzler. 107K in private buyouts that could have gone to the Gym renovation, Steve's going to have to find that $$ someplace. A few weeks ago Pete Warner made the Walrus point that Cindy was probably safe for another year because of the money, same reason Tim appears safe. I'd love to know where the cash came from and why.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

amherstblackbear said:
As fun as it would be, I hope this Steve guy is more even-tempered than that.

Firing Whitehead isn't the hard part. That's easy. It's the hiring part that they have to be careful with. I'd think this would be obvious after the last 10 years. ;)

To change directions, what do we have to sell to our incoming hockey savior? Unless anyone has some great ideas about blackmailing a top coach, we're going to have to sell them on Maine. Coaches want some combination of money, prestige, opportunity to win, and security.

1. We don't have money. Maybe if boosters get involved, Maine can make an average offer. Maybe even a bit above. But that's much easier said than done. We're probably below average.
2. There are prestigious jobs in big-time athletic programs (Big10) and prestigious hockey jobs (BU, North Dakota), and elite jobs in both (Michigan). Maine is not in either of those groups. Sad to say, but true. Maine may still be a notch above average, but that's it. It's not a top job.
3. Opportunity to win will be determined by how much support (e.g., budget) the University will give. Hard to know that without a more permanent AD.
4. Security is the easy one.Given the above 3 challenges, Maine isn't going to be in a position to lowball a prospective coach on years.

Which raises the stakes even further. If you're not making a short-term offer, you really can't afford to make a bad choice.

If this were about firing Whitehead, I'd say let her rip. But it's making a good hire. Don't eff it up, Maine. There is something worse than angry fans. No fans.
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A couple of things........I am OK (but not happy) with Whitehead sticking around another season now that we know that the AD in charge is proactive. This at least provides us HOPE that if next season is a total disaster then there is at least precedence for canning him IF they can come up with the buyout money. Let's face it......women's basketball is peanuts comapred to the revenue that hockey generates. They will not let this situation languish for another 2 or 3 years.

I also think that Abbott & Co. will be looking for ways for UMaine to become more competitive in the coaching marketplace.......being able to offer them more $$$$ or other perks.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

It's really a shame that Cindy failed as a coach. She gave her heart and soul as a student athlete in placing Maine women's basketball at the forefront. She was also responsible for launching Palombo's career. Unfortunately, she couldn't coach and couldn't recruit. Now she will be remembered as a failure to some people and I feel badly for her.:(
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

Runsub5 said:
It's really a shame that Cindy failed as a coach. She gave her heart and soul as a student athlete in placing Maine women's basketball at the forefront. She was also responsible for launching Palombo's career. Unfortunately, she couldn't coach and couldn't recruit. Now she will be remembered as a failure to some people and I feel badly for her.:(
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So I just saw the news on the BDN page and came here, very entertaining reading the predictions about no big shake-ups for the next 2 years! I also read that article about the Abbott hire by Larry (after hearing that Cindy had been fired) and noted that there wasn't a comment in there from her.

I don't think there can be any doubt now, Abbott isn't hear to bide time and wait for the next election - much better to be able to point to something and say "I turned X around."

As other posters have already commented, as frustrating as the Men's hockey team has been, Cindy's record was clearly worse, she is paid less per year, and she only had one year left -- so much easier to find the money to buy her out, and perhaps easier to justify despite her number hanging from the rafters. Like Runsub5 said, I truly feel sorry for that she is ended her UMaine career with such a black mark - but she made the bed and will have to lie in it. I do, sincerely, wish her the best and would attempt to tell her that if we ever crossed pathes and I had the courage.

Let it also be a lesson to us that gifted players don't always make the best coaches. This isn't to say that Montegomery isn't doing great things two hours down the road from me in Dubuque - but that we should be cautious. The flip side to this caution is that while I thought Cindy might be in Orono for 10-20 years regardless of her record, clearly former stars can be fired as well - at least by someone like Abbott.
 
Re: Maine Off Season 2011

amherstblackbear said:
Sweet Jeezus that would be depressing.

But I don't know how likely history is to repeat itself. The AD is not a dictator. He still needs support from the university administration to extend anyone. The problem with Blake extending Whitehead was just as much a problem of the university rubber stamping the decision.

It could happen again, but I think the risk is much lower this time. A 2yr contract is a total insult to a legitimate AD candidate. It tells me that the university isn't really taking Abbott seriously. The only reason to hire someone you don't take seriously is if you don't think it's the right time to make a more long-term commitment. To the extent that the next AD could influence their ability to recruit a coach to replace Whitehead, this strikes me as sound thinking. So you keep your cards close to your vest and hire a guy to do a little fundraising dog and pony show for a couple years.

My guess is that the effect of Abbott's hiring on Maine hockey will be minimal (which, of course, is why Whitehead likes it so much).
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I did not think that Abbott wanted the job in the first place..........band-aid solution.......the University admin. is in complete disarray with no clear leadership......simply amazing that they are all falling over themselves.......
 
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