Blake James

[LuCane]

Can you confirm Lu's report about Kelly?

He was kind of goofing on the rumor over at the WEZ, so I'm assuming he has not heard anything similar. Not that it invalidates what Lu heard, but it definitely tempered my enthusiasm a bit.

He can tell you himself, but we talk to different people who are told different things. It's difficult to wade through what is real, what is not, and what is worth posting, which is why I tend to stay out of this mess.

An example: When I was told Butch was being talked to, it came up that D$ was told Butch was a "no chance" by some people; yet other people said he was their guy. It ends up Butch is at least an actual option, which is what I was told.

For this case, he can tell you if he's heard anything or not.

Add it up, and it's just a big headache.

No matter how this plays out, I appreciate you passing along the info. It's definitely made the last 24 hours more exciting.

It's all good. I basically despise this position. A week or so ago, I was told something that seemed so absurd about Mario that I didn't make a thread about it. Basically, that he was a done deal. The timing sounded so off. This week, someone different and with more obvious connection to the program mentions Kelly.

My concern is that this is all a big PR scheme (shooting out info in every direction) and they ultimately land on Mario or someone like that without going for the Kelly-type names. I've said about 10x it's an ongoing concern.

 

[The Franchise]

I have a very hard time buying this for the simple reason that Fake told the world after the Clemson loss that Folden would be the HC the next week and for the rest of the season. A couple hours later, Folden was gone. Fake didn't make the call on retaining/firing Folden, so why is he suddenly making this call?

Agree.

Had he made no comment, or stated that all options were open, I might buy this new narrative.

But to be as emphatic as he was after that game, and to completely flip the next day, means he was told what to do ... Not, that he decided what to do.

Blake isn't running anything!

But if we land Chip Kelly, or Dan Mullen, or Tom Herman, or Mike Gundy ... I'll take it, and give Blake all the credit he wants.

We end up with Cristobal, he gets all the blame, too!

Fake's a muppet. A pawn in a much bigger game. People are trying to make it seem like he's in charge so that if they fck up this hire he'll get the pellets.

 

[The Franchise]

Urs always said the guy was competent. If he had a hands-on boss in Donna and he was hamstrung, there was only so much he could do.

During the 2010 hire, I was led to believe that DiMare was an asset. D$, are you saying that we are better off without him involved?

As several have mentioned above, if Blake DOES have the freedom to make his own hire, his *** is on the line. That part I like. Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision. Then either watch your stock rise or go down in flames.

Either way, I am happy Donna isn't involved.

Not buying that hypothetical about the process and the way the firing of Golden was "handled" by Flake is all the proof you need. AT BEST, Flake will act as chairman of the search committee and the search committee will reflect the desires of those that forced his hand on the mid-season firing that he was seemingly deadset against all the way leading up to the Clemson game.

What part is a "hypothetical"?

You may or may not be correct about the firing and how it was handled this year, but it has been pretty well documented on this site by the most reputable sources that we have that Donna ruled with an iron fist.

I would also submit that waiting until the end of the season was preferred by more influential people than you think. Golden, by all accounts, is a good guy that steered us through some tough times. He just wasn't cut out for the job here. Allowing him to save face and finish the season would have prevented him from having a black cloud over his head which would hinder his career going forward. But when you lose 58-0, minds change quick.

This part is the hypothetical-

"Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision."

I just don't buy into it going down like that. I see Flake emerging from a conference room with a "concensus" pick. I mean do you really see him overriding anyone with any power to make his own completely independent call? I'm not even comfortable with him doing so but that is how it works with real AD's at other places. They make the call and THEN get the official green light. They don't get the green light and THEN make the call.

If UM's going to close a deal with a monster like Chip, we're going to need a power broker to get it done. This sort of power move ain't being executed by Fake Jimmy. This is where you need a real, strong AD like Sam Jankovich/Tom Jurich or a power broker like Norman Braman to step in and close the deal. Fake's out of his league trying to close a big deal like that.

You don't go from selling tickets to closing $50M deals. He might be able to hire a women's volleyball coach, but he doesn't have the fruit between his legs to broker or close a mega deal.

 

[Classic]

My opinion of Blake could change with just one smart decision.

C'mon, mang, do it to it.

 

[AUcane]

That's what I'm thinking. The AD in these deals is a major player in the game. With us, any candidate can see right through BJ. I don't know BJ and he'll either rise up make a career move like hire a big gun like Kelly or just play it safe and hire Butch. In the latter scenario he's covered because if Butch succeeds, BJ puts it on the resume. If Butch is a failure, nobody will look at BJ since Butch was the consensus pick for many.

 

[Tad Footeball]

Urs always said the guy was competent. If he had a hands-on boss in Donna and he was hamstrung, there was only so much he could do.

During the 2010 hire, I was led to believe that DiMare was an asset. D$, are you saying that we are better off without him involved?

As several have mentioned above, if Blake DOES have the freedom to make his own hire, his *** is on the line. That part I like. Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision. Then either watch your stock rise or go down in flames.

Either way, I am happy Donna isn't involved.

Not buying that hypothetical about the process and the way the firing of Golden was "handled" by Flake is all the proof you need. AT BEST, Flake will act as chairman of the search committee and the search committee will reflect the desires of those that forced his hand on the mid-season firing that he was seemingly deadset against all the way leading up to the Clemson game.

What part is a "hypothetical"?

You may or may not be correct about the firing and how it was handled this year, but it has been pretty well documented on this site by the most reputable sources that we have that Donna ruled with an iron fist.

I would also submit that waiting until the end of the season was preferred by more influential people than you think. Golden, by all accounts, is a good guy that steered us through some tough times. He just wasn't cut out for the job here. Allowing him to save face and finish the season would have prevented him from having a black cloud over his head which would hinder his career going forward. But when you lose 58-0, minds change quick.

This part is the hypothetical-

"Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision."

I just don't buy into it going down like that. I see Flake emerging from a conference room with a "concensus" pick. I mean do you really see him overriding anyone with any power to make his own completely independent call? I'm not even comfortable with him doing so but that is how it works with real AD's at other places. They make the call and THEN get the official green light. They don't get the green light and THEN make the call.

If UM's going to close a deal with a monster like Chip, we're going to need a power broker to get it done. This sort of power move ain't being executed by Fake Jimmy. This is where you need a real, strong AD like Sam Jankovich/Tom Jurich or a power broker like Norman Braman to step in and close the deal. Fake's out of his league trying to close a big deal like that.

You don't go from selling tickets to closing $50M deals. He might be able to hire a women's volleyball coach, but he doesn't have the fruit between his legs to broker or close a mega deal.

Exactly. I don't see Flake being anything more than part of a delegation if we're truly going after a heavy hitter. And he certainly won't even be the lead in that delegation. In the end it may actually behoove us in a scenario like that because it's one less person a big name coach has to deal with under the false guise of the AD being his superior. Maybe a guy like Chip doesn't want to deal with a Pat Haden type? Then again it could backfire if the coach is rubbed even slightly wrong by the school administration as he could view Flake as an ineffectual ally in dealing with them on potential future issues. At least with Jankovich, and this was before my time, it seems like he was able to deal with school as the head of the athletic dept first and not as a surrogate for the school president or overall administration.

 

[Cane Dynasty]

Flake is just a mouthpiece, a front man, a talking head/stuffed suit. He will do his masters' bidding.

 

[MIATL]

Golden, Edsall, Trestman

**** everyone involved in the last search

And passing on Sumlin

besides underachieve, whats he done at A&M?

36-14 is "underachieving"? That's 72% wins ...

He's got the exact same record as Les Miles, except Miles has 2 more conference wins ...

 

[Fountain of Canes]

Ever since blakey fired Golden he has been very active. He knows what we need and i think he will get it done. Its not fun giving away trophies with 8 ppl in the stands. Frenk is also a big fundraiser guy so its going to ne someone who can bring in money.

 

[ball915]

Golden, Edsall, Trestman

**** everyone involved in the last search

And passing on Sumlin

besides underachieve, whats he done at A&M?

36-14 is "underachieving"? That's 72% wins ...

He's got the exact same record as Les Miles, except Miles has 2 more conference wins ...

the conference wins are what matter and Les is getting fired. Take out Johnny Football and he's average at best

 

[CaneTheGaytors]

We're fakked!

 

[Brickell]

After Clemson, Blake wanted to keep Al until the end of the season. The next day, Al was canned.

There is no way Blake is going to make a hire without having approval from the BOT.

 

[3FW]

Just my guess based on stuff in the press and tidbits I hear. Butch is out, and Schiano is the leader among the internal candidates. Will come down to him and a couple of others, I'd guess. I know for a fact that he told Rutgers boosters no thanks. Don't think he does that unless he thinks he's got a real shot here. Also, just saw Wanny postulating that Mario is on his staff. My guess though is that if the job opens, Mario ends up at Rutgers. If Schiano is the guy, we'll know soon. Not guessing that's he's the leader, just among the previous UM guys. His ability to bring Mario would be extremely popular among local coaches and former players. Mario is done at Bama, he's leaving one way or another.

 

[OrangetieFatface]

Blake James is 10-15 years away from making his first meaningful decision as an assistant athletic director at The University of New Hampshire.

You're being lied to Danica.

 

[Cans4life]

Just my guess based on stuff in the press and tidbits I hear. Butch is out, and Schiano is the leader among the internal candidates. Will come down to him and a couple of others, I'd guess. I know for a fact that he told Rutgers boosters no thanks. Don't think he does that unless he thinks he's got a real shot here. Also, just saw Wanny postulating that Mario is on his staff. My guess though is that if the job opens, Mario ends up at Rutgers. If Schiano is the guy, we'll know soon. Not guessing that's he's the leader, just among the previous UM guys. His ability to bring Mario would be extremely popular among local coaches and former players. Mario is done at Bama, he's leaving one way or another.

:baby_face:

Why do you always seem to promote players and coaches from New Jersey? Its quite pathetic.

 

[miamifan007]

Bbb blake u know it and the people around u know it

.

 

[3FW]

Just my guess based on stuff in the press and tidbits I hear. Butch is out, and Schiano is the leader among the internal candidates. Will come down to him and a couple of others, I'd guess. I know for a fact that he told Rutgers boosters no thanks. Don't think he does that unless he thinks he's got a real shot here. Also, just saw Wanny postulating that Mario is on his staff. My guess though is that if the job opens, Mario ends up at Rutgers. If Schiano is the guy, we'll know soon. Not guessing that's he's the leader, just among the previous UM guys. His ability to bring Mario would be extremely popular among local coaches and former players. Mario is done at Bama, he's leaving one way or another.

:baby_face:

Why do you always seem to promote players and coaches from New Jersey? Its quite pathetic.

I don't and Schiano is not my choice or even in my top 5. When idiots come on here and say Golden should take all the NJ players with him, that doesn't deserve a response? Let's say adios, to Njoku, AQM, and our kicker. Not sure you can find any other time I defended NJ players.

 

[Mikesmith29150]

I've heard Butch was out to.Sad news

 

[Consigliere]

Urs always said the guy was competent. If he had a hands-on boss in Donna and he was hamstrung, there was only so much he could do.

During the 2010 hire, I was led to believe that DiMare was an asset. D$, are you saying that we are better off without him involved?

As several have mentioned above, if Blake DOES have the freedom to make his own hire, his *** is on the line. That part I like. Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision. Then either watch your stock rise or go down in flames.

Either way, I am happy Donna isn't involved.

Not buying that hypothetical about the process and the way the firing of Golden was "handled" by Flake is all the proof you need. AT BEST, Flake will act as chairman of the search committee and the search committee will reflect the desires of those that forced his hand on the mid-season firing that he was seemingly deadset against all the way leading up to the Clemson game.

What part is a "hypothetical"?

You may or may not be correct about the firing and how it was handled this year, but it has been pretty well documented on this site by the most reputable sources that we have that Donna ruled with an iron fist.

I would also submit that waiting until the end of the season was preferred by more influential people than you think. Golden, by all accounts, is a good guy that steered us through some tough times. He just wasn't cut out for the job here. Allowing him to save face and finish the season would have prevented him from having a black cloud over his head which would hinder his career going forward. But when you lose 58-0, minds change quick.

This part is the hypothetical-

"Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision."

I just don't buy into it going down like that. I see Flake emerging from a conference room with a "concensus" pick. I mean do you really see him overriding anyone with any power to make his own completely independent call? I'm not even comfortable with him doing so but that is how it works with real AD's at other places. They make the call and THEN get the official green light. They don't get the green light and THEN make the call.

If UM's going to close a deal with a monster like Chip, we're going to need a power broker to get it done. This sort of power move ain't being executed by Fake Jimmy. This is where you need a real, strong AD like Sam Jankovich/Tom Jurich or a power broker like Norman Braman to step in and close the deal. Fake's out of his league trying to close a big deal like that.

You don't go from selling tickets to closing $50M deals. He might be able to hire a women's volleyball coach, but he doesn't have the fruit between his legs to broker or close a mega deal.

He is out of his league wiping his ****.

 

[scrantoncane]

Urs always said the guy was competent. If he had a hands-on boss in Donna and he was hamstrung, there was only so much he could do.

During the 2010 hire, I was led to believe that DiMare was an asset. D$, are you saying that we are better off without him involved?

As several have mentioned above, if Blake DOES have the freedom to make his own hire, his *** is on the line. That part I like. Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision. Then either watch your stock rise or go down in flames.

Either way, I am happy Donna isn't involved.

Not buying that hypothetical about the process and the way the firing of Golden was "handled" by Flake is all the proof you need. AT BEST, Flake will act as chairman of the search committee and the search committee will reflect the desires of those that forced his hand on the mid-season firing that he was seemingly deadset against all the way leading up to the Clemson game.

What part is a "hypothetical"?

You may or may not be correct about the firing and how it was handled this year, but it has been pretty well documented on this site by the most reputable sources that we have that Donna ruled with an iron fist.

I would also submit that waiting until the end of the season was preferred by more influential people than you think. Golden, by all accounts, is a good guy that steered us through some tough times. He just wasn't cut out for the job here. Allowing him to save face and finish the season would have prevented him from having a black cloud over his head which would hinder his career going forward. But when you lose 58-0, minds change quick.

This part is the hypothetical-

"Take input from the search committee and the outside firm, then make your own decision."

I just don't buy into it going down like that. I see Flake emerging from a conference room with a "concensus" pick. I mean do you really see him overriding anyone with any power to make his own completely independent call? I'm not even comfortable with him doing so but that is how it works with real AD's at other places. They make the call and THEN get the official green light. They don't get the green light and THEN make the call.

If UM's going to close a deal with a monster like Chip, we're going to need a power broker to get it done. This sort of power move ain't being executed by Fake Jimmy. This is where you need a real, strong AD like Sam Jankovich/Tom Jurich or a power broker like Norman Braman to step in and close the deal. Fake's out of his league trying to close a big deal like that.

You don't go from selling tickets to closing $50M deals. He might be able to hire a women's volleyball coach, but he doesn't have the fruit between his legs to broker or close a mega deal.

So the message poster with no info (who, as a grown man, refers to someone as "fake"), doesn't think the guy hired to be the AD at UM has the clout to close a deal?

I'm 35. I'm not patting my own back, but I've closed several big deals. And no one knew who I was until I closed said big deals.

Monday morning quarterbacks. This board is a ******* joke. And it's a shame cause the mods seem like good dudes.