I'd take Cronin, but I don't think he leaves UC.

As to the original question, Cronin would be one of the first coaches contacted. Has a great relationship with TJ, the big money donors and the UL media. Taking it would come down to his custody of his daughter. Court order in place gives him full custody unless he moves out of Ohio...

 

I'm with Deuce. A fantastically likable guy and a good coach. I'd be thrilled to have him here in Louisville... but that family business... whew. I wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to wade through those kinds of messes.

Here's the thing (and maybe somebody has already said it - I haven't read every post).

 

Is it (almost) as bad not knowing that this stuff was going on? What does that say about Pitino's leadership?

 

Here's my thinking on that: I was floored when I heard Andre McGee was the one arranging this. There are very few former players you could have mentioned that would have surprised me more. From the perspective of a fan who has no inside knowledge of anything, Andre McGee was a "good guy", never heard anything bad about him while he was playing at Louisville, nothing while he was DOB....just kind of a good guy coming back home and learning the ropes from his former coach. I certainly could see Rick Pitino trusting him. Hell, I would have. Does that excuse anything, most likely not.

 

I'm still baffled how none of this wound up on social media at the time it was happening. That's a lot of people throughout 4 years, and recruits that didn't even commit were involved.

 

I'm certain something happened. I just don't get why nothing was ever even suspected till Ms. Powell got her panties in a twist (over what...still to be determined). We aren't talking 20 years ago, before Twitter, Facebook, etc.

 

And given Rick Pitino's ego and his commitment to branding, both UL and his own brand, I simply can find no circumstance under which he knew.

Based on everything that's out there at this point, do you think he ends up surviving it?

 

I have though he makes it through, but am starting to waiver...

I'm with Deuce. A fantastically likable guy and a good coach. I'd be thrilled to have him here in Louisville... but that family business... whew. I wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to wade through those kinds of messes.

 

If it ever does happen, I might have to relocate and profit off a much larger fan base... :lol2:

If it ever does happen, I might have to relocate and profit off a much larger fan base... :lol2:

 

I've always liked Mick, but I like UC as well so it would be a little bittersweet if my favorite team swayed the coach away from my second favorite team. Here's a compromise. GT, have you heard any rumblings about Mick ever using that goodwill to set up a series against U of L in the future, and if not, can you plant that seed?

Up until about an hour ago I felt like Pitino would survive this but I really don't feel like he will now. I don't like Pitino. Never have(Roderick Rhodes) but he does deserve better than this. I'll never believe he fully knew everything that was going on. If Pitino is dismissed or let go then the bad guys win and that will be unfortunate.

I am surprised that so many think Pitino deserves better than this? I just cannot give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he knew and maybe he didn't but some really bad stuff went down on his watch. He is lucky he wasn't canned for the embarrassment he caused U of L in the restaurant IMO...

I may nieve, but I just can't imagine a staff of multiple quality basketball minds serving as assistants having no clue that strippers and hookers were part of the program. Was everyone deaf and dumb? When everything is revealed there could be multiple career resumes implode over the toxicity of being associated with overlapping the McGee timeframes. Some quality guys were there and now moved on.

If it ever does happen, I might have to relocate and profit off a much larger fan base... :lol2:

 

#BringMickToTheVille2016

Do I think Pitino knew McGee was paying for these escorts to hook up with recruits and players? No. Do I think Pitino knew his players were hooking up with escorts? Yes, he just didn't know the details of someone on his staff being responsible for it. Absolutely no way Pitino survives this. Jim Tressel didn't survive Ohio State for something he, IMO, definitely knew nothing about and just stood up for his players. As far as replacements go I think Louisville is a top 6 or 7 job in the country and can get anyone not at one of those 6 schools. Louisville might even be better off once Pitino is gone because maybe now they won't recruit the same classless players that Pitino has had a history of bringing in there.

....

 

1. Chane is 100% behind this.

2. Everyone knew about this on the staff, but ZERO of them will turn on Pitino. Current or former staffers, their loyalty to him will be unwavering.

3. Many former staffers have a knot in their stomach every minute of every day that their name will bubble up from this cesspool.

4. I'm not sure when, but Rick will ultimately resign over this to protect his former guys from having to out and out lie to protect him.

5. I'm not entirely sure that Jurich doesn't get a little goo on him over this as well. He certainly didn't know anything, but that likely won't be a sound enough stance to absolve him of some institutional control issues.

....

 

1. Chane is 100% behind this.

2. Everyone knew about this on the staff, but ZERO of them will turn on Pitino. Current or former staffers, their loyalty to him will be unwavering.

3. Many former staffers have a knot in their stomach every minute of every day that their name will bubble up from this cesspool.

4. I'm not sure when, but Rick will ultimately resign over this to protect his former guys from having to out and out lie to protect him.

5. I'm not entirely sure that Jurich doesn't get a little goo on him over this as well. He certainly didn't know anything, but that likely won't be a sound enough stance to absolve him of some institutional control issues.

 

Agree on all points.

 

The most interesting part long term is if the next hire will come from the Pitino Tree as he will no doubt want, or if TJ has to save face a little and go in a different direction...

When you guys say everyone on staff knew, I assume that includes Pitino?

When you guys say everyone on staff knew, I assume that includes Pitino?

 

Pretty much everyone except Pitino. I honestly don't think he knew, but the assistants knew what Chane and his band of idiots were up to...