So you think the hiring of Krags was okay? (This is an argument of a friend of mine I sit with at football games)

 

I blame the Big East Commish. I think they Big East sat on their behinds instead of being proactive.

Teams make bad hires all the time, it is all in how you regroup from it.

 

The Big East (football) is comprised of 8 schools. The least of any conference. UConn and South Florida probably do not have 20 combined years in Division 1 football. WVU, Pitt, and Syracuse have had some solid moments in their past, but nothing too special. UL, UC, and Rutgers are have traditionally been terrible. It was never a very stable situation and the writing has always been on the wall since it went to these 8 teams. I can see where some blame can be thrown at the Big East powers for not being a little more proactive. Maybe their hands were tied with what they could really do :idunno:

So you think the hiring of Krags was okay? (This is an argument of a friend of mine I sit with at football games)

 

I blame the Big East Commish. I think they Big East sat on their behinds instead of being proactive.

 

I don't think Krags is a bad football coach. I believe there was a percieved problem with the type of recruits Petrino was bringing in (win at all cost, disregard character) and Krags was asked to clean up the image. Unfortunately that meant cleaning out the talent as well.

It's not over yet...

It's not over yet...

 

That's what I've read. Sounds like UL did some last-minute pitching to the Big 12 and its still in a TBD stage.

That's what I've read. Sounds like UL did some last-minute pitching to the Big 12 and its still in a TBD stage.

Do you have a link for where you read this?

NYT says Sen. McConnell has gotten involved on UL's behalf.

Do you have a link for where you read this?

 

http://www.wvmetronews.com/news.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=48764

http://www.wvmetronews.com/news.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=48764

Thanks.

NYT says Sen. McConnell has gotten involved on UL's behalf.

UL fans may have to thank Mr. McConnell for not being left out to dry:

 

The New York Times reported Wednesday that U.S. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, had lobbied Big 12 officials including David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma and a former senator, to include Louisville in expansion plans. The Times quoted a person with direct knowledge of the plans as saying: "I think it's 50-50 right now between West Virginia and Louisville."

 

Link.

I believe I said a few weeks ago that Mitch was a factor.

As to UL versus West Virginia, look at the two and look at the Big 12. UC's new AD pointed this out. The Big 12 is made up of mostly schools that are the flagship university in their respective states. West Virginia fits that model. UL and UC don't. There was nothing UL or UC could do to change their fates in this conference shuffle. However, at this point UL and UC are the two most attractive schools in the Big East for other conferences looking to grow further.

As to UL versus West Virginia, look at the two and look at the Big 12. UC's new AD pointed this out. The Big 12 is made up of mostly schools that are the flagship university in their respective states. West Virginia fits that model. UL and UC don't. There was nothing UL or UC could do to change their fates in this conference shuffle. However, at this point UL and UC are the two most attractive schools in the Big East for other conferences looking to grow further.

Signed,

Baylor

Texas Tech

TCU

Oklahoma St

Kansas St

Iowa St

Signed,

Baylor

Texas Tech

TCU

Oklahoma St

Kansas St

Iowa St

 

Forward that to Whit Babcock. It was his quote that I referenced. I am sure he was thinking more historically along the lines of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, etc. And there are a lot of state names in your list versus city names.

I'm of the opinion that there was nothing Jurich or UofL could have done in the last 18 months to change much of what's gone on here, short of holding a gun to the heads of the university presidents to make that last Big East TV deal go through (but even that is speculative). Going back any further than that can get you into trouble. I will say this: we're getting the incredible benefit of hindsight on the Kragthorpe hire. It was clearly a bad move, but I didn't hear much of Louisville clamoring about how awful it was back in January 2007. Even looking back now, I can still see why it may have looked to be a good move on paper. In the end, I still don't believe that the lack of success on the football field over the last five seasons is the reason other conferences aren't falling on themselves to get Louisville. Simple truth is that we need them a lot more than they need us. They have the liberty of taking their time and with the Big XII being the only real option for the Cards to switch leagues, the ball is entirely in the Big XII's court, no matter how much pressure Jurich tries to put down.

Forward that to Whit Babcock. It was his quote that I referenced. I am sure he was thinking more historically along the lines of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, etc. And there are a lot of state names in your list versus city names.

That's not the distinction being discussed.