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[quote="Beast of the East" post=296097][quote="Class of 72" post=296070][quote="Beast of the East" post=296057]I was assured that the next AD would have all head coaches reporting to him. This hire seems to affirm that. Really happy at face value, but then again was really happy when [strike]we stole[/strike] Slice [strike]stole from us[/strike] from Kentucky[/quote]

This would be a great hire. Hopefully all the coaches respect the hire. I think they needed an outsider who could reorganize things. Speaking of stealing, UCONN and Hurley are doing a good job of going after our recruits. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when they are introduced to Kassoum Yakwe. Sharing his experience at St. John's is not a good thing imo.[/quote]

I know some HUGE UCONN fans who have a good beat on their program. UCONN needed a body for this year, and they only had to commit 1 year to Yakwe, so being they had a roster spot and no commitment after this year, it was a very low risk move for them. If it works out great, if not, no skin off their nose. They aren't looking at this like they got a huge bargain by getting him. It just fit being that they had roster space and a 3 year D1 player to fill it.[/quote]

My point was that having a St. John's transfer there is not good optics. He will be lobbying the recruits to come to UCONN "instead of St. John's" and his reasons may be a contributing factor in a recruit's decision making. Panther may trust Hurley but I don't. In fact, the Hurley coaching tree never went out of their way in our recruitment of their players.
If a coach with "months" on the job is able to convince 3 our our top recruiting targets who we pursued for 3 years, to sign with UCONN it will look very very bad for our staff. Period!
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=296108]So long as he doesn't hire Christian Laetner, I'm ok.[/quote] HAAAAAAAAAA

I hated Bobby Hurley more than anything but I wanted him as coach so if it's going to help us get big men somehow I'd find a place for Laettner somewhere anywhere. That's how desperate I am to see us win :)
 
we have two transfers there.... Yakwe and Wilson. Yawke will be gone after the season, and doesn't seem like the type to recruit on social media.... Wilson on the other hand...

Back to the AD - all we can hope for is that he's been given some autonomy, hold staff accountable to their job descriptions....and can be an effective leader to admin, coaches and student athletes. Also needs to paint a clear roadmap, and perhaps has some corporate donor contacts to take along with him.


On a dept note... also saw that Mekale Jackson, the Assistant AD for Creative and Digital Media announced he is leaving SJU. Thought they had done a decent job on certain parts on the branding.. at least social media stuff.
 
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[quote="mjmaherjr" post=296113]I hated Bobby Hurley more than anything but I wanted him as coach so if it's going to help us get big men somehow I'd find a place for Laettner somewhere anywhere. That's how desperate I am to see us win :)[/quote]

I have two pieces of dirt on Bobby from college if you want them.:lol:
 
Redmen NC wrote: On a dept note... also saw that Mekale Jackson, the Assistant AD for Creative and Digital Media announced he is leaving SJU. Thought they had done a decent job on certain parts on the branding.. at least social media stuff.

I have sat right behind Mekale at the Carnesseca arena games for a number of years. He is a great guy, very friendly and a really positive person. Here is wishing him great success in his future endeavors. I will miss him!
 
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[quote="L J S A" post=296119][quote="mjmaherjr" post=296113]I hated Bobby Hurley more than anything but I wanted him as coach so if it's going to help us get big men somehow I'd find a place for Laettner somewhere anywhere. That's how desperate I am to see us win :)[/quote]

I have two pieces of dirt on Bobby from college if you want them.:lol:[/quote] Can we use any against his brother in trying to take our recruits ? :)
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=296115]we have two transfers there.... Yakwe and Wilson. Yawke will be gone after the season, and doesn't seem like the type to recruit on social media.... Wilson on the other hand...

Back to the AD - all we can hope for is that he's been given some autonomy, hold staff accountable to their job descriptions....and can be an effective leader to admin, coaches and student athletes. Also needs to paint a clear roadmap, and perhaps has some corporate donor contacts to take along with him.


On a dept note... also saw that Mekale Jackson, the Assistant AD for Creative and Digital Media announced he is leaving SJU. Thought they had done a decent job on certain parts on the branding.. at least social media stuff.[/quote]

I totally forgot about Side Wilson but wish him success at his next school after Uconn. I doubt his 4 weeks at SJ, where he interacted with no one, will have much influence on our recruits. Yakwe on the other hand.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=296068]Panther2 wrote: Yep, so there are two, Chris and Bill. One played here almost 50 years ago and one played over 30 years ago.

You really know how to make a guy feel old Panther. I remember both of them well - can't believe it's been around 50 years since Bill Schaefer played for us.[/quote]



That makes two of us. Bill was a freshman in 1969 with Mel Davis, Ron Rutledge, and Larry Jenkins.
 
[quote="L J S A" post=296119][quote="mjmaherjr" post=296113]I hated Bobby Hurley more than anything but I wanted him as coach so if it's going to help us get big men somehow I'd find a place for Laettner somewhere anywhere. That's how desperate I am to see us win :)[/quote]

I have two pieces of dirt on Bobby from college if you want them.:lol:[/quote]

I heard that at a house party he got so drunk that he swung his Johnson in a coeds face. Also, I heard that during his entire career at Duke he only smiled once and it was after beating his meat to Kathy Bates.
kathy-bates-hot-tub.jpg
[/quote]
 
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[quote="mjmaherjr" post=296122][quote="L J S A" post=296119][quote="mjmaherjr" post=296113]I hated Bobby Hurley more than anything but I wanted him as coach so if it's going to help us get big men somehow I'd find a place for Laettner somewhere anywhere. That's how desperate I am to see us win :)[/quote]

I have two pieces of dirt on Bobby from college if you want them.:lol:[/quote] Can we use any against his brother in trying to take our recruits ? :)[/quote]

Unfortunately not. And I get the feeling Danny was kind of uptight and high strung in college so we can't even blackmail Bobby to give up dirt on his brother.:lol:
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=296126][quote="L J S A" post=296119][quote="mjmaherjr" post=296113]I hated Bobby Hurley more than anything but I wanted him as coach so if it's going to help us get big men somehow I'd find a place for Laettner somewhere anywhere. That's how desperate I am to see us win :)[/quote]

I have two pieces of dirt on Bobby from college if you want them.:lol:[/quote]

I heard that at a house party he got so drunk that he swung his Johnson in a coeds face. Also, I heard that during his entire career at Duke he only smiled once and it was after beating his meat to Kathy Bates.
kathy-bates-hot-tub.jpg
[/quote][/quote] 72 for Supreme Court Justice !
 
Curious if Mike Cragg will seek to clarify Mitch's role on the Staff with CM. Would how the Staff functions 'matter' to the AD, or would it be viewed by CM as interference in his domain? Guessing the new AD will not trespass on Chris's turf and merely observe how things operate initially.
This might be an interesting dynamic going forward.
 
Per Zach B: "A high level source told me that new St John's AD Mike Cragg will have full autonomy and that obviously includes the basketball program". #sjubb

That's great news. Maybe Mom & Pop are loosening the reins. It's about time!!
 
Gut says;

Solid AD choice to clean up mom & pop AD for whatever time he remains here. This infusion of experience, solid mentoring and tenure with outstanding program is what doctor ordered.

Heron will be cleared, team dances & in the Spring they will hopefully salvage disappointing recruiting results to date. Operative word “hopefully”

Yesterday’s hire to me is very significant because a lot of our problems in hoops program has been due to the void in leadership in the AD position. Hopefully it translates to fundraising, marketing & facilities improvement. I believe patience is in order though. Turning this around may be comparable to making a U turn in Panama Canal. Goff did relate to fans well, but imo promised to much too soon. Never know for sure, but I suspect Cragg will be more strategic, realistic and circumspect. Time will tell, but to me this could be a pivotal point in SJU Athletics history.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=296138]Gut says;

Solid AD choice to clean up mom & pop AD for whatever time he remains here. This infusion of experience, solid mentoring and tenure with outstanding program is what doctor ordered.

Heron will be cleared, team dances & in the Spring they will hopefully salvage disappointing recruiting results to date. Operative word “hopefully”

Yesterday’s hire to me is very significant because a lot of our problems in hoops program has been due to the void in leadership in the AD position. Hopefully it translates to fundraising, marketing & facilities improvement. I believe patience is in order though. Turning this around may be comparable to making a U turn in Panama Canal. Goff did relate to fans well, but imo promised to much too soon. Never know for sure, but I suspect Cragg will be more strategic, realistic and circumspect. Time will tell, but to me this could be a pivotal point in SJU Athletics history.[/quote]

Thanks Paultz, nice post. A beer a on me for said gut hopefully at a Saturday msg game this season :)
 
Great to get such positive news. Anyone know how likely it is that we switch back to Nike since he was the direct point person between Duke and Nike? I really hope they hear this guy out from day 1, because he's like an outside consultant at this point. Outside consultants from prestigious backgrounds can instantly assess a program and say what isn't working and what needs to be fixed immediately. I hope there are a lot of times he says to other admins, "At Duke this is how we did this".

I was also wondering, any chance we didn't hire another assistant so we can give that extra money to make a great AD hire like Cragg? No idea if it works like that or not, just an interesting thought.
 
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