I posted this on 247 and I thought I'd share it with the SPS crew.
I took a friend (USM fan) to go meet with and hear Stans at and
alumni function at the top of the Hancock Bank building in Gulfport,
2000 or 2001 I guess it was.
</p>
Rick's love, energy, and sincere passion for State was second to
none at that time. We stopped and talked with Stans for a good 10
minutes afterwards, he was simply great that night. As we drove home,
my friend talked constantly about how awesome Stans talk was, and he
wished he could suit up and play for him. Rick's comment that "I'm not
going to miss recruiting a player we want in the state of Mississippi",
he all but said he completely owned the state. He was right too.
</p>
In the last 4-5 years, I've seen that energy and passion fade
away. While personally, he's a great guy and I'll never question his
dedication to State, it was becoming more and more obvious that he was
losing his edge. We've started losing some solid recruits to other SEC
or national programs. The most painful part has been the meltdowns,
especially in March. We have had bubbleitis for the last six years.
It took some purely amazing runs in the SECT to get to the NCAA's. It's
become clear that we have had some major attitude problems within the
program. Sidney is not alone in this category.
</p>
I feel for head coaches in the SEC - it's one of the most
demanding jobs in coaching for any sport. It takes an ungodly toll on
you, and chews you up. The wives of the coaches have to be incredibly
strong women to put up with what they have to endure. Meo has not had
her husband, the boys have not has their father around a lot because the
job is so demanding. Megan Mullen is having to endure the same -
with spring ball coming up, she's not going to see he husband much,
their son won't see his father a whole lot.
</p>
Jackie Sherrill is Nick Saban to many Mississippi State fans in
some ways. He picked us up off the curbs and made us realize we aren't
just "poor old Mississippi State that can't do any better". I was at
State when Jackie was announced as head coach, and as a Jackie Sherrill
fan, I was in heaven. Jackie was clear every time he spoke
"Mississippi State can win and Mississippi State will win. Mississippi
State fans deserve to win." Jackie took us from being mediocre at best
to being SEC West champions playing in Atlanta. He took us to several
bowl games, he re-energized the program to where we expanded the stadium
and got much better facilities that match our SEC peers. At the end,
the toll even wore down the greatest and winningest head coach in MSU
history. It didn't help that Julie Gilbert/xenareb was screwing NCAA
investigators to try and take Jackie down.
</p>
I think the rigor, the wear and tear, finally got to Rick as
well. For some time, he's had to deal with outright corruption in what
we call the AAU circuit. Many AAU programs will get a star player, and
the coach is looking to ride his coat tails. They turn kids into
primadonna's that don't want to work and want their butts to be kissed
24x7. They have major attitude problems, no work ethic, no respect for
their coaches and redefine spoiled brats. Rick took a massive gamble in
getting Renardo Sidney, a gamble I think he lost and regrets. I doubt
one person on this board would take McDonald's AA Sidney over Brandon
Vincent. I think Sidney was the last nail for Rick.
</p>
I greatly appreciate what Rick did for our basketball program.
He's worked very hard for 22 years for us. Just like with Jackie, all
good things must come to an end. No coach is bigger than the program or
university. Joe Paterno was at Penn State, and you see where that got
them.
</p>
Rick is financially set, he's got a marvelous wife and children,
and he can now spend time with his wife and kids, which is great. He
did a lot of great things at State, and I appreciate that very much.
Now its time to find the guy that can come in and build upon what Rick
has done. The new coach is going to have a great practice facility,
thanks in large part to Stans.
</p>
I took a friend (USM fan) to go meet with and hear Stans at and
alumni function at the top of the Hancock Bank building in Gulfport,
2000 or 2001 I guess it was.
</p>
Rick's love, energy, and sincere passion for State was second to
none at that time. We stopped and talked with Stans for a good 10
minutes afterwards, he was simply great that night. As we drove home,
my friend talked constantly about how awesome Stans talk was, and he
wished he could suit up and play for him. Rick's comment that "I'm not
going to miss recruiting a player we want in the state of Mississippi",
he all but said he completely owned the state. He was right too.
</p>
In the last 4-5 years, I've seen that energy and passion fade
away. While personally, he's a great guy and I'll never question his
dedication to State, it was becoming more and more obvious that he was
losing his edge. We've started losing some solid recruits to other SEC
or national programs. The most painful part has been the meltdowns,
especially in March. We have had bubbleitis for the last six years.
It took some purely amazing runs in the SECT to get to the NCAA's. It's
become clear that we have had some major attitude problems within the
program. Sidney is not alone in this category.
</p>
I feel for head coaches in the SEC - it's one of the most
demanding jobs in coaching for any sport. It takes an ungodly toll on
you, and chews you up. The wives of the coaches have to be incredibly
strong women to put up with what they have to endure. Meo has not had
her husband, the boys have not has their father around a lot because the
job is so demanding. Megan Mullen is having to endure the same -
with spring ball coming up, she's not going to see he husband much,
their son won't see his father a whole lot.
</p>
Jackie Sherrill is Nick Saban to many Mississippi State fans in
some ways. He picked us up off the curbs and made us realize we aren't
just "poor old Mississippi State that can't do any better". I was at
State when Jackie was announced as head coach, and as a Jackie Sherrill
fan, I was in heaven. Jackie was clear every time he spoke
"Mississippi State can win and Mississippi State will win. Mississippi
State fans deserve to win." Jackie took us from being mediocre at best
to being SEC West champions playing in Atlanta. He took us to several
bowl games, he re-energized the program to where we expanded the stadium
and got much better facilities that match our SEC peers. At the end,
the toll even wore down the greatest and winningest head coach in MSU
history. It didn't help that Julie Gilbert/xenareb was screwing NCAA
investigators to try and take Jackie down.
</p>
I think the rigor, the wear and tear, finally got to Rick as
well. For some time, he's had to deal with outright corruption in what
we call the AAU circuit. Many AAU programs will get a star player, and
the coach is looking to ride his coat tails. They turn kids into
primadonna's that don't want to work and want their butts to be kissed
24x7. They have major attitude problems, no work ethic, no respect for
their coaches and redefine spoiled brats. Rick took a massive gamble in
getting Renardo Sidney, a gamble I think he lost and regrets. I doubt
one person on this board would take McDonald's AA Sidney over Brandon
Vincent. I think Sidney was the last nail for Rick.
</p>
I greatly appreciate what Rick did for our basketball program.
He's worked very hard for 22 years for us. Just like with Jackie, all
good things must come to an end. No coach is bigger than the program or
university. Joe Paterno was at Penn State, and you see where that got
them.
</p>
Rick is financially set, he's got a marvelous wife and children,
and he can now spend time with his wife and kids, which is great. He
did a lot of great things at State, and I appreciate that very much.
Now its time to find the guy that can come in and build upon what Rick
has done. The new coach is going to have a great practice facility,
thanks in large part to Stans.
</p>
