What are the thoughts on Stricklin?

[Todd4State]

I've never met him, but he sounds like he will be good to me.

In this instance, I think going outside of our AD would have been a risky thing because Byrne laid such a great foundation and had things going in the right direction.

 

[Todd4State]

I've never met him, but he sounds like he will be good to me.

In this instance, I think going outside of our AD would have been a risky thing because Byrne laid such a great foundation and had things going in the right direction.

 

[Todd4State]

I've never met him, but he sounds like he will be good to me.

In this instance, I think going outside of our AD would have been a risky thing because Byrne laid such a great foundation and had things going in the right direction.

 

[Todd4State]

I've never met him, but he sounds like he will be good to me.

In this instance, I think going outside of our AD would have been a risky thing because Byrne laid such a great foundation and had things going in the right direction.

 

[downwarddawg]

Simply because many folks told me that he was Byrne's 1st choice. Other than that, I don't know anything else about the candidates.

 

[o_Bigohh]

I'm delighted. Scott will do a great job for us. There were very few, if any, significant decisions made in the Bryan Building in the past two years that Scott was not involved in.Scott will hit the ground running and keep the momentum going forward. Just don't try to compare him to Greg. He's a different person and will do things differently but there is no question thathe is the right choice

Go Dawgs!

 

[jmbeck]

I don't have anything against the man. I've never been snubbed by him, I've never seen him talk down to anyone, or anything like that.

However, I've never seen anything from him that inspired me either.

When Greg worked with the Bulldog Club, I had talked to him on occasion. If you gave Greg an idea, he would let you know what he thought. He wouldn't simply say "Well, that's interesting, we'll look into it". It was always "Well, here's how we can..." or "We've looked into it, and here's why it won't work...". He genuinely listened to everyone, regardless of stature, and he was interested. Also, the "remembered my name" thing is big with everyone on this board. That's an incredible talent, considering the number of people he dealt with, but it's a rare talent.

Looking back at Greg's short tenure, he didn't burn the world up. Greg wasn't Moses, but his approach compared to our previous AD certainly made him feel that way. I don't recall the chain of events, but I do remember Mullen saying after the SECCG that he was interested in the head coaching position. Now, I know our search firm probably contacted him first, but Mullen coming to MSU was a large part Mullen wanting to come as it was Byrne convincing him to. When the OC of the SEC champs and future National Champ says he's interested on television, it doesn't take a visionary to offer it to him.

And while he bucked Ron Polk, Cohen was who the majority of every one that didn't still worship Polk wanted. Is it that difficult to go after the coach of a historically mediocre SEC team that played at State who happened to be winning games at the historically mediocre school, but nothing of national substance. Cohen never got past a regional, and won 1 SEC regular season. And, as I stated, he's the man everyone not named Ron Polk (and the people that love him) wanted.

What Greg brought to the AD was vision, and personality. That is what made Greg Byrne the right choice for MSU.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I don't see that with Scott. Greg had a face while in charge of the BC. Most of our fans knew about Greg before he was an AD candidate. I'd venture to guess that the vast majority of our fans didn't know what Scott Stricklin's role is inthe AD. I'd also bet greater than 1/3 had never heard the name before now.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I don't see the intangiables with Scott that made Byrne a good choice.

You need more than "he was Greg's number2 man". Does he have the vision to lead us forward, or will he follow through on current plans and stall out.

Don't give me that "won'tfind a bigger Bulldog" **** either.There are ahelluva lot of people who love ourUniversity, myself included. And while I'd have a hell of a time, and really put everything I had into it, I'dbe a shittyAD. I don't remember Greg Byrne loving our University prior to his coming here.

Edit: ****** Grammar

 

[bonedaddy401]

I think the bigdonorsare going to run over him, I don't think he has the foresight that GB did and I don't think he has the experience it takes to be the leader of a multi million dollarbusinessin the SEC.<div>
</div><div>Where LT was to close to the "Cigar Boys",Strickland will get pushed around by them. He was GB's yes man and he will betheiryes man also.</div><div>
</div><div>To add something positive I do think he will continue to modernize our message (ex. Video Board, internet marketing, aggressive facility improvement). I just hope he expands and improves our facilities the way GB wanted to and not the way ahandfulof select boosters want it done.</div>

 

[benatmsu]

Let's be honest though: When Byrne was at the BC, the athletic director was Lonnie Tinkle. So, there you have Byrne, with all of his enthusiasm and people skills, and then look at the head man - it was very easy to notice Byrne. When Stricklin was there, the head man was Byrne. So it stands to reason that Stricklin wouldn't stand out as much as Byrne.

Now having said that, I've never met the man and really don't know much about him that's not in his bio. On the surface, I think it's a good hire. But, I'm very interested to see how he handles his first major hurdle (hire,fire,building project etc.).

 

[Shmuley]

The suggestion that this was a national search is an unadulterated fraud. Stevie Wonder could see Stricklin was the hire on day one.

ETA: I'd like to know more about his departure from Baylor where he left in relatively close proximity of time after having primary responsibility for handling the day-to-day crisis management for the Baylor basketball murder/scandal. Certainly I can see where he would want a change of scenery, but I have questions about that situation and his performance.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

available doesn't mean you don't hire a firm to go out and find someone better. Keanum hired them to do that, and they couldn't find anyone better. Just because we hired someone that may or may not have been in the lead from day one doesn't mean a search wasn't conducted.

 

[jmbeck]

I never had a problem with LT personally. No, he wasn't engaging, but he was friendly enough. Everytime I spoke to him, he would shake my hand and at least gave me a chance to speak. Never knew me from the next guy everytime, but he never brushed me off. As I said, the "remember the little guys" is an incredibly rare talent. I won't hold it against Scott if he can't do it.

My biggest fault with LT is that he didn't lead outside the AD. Case in point, the cowbell vote. Regardless of how he voted, that was going to pass. No AD outside of MSU was going to vote against a rule that would make us stop making our 35,000 sound like 80,000. But, he let people get in his ear, and he compromised MSU in the spirit of "fair play". +%+@ that ****. Instead of going down as a defiant spitfire school that spits in the face of you ******** trying to nail us down, we caved. And LT seemed to cave on a lot of issues in order to maintain relationships.

Mississippi State has a lot of outside interests that will try to keep us down. I hope Scott can fight that every step of the way.

And if this is the reason that Greg left (Kentucky BB games, questionable FB calls, general SEC head office BS), than I hope the door didn't hit that ***** on the *** on the way out*. It takes a strong leader and someone who will buck the system to make MSU successful. I hope Scott is that man, but I have my doubts.

*I don't think that's why he left, but if it is, then he obviously wasn't what we needed here, because we will always face that.

 

[Shmuley]

But I wonder if there's been another situation at this level (power conference AD position) where a "candidate" for the AD slot is hauled around to alumni gatherings and handed a mic?

The specter of a national search was a farce from day one.

Again, who gives a **** if this guy turns out to be Ninja Deux?

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

where the new hire was the former associate AD of external affairs....hell, that's his job. In deference to your apparent rage over the hire, though, I think it is fair to say that Byrne prefered Scott. But, Byrne didn't participate in the search, interviews, etc. I think he will be very much like Byrne in his outlook.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

he was GB's yes man in that he was paid to do what his boss told him to do. But, I'm not sure I see where the "get pushed around by the big donors thing comes from. I guess that can happen. But, I'm just not sure I see anything predictive of that.

 

[Shmuley]

In deference to your apparent rage over the hire, though

In deference to your apparent dubmassedry, what part of "I don't care enough about it to get into an argument" is unclear to you?

 

[davatron]

I don't know enough about him to make an intelligent comment, so I'll just say that I hope he works out.

 

[coach66]

I think there is some benefit to hiring someone with close ties to the university. Interestingly enough, I sat next to Pete Boone yesterday on a flight back home from Phoenix. I must say I came away favorably impressed. We had a goodconversation and I found him to be an humble, likeable guy. Maybe he was on his best behavior.

 

[LR1400]

I think the bigdonorsare going to run over him, I don't think he has the foresight that GB did and I don't think he has the experience it takes to be the leader of a multi million dollarbusinessin the SEC.<div>
</div><div>Where LT was to close to the "Cigar Boys",Strickland will get pushed around by them. He was GB's yes man and he will betheiryes man also.</div><div>
</div><div>To add something positive I do think he will continue to modernize our message (ex. Video Board, internet marketing, aggressive facility improvement). I just hope he expands and improves our facilities the way GB wanted to and not the way ahandfulof select boosters want it done.</div>

Where do you get this opinion? Is this opinion based on any evidence at all or just simply your ******** opinion based on Scott's having briefly worked under LT?

GB's yes man.....what the 17 are you talking about?

Cigar Boys yes man......you don't have a clue what you are blabbing about. Some of you act like there is a group of donors with secret decoder rings who meet deep in the bowels of some building at State where they cultivate plans to 17 over the common fan. Maybe you should be thankful that State has a group of significant donors.

Do you honestly think these donors don't care about State and don't want our athletics teams to win?
Do you think they want to simply march around campus barking orders and stalking coeds like the second coming of Huey P. Long?

These "Cigar Boys" care more about these teams winning than 99% of our fans.

 

[SilentDog]

way to go out on a limb MSU! everyone will say 'what a hire!'.

[sigh...]

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

attempt at humor for dubmassedry......

You can just go ahead and remember this...If you see something that I say that looks like I am being a dubmass, explore all the other options first. It is exceptionally hard for me to be a dubmass. It takes quite a bit of alcohol to dumb me down to regular intelligence, other than spelling, or generally anything in the gramatical arts. Wait, never mind.

 

[TXDawg.sixpack]

From what I've been able to see, SS was heavily involved with the Mullen hire and has been actively involved with ALL of the plans and programs GB had been working on. Add to that the fact that he has close ties to the university and you have a young AD who (presumably) buys-in to the new vision GB was selling for the Athletic Dept who will be passionate about seeing the program succeed and who won't be jumping ship for the "next best offer."

I think it's a good hire.

 

[rem101]

I think it's a good hire. Follow up of the foundation Byrne has laid.

 

[jacksonreb1]

rebels who hang out here might attack you. personally i think boone has done a good job as ad. we're in the best shape athletically top to bottom that we've been in my 60 yrs. with our budget he has to make some unpopular decisions and his people skills get criticized but IMO he's been an excellent ad. that said i think we need new blood.

re stricklin, not that my opinion matters but the guy has lots of experience outside of just msu. he's worked in some good ath depts, byrne brought him with him from kentucky (?) and it is said he was byrne's choice.where i an msu guy, that would be good enough for me to be satisfied if not ecstatic.

 

[bonedaddy401]

glad to have you around you old fart.<div>
</div><div>Seriously bud, if anybodydoesn'thave a clue what they are "blabbing" about it is you. Read more, post less.</div><div>
</div><div>Actually my opinion is based off of a former Miss State football coach's opinion who might know a thing or two about how things work in the Athletic Department. If you don't believe me PM me.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

 

[AlCoDog]

<span class="post-title">

<span class="post-title">I guess it is ok, but he was low-hanging fruit</span>

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

My opinion, I trust Keenum's decision. Being Byrne's "yes man" is a good thing. He learned from a good one. The 3 times I have met him or heard him speak, I was impressed. He seemed like he had a genuine interest in what I was saying, and whether he did or not, I got a good impression. I'm happy with the hire until proven otherwise.</span>

 

[patdog]

but Stricklin should be a good hire. He's got a lot of experience in a lot of different athletic departments and I've never heard anything but positive comments about him. We could have done a lot worse.

 

[Johnson85]

say something nice about Boone. I think Boone and LT have been a huge setback for UM schools. If either school had had a competent AD, neither one would have made if for long.

Boone clearly wasn't as bad as LT. I guess he hired Bianco(?), and Kennedy looked like a great hire at the time (and maybe will still turn out that way). But he also botched one football search, making the university look like a bunch of *** clowns in the process, and if Nutt hadn't fallen into his lap, I see no reason to think he would have done any better than Orgeron the second time around.Add that with the 1/2 mil consulting fee to come up with red alert (if that's true), a home and home with Wyoming, etc., and I think you have a mediocre AD. A mediocre AD that was/is still miles ahead of LT. Damn, that was one incompetent17er

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

Do you honestly think these donors don't care about State and don't want our athletics teams to win?
Yes. They don't like the mean words boosters of other schools say to them when they're in their luxury boxes. They prefer getting pat on the head, told "good boys, and best of luck the rest of the season", to winning.
Do you think they want to simply march around campus barking orders and stalking coeds like the second coming of Huey P. Long?
No, they prefer being big fish in a small pond, as opposed to small fish in a big pond, which is what happens when State wins and the fan base increases.
These "Cigar Boys" care more about these teams winning than 99% of our fans.
More like 19.83%.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

cousin posted here.

Actually, I think he is pretty well right on target -- other than apparently you do have SOME basis for that opinion. Croom, McCorvey, or some other guy told you that.

I will tell you that I haven't seen evidence of what you are saying, other than possible he did say Yes to his boss when his boss told him to do something. Yes man to his boss. Jeez. I hope you are, too --it's good for your career. As for being a Yes man to big donors -- he probably does say yes when they want a little access and want some information. That's to be expected. But, our donors do not run our program -- and I do realize that will not cause the black helicopters to land for you. But, it's the honest truth.

 

[LR1400]

Do you honestly think these donors don't care about State and don't want our athletics teams to win?
Yes. They don't like the mean words boosters of other schools say to them when they're in their luxury boxes. They prefer getting pat on the head, told "good boys, and best of luck the rest of the season", to winning.
Do you think they want to simply march around campus barking orders and stalking coeds like the second coming of Huey P. Long?
No, they prefer being big fish in a small pond, as opposed to small fish in a big pond, which is what happens when State wins and the fan base increases.
These "Cigar Boys" care more about these teams winning than 99% of our fans.
More like 19.83%.

Well, you sir, do not know what the 17 you are talking about.

Go find one of these "Cigar Boys" and talk to them about State before you blab mindless ********.

 

[LR1400]

glad to have you around you old fart.<div>
</div><div>Seriously bud, if anybodydoesn'thave a clue what they are "blabbing" about it is you. Read more, post less.</div><div>
</div><div>Actually my opinion is based off of a former Miss State football coach's opinion who might know a thing or two about how things work in the Athletic Department. If you don't believe me PM me.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

I don't give a rats *** what Crooms thinks says or does. He was the worst hire in NCAA football history, period and he thinks the internet got him fired.

 

[inforeb]

...many others from around the country. Boone left Ole Miss to return to Baton Rouge to start a community bank, and Bianco was hired by John Shafer in 2000 after Harrison's largely miserable 4 years, in which Bullpen Club support had fallen from around 500 members in the 1980's to only 39 members by June, 2000. Shafer was a baseball guy, an All-SEC SS, whoseAuburn teambeat Ole Miss in the SEC Playoff in 1967. It was his best move in a short tenure. Boone came back to Oxford in time to hire Orgeron. Bianco's success at Ole Miss has come in spite of Boone, not because of him.

 

[DowntownDawg]

1) He is already here. He understands where each program is - the momentum Mullen is building, the unstable basketball situation and the potential need for change there, and the struggles of the baseball program. I think he will really support Dan, be firm with Stansbury, and be fair with Cohen.

2) He learned under the most successful AD we've ever had. For the past two years, our athletic department has been going in the right direction in almost all facets. Stricklin has been a big part of that. Attempts to connect him to LT are ridiculous.

3) He has deep ties to State and will not try to get out of dodge the next time an opening comes up.

 

[davatron]

.

 

[paindonthurt_]

1st: Let me say this. I think we could have done much worse.
2nd: I don't think it was a bad hire, but I wanted more of a splash.
3rd: I think Strickland will do a good/decent job, but I don't believe he has the backbone needed to take MSU where we want it to go. My opinion comes from being around him several times. No I don't know him, but I have met him on several occasions and at functions. He works the crowd which is good, but he doesn't seem to have the confidence Byrne or LT had. Of course, LT's confidence was more of an arrogance. I just think he'll get shoved around in meetings with the other SEC big boys. Not to mention as you stated, he could get pushed around by our own Alumni.

Don't get me wrong. I hope I am wrong. At the very least I think he'll be able to raise money, but I'm not completely sold on him yet.

To the others who talked about "Cigar Boys" wanting to win. The comment I'm about to make is about people in general and not the "cigar boys" or rich donors. Many people care more about their opinion than the actual result. Hell you can see that on this board daily. People just want to be right and have things done their way.

 

[AlCoDog]

Settle down, it was a low hanging fruit joke.

 

[Johnson85]

Boone's best move in his tenure was basically hiring Kennedy. We have had some ****** athletic directors...

 

[jacksonreb1]

we're in the best shape in all sports we've ever been in. the anti boone folks want to say all this is 'in spite" of boone. well fine then don't blame him for anything bad. they want to have it both ways. as far as the orgeron hire that is not on boone. i'm as big a fan of dr k as any ole miss fan. he is the best thing to happen to ole miss in my lifetime, but boone had dennis erickson set to go, now whether he would have been a good hire is another discussion but he would have fit the criteria that boone laid out....proven winner experienced head coach and the press would have lauded the hire. khayat nixed him at the last minute and dr k hired orgeron. anybody who tells you any different story is uninformed on that situation pure and simple. nutt no more fell into boone's lap that cohen fell into byrnes. for different reasons both were available to their schools at the time they were needed.

boone did not hire bianco, but he hired everybody else on staff i believe and again top to bottom we've never been in better shape. plus he did hang on to bianco when lsu came calling a few yrs ago....in spite of all the talk from folks how all the coaches hate boone.

all that aside, i for one would like to see boone retire. i think its time for a more agressive fund raiser and someone to bring some new energy into the program. boone may not be the second coming of.......whomever the greatest ath director of all time was......but there is a faction that just hates him. the simple facts say his dept is in great shape and if anyone wants to dog the head guy over failures then they also have to give credit for the successes. right now we're having a lot more success than failure.

 

[Johnson85]

...nutt no more fell into boone's lap that cohen fell into byrnes. for different reasons both were available to their schools at the time they were needed....

He was an up and coming coach that had proven he could win in the SEC and was an alumni of MSU. Byrne justgets credit for not being LT and taking the laziest possible route of hiring theclosest person wearing an MSU baseball cap.

And Nutt did fall intoUM's lap. He's a proven coach that can win in the SEC. They type coach UM (or Ark, MSU, UK, KY, or USC) would never have been able to getexcept for the texting scandal and the falling out with his fans. Some of the idiotic stuff surrounding the Orgeron hire may not havebeen his fault, but he certainly doesn't get credit for hiring Nutt, as anybody with the ability to write a check (except for maybe some Ark fans) would have nailed that hire.