All this talk about DM taking the WF job is a bit of a ruse IMO. And the pot is being stirred by the so called "local" media.

There was a report today in the TW that "confirmed" DM had interest in the WF job. But let me tell you how that "probably" came about. I cannot confirm this as the way it went down, but I don't think anyone in the local media would admit to how it did in the first place. So here is how things like this are "stiirred".

Bill Haisten - "Danny, there are reports that you've been contacted by several schools like Wake Forest. Have you?"

DM - "We're discussing where the program is headed and how it can be improved. But yes that's correct."

So that gets morphed into something akin to DANNY MANNING HAS INTEREST IN WF JOB when in reality DM was just being honest and telling a reporter he was "contacted".

I'm not a big supporter of our local media as it is constituted today anyway, because it just doesn't seem to be that "local". As a matter of fact it seems almost "hostile" at times to the local school and that should be revealed or it just keeps occurring and the problem keeps getting bigger.

Now back to DM. I think it is a no brainer to stay put for a couple more years - at least - and I think he will - 99% chance imo. There are just too many positives to stay and too many negatives in leaving. Some are:

1. A ready made team returning almost intact that will be that way for two more years.

2. A school (TU) with a long track record of success.

3. A school with a long track record of being patient with coaches.

4. A school that is ideally suited for success in terms of infrastructure, great TV revenue and a conference with a built in success in both the east and central USA.

5. Something that he has built into a regional power with a ceiling that could go much higher.

6. DM and "his" team will have much more exposure at the national level to recruit to. And a conference that he and TU can win in and have rivals that won't assure TU is habitually at the bottom.

7. WF for instance, just fired a coach Jeff Bzdelik who imporved his squads record for his four years (8-24, 13-18, 13-18, 17-16). so even though he showed improvement in the tough ACC, he was let go. That shows a bit of a short leash for coaches. And in reality, WF's program and history are about the same as TU and their recent history is definitely in TU's favor. WF is not the Tarheels or Blue Devils for crying out loud.


So IMO this "talk" is just some local media types who are trying to gin-up some attention for themselves that benefit them, who have built this into something far beyond its reality. They'll do anything to sell a paper or to get another "OU fan" to gain interest in their so called "work".

I wish you were right on this one, Rabid. Per ESPN, Manning is touring the WF campus today & will decide in the next 24 hours. It doesn't look good to me. He met with the WF AD in Indy on Monday. TU gave him their supposedly very good offer yesterday & he stills flys to North Carolina today.

I wish I'd been right too. But if he's going to hold TU hostage, then maybe it wouldn't work out anyway. Its like getting married and thinking it'll be forever, but the bride meets this other guy.

But let me throw this out, when DM took the TU job, there was a player or two that he spoke with and his reply was "if you don't want to be here thats fine". I understand what he means, but if this is going down in this manner, that statement may apply to him too.

IMO

If he goes, I'm not sure he's thinking it out.

With the move to the AAC, a pay increase for him and his assistants, it doesn't make a ton of sense......maybe he is just going through the motions so he knows what it's like when the big boys come calling in another couple of years. He had better have a ton of confidence he can take WF to the upper tier of the ACC in a couple of years or he will be back coaching Tex Southern in 3 years. This move just doesn't make a lot of sense!!!

This stuff is really getting old. You have coaches weighting their options, most likely gone. Recruits saying if DM is gone most likely they are too. Would not surprise me if some of the sophomores leave this time too. If any or all of the happens, this is a set back for another two years for the basketball team and screwed in the AAC. I have heard casual fans saying they will have to weigh their options of weather to watch TU anymore. Everyone's tired of the drama.

I couldn't agree more. And I don't blame the players actually. They were convinced to come here or stay because they thought DM would be here a few years. And personally, I became a basketball fan again after sitting home in the winter. DW did a lot of harm to the program that still hasn't stopped hurting us.

I see from all this going down that DM obviously isn't very loyal to the kids or the university and maybe we should have figured that out sooner. I remember when he was hired he said he was thrilled to be coming here for his "first" college HC job. Actually, I think there may have been internal problems with the team since they didn't perform well to begin with this year. But WF? Now don't get me wrong, it isn't a step down, but its not a step up either. Making a lateral move for a small pay raise is just not my idea of a successful coach. Coaches have a lot of people whos lives are changed when they make a move like this. Players of course, but also assistant coaches, administration, even support personel. It just shows a lack of caring for the people around you - that your career is inifinitely more important than anything else in the wide wide world of MBB.

Just think how far our programs (other than MBB) have sunk this year overall from last. Last year our FB team were conf champs and LB champions. Our womens BB team went to the NCAA and won the league. Our MBB team surprised the city by rebounding from a dismal record and went to post season after years of decline. But this year we've taken a step back in the other sports. A losing FB team that wasn't even competitive and which may be in decline for years. A new conference that excells in the very sports we are now susupect in. An AD that was fired before an investigation could be launched into very questionable off duty decisions. And now, the only successful program out of the bunch is in turmoil. Its not a good picture.

But this is the time for REAL leadership. Leadership in the Presidents office and more importantly in the AD's office. We are about to see if Doctor Gragg is a real athletic director or just a figure head who sits by and collects a salary. I'm just not sure which one he is.

TBH, I almost want DM to leave now because if he stays, he has damaged his reputation here to the point that it will be harder to recruit and harder to get the players already here to buy in to what he's selling. Loyalty goes both ways. But Wake Forest? C'mon!

(04-03-2014 11:07 AM)rabidTU2 Wrote:  I couldn't agree more. And I don't blame the players actually. They were convinced to come here or stay because they thought DM would be here a few years. And personally, I became a basketball fan again after sitting home in the winter. DW did a lot of harm to the program that still hasn't stopped hurting us.

I see from all this going down that DM obviously isn't very loyal to the kids or the university and maybe we should have figured that out sooner. I remember when he was hired he said he was thrilled to be coming here for his "first" college HC job. Actually, I think there may have been internal problems with the team since they didn't perform well to begin with this year. But WF? Now don't get me wrong, it isn't a step down, but its not a step up either. Making a lateral move for a small pay raise is just not my idea of a successful coach. Coaches have a lot of people whos lives are changed when they make a move like this. Players of course, but also assistant coaches, administration, even support personel. It just shows a lack of caring for the people around you - that your career is inifinitely more important than anything else in the wide wide world of MBB.

Just think how far our programs (other than MBB) have sunk this year overall from last. Last year our FB team were conf champs and LB champions. Our womens BB team went to the NCAA and won the league. Our MBB team surprised the city by rebounding from a dismal record and went to post season after years of decline. But this year we've taken a step back in the other sports. A losing FB team that wasn't even competitive and which may be in decline for years. A new conference that excells in the very sports we are now susupect in. An AD that was fired before an investigation could be launched into very questionable off duty decisions. And now, the only successful program out of the bunch is in turmoil. Its not a good picture.

But this is the time for REAL leadership. Leadership in the Presidents office and more importantly in the AD's office. We are about to see if Doctor Gragg is a real athletic director or just a figure head who sits by and collects a salary. I'm just not sure which one he is.

TBH, I almost want DM to leave now because if he stays, he has damaged his reputation here to the point that it will be harder to recruit and harder to get the players already here to buy in to what he's selling. Loyalty goes both ways. But Wake Forest? C'mon!

You can tell Manning hasn't been a HC for long. Has burned a bunch of bridges he really didn't need to burn. You have to think he is going 'All in ' with WF. Other wise why damage the position you already have. AD Gragg will have to show some stuff now. Put up or shut up. As they say. As a last thought Wake Forest has to be a bit desperate to go after a second year HC.

Yeah, he kind of screwed this one up.......go to Wake Forest fly back and say it was a great offer but I'm staying and all the fans are happy......or go to Wake Forest fly back and say it was to good to pass up and the fans aren't happy but somewhat understanding. Spreading this thing out for 3, 4, 5 days and you've got unhappy fans no matter what the decision is........I will have to say, if he was staying I think my first alternative would have happened. I'm going with the thought he's gone and we better hit a home run with the next coach and we better not be cheap about it......this could almost make or break us for the next decade!!!! Who we choose will be the major determining factor in how many players transfer. I would expect a few to go any way, but whether that is 2 or 5 will definitely be up to the new coach!!! Any ideas on the new coach........the SFA coach......some young, up and coming asst......Mike White, yes, pay the buyout if he really is the best choice.....the Fla Gulf Coast coach???????????