Press Conference Reactions

by **PonyPride** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:18 pm

jtstang wrote:Okay, maybe the questions about the alleged Tubbs violations were asked by the press, maybe they (gutlessly) weren't. Did anybody ask him what his position with regard to cheating boosters, a la ax Williams, was going to be? Does the new coach have the authority to ban Maxie from any and all contact with the team?

"Gutlessly"? There's a time and place for everything, and the "welcome to SMU" press conference wasn't it. Ask that at an event like today and you'll never get another interview with the man. He talked about how recruiting and coaching both rely largely on relationships -- so does reporting. Relationships are where "sources" come from. To say that Calvin Watkins or Steve Richardson or Garrett Haake or I are "gutless" for not unleashing the hounds today is neither fair nor accurate.

by **jtstang** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:20 pm

PonyPride wrote:
jtstang wrote:Okay, maybe the questions about the alleged Tubbs violations were asked by the press, maybe they (gutlessly) weren't. Did anybody ask him what his position with regard to cheating boosters, a la ax Williams, was going to be? Does the new coach have the authority to ban Maxie from any and all contact with the team?
"Gutlessly"? There's a time and place for everything, and the "welcome to SMU" press conference wasn't it. Ask that at an event like today and you'll never get another interview with the man. He talked about how recruiting and coaching both rely largely on relationships -- so does reporting. Relationships are where "sources" come from. To say that Calvin Watkins or Steve Richardson or Garrett Haake or I are "gutless" for not unleashing the hounds today is neither fair nor accurate.

Not you of course, I was talking about the mainstream press. The rest of them are gutless, as given the situation with Tubbs it is a completely relevant inquiry.

by **DickerJames** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:25 pm

PonyPride wrote:
jtstang wrote:Okay, maybe the questions about the alleged Tubbs violations were asked by the press, maybe they (gutlessly) weren't. Did anybody ask him what his position with regard to cheating boosters, a la ax Williams, was going to be? Does the new coach have the authority to ban Maxie from any and all contact with the team?
"Gutlessly"? There's a time and place for everything, and the "welcome to SMU" press conference wasn't it. Ask that at an event like today and you'll never get another interview with the man. He talked about how recruiting and coaching both rely largely on relationships -- so does reporting. Relationships are where "sources" come from. To say that Calvin Watkins or Steve Richardson or Garrett Haake or I are "gutless" for not unleashing the hounds today is neither fair nor accurate.

I completely disagree. If there were violations with the previous coach and the program is facing sanctions, then that question is very relevant. As I said before, if the question was'nt asked, there must not be any real violations.

by **Stallion** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:26 pm

It most definitely should be asked-this isn't the Daily Campus.

by **SMUltimedia** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:33 pm

I know this will severly limit your posts Stallion, but try not to crack jokes on things about which you have no clue.

by **SMU Football Blog** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:42 pm

This press conference was about Matt Doherty. It was not about Tubbs.

A press conference is about pictures and convenience and availability. For Calvin Watkins and everybody else from the Morning News, all that is largely irrelevant. If they want to talk to Turner or Orsini or Copeland. All they have to do is pick up the phone whenever they want to ask a question. This isn't about putting people on the spot; this isn't the frickin' White House Press Corps. It isn't about high-fiving eachother after you stump the speaker or make the guy at the podium sweat. Grow up.

by **jtstang** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:48 pm

SMU Football Blog wrote:This press conference was about Matt Doherty. It was not about Tubbs.

A press conference is about pictures and convenience and availability. For Calvin Watkins and everybody else from the Morning News, all that is largely irrelevant. If they want to talk to Turner or Orsini or Copeland. All they have to do is pick up the phone whenever they want to ask a question. This isn't about putting people on the spot; this isn't the frickin' White House Press Corps. It isn't about high-fiving eachother after you stump the speaker or make the guy at the podium sweat. Grow up.

Q: Okay Matt Doherty, in your decision to accept the SMU job,what consideration did you give to possible NCAA sanctions given that your predecessor was allegedly fired for that reason?

Follow-up Q: Will you restrict the booster's access to the team who admitted participating in those alleged violations?

by **DiamondM** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:35 pm

In answer to one question, yes there was a buzz both before and after the press conference from the crowd. Not many seemed like they wanted to leave afterwards. I thought it went very well. Yes, it was rah rah, which is against the Stallion Code of Conduct, but Watkins did ask about Coach Doherty's concerns about the negative reaction from DISD coaches over Tubbs' ouster, and I thought it was handled straightforwardly and honestly. There was also a question about Doherty's coaching ups and downs and whether he thinks he has changed. Again, a pretty straightforward answer.

I must admit, even as a former Cameron Crazy, this hire is starting to get me exited. (My previous post about my immediate reaction to the rumors notwithstanding). Is it a sure thing??? Not at all. Are there concerns given the difficulties he had in his final years at UNC??? Sure. Do I think that his great success recruiting to North Carolina will necessarily translate into recruiting success here? No.

But the thing about this hire is that it is a risk, not the boring safety zone that another probably solid hire like Evans would have been. And if we crash and burn taking that risk, at least it says "we will not be ignored" any longer. I hope Doherty is telling the truth about wanting to build a program here, but even if this becomes a stepping stone to a traditional basketball powerhouse job for him, you know what that means? That means that he will have had to build a consistent winning program for a few years for him to become "the" prospect for such a job. And I'm okay with building some momentum that way.

After the press conference, I introduced myself to all of the players there and asked them if they are excited, and they all said yes. Donatas, Devon, and Derrick, in particular, all seemed genuinely truly excited about what is to come. So did the kind of people who could write the checks to build a new practice facility and rennovate Moody. And that's one thing, with all due respect to Jimmy, that Matt Doherty flat out has that Jimmy just didn't -- the ability to be the face and voice of the program to the people that make their check writing decisions based on their interactions with the head coach. Jimmy, for all of his assets, just had not mastered the PR part of the head coach job.

A couple of other tidbits:

-- with respect to the Brian Morris rumors, Morris was not at the press conference with the remainder of the team. That is disappointing because I think he had potential.

-- rode up in the elevator with 2 assistants, Malcolm Farmer and James Stafford. Both seemed very nice and excited too. Stafford, I believe it was, mentioned that one of his close friends is strength coach for the Mavs.

-- if you haven't listened to the audio, George Lynch was in attendance, and was going to get with the team and talk to them about building a program. They seemed excited about that.

by **Ikus** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:38 pm

SMU Football Blog wrote:This press conference was about Matt Doherty. It was not about Tubbs.

Nail, meet Hammer.

by **Pony_Fan** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:44 pm

-- with respect to the Brian Morris rumors, Morris was not at the press conference with the remainder of the team. That is disappointing because I think he had potential.

So he's definitely gone or do we know yet?

by **DickerJames** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:50 pm

Ikus wrote:
SMU Football Blog wrote:This press conference was about Matt Doherty. It was not about Tubbs.
Nail, meet Hammer.

You guys don't get it. If Tubbs really cheated and sanctions are on the way, then the new coach would always be asked if this is a concern of his. Yes, the press conference was about Matt Doherty, and guess what, the loss of scholarships or other sanctions would concern and affect him. Y'all are acting like the question would be an affront to HIM. The question about his coaching ups and downs was personal, a question of how the previous coaches actions may affect him are not.

by **Ikus** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:54 pm

That's true. But that is a question that he could or would answer. What good does it do to ask a question that prompts an answer of "that's in the past, I'm aware, and I'm ready to go forward"?

by **jtstang** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:55 pm

SMU Football Blog wrote:This press conference was about Matt Doherty. It was not about Tubbs.

A press conference is about pictures and convenience and availability. For Calvin Watkins and everybody else from the Morning News, all that is largely irrelevant. If they want to talk to Turner or Orsini or Copeland. All they have to do is pick up the phone whenever they want to ask a question. This isn't about putting people on the spot; this isn't the frickin' White House Press Corps. It isn't about high-fiving eachother after you stump the speaker or make the guy at the podium sweat. Grow up.

Come on man, you know Pepper would have asked the tough questions....

by **RE Tycoon** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:56 pm

Was Fall there?

by **SMU Football Blog** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:58 pm

jtstang wrote:
SMU Football Blog wrote:This press conference was about Matt Doherty. It was not about Tubbs.

A press conference is about pictures and convenience and availability. For Calvin Watkins and everybody else from the Morning News, all that is largely irrelevant. If they want to talk to Turner or Orsini or Copeland. All they have to do is pick up the phone whenever they want to ask a question. This isn't about putting people on the spot; this isn't the frickin' White House Press Corps. It isn't about high-fiving eachother after you stump the speaker or make the guy at the podium sweat. Grow up.

Come on man, you know Pepper would have asked the tough questions....

Usually you pay double for that kind of action, Cotton.

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