Rod Barnes top candidate for SMU job

[Frankenstang]

He's been to the Sweet 16, he is a former Naismith Award winner, he is young, he understands the need for diversity in a program like ours, and he was won at a very, very difficult place to win. Down the last couple of years but his overall record is impressive. We are NOT going to sign the bluest chippers here .... nobody gets more of players, especially defensively, than Barnes.

I am writing our leadership and urging them to hire Rod Barnes from Ole Miss.

[ponyboy]

If we can't get blue chippers, we'll never win. Because coaching doesn't matter.

[Frankenstang]

Rod has won with middle level recruits, first with Rob Evans at Ole Miss and then a nice 4 year run until a little slump the last 2 years. Except for about 10-12 schools, that's every program in America.

Here is a guy with a Naismith Trophy and multiple NCAA appearances, as a head coach, an African-American, that is interested in our job because the fans at Ole Miss have become spoiled with success - they are raising Cain over 2 mediocre (not terrible) seasons. He's got a top big man recruit coming in from Arkansas, so he knows how to rebuild. He is one of the toughest defensive-minded coaches in the country.

I read where Ole Miss is the winningest program in the SEC West over the last 6 years.

Barnes is by far and away the top name on our list. If he's amenable to our job, we offer .... it's that simple.

[BigEasyPony]

I think Rod Barnes has done a good job and should be considered, but by no means is he the hands down best choice. Why would he want to move from Ole Miss to SMU? Is he being nudged out of the door? His teams have struggled over the last couple of years so he could be feeling pressure, but there is no way he could earn as much $$ at SMU than at Ole Miss.

[Frankenstang]

SMU is a better job than Ole Miss in a lot of ways. Ole Miss is a little brother in a powerhouse conference, I think they have the smallest coliseum in the SEC. It is also tough to recruit the African-American athlete to Ole Miss over the other area schools that don't carry some of the baggage from the civil rights era.

Look, there are more prospects within an hour's drive of Dallas than in the whole state of MS.

And yes, I believe Barnes is not happy that only 2 down years have sparked so much griping from Ole Miss fans.

I can totally see why he'd take our job. Our administration needs to offer. And not that it is the main issue, but yes, SMU could really use more diversity in the overall athletic department. Rod Barnes is a young, top African-American coach.

It's a no-brainer to me.

[RebStang]

First post here... I'm an SMU alum, but a lifelong Ole Miss fan, so I know a little about both situations. I think the big question is weather SMU can afford, or is willing to pay, what Rod Barnes would probably ask for. Right now, he's getting paid in the neighborhood of $750,000 at Ole Miss. With the financial situation at SMU, can we afford to pay a coach close to that much, because I just can't see a coach (even one who is feeling a lot of heat) taking a big ($200,000-$300,000 less) step down in terms of money.

[Stallion]

"except for the top 10-12 schools" everybody across the country wins with midlevel recruits. Where do you people get these ridiculous ideas? Mississippi in the last three recruiting classes has signed 6 high school recruits, 7 JC/CC recruits and 1 Prep Academy recruits. He damn sure hasn't been winning with mid-level high school recruits.