Gazette

[SMU89]

http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/201203250128

Speaking of impossible jobs, do I hear the possibility of Marquette coach Buzz Williams heading to Southern Methodist? Really?
I know, I know. Williams is a Texan and SMU is ready to toss him the megabucks - as the school will do in all sports until its next visit by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. The school has spared no expense in upgrading basketball facilities, even aging Moody Coliseum.

But really? Does Williams want to leave Marquette, which is reportedly paying him $2 million a year anyway, to take over a basketball program facing a DePaul-like welcome in the Big East, which will include double-digit losses to ... Marquette?

(A little Marshall connection here: SMU is chucking up some dough to the search firm of David Braine, Marshall's athletic director way back in the Flock of Seagulls era. Sorry for dredging up that MTV memory.)

[RE Tycoon]

Why do people equate spending money on coaches and facilities with NCAA infractions? I've seen this multiple times the past week.

[Mitch McConnell]

It's called drive-by journalism where those, who haven't heard us except for the death penalty, have only one image of the school and that's it.

So now that we are trying to make inroads and be players, fear, ugliness and pettiness comes in the form of these sophomoric comments from people who are more interested in take shots rather than providing perspective.

Any dumba%% can write a blog.

[SMU89]

I think I'll start a blog

[SMU Football Blog]

Any dumba%% can write a blog.

That's my line.

[MustangSTATS]

Why do people equate spending money on coaches and facilities with NCAA infractions? I've seen this multiple times the past week.

If I recall correctly infractions were over misinterpretation of text message rule by who ever was in charge of telling SMU coaches what they can and can't do. SMU self-reported, relatively non issue considering what other schools do (Derrick Rose never took his SAT test, but everyone loves Calipari).

[hoopmanx]

When Maryland plays West Virginia, all game long Terp fans chant, "Go Back,, Go Back, Go back into the woods.' Always makes me chuckle

[CalallenStang]

A good rule...never read any article coming out of West Virginia. Didn't even click on the link, so someone tell me, is the writer on this piece Doug Smock or Chuck Landon? Thanks

[SMU89]

Smock

[CalallenStang]

Smock

LOL...he pretends to know things about college sports but the truth is he's just a Marshall mouthpiece

[EastStang]

WVU kicked the BE in the nuts and left, and Marshall is bitter they are going to be left in the toasterleavings conference. And WV are inbreds. Nuff said.

[PonyKai]

The crumbsnatcher conference!

[ponyinNC]

aside from the occasional tubing trip, I never go to WV

[RunningStang]

The same things were being said about our hiring or pursing June Jones. I want the 1980s to return where both the football team and basketball teams were national powers (minus the scandals of course). If they hire Buzz Williams or someone of his caliber, we are on our way!

[BrianTinBigD]

Looks like everyone is p1ssed to find out that we are no longer paying the players, but paying the coaches. Must suck when you can't afford to play the game by the new rules. Marshall spends about as much for a football head coach as we were spending on our previous BB coach. So F Marshall. $2.5 to $3mil a year for basketball puts you in the top 10 for coaches salaries in basketball. Amazingly, their appears to be a direct link between being the top paid college basketball coaches and consistently getting to the Sweet 16 year over yearl. Buying a coach tends to lead to victories. So dropping more on a coach means you are more likely to be relevant a whole lot quicker in the Big East. I don't care if we buy our way into the Big East basketball elite all I care about is winning.