Who is really to blame...

[etsuvol13]

Honestly, I foot this mess of negative attention and fan divide on the media. Sure a petition was made. Thousands are made every day. Heck, 5 were made on the very same site to apologize. The media caught wind, and made more people aware. I'd say about 3000 "signatures" were just to get dearstone's panties bunched. Once it caught major wind, people away from UY interest probably signed. No one pics up the story, people don't sign just to be "funny."

"Obama" even signed...thanks Obama!

 

[govols120]

You're blaming the media for 30,000+ fans signing a petition?

 

[knowthevols]

The person to blame is the idiot we hired to coach the last three years who couldn't even tell the difference in zone defenses or game pace. We are lucky he left. Feel sorry for California as they will have to watch his brand of basketball for three years, talk about cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[cwbytruckers]

The freaking petition is not why he left. My God will you people not let that go. Do you think this University is the only ones to have had fans write a petition. CCM has stated publicly that it wasnt the reason. He knew in his heart that this wasnt a fit for him and his family and that it was a great opportunity for him. But moving on to California was a better opportunity for him and his family. I hope the fit is better. Now that being said. Yes most of us fans have and are still acting like asses.

 

[etsuvol13]

You're blaming the media for 30,000+ fans signing a petition?

First, yes there were 30000+ signatures on that petition, but they were certainly all not fans. Moreover, of the actual ut fans I would bet a lot some signed just to harass people about it. I'm blaming the media on putting attention on something that the total number can never be validated. They fueled the fire, they gave it legs.

 

[99gator]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

i believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

hart wasn't going to give that to him.

should hart have given it to him? i don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.

bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

i believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

hart wasn't going to give that to him.

should hart have given it to him? i don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.

bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

Post of the Day so far

 

[vol66]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

I believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

Hart wasn't going to give that to him.

Should hart have given it to him? I don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

However, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.
Bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

100%

 

[ranradVOL]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

i believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

hart wasn't going to give that to him.

should hart have given it to him? i don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.

bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

Spot on.

 

[99gator]

I should also say that Martin is not/was not in the wrong for asking and/or demanding that

 

[TNgradmom]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

i believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

hart wasn't going to give that to him.

should hart have given it to him? i don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.

bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

AGREE 100%. Here's hoping.....

 

[Morpheus]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

i believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

hart wasn't going to give that to him.

should hart have given it to him? i don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.

bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

I agree with this except that the program is likely to be worse off. Its a win for the AD long-term, even if the next hire is no better than Martin.

Only way it's worse is if Hart makes a Houston-like hire and we struggle to get double digit wins.

 

[Vol8188]

Thread should be titled "who is to thank"

 

[LocoVol]

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.
.

Agree with most except this line, next season was not going to be good, year after probably not much beter except in the guys who didnt want to admit it because they backed conzo so hard.

Worst case we get a coach that comes out bad and we lose a year on the end of a three year deal which is most likely a year later than Martin would of been fired anyway

Best case we get a winner and things are better. Id say we wont be worse off maybe par for the course but we may be better which at the least gives a chance to improve that I dont think was there before he left.

 

[99gator]

Agree with most except this line, next season was not going to be good, year after probably not much beter except in the guys who didnt want to admit it because they backed conzo so hard.

Worst case we get a coach that comes out bad and we lose a year on the end of a three year deal which is most likely a year later than Martin would of been fired anyway

Best case we get a winner and things are better. Id say we wont be worse off maybe par for the course but we may be better which at the least gives a chance to improve that I dont think was there before he left.

Publicly, it won't look gook to run a guy off and then not exceed his level of performance.

 

[C-town Vol]

i don't think anyone is to blame.

i believe after the season, martin wanted a contract that was going to (a) reward him for the season and the program moving in a positive direction (b) send a signal to recruits that he wasn't going to be going anywhere (c) send a signal to the fan base that the university supported him 100% and that he was going to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

hart wasn't going to give that to him.

should hart have given it to him? i don't know because i was not necessarily a believer either.

however, i am willing to believe the likelihood of the program being worse off is higher than the program being better off.

bottom line, they better get the next hire right.

Like you said in a later post, Martin was not wrong for asking for those things. However, equally it is hard to say that Hart was wrong for not giving him those things. It was an impasse. There was not enough solid evidence on either side of the ledger. Martin had not done enough on paper/in results to warrant ultimate support and belief...Hart couldn't be financially irresponsible like we have witnessed with the AD for the past decade. On the other hand, I can understand Martin saying he wanted more security and backing for the sake of recruiting and stability with the fan base.

I don't see where either Hart nor Martin were wrong. Neither had enough faith in the other to go all in. Martin made what appears to be a wise decision. He took a step back program wise but bought himself 3-4 years of financial/job security. In the meantime Hart gets to go out and hire "his guy".

Tennessee/Hart may make a poor hire. I would venture to say at worse it will be a wash. To me, the most likely scenario is we look up in three years and we are in a similar place win/tournament wise. It seems the AD is starting to get on solid footing...Butch, Serrano, etc. I feel pretty good that it will not be a "bad" hire. I'm just not sure we will make a "great" hire.

 

[ochocinco]

blame? you mean thank? i believe we will end up with an upgrade sooner rather than the inevitable later AND save a ton of money by it being his choice.

no one is to blame, Cuonzo and Roberta should be thanked!

 

[LocoVol]

Publicly, it won't look gook to run a guy off and then not exceed his level of performance.

Publicly nobody but us will care in a few days just like those outside UT fans commenting on the last three years when most only know what they saw in a few games during the tourney! Only reason they care now is controversy sells. jerry springer, reality tv world we live in.

 

[99gator]

Like you said in a later post, Martin was not wrong for asking for those things. However, equally it is hard to say that Hart was wrong for not giving him those things. It was an impasse. There was not enough solid evidence on either side of the ledger. Martin had not done enough on paper/in results to warrant ultimate support and belief...Hart couldn't be financially irresponsible like we have witnessed with the AD for the past decade. On the other hand, I can understand Martin saying he wanted more security and backing for the sake of recruiting and stability with the fan base.

I don't see where either Hart nor Martin were wrong. Neither had enough faith in the other to go all in. Martin made what appears to be a wise decision. He took a step back program wise but bought himself 3-4 years of financial/job security. In the meantime Hart gets to go out and hire "his guy".

Tennessee/Hart may make a poor hire. I would venture to say at worse it will be a wash. To me, the most likely scenario is we look up in three years and we are in a similar place win/tournament wise. It seems the AD is starting to get on solid footing...Butch, Serrano, etc. I feel pretty good that it will not be a "bad" hire. I'm just not sure we will make a "great" hire.

I agree

 

[LocoVol]

Like you said in a later post, Martin was not wrong for asking for those things. However, equally it is hard to say that Hart was wrong for not giving him those things. It was an impasse. There was not enough solid evidence on either side of the ledger. Martin had not done enough on paper/in results to warrant ultimate support and belief...Hart couldn't be financially irresponsible like we have witnessed with the AD for the past decade. On the other hand, I can understand Martin saying he wanted more security and backing for the sake of recruiting and stability with the fan base.

I don't see where either Hart nor Martin were wrong. Neither had enough faith in the other to go all in. Martin made what appears to be a wise decision. He took a step back program wise but bought himself 3-4 years of financial/job security. In the meantime Hart gets to go out and hire "his guy".

Tennessee/Hart may make a poor hire. I would venture to say at worse it will be a wash. To me, the most likely scenario is we look up in three years and we are in a similar place win/tournament wise. It seems the AD is starting to get on solid footing...Butch, Serrano, etc. I feel pretty good that it will not be a "bad" hire. I'm just not sure we will make a "great" hire.

Spot on, Hart didn't do exactly what we hated hammy for doing all these years. Props to Hart.

 

[GreveHaller]

He knew what he was getting into when he took the job. If he didnt want to follow someone who was liked and had succeeded and wasnt willing to follow in their shadows for a few years then he should have stayed at his mid major school or taken a job at a major program that was down. That's not the AD's fault nor the fans fault - that's his fault. Rule of thumb is you dont want to be the coach that follows the legend and like him or not Bruce took us to a level we had not been in years and had never been.

 

[Morpheus]

Publicly, it won't look gook to run a guy off and then not exceed his level of performance.

Pfft. He left. The public doesn't pay enough attention to remember details 3 or 4 years later.

Besides coaches get fired and replaced with guys no better all the time. It'd be a drop in the bucket.

 

[bigorangeirish]

No one is to "blame", and it's very possible that this works out best for both sides involved. As has been said well previously, Hart and Martin likely had differing opinions on Martin's value to this program. Martin's choices at that point were (1) stay despite not getting the contract he wanted or (2) leave for another opportunity. When he was passed over at Marquette, his choices for (2) were almost assuredly going to be at a lower tier program. My question is what would push him out the door for what is, at best, a lateral move. While the crappy reception from a vocal portion of the fanbase wasn't the ultimate reason he left, it very well may have been a factor.

 

[golf437]

The freaking petition is not why he left. My God will you people not let that go. Do you think this University is the only ones to have had fans write a petition. CCM has stated publicly that it wasnt the reason. He knew in his heart that this wasnt a fit for him and his family and that it was a great opportunity for him. But moving on to California was a better opportunity for him and his family. I hope the fit is better. Now that being said. Yes most of us fans have and are still acting like asses.

No the idiot fans that signed that petition shoulder some of the blame.

 

[Morpheus]

No one is to "blame", and it's very possible that this works out best for both sides involved. As has been said well previously, Hart and Martin likely had differing opinions on Martin's value to this program. Martin's choices at that point were (1) stay despite not getting the contract he wanted or (2) leave for another opportunity. When he was passed over at Marquette, his choices for (2) were almost assuredly going to be at a lower tier program. My question is what would push him out the door for what is, at best, a lateral move. While the crappy reception from a vocal portion of the fanbase wasn't the ultimate reason he left, it very well may have been a factor.

Was your question rhetorical? Because it seems like you already answered it.

Most likely Martin just saw the writing on the wall. Fan base not happy with you, AD not giving you the security you want > take the first decent offer you get and get out of Dodge.

But I agree, no one is to blame, its business.