Chip Alexander On The Coaching Search

General NCS Football Tom O'Brien69

RALEIGH – It began, Lee Fowler said, with a cell-phone call from Chuck Neinas a week ago today and then quickly escalated.Fowler, N.C. State’s athletics director, was looking to hire a football coach and was in Nashville, Tenn., interviewing Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Nienas, paid $35,000 to be NCSU’s headhunter, had some news he believed Fowler needed to hear.

Boston College’s Tom O’Brien was interested.

“It was done professionally and it was done quietly,” said Wendell Murphy, chairman of the NCSU board of trustees. “The consultant did the work, Lee kept it quiet and no one was tracking my airplane on the Internet,” Murphy quipped

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General NCS Football Tom O'Brien

69 Responses to Chip Alexander On The Coaching Search

  1. Wolfpack4ever 12/12/2006 at 6:04 AM #

    tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc Says: ( commenting about “Lee kept it quiet”) “In other words we kept Lee from screwing up.”

    Just curious tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc, who is the “we” you are referring to? Are you on the BOT or are you the Chancellor posting here. If either are true, I’d say that the those who want Fowler fired have a very good chance that it will get done.

  2. Wolfpack4ever 12/12/2006 at 6:18 AM #

    PackBacker001 Says: “We agree on that much, 4Ever. It’s not the sarcasm but the hostility that separates you from the crowd here. I respect your right to post whatever you like, though.

    I wonder about that myself. Part is an underlying part of my personality which I obviously don’t keep in check when I react to the hostility of others — IMO the anti-Fowler posts. Some is that I choose to use sarcasm where straight talk would have little or no impact. I may be mistaken in my notion that comments like “Fowler talking incessantly to the media about … how bad our fans are (for five years)” is ludicrous and where I used sarcasm to make that point. I do try to curb my tendency to use sarcasm indiscriminately.

    If I have offended you with my use of sarcasm, I apologize for the offense.

    GO PACK!!

  3. packfanstk 12/12/2006 at 4:10 PM #

    Quote. On a scale of one to 10 – if BC’s best results for coaches had been an 8 or 9, TOB consistenly hit the 8 mark. OTOH, where as NC State’s basketball had reached the 10 mark, Sendek never did better than a 7. The comparisons to Sendek show just how stupid and vindictive the local and national media are. A better comparison to TOB’s tenure at BC is Dick Sheridan. Now, ask State fans if they will take 10 years of Sheridan’s results. Quote.

    I am neither vindictive nor stupid, but I find the comparisons to Sendek very valid. Their records are extraordinarily similar in critical ways. What is different is how some folks REACT to those similar results. But there is no disputing that in plain fact they are strikingly similar. Against traditional rivals and conference foes, similar results. Against top-flight, high-ranked competition, similar results. In crucial games with significant watershed accomplishments on the line, similar results. The fact that you believe we are more entitled to expect better results in one sport than the other doesn’t change the fact that the results are virtually the same.

    However, to go with your analogy regarding Sheridan/Sendek/O’Brien, I would remind you that just as Sendek fell short of our historic best, so did Sheridan, and so will O’Brien if the Sheridan standard is the best he does. I would like to see a return to Sheridan-type results soon, but we should be looking to get back to Edwards, Holtz, and Rein results and even better. Say what you will about those coaches…they won championships. To answer your question, NO I WILL NOT be satisfied with ten years of Sheridan results. Coach Sheridan did very well for the facilities, financial base, recruiting base, and national notoriety we had at that time. We have much better facilities, more money for coaches, training, equipment, etc., a much broader recruiting base, and much more national publicity. All the things he used for excuses (there’s another similarity) for why BC couldn’t get over the hump are not in play at NC State. We have the fan support, the stadium, the culture, the community interest, and the academic latitude he said was lacking in Beantown. I am glad Coach O’Brien is talking about championships. Our visions are the same. There should be no excuses.

  4. Wolfpack4ever 12/13/2006 at 5:01 AM #

    “Interview all qualified candidates and make the decision. It’s no different in everday business practice.”

    This is a commonly stated misconception. Large corporations hire headhunters to screen anonymously candidates for key positions. We were not looking for a new hire in the accounting department, co 74.

  5. class of 74 12/13/2006 at 3:15 PM #

    Screening and interviewing for your limited info is one in the same!

  6. Wolfpack4ever 12/13/2006 at 8:42 PM #

    class of 74 Says: “Screening and interviewing for your limited info is one in the same!”

    On December 10th, 2006 at 3:31 pm you said “If Jed wanted to he could have interviewed 8-10 guys in a week and that’s what I’m talking sbout” Screening and interviewing may be the same but Jed and a headhunter are not the same. As a handful have tried to tell you, class of 74, you are off on this one. Take off the blinders 74, ole Jed lead this search just about perfectly.

    Come on now, 74, give it a try. Just try saying it. Try saying, I was rrr rrrr rrrr rrrrrrrong. See it’s not so bad, now is it.

  7. class of 74 12/13/2006 at 10:58 PM #

    ^I have people screened for my business and I interview in my opinion it’s one in the same. But when I screen 1 or 2 people and interview 1 or 2 that’s is not interviewing the field. Now maybe even you can understand that.

  8. class of 74 12/14/2006 at 5:24 AM #

    ^^ As I and many others here see it, LF is lazy and has been a very poor manager and because that is suppose to be his primary purpose here he does not have my support. If I thought he could somehow become an effective AD I would give him a chance but he’s been here long enough to show me he can’t or won’t. And people such as yourself do our university a great disservice by not honestly holding the AD, the BB and FB HC’s accountable when their performance is not up to par. If one of us has any criticism of those three positions it has been your take to bash those who have called them into account. You sir and others like you, to borrow from the movies, can’t handle the truth. Just because they wear a title of AD or HC should not make them untouchable to being held accountable for doing their jobs, or as TOB put it so well, being champions in the classroom, in the community and on the field. Certainly now the furor will subside as our two top revenue HC’s seem to be solid but let me remind you if left up to our AD’s own volition we would still have HS and CA not SL and TOB! And you would back all three of the old regime just as you have blindly done so in the past!

  9. Wolfpack4ever 12/14/2006 at 7:31 AM #

    class of 74 Says: “^I have people screened for my business and I interview in my opinion it’s one in the same. But when I screen 1 or 2 people and interview 1 or 2 that’s is not interviewing the field. Now maybe even you can understand that.”

    Apparently you don’t see any difference between the recruitment of rank and file, low-profile employees for business and the recruitment of high-profile public figures such as football and basketball coaches.

    Fowler never mentions (and he is absolutely right) his marching orders given by the Chancellor so it is nearly impossible for those of us outside of the Chancellor’ and AD’s confidants to know whether Fowler is following orders or making the mistakes on his own. Clearly he (and the Chancellor) learned from the basketball fiasco that having someone, anyone, associated with the University be the point man for the search team.

    When you say “let me remind you if left up to our AD’s own volition we would still have HS and CA not SL and TOB” you only reveal that you are expressing your uninformed opinion. Your opinion is worse than uniformed, it is biased beyond belief.

    Mostly what I say is in defense of groundless opinion about Fowler said in a nasty, vicious manner. When you say “(people like me) do our university a great disservice by not honestly holding the AD, the BB and FB HC’s accountable when their performance is not up to par.” Do you think that the other 99% of the fan base thinks the tasteless jokes, ridicule, and slander of Fowler, Sendek and Amato is “honestly holding the AD, the BB and FB HC’s accountable?” Do you think that Fowler’s reference “to the lunatic fringe” is “ripping” the fan base or is that “honestly” the spin you put on it to forward you vendetta against the man?

    Labeling Fowler as lazy because he didn’t interview 8 or 10 candidates like you and you alone seem to think he should have, is your idea of honestly holding the AD to account. Get real. Do you think calling people names and insultling their intelligence actually passes for authentic debate?

    I’ve got a theory which is that you and/or your co-Fowler bashers had a meeting with Fowler, maybe lunch or dinner, and told Fowler in no uncertain terms that he should fire Herb Sendek. When Fowler told you to mind your own businesses, you decided to get his ass and have been after it every since. How am I doing? Why don’t you get really pissed off at me for making up a likely story based on all that I can see. Because that is what is going own here.

    You are making up a likely story based on what you see and hear. Just as making up a likely story about what goes on inside a watch based on what you observe about the hands going around the face is a fantasy of sorts, your story about what goes on in the searches and other athletic department business is about as likely to be what actually happens as is the story about the workings of a watch.

  10. class of 74 12/14/2006 at 9:24 AM #

    Twist all you want to but you are what you are, a huge apoogist for all the wrong reasons and all the wrong people in our athletic department and all that visit this site know this quite well.

  11. packfanstk 12/14/2006 at 10:48 AM #

    Quote: When you say “let me remind you if left up to our AD’s own volition we would still have HS and CA not SL and TOB” you only reveal that you are expressing your uninformed opinion. Quote

    It has been documented by reputable sources that Fowler did not want to fire Chuck Amato. His unyielding devotion to Herb Sendek is blatant public knowledge. If LF had had his way we would still have both coaches on staff with Fowler insisting we were “going in the right direction.” It is silly to deny those facts.

    Quote: Do you think that Fowler’s reference “to the lunatic fringe” is “ripping” the fan base… Quote

    Absolutely, and it is glaringly indicative of how out of touch with the rank-and-file State fan, including a large majority of the WPC Fowler was, and probably remains. He continues to make public statements suggesting that Sendek had the support of the vast majority of State fans and that the whole problem the “lunatic fringe” had was one of personality….almost word-for-word what you will also hear Wendell Murphy say…despite the fact that it was the deterioration of support from nearly every WPC member EXCEPT Wendell Murphy that told Herb it was better for him to get out of Dodge while the getting was good.

    In truth, the course of events has shown that the fans have been extremely consistent in holding coaches to one standard–the quality of the product put on the field or court. It is Mr. Murphy that is hung up on personality. It was HE that insisted that Chuck go, and it was HE that insisted that Herb was a coaching paragon. And NEITHER of those judgments came from the coaching acumen of either man in question. They came from the fact that Herb kissed the BOT’s butt and Chuck didn’t. Herb could have gone 3-13 this season and Fowler/Murphy would have still been in his corner lashing out at the lunatic fringe. Chuck could have won the ACC Championship and Murphy would still be ready to ship him off over one future under-achieving season. It was reliably reported that Murphy’s meeting with the Chancellor centered not around the piss-poor football, but how the BOT felt Chuck Amato had disrespected THEM.

    Frankly, I don’t entirely mind that a few big money contributors wield such power in our athletic programs. It’s the nature of the beast no matter what school you’re talking about. But I would feel a lot better about our situation if I had confidence that the Murphys of our world could separate their personal prejudices from their judgment of what is best for NC State. I have no such confidence.

  12. redfred2 12/14/2006 at 1:15 PM #

    There is supposed to be a strong backbone between the Wendell Murphys of the world, and what is actually taking place on the ground in any athletics department. Herb was…well Herb, totally acceptable. Amato was red shoes, shades, and just the opposite. I would also dare to say that if HS had stayed for this, his 11th season, that his winning percentage would have mirrored Amato’s football success for the season, or maybe even less. The overall W/L percentages , along with post season appearances between the two, were too close to call anyway. There is no fair comparison, but I give CA the edge.

    TOB is walking into a much better situation then did Sidney Lowe, and that is the true yardstick of all they really accomplished at NCSU, irregardless of what the numbers, or anyone says.

    All of this should easily tell every one of us, that good enough, has been just that, good enough. That is unless a personality gets in the way. Real success and winning is not the focus with any of these guys in Raleigh.

    It is my understanding that TOB let his intentions be known when the news about Amato became official, possibly well before that. I have also been told that some one in TOB’s corner, or maybe even TOB himself, made Chuck Neinas aware of TOB, instead of the other way around. If any of this is true, please hold your applause, your congratulations, and limit your steadfast defense of our AD. Another gift of coaching has just found it’s way to Raleigh. It sounds like maybe Lee Fowler’s services weren’t even required here anyway, except to shuffle off a possibly wasted check, in the amount of $35K, in care The Chuck Neinas Search Firm.

  13. class of 74 12/14/2006 at 1:21 PM #

    ^^^pardon the spelling should be “huge apologist”

  14. class of 74 12/14/2006 at 1:59 PM #

    The facts are the facts and it is a fact LF is lazy, many examples of this just review many of the articles contained within this blog. LF would rather be the coaches buddy than his or her leader/supervisor, again check previous entries. The only thing I can say in LF’s defense is that his position was weakened prior to his taking the job here and that may limit his ability to get things done. But he has done little to warrant the BOT giving him greater authority and autonomy over his department. By that I mean he doesn’t have the same powers that Casey and Valvano did in that position. The coup by the UNC BOG and Larry Monteith/ Hal Hopfenburg in 1990 saw to that.

    We are very fortunate that over the past 9 months HS decided to leave and CTC finally was exposed so that we could upgrade these two critcal positions in our athletic department. Now if only something could happen to remove LF, the final impediment to returning our athletic department to respectability. Now that would really be something to cheer about!

  15. Wolfpack4ever 12/14/2006 at 5:10 PM #

    co 74 says: “you are, a huge apoogist for all the wrong reasons and all the wrong people in our athletic department and all that visit this site know this quite well.”

    The following comments are made by (some of) all that visit this site:

    1. This was done as professionally as possible. Great job to all involved.
    2. c o 74 – My impression is that everything came to a screeching halt when TOB expressed interest. I mean, he’s one of the most successful college coaches around right now.
    3. And there is some danger in prolonging the search process by interviewing too many candidates.
    4. a drawn out search would have likely ended in disaster considering the number of hc positions open, and where.
    5. ….I have been a big Critic of Lee Fowler in e-mails to Dr Oblinger but I must say this one went down about as well as could be hoped for…..
    6. It makes no business sense to look once you have a top notch guy. But then some wouldn’t be able to complain if they accepted that.
    7. I believe that the whole point of involving someone like Nienas is so that a lot can get done behind the scenes. I would liken him to a corporate recruiter — a lot of contacts are made, discussions are “off the record”, candidates are pre-qualified.
    8. i am not a fowler fan, but this was solid finish.
    9. Based on the glowing commendation by the Provost and Murphy’s attempt at praise for Fowler, if he were a football coach or baseball manager he would be gone in thirty days.
    10. If you interview ten canidates, you’re likely to end up in the paper a lot too.
    11. All in all a tremendous job by Fowler.
    12. Interviewing more candidates does not produce better candidates. When you find a good fit, you act.
    13. Many coaches won’t interview unless they are the leading candidate or one of top two.
    14. Compared to ASU, Fowler & Co. did a great job.
    15. credit where credit is due — Lee Fowler did a good job with the head coaching search.

  16. redfred2 12/14/2006 at 6:13 PM #

    4ever,

    Man, are you not the busiest person on the planet, digging around for every little tidbit to make your case. And since you are constantly doing it over and over again, I will also keep reminding everyone, over and over again, that this is exactly the way you were about Chuck Amato before totally collapsing and going in the opposite direction at the very last second.

    There was no master stroke accomplished by anyone in Raleigh.

    Tom O’Brien WANTED THE JOB and ASKED FOR THE JOB. And that pretty much ended that. The “good job with the coaching search” as you call it, was accomplished when the party in question, knocked on the good sherriff’s door, before the good sheriff had ever fully organized his search party.

    Coach Fowler doesn’t need a thing for Christmas, his cup runneth over, by way of gift #2 for the year, Coach Tom O’Brien.

  17. class of 74 12/14/2006 at 8:41 PM #

    4ever,
    While you’re flailing away pull up all the quotes following the infamous letter from LF following the Clemson debacle or the quotes during and following the basketball coaching search or the quotes when LF tried to tell us all Dukies don’t like Coach K, etc….

    You sir are exactly what I said you are, an apologist for all the people and things that have held our program back. Keep on defending LF and you will be just as you were defending CA at the very end. One of the few, one of the proud and one of the fools.

  18. Wolfpack4ever 12/15/2006 at 8:37 AM #

    co 74, you have a reading comprehension problem, I am not “flailing away” pulling up cites. I didn’t have to dig deep to find the 15 comments by readers of SFN that argued counter to your assertions — they are all from THIS thread. 15 quotes opinions that are counter to what you say.

    This thread is about Fowler doing a laudable, credible job in the football search and is what I have been arguing for with you. I am citing evidence that you are full of crap in your arguments that the fb search was mishandled or was lazily conducted or was against all good search practices.

    You, having failed miserably to discredit Fowler for this specific aspect of his job, have now taken the tact to discredit me personally as being an apologist for Fowler. What is the chance that you and your side-kick, rf2, could stick to the thread? If you want to discuss OTHER aspects of Fowler’s record and alleged failures and gaffes, get you buddies to start a thread about such manners.

    If that fails and you want to debate the strawmen you drag into this thread, I ask that you not only refer to your references and ask me to go looking for them, but also link them for accessiblity. Others may be interested as well.

  19. class of 74 12/15/2006 at 9:32 AM #

    ^ditto the final post on the immediately previous thread from Rick pertaining to you states. goodbye you are not worthy of further discourse.

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