Thoughts/opinions on Gene Smith?
- Thread starter ISUChippewa
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When I did my Masters at tOSU in 2011, I took a “Business of College Athletics” course that he taught. Any time he mentioned something that happened during his time at ISU, he would look at me and wink, knowing I was the only person in the room who likely cared about that story.
Also gave me props on the Clone-Nado logo sweatpants I’d wear to class since that logo was introduced during his time in Ames
Also gave me props on the Clone-Nado logo sweatpants I’d wear to class since that logo was introduced during his time in Ames
McCarney was on KXNO with Heather and Sean today talking about Gene Smith, really good conversation. Gene got the ball rolling before he left then Bruce basically let the progress go stagnant with his status quo approach before Pollard got us back on track. Who knows where ISU football would be right now had Smith not hired coach Mac and then stuck with him while he built the foundation to make us relevant.
Smith kicked the can down the road on the AD budget problems and left Bruce to be the one to deal with them, which he actually did a decent job of getting the finances back in order. Bruce had the interpersonal skills of a doorknob and was pretty terrible in most other areas, so it's a good thing he only lasted one contract.
I think Smith deserves a lot of credit for not accepting the ISU status quo and actually trying to be good at football. All of his big hires (Floyd, Mac, Larry, Fennelly) were really successful too.
He went to Johnny Orrs party at our first bowl game in a long time In phoenix. Of course he was AD at ASU , but still.
Douglas recruited Cael, one of the if not the best wrestler in the history of the NCAA.
He is one of those guys who has seemed old for as long as I've known of him. Did he seem old while he was here?
He'd also won a national title at ASU of all places. Douglas underachieved for sure but I'm not sure I'd say he was a bad hire.
Did JO give him the Bohannon treatment? There is the guy JO probably hated more than anyone.
If you ever talked to JO, you know the story about Gene firing JO. JO made it clear he was ticked off.
It's amazing to hear McCarney talk about how little was actually in place when he got here. Pretty much built the modern ISU program from scratch.
Talk about a sliding door stay in the PAC4 and deal with that situation or get the OSU job and money.