Kent Haslam on ESPN Missoula

[Ursa Major]

Might be just me but didn't get the sense a renewal was imminent, but rather a "he did much right, helped the program, but it may be time to go a different direction" I don't think Kent has actually actually made a decision but is waiting until after Cat-Griz and Bodnar is on board. His comments about Bodnar understanding the importance of "Rivalry Games" and rivalries in general was pretty telling.

I agree. I felt Haslam did a good job of praising Stitt and his staff for their work off the field and is satisfied with that portion but he emphasized several times the importance of black and white results in the win column. I thought Haslam implied heavily that Saturday is a must win if Stitt is to earn a renewal.

Yep you two align with my take from the interview. If we lose and Haslam does opt to not renew Stitt (and this is to all of egriz) do you think he would do that without a solid backup plan or do you think he has a specific replacement in mind and could that replacement, out of the known availables, be good enough to push Haslam to make a change when he otherwise wouldnt. Just to be clear, I am not hinting at Hauck as I really think he has a good opportunity where he is and is not a realistic candidate, though again I have no special info and I am not the AD.

Any AD worth his/her salt has a list.

 

[George Ferguson]

People hear what they wanna hear or perceive it in different ways. I thought Colter asked some pretty tough questions, and I heard the answers much different. I clearly heard Haslam say there's no way Stitt will be evaluated off of one game.

I also am glad he put to rest the rumors that started back in July and August from people "in the know" about a wins total that was given to him by Haslam. Haslam specifically said there was no such thing.

 

[Griz90]

People hear what they wanna hear or perceive it in different ways. I thought Colter asked some pretty tough questions, and I heard the answers much different. I clearly heard Haslam say there's no way Stitt will be evaluated off of one game.

I also am glad he put to rest the rumors that started back in July and August from people "in the know" about a wins total that was given to him by Haslam. Haslam specifically said there was no such thing.

Coach Stitt has already met the win total. The grey area that still exists is the Bobcat game and the playoffs.

 

[granitegriz]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

 

[kemajic]

People hear what they wanna hear or perceive it in different ways. I thought Colter asked some pretty tough questions, and I heard the answers much different. I clearly heard Haslam say there's no way Stitt will be evaluated off of one game.

I also am glad he put to rest the rumors that started back in July and August from people "in the know" about a wins total that was given to him by Haslam. Haslam specifically said there was no such thing.

What would you expect him to say in public the week of the most important game of the year? None of what he said has anything to do with a HC decision after the season is over.

 

[PlayerRep]

It was a very good interview. Haslam spoke well. Good questions asked.

 

[tnt]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

There are a lot of reasons why the game is important and it is a lot more than another game. Clearly you don't understand this (Stitt didn't until last year) Incidentally in the last seven years the griz have only won 3 (officially.) Not exactly a beat down............. The teams meltdown last year including a cat griz loss is what has Stitt on the bubble. Because of that we are a bubble team for the playoffs this year even at 8-3 and it may take several years to gain back the reputation we lost last year.

 

[George Ferguson]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

There are a lot of reasons why the game is important and it is a lot more than another game. Clearly you don't understand this (Stitt didn't until last year) Incidentally in the last seven years the griz have only won 3 (officially.) Not exactly a beat down............. The teams meltdown last year including a cat griz loss is what has Stitt on the bubble. Because of that we are a bubble team for the playoffs this year even at 8-3 and it may take several years to gain back the reputation we lost last year.

Confused by this. The Griz demolished the Cats in Bozeman in Stitt's first season. What did he not understand that year?

 

[George Ferguson]

People hear what they wanna hear or perceive it in different ways. I thought Colter asked some pretty tough questions, and I heard the answers much different. I clearly heard Haslam say there's no way Stitt will be evaluated off of one game.

I also am glad he put to rest the rumors that started back in July and August from people "in the know" about a wins total that was given to him by Haslam. Haslam specifically said there was no such thing.

What would you expect him to say in public the week of the most important game of the year? None of what he said has anything to do with a HC decision after the season is over.

So your saying Kent lied to Colter and Gus in the interview? You're saying that when he said "I never told him he had to win X amount of games this year", he was lying to the guys and basically to everyone listening? It can't be one or the other. He said he never said that this year. Many posters this year claimed they had direct knowledge that Kent did give Stitt a win total he had to achieve for the season. In this interview, he actually stated that he did not do that this year. So, if people are claiming that happened, then they are calling Kent a direct liar in this interview.

 

[grizzcabin]

I hate the cats but you guys do realize that Hauck lost 2 of first 3 against the cats so if thats the barometer he should have been gone after 3

 

[garizzalies]

I’m no BH fan but that’s apples to oranges. Those cat teams actually had a real qb and a good one too. I believe they got the auto bid one year, and BH still made the playoffs

 

[cmtgrizzly]

I think Kent did a great job not tipping his hand just as any AD should do in a public interview. I think Colter asked the question a few different ways and did a good job asking a tough question without turning off Haslam by angering him. Overall I think Kent meant what he said about making a decision after the season. That could be because he has a personal policy of not addressing this issue during the season or he is still not sure if he will extend Stitt or not. Possibly he has already made his decision and just said what he said to get by the question without revealing his plan.

I think the Cat game is important and although I am for extending Stitt one more year at this point I do think a loss puts him on the hot seat right at the start of next year and he will need to be rolling from the start of the season and cant have the lapses like we saw with EWU and WSU. I think 4 years is reasonable to expect a coach to have his team and culture in place and it should show some clear significant progress. I think we have seen progress from the end of year 2 through now which is why I would like to see what he can do next year. I do think his recruited talent appears good on paper. Lets see them play next year with him at the helm.

My above post just wondered if there could be a coach anyone could see as a reasonable replacement that would be available that might push Haslam to not renew Stitt rather than miss a chance to hire that coach.

 

[tnt]

Mark Criner and Beau Baldwin might be available after last week LOL They are both taking some heat

 

[Spanky]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

I don’t think you understand the rivalry at all. There isn’t any game as important as the Bobcat game. Did you go to UM?

 

[grizpack]

I’m no BH fan but that’s apples to oranges. Those cat teams actually had a real qb and a good one too. I believe they got the auto bid one year, and BH still made the playoffs

Not disputing that the Cats were much better, but BH also inherited an awfully good roster.

 

[Htowngriz]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

I don’t think you understand the rivalry at all. There isn’t any game as important as the Bobcat game. Did you go to UM?

So you'd rather go 1-10 with a win against the Bobcats than 14-1 with a national title and a loss against the Bobcats?

 

[horribilisfan8184]

Boy do these threads get stupid this week every year.

 

[kemajic]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

I don’t think you understand the rivalry at all. There isn’t any game as important as the Bobcat game. Did you go to UM?

So you'd rather go 1-10 with a win against the Bobcats than 14-1 with a national title and a loss against the Bobcats?

Way too hypothetical. A 14-1 NC Grizzly team does not lose to MSU.

 

[ilovethecats]

I understand the rivalry and hate the kitties as much as anyone. But why is a loss to them the deciding factor in a renewal or not? I can see it being a factor in how long the extension is for. Bobcats are just another usual beat down game. KH should be and is likely looking at the overall health and progress of the program, or lack thereof, in making these decisions. It is the kittens who put everything into this game, probably because they have lost so many! :shock:

I don’t think you understand the rivalry at all. There isn’t any game as important as the Bobcat game. Did you go to UM?

So you'd rather go 1-10 with a win against the Bobcats than 14-1 with a national title and a loss against the Bobcats?

this argument is always so dumb. no offense to you because i'm sure there are actually a few idiots who believe it. but probably about .0001% of the population.

it's like people saying this game is all that matters to cat fans. it's dumb. it's certainly more than another game. it's a huge deal in the state. and for us RIGHT NOW...this game is all that matters. our season is done. and RIGHT NOW, this game should be all you care about too because if you lose your season is done too!

you'd have to be a complete moron to say you'd rather beat the cats or the griz instead of winning the whole damn thing. but you're equally as dumb if you try to pretend this is just another game on the schedule. it's far from it.

 

[kemajic]

I hate the cats but you guys do realize that Hauck lost 2 of first 3 against the cats so if thats the barometer he should have been gone after 3

Played for the NC in his second year. Did Stitt do that?