Babers to go Knight Fast

[jpfalcon09]

Looking ahead, UCF has a road date next year on Sept. 10th at Michigan...

[gspointer]

I recall reports that Kingston was a lock as the new AD there. That didn't happen, We can hope.......

[ZuluWarrior]

I wish Coach Babers well. It no longer pisses me off that in his situation he's saying one thing and not being honest...most likely. I was so mad a Meyer 13 years ago, but numb to it all now. It is bullshit that negotiations take place before season is over, but that's not Babers fault. He's earned the paycheck...although I think he could've taken us to a New Years bowl next year if Matt did come back for a 6th season...and I'm worried we're going to lose some good recruits including the QB from Green Bay.

[BGSU33]

Just saw this posted:

There was a lot of he said / she said earlier today about Dino Babers accepting the head coaching position at UCF. Perhaps the reason is … his buyout at Bowling Green. Per Jordan Strack, Babers’ buyout in his contract drops by $100,000 (from $300k to $200k) on Tuesday (December 1st). Sit tight a couple of days my friends.

[BGSU33]

Brandon Helwig @ UCFSports:

UCF sources totally mum on Dino Babers report. Sensitive situation, considering Bowling Green plays in MAC Championship Game on Friday.

[Flipper]

That seems like a stretch...100k is 100k...but when you're looking at a deal that will probably be in the $8-10 million range, is it really that meaningful? It sounds like they interviewed him on Saturday and most likely made their decision today. Most likely, none of this was supposed to be made official until 12/5....but somebody in FL...for whatever reason ...started talking. I don't think Babers would torpedo his team like that. Interview on an off day? Sure, go ahead. Publicly accept the job before a title game... that's not something that people typically do.

[TG1996]

That seems like a stretch...100k is 100k...but when you're looking at a deal that will probably be in the $8-10 million range, is it really that meaningful? It sounds like they interviewed him on Saturday and most likely made their decision today. Most likely, none of this was supposed to be made official until 12/5....but somebody in FL...for whatever reason ...started talking. I don't think Babers would torpedo his team like that. Interview on an off day? Sure, go ahead. Publicly accept the job before a title game... that's not something that people typically do.

If he did interview on Saturday, and moreso if he accepted Sunday, but they don't do the slap-and-tickle newser in Orlando until after the MACC, I hope Kingston makes damn sure that buyout check is for $300K. That extra $100K could probably go a long way toward getting fancy new hot/cold faucets in the restrooms at DLP.

At least on the west side... men's rooms... odd-numbered sinks.

The reporting on these things are just ridiculous. By and large, the majority of bloggers have absolutely nothing to lose by throwing crap at the wall and seeing what sticks. Babers doesn't go to UCF? A quick "oops" tweet and move along. He does go and it's "we reported first!!!" Sadly, some of that is starting to permeate traditional journalism, for better or for worse.

As I've said in other conversations with some of ya, we aren't too far off from coaches taking new jobs in November, late October... Seems like coaches are announcing plans to leave/retire or get canned earlier in the season. The time from Thanksgiving to Signing Day isn't long enough for a school who needs turned around to wait until mid-to-late December to poach. And while some coaches may respect their current employer to decline a November interview, all it takes is a couple who cash in big by getting a November payday for that house of cards to collapse.

[kdog27]

I agree TG, it won't be long until these are in the works in October.

[gmartin]

Babers tweeted the rumors are untrue. So I expect him to stay. Now if he bolts after the ball game to accept the job then I will never root for a Babers team again. If you're taking the job, even after the bowl game, in the deal is done, don't tweet you're not taking the job and the rumors are untrue. It's already a distraction. I would have so much more respect if he would just tell the truth

[Falcon137]

If he did interview on Saturday, and moreso if he accepted Sunday, but they don't do the slap-and-tickle newser in Orlando until after the MACC, I hope Kingston makes damn sure that buyout check is for $300K. That extra $100K could probably go a long way toward getting fancy new hot/cold faucets in the restrooms at DLP.

What a weird situation this all is. 1st Kingston ( UCF alum) is reported to be the front runner for the UCF AD job...UCF then hires conference rivals AD in Danny White...who in turn hires Kingston's football coach....someone from his end leaks the deal days before Kingston's team is set to play for a conference title.

Oh if the NCAA only had tampering rules.

December 1st or not...I've got a feeling BG is going to be going after every dime of that, $300,000.

[jpfalcon09]

Babers tweeted the rumors are untrue. So I expect him to stay. Now if he bolts after the ball game to accept the job then I will never root for a Babers team again. If you're taking the job, even after the bowl game, in the deal is done, don't tweet you're not taking the job and the rumors are untrue. It's already a distraction. I would have so much more respect if he would just tell the truth

He's not staying, simply damage control. There's a handshake agreement in place that was going to be officially announced after the MACC but someone got wind of it and broke it loose, now Babers has to protect himself from losing his players in a conference championship and from facing ridicule from an AD and alumni base which helped to pay his salary here.

[kdog27]

If BG wins this week I'll be happy with whatever goes down.

[hammb]

Babers tweeted the rumors are untrue. So I expect him to stay. Now if he bolts after the ball game to accept the job then I will never root for a Babers team again. If you're taking the job, even after the bowl game, in the deal is done, don't tweet you're not taking the job and the rumors are untrue. It's already a distraction. I would have so much more respect if he would just tell the truth

Well be prepared to root against him then.

He hasn't lied and he's done nothing but work within the s**t system that the NCAA has created. I cannot fault him, or anyone else, from looking for better job opportunities. Especially when you're talking about raises in the 300-500% range. You'd be insane NOT to look into those options.

His tweet was simple: the rumors that he is their coach are untrue until after the MACC game when it will be true. I'll be upset if, after that tweet, he still is gone before Friday, but I think he will probably stick around.

Now, of course, it's a huge distraction going into that game so I'm not sure what the hell to expect on Friday, but I don't fault Dino here. The system is fucked up...like just about everything else about college football. The sport is a sham. I watch BG, get enjoyment from their good games/seasons, and disappointed by their down games/seasons. There's nothing else to follow. The grand picture of the sport is a steaming cesspool of corruption where the poor get beaten into submission while the rich sell their souls to become more rich. It's the nature of the beast. The only way to avoid it is to not play football at the D1A level.

[Flipper]

Or to put it another way... don't hate the player, hate the game.

So far as the distraction of Dino's next stop on the merry go round being made public.... is it really that much more distracting than five days of speculation about where his next top is going to be? It's out in the open... no need to obfuscate or lie to your team. Tell them they have one game left together and that you'll give them 100% for that game. You start the year wanting a title... that goal is still there.

[Schadenfreude]

If BG wins this week I'll be happy with whatever goes down.

Yes. And this appears to be a depleted Northern Illinois team. I'm not panicking.