the future

[gridiron]

I'm starting to feel good about the job Bustle is doing this offseason. The confidence he has shown in taking Smith for 2011 has me finding confidence in his ability to turn things around.

[KACajun]

Sun Belt championship or dismissal

[RaisingCajun08]

_ Sun Belt championship or dismissal _

We all know that we have a very tough schedule this year. Given that we go 5-7 or 6-6, how would that image be in regards to Bustle's success as a head coach and were the program is going?

[Turbine]

Prediction: Next year will be Bustle's break out year. 7-8 wins.

The extension was still a mistake though.

[RaisingCajun08]

The extension was still a mistake though. _

So in your opinion, Bustle should have been fired this year?

[Turbine]

_ So in your opinion, Bustle should have been fired this year? _

No, he had a year left on his contract.

[CajunT]

_ Prediction: Next year will be Bustle's break out year. 7-8 wins.

The extension was still a mistake though. _

Turb, given the fact that they didn't want to buy him out this season, the extension was a decent idea. His buy out now is under 6 digits. That is a major bargain for the university considering the cuts coming down from the state. Of the $4.6 Mil mid-year cuts, $600,000 was a hit on athletics. There will be more to come next year, but its on Admin. now.

[RaisingCajun08]

_ No, he had a year left on his contract. _

A university should almost never let a coach go into his last year of a contract. We would not have half of the recruiting class we have now if Bustle's contract was not extended.

[Turbine]

_ Turb, given the fact that they didn't want to buy him out this season, the extension was a decent idea. His buy out now is under 6 digits. That is a major bargain for the university considering the cuts coming down from the state. Of the $4.6 Mil mid-year cuts, $600,000 was a hit on athletics. There will be more to come next year, but its on Admin. now. _

I wasn’t for buying him out so the availability of State funds issue didn’t come into play from my perspective.

I didn't understand the renegotiation from either side, the concession from Bustle showed a lack of self-confidence. It was unnecessary since I think he was going to earn an extension anyway.

[Turbine]

_ A university should almost never let a coach go into his last year of a contract. We would not have half of the recruiting class we have now if Bustle's contract was not extended. _

I have heard that coach speak before and don't think it's worth the wind it is spit into. It is what it is, “coach speak” and it serves the will of the coaches and I don’t blame them for pushing the angle. But in my view it doesn’t hurt recruiting one bit if you have the ear of the recruit.

Robert Lee was able to get Ryan McCoy to sign with him when he had only “2 months” left on his contract and that is in basketball. The argument holds even less water with football.

Before this extension Bustles contract went through June of 2011. No recruit will be afraid of a coach with 18 months left on his contract or 15 months at signing day. I understand a coach using the argument but if you buy it he has successfully recruited you with coach speak.

Let’s say no extension was made and fast forward to a year from now.... EVEN THEN Bustle would have no trouble recruiting with only 6 months or 3 months left on his contract by letting the recruit know he was about to sign a fat new contract. The proof being he wouldn't be there to recruit for some other coach the next season and if there was going to be a change it would have been made at the end of the season.

ps What's done is done and Bustle will win an extension next year which he would have done anyway.

[Parrott]

FWIW: McCoy came to UL largely because Steadman recruited him previously to North Texas.

igeaux.mobi

[Turbine]

_ FWIW: McCoy came to UL largely because Steadman recruited him previously to North Texas.

igeaux.mobi _

I wasn't sure which coach recruited him but they signed him at a time when they themselves had no contract beyond a few months. It simply isn't a deterrent if the coach recruits with confidence.