🏀 CM Newton on Grant: "leave him alone...he'll get it right."

[TerryP]

"We're all instant gratification, we all want the hurry-up fix," Newton said in a speech to the Birmingham Tip-Off Club today. "If we leave this guy alone, Anthony Grant, leave him alone for a couple years, he'll get it right. He's a damn good coach. He knows what it takes to win. If I were his AD, I would leave him alone simply because I can put my head on my pillow each night and go to sleep knowing he isn't going to cheat and he'll have good discipline in his program."

...

"He will recruit well, and I think he sure as hell can coach," said Newton, a consultant for the SEC and chairman of the NIT. "He has not done a great job of marketing and promoting himself and the program. But that will come. If he wins, it won't matter. It hadn't mattered to (Nick) Saban."

Link to the rest of the article here.

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"He hasn't done a great job of marketing and promoting himself and the program."

Where have you heard that before? :sarca:

As I've stated on a few occasions, that's the biggest thing he's missed—the biggest thing Curry and Murphy have understood. Murphy was building a program; Curry rebuilding.

Think what you like. I'll maintain there's a better than average chance he'd have a lot more support—even with the losses—right now if he'd built a foundation of support instead of trying to brace the program now (with "gimmicks" like free pizza, free shirts, etc.)

 

[TheChief]

I say give him five years. If he hasn't won at least an SEC title, can him.


Oh wait... How long has he been at UA?

Looks like time's up.


Instant gratification? It's been five freakin' years!!!! What is instant about that? How long did Shula coach?

Geesh. Give me a break? I hope no one had to pay to listen to that drivel.

 

[TerryP]

I've got some opinions on the whole situation I'm going to post in the next few days or so...one I'll share now.

I'm with CM when it comes to this point; "he's a good basketball coach." Now, that said, I don't believe he's doing a good job in some areas right now.

I wouldn't be a shock to me, at all, if we fired him and saw him picked up by a top program in the country immediately.

That said, I'm not surprised to see these comments from Newton. After all, he was one of the three most influential factors in Grant's hire: if not the most influential.

In my opinion, his opinion, should be considered. He's earned that right.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Newton is an idiot. He knows as well as I know that if this was football he'd be gone no thoughts about it.

 

[TheChief]

Terry, after seeing the team's performance against Missouri, my opinion has completely changed. This team has the horses to run in the race, and that game proved it. I think Grant, from outward appearances and the way he carries himself, is a good man. He's been put in an awkward situation many times by the players in his program. I don't see how any excuse flies at this point though.

 

[TideAlum05]

How long are we supposed to wait? 1 NCAA Tournament appearance in 5 years. What changes in 2 years time? You think this team is going to be significantly better next year with Releford gone? :rofl:

He brings up cheating, why? Everyone cheats. It's simply about not getting caught. What proves Anthony Grant is a "damn good head coach?" It can't be his resume at Bama.

Define "top program in the country." Because I will guarantee you that my definition and yours are worlds apart. What top program is going to hire a guy who went to 1 NCAA Tournament in 5 years. Hell, his successor at VCU has been considerably better than him too. What "top program" is going to hire a guy coming off a sub .500 season and he can't even field a team full of scholarship player.

Face the music. Anthony Grant has been a dud and nothing CM Newton says can change that.

 

[TheChief]

Well said. That's tough to argue against.

 

[TerryP]

[MENTION=13493]TideAlum05[/MENTION]

Gottfried, who left under worse circumstances than the one Grant is now, was hired by NC State. There's an example of a coach getting fired from Bama and getting a job at one of the top programs in college basketball.

He undoubtedly brought up cheating because he's heard people crying for a guy like Bruce Pearl—a guy caught cheating and then more egregiously lying about it when the facts were before him.

You say everyone cheats? That's your opinion and it's unfounded, baseless, and quite frankly Grant doesn't deserve to be characterized as such.

 

[TerryP]

Terry, after seeing the team's performance against Missouri, my opinion has completely changed. This team has the horses to run in the race, and that game proved it. I think Grant, from outward appearances and the way he carries himself, is a good man. He's been put in an awkward situation many times by the players in his program. I don't see how any excuse flies at this point though.

I believe that is one point to consider; it has its merits. However, it certainly isn't the only problem.

 

[ElephantStomp]

What's funny to me is if this was football there wouldn't be anybody saying he shouldn't be fired.

If one thing about Grant is true it's he can't develop players

 

[TideAlum05]

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Gottfried, who left under worse circumstances than the one Grant is now, was hired by NC State. There's an example of a coach getting fired from Bama and getting a job at one of the top programs in college basketball.

He undoubtedly brought up cheating because he's heard people crying for a guy like Bruce Pearl—a guy caught cheating and then more egregiously lying about it when the facts were before him.

You say everyone cheats? That's your opinion and it's unfounded, baseless, and quite frankly Grant doesn't deserve to be characterized as such.

Gottfried's tenure at Bama was considerably more successful than Grant's and that is not even debatable. Grant has been a flop while Gottfried achieved a decent bit of success at Bama before the wheels fell off. I don't think there's a snowball's chance that an AD will view Grant in the same way that Gottfried was viewed when he was on TV for a year.

I don't have any proof that Anthony Grant has ever cheated at Bama and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't post it on this website. If you think Trevor Lacey received no extra benefits to go to Bama, your head is firmly planted in the sand imo.

If I get my wish and Grant is fired at the end of the year, I'll eat crow if he lands a better job or gets more money out of another school. I think both prospects are extremely unlikely.

 

[TerryP]

[MENTION=13493]TideAlum05[/MENTION]

Read what I said again; "Gottfried, who left under worse circumstances than the one Grant is now, was hired by NC State."

In conference play, Gottfried was 7-9, 5-11, then 2-3 when he was fired. Grant's record has been 9-7, 12-6, and now he's sitting at 5-9.

Gottfried had lost the team, the respect of anyone associated with the team, the respect of anyone in the Athletic Department, the respect and trust from his wife, and us as a fan base. All of that, combined with poor performances on the court, led to him being fired.

Grant's had bad results this season. No doubt. However, his situation is better than what Gottfried was in when he was fired.

When it comes to where he might land if he's fired, again, read what I said. "I won't be shocked if he does." I certainly didn't say he will.

While there are a lot of fans that don't believe he's a good coach, his peers do.

 

[TheChief]

If I were competing with Bama I'd want him to stay as well. I don't really hear too many coaches bad-mouthing other coaches. They know they'll get their own turn soon enough. If Bama wants to be in the field of 65 every now and then, keep him. He's a good man with a clean program. If Bama wants to REALLY compete, he's got to be relieved of his post. It's obvious. He recruits the players. He develops the players. He keeps the players in the program. Game, set, match.

 

[TheChief]

Phil Fulmer used to tell the story about when he was hired at ut. He asked the AD if he would still like him if he began to struggle in the win-loss column. The AD said, "You know we'll always love you, Phil. We'll miss you, but we'll always love you." We love you AG. We'll pull for you wherever you go.

 

[alabama mike]

If one thing about Grant is true it's he can't develop players

Amen!

 

[TheChief]

Amen

 

[bamaraider]

Don't agree at all with Coach Newton. We waited long enough for Grant to do anything without a whole lot of pressure on him to succeed. And even if there was a lot of pressure (mainly in his 3rd year) that's what comes as a HC. Point is, Grant has had time to get his players installed in his system and they've either left or have not been properly developed. Grant needs to go. Sorry coach.

Now we did have the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and one of two teams (Duke) to have played 3 teams inside the top 5, but that doesn't excuse the terrible losses (Auburn, Drexel, USF, South Carolina)

 

[TerryP]

Don't agree at all with Coach Newton. We waited long enough for Grant to do anything without a whole lot of pressure on him to succeed. And even if there was a lot of pressure (mainly in his 3rd year) that's what comes as a HC. Point is, Grant has had time to get his players installed in his system and they've either left or have not been properly developed. Grant needs to go. Sorry coach.

Now we did have the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and one of two teams (Duke) to have played 3 teams inside the top 5, but that doesn't excuse the terrible losses (Auburn, Drexel, USF, South Carolina)

Here's another example of what's left me straddling the fence.

For every example cited as a reason to retain Grant, there's one on the opposite side that says let him go.

There are a few arguments I think are grossly misplaced. One of those being "if this were happening in football, he'd be fired."

Break down what that's saying...and then put it in perspective. Is it true? No.

With Grant playing with nine on scholarship, out of a total of 13 available, he's putting a team on the court with 69% of the available roster.

If we put that in football terms, instead of having 85, we'd be playing with 58. I recall what the fan base acted like when we were slammed with scholly reductions and had more than 58 on scholarship. The two reactions are not the same.

In football, you're carrying four strings on your roster. In basketball, a little over 2.5. You can't just replace depth in one sport as easily as you can another.

I'm not arguing one way or another in terms of whether he keeps his job or not. However, those that argue for him being removed? Keep reasons real and truthful.

 

[TheChief]

Terry, the football scholarships were not self-inflicted wounds. Grant brought this on himself. No one took those players away; they left. What's to stop Grant from giving out four more scholarships? Your argument doesn't hold water. If 25 people quit on Saban, you think he'd still be coaching. Now, that analogy evens out.

 

[TerryP]

Terry, the football scholarships were not self-inflicted wounds. Grant brought this on himself. No one took those players away; they left. What's to stop Grant from giving out four more scholarships? Your argument doesn't hold water. If 25 people quit on Saban, you think he'd still be coaching. Now, that analogy evens out.

How did Grant bring on Pollard's mother kidnapping a kid and throwing her son under the bus? How did Grant bring on the attitude problems with Tony Mitchell?

There were some changes in culture within our program those first few years. You know that. Yet, you seem to think a basketball coach has the ability to just say, "got a position, come play."

Roster management in basketball is a whole different ball of wax than it is in football. One, you're dealing with kids you have on your roster. While you're allowed to have five initials in a year, you're limited to having eight initials over a two year period.

When you start coupling all these things together it paints the scholarships numbers, currently, in a different picture.

2010 we had four sign. Two left. He can't go out and just sign another six because it puts him over the eight limit.

Pollard gets arrested and quits in July. Are you expecting him to be able to just turn around and replace him in a matter of a couple of months?

Touching on your Saban analogy. If he had 25 quit, he'd still have a three deep roster. Football is basically a situation with four deep on scholarship. Basketball it's closer to 2.5. Making a comparison between the two sports...just a bad analogy. WHICH, was the point of my comment.

We can take it a step further. Several weeks ago I posted some stats dealing with the number of players we have coming out of the SEC core states. It accounts for about 15%. Over half of those leave SEC country. So, that leaves a coach required to get out of the SE to recruit.

What attracts a player to Bama?

As I've stated on more than one occasion I don't believe Grant has approached the job the way he should have. I don't think he realized it wasn't a re-building project; but a program that had to be built.

Look no further than how Curry approached her job. Or, Murphy approached his. They both built a foundation of fan support and then reached out to gain student support.

Perhaps Grant should have followed the same recipe Dan Waters used—but that's highly unlikely because you simply don't find quality assistant type coaches in basketball.

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Again, I'm not sure how I feel about giving him another year. I do realize there are a lot of factors involved in where we are and all those can't be placed at Grant's feet.

There's a heck of a lot I want to say, and question, right now. I've not had time to sit down and do it here. It's not something that can be covered in a matter of a few hundred words.

Closing...got to move on to some other things here...I do believe the win we had against Mizzou was a game where the team played the way Grant wants his teams to play. A lot of that was due to having a second shooting option on the perimeter.

I'll get to my diatribe on Grant soon, I promise. When I do, please critique it—