Brief Final Thoughts On The Yow Hire

by Akula Wolf on Jun 28, 2010 2:43 PM EDT

Not having followed Maryland's athletics department on a daily basis over the last fifteen years, I readily admit that I am having a hard time forming a concrete opinion about this hire one way or the other. I've tried to take everything in with an open mind since Yow became official on Friday.

The knee-jerk reactions struck me as hasty last week and still do today, but I understand how perception--unfair or not, that the majority of Maryland fans aren't real upset right now--might drive a negative response. I think this hire deserves the benefit of the doubt, though.

What seems clear is that Yow is active, assertive, and forceful, perhaps to the point of micromanagement. That's worrisome, but it's a long-term consideration that I don't think matters right now. The last thing this department, disheveled as it is, needs is someone who pussyfoots around, overly concerned with stepping on toes. So I give Billy Randy credit for hiring an AD who has a long history of doing nothing of the sort. I think a little ass kicking will do us good, and if it rubs some folks the wrong way, I can live with that. I guess my main thing is: let's get our stuff together in whatever way it takes and worry about interpersonal consequences (which I don't think are a given, by any means) later.

One other note: here's a look at Maryland's finish in the Directors' Cup since 1994:

(Yr 1 = 1993-94, the year prior to Yow's arrival at Maryland. Yr 17 = current 2010 standing.)

Poll

How do you feel about NC State's decision to hire Debbie Yow?

Yay

77 votes

Nay

2 votes

Meh

19 votes

Not happy but taking a wait-and-see approach.

17 votes

115 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

keep the department in the black, put pressure on coaches to win.

i will write again, that the reason Fowler stayed around as long as he did is that he kept the department in the black.
i live in northern Virginia and cannot believe that Yow has been Maryland’s AD for as long as she has. if one would have asked me before her hire, i would have guessed less than 10 years. i do remember her riff with Williams and that it didn’t seem to be a good idea. however, the fan base was putting pressure on Williams also. got to keep winning those championships.
on a side note, i see that ACCNow has picked State to finish behind Maryland in basketball. i cannot at this time see that. the only reason Maryland won as many games as they did the last few years was the play of Vasquez. he is the only reason Maryland kept beating State. no matter how well State played, when it came toward the end of the game, Vasquez was going to make the baskets to win! i don’t see a player like that on their current roster.

by sbas2 on Jun 28, 2010 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

the following is taken from Tudor's take in ACCNow:

“Yow, in February of last year, made the decision to hire offensive coordinator James Franklin as head coach upon the resignation or retirement of Ralph Friedgen.

Franklin, 38, got a big pay raise and the guarantee of a million dollar parachute should someone else follow Friegden.

That outcome now seems likely."

this may be Yow’s biggest mistake at Maryland.

by sbas2 on Jun 28, 2010 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

but we wouldn't necessarily know that until he became head coach

…if he ever does now.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Jun 28, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

and that is the point.

if i am correct Tudor is writing that Franklin is not going to become head coach due to a change in AD’s; thus Yow wasted a million dollars. right?

by sbas2 on Jun 29, 2010 7:51 AM EDT reply actions

I am very much against the

coach in waiting designation for this very reason. If the head coach starts having lousy results, why would you want one of his assistants to take over? I can only see it being somewhat useful in the cases of having a living legend (bowden, joa pa) coaching and not wanting to lose the top assistant (who at this point is probably running things more so than the head coach).

On the Gary Williams situation, I think it is asinine that anyone would want him fired, but I do think Yow needed to put the pressure on him as it did appear he was just coasting.

by PACKHOOLIGAN on Jun 29, 2010 9:06 AM EDT reply actions