As the Mizzou World Turns

E-mailed 8/18/11

Nothing much new to report out today, just a few links/thoughts from folks around the nation.  As Mizzou grad and ESPNer Pat Forde tweeted, "All coaches named in Yahoo report and now working somewhere other than The U need to have some really good answers for current employers."  With that in mind, here are the links:

(1)  Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Disopatch says the damage has already been done to both Haith and Mizzou.  The important snippets you need to hear from the story:
"So Alden adopted an alternative strategy [rather than focusing on wins and losses], stressing Haith's skills as a recruiter. More than anything Alden portrayed Haith as a beacon of integrity. That was core of MU's hard sales pitch to a skeptical, agitated fan base that had a hostile initial reaction to the hiring. Alden played the Family Values card. "Mentoring and the development of men," said Alden as he listed Haith's attributes on the evening MU announced the hire. "Men. Not basketball players. Men. People that are going to grow as sons, and brothers and perhaps husbands some day. Fathers. Whatever that may be. And to model those behaviors and to do those in a way that are reflective of the culture of the University of Missouri. You will note that when you meet Frank and his family that he certainly represents the highest character and ideals relative to social responsibility and mentorship.""

"When introduced as the new coach by Alden in early April, Haith hardly distanced himself from the character-integrity casting. He fully embraced it. Haith explained his recruiting message on home visits: "First and foremost, I'm here to mold our young people to be great citizens, great men," Haith said in his first Mizzou news conference. "And when their time is up, I've taught them more than how to dribble a basketball. I've taught them life skills."

And perhaps most importantly, the last few lines: "If Haith's integrity isn't anything close to being as pristine as advertised by Alden, and if Haith's recruiting power is compromised by the stench of Shapiro and a looming NCAA investigation, then what does Mizzou have exactly?  Answer: another coaching search."

Bernie brings up a good point I failed to yesterday: recruiting.  Who wants to join a program who might not have a head coach in a few weeks?

(2) So where does all of this leave Mike Alden?  He hired Quinn Snyder over Bill Self and ended up settling on Haith after the Painter dream died.  Gabe DeArmond of insidestl.com says, its not Alden's fault.  If Alden has a fault, he says, its trusting others too much.  As stated in the paragraph's below:

"In 2007, Missouri beat Kansas.  They finished ahead of Kansas in the conference.  Alden felt like that should be enough.  He let his team’s performance do the talking.  Meanwhile, Lew Perkins (wink-wink, nod-nod, nah, he'd never do that, right?) convinced the Orange Bowl he’d bring a billion Kansas fans to SouthBeach.  The Jayhawks played in the Orange Bowl.  The Tigers went to Dallas.

Last year, Missouri batted its eyelashes at the Big Ten.  The Big Ten winked back.  Jim Delaney held Missouri’s hand and whispered sweet things to Alden (it’s kind of a disturbing analogy, but you get my point).  Many around Missouri were convinced they were going to the Big Ten.  They didn’t.  Nebraska did.  Perhaps it should have taught us all a lesson:  What they say doesn’t count.  It only counts when it’s on paper.

This spring, the lesson had to be learned again.  Mike Anderson was talking to Arkansas.  Most in the Natural State insisted he was taking the job.  Those of us close to Missouri did not.  In fact, we insisted on the opposite.  We did it because the people we trust were telling us that Anderson was staying.  They said that because that’s what he said.  And they trusted him.  You know the saying.  Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice…

Now, has Alden been fooled again?  I don’t know.  I want to be clear I have no idea what really happened in Coral Gables or what Haith has told Alden behind closed doors.  But I know that when I read Charles Robinson’s article, it doesn’t appear to have a whole lot of holes."

Whatever happens to Haith, it hasn't been a good summer for Alden.  It sounds like he did his due diligence in checking up on Haith but the bottom line is he's the decider and in this case he decided wrong.

(3) Who are the real victims in all of this?  Clearly the Mizzou players writes Sam Mellinger of the KC Star.

Which brings us to our final point of the day: Its not how all of this ends, but when.  An investigation could take months if not a year all the while our players, and fan base, twists in the wind.  It's a difficult time to be in Mizzou athletic department.  There is already enough that's been done to warrant voiding Haith's contract.  Decisions need to be made. I feel sorry for the decider.