WVU’s Lyons on coaching rumor

[wbgvwbgv]

It pains me to even address such a “report,” but I shall because of the aforementioned social-media crazed world in which we live.

“I’m not sure where this stuff started,” Lyons told the Gazette-Mail. “No, there’s nothing to it. Nothing.”

There is, however, a reason all of the above started. It’s twisted — as much is on the Internet — but it’s somewhat understandable.

See, Lyons is planning a trip _ scheduled since the end of August _ to Arizona. It’s not to see Rodriguez, though. It’s with associate AD Matt Borman to see one of WVU’s contributors. Lyons wouldn’t reveal the name of the contributor, but it’s not difficult to guess it is Ken Kendrick, the owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and one of the Mountaineers’ finest backers. Lyons did say the trip was in hopes of facilities expansion donations.

But…

“It has nothing even remotely to do with [Rodriguez],” Lyons said.

One can imagine how the rumor was pieced together. Kendrick was a Rodriguez backer back in the day. The flight is scheduled to Arizona, where Rich Rod is the head coach.

In this case, however, it’s coincidence. The trip has been planned since August. Also, Kendrick has been good to WVU in the past. He contributed so a Hot Rod Hundley statue can join that of Jerry West outside the Coliseum. He’s both provided athletic funding and declined to do so in the past. Both will probably happen again.

One, however, needs to put this hot rumor on ice.

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20151026/GZ02/151029586/1419

 

[Buckaineer]

What's this? But the haters and rumor mongers claimed otherwise! Lyons must be lying!

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

That's actually an interesting article because under the guise of "dispelling the rumor," Vingle is actually broadening the exposure to the rumor. Seems more intended to stir the pot and turn up the heat than to cool things down.

It's also hard to miss that the only rumor addressed is the very specific one that he was escorted to see Rodriguez about the job. There is a complete lack of any effort by Lyons to suggest we don't have a coach whose position is very tenuous.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

The adolescent trolls on this board get silly after every loss.

 

[CAJUNEER]

The adolescent trolls on this board get silly after every loss.

The trolls have had a lot of opportunity to get silly lately.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

The trolls have had a lot of opportunity to get silly lately.

And if we had to play 12 Top 15 teams, they could be silly all season long or we could just play Marshall's schedule and they wouldn't have a chance to be silly at all.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

So, you now think we should always be expected to lose to top 15 teams? Would that include teams that are in the top 15 early in the season when they have played no tough games or only teams that finish in the top 15? How many losses to teams outside the top 15 are acceptable in addition to losing those games?

I'm not really bothered about our record against teams that finished seasons ranked in even the top 25. 2011-14, we're 5-9 under Holgorsen in those games. Not great, but not unacceptable. Combine that with a good record against unranked power 5 teams and you have the makings of a solidly above average program, which is all I really expect.

Unfortunately, we are 10-15 in such games. If he was even just 15-10 in such games, he wouldn't be feeling so much heat.

 

[bamaEER]

But, but, but, but Terry Bowden bought a house on Cheat Lake, so he must be coming!

 

[wvpaper]

So, you now think we should always be expected to lose to top 15 teams? Would that include teams that are in the top 15 early in the season when they have played no tough games or only teams that finish in the top 15? How many losses to teams outside the top 15 are acceptable in addition to losing those games?

I'm not really bothered about our record against teams that finished seasons ranked in even the top 25. 2011-14, we're 5-9 under Holgorsen in those games. Not great, but not unacceptable. Combine that with a good record against unranked power 5 teams and you have the makings of a solidly above average program, which is all I really expect.

Unfortunately, we are 10-15 in such games. If he was even just 15-10 in such games, he wouldn't be feeling so much heat.

damn your facts to hell. leave dana alone

 

[Coolridge69Vette]

Lyons secret conversation with himself - "I've got a great idea.....I remember reading that someone started spreading rumors about UFO sightings to cover up the fact that they were really building secret aircraft at a non-existent military base........hmmmmm....deflection and misdirection just might work!" Haha.

 

[pressvirginia]

It pains me to even address such a “report,” but I shall because of the aforementioned social-media crazed world in which we live.

“I’m not sure where this stuff started,” Lyons told the Gazette-Mail. “No, there’s nothing to it. Nothing.”

There is, however, a reason all of the above started. It’s twisted — as much is on the Internet — but it’s somewhat understandable.

See, Lyons is planning a trip _ scheduled since the end of August _ to Arizona. It’s not to see Rodriguez, though. It’s with associate AD Matt Borman to see one of WVU’s contributors. Lyons wouldn’t reveal the name of the contributor, but it’s not difficult to guess it is Ken Kendrick, the owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and one of the Mountaineers’ finest backers. Lyons did say the trip was in hopes of facilities expansion donations.

But…

“It has nothing even remotely to do with [Rodriguez],” Lyons said.

One can imagine how the rumor was pieced together. Kendrick was a Rodriguez backer back in the day. The flight is scheduled to Arizona, where Rich Rod is the head coach.

In this case, however, it’s coincidence. The trip has been planned since August. Also, Kendrick has been good to WVU in the past. He contributed so a Hot Rod Hundley statue can join that of Jerry West outside the Coliseum. He’s both provided athletic funding and declined to do so in the past. Both will probably happen again.

One, however, needs to put this hot rumor on ice.

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20151026/GZ02/151029586/1419

Couple things:

- Season is not over & hirings/firings occur in December. An October meeting - no matter what it's actually for - does not signal the beginning or end of anything at all.

- Naive to think Lyons would say anything other than deflective statements to dance around the topic. He's not going to truthfully tell the Charleston Gazette what he's up to on a private trip in October, nor should he.

- The meeting might not be with Rod or about him entirely in Lyons' eyes, but it's naive to assume Kendrick, a Rod supporter, won't bring up the topic at all. If Lyons is seeking facilities expansion donations, don't you think he's going to want to know who the coach is for the program that's using them? No investor will fork over funds if they don't know exactly who is using them and what for.

- Rod is being linked to every power 5 job opening at this point. No AD is going to publicly show his hand & tip competitors. So no, Lyons' comments do not put anything on ice any more than when coaches say I'll stay as long as they'll have me.

- Lyons is willing to publicly address Rod rumors & a trip to Arizona.

- But he is not publicly endorsing or supporting Holgorsen. Nowhere has he come out and said he supports what's going on now. He could've and he has not.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

RR hasn't been linked to any power 5 job except Arizona and he will be lucky to keep that one. Lyons hasn't publicly endorsed Huggins or Izzo-Brown or Holgorsen - can't draw any conclusions here.

 

[pressvirginia]

RR has been reported and written about as a candidate to take over at South Carolina, USC, Virginia Tech, Miami and West Virginia.

That's just so far for this season. I think Arizona will be lucky to keep him over time.

Whenever there's an opening, his name will come up. I recall he was mentioned for Pitt & L'Ville in years past.

Back further, Alabama offered and a year later, he accepted the Michigan job instead. No secret he's sought after & willing to move around.

As for Lyons, it'd make no sense to be interviewed & questioned like this about coaches who are winning and secured. There's no conflict.

But since football is reeling over three years, people are talking, and he's taking and answering questions about it, maybe he could've said no comment on that right now or we're hoping for a strong finish to this season and we'll be evaluating that state of the program once it is over. He's denying any Rod ties to this somewhat cryptic trip to Ariz, but he's not stating any support for Holgorsen either.

Usually an AD would simply say - if anything - no comment or we'll evaluate the program once the season is finished.

 

[LowFatMilk]

RR hasn't been linked to any power 5 job except Arizona and he will be lucky to keep that one.

...unless you type Rich Rodriguez into any search engine.... ....then you'd see he's, at the very least, a top three target of Miami.

...or should I share some of the 'links' ?

 

[wvpaper]

what is the point of your post on a dead board. no traffic. wasting your time. loser.

 

[dogeered_again]

While visiting a new girlfriend on Lake Lanier this past
Saturday (it didn't work out) I was picking up my puppy's poop and stepped in her puppy's poop. I didn't realize it until I started leaving tracks across the pool deck. I was blamed for stepping in my puppy's poop and she became angry. The fact is I stepped in, not mine, but her puppy's shit. I cleaned it up but it took awhile. I didn't get laid. No trophy either. No Big 12 championship. No exquisite rendition of a maximum orgasmic release of all of this bullshit on what's going on with our team and who has all of the answers. We don't. You don't. Settle down and enjoy the games.

 

[Buckaineer]

RR has been reported and written about as a candidate to take over at South Carolina, USC, Virginia Tech, Miami and West Virginia.

That's just so far for this season. I think Arizona will be lucky to keep him over time.

Whenever there's an opening, his name will come up. I recall he was mentioned for Pitt & L'Ville in years past.

Back further, Alabama offered and a year later, he accepted the Michigan job instead. No secret he's sought after & willing to move around.

As for Lyons, it'd make no sense to be interviewed & questioned like this about coaches who are winning and secured. There's no conflict.

But since football is reeling over three years, people are talking, and he's taking and answering questions about it, maybe he could've said no comment on that right now or we're hoping for a strong finish to this season and we'll be evaluating that state of the program once it is over. He's denying any Rod ties to this somewhat cryptic trip to Ariz, but he's not stating any support for Holgorsen either.

Usually an AD would simply say - if anything - no comment or we'll evaluate the program once the season is finished.

Here is what Lyons has had to say about the coaching situation:
excerpt:
“Any athletic director has to evaluate his program each and every year and see where you are heading. Part of that is fan interest,” he said. “I’d say right now, based on the report of ticket sales, it’s up over the past several years. I would disagree a little with you there.”


Season ticket sales may be up this year, although it’s hard to imagine how with the stars of the team having left after another disappointing season, but then they were down considerably from the glory days.


Lyons argues that it isn’t as bad as it seems, although WVU has really had problems in football since moving to the Big 12.


“We have been competitive. It’s just we haven’t won a few of those games that could have turned a season around,” he said. “Hopefully with a lot of players on defense and the incoming freshmen, it will happen.


“I’m very optimistic with what this team can do and this coaching staff can do to turn this around and get us above the .500 mark and be competitive nationally.”


Certainly it will be important to turn things around.


“I think any program you want to be better than 7-6. I know there are certain years that’s more acceptable,” Lyons said. “You have to do it year to year. You have to look at the bigger picture, who is returning, what are your injuries, what happened that year.


“Yes, it boils down to wins and losses, but it boils down to more than that. It boils down to what the team is doing academically, what it is doing from a character standpoint outside the classroom and playing field. Are they staying out of trouble?


“There’s a whole wide range of things I look at other than wins and losses. Are they improving from year to year? If I see the team going backwards, that’s an issue any athletic director has to look at. You have to evaluate it each and every year. Is the team making improvements?”


Lyons is not one to rush into changing coaches. While many athletic directors are more comfortable with people they have hired, he maintains that is not a priority of his.


“That’s not part of my philosophy. I want to give everybody a fair chance to prove to me they are the right people for the job. That goes not only for coaching, but senior level staff,” he said.


“I don’t look at it and say I’m going to get rid of someone because they are not my person. If they are successful, that’s what I want. Do they fit the culture? Do they fit what I want as an athletic director? If they are fitting that mold, I’m not going to say find another coach or administrator just because I didn’t hire them.”

http://www.theet.com/sports/wvu/a-l...cle_02dcae09-2ca9-522d-94c4-4b0ef02370d0.html

and this from when he started:


Saying his leadership style “is not to come in just to make change,” Shane Lyons anticipates a three- to four-month evaluation period before plotting a course for West Virginia’s football program.

Coach Dana Holgorsen’s job appears safe for now after this season’s 7-6 finish, but West Virginia’s three-year record of 18-20 in the Big 12 era doesn’t mesh with a new athletics director bent on competing for national championships.

“I firmly believe the university has that ability,” Lyons said Monday afternoon. “It has the fan base, it has the support. It’s just a matter of being able to recruit and get the best players there.”


WVU photo

Shane Lyons says he’ll spend 90 to 120 days learning the WVU athletics department before setting priorities.
Lyons prioritized “helping Coach Holgorsen as much as I can” with regard to facilities and recruiting upgrades, a process that begins with 90 to 120 days where Lyons vows “to listen and learn what’s going on.”

Holgorsen’s current contract runs three more seasons through 2017, fueling speculation he might be granted at least a one-year rollover that extends through the four-year recruiting cycle.

For Lyons, who was a graduate student the year West Virginia lost to Notre Dame in the national championship Fiesta Bowl, the ultimate goal is “getting this program back to where we want it to be.”
http://wvmetronews.com/2015/01/05/lyons-vows-to-listen-learn-before-making-football-decisions/
http://wvmetronews.com/2015/01/05/lyons-vows-to-listen-learn-before-making-football-decisions/

Lyons will evaluate the situation as needed, not make knee jerk reactions based on losses to some top ranked undefeated programs.

 

[dogeered_again]

Here is what Lyons has had to say about the coaching situation:
excerpt:
“Any athletic director has to evaluate his program each and every year and see where you are heading. Part of that is fan interest,” he said. “I’d say right now, based on the report of ticket sales, it’s up over the past several years. I would disagree a little with you there.”


Season ticket sales may be up this year, although it’s hard to imagine how with the stars of the team having left after another disappointing season, but then they were down considerably from the glory days.


Lyons argues that it isn’t as bad as it seems, although WVU has really had problems in football since moving to the Big 12.


“We have been competitive. It’s just we haven’t won a few of those games that could have turned a season around,” he said. “Hopefully with a lot of players on defense and the incoming freshmen, it will happen.


“I’m very optimistic with what this team can do and this coaching staff can do to turn this around and get us above the .500 mark and be competitive nationally.”


Certainly it will be important to turn things around.


“I think any program you want to be better than 7-6. I know there are certain years that’s more acceptable,” Lyons said. “You have to do it year to year. You have to look at the bigger picture, who is returning, what are your injuries, what happened that year.


“Yes, it boils down to wins and losses, but it boils down to more than that. It boils down to what the team is doing academically, what it is doing from a character standpoint outside the classroom and playing field. Are they staying out of trouble?


“There’s a whole wide range of things I look at other than wins and losses. Are they improving from year to year? If I see the team going backwards, that’s an issue any athletic director has to look at. You have to evaluate it each and every year. Is the team making improvements?”


Lyons is not one to rush into changing coaches. While many athletic directors are more comfortable with people they have hired, he maintains that is not a priority of his.


“That’s not part of my philosophy. I want to give everybody a fair chance to prove to me they are the right people for the job. That goes not only for coaching, but senior level staff,” he said.


“I don’t look at it and say I’m going to get rid of someone because they are not my person. If they are successful, that’s what I want. Do they fit the culture? Do they fit what I want as an athletic director? If they are fitting that mold, I’m not going to say find another coach or administrator just because I didn’t hire them.”

http://www.theet.com/sports/wvu/a-l...cle_02dcae09-2ca9-522d-94c4-4b0ef02370d0.html

and this from when he started:


Saying his leadership style “is not to come in just to make change,” Shane Lyons anticipates a three- to four-month evaluation period before plotting a course for West Virginia’s football program.

Coach Dana Holgorsen’s job appears safe for now after this season’s 7-6 finish, but West Virginia’s three-year record of 18-20 in the Big 12 era doesn’t mesh with a new athletics director bent on competing for national championships.

“I firmly believe the university has that ability,” Lyons said Monday afternoon. “It has the fan base, it has the support. It’s just a matter of being able to recruit and get the best players there.”


WVU photo

Shane Lyons says he’ll spend 90 to 120 days learning the WVU athletics department before setting priorities.
Lyons prioritized “helping Coach Holgorsen as much as I can” with regard to facilities and recruiting upgrades, a process that begins with 90 to 120 days where Lyons vows “to listen and learn what’s going on.”

Holgorsen’s current contract runs three more seasons through 2017, fueling speculation he might be granted at least a one-year rollover that extends through the four-year recruiting cycle.

For Lyons, who was a graduate student the year West Virginia lost to Notre Dame in the national championship Fiesta Bowl, the ultimate goal is “getting this program back to where we want it to be.”
http://wvmetronews.com/2015/01/05/lyons-vows-to-listen-learn-before-making-football-decisions/

Lyons will evaluate the situation as needed, not make knee jerk reactions based on losses to some top ranked undefeated programs.

Who is this "Lyons" guy anyway? Does he ever come out of his cave/office? He is no Oliver Luck, for sure!

 

[Buckaineer]

Who is this "Lyons" guy anyway? Does he ever come out of his cave/office? He is no Oliver Luck, for sure!

Just a different management style.

 

[pressvirginia]

Here is what Lyons has had to say about the coaching situation:
excerpt:
“Any athletic director has to evaluate his program each and every year and see where you are heading. Part of that is fan interest,” he said. “I’d say right now, based on the report of ticket sales, it’s up over the past several years. I would disagree a little with you there.”


Season ticket sales may be up this year, although it’s hard to imagine how with the stars of the team having left after another disappointing season, but then they were down considerably from the glory days.


Lyons argues that it isn’t as bad as it seems, although WVU has really had problems in football since moving to the Big 12.


“We have been competitive. It’s just we haven’t won a few of those games that could have turned a season around,” he said. “Hopefully with a lot of players on defense and the incoming freshmen, it will happen.


“I’m very optimistic with what this team can do and this coaching staff can do to turn this around and get us above the .500 mark and be competitive nationally.”


Certainly it will be important to turn things around.


“I think any program you want to be better than 7-6. I know there are certain years that’s more acceptable,” Lyons said. “You have to do it year to year. You have to look at the bigger picture, who is returning, what are your injuries, what happened that year.


“Yes, it boils down to wins and losses, but it boils down to more than that. It boils down to what the team is doing academically, what it is doing from a character standpoint outside the classroom and playing field. Are they staying out of trouble?


“There’s a whole wide range of things I look at other than wins and losses. Are they improving from year to year? If I see the team going backwards, that’s an issue any athletic director has to look at. You have to evaluate it each and every year. Is the team making improvements?”


Lyons is not one to rush into changing coaches. While many athletic directors are more comfortable with people they have hired, he maintains that is not a priority of his.


“That’s not part of my philosophy. I want to give everybody a fair chance to prove to me they are the right people for the job. That goes not only for coaching, but senior level staff,” he said.


“I don’t look at it and say I’m going to get rid of someone because they are not my person. If they are successful, that’s what I want. Do they fit the culture? Do they fit what I want as an athletic director? If they are fitting that mold, I’m not going to say find another coach or administrator just because I didn’t hire them.”

http://www.theet.com/sports/wvu/a-l...cle_02dcae09-2ca9-522d-94c4-4b0ef02370d0.html

and this from when he started:


Saying his leadership style “is not to come in just to make change,” Shane Lyons anticipates a three- to four-month evaluation period before plotting a course for West Virginia’s football program.

Coach Dana Holgorsen’s job appears safe for now after this season’s 7-6 finish, but West Virginia’s three-year record of 18-20 in the Big 12 era doesn’t mesh with a new athletics director bent on competing for national championships.

“I firmly believe the university has that ability,” Lyons said Monday afternoon. “It has the fan base, it has the support. It’s just a matter of being able to recruit and get the best players there.”


WVU photo

Shane Lyons says he’ll spend 90 to 120 days learning the WVU athletics department before setting priorities.
Lyons prioritized “helping Coach Holgorsen as much as I can” with regard to facilities and recruiting upgrades, a process that begins with 90 to 120 days where Lyons vows “to listen and learn what’s going on.”

Holgorsen’s current contract runs three more seasons through 2017, fueling speculation he might be granted at least a one-year rollover that extends through the four-year recruiting cycle.

For Lyons, who was a graduate student the year West Virginia lost to Notre Dame in the national championship Fiesta Bowl, the ultimate goal is “getting this program back to where we want it to be.”
http://wvmetronews.com/2015/01/05/lyons-vows-to-listen-learn-before-making-football-decisions/

Lyons will evaluate the situation as needed, not make knee jerk reactions based on losses to some top ranked undefeated programs.

thanks for sharing. that's useful info & I'm not being sarcastic.

So for Lyons, first thing he brings up is fan interest & ticket sales. To be promising in this category, I'd say a very strong November is required.

Is/was optimistic for this season & it does not seem 7-6 will be good enough in his mind. it shouldn't considering body of work since 2012.

In looking at who is returning, as Lyons says, next year will be I think 4/11 on D and 9/11 on O. Non-conf meetings with Missouri and BYU to consider. QB play need be significantly improved and it well could be.

It's just hard to know what he's thinking or how exactly this season will finish. A string of Ws or further Ls will make the decision easy.

As to knee jerk reaction part, I think four years of BXII play is plenty to evaluate, react to and decide upon.

The thing of all this debate over who is the right coach is this: had WVU taken care of the ball & beaten a beatable Okla State team in Morgantown, there'd be immensely less an outcry from fans who are tired of losing trends. a 4-3 October with a shot at finishing strong for November makes a huge difference to a team trying to get off the 7-win plateau.

Okla State should've been the signature win for this season. If I were evaluating performance, I'd look too at who the team beat & consider if that's truly making a statement as to what the program can do & where it's headed.

 

[VaultHunter]

Well you know the saying.... If its in a internet search engine it must be true

 

[MikeRafone]

I lived in Tucson for years, worked in the media there and know a lot of folks at the U of A. If Rodriguez was trying to meet with Kendrick and Lyons the story would be blowing up out there. It's not. Kendrick is based in ASU territory. The ASU beat reporters, many of them homers, would be on it like flies if there was any truth to it.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

RR has been reported and written about as a candidate to take over at South Carolina, USC, Virginia Tech, Miami and West Virginia.

That's just so far for this season. I think Arizona will be lucky to keep him over time.

Whenever there's an opening, his name will come up. I recall he was mentioned for Pitt & L'Ville in years past.

Back further, Alabama offered and a year later, he accepted the Michigan job instead. No secret he's sought after & willing to move around.

As for Lyons, it'd make no sense to be interviewed & questioned like this about coaches who are winning and secured. There's no conflict.

But since football is reeling over three years, people are talking, and he's taking and answering questions about it, maybe he could've said no comment on that right now or we're hoping for a strong finish to this season and we'll be evaluating that state of the program once it is over. He's denying any Rod ties to this somewhat cryptic trip to Ariz, but he's not stating any support for Holgorsen either.

Usually an AD would simply say - if anything - no comment or we'll evaluate the program once the season is finished.

Your definition of "linked" is way different than mine.