In that case I want to be the next president of the university. First official decision: Bring back the Frontier Room.

+1 Hey, we can agree on some things. The change of name from Frontier Room, which tied in nicely with the history of the university, to Front Room was one I was never comfortable with. If you recall in old Baker Center next to the Frontier Room was the Bunch of Grapes Room. As I recall there were small plaques describing why each room bore the name it did. Historical awareness is important in my book.

Let me rephrase: When Saul was hired one of his main things he made sure to glow about in his press conference was (paraphrasing) "Look around at this place. If I can't sell this place, I am not a great salesman. To get kids to go to North Dakota you have to sell them but this place, it sells itself." Apparently he has learned that it doesn't "sell itself" as his recruits show and he must not be able to "sell" it on those living room couches. Everyone on here agrees that we have slipped mostly from a talent perspective and I would go so far as to say we are the least athletic team in the MAC right now. I am certain that Saul enjoys Athens and that he has respect for Ohio University. I was not saying that he doesn't like the college or the town. I, as a person who glows when I tell people I went to OU and who goes back several times a year, just don't see that from him when he talks. He can wear all the green ties he wants and talk about lava cakes all day but in the end, tell me then what you see from him that shows he truly GETS OU? Tell me and then we can talk. Otherwise, some of you need to quit simply saying "you are stupid" or "That's the worst take ever." You're not Jim Rome. Offer some counterpoints or continue calling out to your mom to get you some meatloaf.

How quickly will OHIO have a new coach? It was pointed out elsewhere that Schaus filled both basketball vacancies very quickly, within a week of them opening up. Assuming that Saul is not extended after the MAC Championship, do we have a new coach before the Sweet 16? Does it wait until the Final Four weekend?

What does it mean to GET OU? It would help if you could define that. If that's part of why Saul failed, isn't important to define that so it can be added as a part of the next coaching search?

Je ne sais quoi

The Tao of OHIO/Athens is elusive

I think Charlie Ernst is a lifer at Findlay. He's an alum, has been there a long time since being under Niekamp and just culturally a great fit there.

I don't think it would be anyone's first choice. But if they've decided to de-emphasize athletics in the budget, it's a cost-conscious way to find a steady, unspectacular coach who will stick around for a long time.

Essentially find another Saul Phillips at half the price. I think this administration running OU right now would find that attractive.

That's what we did when we hired Larry from Wittenberg.

Geno should be the guy with Freeman as assistant. I would take my chances given we would have Ohio and Indiana covered.

That said, Jimmy Boy probably aliened both by now so they may not be interested.

For heavens sake, I think I'm gonna pull what hair I have left out of my head the next time I hear someone say Coach Phillips came from a small college. North Dakota State....Div I, from the Summit Conference that some years (not this year) is as good or nearly as good as the MAC. Please quit insinuating or coming right out and saying North Dakota State is a "small college". And he made two NCAA tournaments and won a game.

As for Coach Vanderwal at Marietta....he is an excellent coach and has done a remarkable job of building a Div III powerhouse at Marietta. I have no clue whether he's interested in a Div I job or whether he's been contacted by any Div I programs. But I think he would be worth Div I consideration IF he believes he could make the recruiting transition.

You may have a good point there but the gap between the two leagues isnt dramatic, especially over the past decade.

It is... do the math. If NDSU was OU/MAC level he would have been able to go P5 from NDSU... and the P5's didn't beat his door down or even know he had a door.

We were his P5 launching pad... oops, for us. I wanted him to succeed, coaching searches suck, unfortunately he didn't. Coaching searches after a dud suck even more.

Not excited about the AD and President going forward. I'd appreciate more discussion of this reality here and less of the Saul is great, injuries... crap. He and his agent played to win the MAC (highest salary) and didn't deliver. He gets the money and we move on.

Why is this so hard to move on from?

And the hate to those of us that don't live close enough to be at the games and hob nob with the coaches is ridiculous. You don't get an extra merit badge... you are no more Bobcat than any other grad that might think the basketball program isn't in a good place, considering the monetary investment in the current staff, new president, sort of competent AD and now it's time to find a new guy.

I've been to one game since I graduated and it was at FGCU... down 25 at the half. If you're not athletic enough to hang with a post Dunk City Eagles team... and by hang, I'm mean compete in the ASUN a conference usually in the bottom five of D1 hoops conferences you have a problem.

I'll never criticize a college player, but how many of these guys would be here under previous coaches? Still, I hope they all get their degrees and kick ass beyond basketball.