Parrish: UT focusing on Mike White for HC vacancy

[T1]

I hope this is the way we play it, but this is not totally accurate. While he did "turn down millions" there was not much difference in what Tennessee was willing to guarantee and what he just received in his new Tech contract. Also, he KNOWS that the odds are that a better gig than Tenn will be there next year.

Nothing's guaranteed. If we go 15-15 next year no one will want him. It's unlikely, but you never know.

[Woof!]

The great story here is that Mike White didn't take the money and run like SD and Dooley did, but, you won't read that in the Shreveport Times. This is a real rare thing in college sports to find someone that shows this kind of integrity.

The problem with that story is what happens if he then bolts after next season? I don't think this has anything to do with Mike's integrity. He was courted, he listened, he deliberated and after deciding it wasn't the best fit, he stayed for at least one more year.

I agree with theprofessor.

When White leaves, there is little doubt that the person replacing him will take the money that Tech offers and run from his present team (unless Tech promotes from within). Does that mean that any new Tech coach hired from the outside lacks integrity?

[Tech77]

Nothing's guaranteed. If we go 15-15 next year no one will want him. It's unlikely, but you never know.

You can get miles of people lined up to bet with you if you want to take 15-15.

[PawDawg]

Nothing's guaranteed. If we go 15-15 next year no one will want him. It's unlikely, but you never know.

I'm thinking White's world. You are thinking Holtz' world.:icon_wink:

It's guaranteed.

[T1]

I'm thinking White's world. You are thinking Holtz' world.:icon_wink:

It's guaranteed.

He's banking on it.

[Cool Hand Clyde]

I'm thinking White's world. You are thinking Holtz' world.:icon_wink:

It's guaranteed.

You are the Roy Lang of hating HCSH.

[PawDawg]

He's banking on it.

He is banking on $3.6M over 6 years, plus incentives, with a great team returning, another re-negotiation next year, and likely more and better offers next year.

vs.

$3.3 for less than 3 years at a program with many unknowns and VERY high expectations. If not successful he has to start over well below where he is now.

Not much of a gamble IMO.

[Dwayne From Minden]

He was playing with house money - already turned down USF and Wake and wouldn't speak with Tulsa even though they asked 3 times

If UT offers him what they offered Tyndall, he goes...

If they approach Tyndall with what they offered White, I still think Tyndall goes - two different personalities, two different backgrounds - Tyndall needs to send White a nice tie or something because he padded his hip pocket

Mike White is a good basketball coach but he is also a VERY smart cookie and has the best advice for free than most pay handsomely for

[theprofessor]

I guess we know where you stand now. You should apply for a job with the Shreveport Times. Lang will love you. He won't even have to edit your articles.

No, what you're asking someone -- Roy, Jimmy, Sean, myself and others -- to do is stake their reputation and their integrity on someone else's integrity. That's a slippery slope, if you turn out to be wrong and he bolts next year for a better job. Maybe Jimmy knows Mike personally and feels comfortable taking that stand. I know there are certain coaches that I know well enough to take that stand. There are others that I don't. I don't cover the Tech beat, and I've never interacted with Mike on a professional level. I'm simply a fan and an observer from afar. I don't know him well enough to stake my reputation on him.

With that said, I have a lot of respect for Mike and the job he's done here. However, if this were simply an issue of integrity, I think we'd have seen Mike come out publicly and make a statement about how he recently signed a contract extension and wasn't listening to other offers. The simple fact is he did listen. This deal almost​ got done. I know you may not want to hear that, but it's the truth. It has nothing to do with integrity.

[inudesu]

Isabella tweeted that Tech isn't expected to make any public comments regarding CMW or UT.

When I see MW, I think "Mountain West" because that's the abbreviation for... the Mountain West!

So you wouldn't have been looking for any Tech comments about the Mountain West Conference if he had left the C off?

I suppose that is also true in this case. At least, I haven't heard of Tech releasing any comments about the Mountain West lately.

[Dawg06]

Jimmy Watson ‏@JimmyWatson6 Apr 19
Mike White has too much integrity to take the Tennessee job.
Jimmy Watson ‏@JimmyWatson6 12h
Shocker: Mike White staying at La. Tech. I said Saturday he had too much class to leave at this point ... especially for Tennessee.



Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 19
Important to remember White has been mentioned as possib. candidate for Auburn, USF, Tulsa, Wake Forest and now Tenn. & Mizzou. Nothing new
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 19
Since Mike White rumors began after NIT, people I spoke with said he isn't huge money guy. Tripling his salary could easily change that tho
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 19
As I've always said, I still think White waits until after 2015 season (likely NCAA tourney berth) then leaves. Stock will be even higher.
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 19
If White ends up at Tennessee, it's b/c he was truly sold on program. Has a good thing going at La. Tech and family is comfortable in Ruston
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 20
RE: Mike White. Reached out to La. Tech AD Tommy McClelland this morning. Didn't say much: "I can't comment on another school's search."
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 20
White and McClelland have a ton of respect for each other and have a self-described great working relationship. Imagine they've discussed UT
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 20
ESPN reporting Mike White is mulling whether to go to Tennessee. I can see how he's genuinely torn - happy at La. Tech and has talent in '15
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 20
For those wondering, Mike White returns 4 starters and solid recruiting class at La. Tech. He'll have to weigh pros and cons of leaving
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS Apr 20
Was able to talk to someone at La. Tech over weekend and they mentioned how excited White had been for 2015. Team is primed for NCAA tourney
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS 21h
As has been somewhat expected since late last night, it appears Mike White will stay at La Tech. Still no confirmation from anyone at LT tho
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS 19h
Can confirm national reports that Mike White isn't going anywhere. He'll be back at Louisiana Tech. Bulldog fans can party in Ruston tonight
Sean Isabella ‏@ST_IsabellaTNS 18h
I'm guessing a lot of people will bash Mike White for passing on Tennessee. I'm also guessing those people don't know anything about him



Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 19
The minute Cuonzo Martin said goodbye to Rocky Top, Michael White's name was in the mix ... as @DaveFoster17 said on Monday #DooleyFactor
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 19
he wasnt leaving tech to go to USF, Tulsa, that's for sure ... and Auburn got Bruce Pearl ... this is different
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 19
Would certainly love to be a fly on the wall in a conversation between Michael White and Tyler Summitt.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 19
Let's say Tech makes the NCAA tourney next year (certainly a HUGE question mark). Would White get a job better than Tennessee or Mizzou?
Brady Renard @BradyRenard · Apr 19
@RoyLangIII is there many available better than those? Besides this new Tennessee team.. That's usually a top 25 gig
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 19
exactly ... can't imagine much better next step from Tech.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 19
Hey @DaveFoster17 ... where behind UK and UF hoops jobs would you rank UT in the SEC?
Dave Foster @DaveFoster17 · Apr 19
@RoyLangIII I think they're somewhere between 3rd and 5th. I could see arguments for Missouri And Arkansas ahead of #Vols
Dave Foster @DaveFoster17 · Apr 19
@RoyLangIII BUT Tn has one thing that nearly no other team in SEC besides UK. fans wiling to attend. Been in Top 15 national for decades
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
cant get much better than last yr. Ncaa is a total crapshoot. Could go to a Sweet 16 program where reg season actually matters.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
of course this is all total speculation. No guaratee Tenn makes an offer. And im sure white's seniors do hold special place
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
im shocked people believe it's a given he's mulling over anything.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
I mean he's already stated publicly he's not interested in taking any other job, right?
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
yea I would hope he thinks about things and negotiates. He's a smart guy. Have no doubt he knows exactly what he's doing.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
I wouldnt think Tenn losing 3 players would have anything to do with a decision to go there. He wouldnt take the next step with 1 yr in mind
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
the fact he's talking to tenn is significant considering he hadnt talked to any other school (according to AD)
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
Saban on xmas eve (or day?) is still best "in going nowhere" gag
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
My fave part of the ESPN report on White is that he's "mulling" a decision to go to Tennessee, but it's not a given he'll go ... #NoKidding
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
Louisiana Tech head coach Michael White's name is red hot on Rocky Top. Tennessee looking for a "winner," "good fit" http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140420/SPORTS0203/304200035/Tennessee-wants-winner-Michael-White-s-name-rumored …<<<<<only article he wrote about Tech basketball all season.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
After nearly $12 million, I'd say pretty well RT @ClayParker23: @RoyLangIII ask Derek Dooley how that went!
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
@b_hoss_mac your source is obviously not friends with @withrowzone's.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
certainly would be interesting if he was actually offered the job and turned it down. I'd find that stunning.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
ahh well that is a totally different situation then. No way he turns down 1.3 million at UT. No. Way.
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
you think he could make $2.6 after next year coming from Tech?
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
im confused. are you saying he was offered the job and said no?
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
if Tech makes a run to the Sweet 16?
Roy Lang III @RoyLangIII · Apr 20
I definitely dont see, if true, how this falls under "see he wanted to be at Tech the whole time"

Silence... Not a peep from Roy Lang since CBS, ESPN, and everybody else reported that Coach White rejected Tennessee. Nothing...



Isabella and Watson view Tech a lot differently from Roy Lang.

[SWarner63]

Isabella and Watson view Tech a lot differently from Roy Lang.

That's because Roy Lang is as cynical as the day is long and OBVIOUSLY knows more than us average sports fan about how any and every situation will play out involving coaches, players, etc. That's why he's a sports journalist! DUH! He's so much more INFORMED than US!! Guy's a borderline Beautiful Mind in sports!

[Dawg06]

So you wouldn't have been looking for any Tech comments about the Mountain West Conference if he had left the C off?

I suppose that is also true in this case. At least, I haven't heard of Tech releasing any comments about the Mountain West lately.

Not exactly. I don't like either abbreviation.

When I see MW, I initially think Mountain West because that's the official abbreviation that they use and I use on here. If you ever see me type MW, I'm talking about the Mountain West. If someone types MW to mean Mike White, then it takes a second to take in the context clues to understand what MW means because it's rarely used to represent that. The same goes for CMW. I don't think I've ever seen that typed on here for Coach White until this week. I had to use context clues to figure it out. I think it's much easier to type Mike or White than MW or CMW. It's not a big deal to me though.

[DONW]

No, what you're asking someone -- Roy, Jimmy, Sean, myself and others -- to do is stake their reputation and their integrity on someone else's integrity. That's a slippery slope, if you turn out to be wrong and he bolts next year for a better job. Maybe Jimmy knows Mike personally and feels comfortable taking that stand. I know there are certain coaches that I know well enough to take that stand. There are others that I don't. I don't cover the Tech beat, and I've never interacted with Mike on a professional level. I'm simply a fan and an observer from afar. I don't know him well enough to stake my reputation on him.

With that said, I have a lot of respect for Mike and the job he's done here. However, if this were simply an issue of integrity, I think we'd have seen Mike come out publicly and make a statement about how he recently signed a contract extension and wasn't listening to other offers. The simple fact is he did listen. This deal almost​ got done. I know you may not want to hear that, but it's the truth. It has nothing to do with integrity.

You have no idea what went on between Mike White and Tennessee. You weren't there and you weren't listening to the phone conversation, so, quit making stuff up.

[SpaceDawg]

With that said, I have a lot of respect for Mike and the job he's done here. However, if this were simply an issue of integrity, I think we'd have seen Mike come out publicly and make a statement about how he recently signed a contract extension and wasn't listening to other offers. The simple fact is he did listen. This deal almost​ got done. I know you may not want to hear that, but it's the truth. It has nothing to do with integrity.

This probably sums up my feelings nicely. If he truly wasn't interested in other offers, then he should have politely declined early in the process mentioning the new contract, etc.

I worry now about the 2015 recruits. How can MW sell himself and Tech when those recruits and their families see what happened over the weekend. IMO, that's one reason why there needs to be a public statement -- to be a bit reassuring towards those HS juniors who are watching this.