FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

For most of the time I lived in Terre Haute...'71 to '83,  Indiana State had a fine baseball program.  It somewhat fell off the map, only to put a great season together last year.   So good that their head coach got hired by the University of Washington in Seattle and left ISU on 7/29/2009. (about two weeks ago)

It would be a big step up from a career standpoint for him, if it is the case.

I am still thinking there is more though.  But who knows.

[D3_DPUFan]

The lack of an explanation as to what's going on only fuels speculation. Somebody needs to clear the air. I, too, think there's more here than simply another job. As to what should be in focus with camp less than a week out, I think Robby Long is going to be terrific .  

[wab64]

I don't blame him if this is the course of action he chose to take in accepting another job.  I'd hightail it on out of town and not tell anybody because I know they'd feel jilted by a guy with all the credentials you mentioned.  You better get the hell out of town in a hurry if you're an alum and you bone your school by leaving with 8 days before camp. 

Here's the thing:  When you coach two sports, the hiring season is always going to screw your school.  If you take another job, you're going to screw your program in one of the two sports.  I'm sure DePauw only allowed him to take on the HFC position originally because they thought they had the next Coach Nick on their hands.  This guy was going to be there for 30 years and have the stadium named after him when he was done. 

All that said, I'm getting the feeling after this first business day since the resignation that there is more here than just he accepted his new job and quit.  Still something else here.  I've been told by several folks that he did indeed take the new job. You would imagine that it took him longer than the weekend to complete the entire hiring process.  I hate to speculate, but I'm guessing the school was none to pleased about his intentions.

Wes- I can't think of a better way to figure out this interesting situation than follow your investigating skill. your insight into what makes DPU tick, and your sense of smell for the least whiff of fish. I shall be glued to the screen.

[BashBacker#16]

The whole thing just doesn't add up.  Dream job, successful, stand up guy, good family, stud senior QB returning, pre-season rankings, etc.  It just makes no sense at all.  Typically when a coach leaves for a better opportunity, it's revealed as to the reason for the resignation...  In this case, not a word.  I have heard the Indiana State rumors as well but it just does not make sense.  I still think more stuff will surface to shed more light on the situation and what happened.

If he did take another job and it was handled this way, I don't think it looks good to the University, to Matt, nor to the players that were in the program.  If ISU didn't want it announced yet, why not wait a few days until it could be announced.  Why the surprise to the staff, to the current players, etc.?

Very interesting stuff...

Speculation is going crazy and that is because of the hush-hush way it all went down.

[D3_DPUFan]

The whole thing just doesn't add up.  Dream job, successful, stand up guy, good family, stud senior QB returning, pre-season rankings, etc.  It just makes no sense at all.  Typically when a coach leaves for a better opportunity, it's revealed as to the reason for the resignation...  In this case, not a word.  I have heard the Indiana State rumors as well but it just does not make sense.  I still think more stuff will surface to shed more light on the situation and what happened.

If he did take another job and it was handled this way, I don't think it looks good to the University, to Matt, nor to the players that were in the program.  If ISU didn't want it announced yet, why not wait a few days until it could be announced.  Why the surprise to the staff, to the current players, etc.?

Very interesting stuff...Speculation is going crazy and that is because of the hush-hush way it all went down.

All valid points...gotta believe that somebody is going to say something very soon to clear the air. Really needs to be done for all parties concerened, IMHO.

[DPU3619]

For most of the time I lived in Terre Haute...'71 to '83,  Indiana State had a fine baseball program.  It somewhat fell off the map, only to put a great season together last year.   So good that their head coach got hired by the University of Washington in Seattle and left ISU on 7/29/2009. (about two weeks ago)

This is thing for me - if you're a D1 baseball program that's trying to get back to where you were a few years ago as the powerhouse of the MVC and a darn fine mid-major baseball program with all these nice new facilities, why do you go hire a D3 guy only 10 days after your current coach took off for the Pac-10?  Yes, Walk did his grad work at ISU, and yes, he was incredibly successful at DePauw in a conference full of guys who started playing 3 months before he did every season, but you're telling me that there isn't a more qualified coach who would want that position?

[wabashcpa]

If he did take another job and it was handled this way, I don't think it looks good to the University, to Matt, nor to the players that were in the program.  If ISU didn't want it announced yet, why not wait a few days until it could be announced.  Why the surprise to the staff, to the current players, etc.?

Very interesting stuff...

Speculation is going crazy and that is because of the hush-hush way it all went down.

I was thinking this very thing today - why the rush to get the press release out, eradicate all things Walker from the school site, etc.?  What difference is a few days at this point?  Everyone could have timed their announcements to eliminate all needless speculation.  Even if they're upset at Walker, I think he's done enough for that school to warrant a more respectful treatment.  It just looks petty at this point.  If it turns out to be the ISU baseball job, it's certainly an upward move, and surely something that needed to be acted upon quickly, since it just opened up at the end of July.  Heck, if anything, the opportunity for one of their alumni to have this opportunity should be celebrated, not swept under the rug.  Plus, it could be argued DePauw set themselves up for this by allowing him to coach two sports, which he did rather well.

[bashbrother]

Exactly Wes.   I am sure Walker is a good baseball coach, but as the ISU press release said on 07/29/2009, "We will be conducting a National search for the next head coach"   a two week search isn't really a thorough search.   Now if Augie Garrido decided to leave Texas, I could see them scooping him up in less than two weeks.

It could simply be more from the rumor mill because of the timing of Meggs leaving the Sycamores.

I hope some answers come out soon, this is distracting me from the National Health Care Reform debate.  

[Li'l Giant]

why the rush to get the press release out, eradicate all things Walker from the school site, etc.? 

Not to make light of this situation at all but it reminded me of how Stalin would not just kill someone but then have them airbrushed out of photos and edited out of documents as though they didn't exist.

The whole thing does seem odd and until there is some sort of statement to quash the speculation we'll have some more board fodder.

Now if Augie Garrido decided to leave Texas

Don't even joke about that. 

[D3_DPUFan]

This is thing for me - if you're a D1 baseball program that's trying to get back to where you were a few years ago as the powerhouse of the MVC and a darn fine mid-major baseball program with all these nice new facilities, why do you go hire a D3 guy only 10 days after your current coach took off for the Pac-10?  Yes, Walk did his grad work at ISU, and yes, he was incredibly successful at DePauw in a conference full of guys who started playing 3 months before he did every season, but you're telling me that there isn't a more qualified coach who would want that position?

If memory serves, Meggs was a finalist for another job on the west coast BEFORE this season began, so perhaps ISU has been quietly "looking" for several months as his leaving the program was expected sooner or later. When he got the job the runnerup was a former Sycamore player who has been the head coach at Lincoln Trail JC for 8 or 9 years. I would think ISU is looking for a young, energetic guy who can not only coach, but recruit like hell and sell Sycamore baseball.  I could very easily see Matt in that role. As for all of the secrecy and everything else...that's a completely different story.

[aueagle]

Ohio Wesleyan led the conference in pass defense last fall
and aims to build upon that success to improve upon its 2008
performance. Senior free safety Rylan Mitter-Burke is a returning
first team All-NCAC performer. An experienced line bolsters
the OWU offense. Sophomore Keegan Varner takes over at
quarterback after starting a few games last season.

This is what was in the NCAC Media Guide on OWU....Looks like QB Fisher didn't pass the medical...too bad, he was (is) an outstanding athlete. When you're picked at the bottom half, you don't get much print

[bashbrother]

I just read that the most recent ISU baseball squad, close to making the postseason is losing 12 seniors??? That's a bunch???   So who knows, maybe it is time for a young, players coach to be brought in.

Now back to your regularly scheduled NCAC Action

[DPU3619]

I was thinking this very thing today - why the rush to get the press release out, eradicate all things Walker from the school site, etc.?  What difference is a few days at this point?  Everyone could have timed their announcements to eliminate all needless speculation.  Even if they're upset at Walker, I think he's done enough for that school to warrant a more respectful treatment.  It just looks petty at this point. 

This whole thing has a definite feel of a Bottoms/Lincoln/Abraham type thing, doesn't it?  Except nobody has started feeding a bunch of lies to everybody who will listen.  Feels a lot like the shady business around the Rogers firing.  Maybe it wasn't just that old administration.  If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

[bashbrother]

Not to fan the speculation flame, but... and it's a big butt, if there is some sort of contract battle going on, both parties may feel it is in their best interest or have been told to stay quiet.  

[wabco]

As I memtioned earlier today ... a pattern is emerging here.  Last two coaches ... quick unanounced departures ... a lawsuit ... 5 head coaches in 7 years.  The dark side of DePauw administration runs through it.  A disservice to the student athlete.

If Walker bailed at the last moment with no notice or care for the students who he recruited for two sports ... that is a sad testimonial ... and might make one think before trusting him again. Everything I have read about him says that is not his way of working.  But ... as far as abruptly not being there with the University brushing him out and taring with its silence ... no one is benefitted and the student athletes are the scattered and last to be thought of pawns, to be rallied one more time over the trenches by those left behind.  (Note:  apparently wherever Mr. Walker is now ... it does not need supporting staff.)

While I expect no better from DePauw administration leadership, I do expect better from Walker.  Unless .......