FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

If ER leaves my personal esteem of him will not change at all. This is an job few people thought would people thought would open up. He should be thanked for his success and wished the best of luck. You can't blame him for making the best decision for his career. That's the perspective of a mid-career adult who has had opportunities to leave a long-time employer and weighed that decision.

Would I think differently if I were 19-22 years old? Yeah, I'm sure some of the players will not see this as something understandable because, how good are 19-22 year olds at projecting 20 years down the road and how they might make career decisions at that time? They're probably not any better at it than we were at that age.

As for BJ's "succession" as it were, I could imagine a scenario where he does not follow ER to UWW and instead has to be a candidate in a national search. How he reacts to that, I won't presume to know.

My personal opinion is we should engage in a national search and, if need be, sacrifice short term certainty to make the best long term hire. But it's not my call.

All of this is moot if UWW hires someone else, obviously. And I think Bullis has more than a fighting chance. If I were handicapping this I would have him as the most likely candidate to be selected (which is different from saying he's the "best candidate").

As for Jake Gilbert, would he apply? Probably. Why wouldn't he? I know, like, and respect Jake but I would have to know the candidate pool he's up against to say what chances he had. If he's up against any of those on BashDad's list? His chances are probably not good.

[wally_wabash]

IF ER does not get selected and he quickly puts the Wabash hat back on.. Is there an impact (positive or negative?)

Goodness I hope not.  I would be fairly quick to call backlash toward Coach Raeburn for pursuing what he believes to be betterment for his career and his family petty- and I would hope that we are above that kind of nonsense.  There is one place where he could go and elicit an et tu Brute from me, but Whitewater isn't that place.  There's not a single one of us who in our 30s and 40s weren't/aren't/won't be actively looking to improve our station in life.  Petty and hypocritical would be the negative backlash if Coach Raeburn takes another position elsewhere. 

Ke-vin! Bul-lis! clap-clap-clapclapclap!!  Honestly, Bullis is the right guy at the right time for that program.  Do it. 

[bashbrother]

For the record,  I injected that specific question as a point of discussion and to generate thought.    I too agree that it would be a joke for anyone to hold any ill-will against ER, or any professional for that matter, who is attempting to advance their career; their trade.   

I have been there and done that a number of times in my own career.   While it is a bit more complicated in the business world,  to have an employer know that you are being recruited by another firm,  only to come back and say,  I didn't get it or chose not to take it...  a few uncomfortable moments.

Lastly,   I actually believe that the scenario (ER returning to Wabash) could turn into a positive..  an opportunity to recommit and rally the program even more.

#Bulliscoachinggenius

[ExTartanPlayer]

For the record,  I injected that specific question as a point of discussion and to generate thought.    I too agree that it would be a joke for anyone to hold any ill-will against ER, or any professional for that matter, who is attempting to advance their career; their trade.   

I know that, and hope that my rant was not construed as "against" your statement.  FWIW, I don't think any of the folks who post here would really begrudge ER looking into this.

Just offering the outsider's perspective at what could happen in other discussion fora with a different audience.

[wally_wabash]

For the record,  I injected that specific question as a point of discussion and to generate thought.    I too agree that it would be a joke for anyone to hold any ill-will against ER, or any professional for that matter, who is attempting to advance their career; their trade.   

I know that, and hope that my rant was not construed as "against" your statement.  FWIW, I don't think any of the folks who post here would really begrudge ER looking into this.

I'll bet you a dollar that somebody will post something inflammatory and embarrassing if Coach Raeburn takes another position.  I wish it wouldn't happen but it will. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

For the record,  I injected that specific question as a point of discussion and to generate thought.    I too agree that it would be a joke for anyone to hold any ill-will against ER, or any professional for that matter, who is attempting to advance their career; their trade.   

I know that, and hope that my rant was not construed as "against" your statement.  FWIW, I don't think any of the folks who post here would really begrudge ER looking into this.

I'll bet you a dollar that somebody will post something inflammatory and embarrassing if Coach Raeburn takes another position.  I wish it wouldn't happen but it will.

I thought it would be fascinating, so I looked back in time to 2007-08, during the last Wabash coaching changeover.  I'll post a few highlights if there are any.  Meanwhile, it is kind of fascinating to see the divergent career paths that the two finalists to replace CC followed.  Everyone knows what happened to ER.  Without looking, can any of y'all name the other candidate and what he's been up to since then?

Edited to add: looks like there were mostly well-wishes for CC as he accepted the Drake job.  And mostly excited praise for the candidates brought in as potential replacements.  Looking at the "who can we hire?" lists was kind of amusing, though.  From Mike Leonard and Mike Sirianni (I think those guys are still doing OK), to Greg Debeljak, to a few high school coaches.  Blair Hammer was actually mentioned at the time, too.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IF ER does not get selected and he quickly puts the Wabash hat back on.. Is there an impact (positive or negative?)

Goodness I hope not.  I would be fairly quick to call backlash toward Coach Raeburn for pursuing what he believes to be betterment for his career and his family petty- and I would hope that we are above that kind of nonsense.  There is one place where he could go and elicit an et tu Brute from me, but Whitewater isn't that place.  There's not a single one of us who in our 30s and 40s weren't/aren't/won't be actively looking to improve our station in life.  Petty and hypocritical would be the negative backlash if Coach Raeburn takes another position elsewhere. 

Ke-vin! Bul-lis! clap-clap-clapclapclap!!  Honestly, Bullis is the right guy at the right time for that program.  Do it.

I would have thought there would be two.  I'm guessing you mean DePauw, but what about Witt?

[wally_wabash]

For the record,  I injected that specific question as a point of discussion and to generate thought.    I too agree that it would be a joke for anyone to hold any ill-will against ER, or any professional for that matter, who is attempting to advance their career; their trade.   

I know that, and hope that my rant was not construed as "against" your statement.  FWIW, I don't think any of the folks who post here would really begrudge ER looking into this.

I'll bet you a dollar that somebody will post something inflammatory and embarrassing if Coach Raeburn takes another position.  I wish it wouldn't happen but it will.

I thought it would be fascinating, so I looked back in time to 2007-08, during the last Wabash coaching changeover.  I'll post a few highlights if there are any.  Meanwhile, it is kind of fascinating to see the divergent career paths that the two finalists to replace CC followed.  Everyone knows what happened to ER?  Without looking, can any of y'all name the other candidate and what he's been up to since then?

I know one other finalist was the then-OC from UWW...Zebrowski was it?  And I think he's a QB coach at UMinnesota now. 

I believe there was another one or two finalists that came to campus, but the scuttlebutt was that it was between Coach Raeburn and the UWW guy. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

For the record,  I injected that specific question as a point of discussion and to generate thought.    I too agree that it would be a joke for anyone to hold any ill-will against ER, or any professional for that matter, who is attempting to advance their career; their trade.   

I know that, and hope that my rant was not construed as "against" your statement.  FWIW, I don't think any of the folks who post here would really begrudge ER looking into this.

I'll bet you a dollar that somebody will post something inflammatory and embarrassing if Coach Raeburn takes another position.  I wish it wouldn't happen but it will.

I thought it would be fascinating, so I looked back in time to 2007-08, during the last Wabash coaching changeover.  I'll post a few highlights if there are any.  Meanwhile, it is kind of fascinating to see the divergent career paths that the two finalists to replace CC followed.  Everyone knows what happened to ER?  Without looking, can any of y'all name the other candidate and what he's been up to since then?

I know one other finalist was the then-OC from UWW...Zebrowski was it?  And I think he's a QB coach at UMinnesota now. 

I believe there was another one or two finalists that came to campus, but the scuttlebutt was that it was between Coach Raeburn and the UWW guy.

If you knew that without looking it up, my hat is off to you.

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jim_zebrowski_759718.html

That's the guy who would have been your coach in an alternate universe.

[sigma one]

Zebrowski was a strong candidate, but not necessarily the next Wabash coach if ER would have refused the job.

[wally_wabash]

IF ER does not get selected and he quickly puts the Wabash hat back on.. Is there an impact (positive or negative?)

Goodness I hope not.  I would be fairly quick to call backlash toward Coach Raeburn for pursuing what he believes to be betterment for his career and his family petty- and I would hope that we are above that kind of nonsense.  There is one place where he could go and elicit an et tu Brute from me, but Whitewater isn't that place.  There's not a single one of us who in our 30s and 40s weren't/aren't/won't be actively looking to improve our station in life.  Petty and hypocritical would be the negative backlash if Coach Raeburn takes another position elsewhere. 

Ke-vin! Bul-lis! clap-clap-clapclapclap!!  Honestly, Bullis is the right guy at the right time for that program.  Do it.

I would have thought there would be two.  I'm guessing you mean DePauw, but what about Witt?

That would sting, too.  But for a guy to coach Wabash to six straight Monon Bell wins and then switch sides?  You can't possibly turn heel in a more gut-punch-brutal way. 

[wally_wabash]

And just for fun because it was seven years ago and I think the statute of limitations is up on people getting mad that their coach was poking around at other jobs (and because I could be completely making this up)...some other names that got bounced around during the last search were Mike Sirianni (W&J), Michael Clark (Bridgewater), Steve Mohr (Trinity at the time...Denison alum, his name seemed to come up for every interesting Midwest job opening during that stretch of time), Greg Debeljak (CWRU).

All, some, or none of that could be true.  I have no idea what these guys make, then or now.   

[Joe Wally]

I have no idea what these guys make, then or now.   

Let's not open that particular can of worms again.

[1837Tigers]

   

I have been there and done that a number of times in my own career.   While it is a bit more complicated in the business world,  to have an employer know that you are being recruited by another firm,  only to come back and say,  I didn't get it or chose not to take it...  a few uncomfortable moments.

Very true, but ER has already been down that road once before when he was among the candidates for the Valpo job and had to pull out.  So you've gotta believe the W administration has strongly suspected this would happen again.

http://thepaper24-7.com/main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=23&ArticleID=23554

[wally_wabash]

   

I have been there and done that a number of times in my own career.   While it is a bit more complicated in the business world,  to have an employer know that you are being recruited by another firm,  only to come back and say,  I didn't get it or chose not to take it...  a few uncomfortable moments.

Very true, but ER has already been down that road once before when he was among the candidates for the Valpo job and had to pull out.  So you've gotta believe the W administration has strongly suspected this would happen again.

I think it's all fine if things are being handled honestly and professionally (and by all accounts they are).  We're kind of getting back to the idea of stepping stones and placing, in my opinion, an unnecessary negative connotation on that idea.  Division III football is not the top of the mountain for most of these guys- especially the really, really good ones.  Guys with 20-30 years of coaching left to do, probably aren't doing it one place.  That's just not how the profession works anymore. 

I hope ER stays forever.  I'm also smart enough to know that that probably isn't happening.  Whether it is next week or in some future offseason, Wabash is going to need a new football coach.  That's ok.