FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Old Gold Tiger]

Monday at 4:00.

[sigma one]

Not all that surprising the Friday before Easter.  A number of important factors (or one big factor) could apply:  committee in longer discussion than originally planned, football team members scattered for the weekend so that the team cannot as a whole be brought together in advance of an announcement, president out of touch at the moment, candidate negotiations (on conditions and salary) not wrapped up, even a candidate who, when offered the job backed out, so the committee had to get back together, etc.  (I'm sure there are other possibilities.)
     With the interviews ending yesterday, I thought it was quick to be announcing today anyway.  Good Friday presents plenty of difficulties. 

On another note, when Carlson left Wabash, there was consternation; when Creighton left, there was anxiety.  If Raeburn chooses to leave, there will be concern.  From my side of it, the program is strong enough to survive the loss of a very fine coach.  There will be plenty of options, and it will be interesting to see which among them Wabash will pursue if the administration has to act to continue recruiting momentum and keep the team moving forward without undue uncertainty during spring practice and the final month of the spring semester.  WAF

[Li'l Giant]

It's official now. Raeburn to Savannah State and Don Morel is the new HC.

[Joe Wally]

No disrespect intended to Coach Morel, but this stinks!

[Li'l Giant]

I will be forever grateful to Coach Raeburn for the years he spent here. There is little doubt in my mind he leaves the program in better shape than when he arrived.

Thanks for everything, Coach and good luck in FCS!

No disrespect intended to Coach Morel, but this stinks!

The timing stinks more than anything. If Savannah State's HC had bailed in December is there any doubt BJ Hammer is coaching Wabash next year instead of at Gheny?

[Dr. Acula]

Good luck to ER on his new adventure.  There are far worse places to live than Savannah, that's for certain.

[cave2bens]

Agree with Little Giant here - Raeburn continued to build on what was a strong program under CC and while there could be a temporary hiccough or two, Wabash will continue to "Always Fight."  While conjecture and "what ifs" are major post contributions on these boards, timing and opportunity seldom coincide with individual needs, values, and motivations unless one controls all of them.  Being located in Georgia and familiarity with both Savannah's campus and some SSU alums as friends, I wish the Raeburns' good luck with their decision and strength to conquer challenges ahead.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

So does the staff otherwise stay the same except finding an O-coordinator, or does Morel change the staff at all. I do not  see that happening this year.

[wally_wabash]

So does the staff otherwise stay the same except finding an O-coordinator, or does Morel change the staff at all. I do not  see that happening this year.

Pump the brakes.  Don Morel has been the HC for, like, an hour. 

The team went to the national quarterfinals about 15 weeks ago.  That's not exactly a clean-the-house situation. 

[Breckenridgebear]

 

It's official now. Raeburn to Savannah State and Don Morel is the new HC.

Uh-oh.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

So does the staff otherwise stay the same except finding an O-coordinator, or does Morel change the staff at all. I do not  see that happening this year.

Pump the brakes.  Don Morel has been the HC for, like, an hour. 

The team went to the national quarterfinals about 15 weeks ago.  That's not exactly a clean-the-house situation. 

Just up for discussion. I did not say it was a clean the house situation. Just asking if anyone thinks he will make my changes.
Also will Raeburn take anyone with him?

[Dr. Acula]

So does the staff otherwise stay the same except finding an O-coordinator, or does Morel change the staff at all. I do not  see that happening this year.

Pump the brakes.  Don Morel has been the HC for, like, an hour. 

The team went to the national quarterfinals about 15 weeks ago.  That's not exactly a clean-the-house situation.

Not cleaning house, but ER certainly could be taking guys with him.  So turnover is certainly possible, if not probable, with assistants too.

[wally_wabash]

So does the staff otherwise stay the same except finding an O-coordinator, or does Morel change the staff at all. I do not  see that happening this year.

Pump the brakes.  Don Morel has been the HC for, like, an hour. 

The team went to the national quarterfinals about 15 weeks ago.  That's not exactly a clean-the-house situation. 

Just up for discussion. I did not say it was a clean the house situation. Just asking if anyone thinks he will make my changes.
Also will Raeburn take anyone with him?

I don't know why you'd be in a giant hurry to jettison any more of a staff that went to the national quarterfinals than you have to.  I think the question is silly, tbh. 

[smedindy]

I bet the only way there's staff changes is if ER takes some with him down to Savannah.

[wabndy]

I had a feeling (and posted as such) last fall given ER's flirtation with UWW that he was looking for an exit.  My gut reaction to watching Liz Raeburn's amazing chapel talk last December was that it smelled like a fond farewell speech. 

Perhaps the Raeburns' see Savannah State as the kind of place that has nowhere but up to grow from.  I would imagine that if he could go above .500, he could easily move up to the next level.  Georgia public records show the previous head coach making $105k a year - which would probably mean at least a small pay bump from whatever Wabash is paying him.  He's not going to break into the middle level of the D1 from D3.  If he wanted to be a D1 coach - this was probably the only way to do it.

Not that there is a good time - the timing of this does stink.  Isn't this go time for admissions?  If memory serves - colleges are sending out final financial aid packages basically now with admissions deposits due May 1.   Looks like Savannah's head coach left in February to take a job at Elizabeth City State in North Carolina, who fired it's head coach at the end of last season.  So basically we are left on the carousel after two other programs who were able to do a full on national search.  Not that we couldn't have ended up choosing Morel anyway after a national search - I don't think the college had the luxury in taking a month or so to do a search.  Did BJ put his house up on the market in Crawfordsville or is he just renting it out?