MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[northb]

Recent MLive article


http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2014/05/basketball_coach_matt_neil_wil.html

[wiz]

This has nothing to do with basketball or with coaching.

[sac]

two tweets from the Sentinel's Dan D'Addona

Spoke with Matt Neil in his driveway, said he and college made agreement not to speak publicly about "parting ways" #d3h (1 of 2)

and players and other coaching staff are under same agreement (2 of 2) #d3h


...and Sentinel updates its non-updates
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140515/SPORTS/140519308

[arena]

With that non comment, no one should be slammed for speculating, because that is what that non comment will cause.

[sac]

put some thoughts down today, hopefully coherent. 

http://scottsbbblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/lightning-strikes.html

[sac]

With that non comment, no one should be slammed for speculating, because that is what that non comment will cause.

I think we're on no comment on the no comment of the no comments.

[almcguirejr]

two tweets from the Sentinel's Dan D'Addona

Spoke with Matt Neil in his driveway, said he and college made agreement not to speak publicly about "parting ways" #d3h (1 of 2)

and players and other coaching staff are under same agreement (2 of 2) #d3h


...and Sentinel updates its non-updates
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140515/SPORTS/140519308

Reading these quotes leads me to wonder if there was split between the team and the coach that could not be repaired.  The end of the season this year and the Snuggerud situation last year may have been evidence of a problem within the team.  I have heard of the college and coach agreeing not to comment but have not heard of the team and assistant coaches having the same agreement.

[oldknight]

two tweets from the Sentinel's Dan D'Addona

Spoke with Matt Neil in his driveway, said he and college made agreement not to speak publicly about "parting ways" #d3h (1 of 2)

and players and other coaching staff are under same agreement (2 of 2) #d3h


...and Sentinel updates its non-updates
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140515/SPORTS/140519308

The Sentinel update made for a far more interesting read than I expected, in particular this eye-brow raising comment I put in bold print:

In a brief meeting with former Hope College men's basketball coach Matt Neil on Thursday afternoon at his Holland home, he said he and the college have agreed to not speak publically about "mutually parting ways," and would not comment further.

Neil added the agreement extends to players on the team and others on the coaching staff.

Hope and Neil have obviously decided that the risk of disclosure outweighs the risk of criticism for erecting a stone wall of silence and they may be right to do so. But when you do that you kick wide-open the door of speculation. In the wake of Neil's comment above (which may have spoken more than he intended it to) then speculate I must. Why the need to have the agreement extend to players on the team? The most likely answer would seem to be that the reasons are internal to the team. If it weren't then why would the players need to be muzzled?

[sac]

two tweets from the Sentinel's Dan D'Addona

Spoke with Matt Neil in his driveway, said he and college made agreement not to speak publicly about "parting ways" #d3h (1 of 2)

and players and other coaching staff are under same agreement (2 of 2) #d3h


...and Sentinel updates its non-updates
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140515/SPORTS/140519308

The Sentinel update made for a far more interesting read than I expected, in particular this eye-brow raising comment I put in bold print:

In a brief meeting with former Hope College men's basketball coach Matt Neil on Thursday afternoon at his Holland home, he said he and the college have agreed to not speak publically about "mutually parting ways," and would not comment further.

Neil added the agreement extends to players on the team and others on the coaching staff.

Hope and Neil have obviously decided that the risk of disclosure outweighs the risk of criticism for erecting a stone wall of silence and they may be right to do so. But when you do that you kick wide-open the door of speculation. In the wake of Neil's comment above (which may have spoken more than he intended it to) then speculate I must. Why the need to have the agreement extend to players on the team? The most likely answer would seem to be that the reasons are internal to the team. If it weren't then why would the players need to be muzzled?

I saw a quote somewhere that mentions this is "standard Hope College" policy.  Fwiw.

Also fwiw, I believe I was asked the same in  spring 1991 when the golf coach was let go, his departure had nothing to do with team/coach dynamics.  Even though it could have appeared that way if we had 3500 hundred people following us around Grand Haven Golf Club.

He sent us to a tournament we weren't entered in, but thats probably a different story for another day.

[Roundball999]

Perhaps it's an entirely personal matter to Coach Neil and nobody else's darn business?  Under those circumstances I could easily see the college, coach and players agreeing not to comment.  And I would respect them for it.

[pointlem]

put some thoughts down today, hopefully coherent. 

http://scottsbbblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/lightning-strikes.html

Excellent reflections, Sac.  I wonder if sometimes the legal handcuffs, which I presume preclude a bit more disclosure, ill-serve instead of protecting everyone . . . by allowing imaginations to run wild.  But if this is how both the coach and the college wish it, then so be it.

[monsoon]

put some thoughts down today, hopefully coherent. 

http://scottsbbblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/lightning-strikes.html

Thanks, sac.

[Knight2Day]

two tweets from the Sentinel's Dan D'Addona

Spoke with Matt Neil in his driveway, said he and college made agreement not to speak publicly about "parting ways" #d3h (1 of 2)

and players and other coaching staff are under same agreement (2 of 2) #d3h


...and Sentinel updates its non-updates
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140515/SPORTS/140519308

Reading these quotes leads me to wonder if there was split between the team and the coach that could not be repaired.  The end of the season this year and the Snuggerud situation last year may have been evidence of a problem within the team.  I have heard of the college and coach agreeing not to comment but have not heard of the team and assistant coaches having the same agreement.

While I believe that this will be a tight lipped issue, the good and bad thing about our Dutch community is that not much stays secret for long, especially when college kids (the players) are concerned, sooner or later, someone gets sick of deferring the question and tells someone. Like the old saying goes "if you want to keep a secret, keep it to yourself"

[sac]

in other news


Hoosier Hills Hoops @HoosierHills  ·  11h

College commitment: Seymour senior Chase Salmon to Albion. View all commitments --> http://goo.gl/AEYSaU

I hope Chase isn't too put off if in a couple years after Albion has beaten Hope at Kresge a middle age man comes up to him and asks him if he knows John Mellancamp.

[gohope]

put some thoughts down today, hopefully coherent. 

http://scottsbbblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/lightning-strikes.html

Well done SAC.  Thanks.