Nate Oats heading to Alabama

[suorangefan4]

I hope he likes taking a lot of vacations because Tuscaloosa is pretty boring. It's funny how people dump on Buffalo a lot (which is honestly a great city) yet google Tuscaloosa. There's nothing there. Buffalo is a million times better.

[billsfanmiami(oh)]

1 hour ago, suorangefan4 said:

 

Just because it's in the SEC doesn't make it a better job than UB. Gonzaga is in the WCC and a top ranked school every year. That job is better than Alabama. If Buffalo could give the same money I'd easily stay there. Not to mention Buffalo is a much nicer city than Tuscaloosa.

 

 

No but 3X salary does

[BuffaloRebound]

Hard to criticize him.  That’s life changing money.  Not sure why UB didn’t insist on a higher buyout though in the contract extension.  They took a pretty big chance on him when they gave him the job to replace Hurley.  Alabama job had to be in the works for a couple weeks.  Alabama athletic department is swimming in money.  They would’ve paid a lot more than $750k to buy Oats out.  

[Formerly Allan in MD]

3 hours ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

Topic does not belong in TSW

So ignore it.

[BillyWhiteShows]

6 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Hard to criticize him.  That’s life changing money.  Not sure why UB didn’t insist on a higher buyout though in the contract extension.  They took a pretty big chance on him when they gave him the job to replace Hurley.  Alabama job had to be in the works for a couple weeks.  Alabama athletic department is swimming in money.  They would’ve paid a lot more than $750k to buy Oats out.  

 

Not hard to criticize him when he signed a new extension, spent weeks saying he wasn’t going to make a move like this, and even got high school kids to commit to UB under his vision.  

 

Then when he does take the job, Nate is no where to be found and won’t answer questions from the Buffalo media.  

 

Seems like this could’ve been handeled better.  Fans deserve more of any explanation than the weak ass PR statement he put out.  

 

I agree UB should’ve had a bigger buyout in the extension 

[Formerly Allan in MD]

25 minutes ago, suorangefan4 said:

I hope he likes taking a lot of vacations because Tuscaloosa is pretty boring. It's funny how people dump on Buffalo a lot (which is honestly a great city) yet google Tuscaloosa. There's nothing there. Buffalo is a million times better.

And wait until his kids start drawling and rednecking.  But hey, the house is bigger.

[without a drought]

UB's recent success should help them land a good coach to replace Oats. 

[BillyWhiteShows]

 

[Buffalo716]

2 hours ago, billsfan_34 said:

Until UB decides to play with the big boys (leave the MAC) and head into the Big East expect more of the same. Here is some inside trader info- faculty fights tooth and nail to maintain a watered down athletic  program. They want more money for more line numbers in their department and higher pay for faculty that is well above the private sector along with an amazing benefits package. Also, they feel threatened research money would be decreased as well. 

 

Lastly, it is sad that a big school like UB, in a hockey recruiting mecca only has club hockey- and they have to play at the Northtowns Center. A school that large should have D-1 hockey with their own rink. Just another pahetic part of Buffalo Sports.

They could of offered Oates 2 mil per year and he would of left- his contract was leverage for a better deal in a big school- Alabama in the SEC or UB in the MAC? It is a no brainer. 

There is just no money in D1 hockey... no bother competing with Canisius and NU.

 

They are spending millions on football and basketball and it is showing finally...

 

its not easy as saying , hey we are going To the big east... the big east doesn’t play football and UB isn’t going for 1 sport

 

they need sustained success... not a short run

[YoloinOhio]

Just saw this too... ‘tis the season 

 

 

[Flip Johnson]

3 hours ago, Formerly Allan in MD said:

Truly a sad development.  Once again, no matter what you hear about "stability" and "family concerns," it's all about money. 
 

 

 

He apparently turned down UNLV who was offering 1.6M - double the UB money.

 

Money is obviously a factor but most likely so is ambition. College basketball is rigged in such a way that if you want to go to Sweet 16s and Finals 4s with consistency you need to be in a P5 school or be Gonzaga.

[GaryPinC]

3 hours ago, Formerly Allan in MD said:

Truly a sad development.  Once again, no matter what you hear about "stability" and "family concerns," it's all about money. 
 

 

Holy hell, it's Alabama he's going to.  One of if not THE most recognized sports universities and Oats was given an opportunity to build their basketball program.  That's a once in a lifetime opportunity and he should turn it down?  

 

There's some really self-centered people here.  I get he could have handled his departure better but come on!  Be proud he got picked by a premier institution.  Hopefully UB becomes a premier destination for up and coming coaches and it keeps their program strong.

[BobbyC81]

8 hours ago, msw2112 said:

I hate to see him go.  He did a great job with the program.  This is almost always what happens when a mid-major coach has a run of success.  It's inevitable.  I was holding out hope that Oats would like the city and school enough to stick around and try to build a mid-major powerhouse like Gonzaga (or Cincinnati or even Butler).  I think he even mentioned that at the time he signed his extension.

 

A cautionary tale for Oats is Don Monson.  He had great success at Gonzaga, but decided to move to the Big 10 and took the Minnesota job.  Since then, he has never had the kind of success he had at Gonzaga.  He's gone from Minnesota and now at another mid-major in Long Beach State and not even sniffing the NCAA Tournament.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Monson 

 

Meanwhile, after Monson left, Gonzaga continued its run of success, which continues today.  Mark Few, their current coach, had decided to stay there and enjoy the success, rather than jump to a Power-5 conference job and it has worked out well.  Who knows - possibly Bobby Hurley will have a Don Monson-like career since he left UB for the Pac-12 and Arizona State.

 

Hurley led ASU to the NCAA Tourney as UB’s first round opponent.

 

Turner Gill left UB, went to Kansas and failed, had some success at Liberty, an FCS school until 2018 but then retired to be with his sick wife.

[msw2112]

I live in Arizona and realize that Hurley has led ASU to the NCAA Tourney a couple of times.  That said, he was an 11 seed both times and didn't get past the round of 64, which UB has done both of the years that Hurley got ASU to the Tournament.  ASU might reach greater heights under Hurley, or this may be as good as it gets.  Herb Sendek, who preceded Hurley, also had a few good years before it went downhill.  I stand by my original point that sometimes leaving a mid-major program for a major conference job works out and sometimes it doesn't.  The one thing that worked out for both Hurley and Oats was that they got a lot more money than they were at UB.  Sometimes a coach, the players and a program just fit and work, and coaches lose that chemistry when they move on.  I hope that the brand recognition and success had at UB under Hurley and Oats helps land another good coach who can keep the trajectory going.  We'll see.  And Go Bills, since this is a Bills forum....

 

Edited March 28, 2019 by msw2112

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 hours ago, msw2112 said:

I live in Arizona and realize that Hurley has led ASU to the NCAA Tourney a couple of times.  That said, he was an 11 seed both times and didn't get past the round of 64, which UB has done both of the years that Hurley got ASU to the Tournament.  ASU might reach greater heights under Hurley, or this may be as good as it gets.  Herb Sendek, who preceded Hurley, also had a few good years before it went downhill.  I stand by my original point that sometimes leaving a mid-major program for a major conference job works out and sometimes it doesn't.  The one thing that worked out for both Hurley and Oats was that they got a lot more money than they were at UB.  Sometimes a coach, the players and a program just fit and work, and coaches lose that chemistry when they move on.  I hope that the brand recognition and success had at UB under Hurley and Oats helps land another good coach who can keep the trajectory going.  We'll see.  And Go Bills, since this is a Bills forum....

 

If $ was close they wouldn't leave.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Until they get out of the MAC this will continue to happen.

 

 

[1st Ammendment NoMas]

This sucks. Happened in football once we got good and now basketball. It's great to enjoy seasons of success, but for once I'd love a prolonged dynasty like the Stinking Pats.

[oldmanfan]

Does he have a top assistant that can take over, like he did for Hurley?

[PromoTheRobot]

11 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Does he have a top assistant that can take over, like he did for Hurley?

 

Bryan Hodgson is rumored to be a top candidate to replace Oats, but is also rumored to have an assistants offer at Bama. Hodgson is our main recruiter. What sucks is some of our good recruits may de-committ to follow Oats. Oats already made an offer to Raymond Hawkins, who was a huge possible get door UB 

 

4 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

Until they get out of the MAC this will continue to happen.

 

 

 

Very true. The AAC is the next logical step, especially since our AD Mark Alnutt came from Memphis, an AAC school.

 

Someone earlier in this thread said UB should "choose" to go to a higher conference. If it only worked that way 

 

UB would have to get invited, and that will only happen if/when there is another reshuffling of conferences. There is talk of Houston or UCF, or both, moving to the Big 12. That would create an opening for UB in the AAC.

 

Someone also brought up hockey being a no-brainer for UB. Well are you forgetting both Canisius and Niagara are local D1 hockey programs? UB would have to build a new rink too. Not happening 

 

Actually lacrosse at UB would make more sense. A lot less expensive too.

Edited March 28, 2019 by PromoTheRobot

[Kirby Jackson]

5 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

Until they get out of the MAC this will continue to happen.

 

 

Sadly, this is 1,000% true.

[LabattBlue]

37 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Someone also brought up hockey being a no-brainer for UB. Well are you forgetting both Canisius and Niagara are local D1 hockey programs? UB would have to build a new rink too. Not happening 

 

Actually lacrosse at UB would make more sense. A lot less expensive too.

I brought up both.  They have a rink right across the street(Northtown Center) that could be used.   Not sure what Canisius and Niagara have to do with UB starting up?  If anything, it would be a great rivalry.

 

That being said, I'm beating a dead horse.  I've written several UB AD's about this over the years.  Never going to happen.

[BillsFan2313]

17 hours ago, Reed83HOF said:

Even though this is a duplicate post. I just updated the one on off the wall with this:

 

 

 

That's a higher AAV then Roy Williams at UNC, and he has 3 rings. How could Oats turn that down?

[YoloinOhio]

Just now, BillsFan2313 said:

 

That's a higher AAV then Roy Williams at UNC, and he has 3 rings. How could Oats turn that down?

Roy Williams makes less than that?? He’s underpaid. Even the Ohio state coach makes 3 mill and he came from Butler.

[BillsFan2313]

Just now, YoloinOhio said:

Roy Williams makes less than that?? He’s underpaid. Even the Ohio state coach makes 3 mill and he came from Butler.

 

Last year I believe he was at 2.1 million, but he signed an extension recently that will get him to 5 million in incentives. He is apparently big on paying his assistants a good amount so he takes less. 

[DBilz2500]

Sorry everybody for starting this “non bills related” post. Apparently it is an issue. 

[BillsFan2313]

3 minutes ago, DBilz2500 said:

Sorry everybody for starting this “non bills related” post. Apparently it is an issue. 

 

You got PM'd that?

[BillsMafia13]

17 hours ago, msw2112 said:

I hate to see him go.  He did a great job with the program.  This is almost always what happens when a mid-major coach has a run of success.  It's inevitable.  I was holding out hope that Oats would like the city and school enough to stick around and try to build a mid-major powerhouse like Gonzaga (or Cincinnati or even Butler).  I think he even mentioned that at the time he signed his extension.

 

A cautionary tale for Oats is Don Monson.  He had great success at Gonzaga, but decided to move to the Big 10 and took the Minnesota job.  Since then, he has never had the kind of success he had at Gonzaga.  He's gone from Minnesota and now at another mid-major in Long Beach State and not even sniffing the NCAA Tournament.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Monson 

 

Meanwhile, after Monson left, Gonzaga continued its run of success, which continues today.  Mark Few, their current coach, had decided to stay there and enjoy the success, rather than jump to a Power-5 conference job and it has worked out well.  Who knows - possibly Bobby Hurley will have a Don Monson-like career since he left UB for the Pac-12 and Arizona State.

I hope he goes down there and we stomp Bama like we did Bobby Hurley this year.  Has Bama ever even had a basketball team worth mentioning?

[YoloinOhio]

2 minutes ago, BillsMafia13 said:

I hope he goes down there and we stomp Bama like we did Bobby Hurley this year.  Has Bama ever even had a basketball team worth mentioning?

Not really. the cavs 1st rd pick from last year played there, only relevancy I can think of 

[DBilz2500]

5 minutes ago, BillsFan2313 said:

 

You got PM'd that?

Yup I did. Some Chandler81 guy messaged me 

[BillsMafia13]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

Not really. the cavs 1st rd pick from last year played there, only relevancy I can think of 

Ya that Sexton kid who I really like.  I get UB is small in name but Bama bball just seems like the little red headed step brother no one ever liked.  No offense to red heads

[BillsFan2313]

6 minutes ago, DBilz2500 said:

Yup I did. Some Chandler81 guy messaged me 

 

Lame

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, BillsMafia13 said:

Ya that Sexton kid who I really like.  I get UB is small in name but Bama bball just seems like the little red headed step brother no one ever liked.  No offense to red heads

I honestly don’t pay much attention to SEC b-ball. I’m just going off of national relevancy from that perspective and they aren’t a relevant b-ball program. I assume that’s what they are trying to get to, and the coaching change. SEC seems to be getting better though, based on the tourney teams this year. I don’t remember teams like Auburn and LSU being this good in the recent past. 

[LabattBlue]

1 minute ago, BillsFan2313 said:

 

Lame

What is lame.  There is a sub-forum "off the wall" for all non-Bills/NFL talk.  Why criticize a mod for doing his job? 

[BillsMafia13]

5 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

I honestly don’t pay much attention to SEC b-ball. I’m just going off of national relevancy from that perspective and they aren’t a relevant b-ball program. I assume that’s what they are trying to get to, and the coaching change. SEC seems to be getting better though, based on the tourney teams this year. I don’t remember teams like Auburn and LSU being this good in the recent past. 

LSU usually always has talent but they hardly move the needle.  I dont follow basketball much either, pretty sure Sexton lead his team to beat Minn. or somebody playing 3V5 in a game.  Dont ask how that worked, im just as confused

[iinii]

17 hours ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

Topic does not belong in TSW

You just have to connect the dots. Alabama plays football. Daboll worked for Saban and Belichick. Belichick is the genius at the evil Patriot empire. All good now? See how easy that was?

[Buffalo Barbarian]

3 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

I brought up both.  They have a rink right across the street(Northtown Center) that could be used.   Not sure what Canisius and Niagara have to do with UB starting up?  If anything, it would be a great rivalry.

 

That being said, I'm beating a dead horse.  I've written several UB AD's about this over the years.  Never going to happen.

 

 The Hockey or the moving to a better conference.

 

 

4 hours ago, BillsRdue said:

This sucks. Happened in football once we got good and now basketball. It's great to enjoy seasons of success, but for once I'd love a prolonged dynasty like the Stinking Pats.

 

We are with McDermott, its happening

 

 

[Lurker]

2 hours ago, BillsMafia13 said:

I hope he goes down there and we stomp Bama like we did Bobby Hurley this year.  Has Bama ever even had a basketball team worth mentioning?

 

They may be a middling SEC team right now, but with good coaching from Nate they'd probably win 80% of the time against MAC teams like U.B.    'Bama just had a lottery pick (Colin Sexton, 8th overall by Cleveland) and have a bunch of 4-and 5-star recruits so they have had quality rosters.     

 

As to the Tide's basketball chops, while they've been overshadowed by the football program, they've had some success too (briefly #1 in the country in 2003, eight sweet 16 appearances and 16 NIT trips, reaching the championship game on two occasions). 

BTW, Hurley's team a year from now--when his young players (12 freshmen and sophomores vs. just 5 upperclassmen) have more experience--will be a lot more formidable than the group that lost to U.B...

[BillsMafia13]

25 minutes ago, Lurker said:

 

They may be a middling SEC team right now, but with good coaching from Nate they'd probably win 80% of the time against MAC teams like U.B.    'Bama just had a lottery pick (Colin Sexton, 8th overall by Cleveland) and have a bunch of 4-and 5-star recruits so they have had quality rosters.     

 

As to the Tide's basketball chops, while they've been overshadowed by the football program, they've had some success too (briefly #1 in the country in 2003, eight sweet 16 appearances and 16 NIT trips, reaching the championship game on two occasions). 

BTW, Hurley's team a year from now--when his young players (12 freshmen and sophomores vs. just 5 upperclassmen) have more experience--will be a lot more formidable than the group that lost to U.B...

Look you can use all the facts you want.  I refuse to acknowledge Notes moved on to greener pastures, and my ignorance of CBB makes me undefeated. UB cutting the nets down next year while Bama and Zona have major recruiting scandals.*

[ChevyVanMiller]

Just wanted to bump the earliest duplicate thread to the top.

[Lurker]

1 hour ago, BillsMafia13 said:

Look you can use all the facts you want.  I refuse to acknowledge Notes moved on to greener pastures, and my ignorance of CBB makes me undefeated. UB cutting the nets down next year while Bama and Zona have major recruiting scandals.*