Here We Go Again ... Breathless Media Reports That Buzz Is Leaving For Texas A&M

[cgt399]

A&M's financial situation is on the upswing as we are getting a $10 million a year raise from the Big 12-2. We finish in the red in a season where only 14 athletic departments made money (2009) and we are in dire financial straits? Football will always be #1 here but BBall has been revitalized as well. Combine that with the fact the Buzz is from Texas and was an assistant under Billy G... Let's just say that if we came calling in March that the deal would be done. Not trying to sound like a prick. I have enjoyed the pleasant discourse with you guys and wish you well in the future.

[ATL MU Warrior]

A&M's financial situation is on the upswing as we are getting a $10 million a year raise from the Big 12-2. We finish in the red in a season where only 14 athletic departments made money (2009) and we are in dire financial straits? Football will always be #1 here but BBall has been revitalized as well. Combine that with the fact the Buzz is from Texas and was an assistant under Billy G... Let's just say that if we came calling in March that the deal would be done. Not trying to sound like a prick. I have enjoyed the pleasant discourse with you guys and wish you well in the future.

If it makes you feel better to believe this go right on ahead. 

[NersEllenson]

A&M's financial situation is on the upswing as we are getting a $10 million a year raise from the Big 12-2. We finish in the red in a season where only 14 athletic departments made money (2009) and we are in dire financial straits? Football will always be #1 here but BBall has been revitalized as well. Combine that with the fact the Buzz is from Texas and was an assistant under Billy G... Let's just say that if we came calling in March that the deal would be done. Not trying to sound like a prick. I have enjoyed the pleasant discourse with you guys and wish you well in the future.

Every alumni at every school has great pride in the their alma mater - by no means surprising that you would think if A&M came calling in March...Buzz would have left MU.  Think about it this way, however:  Native Texan Billy G chose to leave A&M for Kentucky (a college basketball blue blood), yet Buzz Williams wasn't offered the head coaching position at A&M upon Billy's departure.  Fast forward 2 years - Tom Crean leaves Marquette for Indiana ( a college basketball blue blood) and Buzz Williams - with only 1 year on MU's assistant coaching staff, gets named Head Coach at Marquette.  Quite sure this fact is not lost on Buzz, and given his very spiritual/religious ways - Marquette fits him quite well - so not so sure it would have been a done deal in March...

[TJ]

A&M's financial situation is on the upswing as we are getting a $10 million a year raise from the Big 12-2. We finish in the red in a season where only 14 athletic departments made money (2009) and we are in dire financial straits? Football will always be #1 here but BBall has been revitalized as well. Combine that with the fact the Buzz is from Texas and was an assistant under Billy G... Let's just say that if we came calling in March that the deal would be done. Not trying to sound like a prick. I have enjoyed the pleasant discourse with you guys and wish you well in the future.

If that makes you feel better, enjoy.  I believe that Buzz didn't even consider coaching anywhere but Marquette in 2011/12, and wouldn't have but for the few jobs he would be crazy to pass on (Texas, Duke, UNC, KU, UK, UCLA, maybe a few more).  In a few years things might change, but that's the current situation.

[cgt399]

It doesn't. I'm not really sure why we do this. We become obsessed with hiring old assistants because you know there has never been a good coach that hasn't at some point been an assistant at Texas A&M.

[cgt399]

Also to your point buzz wasn't offered 4 years ago because he was coming off a 14-17 showing as a first year head coach at a low-major.

[Pakuni]

A&M's financial situation is on the upswing as we are getting a $10 million a year raise from the Big 12-2. We finish in the red in a season where only 14 athletic departments made money (2009) and we are in dire financial straits? Football will always be #1 here but BBall has been revitalized as well. Combine that with the fact the Buzz is from Texas and was an assistant under Billy G... Let's just say that if we came calling in March that the deal would be done. Not trying to sound like a prick. I have enjoyed the pleasant discourse with you guys and wish you well in the future.

Not trying to sound like a prick .... but these are almost identical to the comments we read from Oklahoma fans, after they did come calling in March. And while one can debate whether OU or TAMU is the better program, Buzz had the opportunity to "go home" then and chose instead to stay at Marquette.
And, honestly, if Buzz really, really wanted the TAMU job as y'all claim, he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would chose to stay in Milwaukee for a few hundred thousands dollars more. Either way, he was going to be rich beyond his expectations, so why not be rich in the job of his choosing?
Or maybe, just maybe, Marquette is his job of choosing, and rather than fessing up that they got rejected by their first choice, your school's administrators are leaking that it was all about the money.

[NersEllenson]

Also to your point buzz wasn't offered 4 years ago because he was coming off a 14-17 showing as a first year head coach at a low-major.

A&M had the chance to hire Buzz after Billy left - he was on staff for 2 years under Billy Clyde - and they didn't offer him the job..so Buzz left for New Orleans were he went 14-17.  MU hired him after only 1 season as an assistant at MU, and WITH knowledge he went 14-17 at UNO.

[Lighthouse 84]

If that makes you feel better, enjoy.  I believe that Buzz didn't even consider coaching anywhere but Marquette in 2011/12, and wouldn't have but for the few jobs he would be crazy to pass on (Texas, Duke, UNC, KU, UK, UCLA, It's Indiana, It's Indiana maybe a few more).  In a few years things might change, but that's the current situation.

Fixed

[cgt399]

Your timeline is wrong he left the year before Billy G

[NersEllenson]

Your timeline is wrong he left the year before Billy G

My bad - didn't realize that - Buzz left in spring 2006 for New Orleans, Billy left A&M Spring of 2007.  Needless to say Buzz was back on the market around that time but A&M didn't take him with his 14-17 resume.  Can't necessarily say I blame A&M - but Marquette after observing him for 1 year as an assistant...and knowing he went 14-17 at UNO - gave him the keys/head coaching position to a Top 20 program.  A leap of faith to a degree - but when it is pretty evident early on in dealing with Buzz Williams to figure out he's got "it."

[texaswarrior74]

In the sense of fairness here.....and not trying to throw a wet blanket on all this MU fervor but we need to take the time to remove our blue and gold glasses and try to get some objectivity here.

First of all, before I moved to Dallas 31 years ago I had NO idea about what being "Texan" means and after 31 years I think I am only now coming to fully understand it. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world. FACT: If you meet a Texan anywhere in the world when asked where they are from they will answer Texas, not the USA. Texans are VERY proud of the fact that their state flag is the ONLY flag allowed to fly at the same height as a US flag....it goes on and on....The current Governor was talking secession quite seriously a few years ago.

You are ALL kidding yourselves if you don't think that Buzz had a moment of pause when learning that the A&M job had opened. Let's not forget that A&M gave him a chance to return to Texas after taking his first Div 1 asst position at Colorado State. He might still be there if Billy Clyde hadn't gambled on the Kentucky job and if Billy Clyde had stayed then left for another job a few years later Buzz might have been their man.

You guys talk about A&M as if it was some small podunk school....you couldn't be more wrong. A&M is a MAJOR research university with over 49,000 students; its main campus sits on over 5200 acres and its endowment is in excess of $5.6 billion. It's home to the George H W Bush Library, has a medical, dental and veterinary school along with a top undergrad business school and engineering school. While there are plenty of "Aggie" jokes that float around here....similar to Polish jokes, there's a lot of truth to this: Question: What do you call an Aggie in 20 years? Answer: Boss.

I honestly believe that had A&M been calling when OU and others were in March, Buzz would have really had to think hard about leaving. I applaud his sense of loyalty to MU for giving him the opportunity that we did, but if A&M had been calling his answer might have been quite different. "Coming home" means a lot to a native Texan.

I hope Buzz stays at MU for a very long time but am not naive enough to ignore the deep seeded Texas roots that run through every inch of his sometimes considerable girth. Let's just hope that the UT and A&M jobs stayed filled for a long time because after making what he's currently making for a few more years, he could easily "afford" a pay cut to under $2 million to come back home...housing is less expensive and gives you far more amenities here and there are no state or city income taxes here so that salary nets him more here as well.

just my $0.02

[4everwarriors]

Not trying to be like F*ckin', but why can't we all be friends? I'm certain the Aggies will fall on their feet.

[Brewtown Andy]

You guys talk about A&M as if it was some small podunk school....you couldn't be more wrong. A&M is a MAJOR research university with over 49,000 students; its main campus sits on over 5200 acres and its endowment is in excess of $5.6 billion. It's home to the George H W Bush Library, has a medical, dental and veterinary school along with a top undergrad business school and engineering school.

It's worth pointing out that these are all possible reasons why Buzz would want to stay at Marquette.

[GGGG]

As my Texas friend says "A&M...where the men are men and the sheep are scared."

[Pakuni]

You guys talk about A&M as if it was some small podunk school....you couldn't be more wrong. A&M is a MAJOR research university with over 49,000 students; its main campus sits on over 5200 acres and its endowment is in excess of $5.6 billion. It's home to the George H W Bush Library, has a medical, dental and veterinary school along with a top undergrad business school and engineering school. While there are plenty of "Aggie" jokes that float around here....similar to Polish jokes, there's a lot of truth to this: Question: What do you call an Aggie in 20 years? Answer: Boss.

I honestly believe that had A&M been calling when OU and others were in March, Buzz would have really had to think hard about leaving. I applaud his sense of loyalty to MU for giving him the opportunity that we did, but if A&M had been calling his answer might have been quite different. "Coming home" means a lot to a native Texan.

So, having re-read the entire thread, I see nowhere that it's said or implied that A&M is a small podunk school, lacking in students or endowment. Or that Buzz wouldn't have thought really hard about the job there,whether now or in March.
But when all is said and done, Buzz has had opportunities in recent months to  "come home" - or darn near it - and it seems he's turned them all down.
Doesn't that count for something? And why is pointing that out somehow a swipe at A&M?

[HouWarrior]

My apologies to FF03, Merrits, South Wayne, etc, who noticed my impatience, and impertenence in the locked thread of Buzz is staying put. The tone and choice of words were poorly chosen...I do know better, and will treat it as a lesson learned. Sorry again.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

there has never been a good coach that hasn't at some point been an assistant at Texas A&M.

John Calipari, Billy Donovan, Bill Self, Thad Matta, Jim Calhoun, Rick Pitino, Roy Williams, Rick Barnes, Tom Izzo, Ben Howland, Tom Crean, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Lute Olson, Bobby Knight...

[tower912]

CGT, thanks for visiting and thanks for the insight.   You are rightfully proud of your school.   But you need to understand context.    Buzz has expressed repeatedly how grateful he is to MU for taking a chance on him.   He has expressed repeatedly how well his values mesh with Marquette's Jesuit mission.  He has said that he will coach at MU until we don't want him anymore.   His salary at MU is in the top 10% of college hoops.    The AD has bumped his pay after every season, over doubling it in 3 years.   The AD wanted, and Buzz agreed to, an obscenely high buyout.   Of note, it apparently was higher on his last contract, as Oklahoma found out.    What does this mean?   Marquette wants Buzz and is willing to pay to keep him, and Buzz likes Marquette enough to have these impediments built into his contract.     It probably isn't impossible to get him, but your opening bid had better be  >$4 million (Buyout + First year salary) with an annual salary approaching $3 million and you had better have a program that is better than an upper tier BEast team.    I am not being critical of TAMU or Oklahoma to say that neither has a basketball program that is a noticeable step up from MU.   And FWIW, it would have cost you roughly the same (higher buyout, lower salary) to get him 6 weeks ago.  

[turk17]

In the sense of fairness here.....and not trying to throw a wet blanket on all this MU fervor but we need to take the time to remove our blue and gold glasses and try to get some objectivity here.

First of all, before I moved to Dallas 31 years ago I had NO idea about what being "Texan" means and after 31 years I think I am only now coming to fully understand it. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world. FACT: If you meet a Texan anywhere in the world when asked where they are from they will answer Texas, not the USA. Texans are VERY proud of the fact that their state flag is the ONLY flag allowed to fly at the same height as a US flag....it goes on and on....The current Governor was talking secession quite seriously a few years ago.

You are ALL kidding yourselves if you don't think that Buzz had a moment of pause when learning that the A&M job had opened. Let's not forget that A&M gave him a chance to return to Texas after taking his first Div 1 asst position at Colorado State. He might still be there if Billy Clyde hadn't gambled on the Kentucky job and if Billy Clyde had stayed then left for another job a few years later Buzz might have been their man.

You guys talk about A&M as if it was some small podunk school....you couldn't be more wrong. A&M is a MAJOR research university with over 49,000 students; its main campus sits on over 5200 acres and its endowment is in excess of $5.6 billion. It's home to the George H W Bush Library, has a medical, dental and veterinary school along with a top undergrad business school and engineering school. While there are plenty of "Aggie" jokes that float around here....similar to Polish jokes, there's a lot of truth to this: Question: What do you call an Aggie in 20 years? Answer: Boss.

I honestly believe that had A&M been calling when OU and others were in March, Buzz would have really had to think hard about leaving. I applaud his sense of loyalty to MU for giving him the opportunity that we did, but if A&M had been calling his answer might have been quite different. "Coming home" means a lot to a native Texan.

I hope Buzz stays at MU for a very long time but am not naive enough to ignore the deep seeded Texas roots that run through every inch of his sometimes considerable girth. Let's just hope that the UT and A&M jobs stayed filled for a long time because after making what he's currently making for a few more years, he could easily "afford" a pay cut to under $2 million to come back home...housing is less expensive and gives you far more amenities here and there are no state or city income taxes here so that salary nets him more here as well.

just my $0.02

Summary:  Gentleman, lend me your ears!  Take off your silly "blue and gold glasses" and put on these "maroon and white" ones (for the purpose of greater objectivity).

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Let's just say that if we came calling in March that the deal would be done.

You could be right, which actually reminds me to thank the MU AD and President for locking Buzz up with another generous contract shortly after the season.

Truth be told, MU is probably overpaying a little bit now to protect themselves from being robbed in a situation like this.

Given that hoops is very, very important to MU (especially with the conference realignment BS), I think it's the smart move.

Best of luck to A&M.

[drewm88]

John Calipari, Billy Donovan, Bill Self, Thad Matta, Jim Calhoun, Rick Pitino, Roy Williams, Rick Barnes, Tom Izzo, Ben Howland, Tom Crean, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Lute Olson, Bobby Knight...

Excellent work on refuting his sincere argument.

[kmwtrucks]

One thing that is interesting that more of the High Major's are going after other HM's and driving up the price.  When one turns it down they always seem to get a bump and if they do hire them they also get a bump.  I think just 5 years ago the going rate for a good coach was 1 Mil now its 2 Mil.  If HM's would hire good Mid Majors right off the bat they would not be creating a market that takes 2.5 Mil to get a good (not Great) coach. 

[Jay Bee]

Texas A&M... the Ivy of the Southwest.

[4everwarriors]

More accurately...middle of the road.