Hopefully we are not getting ahead of ourselves here

[79Warrior]

NOTHING is done until the contract is signed.

[Goose]

79 Warrior

100% with you on that. Hope they get it done and let Shaka go get Diamond Stone

[RyanConroy]

Definitely. There's been momentum behind these rumors for a couple of hours now. Yet no major reporter has picked up the story. Hard to believe that these local insiders are privy to more information than Andy Katz or Jeff Goodman.

[LAZER]

No kidding

[Tugg Speedman]

remember we did not start the rumor, it is all over the place from people connected to basketball that are not MU homers.

keeping my fingers crossed.

[LAZER]

remember we did not start the rumor, it is all over the place from people connected to basketball that are not MU homers.

keeping my fingers crossed.

Who besides Jerry Meyer?

[The Process]

Definitely. There's been momentum behind these rumors for a couple of hours now. Yet no major reporter has picked up the story. Hard to believe that these local insiders are privy to more information than Andy Katz or Jeff Goodman.

In fairness, isn't Katz busy with Brett this afternoon?

[teddycoke]

totally agree we all need to calm down...it very well may not be Shaka...regardless we will be in good shape no matter who we hire...have faith....

[Windyplayer]

And another calm before the second storm cell.

[RyanConroy]

Seems to me this still could be:

1) Shaka playing MU to gain leverage at VCU.

2) MU putting out a small, false leak to lower level media sources (ones with whom they don't have to worry about maintaining credibility) to bring down the asking price of Ben Howland.

[Tugg Speedman]

Definitely. There's been momentum behind these rumors for a couple of hours now. Yet no major reporter has picked up the story. Hard to believe that these local insiders are privy to more information than Andy Katz or Jeff Goodman.

Katz and Goodman know and are trying to confirm.  The fact they have not shot it down (yet?) means no one is saying no.  Most likely no one is talking period.  Why no denial????

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

message boards are not places for calm.

[RyanConroy]

In fairness, isn't Katz busy with Brett this afternoon?

Haha, nice point.

[damuts222]

If it happened it'll be breaking news on the 5PM Sportscenter

[RyanConroy]

Katz and Goodman know and are trying to confirm.  The fact they have not shot it down (yet?) means no one is saying no.  Most likely no one is talking period.  Why no denial????

I hope that's the case. I hope it isn't that they mistrust the source of information (along with being unable to corroborate).

Major reporters would seem to have very little to gain by denying rumors. If they're wrong, they look like idiots. If they're right, they haven't really broken any story.

[79Warrior]

Katz and Goodman know and are trying to confirm.  The fact they have not shot it down (yet?) means no one is saying no.  Most likely no one is talking period.  Why no denial????

There is nothing to shoot down because NO credible national reporter has even hinted at this. The next BOOM we hear could be the air out of this bubble. Makes me a little uneasy this story has no credible national attention yet.

[Hards Alumni]

color me worried.

[Norm]

Oh, we are way ahead of ourselves here. We're excited because he would be a great get as the new coach, so that is what is driving a lot of the momentum here. I hope I'm wrong, but my gut tells me that this is not happening.

[Pakuni]

Of course we're getting way ahead of ourselves here.
It's what we Internet message board idiots do.

[mu_hilltopper]

It's only a matter of time before someone figures it out .. us MUScoop mods have hatched this hoax to boost the numbers here, trying to set a new online record.

[MU82]

Definitely. There's been momentum behind these rumors for a couple of hours now. Yet no major reporter has picked up the story. Hard to believe that these local insiders are privy to more information than Andy Katz or Jeff Goodman.

This.

I will believe this is done as soon as a credible journalist says it's done.

[esotericmindguy]

It's fun, I've enjoyed following it today. Problem is, if they don't get Smart I'm now slightly disappointed with any other hire.

[Benny B]

There is nothing to shoot down because NO credible national reporter has even hinted at this. The next BOOM we hear could be the air out of this bubble. Makes me a little uneasy this story has no credible national attention yet.

This.

I will believe this is done as soon as a credible journalist says it's done.

It is not uncommon for a press release or announcement to be distributed to journalists but embargoed for hours, or days, prior to an announcement being made.  Most professional journalists will adhere to such embargo if they were on the distribution list, even if they get it from another "source."  But if the release passes through the hands of someone who's not a journalist, you'll get a bunch of unsubstantiated rumors flying around - with no comments from journalists who usually feast on (or deny) such rumors - until the moment the clock hits that embargo date/time.

Given the circumstances, I view the fact that Goodman, Parrish, etc. haven't chimed in as something getting ready to go down.

[MarquetteFan94]

My inner pessimist says we're going to feel disappointed on this one....that said, Howland would be a helluva consolation prize....and many's first choice.

[Dish]

In the thread I started about this being a concern, if we don't hear a "where there's smoke, there's fire" or "no truth to the rumor" from either Goodman or Parrish by this evening, then I think it's not happening with Smart.