Vic was GREAT for us, but..

[NCMSTFAN]

I take it personal for him leaving our program and this team with all the talent we have. I understand he is from Texas and will be going home but he built a National Powerhouse at MSU, you would think he would take pride in completely changing an entire program around. Next years roster has the potential to be a National title contender if we can keep it together, Vic and his staff went up to Detroit to convince the 1st McDonald's All American Rickea Jackson to come way down to Mississippi, he did the same with Sidney Cooks and convinced her to come to MSU from Michigan State, she had plenty of offers when transferring, we are bringing in another McDonald's All American this year... Plus all the other talent that has been brought in over the years.. It's not like he never had success while there.. Then all of a sudden he leaves this team, with all this talent and a bunch of girls who could have almost gone anywhere in the country. This wouldn't happen at UCONN, Baylor, Tennessee, Stanford etc. Who would leave that type of talent? I respect what Vic did for our program and he was an Amazing coach for us, but it is very upsetting to feel like we aren't "good enough"... some will disagree and use the going back home card but why leave so much history that he made that had never been done.. he had all of the pieces at State..this is why I feel like Johnnie Harris is the best hire, these girls know her and were all recruited by her.. she can potentially save this and she also mentioned being a head coach one day. Just my humble opinion

[Cooterpoot]

Some folks need to realize Starkville, MS and MSU aren't destination jobs except for coaches taking that first big step up with aspirations of more. And coaches looking to prove more later in their careers.

[ShotgunDawg]

Great post.

My only thought is that he really wanted to be near his family. Maybe there are health reasons. Who knows.

However, this is why you fire every coach that doesn't win and show very little loyalty. Win or be fired.

[ShotgunDawg]

Some folks need to realize Starkville, MS and MSU aren't destination jobs except for coaches taking that first big step up with aspirations of more.

And people call me negative.

This is as negative as an MSU fan can possibly be.

[Cooterpoot]

And people call me negative.

This is as negative as an MSU fan can possibly be.

If you can't see it's fact, I can't help you. And as long as they win, who cares?

[dawgday166]

And people call me negative.

This is as negative as an MSU fan can possibly be.

It's true tho except maybe in baseball or if we luck up and hire an outstanding coach that went to MSU and is from Mississippi.

[Rick Danko]

At this point I am convinced Chad Bumphis will become a world class coach, come here, get us to the door step of National prominence, and then Auburn will call and take him away.....

[NCMSTFAN]

I dont see Dawn Staley ever leaving South Carolina, I dont see McGraw leaving Notre Dame, Kim Mulkey wont leave Baylor, Geno surely wont leave UCONN.. the list can go on, but we have a great coach who built a great program leaving.... Again I don't care if it's for his home state, all those coaches aren't coaching in their home state either and you better believe offers went their respective ways at some point

[ShotgunDawg]

If you can't see it's fact, I can't help you. And as long as they win, who cares?

I don't think it is a fact. I think we can get there.

I refuse to accept limitations to our university. So yes, I may bitch & complain about things but it's because I know we can do better which a fair more positive & optimistic attitude than becoming apathetic due to accepting limitations.

[ShotgunDawg]

It's true tho except maybe in baseball or if we luck up and hire an outstanding coach that went to MSU and is from Mississippi.

It's historically true, but it doesn't mean it has to be in the future.

[ShotgunDawg]

I dont see Dawn Staley ever leaving South Carolina, I dont see McGraw leaving Notre Dame, Kim Mulkey wont leave Baylor, Geno surely wont leave UCONN.. the list can go on, but we have a great coach who built a great program leaving.... Again I don't care if it's for his home state, all those coaches aren't coaching in their home state either and you better believe offers went their respective ways at some point

South Bend is a shit hole. How come they don't lose coaches?

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Good grief, coaching is a profession not a marriage. Some of you think that if you aren't working for the same company that you joined right out of school then you must be a disloyal piece of crap.

[drummerdawg]

South Bend is a shit hole. How come they don't lose coaches?

Mississippi State and Starkville are nowhere in the same ballpark as Notre Dame and South Bend. I love State as much as anybody and Starkville has definitely gotten better over the years, but Starkville is just not an attractive place to live for many people, and for several reasons. I hope that this does change and I think we're going in the right direction for the most part but it just is what it is.

[Behrdawg]

Efff that. Get out of here with that shit

[The Federalist Engineer]

Some folks need to realize Starkville, MS and MSU aren't destination jobs except for coaches taking that first big step up with aspirations of more. And coaches looking to prove more later in their careers.

He?s 59 years old. Seems silly to leave to ?go home? and abandon a program that he literally built.

He?s gonna be a old duffer in Austin.

Not arguing with your logic. Just saying, a 59 year old dude in Las Vegas is the same as a 59 year old in Erie, PA. They don?t sell better CPAP supplies in Austin or have a different selection at Joseph A Banks. Same ugly shit.

Could be a wife thing. She could have some bunco night thing with some greasy gang in Austin.

[NeuteredDawg]

Starkville, MS or Austin, Tx

End game

[Cooterpoot]

He?s 59 years old. Seems silly to leave to ?go home? and abandon a program that he literally built.

He?s gonna be a old duffer in Austin.

Not arguing with your logic. Just saying, a 59 year old dude in Las Vegas is the same as a 59 year old in Erie, PA. They don?t sell better CPAP supplies in Austin or have a different selection at Joseph A Banks. Same ugly shit.

Could be a wife thing. She could have some bunco night thing with some greasy gang in Austin.

There's no comparison between UT and Austin to State and Starkville. Especially when you're closer to family. He's was headed to TX first big shot he got.

[AlSwearengen]

Lifelong Mississippian (except for 3 years in NC when I was 12-15) and I can say that MS is generally a shit hole. Young coaches with kids won’t like the schools. Coach’s wives who want to do something other than sit in the house probably won’t be happy. I could go on and on.

I just hope this doesn’t bleed over into baseball.

[AlSwearengen]

Lifelong Mississippian (except for 3 years in NC when I was 12-15) and I can say that MS is generally a shit hole. Young coaches with kids won?t like the schools. Coach?s wives who want to do something other than sit in the house probably won?t be happy. I could go on and on.

I just hope this doesn?t bleed over into baseball.

[MetEdDawg]

The desire to go home for him was clear from the beginning. Many said during his time at MSU that if TAMU came open he would take it.

Money cant overcome the urge to go home. If you've ever lived away from home and have strong ties to home, money doesn't matter. I can speak to that when my wife and I got to move back to my home after she graduated from veterinary school.

We offered Vic 5 years 10 million dollars. He declined it. Because we can't offer him home. He's older, has kids, and one day they will have kids. Guy is going to a prestigious university that has ties to where he grew up. Some times you can't compete with that. Sucks but welcome to life. People do that every single day in every single working sector across the country.

Don't hammer the guy. Be happy we got 8 years of program changing coaching from probably the best coach that's ever stepped on our campus and understand why things happen. I'm never going to take it personally when someone wants to be closer to home. Some people think money talks. When you talk about home and family, money doesn't matter many times.

Happy for coach and thankful for the time we got to have him. Hope we can learn from his tenure here.

[klong-dog]

The desire to go home for him was clear from the beginning. Many said during his time at MSU that if TAMU came open he would take it.

Money cant overcome the urge to go home. If you've ever lived away from home and have strong ties to home, money doesn't matter. I can speak to that when my wife and I got to move back to my home after she graduated from veterinary school.

We offered Vic 5 years 10 million dollars. He declined it. Because we can't offer him home. He's older, has kids, and one day they will have kids. Guy is going to a prestigious university that has ties to where he grew up. Some times you can't compete with that. Sucks but welcome to life. People do that every single day in every single working sector across the country.

Don't hammer the guy. Be happy we got 8 years of program changing coaching from probably the best coach that's ever stepped on our campus and understand why things happen. I'm never going to take it personally when someone wants to be closer to home. Some people think money talks. When you talk about home and family, money doesn't matter many times.

Happy for coach and thankful for the time we got to have him. Hope we can learn from his tenure here.

Spot on. Well said.

[NCMSTFAN]

The desire to go home for him was clear from the beginning. Many said during his time at MSU that if TAMU came open he would take it.

Money cant overcome the urge to go home. If you've ever lived away from home and have strong ties to home, money doesn't matter. I can speak to that when my wife and I got to move back to my home after she graduated from veterinary school.

We offered Vic 5 years 10 million dollars. He declined it. Because we can't offer him home. He's older, has kids, and one day they will have kids. Guy is going to a prestigious university that has ties to where he grew up. Some times you can't compete with that. Sucks but welcome to life. People do that every single day in every single working sector across the country.

Don't hammer the guy. Be happy we got 8 years of program changing coaching from probably the best coach that's ever stepped on our campus and understand why things happen. I'm never going to take it personally when someone wants to be closer to home. Some people think money talks. When you talk about home and family, money doesn't matter many times.

Happy for coach and thankful for the time we got to have him. Hope we can learn from his tenure here.

Great attitude, so just be happy we got what we did from Vic, dont question it or be upset? Alot of us are from Mississippi so we should just bow down and be happy because we got him for all those years right?? That attitude is why we are where we are in everything and not just including sports... I personally am not happy for Vic, I can say I understand and respect it but I'm not happy for anyone leaving our program especially this particular program with that talent . I wont lie and act like I'm happy for him because I'm not.

[Bothrops]

And people call me negative.

This is as negative as an MSU fan can possibly be.

Hold my dark cloud! We ain't gonna be doing what we've been used to doing in women's hoops anymore. I'm not saying we're gonna be Ole Miss anytime soon, but it's ****ing over.

[Dawg2003]

I still can't quite wrap my head around this. He built a program into a national powerhouse, assembled the most talent he's ever had, and then set fire to it. WTF?

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Maybe he didnt like working for Cohen.

[Tbonewannabe]

I still can't quite wrap my head around this. He built a program into a national powerhouse, assembled the most talent he's ever had, and then set fire to it. WTF?

Exactly what Mullen did.

[MetEdDawg]

Great attitude, so just be happy we got what we did from Vic, dont question it or be upset? Alot of us are from Mississippi so we should just bow down and be happy because we got him for all those years right?? That attitude is why we are where we are in everything and not just including sports... I personally am not happy for Vic, I can say I understand and respect it but I'm not happy for anyone leaving our program especially this particular program with that talent . I wont lie and act like I'm happy for him because I'm not.

I just don't get this attitude. Dude is a damn grown man. Not only can he do whatever he wants, but he's actually got a reason for leaving.

I think in sports we too emotional and forget that we are dealing with humans that have desires and wishes too. We think everyone should be loyal to OUR program for their entire life while we change jobs and look for better situations all the time in our own life.

Literally makes no sense. This to me is the ugly side of fans. I get being upset he's gone. I'm upset too. Guy was the best coach we've ever had on our campus. But he's going home. How can you fault the guy for that? Who cares how much talent we have? That should further drive home the point that this wasn't about us.

[msbulldog]

As I understand he has elderly parents (from a previous post) that live in Austin, yeah I can understand it. I wish I had those years with my parents.

[Dawg2003]

Exactly what Mullen did.

Yup. I actually thought Vic would stay though. I knew Mullen had one foot out the door. Vic was the only coach that I actually thought would stay. It's obvious now that his plan was always to get back to Texas.

[AROB44]

Maybe he didnt like working for Cohen.

Your dislike for Cohen is very apparent. Do you work for him?

[ShotgunDawg]

Your dislike for Cohen is very apparent. Do you work for him?

Do you?

[StateDawg44]

Do you?

The way I picture you right now is like a little child standing in the corner with her arms crossed, lip stuck out throwing a tantrum and screaming "it's not fair!".

[Jack Lambert]

How many of our current roster he takes with him?

[Dawgology]

I've got to be honest. Vic looked tired this year. I don't know what is going on with him but he wanted to get back home and I can't blame him. I understand it.

WITH THAT SAID: We are in the same position that we were in when Mullen left. Program built. Poised to make the next step. Cohen can't **** this up. It needs to be a GREAT hire and a GREAT recruiter. we can give them whatever money they want. Just keep the trajectory upward. With the team we have and the class we have coming in a good/great coach should still be able to make a solid run next year.

[AROB44]

Hire Johnnie Harris.....

[deltadawg63]

Hire Harris with her commitment to retain some component of the assistants if possible. Remember, it was Durrett-Jackson that persuaded Vic to change to zone against Vandy when it was desperately needed in that game. Several of them have ability. The problem may be Vic having large dollars to take several of those with him to Austin.

[yjnkdawg]

The way I picture you right now is like a little child standing in the corner with her arms crossed, lip stuck out throwing a tantrum and screaming "it's not fair!".


He lives in his own little MSU sports fantasy world. He wants the athletic department personnel to do things he wants to see done or he doesn't want the athletic department personnel to do things he doesn't want done. He has no clue or plan on how to accomplish what he wants or doesn't want. He will just keep on bitching, griping and complaining. Wash, rinse and repeat.

[ShotgunDawg]

I would attempt to hire a proven head coach before hiring Harris.

We have no idea if Harris will be a good head coach

[NCMSTFAN]

I just don't get this attitude. Dude is a damn grown man. Not only can he do whatever he wants, but he's actually got a reason for leaving.

I think in sports we too emotional and forget that we are dealing with humans that have desires and wishes too. We think everyone should be loyal to OUR program for their entire life while we change jobs and look for better situations all the time in our own life.

Literally makes no sense. This to me is the ugly side of fans. I get being upset he's gone. I'm upset too. Guy was the best coach we've ever had on our campus. But he's going home. How can you fault the guy for that? Who cares how much talent we have? That should further drive home the point that this wasn't about us.

I actually get everything you are saying and agree with most of it, but as a loyal fan of a team you grow up watching it's hard to sit back and be ok with the best coach in program history leaving like that, and you are 100% correct he is a grown man and can make his own decisions, for me its still hard to understand leaving so much on the table, I do have all the respect in the world for the guy, just disappointed he left us.

[shoeless joe]

It sucks. I don’t necessarily blame him for going home but I don’t understand leaving at this point. Timing seems odd.

I do know this. The way he wants to talk to and patronize the opposing coach after whipping their ass will really get on my nerves now that he’s not one of us.

[Bothrops]

In a few years from now we won't be talking about women's hoops anymore.

[BB30]

South Bend is a shit hole. How come they don't lose coaches?

Seeing as South Bend is roughly 3-4 times the size of Starkville I am sure there is probably a lot more things to do around South Bend. Not to mention your at a top 10 school when it comes to Athletics. You can argue all you want that Notre Dame isn't relevant anymore but they most certainly are.

Be realistic occasionally, it would go a long way. It is going to take time to grow our Athletic Dept. the best recipe is to keep winning at a consistent clip in all of the sports. Which over the last decade we have done a pretty good job at save a couple of seasons here and there.

You need too much instant gratification. If it doesn't happen yesterday you aren't happy. I would rather it take some time and be built on solid footing and that is what is being done.

[msbulldog]

Hire Johnnie Harris.....

Absolutely!

[schddog72]

South Bend is a shit hole. How come they don't lose coaches?

Well, South Bend does have Mayor Pete . . . . . . . .

[maroonmania]

Some folks need to realize Starkville, MS and MSU aren't destination jobs except for coaches taking that first big step up with aspirations of more. And coaches looking to prove more later in their careers.

MSU will never be a destination job for football or men's basketball but it certainly can be for any other sport given the money and facilities we have or can build if need be. Vic had a perfect marriage with the fanbase here and everything and everyone was pulling in the same direction. I will be surprised if he gets that at Texas.

[Homedawg]

Great attitude, so just be happy we got what we did from Vic, dont question it or be upset? Alot of us are from Mississippi so we should just bow down and be happy because we got him for all those years right?? That attitude is why we are where we are in everything and not just including sports... I personally am not happy for Vic, I can say I understand and respect it but I'm not happy for anyone leaving our program especially this particular program with that talent . I wont lie and act like I'm happy for him because I'm not.
If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have that talent...