Tuesday, December 16, 2014

How We Blew it With Joe

Just in case anyone is wondering why I'm so insistent on making sure Columbia doesn't blow its hiring opportunities... just read this.

I know some people may doubt that Columbia had a chance three years ago to hire Joe Moglia.

But we did, and here's what happened:

In his fourth and likely last hiring season—“As much as I want to spend my life coaching, I did not want to spend the rest of my life looking for a job,” he told me—Columbia University, Florida Atlantic University and Fordham University all showed interest in him. Columbia blew him off after a phone interview. FAU hired another coach (Carl Pelini, who has since been relieved of his duties). And Moglia withdrew his name from consideration for the Fordham job when it became clear the school was going with another coach. (He did so reluctantly; Fordham is his alma mater.)

Of course, we all know why Columbia blew him off: Dianne Murphy had already decided on Pete Mangurian even before the phony search committee was formed.

We hired a guy with a long history of player relationship problems instead of Joe Moglia!

Joe Moglia!

For those who think Columbia is just cursed and there's nothing our leaders could do to fix that curse, the Moglia story is a very important example of how poor management, and not our location, facilities, or funding is our true curse.

With Rick Taylor scrutinizing the program right now, Murphy out and some of the usual suspects also in the doghouse, maybe that curse is in the process of reversing itself once and for all.

Meanwhile, there's only one way to make this right: CALL MOGLIA BACK!!


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's not uncommon to never hear back from someone after a phone interview. Etiquette has gone out the window in today's business climate on all levels.

I would agree, a call to Moglia should be made to apologize and find out what his interest level now is. Joe will or should say, "What's in it for me?". That is the big question I don't think anyone is addressing.

Even if it's not Joe Moglia. Let's say anyone qualified to be a head coach in the FCS. What exactly should candidates find attractive about the position? It's an uphill climb, everyone knows that. Whatever the pitch points are need to be emphasized in any discussions here and elsewhere. Can't just be, well, we know we're going to be hammered, just do the best you can type of thing (which is the only reality I can see at least in season 1).

I don't want to hear there is good nucleus. No there isn't. There are a few good players but no such nucleus exists. A fractured environment and heavily damaged morale exists. A rudderless ship exists.

Chick said...

Uh-oh, Al, I'm hearing the theme from the Titanic.
It's no that bad, is it, with a competent coach training
the team and calling the plays?

Columbia_Fan said...

Al,
There are more than a few.
Some good players we never got to see, because they were not being played at their best positions. Others were played at spots not right for them. One of the major strengths of a good staff is player evaluation, both during the recruiting process and on the practice field. We were sadly lacking this portion of coaching expertise for the last 3 years.
If we get the right head coach and staff, you should see some position changes early next season.
No, I am not Danny White.

Columbia_Fan said...

Hoping for the Ghost of Seasons Past to visit some of the major players making the 2 big decisions comming up after the holidays.

Columbia_Fan said...

My paper's sports page today full of football coaching changes.
Agree we should be weeding out prospects/non-prospects now.

WOF said...

The AD that gets hired will be the first indication to any prospective coach if we are finally serious or not.

IT would probably also be helpful if Bollinger took a role in recruiting the new coach and stating clearly that he wants a successful program.

Coach said...

WOF- agree- the football coaching world is waiting to see if Columbia hires a football person as AD, and , I agree, waiting to see Bollinger make a public statement regarding football.