HOW TO START OVER

[DUBulldog]

Who would Drake fans like to see interviewed?

That's a real good question, since we really have no idea who would realistically be interested.

I know that when Giacoletti's name first came out as a candidate for the job in 2013, the reaction on Drakenation was extremely negative.

At that time, I think most on the message board wanted either Nick Nurse or Steve Forbes.

Nurse was at that time the head coach of the Iowa Energy (NBDL), now he's an assistant for the Toronto Raptors. He definitely wanted the Drake job.

Forbes has Iowa ties (born and raised in the state), but I have no clue if he actually had any interest in the job, or even applied. He's now the head coach at ETSU and doing well there.

A few names that people have mentioned this time, in addition to Nurse and Forbes are Matt Woodley and Kevin Gamble.

Woodley is a former Drake player who is now head coach of the Iowa Energy. Very tough, hard nosed guy who comes from a family of coaches.

Gamble played for Tom Davis at Iowa and then had a 6-8 year NBA career. He's currently an assistant under Keno Davis at Central Michigan.

[Cdizzle]

Forbes is already in a better spot than Drake. He'll move up quite a bit in a couple of years.

[Drakey]

CDizzle: Your contempt for Drake is obvious, but you really don't have any idea what you are talking about. I'm not sure that anybody would think East Tennessee State id a better job than Drake other than you. Forbes base salary was less than half of what Giacoletti was making at Drake. They play in one of the weakest conferences in the country. (Southern) I agree that he is in a better position NOW, but that is because he recruited a bunch of good players and is a good coach who has made the team good in two years. Des Moines is the third largest market in the Valley I believe, and you can't really count Chicago as larger since they have no interest in college sports, especially mid-major sports. It would take no time at all for Drake to be among the attendance leaders in the Valley if they were to put a good product on the floor. It only took a few weeks into the last good season Drake had to cause every game to be a sellout for the remainder of the season. If Drake had played in a 12,000 seat arena, they would have filled that too. Des Moines is certainly a more attractive city than Wichita, and Drake is by far a better school by any objective standard. All that is missing is a basketball coach, and an AD that can hire a basketball coach. Drake is the most similar school in the Valley to Creighton. Their basketball programs and attendance were almost identical until the mid 90's. Their is no reason Drake can't do what Creighton did if the president of the university has any commitment to do so.

[specialsauce]

CDizzle: Your contempt for Drake is obvious, but you really don't have any idea what you are talking about. I'm not sure that anybody would think East Tennessee State id a better job than Drake other than you. Forbes base salary was less than half of what Giacoletti was making at Drake. They play in one of the weakest conferences in the country. (Southern) I agree that he is in a better position NOW, but that is because he recruited a bunch of good players and is a good coach who has made the team good in two years. Des Moines is the third largest market in the Valley I believe, and you can't really count Chicago as larger since they have no interest in college sports, especially mid-major sports. It would take no time at all for Drake to be among the attendance leaders in the Valley if they were to put a good product on the floor. It only took a few weeks into the last good season Drake had to cause every game to be a sellout for the remainder of the season. If Drake had played in a 12,000 seat arena, they would have filled that too. Des Moines is certainly a more attractive city than Wichita, and Drake is by far a better school by any objective standard. All that is missing is a basketball coach, and an AD that can hire a basketball coach. Drake is the most similar school in the Valley to Creighton. Their basketball programs and attendance were almost identical until the mid 90's. Their is no reason Drake can't do what Creighton did if the president of the university has any commitment to do so.

Cdizzle's reactions to the subject have been harsh, but your subsequent reaction is full blown re-re. I'm just gonna chalk it up as a defensive reflex and hope that you weren't serious about it when you simmer down.

[Stickboy46]

CDizzle: Your contempt for Drake is obvious, but you really don't have any idea what you are talking about. I'm not sure that anybody would think East Tennessee State id a better job than Drake other than you. Forbes base salary was less than half of what Giacoletti was making at Drake. They play in one of the weakest conferences in the country. (Southern) I agree that he is in a better position NOW, but that is because he recruited a bunch of good players and is a good coach who has made the team good in two years. Des Moines is the third largest market in the Valley I believe, and you can't really count Chicago as larger since they have no interest in college sports, especially mid-major sports. It would take no time at all for Drake to be among the attendance leaders in the Valley if they were to put a good product on the floor. It only took a few weeks into the last good season Drake had to cause every game to be a sellout for the remainder of the season. If Drake had played in a 12,000 seat arena, they would have filled that too. Des Moines is certainly a more attractive city than Wichita, and Drake is by far a better school by any objective standard. All that is missing is a basketball coach, and an AD that can hire a basketball coach. Drake is the most similar school in the Valley to Creighton. Their basketball programs and attendance were almost identical until the mid 90's. Their is no reason Drake can't do what Creighton did if the president of the university has any commitment to do so.

In the 4 years or so it would take to build Drake back to the level of ETSU, Forbes will have a P5 offer. His name was already getting thrown around this off season and it will only grown. As far as Des Moines versus Wichita? That's in the eye of the beholder. I personally would never ever consider living in Des Moines. Wichita is nothing amazing, but a really great town. That's besides the point here. We aren't comparing Des Moines to Wichita or Drake to Wichita. We are comparing Forbes career path by staying at ETSU vs jumping to Drake. I don't see any way possible that a jump to Drake improves his career path. It can only set it back. The support just isnt there and Forbes is already on a path to a P5 gig.

To be clear ... Drake would be dumb to not have him near the top of their list and at least reach out to him. I just don't see it happening.

[Cdizzle]

If that list of ridiculousness is "knowing what you're talking about" then I guess I'm happy I'm full of it.

I have no contempt for Drake, or its fans. In fact, I have given kudos to the Drake fans that exist. That's not an easy road. But it's very obvious that successful Division I athletics and Drake University have gone down very different roads. I understand that as a fan of the school, that's not something you're going to want to hear, or likely agree with, but it's the real world.

Drake has 1 20-win season and 3 total winning seasons in the last 30 years. I'm not trying to be mean to fans of that team. Like I said, the fact that you folks still exist is a testament to your fanhood. But it doesn't mean the school should keep supporting DI athletics, either.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

IMO, Drake would be more successful trying to emulate Grinnell than UK or GU. Both in that I think D2 or D3 is a better idea, and that even if not, running a gimmicky scheme might be their best way to attract talent above their current level. You might actually be able to find some decent talent that would want to play a fun run-and-gun style, or 40 minutes of hell, or something. D+ wasn't attracting anyone.

I agree that Drake needs to hire a coach who can think outside the box. Somebody who's willing to take some chances and will play a style of basketball that fans want to see. Nothing worse than losing 75% of the time + boring style of play.

Unfortunately, our AD doesn't seem interested in anybody capable of thinking outside the box.

I've always thought Drake/Loyola/Evansville should hire Duggar.

[Drakey]

I never indicated that Forbes would even consider Drake now. He will be at a major conference school in a year or two. But when Drake hired Giacoletti, I would have to think he would have jumped at the job. He is from Iowa, and the job pays double what he got paid for going to East Tennessee. I have followed basketball fro quite awhile, and I don't off the top of my head remember ever hearing of East Tennessee until they hire Forbes. I just lament the fact that our incompetent AD apparently never even tried to hire him. Drake was not a terrible job 4 years ago. As you may recall, Phelps had the stop rated recruiting class in the Valley twice, he just couldn't coach. Now I'm not sure who we could attract.

[UEACES80]

Who is Duggar?

[DUBulldog]

Who is Duggar?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duggar_Baucom