I don't believe anything that reached a point where they had broken ground on a project and had to stop temporarily. They're still raising money for the baseball facility for outfield turf. They're still planning on reconstructing the indoor practice facility for football, but that's more long-term.
I'm partial to the peak Jordan Bulls years ... but I watch a lot of NBA now. The star power in today's game is just as good and the style of play is probably more exciting because the game isn't as physical and more wide open.
I would pick Mizzou football fifth in the SEC East with a chance to 7-5. Is that a great season? No, but it's reasonably good for a first-year head coach. We don't know enough yet about the returning hoops talent in the SEC - we will once the NBA draft comes and goes - but I would probably slot Mizzou somewhere in the 8th to 11th-place range just based on what we expect Martin's roster to look like. That's nothing special, maybe good enough to slip into the NCAA Tournament with an eighth-place finish. So, that's a long way to get to your question. I guess I don't see either team being all that outstanding in 2020-21 but there's probably more upside for football because we haven't seen what this staff can do.
I think the people who wield the most power in the league - the conference commissioners - will do all they can to have a season. Ultimately, the virus and the nation's management of the virus will determine if there's football.
It's been discussed for years that MU would build a new indoor practice facility for football that was actually 100 yards long unlike the current model. I haven't heard of any recent discussions since the coaching change so those plans are probably in a holding pattern now. When you go through three head coaches and three ADs over five years, plans tend to shift around a lot.
I'm not aware of any resistance from Mizzou on that topic.
I wasn't aware of these discussions to let players leave after one season in college. I know the NFL doesn't want that - and the one-and-done rule in college basketball is an NBA rule, not an NCAA rule.
Would I say he should be fired or on the hot seat? Like I always say with these questions, context is important. If they go .500 after absorbing multiple major injuries that's different than going .500 with a team that just underachieves. But, generally speaking, if this team finishes around .500 and fails to make the NCAA Tournament for a third straight year, Mizzou has to think long and hard about whether the program is headed in the right direction. And, more important, are there funds available or enough demand from the fan base to pay $6 million buyout to make a change - on top of the $3-4 million you'll have to pay the next head coach. Considering the financial constraints Mizzou will most certainly face this coming year, finding the funds for that kind of move won't be easy under any circumstances.
I'll put the benchmark at 20 - provided that all three NBA draft guys return to school. That should be one of the most, if not THE MOST, experienced core in the SEC. But the schedule isn't going to be easy. Neutral-site games against Kansas and Illinois. A home game vs. Utah. Potential road games at Missouri State and Wichita State. Myrtle Beach Invitational games against a field that includes Dayton, Loyola, Nebraska, Pitt, Penn, Charlotte and Utah State.
A furlough week provided lots of hours for yard work, including the once dead bush that is now close to lush and green.
We had a good rapport professionally. There was tension at times. He didn't like everything I wrote. I haven't had any interaction with him since his last game at Arkansas. He's been in touch with some other writers, but I'm sure we'll cross paths again at some point.
Didn't have any questions to answer.
OK, friends. We're out of questions. We'll do this again next week. Stay safe until then.
He's clearly got a plan. He's prepared. He isn't making things up as he goes along. He knows what he wants his program to look like. He knows how things will operate internally.I know everyone focuses on the charisma/personality, but I think that should be a given in today's game. If you can't make a strong impression with your personality and the way you interact with the public and the media, then you shouldn't be a college coach in a major program.