Coming to Rice Eccles- The new look Utes!

[press-on]

“The positive is we know exactly where our problem lies.”
“There is no mystery as to what our issues are.”
“There will be some tough decisions made in the next 24 to 48 hours.” Post game comments by Whittingham to
SL Tribune.

Can’t hardly wait till Monday or Tuesday to see the New Look Winning Utes!!

[EagleMountainUte]

Monday it will be:
Team meeting we evaluated our strengths and realized we have none offensively.

Ludwig will move to the sideline. Harding to the booth.

Book it.

[Tony (admin)]

So you’re saying no results are going to change.

[EagleMountainUte]

Yes but in hopefully an amusing light hearted way that we can look back and laugh about it.

[press-on]

To UteHub… No Changes? No. Not saying that.
My take. This is NOT a simple leak that just sprung up 3 weeks ago. And it won’t be fixed in 24-48 hours with a new play caller.
This is a seismic problem (many major issues) in the Ute football program that started at the top with AD Harlan and goes all the way down through the whole coaching ranks.
Probably won’t be resolved for years, after several coaching changes, perhaps many years due to the salary hole Harlan has put us in. Problem extends in Football as well as Basketball. (can’t comment of other programs, though). Living way beyond our means. Look it up and check it out, Utefan’s.
Hang in. Sorry for the very negative assessment. It’s going to be a wild ride for some time!

[The Miami Ute]

I’m not sure that I understand what you mean when you say we’re “living way beyond our means.” RES has been sold out for well over a decade, the team has experienced success into this season, and Whitt’s pay is commensurate with his success. Yes, he has three more years in his current contract which has a base of ~$6.5M but that’s not a disaster. Look at FSU, who just before this season started, gave Mike Norvell an eight-year extension starting at $10M. MBB is similar, with Smith being on contract for three more seasons at ~$2M. For me, the problem is not getting rid of either Whitt or Smith, but making sure that you pick the right replacement. I’m not sure that Harlan is up to the task.

[EagleMountainUte]

Utah football the one program not in the red is actually Arizona…

LOL. Not even close. Scalley is good enough to replace Whitt and perform for the next few years.
I also think you can pick up Jay Hill at any time if Scalley fails.

[The Miami Ute]

Yeah, Arizona has been so financially mismanaged (tons of articles about this issue online) that they’re so poor that they can’t even pay attention. Due to that, I was shocked to see both Fifita and MacMillan stay this season. Must be one of those rare cases where players actually like the school that they’re going to.

[2008 National Champ]

Or didn’t like Fisch enough to follow him to the rain capital of the world for 9 months.

[EagleMountainUte]

It is a love interest. No idea but just seems that way to me. When things don’t make sense it usually means thinking with a different head.

[press-on]

Reply:
What I mean is, you never want to be trapped $ wise by a coach’s contract. (some have referenced Arizona). I don’t care who the coach is or what he has done in the past. Remember Ronnie Mac’s Eccles Stadium in 2002. Fans don’t stick around for very many lean years.
As for Whitt and co. A buyout at $6.5 mil/year for Whitt for 3 more years not to mention Ludwig’s $1.8/ year on a tri-year basis and Scalleys $$$, should for any reason the U elect to go in a different direction (stranger things have happened) is very bad news for this program. Don’t look now but we really are stuck, at least for 3 more years. Are you really sure and confident that these coaches can turn this ship around on a dime?
Oh, and should the unthinkable happen in the short term, you still need to negotiate Big Buck contracts with new coaches with $$$ we then won’t have.

[Anfernee]

I feel like Whitt would retire or step down and thr finances wouldn’t be an issue really. That’s the least of my concerns with the program.

[Author]

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