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Post Info TOPIC: Bower's contract not yet extended
Fire Shelby


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Bower's contract not yet extended
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Southern Miss News  -   Friday, April 9, 2004 Bower awaits new contract

By Daimon Eklund
DEklund@hattiesb.gannett.com; American Sports Writer


Before the University of Southern Mississippi football team played in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 31, USM director of athletics Richard Giannini said that head football coach Jeff Bower was in line for a contract extension.

At the end of February, Giannini said he believed the contract would be final by mid-March, and that there were no issues between the two parties as lawyers worked out the details.

As the Black and Gold spring football game (April 17) approaches, the contract isn't done, and the lawyers are still working out the details.

"The only thing I'll say is that nothing's been finalized," Bower said. "I don't know how close it is."

Both Bower and Giannini said Thursday they have not met recently to discuss the contract, instead leaving the matter to the attorneys.

Giannini said he hasn't heard any updates on the process in some time.

"I don't think there's any hang-up," Giannini said.

When told Bower did not believe an agreement had been reached, Giannini said: "Then I think the attorneys need to communicate."

Bower's current contract expires Dec. 31, 2005. Any extension would likely extend the life of the contract two years, to the maximum four years allowed under state law.

Under the terms of the current contract, Bower did receive an automatic 10 percent raise this winter for winning the Conference USA championship. His base salary last year was $200,212. This year it will be $220,233. On top of the base salary, Bower also receives $100,000 annually for radio and television appearances, and $55,000 annually in "supplemental payments."

There are also incentives clauses based on things such as numbers of season tickets sold, television appearances and the team's graduation rate.

Last season the Golden Eagles posted a 9-3 regular-season record before losing to Utah in the Liberty Bowl.

Bower said he hopes to have an extension completed soon.

"You'd certainly like for it to happen as fast as it can go," Bower said. "Especially, I would have hoped we could have done something in December or January because that's recruiting time, and anything you can get positive - the kids always want to know how stable your situation is.

"I would have liked to have gotten it done, but for reasons I won't disclose, it hasn't been determined yet. We haven't agreed yet."

 

Originally published Friday, April 9, 2004






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Fire Shelby


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I heard from someone who knows Bower...
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...that he was forced by Shelby Thames to attend the pro-Shelby rally--he was "strongly urged" by Shelby's folks to BE THERE, and he was very unhappy about being forced to participate. He had not wanted to be involved in the turmoil--especially as his contract extension was being negotiated.  It should have been completed in March, and he is still waiting...


Bower was informed that the reason they have not yet given him the contract extension was so they'd have the option of getting rid of him if he doesn't do the impossible - put USM in realms of the LSU/OU/Stanford programs.  Delusional.


Like I said earlier, don't jump to conclusions that people who are not at OUR protests are supporters of Thames.


This is really sad for Jeff Bower.  He deserves better treatment than this.


 



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Greedy

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RE: You are so right Fire Shelby
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I sort of know some of this.

While I was not up to date on the contract stuff, I do know some dignitaries who were with the President in the sky box at Texas Stadium (that state of the art one in Houston) for the Bowl game a couple of years back against TCU (I think).

Anyway.......

We laid an egg on the field, and suffered an embarassing defeat.

Thames was voraciosly angry, slamming his fist everywhere. He had a "talk" with Bower.

In a way, I really feel for Jeff, being caught in the middle here.

I am conflicted on this issue, so I will say no more, but I thought the perspective on our leader's actions was germane here.

I know some Eagle Club buds who attended one Eustachy event recently, and Larry totally gave all the credit for his being hired to Richard Giannni, not Thames.

Fire Shelby, as usual, makes a very fine and accurate point.

Keep up the splendid work my man (or woman)!



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present professor

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quote:
Originally posted by: Greedy
"I sort of know some of this.  . . . Fire Shelby, as usual, makes a very fine and accurate point. Keep up the splendid work my man (or woman)! "

We have a football coach who has been quite successful with modest resources. His players have a pretty high graduation rate. There are no big scandals in the closet. He makes a good salary but nothing like the big guys.


Seems like a pretty good success story to me.


Not good enough however. USM will never have the resources the first tier schools have without finding new and creative ways to either make more money or draw talent. 


Put this together:


We build a bigger stadium. It will need to be filled. Greater pressure on the coaching staff with basically the same budget. They won't be able to meet the quota ("fill more seats") whatever they do. They can't do it now -- not their fault.


Its a scam and a setup.


They will fail, setting the stage for a coaching change. The school will shell out the bucks to get a big name (but not more resources). The big name coach will have the job of building the program and drawing the resources. And perhaps taking a modest but successful and scandal free program deeper into high risk recruiting.


Sorry Jeff. You are a lot like the rest of us -- steady, pretty honest and good at what you do. You could do more if you had more to work with. But you won't get it -- and you have been here too long, laboring in relative obscurity, to have the big name a university with modest resources needs.


A lot of us just aren't good enough for the new USM which seems to be racing to lose the unique identity it did have in order to be more like the other guys.


I am not advocating for stasis here. But I think that the way the university is being forced to change isn't driven by very deep thinking either tactically or strategically. It certainly isn't happening through a leadership that formulates an articulated plan that it has shared with the rest of us. It is a plan that originates completely from the top, isn't widely advertised, and  seems to leave out whole segments of the university without explaining why. There is probably a reason for that. I think an awful lot of us just aren't wanted.


Whoever wrote the management manual for this crew should be made to build the new skyboxes one brick at a time, by hand and by him/herself.



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former-staffer

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quote:

Originally posted by: present professor
to change isn't driven by very Whoever wrote the management manual for this crew should be made to build the new skyboxes one brick at a time, by hand and by him/herself."


Without any straw.



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Greedy

Date:
Present Professor
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I think Present Professor has hit the nail pretty much on the head.

I doubt PP follows sports as I do, but mayhe he/she does.

There is NO doubt that Thames wants to "win at any cost" and he wants to do the same thing for our football program that happened with the basketball program.

No, I am not saying Larry Eustachy will break NCAA rules to recruit, thank goodness just his "name" may be enough to draw the good players.

Jeff Bower, for all his faults, has indeed Present Professor run a "clean" program and yes, he now has the highest graduation rate in the state of Mississippi.

He does well given his paltry budget.

He is not perfect and has some flaws.

For Thames, it is simple. Jeff does not win the big ones and does not recruit "aggressively" enough.

I think we all know what "aggressive" means. I have no doubt that, if Thames stays, that Bower will probably be fired by next year. That depends on whether we get the Liberty Bowl or better. Remember, last year we lost rather embarassingly to an inferior Utah team. I am sure Thames was "displeased."

Also, given a continued Thames administration, I can see USM on down the road getting into major NCAA football recruiting violations. MANY (heck most) of Thames' supporters, dubbed the "dark underworld" on this board(?), would become very involved in recruiting. They have been "held back" so far, but the chip would fall then.

I cannot imagine the "pressure" that Jeff Bower is now under. We did have one of our best "clean" recruiting seasons ever last year.

Present Professor is very astute. Keep up the good posts.

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Invictus

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Greedy
"No, I am not saying Larry Eustachy will break NCAA rules to recruit, thank goodness just his "name" may be enough to draw the good players."


Yep. This is the kind of "name" USM needs.

Of course, "fraternization" is acceptable to the Thames administration, isn't it?

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InTheKnow

Date:
RE: Bower's contract not yet extended
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It never ceases to amaze me how you people can jump to the most incredible conclusions without any facts whatsoever.  Further, every development, no matter how benign, is attributed to some devious motive on the part of the administration.  Paranoia abounds.  You folks need to be more responsible and less speculative.


I happen to know from very reliable sources that Jeff has been offered a new four-year contract and that only a few details remain to be worked out.



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Outside Observer

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Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that what you suggest about paranoia is correct...what is the SOURCE of this paranoia on the part of SO MANY PEOPLE???


 


quote:

Originally posted by: InTheKnow
"It never ceases to amaze me how you people can jump to the most incredible conclusions without any facts whatsoever.  Further, every development, no matter how benign, is attributed to some devious motive on the part of the administration.  Paranoia abounds.  You folks need to be more responsible and less speculative. I happen to know from very reliable sources that Jeff has been offered a new four-year contract and that only a few details remain to be worked out."



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Wishing&hoping

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Outside Observer
""
I've disagreed with you about some other posts, OO, but you are right on with this one. When 93% of faculty agree that they have no confidence in this administration, it is a huge statement.  The fact that so many people are afraid to come forward with what they know is right is indicative of how beaten down they have been.  The culture of corruption, deceit, and cover-up is pervasive, so pervasive that good faculty and staff who have lived with it for too long don't even recognize its influence.  This is NOT how good universities are supposed to be run.  Shared governance, freedom of speech, communities of scholars, high standards are the norm not the exception.  Without some changes soon, there will be no one left who remembers what the model should be.

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Outside Observer

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That's not even how BAD universities are supposed to be run!!!


quote:




Originally posted by: Wishing&hoping
"I've disagreed with you about some other posts, OO, but you are right on with this one. When 93% of faculty agree that they have no confidence in this administration, it is a huge statement.  The fact that so many people are afraid to come forward with what they know is right is indicative of how beaten down they have been.  The culture of corruption, deceit, and cover-up is pervasive, so pervasive that good faculty and staff who have lived with it for too long don't even recognize its influence.  This is NOT how good universities are supposed to be run.  Shared governance, freedom of speech, communities of scholars, high standards are the norm not the exception.  Without some changes soon, there will be no one left who remembers what the model should be."





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Invictus

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: InTheKnow
"I happen to know from very reliable sources that Jeff has been offered a new four-year contract and that only a few details remain to be worked out."


Good!

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Greedy

Date:
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###################
From Invictus

Yep. This is the kind of "name" USM needs.

Of course, "fraternization" is acceptable to the Thames administration, isn't it?
####################

I assume this was directed to me in a sarcastic manner ?

That's OK, and I understand that view perfectly and the Clarion Ledger was critical. I was leery about it like you for two weeks, then I said, well, let us give the guy a chance since he's already signed a contract.

I do not wish to engage in supposition at this point. Since we have have him, I will be glad to give Larry a second chance.

This is purely from a "coaching" perspective, not a moral or ethical one. Yeah, that bothers me but he is already our coach.

I do agree that it is very odd and totally inconsistent that our administration gives G/S (and faculty too, as in the hypocritical, zero tolerance drug and alcohol fiasco; the computer confiscation policy, so on and on...) zero chances "to sin" but in the same breath gives this guy a second chance. And this at a time when the nation is watching.

This shows you their priorities I think. Everyone loves a winner and USM, believe me, could NEVER in a million years have landed such a marque caliber coach without him or her being persona non grata. So, let's just hope USM's "gamble" pays off, and he has truly changed. Yes, I am skeptical.

Larry can coach. He WILL win. Invictus says "at what cost." Greedy says "I dunno yet. Maybe he
has changed. I'll give him a chance."

Let's agree to disagree in a contextual interface with all due respect and civility. You may well be right. We will see.

That said, I think we are straying way off subject here. I agree Invictus that Larry was very "soiled" and not of the sound character that would befit a univesity in the current crisis we are in.

But, it has been done and he is our coach and I will support the guy until he commits a transgression. I will give him the benefit of doubt that he will commit to attending AA and clean up his act. If he does not, well, he should not get a third chance at this school.




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Invictus

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Greedy
"I assume this was directed to me in a sarcastic manner?"


No, it wasn't directed at you. I was alluding to the many rumors of "fraternization" with employees that have circulated about SFT himself.



__________________
educator

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by:
"Southern Miss News  -   Friday, April 9, 2004 Bower awaits new contract By Daimon EklundDEklund@hattiesb.gannett.com; American Sports Writer Before the University of Southern Mississippi football team played in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 31, USM director of athletics Richard Giannini said that head football coach Jeff Bower was in line for a contract extension. At the end of February, Giannini said he believed the contract would be final by mid-March, and that there were no issues between the two parties as lawyers worked out the details. As the Black and Gold spring football game (April 17) approaches, the contract isn't done, and the lawyers are still working out the details. "The only thing I'll say is that nothing's been finalized," Bower said. "I don't know how close it is." Both Bower and Giannini said Thursday they have not met recently to discuss the contract, instead leaving the matter to the attorneys. Giannini said he hasn't heard any updates on the process in some time. "I don't think there's any hang-up," Giannini said. When told Bower did not believe an agreement had been reached, Giannini said: "Then I think the attorneys need to communicate." Bower's current contract expires Dec. 31, 2005. Any extension would likely extend the life of the contract two years, to the maximum four years allowed under state law. Under the terms of the current contract, Bower did receive an automatic 10 percent raise this winter for winning the Conference USA championship. His base salary last year was $200,212. This year it will be $220,233. On top of the base salary, Bower also receives $100,000 annually for radio and television appearances, and $55,000 annually in "supplemental payments." There are also incentives clauses based on things such as numbers of season tickets sold, television appearances and the team's graduation rate. Last season the Golden Eagles posted a 9-3 regular-season record before losing to Utah in the Liberty Bowl. Bower said he hopes to have an extension completed soon. "You'd certainly like for it to happen as fast as it can go," Bower said. "Especially, I would have hoped we could have done something in December or January because that's recruiting time, and anything you can get positive - the kids always want to know how stable your situation is. "I would have liked to have gotten it done, but for reasons I won't disclose, it hasn't been determined yet. We haven't agreed yet."  Email this story Originally published Friday, April 9, 2004 "
Fraternization and Coach Bower's conduct is a moot issue. Jeff loves Debbie, Debbie loves Jeff.  Thank God that their love for one another stands against stupid, unsubstantial rumors.   Without Debbie, there would be no Jeff.   Without Jeff, there would be no Debbie.  For God's Sake they lost a daughter in 1997 and they've faced the press, foes, kissups as a result. He's a great coach who is married to a businessly successful wife with a daughter (Stephanie) who is planning on enrolling at USM this  Fall. Give the guy a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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present professor

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: educator
" . . . .Give the guy a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Actually, on this one I think the point being made is exactly that -- that Coach Bower is an example who seems pretty above reproach while Eustacy and (by rumor) SFT are not.


But the reality is that we all have histories -- parts of our past that might not bear up under close scrutiny. I think the past is past unless it either continues into the present or somehow touches upon other kinds of corruption that might threaten the institution (misuse of funds, etc.) by being clearly illegal or unethical.


 



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Invictus

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: educator
"Fraternization and Coach Bower's conduct is a moot issue."


Wasn't talking about Coach Bower. I apologize if you took it that way, educator. I in no way intended for that statement to be taken as directed at Jeff.

My statement referred to Larry Eustachy.

Jeff Bower isn't at USM because nobody else wanted him. He's at USM because he wants to be there. He loves USM & he loves Hattiesburg (Petal).

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educator

Date:
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Sorry for my own confusion, Invictus.  We are on the same page.  The Eustachy timing is one more incredible link to the values our Administration claim to hold so dear.



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Googler

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