Post#1606 » by Bernman » Wed Dec 16, 2015 5:35 am
Yeah, Gard was the reason Bo was contemplating coaching longer, so the timing could be better to make the transition to Gard then, or Bo could offer his services longer in exchange for choosing his successor basically. And now Gard is the reason to handle his retirement this way. Gard gets his half season+ audition now. Taking a page out of one of his mentor's, Dick Bennett's book. Also made a final four and called it quits in the middle of that next season. Then of course Soderberg got his audition and it didn't go so well. Therefore the AD (I think it was Richter then, could be wrong) cut bait. If the team continues the top 4 streak and/or wins a couple games in the NCAA tourney, that would give Alvarez something serious to think about this time. But if they have pedestrian results in either, especially if we don't make the tourney or we get dropped in the first to leave a bad taste in mouths, Barry is going in another direction. Gard has to prove to be a difference maker strategically or motivationally when he's unproven recruiting-wise as the face of a program.
This is a great way to go out for Bo, not losing sight of what happened the previous two seasons. Didn't come close to those types of tourney performances prior, then does it in back to back seasons. Got it in just under the wire it turns out. His legacy would have been positive, but not nearly to the same degree if he didn't. Good for him.
