Should I stay or Should I go now? (Ode to Izzo)
So the gist of it all is that Izzo will announce tomorrow (Saturday) whether he will stay in EL or go to Cleveland. The stories have been told, the blogs have been a-buzzin, and the talking heads have been doing their part. So after all of that, it's late-night Friday and I want to know what y'all think... Does he stay or does he go?
I think he punches the Cleveland ticket and takes the job. Regardless of whether King James returns or not, this is Tom's time and he would be advised to ackowledge it. In my never-so-humble opinion, Izzo is in a great situation in Cleveland. We all know the potential upside if Lebron stays, but if Lebron goes elsewhere and Tom has accepted the job, then he (Izzo) will have all the excuses in the world why his team "sucks" and he'll be able to go about fixing/tinkering/teaching/drafting a better team for the future.
I think Tom Izzo will accept the job with the Cleveland Cavaliers - what do you think?
I think he's gone. I don't think you go down the road this far and stick around.
I think between the Izzo decision, USA/England, and the UVA/OU super regional, tomorrow has the potential to be one of the awesomest days ever. That's what I think.
Too bad I'm driving to Cleveland (yes, that one) to celebrate my mom's 75th. Although I'm not a real soccer fan, I actually wanted to watch that game!!! Oh well, I'll just have to sneak-a-peek during "beverage breaks" at her party!!!
yo me enfrio o lo sufro
if I go there will be trouble
it will be double
So it's settled. Go, and experience only half the trouble.
He seems to go through this every 2 or 3 years. Even though all of East Lansing bows at his feet and worships his every spoken word, he still needs to flirt with with the NBA just so all things green can beg him "Please Tom, don't go."
I say he stays in EL.
From friends at State, the administration is getting restless with Tom's perrenial (sp?) dance with the NBA. Although they love what he has done and how he has brought National recognition to the program, they are a bit concerned with perpetually being forced to assuage his ego and the fan base. He is a proven winner and an asset for MSU, but at what price?
I agree about his ego. There has to be some fear that if he leaves EL, he will never be as beloved again (which is true). It also risks his status as a national college legend. I think he stays.
He stays. As much as I would absolutely love to see it happen, I just have this feeling he's gonna stick around, use this for leverage and more positive PR for himself that he's a "living legend" staying loyal to his employer.
I think Izzo bolts to Cleveland, and then that'll tip the scales in LeBron's eye and he'll end up staying in Cleveland, the purgatory of professional sports. Doomed to walk the NBA without a title for years to come.
FYI- if Izzo does leave, MSU is taking your (Dayton's) coach
it's six million dollars people.
but pulls a Billy Donnovan and returns.
He's got too good of a thing going at MSU and the Cavs are a joke if Lebron walks.
That said, as a UM fan and a Cavs hater, please leave for Cleveland.
i think he goes but then pulls a Billy Donovan.
I don't know what he'll do, but I certainly wouldn't mind if he elected to bolt for the NBA
I also think he has lost his credibility with his players if he goes back. The players he talked into staying for their senior years will now know that he was ready to bolt to the same NBA he told them to turn down this year. His "Spartan for life" persona has officially developed chinks in its armor. Also, anyone recruiting against him would be a fool not to mention that he is probably going to take the next really good offer he gets.
Either way, things won't be the same in EL, and that is great for Michigan. Izzo built his program from the ashes of Michgan's. In this case, turnabout would definitely be fair play.
Besides, Sparty Schadenfreude is a lot of fun to watch; it keeps them from bragging so much.
I am not sure. There seemed to be a lot of drama last year between Izzo and his players. This situation might make the players not take him or MSU success for granted. If he comes back you bet there will be some great speech to the players about leaving a legacy and they will be more motivated than ever.
Then they win a championship and Izzo gets restless again…
I think he goes this time. Usually his dances with the NBA never get much past the flirtation stage, this time he's gone quite a bit further. He has to be thinking that if he wants to jump to the NBA he'd better do it now before he gets too old or he becomes yesterdays news. Lastly, if the NBA is his target job will he ever get an offer of more than $6M while still coaching MSU? The only regret he has is not winning another National Championship.
But now that it's dragged out and LeBron has said he'd like a coach who's played in the league, I'm convinced he's staying. Being offered the world and then still needing a couple of days to think about it before accepting, while possibly normal, communicates a lack of confidence and boldness to the Cavs and their fanbase.
I'm sick of Izzo and I'm sick of hearing the local media slober his knob 365 days a year. He's won only one actual championship and that was over 10 years ago. I wish the guy would just retire and go play bocce ball with Mooch in California. I sure as hell don't want to see him peeing his pants on the Cavs sideline while Lebron lights up my Pistons in the near future.
Izzo came into a good situation at MSU - a stable program, with a legacy of at least periodic success. His program is now one of the best in the country. So, he took a good program and made it great.
Cleveland is another story. He's got one good player who is likely (?) to bolt for greener pastures. He won't control the program and his players like he could at the college level. He can't recruit the players he wants in the same way. In other words, Izzo will not be "Izzo".
For a guy at his level, I'm not sure its always about the money. Its about his ego. Some guys with huge egos still have that little voice in their heads that say they're not quite as good as they think they are. I suspect he may be one of those, which is why he hasn't jumped before.
... he doesn't have the guts to leave. Even for 6 million clams, even if LBJ is a lock to re-sign.
He just needs to feel wanted. There's no reason to make this so public if you have a sincere desire to go. Private Jet trip publicized in advance? Takes Lupe and the kids to CLEVELAND? It's freaking CLEVELAND people!!!! It's in Ohio, it's only a 3-4 hour drive!?!
For that much money, you tell your wife and kids the day the moving van shows up, and when they start to piss and moan you throw some Benjamins at their feet and tell them to STFU.
No, Tom is just playing the media, playing Dan Gilbert, playing LeBron, playing MSU, playing his players, playing everyone. Most important for him, free pub for Tom.
This is probably his last chance for such a dance. NBA owners will grow tired of his act.
Remember, this is a guy before Dantonio was hired who thought he could coach the football team. An ego that knows no bounds.
I agree with one thing. If for some reason he says yes to Dan Gilbert, he will definitely pull a Billy D within 48 hours. Massive separation anxiety and performance panic.
But it wouldn't be about any loyalty to MSU, it's what it's always been, it's always about Tom.
P.S. If you want some real-time comedy, go here:
A more pathetic example of wimp-ass Sparty faithful you will never see in your life.
P.P.S. If Bo was MSU AD, what would he do? EFZ!
+1 to you.
I think he's gone, you can't show this much interest for so long a time without taking the job.
This is all about attention and free publicity for Tom Izzo. For all we know his agent may have made first contact with Dan Gilbert as soon as the job opened up. It kills Izzo and Sparty fans to see Coach K's face on the tube all the time. How else would MSU and most importantly Tom Izzo get this much national media attention? Nobody outside of Michigan gives a rat's ass about MSU or Tom Izzo until they're forced to talk about them when they wind up in a Final Four.
@ theonlycolors said that Izzo hasn't actually given a timetable (beyond shorter than forever) and nobody should expect to hear something today
And gets a pay raise for doing it. As high as the turnover rate is for pro coaches, I think he'd rather keep the sure thing. He is getting up there in the age department though, so I think this is his last big shot at the pros if he wants to go that route. It would least surprise me if he went now then ever before.