OT: Fallout at GBW Over Coaching Search Reporting

Submitted by pfholland on

I'm going to preemptively apologize if this topic is too OT for the board, but it's at least tangetially related to the coaching search (or at least to reporting about the coaching search).

As many of you probably know Sam Webb over at GBW made a decision this weekend to limit the amount of infomration being provided on the coaching search.  Going forward all coaching search reporting will be vetted and approved by Sam.  This specifically effects Tom Beaver, who's updates have completely stopped.

Not suprisingly this did not sit well with a large number of GBW members, and it has resulted in all sorts of drama, including charges of censorship and threats to quit.

What I'd like to know is how many GBW members actually followed through on their threats to cancel there subscriptions?  I did, but did anyone else?

As an aside, I'm posting this question here instead of on GBW because I'm fairly sure the mods over there would lock and delete it almost immediately.

Edited to add a running tally for those interested.

Cancelations (as of 7:00 EST): 3

SHub'68

December 9th, 2014 at 12:00 AM ^

Your statement that it is "Amazing that those places pay boards are more toxic and less prone to reasoned discourse than this free one."  I would presume that those who pay for this kind of discourse are the most rabid of the rabid. Kind of the cream of the crop, if you will.

BlueinOK

December 8th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^

I only use Mgoblog. I used to use ESPN for TomVH, but he doesn't seem to cover Michigan as much so I stopped that. I don't understand why people pay for the information. The worst is people are paying for these reporters to bother 16-18 year old high school players about where they want to go. That doesn't seem right to me. 

TheLastHarbaugh

December 8th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^

It sounds to me like Sam is attempting to be responsible and beating back the aggressively stupid people who populate his board.

I would imagine a lot of times what happens is someone posts a stupid rumor on GBW, probably from some unreliable "source" like MGoBoard or twitter or wherever, and it spreads to the rest of the internet. It ultimately gets attributed to Sam, who then has to deal with people insulting him or criticizing him for something he never said.

He's been through a couple of coaching searches now. He saw a lot of things he didn't like, his credibility being called into question probably chief among them, and chose to shut it down. I can't blame him.

People will know who the next coach is when they know, and not a second sooner. Being allowed to fling shit at the wall for page views or just for the sake of throwing shit at the wall does no one any good. 

Mr. Yost

December 8th, 2014 at 6:43 PM ^

I cancelled that shit 5 years ago...

That site is garbage. They just push subscriptions and sell free shit. They're also arrogant as arrogant can be. 

That site is worthless other than the Scout.come recruiting database. The message board is trash. Used to be the best, the very best. Even over MGoBlog and 247 wasn't invented (or popular).

I wonder what they're going to do if Chris Singletary isn't retained. Oh well. 

BeatOSU52

December 8th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^

I have heard a lot of similar stories of yours regarding getting banned for some stupid ass reason. It's the main reason why I never had a subscription for more than a month. This seems like a terrible business practice by Scout, as a banned member obviously gets fed up and never comes back.



I have also heard too many stories of the Beaver being a crusty old dickhole to posters.

State Street

December 8th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^

Their business model is dying.  People don't want to pay for some crusty old dude to pester kids about where they want to go to college.  Even if they were so inclined, they could find that information on twitter for free.

Being a douche to people just doesn't add up.  Part of me feels bad for Webb, who's recently got a kid and apparently just invested a larger stake in the business.  I guess I'd feel even worse if he didn't actually shit on his customers.

Gerald R. Ford

December 8th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^

I am not, and have not been, a subscriber. It is total lunacy that people are getting so upset about reporting and regulation of leaks and misinformation. Everyone wants the same outcome, including Sam (ie the best coach and a subsequent revitalization). If Sam did not apply some limits of constraint, then his product itself could potentially sabotage the process. Pay site or not, the information gets disseminated, and regurgitated then misconstrued. Of course, he wants to protect his own interests within the AD; he also personally and passionately wants this search to conclude successfully. I applaud him because he is doing the right thing potentially at his own expense. If people who are paying for info are pissed off and can't see how their thirst for the first scoop could be detrimental, then their priorities are off base.

End of rant. Move along.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Danwillhor

December 8th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

but I officially started using an account when I left Scout a few years back over their practices/services. I have a crazy story about what caused me to leave but even though I was apologized to, vindicated, offered a free year sub, etc....I left. Sam is the ONLY....I mean ONLY....person of value there (that aren't free/sub posters but even most of them are morons) and Sam is slipping lately, IMO. I haven't even looked at scout in almost 3 years. I think Fred Jackson was Sam's main connect (just a hunch given the flow of recruit info through 3 staffs) and now that's gone. F#ck Scout. The sooner they close shop the better. Worst player evals, site aesthetics, "insiders", mods, posters, etc.

Ernis

December 8th, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^

...what kind of FOOL pays MONEY to get access to VETTED information? There is only ONE person in MY world who has THE ability to DECIDE whether or not INTERNET rumors have any VALIDITY ...

... and it's ME!!!!1!!!one

mdonley

December 8th, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^

I still like that site better than Rivals. Balas and Borton always pretend like they know something but can't reveal what it is? Sorry but that is just dumb why pay money for something that they won't talk about till everybody already knows?