George McDonald seems like a decent guy. He’s usually affable, smiling and at ease. He has developed some amazing recruiting connections over his career, and usually that comes from being able to build strong relationships with coaches and families. People need to trust you. And people tend to trust McDonald, or he wouldn’t have the recruiting reputation he does.
But his sour act in the wake of the demotion was petulant. It highlighted a major dissension, even if it was just momentarily and out of emotion. Both McDonald and Scott Shafer tried to bury things – apologies and family talks – and move on. But can we believe this won’t affect the team long term?
One phrase that keeps popping up from long-time insiders and people close to the program? This is a “very bad look” for everyone at Syracuse.¬†
McDonald admitted he has a ton of respect for Tim Lester, and that he’s behind him completely. Which is great, and Orange fans hope that McDonald plays good soldier and is supportive of everything the staff does from here on out.
But let’s ask this question: Is there any way McDonald comes back next season? A 10% chance? 5%? One would imagine he feels embarrassed. He knows he could go ahead and make more money¬†being the receivers coach at a power program, not one that takes Villanova to OT and is playing for Texas Bowls. So why stick around Syracuse?
If McDonald is already fielding offers from friends in the coaching fraternity, or his old programs at Arkansas or Miami, is he going to be properly selling SU to recruits? Are the high school coaches he deals with already warning players not to commit to the Orange if they’re following McDonald? Is McDonald even allowed to be recruiting right now for SU?
It seems impossible this can be salvaged. If Tim Lester oversees a complete transformation of the offense (with a backup quarterback), McDonald looks incompetent. If the offense still struggles, McDonald looks like a scapegoat. You can’t reinstall him after the season as the OC. So he’ll move on to another job. And if he’s prone to emotional outbursts about regrets in coming to CNY to media, what’s he prone to say behind closed doors to coaches, players and parents?
The problem is, unless McDonald is of the highest integrity and refuses to do anything but help the program that just demoted him publicly, it’s going to hurt the Orange in some way.
And if that’s the inevitable – isn’t the next inevitable cutting him loose completely?
Posted: D.A.
6 responses to “DA: Does Syracuse Need to Cut Bait with George McDonald ASAP?”
Have we not beat this story to death already? Why are we still talking about it? There is not a person out there who had a job that they prepared a long time for and then got demoted, that would not feel hurt, angry, frustrated, or mistreated. McDonald was honest in expressing his feelings, would you have preferred he lied and held the “Company Line.”? The same open genuine honest response that he displayed is most likely why he is such a good recruiter!!!!! He is honest with recruits and their families. As a professional, there is no resin to believe that he will not honor is present commitment to Syracuse and represent the school well‚Ķ.until he is no longer on staff‚Ķwhen and if that occurs.
Being demoted is a hurtful thing, even if it was warranted.. It is easy going up, though coming down. McDonald will want to move on but that decision-making is up to Shafer and McDonald. Nuf said.
McDonald will likely leave for greener pastures at the end of this season; either a lateral move at a bigger school (with a larger budget for positional coaches), or he’ll pursue being an OC at another (possibly even smaller) school. If Lester is a wild success, then the decision is made easier for McD, but if Lester also struggles then the whole staff will have major issues way beyond McDonald. Shafer took a gamble, and proved that he is an inexperienced HC and not ready for prime time. In retrospect, he should have elevated Lester to Co-Coordinator and let the two share responsibility for playcalling. So far, everything we’ve read from Lester and DeAndre is that the playcalling will not be radically different, so why jeopardize the relationship with someone like McDonald simply because the HC felt his seat getting warmer and decided that he had to respond to the bloggers and radio hosts resulting in a major shake-up.
Many fans speculated that HCDM relieved Rob Spence of playcalling duties, but there was nothing official or dramatic about it…just suddenly the playcalling improved. Could have had a similar situation but Shafer whiffed.
Stumpycuse,
I agree 100%. As I stated earlier, this move says way more about Shafer’s leadership than McDonald’s. The same result could have been achieved‚Ķwith much less drama!
Thanks, Dr. Bill. Glad that we’re in agreement.
Also, I would add that the prospect of firing McDonald mid-season, even after his candid remarks, is completely absurd – if only because the staff is only allowed a certain number of coaches as it is, so letting one go mid-season only hurts the entire team as the other coaches have to be spread more thinly. It is possible to bring in another WRs coach, but that will take time for that person to learn the terminology, plays, hell just to learn who is who – and Shafer is making decisions like a man who has no time.
I don’t know the details of Shafer’s contract (although I assume its a 5-year deal similar to Marrone & GRob) but given his inexperience at HC and that Dr. Gross didn’t do a full coaching search, they may have reduced the term to 3 years or something, which could definitely explain the sense of urgency to demote McDonald and appease the masses. I’m not sure, just guessing…
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