30aBear said:

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blackie said:

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TheAgentGrant said:

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You're free to read it your way, but the point stands. The optics were bad, and they fit a broader pattern that's hard to ignore. Noting that isn't "out of context" it's acknowledging the results. If you see it differently, that's fine, but it doesn't change the substance.

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What was the substance? What was said that created the smiles? Yeah, none of us know. I often get mad, but that doesn't mean something isn't said in the conversation that can bring a smile. I suspect if honest, this happens to you as well.

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When you just got embarrassed on TV I'd think you'd want to get off the field and talk to your team…..but that's just me.

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So, you stiff the opposing coach? Great sportsmanship.

blackie said:

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30aBear said:

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blackie said:

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TheAgentGrant said:

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You're free to read it your way, but the point stands. The optics were bad, and they fit a broader pattern that's hard to ignore. Noting that isn't "out of context" it's acknowledging the results. If you see it differently, that's fine, but it doesn't change the substance.

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What was the substance? What was said that created the smiles? Yeah, none of us know. I often get mad, but that doesn't mean something isn't said in the conversation that can bring a smile. I suspect if honest, this happens to you as well.

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When you just got embarrassed on TV I'd think you'd want to get off the field and talk to your team…..but that's just me.

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So, you stiff the opposing coach? Great sportsmanship.

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No, you shake his hand, congratulate him, and go into the locker room. You don't hang out and laugh and shoot up the **** with the opposing coach after you lost again.

The midfield smile only matters because it fits the larger optics. The substance is the results, and those have been the concern for some time. That's the point, not that single moment by itself.

SPEAK WITH YOUR WALLETS !!!
That's all I've been advising you on for 3 season now.......

TheAgentGrant said:

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The midfield smile only matters because it fits the larger optics. The substance is the results, and those have been the concern for some time. That's the point, not that single moment by itself.

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The point is that you are taking something out of context when you don't even know what the context is. Is the guy suppose to walk around 24 x 7 with a scowl on his face?

I would suggest you just stop watching if this concerns you.

No one said to skip the handshake. You do that, then you get to your team. The issue is priorities after a loss, not sportsmanship. And the reality is simple they were beaten badly. Twenty unanswered in the fourth, five straight turnovers, and nothing in the second half. That's why the optics matter. The result speaks for itself.

There's no reason to stop watching. Critiquing performance is fair when the results are what they are. Telling people to look away doesn't change the product on the field.

TheAgentGrant said:

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No one said to skip the handshake. You do that, then you get to your team. The issue is priorities after a loss, not sportsmanship. And the reality is simple they were beaten badly. Twenty unanswered in the fourth, five straight turnovers, and nothing in the second half. That's why the optics matter. The result speaks for itself.

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Yep. You aren't going to see the Aggies get their ass kicked and then have Elko out there laughing. That dude would be upset and pissed.

I'm not in love with the statement but the point of it was to signal to potential AD hires that you will not be tied to Aranda but also don't have to make a crazy hire in February after the portal closes and the half the roster has bounced. The new AD can try and raise funds for the future and know that if the football team goes 0-12 next year it has zero bearing on their job status. The next hire will and they will be given proper time to make that hire.

I get everyone's frustration because I'm just as frustrated and would've likely made a move after 3-9 if the money was there… but getting the AD hire right is critical. It affects every sport. Expecting an AD to hire a coach in February or March or some crazy time is ludicrous because the pool of candidates will be zilch. The portal will be closed with likely the half the roster having entered it after the firing of a coach and no new coach because no new AD but no way for the new coach to utilize the portal to replenish the lost players.

blackie said:

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TheAgentGrant said:

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And CDA was smiling midfield after the game and getting his ass beat.

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He looked pretty serious for a good while when talking to the opposing coach, and their discussion was quite lengthy compared to most coach meetings after the game. Only at the end did they both smile. You have plenty you can carp on DA about, but this is taking things way out of context to pile on.

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It was asking about school systems around UCLA...

Bobby20 said:

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SPEAK WITH YOUR WALLETS !!!
That's all I've been advising you on for 3 season now.......

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This is the way.

boykin_spaniel said:

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I'm not in love with the statement but the point of it was to signal to potential AD hires that you will not be tied to Aranda but also don't have to make a crazy hire in February after the portal closes and the half the roster has bounced. The new AD can try and raise funds for the future and know that if the football team goes 0-12 next year it has zero bearing on their job status. The next hire will and they will be given proper time to make that hire.

I get everyone's frustration because I'm just as frustrated and would've likely made a move after 3-9 if the money was there… but getting the AD hire right is critical. It affects every sport. Expecting an AD to hire a coach in February or March or some crazy time is ludicrous because the pool of candidates will be zilch. The portal will be closed with likely the half the roster having entered it after the firing of a coach and no new coach because no new AD but no way for the new coach to utilize the portal to replenish the lost players.

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I understand the reasoning but other schools do it every year. Not sure why we can't.

The only school I can think of that has recently axed the AD and football coach at the same time is LSU and the governor got involved and it was a mess but it's LSU. They can back up a brinks truck to Kiffin. We have to be a little more strategic.

If there was hard evidence Eric Morris would take the job with or without an AD and we have the money lined up then I'd be all on board but I don't think any coach is going to step into an athletic department in turmoil.

Auburn hired Harsin because all the other coaches with SEC ties said no because they understood the total dysfunction that was happening within their athletic department. After Harsin and Freeze, Auburn has learned the importance of alignment and from accounts I've read they've now got their **** together and can make a push for someone like Sumrall.

Why does Baylor always make a bad situation become disastrous, extremely difficult, overwhelming, futile, and almost impossible to arrive at anything successful?

It's amazing how gutty QB's like Vince Young, Cam Newton and Joe Burrow can lift a program to a national championship.

boykin_spaniel said:

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The only school I can think of that has recently axed the AD and football coach at the same time is LSU and the governor got involved and it was a mess but it's LSU. They can back up a brinks truck to Kiffin. We have to be a little more strategic.

If there was hard evidence Eric Morris would take the job with or without an AD and we have the money lined up then I'd be all on board but I don't think any coach is going to step into an athletic department in turmoil.

Auburn hired Harsin because all the other coaches with SEC ties said no because they understood the total dysfunction that was happening within their athletic department. After Harsin and Freeze, Auburn has learned the importance of alignment and from accounts I've read they've now got their **** together and can make a push for someone like Sumrall.

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Georgia Tech 2022, Rutgers, Baylor pretty much in 2016, Tennessee 2017 and 2021, Louisville 2022, Kansas 2021, FSU 2019 the interim AD became AD so a little different. No situation is exactly the same I'm sure , but others have done it.

Trying to be optimistic about Baylor's future then it hit me. If Aranda goes 1-10 next season with Prairie View being his best chance for a win, the failure of keeping Aranda would fall on Lady Livingstone not the new AD. She's basically rewarding failure and mediocrity in our football program. So maybe the next person being relieved of her job is Lady Livingstone for putting Baylor football in such a terrible situation. We need to put pressure on the BOR to address this. Just looking for a silver lining in these dark clouds.

I'm not sure which would be worse, going 1-10 next year or going 7-5.

Dia del DougO said:

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I'm not sure which would be worse, going 1-10 next year or going 7-5.

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I'm so numb to the program now either one won't impact me

blackie said:

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Bologna said:

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No, that's completely incorrect. This is absolutely Linda micromanaging the situation. Before a new AD is even hired she has stated that Aranda will be retained. She's not allowing the athletic staff to make this decision.

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I don't read it that way. It would be micromanaging by saying I am firing the football coach and the new AD is stuck with whoever I bring in, whether on an interim basis or not. It specifically states that the AD " must have the opportunity to assess the football program and chart its long-term direction". Concerning Aranda, all that is said is that he is being retained at this point. It becomes the new AD's call as to what happens when they take over...as it should as that is the job of the AD.

You may have an AD that comes in and on day 1 or 2 fires Aranda or decides to wait to have a more orderly process to find what that AD considers the best possible path going forward based on timing. But that AD is the position holder who has to weigh all options to find the best outcome with the least downside, especially long-term. To me, that is what the statement is saying....letting the AD do their job.

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That's pretty much it in a nutshell. The old 21st century saying, "it is what it is".

Might get lucky with an agent who has a good AD that can bring a coach in a package, but doubtful BU will play that game.

Can't skip steps in the hiring process to erase the situation. This year's % division of revenue sharing will be a huge factor in all this. Lobbying is heavy and lame duck coach has no pull.

boognish_bear said:

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Time to start "Fire Linda" chants at games? I know it helped play a part in the Mavs organization finally stepping away from dumbass Nico.

Although… I guess it's hard to get much momentum with a chant with no fans in the stands.

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The best thing we could do is to each go out and buy a megaphone. I hear they now have recordings on them with a continous loop. We could make whatever recording we want and place it on a continuous loop. It would take security probably a half hour to shut all of us up. We may get kicked out of the stadium for good, but hey that's the price you pay.

BBWCBear said:

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Why does Baylor always make a bad situation become disastrous, extremely difficult, overwhelming, futile, and almost impossible to arrive at anything successful?

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Because the powers that be have little interest in football.

Guitarbiscuit said:

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BBWCBear said:

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Why does Baylor always make a bad situation become disastrous, extremely difficult, overwhelming, futile, and almost impossible to arrive at anything successful?

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Because the powers that be have little interest in football.

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I think this is maybe the biggest component...it's just not a priority or focus for BU leadership.

Roger Staubach didn't congratulate an opponent after a game. He went directly into the locker room field. He said the opponent was the enemy. The last thing he wanted to do was shake their hand and thank them for beating them.

boognish_bear said:

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Guitarbiscuit said:

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BBWCBear said:

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Why does Baylor always make a bad situation become disastrous, extremely difficult, overwhelming, futile, and almost impossible to arrive at anything successful?

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Because the powers that be have little interest in football.

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I think this is maybe the biggest component...it's just not a priority or focus for BU leadership.

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And the biggest problem going forward is: How do we as graduates help to enact change from the top? The only way it can ever change for good is if there is a real sea change in how members of the Board of Regents are selected. I am not aware of the exact process, but from my understanding prospective alumni candidates have to have a certain amount of signature to even be considered. After that point-from what I can tell--these candidates can and often do get buried in committee.

So in the end, the nontransparent committees at Baylor are the ones in control. And Baylor is not alone in its failure to give voice to its alumni.

Most of the time I don't really care whether I have a voice. But when the football team and the decisions around it are as putrid is this, then I become much more interested in exactly who the regents are and why they are not competent.

"I want to win"...well...so do we. Can you step aside so we can get someone who wins?

Dave Aranda on getting Linda Livingstone's vote of confidence:

“It means a lot. I want to do well. I want to win. I want to be around guys, players and coaches who want to win. To feel like people have your back, that’s a good feeling, and it makes you want to have their back." pic.twitter.com/wCYIml4uyL

— Baylor Bears on SicEm365 (@SicEm365) November 23, 2025

I use to like the guy. Statements like the one of his above makes me shake my head to think he draws millions of bucks.

Aranda is what he is at this point. Six seasons in and 4 out of 6 are looking to be losing seasons. Only one bowl win in 2021 with the Big 12 title. Historic season, yes, but with hindsight as a perspective now, seems like he benefited greatly from a Rhule inherited roster. Things have only gone downhill once they all graduated. I'd give the same treatment to Dykes at TCU with their national title run success.

I'm not even excited for next season. I've talked to several Baylor alum who feel the same way.

GoldenBear007 said:

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Aranda is what he is at this point. Six seasons in and 4 out of 6 are looking to be losing seasons. Only one bowl win in 2021 with the Big 12 title. Historic season, yes, but with hindsight as a perspective now, seems like he benefited greatly from a Rhule inherited roster. Things have only gone downhill once they all graduated. I'd give the same treatment to Dykes at TCU with their national title run success.

I'm not even excited for next season. I've talked to several Baylor alum who feel the same way.

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Aranda would have been fired last Sunday or today if we were in a normal situation. His getting more time is not some kind of reward. It is because we need a competent AD to handle the situation. A competent current AD will not be on the job until Jan or Feb at the earliest, way beyond the coaching change season.

I actually thought since 23 and posted about it that a new AD needs to name the new HC. I don't think Mack being ousted was timed correctly at all. However I wondered if when Aranda got more time it meant Rhoades was going to be removed at some point, in the near future at that time. I don't think it was Baylor's plan as it turned out but it turned out that way anyway just by chance but with terrible timing.

This is my optimistic view. We all know whatever the execs leaders say it's all BS and that includes showing support for Aranda. The new AD has to come in with his plan on how to right the ship. His first agenda and mark will be to bring in a new FB coach next year. And their immediate vision for the next 2-3 years. I would hope that the new AD has enough balls to say I will only come if Aranda is cut a week or two after I'm hired. I feel that the strings in this AD change was by some BMDs. Those BMDs will get their guy in as AD and the money will come back to pay off Dave's contract.

If the AD can't fire Dave almost immediately we know what the sad outcome is for another year or two. **** the unprecedented college fb job openings. Get your arse out there as the new AD, get funding, and get your man with the help of the search consulting firms.

Guitarbiscuit said:

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boognish_bear said:

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Guitarbiscuit said:

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BBWCBear said:

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Why does Baylor always make a bad situation become disastrous, extremely difficult, overwhelming, futile, and almost impossible to arrive at anything successful?

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Because the powers that be have little interest in football.

---

I think this is maybe the biggest component...it's just not a priority or focus for BU leadership.

---

And the biggest problem going forward is: How do we as graduates help to enact change from the top? The only way it can ever change for good is if there is a real sea change in how members of the Board of Regents are selected. I am not aware of the exact process, but from my understanding prospective alumni candidates have to have a certain amount of signature to even be considered. After that point-from what I can tell--these candidates can and often do get buried in committee.

So in the end, the nontransparent committees at Baylor are the ones in control. And Baylor is not alone in its failure to give voice to its alumni.

Most of the time I don't really care whether I have a voice. But when the football team and the decisions around it are as putrid is this, then I become much more interested in exactly who the regents are and why they are not competent.

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It'll be tough to orchestrate a change by way of a coup de'etat.

The Alumni get to elect 3. The Texas Baptist General Convention gets to elect upwards of 10. From there, the existing Board gets to hand pick the rest, so the good ole boy system stays alive under the theory that "birds of a feather, stay together" and pick similar birds who conform to their mindset so a coup cannot occur.

Guitarbiscuit said:

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boognish_bear said:

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Time to start "Fire Linda" chants at games? I know it helped play a part in the Mavs organization finally stepping away from dumbass Nico.

Although… I guess it's hard to get much momentum with a chant with no fans in the stands.

---

The best thing we could do is to each go out and buy a megaphone. I hear they now have recordings on them with a continous loop. We could make whatever recording we want and place it on a continuous loop. It would take security probably a half hour to shut all of us up. We may get kicked out of the stadium for good, but hey that's the price you pay.

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The best things fans can do is stop showing up to games at all.

Money is the only language these people speak, and boycott power is the only actual power fans have.

People need to stop paying for products they don't like and aren't satisfied with. Continued purchase of any product is a seal of approval/vote of confidence, no matter how loud you complain about it between purchases.

Feedemfishheads said:

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Roger Staubach didn't congratulate an opponent after a game. He went directly into the locker room field. He said the opponent was the enemy. The last thing he wanted to do was shake their hand and thank them for beating them.

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And this isn't right either. It's not a war, it's an athletic competition. And a complete lack of sportsmanship is no better than yucking it up with those who just beat you minutes after a game.

Little League baseball and high school football have it perfect. A quick handshake/high five and a "good game" is all that's necessary. It forces athletes to learn that sportsmanship and handling yourself with maturity matters win or lose.

Can't say that this method works. When they messed with the lettermen's block by raising ticket prices and moving it to less desirable seats after the 1974 season, I gave up season tickets and have been to very few games since to show my disapproval. Can't say that had much of an impression with the administration since then.

bear2be2 said:

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Guitarbiscuit said:

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boognish_bear said:

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Time to start "Fire Linda" chants at games? I know it helped play a part in the Mavs organization finally stepping away from dumbass Nico.

Although… I guess it's hard to get much momentum with a chant with no fans in the stands.

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The best thing we could do is to each go out and buy a megaphone. I hear they now have recordings on them with a continous loop. We could make whatever recording we want and place it on a continuous loop. It would take security probably a half hour to shut all of us up. We may get kicked out of the stadium for good, but hey that's the price you pay.

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The best things fans can do is stop showing up to games at all.

Money is the only language these people speak, and boycott power is the only actual power fans have.

People need to stop paying for products they don't like and aren't satisfied with. Continued purchase of any product is a seal of approval/vote of confidence, no matter how loud you complain about it between purchases.

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What is the point of this? I thought everyone knows that Aranda is gone within a year unless we are headed to a 9 or more win season next season, which isn't likely. Is it really hard to read between these lines or the tea leaves here?