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Baylor Basketball

Mack Rhoades: I Have Complete Faith in Coach Dave Aranda

September 26, 2023
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Mack Rhoades Baylor Director of Athletics joins 365 Sports to discuss his thoughts on a struggling Baylor Football program, his experience from other universities when dealing with a struggling football team, his thoughts on Head Coach Dave Aranda, and more.

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Mack Rhoades: I Have Complete Faith in Coach Dave Aranda

20,968 Views | 89 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by MarcelloSwisher
tpj1991
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Ugh
Guitarbiscuit
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Apparently we as alumni will now need to start the process of getting rid of Mack so that we can get rid of Aranda. Stubbornness will be his downfall and I hope someone gets a group together made up of all types of alumni-rich, poor, middle to force him out. Numbers do create power.
Johnny Bear
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Rhoades probably realizes that given the terms of DA's contract, firing him isn't feasible before the end of next season at the earliest, and even doing it then won't be easy. Plus, given the way things usually work at BU, winning a conference title in '21 probably bought DA at least 3 more seasons (regardless of outcomes) with '24 being number 3. It's a safe assumption that we're screwed at least through next season and possibly even beyond.
Guitarbiscuit
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Depressing.
PartyBear
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Get a big time NIL account and new offensive staff and I'll have more faith in Aranda to be honest.
Dgmorrell
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This Baylor Alum is with Aranda and Rhoades and believe in their integrity and ability to coach young student athletes in football and life. David Smoak treats them so poorly its embarrassing. It amazes me the class they handle his angry questions and disrespectful tone he speaks to them with. Maybe Smoaky should go be an SEC analyst. He'd fit right in.
Guitarbiscuit
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Smoak has every right to ask them the questions they are asking. Coaches are supposed to be paid to produce winning programs. Aranda is not winning. Rude questions are more than warranted in this instance.
ScottS
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Wait, isn't it the kiss of death when this kind of statement is rolled out.
Guitarbiscuit
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One can always hope.
Grumpy
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It's either the kiss of death or an earnest statement tying his own success or failure to a struggling coach.
SIC EM 94
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Dgmorrell said:

This Baylor Alum is with Aranda and Rhoades and believe in their integrity and ability to coach young student athletes in football and life. David Smoak treats them so poorly it's embarrassing. It amazes me the class they handle his angry questions and disrespectful tone he speaks to them with. Maybe Smoaky should go be an SEC analyst. He'd fit right in.

This is a business…most other schools would have the heat turned up much higher. As for Smoaky, he has been far less critical than what coaches and AD's at other schools face regularly.
BUGWBBear
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Mack, we have zero faith in you. Thanks for justifying that feeling.
Killing Floor
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I'm confused.

I thought tanking the season only helped in pro draft. What's Mack's angle? Does he think we get better recruits if we finish last?
Cove Dawg
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Dgmorrell said:

This Baylor Alum is with Aranda and Rhoades and believe in their integrity and ability to coach young student athletes in football and life. David Smoak treats them so poorly its embarrassing. It amazes me the class they handle his angry questions and disrespectful tone he speaks to them with. Maybe Smoaky should go be an SEC analyst. He'd fit right in.


Are you the appointed spokesman for Baylor alumni? May want to just speak for yourself then. Fully understand that Mack has to support Aranda with the press but he if he truly feels this way on the inside then dark days lie ahead for Baylor. As for Smoaky I believe he fails to ask the tough questions, he needs to ask tough follow-ups when he gets BS answers.
bear2be2
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This was a depressing interview. It very much had the feel of a Kevin Steele "internal improvements" speech.
PartyBear
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If it makes you feel better just remember Rhoades is not a Linda hire. He is not actually her AD. Now I have no idea she may have adopted him and they may be close and see eye to eye now.
Guitarbiscuit
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Yes. Succinctly stated.
Bearwhiz
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Well, there it is
Daveisabovereproach
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Mack knows that the firing of Aranda will likely mean his job. He as the athletic director also has to tote the company line until the big money donors step in and force them to make a change. The big money donors are pulling the cart here. Once they get fed up enough with the state of the program, it's game over for Dave and Mackey boy. And what a joyful day it will be
Daveisabovereproach
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Dgmorrell said:

This Baylor Alum is with Aranda and Rhoades and believe in their integrity and ability to coach young student athletes in football and life. David Smoak treats them so poorly its embarrassing. It amazes me the class they handle his angry questions and disrespectful tone he speaks to them with. Maybe Smoaky should go be an SEC analyst. He'd fit right in.


Mack Rhoades stated in a previous interview that he has staff that are on this website that report the goings-on of this website to him (and undoubtedly post). I think we found one ladies and gentlemen!

God forbid that an athletic Director who I assume is making seven figures to do his job would have to answer tough questions about an underperforming coach! The horror!
Daveisabovereproach
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Posts like the one you're responding to are what make me feel like the near future is devoid of hope. There are many members of the Baylor fan base that will blame failure on everything but the people that deserve the blame. It's insane
Daveisabovereproach
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Killing Floor said:

I'm confused.

I thought tanking the season only helped in pro draft. What's Mack's angle? Does he think we get better recruits if we finish last?


He seems like a guy that's trying to convince himself of the lies that he's telling and being told. The correct chemistry in the locker room through Aranda's person over player philosophy will eventually lead to results on the field if you just have enough faith. Write that sentence on the chalkboard 100 times
DAC
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Dgmorrell said:

This Baylor Alum is with Aranda and Rhoades and believe in their integrity and ability to coach young student athletes in football and life. David Smoak treats them so poorly its embarrassing. It amazes me the class they handle his angry questions and disrespectful tone he speaks to them with. Maybe Smoaky should go be an SEC analyst. He'd fit right in.

I don't think so , Mrs. Rhoades
BaylorLit 01
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Is it too much to ask to have an AD that can form a complete sentence without saying "you know" 4 times? Your job involves public speaking; take a course and improve yourself.
Quinton
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This is misdirection. Why is he talking about the "first four games." Why is he talking about young players.

They were literally picked to win the conference last year (was probably too hopeful) and completely tanked. The lines were experienced and hyped as top 10 nationally on both sides and were mediocre to poor.

Look I like Dave as the team psychologist but he is failing badly as coach. Needs to finish huge or he should be finished. His line recruiting and development (should be top priority) have been absolutely terrible
BellCountyBear
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I thought Tom Stanton was a pretty bad AD…Mack is giving him a run for the money.
ImABearToo
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Season #4 and so far we've been curb stomped by both Texas (state) and UT. Lost a nail biter to Utah who played with second and third string QB's then somehow managed to beat The Sisters of The Poor from NY. I can now see where Mack's confidence in CDA comes from. Impressive (((fourth))) year!
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
rileyroo
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Did he really say that the "care factor" is high? Lord. Roll out the Care Bears as our new mascot. I almost quit listening when he said that. It ranks right there above "trust the process" as my most loathed quotes from BU leaders.

And, I completely agree that Mack needs media training. How many times can he say "and um, you know" in an interview? Geez.

I thought Smoak let him off the hook. He needs to be held accountable for signing Aranda to a 10 year contract.
bear2be2
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Dgmorrell said:

This Baylor Alum is with Aranda and Rhoades and believe in their integrity and ability to coach young student athletes in football and life. David Smoak treats them so poorly its embarrassing. It amazes me the class they handle his angry questions and disrespectful tone he speaks to them with. Maybe Smoaky should go be an SEC analyst. He'd fit right in.
No one is questioning their integrity. But integrity without results gets good men fired in all fields.

There's nothing wrong with wanting -- or even demanding -- both.
bear2be2
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No Quarterback said:

Killing Floor said:

I'm confused.

I thought tanking the season only helped in pro draft. What's Mack's angle? Does he think we get better recruits if we finish last?


He seems like a guy that's trying to convince himself of the lies that he's telling and being told. The correct chemistry in the locker room through Aranda's person over player philosophy will eventually lead to results on the field if you just have enough faith. Write that sentence on the chalkboard 100 times
There's nothing wrong IMO with "person over player" as a guiding principle. But it becomes a problem when those espousing that mantra mistake it for a program identity.

I'm all for taking a holistic approach and treating our players with dignity and respect as people. But that doesn't win games on Saturdays. Putting talented players in a position to succeed with a sound scheme and coherent, executable game plan does.

The first without the second results in a well behaved team that loses a lot of football games.
FLBear5630
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PartyBear said:

Get a big time NIL account and new offensive staff and I'll have more faith in Aranda to be honest.


Actually, this is the best option now. Can't get rid of Aranda. Get some Alumni/boosteri to manage NIL and buy players. Take the talent evaluation out of Aranda hands. If I needed someone to matchmake for my daughter, Dave's my guy. Choose football players to win P5, not so much.
FLBear5630
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bear2be2 said:

No Quarterback said:

Killing Floor said:

I'm confused.

I thought tanking the season only helped in pro draft. What's Mack's angle? Does he think we get better recruits if we finish last?


He seems like a guy that's trying to convince himself of the lies that he's telling and being told. The correct chemistry in the locker room through Aranda's person over player philosophy will eventually lead to results on the field if you just have enough faith. Write that sentence on the chalkboard 100 times
There's nothing wrong IMO with "person over player" as a guiding principle. But it becomes a problem when those espousing that mantra mistake it for a program identity.

I'm all for taking a holistic approach and treating our players with dignity and respect as people. But that doesn't win games on Saturdays. Putting talented players in a position to succeed with a sound scheme and coherent, executable game plan does.

The first without the second results in a well behaved team that loses a lot of football games.


You have to get players that will play on Sunday. Not go to grad school. That is the reality of CFB today. All the other stuff is secondary. This is the highest level of football, the rest should compliment winning in the field. Or drop down and break out the tarps.
HuttoBear
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Some one has to ask the tough questions. Smoak and Brice Cherry are the only ones who tell it like it is unlike the soft ball questions the other reporters ask after the post game presser and the Monday morning press conference. And how do you know what the Baylor alumni thinK---did you call them all up and ask?
HuttoBear
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I documented that he said "Ya know" 16 times in 2.5 minutes. Could not stay to listen to the entire interview...other issues to resolve. That averages out to be about 100 times in a 20 minute interview.....geez......ya know!
Space Cutter
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I predicted this from Rhodes a week ago. He probably called around asking for some rich mega donors to buy out the contract but go no interest. So now we get the "full confidence" speech. At the end of the season and we're 3-8 (not sure where the 2 other wins come from), then Rhodes will have to step up.

I'm guessing big money BU donors don't want to have their money spent or the name connected to a program that the BOR destroyed and the media labeled a rape scandal on.
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