Originally posted by MikeBigg
Excellent points. Doug is getting beter in his dealings with the media. He's learning how to "play" the situation to his advantage. Rob, Casem, and Gordon were masters at it, although Casem could be caustic sometimes but always "on the slick".
But Doug's persona is quite a bit different. I think he shows his emotion more than most coaches. But you always know how he feels (lol).
Oh when he is in a good mood, he is excellent. I hear him a few times throughout the year on radio in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. He is upbeat and says all the right things to recruit a kid into a HBCU, especially Grambling. He speaks of the caring for the kid's future, their getting an education, improving them as an athlete, the history of our HBCUs (especially GSU), etc... He shoots the bull with the announcers and the callers. For example, when I call, it is like the old days when Casem and Gordon would speak of each others team. I say things like how good of a year he is having and how well his guys are playing, so we are looking forward to a great Bayou Classic. He turns around and says how SU is a really good program that they (GSU) know they have to be ready to play for the Classic.
But, when he gets upset, he says some things that I'm sure he probably wishes he hadn't. But, he probably says "oh well, such is life". It hurts him to be 1-5 against SU as a coach. That makes him 5-5 overall. He is getting better.
But, I just have a feeling that some things he has said and done to and towards other teams and coaches have something to do with the voting. Like I said before, I felt that was the case when SU was dominating. Pete was new the SWAC ranks and I don't think he intermingled much if at all with the other coaches. Part of that may have been due to Casem being AD. So, he didn't have a need to. But, I think it didn't help some really good athletes on some excellent teams to earn their All-SWAC honors.
I'm not saying it is fair. It is just my gut instinct concerning the reasoning. It is nothing anybody will admit to if it is true. It is one reason you have to be careful about giving too much credit to someone just because they have received some type of recognition.
Peace!!!