COLOMBIA – Now what?
The stay of South Carolina men’s basketball coach Frank Martin was apparently granted on March 26, when, aided by an exchange between a state senator and USC President Bob Caslen, the odds were 75-25 for Martin to 95-5 from Martin’s return.
It has been almost three weeks since Gamecocks completed a 6-15 season, which was heavily affected by COVID-19, but also one that many USC administrators felt should have been better than it was.
There was no declarative word about the situation, which makes sense if Martin were to actually stay. Athletics directors are not in the habit of issuing statements for coaching situations that do not involve change, and Martin and his team continued to recruit.
However, this does not necessarily mean that Martin will be the coach in November. A lot can happen between now and the next season.
The options
Martin undoubtedly knows the machinations that have taken place in the past two weeks and which side the USC was on before the move. So, Martin would like to stay at USC when he knows that there are some above him who don’t want him there? He has looked for other jobs in the past two weeks and this may continue.
The USC government agreed to let Martin look for other jobs after he requested an extension of the contract, which was denied.
None came up, but the training carousel is always spinning.
Two jobs these days can pique Martin’s interest if they are opened. South Florida and Cincinnati are being investigated by their administrations over allegations against the coaching staff, leading to multiplayer transfers.
Martin is from Miami, less than an hour’s flight from Tampa and the USF.
He spoke with Cincinnati two years ago about the vacancy, but withdrew his name from the dispute. The Bearcats hired John Brannen, the same trainer being investigated today.
The politics
State Senator Darrell Jackson, D-Columbia, directly challenged Caslen during a March 25 budget hearing on how the USC could be asking the state for funds to build a new medical school when it could pay about $ 20 million to buy two coaches: $ 6.5 million from Martin if he was fired and $ 12.9 million from former football coach Will Muschamp delivered with his expulsion.
Jackson told the Post and Courier that he felt it was unfair for the USC to even consider firing Martin due to the clear effect that COVID-19 had on the coach and the team this season (Martin contracted the virus twice since May 2020).
“If they fired Frank Martin, they would have better justified why they needed a penny from the state,” he said.
This led to a change in thinking about Martin’s management, although the USC could still decide to proceed with Martin’s resignation, although this seems very unlikely at this point. Jackson would not like the USC to do so, but it would take more than one disgruntled senator for the entire state legislature to deny USC funds for its facilities.
There is little appetite among university leaders for another major acquisition. It will be difficult to get the money after the purchase of Muschamp and the sports department’s COVID-19 revenue shortfall, which may require a government loan.
To retain Martin, the USC would probably need to accept the coach’s request and grant him an extension of the contract, but he could work in a way that still favors the school.
For example, if you added two years to the business with the standard increases included (Martin is expected to earn $ 3.2 million this year and $ 3.3 million next year), but has adjusted the acquisition to where it dropped to zero after two years, USC you really have the same business as you do now.
That would give Martin what he wants, but he would also know exactly what the USC was giving him – a very lukewarm show of support.
The fans
Some of Gamecock’s most vocal fans on Twitter or on the forums are back in their familiar way of collapse and have sworn they won’t go to the games or buy tickets for the season. Others expressed support for Martin.
There is still no way to say whether the pandemic will subside next season and allow a full house in basketball games, but historically, if a number of fans declare that they are done with Gamecocks, there will always be more waiting to take its place.
That’s why men’s basketball still had a solid audience, despite the team’s median progress over the past four years (despite the numbers affected by this year’s COVID).
USC wins on both sides of this argument. If Gamecocks don’t play well with Martin and attendance in person falls in the last half of the season, the USC has already collected most of its goal through season tickets. This revenue counts even if the holders do not appear.
There is a chance for Martin to train the team for a winner, which always brings fans back. This would overcome the other side of the argument, that a new coach would generate enthusiasm and bring more fans back.
Andy Shain contributed.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.