FIRE WALT BELL!

Get ready for some MACtion
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Umass_Minuteman
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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by Umass_Minuteman » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:31 am

two words. Don Brown
UConn 59
UMass 61

December 9, 2004
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kdogg8173
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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by kdogg8173 » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:46 am

dennisdent wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:26 am Sadly, I don't think UMass has the money to fire him (hope I'm wrong). Look they are begging for 25k with the latest fund raising effort, which is far from the almost 1+ mil it will take to buy out his contract and the staff.
It’s usually donors that pick up the tab but you’re right we can’t even meet the 25k so who knows if somebody steps up. Wild to see the report the other day that colleges are paying over 500 million to fired coaches between basketball and football 😳

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by dennisdent » Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:13 am

^ A donor paid off Molnar but Whip's last year was paid for out UMass funds. I really hate seeing Bell make all that money for doing such a horrible job at UMass and leave it with so few decent players.

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by McKinney » Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:49 pm

dennisdent wrote: Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:13 am ^ A donor paid off Molnar but Whip's last year was paid for out UMass funds. I really hate seeing Bell make all that money for doing such a horrible job at UMass and leave it with so few decent players.
I thought Whipple's buyout was either negated or substantially reduced because of a mutually agreed separation.

UMass' best chance at hiring a proven FCS coach (Chesney and Harasymiak among others mentioned at the time) was in December 2018 after UMass had improved to 4-8 the previous two seasons and had little to no dead money. Instead, we hired Bell. Nice going, Bamford! Thrilled that UMass has extended him and given him a significant raise!
Class of 2019 - @StatsMass

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by Crank » Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:56 pm


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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by econalum » Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:59 pm

^^^^^^^
Whoaaa, that's news.
Feeling entitled is JUST a feeling...

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by PreecherJenkins » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:02 pm

Don’t let the door hit you Walt.

Hey jack. How’s the improvement?

Bamford Must have a committee for this hire
"You are what your record says you are" Coach Bill P.

JUST SAY NO TO THE MAC

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by econalum » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:03 pm

Last edited by econalum on Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Feeling entitled is JUST a feeling...

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by 69MG » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:04 pm

Here's the official announcement for your viewing pleasure :lol: :lol: :lol: :
Dear Gridiron Club Supporters:

I write to inform you that there will be a leadership change in our football program. I have recently met with Coach Bell and we have agreed that he will step down from his position effective immediately. Alex Miller will be named interim head coach for the remainder of this season. The official press release is attached here.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Decisions like these are never easy, but ultimately I believe this is the best course of action for our student-athletes and the competitive success of our football program moving forward. Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

Sincerely,
Ryan

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by econalum » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:07 pm

Ed Orgeron will be available shortly - :D
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Sheck
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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by Sheck » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:09 pm

^
Dan Mullen too probably. Hey, we can dream.
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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by Berkman » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:11 pm

Whoever, it can't be any worse.

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by Rolling Ridge » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:12 pm

Just got the news. I 100% agree with this decision, but I'm really sorry it had to come to this. I think Walt Bell is a good guy and genuinely wanted to do the right things, he just wasn't prepared for this job. In so many ways, I hold the people making the hiring decision responsible. Walt was what he was. We needed to hire better. Hopefully the lesson has been learned.

I also totally agree that there has to be a process/committee for this next hire. We can't afford another mistake. In many ways, it may be too late, but there was really only one thing they could do RIGHT NOW to make me feel better about the direction of the program... and they did it. So I'm going to be supportive and wait and see.

I stand by my sense that Bell did some good things for the program. Yes, they were all off-the-field, but academics at UMass are critical, so I don't discount the measurable improvements there. I wish Coach Bell all the best for the future.

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by dennisdent » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:16 pm

FINALLY!!!!! I have been wanting this since the middle of Bell's first season! GO UMASS!!!

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Re: FIRE WALT BELL!

Post by 69MG » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:18 pm

Since Restivo was also fired it seems logical that Reid will be DC. Of course, not much around the FB program is logical so who knows.

My bigger question is, what happens going forward? Is there a chance that we can hire a coach with enough cache to get us better recruits and make us more attractive to a conference?

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