For whatever the other reasons are why Doherty left, doesn't matter, but instead lets look at the state of the program before Doherty was an Owl.

RPI was way down there, a dismal attendance (average) below 500 fans per game, with hardly any game time atmosphere, except for the very few hard core fans , street ball basketball, hardly any student involvement, etc….. the list is so long I could go on and list a bunch more, actually we could start a thread with each new post being a new item to describe the state of FAU basketball prior to Doherty being an Owl.

And it would all be wasted energy.

Doherty left for a BIG pay raise and did what was best for his family, people leave jobs for far less then what Doherty received (we don't know what other incentives where involved) and walks into the same type of scenario at SMU as he did with FAU, in a position to turn a program around that has potential. I am not going to compare the two programs, but each one had holes to fill when Doherty took over either programs.

Doherty's stay was short, which most of us would agree that he was a short timer anyway (3-years Max.), but his stay had a very positive and immediate impact on our program. He brought discipline, organization, excitement and energy to a dormant program. Let's not forget the national attention we received because of Doherty, remember the ESPN special that help sell-out opposing teams arenas and help fill the burrow. Attendance alone doubled in his short stay and the game time atmosphere started to grow ever since Dorhety became an Owl, you could feel the difference at games.

His name alone help bring recruits, fans & booster support that was lacking before, so to continue to bash Doherty is like Louisville fans booing Schnelenberger at a football game. He was the major force behind the change that has occurred, he provided the catalyst that brings the basketball program to where it is now. Rex would not have been able to do what he is doing now without Doherty being here first and the fact that Rex was part of the process makes it even more meaningfully and more satisfying. Let's recognize what Doherty did for the program that had nothing prior to him being here and where the program is now - in a relatively SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

This program is on the move because of Doherty & Rex, I include Rex because he was part of the process from the beginning, even though Doherty laid the foundation for Rex to build on. Doherty was here because he was sold on a vision (with the help of Schnelenberger , Angelo's & Brogan) that the athletic department still hold and which ultimately helped Doherty shape the foundation he laid-down. The renovations that are now being done on the Burrow is attributed to what Doherty started and was part of the plans that brings us to where we are today.

There is a level of excitement and energy that has been lacking around FAU sports. Something that football was able to be part of during the play-off run a few years back, but never was able to capitalize and build-on. Now, we have the start of something special that will carry over, especially if we open the 2007 football season on campus.

I think we need to give Doherty some credit for what he has done here, some of those things are not evident, but he did work hard when he was here. His one year stay was short, but help shape a foundation for the future and Doherty accomplished more in one year then any one of us could imagine.

Now, Rex is at the helms and has showed a tremendous amount of growth as a first year coach and is reflected in the team and the fan support that has evolved. Sometimes its not how long a tenure is, but what is accomplished in that period of time, that should be recognized. I know one thing, the excitement that was here when Doherty was first hired and how lucky we all felt to have him being an Owl and we should still fell that way, because of what he was able to accomplish is his short stay.

No hard feeling should exist because of where the program is heading - UP.

I'm sure Rex is comitted but I'm also sure were going to have to offer him around 400K a year if were succesful next year. He will 100% be recruited by an bigger conference.

Look at the South Florida job, Pete Gillen is interviewing and yesterday Travis Ford interviewed for it. Travis Ford is a perfect example of Rex Walters. Young coach at Eastern Kentucks and his 2nd/3rd year there made it to the NCAA's and then left for UMASS. One good season at UMASS, were his salary was probably 500k+ and he's interveiwing at USF, a bigger pay raise.

If Rex does the job we all think he's going to do will have to:
A. Pay him a legit amount of money.
B. Have better facilites
C. Make a move to a better conference.

A. if the program continues to grow will probably be able to afford to pay him more.
B. The improvements to the burrow should help, but how much? I've never been to any other Sun Belt arena's, will be on par some of the average ones with this expansion/renevation? Not WKU for sure.
C. If we keep improving the way we are in all sports, build more on campus housing, a stadium, and improve the overall facilites, I don't see why we wouldn't move on to a bigger conference. Location is the number one factor helping us. Places like North Texas will always be in the shadow of the bigger school in Texas because there's nothin appealing about the school and it has no history.

FAU is on the beach in a nice town. FSU is in on the panhandle, UCF is stuck in Disney World, Tampa is a sketchy, tough neighborhood. FIU is inland and in a city.

The location factor will help us tremendously in recruiting out of state players once we get to that level and keep the good ones in state.

the future is bright but FAU has to get the ball rolling on the facilities and new dorms pronto.

Exit39 said

B. The improvements to the burrow should help, but how much? I've never been to any other Sun Belt arena's, will be on par some of the average ones with this expansion/renevation? Not WKU for sure.

We will have a top notch Belt facility - IF they do all they say they are going to do…

Western Kentucky is the premier facility…it is on a much higher level and competes with other conferences…but they dont get the athletes we have right now - case in point…but in all reality their facility doesnt belong in the Belt…the rest we are going to be in very good shape against…

you can go online at the www.sunbeltsports.org site and click on the various links at the top of the page to go to each schools athletics page and see photos of them all…

i am excited about the new burrow… but let's be honest:

1. Denver - the top in the conference… it's an amazing facility, that resembles a major conference/program's arena
2. WKU - as you said, beautiful, big
3. Middle Tennessee - unbelievable atmospheree and size
4. South Alabama
5. North Texas
6. ULL

i'd put our new arena prolly #7

so while i think our new arena WILL fit in nicely in the conference, it's still nowhere close to other belt schools' CONVOCATION CENTERS, opposed to our gymnasium's facelift

here are pictures of some of the facilities that are TOP TOP notch in the belt:
Denver





Middle Tennessee:

wow, maybe we can start playing basketball at the Bank Atlantic Center, our gym certainly doesn't compare.

the first step is to stop calling it a "gym"...because it isnt anymore...lets wait and see what they do...owl09, i dont really see anything special about denver...put some pics of WKU up...that place is the bomb...

fauowl09 said

fauowl said

I heard from a good source that besides the money, Doherty's wife did not like Boca Raton or at least some of the snobish elements. That was a key factor for him. The money made it a no-brainer.

As far as Rex, I like his character a lot, but realistically, what do we think he is going to say, that he is keeping his eye open for better opportunities? Of course he is going to say he is commited and when he says it, he means it…BUT…that doesn't mean he won't take a better offer. I would not blame him if he left. And I would be thrilled for the time we had him just like I was with Doherty. At least we have Angelos and Brogan going after the best talent available for the budget they have to work with.

doherty's wife not liking boca and the "snobbish elements" is comparable to someone in a glass house throwing stones… is that made any sense at all… it's like a pig calling their play-pen dirty… that woman put the "snob" in "snobbish"

Mrs. Daugherty offered me her personal cell phone number if I ever needed anything. On top of that she made sure we got signed basketballs, posters, etc. from Matt. Furthermore she is attractive.

fauowl09 said

fauowl said

I heard from a good source that besides the money, Doherty's wife did not like Boca Raton or at least some of the snobish elements. That was a key factor for him. The money made it a no-brainer.

As far as Rex, I like his character a lot, but realistically, what do we think he is going to say, that he is keeping his eye open for better opportunities? Of course he is going to say he is commited and when he says it, he means it…BUT…that doesn't mean he won't take a better offer. I would not blame him if he left. And I would be thrilled for the time we had him just like I was with Doherty. At least we have Angelos and Brogan going after the best talent available for the budget they have to work with.

doherty's wife not liking boca and the "snobbish elements" is comparable to someone in a glass house throwing stones… is that made any sense at all… it's like a pig calling their play-pen dirty… that woman put the "snob" in "snobbish"

when did you have a run in with Kelly that you found her snobby? I would have to say the exact opposite, she's got to be one of the friendliest people I've met down here. She's a real southern belle. Which would lead me to believe that she didn't like the general population down here, it's quite different from NC. She was very good to me and my group of friends.

walty: its Doherty ;D