113p

So, we're upset that Alnutt didn't have a coach lined up within 24 hours in case Nate left? I'm assuming he had a list of people that he would be interested in, but we're talking about getting someone signed within a day. Getting Oats within 2 days was incredibly fast, and that's because he was already here and the players advocated for him.

The relationship with most coaches is closer to a father/son relationship. They spend A LOT of time together. The relationship will be different for every player and coach, but I'm assuming it's devastating for the players when a beloved coach leaves. You envision yourself playing for this coach for another 2, or 3 years, and then it's an enormous change. But, again, that's the unfortunate reality.

But if he got the team together and told them he was leaving, would they feel any less deceived? Any time a coach leaves, he's leaving behind players. There's no way to avoid that. Every player thinks that their coach will be there for their entire stay. Doesn't always work out that way. Absolutely sucks for the players, especially because they're not free to move to another school without sitting out a year, but that's the harsh reality. I'm sure Oats told them that he was staying because he has no other option, but to say that. Is he really going to tell them that he's thinking of leaving? That would assuredly affect the play of the team.

If he had already signed the contract, is he even allowed to speak to the team? Technically, speaking to players at another school would be a violation. I'm just speculating here, but I think that's a possibility. I mean, I wouldn't say goodbye until the ink was dry, and the deal was 100%, and maybe then he couldn't. He certainly can't speak to the players now. And, of course, he offers Hawkins. He's not the UB coach any longer. Recruiting starts as soon as he signs the paper. He's not going to try to improve his team because he wants to be nice to his old school? It's not like Hawkins would come here without Nate anyway.