Barry Odom's contract extension

[Pure Swing]

After a 1-5 start, Odom's Tigers reeled off 6 wins in a row and a bowl bid. Now he's in talks about a contract extension.
The Tigers 7 wins came over teams with a combined record of 26-55. They didn't beat a team with a .500 or winning record. They lost to every team they played with a .500 or winning record. In those games the Tigers were outscored 210-92.
Give the Tigers and Odom credit on the way they finished the season.
After two years as the Tigers coach, how many years should his contract be extended?

 

[freezeoption]

None

 

[J. Kane]

Has MU's AD and Chancellor consulted BLM about the best course of action here?

 

[I2R I]

Depends. Who is available? I'd say hire John Gruden. Only problem, they cant afford him and he wouldn't take it if they could.

 

[NorthWestBleachers]

I kinda think the ZOU has 99 problems ... and Odom ain't one.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This one is utterly perplexing to me. His original deal was a 5-yr deal. He's got 3 yrs left. It's not like he's outperformed the contract. He isn't going into a lame duck year. MU doesn't have to be concerned about another school plucking him and paying him more. I don't get the thinking here at all.

 

[bullitpdq68]

After a 1-5 start, Odom's Tigers reeled off 6 wins in a row and a bowl bid. Now he's in talks about a contract extension.
The Tigers 7 wins came over teams with a combined record of 26-55. They didn't beat a team with a .500 or winning record. They lost to every team they played with a .500 or winning record. In those games the Tigers were outscored 210-92.
Give the Tigers and Odom credit on the way they finished the season.
After two years as the Tigers coach, how many years should his contract be extended?

Odom won the games he should of and was supposed too at the end of the year, they did not win any of the push games and there are no defining victories this year. However that being said he and the tigers could have folded up and the Vand, Tennessee's, Florida and Arky all could have beat them and nobody would have blinked an eye, because of the way the tigers were playing at the beginning of the year. So how the tigers finished was decent and the man deserves credit for keeping them focused.

But my question is why is it so important to give the man an extension now, why not wait and see if he can build on the success he had at the end of this year. I really don't think anybody is going to be calling him this year.

 

[shoot90draw]

there are no defining victories this year.

No defining victories!? Did you forget about the Missouri State win!?!?!?

 

[J. Kane]

No defining victories!? Did you forget about the Missouri State win!?!?!?

 

[bullitpdq68]

No defining victories!? Did you forget about the Missouri State win!?!?!?

 

[HomeyR]

This one is utterly perplexing to me. His original deal was a 5-yr deal. He's got 3 yrs left. It's not like he's outperformed the contract. He isn't going into a lame duck year. MU doesn't have to be concerned about another school plucking him and paying him more. I don't get the thinking here at all.

Totally agree... I'm not at all convinced that he can recruit in a manner that will allow the program to be consistently successful. I would make sure that he has demonstrated that before I filled his wallet

 

[UNCLERICO22]

I say no contract talks until year four. This situation will tell us a lot about Sterk. If he extends his contract now, Sterk needs to be fired. I'm not sold on Odom yet. I would wait and see what the next two years bring, before I have those talks if I'm the AD.

 

[bullitpdq68]

I say no contract talks until year four. This situation will tell us a lot about Sterk. If he extends his contract now, Sterk needs to be fired. I'm not sold on Odom yet. I would wait and see what the next two years bring, before I have those talks if I'm the AD.

Okay I was reading some more on this, and I guess schools believe having a coach with at least 4 years left on their contract helps them with recruiting.

 

[mofootballcoach]

I am not a big Odom fan but I think Mizzou needs stability in the program so I keep him on until past problems are behind us and school enrollment increases. I say year to year no longer than 2 year contracts.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I am not a big Odom fan but I think Mizzou needs stability in the program so I keep him on until past problems are behind us and school enrollment increases. I say year to year no longer than 2 year contracts.

Nobody does that. Would kill recruiting.

 

[wcowherd]

You have to extend his contract past 4 years so he can tell recruits that he’ll be around the whole time. Ultimately the length of the contract means nothing. It’s all about the buyout number.

 

[goinlong]

Totally agree... I'm not at all convinced that he can recruit in a manner that will allow the program to be consistently successful. I would make sure that he has demonstrated that before I filled his wallet

He's actually done excellent at recruiting so far getting those diamonds in the rough the program needs to have in order to be successful. It'd be nice to get some other higher profile guys, but they're always going to be few and far between for Missouri. Read up:

https://www.101sports.com/2017/11/07/barry-odoms-recruiting-may-reason-keep-around/

 

[HomeyR]

He's actually done excellent at recruiting so far getting those diamonds in the rough the program needs to have in order to be successful. It'd be nice to get some other higher profile guys, but they're always going to be few and far between for Missouri. Read up:

https://www.101sports.com/2017/11/07/barry-odoms-recruiting-may-reason-keep-around/

He hasn't been around long enough to definitively make that statement. If after a couple of more years these recruits produce (assuming that Odom is still at Mizzou) then you may have a point. Let's see what next year brings...

 

[wcowherd]

I will say it was encouraging to see the turnaround this year fueled in large part by the young guys. Gives me hope for the future.

 

[goinlong]

He hasn't been around long enough to definitively make that statement. If after a couple of more years these recruits produce (assuming that Odom is still at Mizzou) then you may have a point. Let's see what next year brings...

If they produce? Dude, they're producing now. Several are starting or contributing. Some of them seem like great gets. Crockett, Rountree, Albert O...I agree he'll need to continue to excel, but to say he hasn't really had success recruiting so far is a bit disingenuous as he's been getting good things from the young guys already.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

You have to extend his contract past 4 years so he can tell recruits that he’ll be around the whole time. Ultimately the length of the contract means nothing. It’s all about the buyout number.

I don't buy that argument. I get it after next season I guess. Or I can buy it if there isn't a raise associated. But man, if he gets re-upped with a raise...I don't know. Just seems off. And that's all under the premise that I just don't buy the 4-yr argument. That said, if you can extend him with the same deal and not raise the buyout...by all means, do so. Seems like a no lose deal there.

 

[wcowherd]

I don't buy that argument. I get it after next season I guess. Or I can buy it if there isn't a raise associated. But man, if he gets re-upped with a raise...I don't know. Just seems off. And that's all under the premise that I just don't buy the 4-yr argument. That said, if you can extend him with the same deal and not raise the buyout...by all means, do so. Seems like a no lose deal there.

He’s not getting a huge raise and his buyout is not going to go up substantially and he might help him on the recruiting trail. What’s the harm?

 

[bullitpdq68]

If they produce? Dude, they're producing now. Several are starting or contributing. Some of them seem like great gets. Crockett, Rountree, Albert O...I agree he'll need to continue to excel, but to say he hasn't really had success recruiting so far is a bit disingenuous as he's been getting good things from the young guys already.

They produced but against sub-par teams. 4-4 in conference is not bad considering what things were looking like before this run. But it's not like they beat or competed with the likes of Auburn or Georgia...

 

[cru66]

miz had a rough start and could of folded like florida or Tennessee did. but no they kept playing hard and alot of young guys are playing this year. sometimes it takes several games to figure things out. they only lose 2 senior starters this year. hopefully lock and beckner return. some quality players rs this year plus we have some recruits in the fold. miz will never recruit like the big boys they will always be between 25-45 in class rankings so the staff just has to coach them up the best they can like hcgp did.

 

[goinlong]

They produced but against sub-par teams. 4-4 in conference is not bad considering what things were looking like before this run. But it's not like they beat or competed with the likes of Auburn or Georgia...

And you expect them to? This is Missouri. They're never going to consistently compete with those teams. Their ceiling is to be a team that's bowl eligible on a yearly basis and then be in the mix for the East every few years. We have to be realistic. They also shouldn't apologize for other teams imploding. They still took advantage of that and didn't fold up shop after a terrible, horrible, God awful start to the season. They improved and got younger at a lot of positions. That should bode well for the future of the program.

 

[bullitpdq68]

And you expect them to? This is Missouri. They're never going to consistently compete with those teams. Their ceiling is to be a team that's bowl eligible on a yearly basis and then be in the mix for the East every few years. We have to be realistic. They also shouldn't apologize for other teams imploding. They still took advantage of that and didn't fold up shop after a terrible, horrible, God awful start to the season. They improved and got younger at a lot of positions. That should bode well for the future of the program.

And why is that? Why as a fan should we just except that Mizzou's ceiling in football is going to be just 7-8 wins a year? I do think Odom did a good job of keeping the team together when others folded, I even said that in an earlier post. And I don't want to over think things either and believe at this point Mizzou can and should be competing for national championships or even just the SEC championship, but I would like to believe that is the goal at some point for the program coaches and school administration, not just to muddle thru in mediocre for eternity...

 

[cru66]

And why is that? Why as a fan should we just except that Mizzou's ceiling in football is going to be just 7-8 wins a year? I do think Odom did a good job of keeping the team together when others folded, I even said that in an earlier post. And I don't want to over think things either and believe at this point Mizzou can and should be competing for national championships or even just the SEC championship, but I would like to believe that is the goal at some point for the program coaches and school administration, not just to muddle thru in mediocre for eternity...

7-8 wins most years,9-10 and a chance to win the east every so often. there are about 7 teams in the sec were never going to out recruit. missouri is geographically challenged as well with very little tradition. thats just the reality of our situation,im fine with it.

 

[goinlong]

And why is that? Why as a fan should we just except that Mizzou's ceiling in football is going to be just 7-8 wins a year? I do think Odom did a good job of keeping the team together when others folded, I even said that in an earlier post. And I don't want to over think things either and believe at this point Mizzou can and should be competing for national championships or even just the SEC championship, but I would like to believe that is the goal at some point for the program coaches and school administration, not just to muddle thru in mediocre for eternity...

I agree with all the reasons Cru put forward. We're just at a disadvantage in too many areas to expect a championship level program year in and year out. But to win 7-8 a year and 9-10 (or more) every so often is just fine. We were 1 game from playing for a national title a couple of different times, but those games were also 6 years apart and the 2 best teams Mizzou has ever fielded. Name another program similar to Mizzou that competes for championships on a regular basis.

 

[bullitpdq68]

7-8 wins most years,9-10 and a chance to win the east every so often. there are about 7 teams in the sec were never going to out recruit. missouri is geographically challenged as well with very little tradition. thats just the reality of our situation,im fine with it.

I understand what you are saying, but other schools seem to overcome that. Look at TCU or UCF they are challenged too but seem to be at least trying to make some noise, also look at Baylor or the Oregon Ducks. I am not saying we should expect a National title every year, I am just saying I expect the goal of the program to be, to try and improve Mizzou to a better status, possible an elite school. I think at some point you have to make a choice to try to improve and give it your best shot, don't just except your position in the pecking order, there was a time we could beat an Alabama back in the Big 8 days. I thought that is why we let Warren Powers go and got on the Woody Wagon!! to compete with the big dogs....and then we found out the Wagon had only mini horses to pull it. Have things changed that much at Mizzou that we are now happy to go 4-4 most years in the SEC...Why be a fan then.

 

[bullitpdq68]

I agree with all the reasons Cru put forward. We're just at a disadvantage in too many areas to expect a championship level program year in and year out. But to win 7-8 a year and 9-10 (or more) every so often is just fine. We were 1 game from playing for a national title a couple of different times, but those games were also 6 years apart and the 2 best teams Mizzou has ever fielded. Name another program similar to Mizzou that competes for championships on a regular basis.

One game and many points away.

 

[goinlong]

I understand what you are saying, but other schools seem to overcome that. Look at TCU or UCF they are challenged too but seem to be at least trying to make some noise, also look at Baylor or the Oregon Ducks. I am not saying we should expect a National title every year, I am just saying I expect the goal of the program to be, to try and improve Mizzou to a better status, possible an elite school. I think at some point you have to make a choice to try to improve and give it your best shot, don't just except your position in the pecking order, there was a time we could beat an Alabama back in the Big 8 days. I thought that is why we let Warren Powers go and got on the Woody Wagon!! to compete with the big dogs....and then we found out the Wagon had only mini horses to pull it. Have things changed that much at Mizzou that we are now happy to go 4-4 most years in the SEC...Why be a fan then.

Let me explain everything here. First, TCU and UCF are located in the recruiting hotbeds of Texas and Florida. Baylor, same thing. Texas. And they only had a good run recently when they allowed all of their players to rape at will and not report it. So that's out. Oregon has Phil Knight as their largest booster. Know who he is? The president of Nike. So he pumps millions upon millions into that program. That makes a significant difference. All that being said, these programs have gone through down times recently too. There's only a handful of elite programs who are regularly title contenders. I'm not saying we should be "happy with mediocrity", but you also have to be realistic with your expectations.

 

[goinlong]

One game and many points away.

Tied at halftime against Oklahoma and winning in the 3rd against Auburn. Really they were just a half or less, but yes, the final score wasn't great. And why Steck ran that 3-3 against Auburn for most of the game as they gashed us I'll never know.

 

[cru66]

I understand what you are saying, but other schools seem to overcome that. Look at TCU or UCF they are challenged too but seem to be at least trying to make some noise, also look at Baylor or the Oregon Ducks. I am not saying we should expect a National title every year, I am just saying I expect the goal of the program to be, to try and improve Mizzou to a better status, possible an elite school. I think at some point you have to make a choice to try to improve and give it your best shot, don't just except your position in the pecking order, there was a time we could beat an Alabama back in the Big 8 days. I thought that is why we let Warren Powers go and got on the Woody Wagon!! to compete with the big dogs....and then we found out the Wagon had only mini horses to pull it. Have things changed that much at Mizzou that we are now happy to go 4-4 most years in the SEC...Why be a fan then.

we didnt go 4-4 to win our east titles,very happy those years. not happy with 7-8 wins but like i said,i realize our place vs the top teams in the ncaa.

 

[cru66]

Tied at halftime against Oklahoma and winning in the 3rd against Auburn. Really they were just a half or less, but yes, the final score wasn't great. And why Steck ran that 3-3 against Auburn for most of the game as they gashed us I'll never know.

this is where our recruiting and depth comes in. ou is a blueblood and auburn won a title recently and their teams are choked full of 4* and a few 5* on occasions.

 

[bullitpdq68]

Let me explain everything here. First, TCU and UCF are located in the recruiting hotbeds of Texas and Florida. Baylor, same thing. Texas. And they only had a good run recently when they allowed all of their players to rape at will and not report it. So that's out. Oregon has Phil Knight as their largest booster. Know who he is? The president of Nike. So he pumps millions upon millions into that program. That makes a significant difference. All that being said, these programs have gone through down times recently too. There's only a handful of elite programs who are regularly title contenders. I'm not saying we should be "happy with mediocrity", but you also have to be realistic with your expectations.

I understand what you are saying I am realistic with my expectation, with the recruits we are getting right now I expect us to be middle of the road most years in the SEC, and maybe if you find a few diamonds in the ruff you might get a sniff of being ranked in the top 25 once in awhile. But if 3 star recruits is the best your program can do and the best players in state are leaving for greener pastures then I think we need to reevaluate the coaching staff and how the program is being run. I am not against giving Odom a few more years to see what he can do. But I hate it when Missouri's top high school talent choices to go out of state, those are kids we cannot be losing.

 

[goinlong]

I understand what you are saying I am realistic with my expectation, with the recruits we are getting right now I expect us to be middle of the road most years in the SEC, and maybe if you find a few diamonds in the ruff you might get a sniff of being ranked in the top 25 once in awhile. But if 3 star recruits is the best your program can do and the best players in state are leaving for greener pastures then I think we need to reevaluate the coaching staff and how the program is being run. I am not against giving Odom a few more years to see what he can do. But I hate it when Missouri's top high school talent choices to go out of state, those are kids we cannot be losing.

But maybe some of these kids don't want to play at Missouri and it has nothing to do with the school. Maybe they'd just rather go to a blue blood school or, like some people, just want to get out and see and experience life elsewhere. They'll never seal the borders and keep the best talent at home. And it's not just them. Other really solid programs have this same issue. Sometimes kids just want to go elsewhere.

 

[bullitpdq68]

we didnt go 4-4 to win our east titles,very happy those years. not happy with 7-8 wins but like i said,i realize our place vs the top teams in the ncaa.

I understand our current place versus top teams in the NCAA, but I don't want that to be Mizzou's coaches or admin's high water goal. I would like to think they want to achieve more and have a plan in place to try to achieve that. Again I am not saying it's an easy road, just saying I think if you want to play the game you should not settle for mediocrity, you should want to at least try to become the big dog.

 

[bullitpdq68]

But maybe some of these kids don't want to play at Missouri and it has nothing to do with the school. Maybe they'd just rather go to a blue blood school or, like some people, just want to get out and see and experience life elsewhere. They'll never seal the borders and keep the best talent at home. And it's not just them. Other really solid programs have this same issue. Sometimes kids just want to go elsewhere.

I understand that, but Mizzou probable does a worse job of keeping in state talent then most.

 

[goinlong]

I understand that, but Mizzou probable does a worse job of keeping in state talent then most.

I'm sure they're doing everything they can to keep them, but if you're not going to get all of the top talent in the years after 2007 or 2013 then you're just not going to ever get a lot of them. Serious question; what can Missouri offer over other programs to these kids to keep them?

 

[bullitpdq68]

I'm sure they're doing everything they can to keep them, but if you're not going to get all of the top talent in the years after 2007 or 2013 then you're just not going to ever get a lot of them. Serious question; what can Missouri offer over other programs to these kids to keep them?

I really don't know the answer to that question. But I can tell you that a former Tiger player that lives here in Monett said in the final years that GP did do a better job of trying to reach out to former tigers, I do think that is a start. Second not sure if there would be any NCAA violation but back when I was in school Arkansas would give our football team free tickets to a home game, we used it as a bonding experience and I knew alot of my buddies grew up to be Hog fans because of that experience. Since Mizzou has trouble filling the stands that might be a good start, give some high school teams and local youth program some tickets to get them on the tiger band wagon and fill up the stadium.

I did approach Mizzou about taking our local youth program to a Saturday game once and asked if they offered any discounts they gave me nothing, that was a missed chance to grow tiny tiger fans!! Instead Arkansas offered me tickets we just could not work out the date.