>Finally, there is nothing wrong with Smith listening to offers.  The fact that
>he might be doing so does not mean he doesn't care about the program.  Most
>of us with jobs in the real world wouldn't think twice of listening to offers
>of better jobs, and we wouldn't consider ourselves to not care about our
>current jobs.  If a job comes along that is better than our current job, then
>in many cases we take it.  ...
 
I can't comment on whether Smith should be listening to offers as I
don't know his situation, but I'd like to think that the rest of the
points in the paragraph should not be thought of as strictly true, but
true only under some circumstances!  I don't think a coach should
"accept" a position and then go elsewhere after one year.  "In the real
world", many will not think highly of you if you take a "better job" a
few times after 6 or 12 month stays.
 
Maine has had some coaching woes due to this attitude, most recently in
football and women's basketball.  We've had 4 football coaches in the
past (I think) 5 years.  Some of this Maine expects.  We've always been
a training ground for coaches, radio and TV personalities.  This (4
coaches) was a bit much to take.  Our current women's basketball coach
was looking around a few weeks ago.  She did not get one job and thought
she would not get another (I suspect);  when the search committee took a
long time, she withdrew her name and in a tear-filled few days professed
her loyalty to the school and players.  A few days later she received a
3 year contract extension.  A few days later she was in San Diego
interviewing for another job.  She mostly avoided the press after that,
but did emphasize that she did not call them (San Diego/Long Beach),
they called her.  Big deal.  When someone from Orono vacations in Kansas
City, they don't usually fly there via San Diego :-)
 
Now I don't mean to say that there aren't other factors that come into
play.  In each case there are individual circumstances.  I find the
Maine top athletic administration to appear to be spending more time
garnishing their resumes than doing things to make the lives of coaches
and athletes better, than understanding the tradition and values of
Mainers, and providing service to the people of the state.  I'm
prejudiced (against them).  They know big-time athletics.  They don't
know how to treat people.  They know how to raise money.  They don't
know what Mainiacs consider important.  I am flabbergasted that Shawn
Walsh has turned down offers in order to put up with the top athletic
department actions for another year (that I hear about only 2nd and
third hand).  Sorry, that's too much dirty laundry.  Also, please don't
consider this to be *any* sort of indictment of Coach Walsh!  Shawn
knows how to treat people.  He is honest, forthright and *very* good at
his entire job.