Forbes ?? Candidate for SC

[sparky01]

Two questions for Mahler: 1) Will the increase in NIL funds affect this year's transfer options and 2) will we see Carolina sign "bigger" names now (Savoie from Clemson types)? Most of the transfers have been lower level or Juco, and Forbes has done a fantastic job with these prospects. Will he be freer to go after bigger fish now?

 

[Mahler19]

Two questions for Mahler: 1) Will the increase in NIL funds affect this year's transfer options and 2) will we see Carolina sign "bigger" names now (Savoie from Clemson types)? Most of the transfers have been lower level or Juco, and Forbes has done a fantastic job with these prospects. Will he be freer to go after bigger fish now?

1. To a degree, we will have more money for signings this portal but also for retention. Glauber is one of the most prized pitchers in America right now. But not all of the funds will be accessible this late in the game. It’s more about the coming years and a commitment that UNC will be able to compete.

2. Yes. There will have a lot more money. How it’s used is up to the staff. I don’t know that for now. But they will have the ability to get bigger names if they so choose.

 

[notrickfox]

You don’t really get any “benefits” besides knowing you are helping a good cause. You can give what you can. https://give.unc.edu/diamondheels

 

[sparky01]

Thanks Mahler. You provide valuable inside info into baseball.

 

[maxmrnb1]

I was skeptical when fox retired about hiring from within....boy was i wrong

 

[floridahighschoolcoach]

As a football letterman I do take exception to the program being called a joke. You can advocate for more money for baseball without disparaging the programs that prop up baseball and every other program at this University that wouldn't exist without them.

I don't mean you are any other player who played football for Carolina is a joke but almost everything that has occurred since BB was hired has been nothing short of a disaster and we are made fun of because of BB and stuff with the girl.

 

[UNCHeel64]

I don't mean you are any other player who played football for Carolina is a joke but almost everything that has occurred since BB was hired has been nothing short of a disaster and we are made fun of because of BB and stuff with the girl.

See, stuff like that doesn't bother me. We're paying him to win games not be the Dean of Students. Last year, the results weren't what some expected. He has two more years to figure it out or we will be looking for a new coach.

 

[oldwell]

See, stuff like that doesn't bother me. We're paying him to win games not be the Dean of Students. Last year, the results weren't what some expected. He has two more years to figure it out or we will be looking for a new coach.

I hear you but the Jordon stuff doesn’t embarrass you at all?

 

[Tarheelgrad90]

Your fallacy is that you think this negotiation was just about Forbes and his pay. If that was the case, I’d say you hit the nail on the head with your analysis. But there was more to it than that. There was staff and support salaries as well as NIL commitments. Forbes was just not thinking about himself. It was his people and the NIL. UNC had to cover all of that and it was no small feat. Again, I am not speculating here. I don’t expect you to take my word as an outsider, just offering what I know. Do with it what you will.

Thanks. But I have no false illusions of such. I just didn't mention it because, well... its the same rhetorical question. There is/was NO WORLD in which newmark did not respond the exact way he did. Support for Forbes, staff, program... and not in that order. Anyone who knows Coach forbes knows full well he was far more interested in others. There is simply no realistic world where UNC did not do exactly what they did. and since I knew that was going to be the end result when it became public last Thurday... this was the only logical and realistic result. And THIS is why when someone calls, you owe it to all involved to say... Ok, I'll hear you out. which is exactly what and "all" forbes did. Back to a post I made up top... this is how sausage is made. Someone calls, you agree to listen, and then intelligent administrators sit down and figure out what is needed. This is where we were gonna end up. It just was. You have to understand the 1) love Forbes has for Mike Fox (and what Fox did for him), then 2) his love for UNC, followed by 3) his love and desire for his staff. And then after all that you get way down to ... oh yeah, this is my home and I am too close to retirement.

 

[Tarheeldw21]

Not my place at the moment. Maybe another time. I can say SC was prepared to make Forbes on of the highest paid coaches in America. Same with his staff and NIL. This was a full court press. Saying they had no shot or Forbes didn’t consider it is wrong.

I know the board doesn’t need me to validate this but Mahler is spot on here. Forbes was most definitely considering this move and I was worried that he might leave. SC was willing to wait through the supers for Forbes but thankfully we came up with the money we needed to come up with. I think people would be surprised at how close SC came to taking our coach.

 

[UNCHeel64]

I hear you but the Jordon stuff doesn’t embarrass you at all?

Not at all. I really couldn't care less what someone does in their personal life. I get it if some are embarrassed because their friends that pull for other teams give them a hard time or they don't like the media harping on it.

Guess I'm wired a little different and try not to let the little stuff bother me these days. Lot more yesterdays than there are tomorrows at my age which probably plays a part in my attitude.

 

[Calheel]

He has two more years to figure it out or we will be looking for a new coach.

If 2026 goes as bad as predicted, he likely has just five more months.

 

[topoftheheel]

Not at all. I really couldn't care less what someone does in their personal life. I get it if some are embarrassed because their friends that pull for other teams give them a hard time or they don't like the media harping on it.

Guess I'm wired a little different and try not to let the little stuff bother me these days. Lot more yesterdays than there are tomorrows at my age which probably plays a part in my attitude.

It's certainly bled into his professional life though

 

[unctarheel1984]

Incorrect. We finance the buyout. The delta between the ACC vs Big10/SEC is so great that we will have more revenue every year the day we make the switch. The buyout will be a long term liability - just like the BlueZone.

I don’t expect a significant contribution to the buyout, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we got some help.

And we will add immediate value to every team in the conference once we join. It would be expansion malpractice for us to fail to consider competing offers from both conferences. And there are very few schools in that position. Maybe UVa. Even Notre Dame is likely just Big10 or nothing.

Certainly, we add immediate value to any conference we join, but if it doesn’t offset the approximately $75 million we’re taking out, that won’t fly. And we still have to repay the financed buyout.

 

[unctarheel1984]

Mmm, you sure?

I quoted it. Others have quoted it. Greg has quoted it. You can read it for yourself either above in this thread or pull the financial report.

 

[Mahler19]

Thanks. But I have no false illusions of such. I just didn't mention it because, well... its the same rhetorical question. There is/was NO WORLD in which newmark did not respond the exact way he did. Support for Forbes, staff, program... and not in that order. Anyone who knows Coach forbes knows full well he was far more interested in others. There is simply no realistic world where UNC did not do exactly what they did. and since I knew that was going to be the end result when it became public last Thurday... this was the only logical and realistic result. And THIS is why when someone calls, you owe it to all involved to say... Ok, I'll hear you out. which is exactly what and "all" forbes did. Back to a post I made up top... this is how sausage is made. Someone calls, you agree to listen, and then intelligent administrators sit down and figure out what is needed. This is where we were gonna end up. It just was. You have to understand the 1) love Forbes has for Mike Fox (and what Fox did for him), then 2) his love for UNC, followed by 3) his love and desire for his staff. And then after all that you get way down to ... oh yeah, this is my home and I am too close to retirement.

With all due respect, you’re making a lot of assumptions without being in on how this went down.

I know the board doesn’t need me to validate this but Mahler is spot on here. Forbes was most definitely considering this move and I was worried that he might leave. SC was willing to wait through the supers for Forbes but thankfully we came up with the money we needed to come up with. I think people would be surprised at how close SC came to taking our coach.

This was much closer to going sideways than many will probably ever know. Glad it worked out. The baseball family put on the full court press and the staff is going to get a well deserved reward.

 

[Calheel]

Certainly, we add immediate value to any conference we join, but if it doesn’t offset the approximately $75 million we’re taking out, that won’t fly. And we still have to repay the financed buyout.

First off, I'd expect it to be more than $75 million because I expect us to make the move in 28 or 29.

Second, of course we are not going to get any conference to pay our entire buy-out. At most, we might get a few bucks signing fee and perhaps some financing help. But UNC is obviously going to be on the hook for the vast majority of the exit fee.

Third, yes we have to repay the financed buyout. Just like you have to repay a mortgage or we have to pay the financing on the Blue Zone. But you pay that debt off over many years out of a projected revenue stream.

Fourth, bringing this back to Forbes, we do not need to wait years to come out ahead on the deal. From day 1, we will be in a better financial position once we join the SEC/Big10 (with the caveat that there is a bit of a delay in how the distributions are paid, and every conference does it a bit differently). We will not be equal to Texas or Bama because: (1) they have much bigger stadiums and better alumni support, and (2) they will not be financing a new billion dollar basketball arena and a $100 million buyout fee. But, we will be in a much better financial position than today, with much greater resources for our athletic teams.

 

[Calheel]

I know the board doesn’t need me to validate this but Mahler is spot on here. Forbes was most definitely considering this move and I was worried that he might leave. SC was willing to wait through the supers for Forbes but thankfully we came up with the money we needed to come up with. I think people would be surprised at how close SC came to taking our coach.

That is just the reality of bigtime college sports these days. If not SC, there would be another school another year. If you want to keep your program among the elite, you need to make a competitive financial commitment to the program. No matter how much anyone loves his school, that person is not going to want to compete with one hand tied behind his back. Everyone wants an even playing field.

 

[rayram]

Agreed.

This matches what I had heard, as well. Even though Forbes was a "UNC guy," so was Holbrook when Tanner hired him as an assistant to recruit against us. This whole thing made me very nervous. It would have sucked to see Forbes and the former UNC guys coaching down there. The old saying isn't money talks BS walks for no reason. Can't wait to hear Schnall announced officially.

The Holbrook story cuts both ways. I don't think he would recommend a job at lil Carolina.