Melvin Watkins

The word is, he is out at A&M after the season. Reminds me of an old Steve Miller song. "Go on take the money and run." Godspeed Melvin.

 

A&M is currently 7-15 overall but 0-11 in the big 12 (yikes!). They thought there would be more improvement after a 14-14 season last year, the first non-losing season in 9 years. The Aggies were leading in the second half of seven of the Big 12 games.


Nope, he hasn't aged any since leaving UNCC. :shakehead


Another fatality of this occurring would likely be the transfer of Melvin's son, guard Marcus, now a sophomore. He was a highly recruited guard out of high school (of course, we all knew where he was headed).


Kummer's wife, Nicole is an Director of Volleyball Operations at Texas A & M, which is a big sport there. They made their 11th straight NCAA tournament this year, and have lost to the eventual NCAA champs for 3 straight years.

 

Firing Watkins won't set off rush of top coaches seeking A&M job
By Mike Jones, Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Because there is so much real pain in the world, it's crass to say that the last days of Melvin Watkins as Texas A&M's basketball coach are painful to watch.

Uncomfortable is a word that fits.

Aggies athletic director Bill Byrne hasn't dropped the dime on Watkins yet, but the assumption of those in, connected to and surrounding the program is that it's likely to fall 24-48 hours after A&M finishes playing in the Big 12 tournament. If history holds, that won't be long after the opening tip. A&M remains the only team in the conference yet to win a game in the postseason show.

Watkins continues to conduct himself with class, patiently answering questions about his team and its struggle to win a game of any kind. Watkins, of course, will live to coach another day -- or not -- financially secure and looking at a $600,000 buyout, according to sources. The really uncomfortable part is seeing the strain on the faces of his assistant coaches, whose futures are less certain, whose bank accounts are less full.

In a recent conversation, Antoine Wright spoke of the mental strain he battles daily as he struggles to reach a once seemingly certain potential. This week, he has talked openly about leaving the program when Watkins is gone.

"I really don't want to play for another coach," Wright said after Wednesday's 77-57 loss at Texas.

"Coach Wat has done a good job with helping me with my game. I really feel comfortable with him. I know coming in with another coach, you'd probably have to change the system and bring in new recruits and all that. I really don't want to play for another coach."

After hinting earlier he would transfer, Wright now says he still harbors the idea that somehow he's ready for the NBA.

"I'm never going to transfer," Wright said. "I probably will go out and do some workouts and test the waters [of the NBA Draft] if [Watkins is fired]. I haven't really been out asking around [about his prospects], but as a player I'm disappointed in myself and my season.

"You hear things. I know what I'm capable of and the type of workout I'm capable of having if I was to try that out. Right now, I'm just trying to focus on the rest of the year."

Wright doesn't know what he's going to do. What will Byrne do? You hear a lot of names, most of them unrealistic.

Trout will swim in the Brazos before Mark Few leaves Gonzaga. Lon Kruger? Don't think so. Nolan Richardson? Byrne is smarter than that. You think Bob Knight has baggage? Trust me, Aggies, you think a cloud hangs over the program now; bring in Richardson and start building an ark.

Byrne keeps close counsel. He listens, watches. He talks to few. He has a tight-knit inner circle. My educated guess is he already surreptitiously has been in contact with his man, a name we will all recognize, who might or might not currently be a head coach, who has a Big 12/Texas connection, and who has a personality. But that's just an educated guess.

Bet that Byrne won't make the mistake of his successor at Nebraska and conduct a coaching search without a clue.

Historically, there have been a lot of reasons why Aggies basketball has been average or less since Shelby Metcalf was forced out in 1989. Lack of financial support, lack of promotion, a lack of understanding of what commitment to a program means in this age and the previous administration's illusion that A&M was the Harvard on the Brazos are only a few that come to mind.

All that has supposedly changed with Byrne and a new administration across campus. A realistic academic overview is supposedly at hand. Again.

Multitudes in the profession consider this job a fast track to nowhere. It certainly has been.

 

I wish someone would buy me out for $600,000.

 

I'll go as high as $6.00

 

He looks even worse on TV. Saw him once this year wearing some kind of reading glasses and sitting down most of the game. Going oh-fer in the conference will do that to ya.

 

Always did like that Kummer guy, now just another reason to like him...way to go Bobby. Maybe we can get him as a asst. and let his wife do her volleyball thing here

 

My accountant called your accountant on this matter. Your accountant says you don't have $6 bucks to spare.