As the Tiger Turns

By Big12-Fans Writer Jason Brooks


Sad to say the mess that Quin Snyder, Mike Alden, and Gary Link have gotten themselves into is as sorry as a bad plot in a Soap Opera. Let’s call it "As the Tiger Turns." Where we have an AD whose story is changing on a weekly basis. We have a radio color man who was a former MU athlete, who was sent to do a dastardly deed. And a Head Coach who is as controversial as they come. This Weeks Episode: Firing a Head Coach.

Here’s what we do know for sure:

Feb. 9th: Quin Snyder holds a press conference in which he emphatically states that he will coach til the end of the season.
-Mike Alden, AD for Mizzou, sends Gary Link (color man for radio broadcasts, and one time MU athlete) to speak to Snyder with one of two messages. A) Alden states that he just sent Link to speak with Snyder and “feel” how he’s handling everything. B) Alden states that he sent Link to ask Snyder how he’s doing and if he wants to “Step Away” from the program.

Feb. 10th: Snyder meets with his players during a pre-practice meeting. He tells them that he is resigning as head basketball coach at Mizzou. He will not coach the rest of the season.

Feb. 10th: MU releases a statement that Melvin Watkins will take over as acting head coach for remainder of the season. There is nothing in the statement about a resignation of any kind by Snyder.

Everyone in Columbia knows that Snyder will resign. They just don’t know exactly when it’s coming. The University hasn’t confirmed anything. But the rumors have been swirling since late in the afternoon of Feb. 9th.

Feb. 12th: Alden meets with the press. He announces a settlement has been reached, and that Snyder’s resignation is effective immediately.

During the period from Feb. 10th through Feb. 12th the Board of Curators, whom Snyder’s contract is through, and Snyder’s lawyer Wally Bley have been holding a series of closed-door meetings. An agreement is reached. Even the agreement has brought up controversy within the ranks of the Curators. Bunky Wright, the Attorney who drew up papers on the side of the Curators, his son-in-law is Mark Pfeiffer. Mark Pfeiffer is Wally Bley’s law partner. So the Curators had an independent counsel come in and make sure everything is on the up and up. Apparently everything was on the up and up.

In this weeks episode of “As the Tiger Turns.” The Athletic Director’s story starts to twist in the wind, and a dark cloud starts to form. Will the former Head Coach go down fighting? Or will he simply slip away into the night?

On Feb. 13th: Alden maintains that no decision had been made about Snyder’s future at MU. He was surprised that Snyder had changed his mind.

Feb. 14th: Quin Snyder announces his resignation officially. He rocks the University when suggesting it was more of a firing conspired by Elson Floyd, the President of the University System, Brady Deaton, Chancellor at MU, and a key member of the Board of Curators at Missouri. Snyder alleges that Gary Link came down and told him to take the resignation. That Quin’s future in Columbia was doomed no matter the outcome of this season.

-Elson Floyd, Brady Deaton, and Don Walsworth all responded by saying they had done no such thing.

-Later that evening Alden states once again that no decision had been made on Quin Snyder’s future at the University. He tells everyone that he sent Gary Link to “Feel” how Quin and the team was doing.

In this weeks episode of “As the Tiger Turns.” Changing the plot line once more. The evil AD decides that his first story wasn’t good enough. He changes his story, hoping that will hold off the ensuing brouhaha that is about to take place. Does it work? Will the evil AD finally get things to settle down?

Feb. 19th: Mike Alden, A.D. for MU, changes his story. He tells the press now that he sent Gary Link to find out if Quin Snyder wanted to “Step Away” from the program.

Feb. 20th. President Elson Floyd makes two phone calls. One to Dalton Wright, who is the publishers of Newspapers in southern Missouri, and the other to a Kansas City lawyer by the name Jean Paul Bradshaw. President Floyd wants to get to the bottom of the conversation between Link, and Snyder. An independent investigation is launched and headed up by the two men.

No matter the outcome of the independent investigation, Mike Alden’s image has been tarnished, and the Missouri Athletics Department has taken a severe blow. The question now is “Who would want to coach for a University that handles the firing of a coach in this manner?” I for one would be very scared to take over this program. I wouldn’t know where I sit from day to day with Alden.

Mike Alden has maintained that no decision had been made on Quin Snyder’s future at MU. Yet there are reports coming out saying that Alden had requested that Snyder resign as little as a year before Snyder actually did so. What does that mean? I think it means exactly the opposite of what Mike Alden is saying. He wanted Snyder gone, and he wanted him gone a long time ago. That’s fine, just come out and say it. Don’t lie to the fans of MU, don’t treat us sports fans like we are a bunch of idiots, because we’re not.

Personally I am waiting for the independent investigation to come out. I think that investigation will ultimately show us what really happened. Brady Deaton’s report was pretty concise. Mr. Deaton even stated that Mike Alden needed to improve on his relations with his coaching staff. What Mr. Deaton’s report failed to show was what actually happened between Alden, Link, and Snyder. That was because Link refused to talk to Deaton about the situation. While Snyder’s story may seem rather extraordinary, it has proven to be the most consistent. Snyder has never wavered in his statements. Mike Alden has changed his story twice, and there is evidence showing the contrary of what he has stated.

There are changes that need to be made at MU. If the Tigers want to hire a good quality coach, things do need to change. Mike Alden should be let go for one. Bring in an Athletic Director that has a passion for Missouri Athletics. I am not a big fan of Steve Pederson, but he’s a Nebraska boy. His passion for NU has never wavered, and so far his decision for Head Football Coach is proving to be a good one. Missouri needs to find someone like Steve Pederson. Someone that cares very much for Missouri.

Only time will shed light on this whole mess. Only time will tell if AD Alden is telling the truth. Only time will tell if Alden is the right man for Missouri. In the end I want things to settle down. What Mike Alden did isn’t illegal. It may be cowardly, but not illegal. I hope Missouri lands a great coach and is able to right the ship. But for now we must watch and stay tuned. I for one don’t want to miss another episode of “As the Tiger Turns.”

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