Battle returns to Tuscaloosa


       

        He came, he saw, did he conquer? I hope so because there has been a complete alpha male meltdown on the forums throughout the State. The TiderInsider "backboard" forum who now comprises two types of posters. One type is holding the line on optimism. The type has thrown in the towel and has surrendered. Neither has any reason for optimism or pessimism.  Why do I say that? Because no one knows a thing. I will say that the optimist are not making up anything. Some of the pessimists seem to be salting the board with lies and some half-truths. I've talked with my friend who works at Wichita State about the day's events. He knows nothing. He wasn't even sure where the meeting took place. He said that he saw Battle around 9;00AM or so. He said he left "very late in the afternoon".  He said he really shouldn't have even said that but he knew I'd never tell the State of Kansas what man's name might be. He went on to say he really had no idea where the meeting took place. He said Battle probably came by his building to talk with their AD. He said he learned from another person he had gone. It's ashamed our CIA can't keep leaks secret; but Wichita State and Alabama apparently can. So there you have the sum of what I know. Using my lawyer brain, now retired, both the lawyer and his brain, I can put together some pretty good speculations about what happened. More importantly we can speculate about what will happen in the next two days.

     First, Battle got Marshall to agree to meet. That means he was willing to listen to what Alabama has to say. He is likely to hear several things he needed to hear. He certainly didn't hear anything that would discourage him from coming. Well, unless he doesn't want a six year contract at more than 3plus that would make him a multimillionaire. He probably heard that Alabama was going to flip the house and make the Tide a national power in basketball, and we want him to be our King. 

       He'll hear that a new building will be announced. He also will have a very detailed presentation about who is coming back to Alabama to play basketball, and who they recruited. He knows all of this, of course. He is thorough. He probably told our AD what it would take from being close to good to becoming a great program. I want to add that will be a series of steps and not just a singular event. If I were Marshall I'd tell Battle that it would take four recruiting years to get near the top of the SEC, unless he lands a monster recruiting class. Battle probably said words or words to the effect - you must beat Auburn as often as you can, and often is not a strong enough word. Within reason, Battle told him he wanted to wipe Bruce Pearl and Auburn off the face of the earth, pour lime on the ruins, and set the whole Auburn program on the deathbed. It will be scorch the earth pitch. Marshall will say that is not the most pressing problem but he understands. Then he will reassure Battle that will be done and then move on to more important things. Things like winning the SEC and get annual NCAA bids to go dancing. (I want to apologize to my old radio broadcasting partner Ben Cook for using the dance word. He hates the term.) He will not say a world that has sixteen, eight. or four in the sentence. Both parties know that getting an invitation makes those numbers possible. 
     
       Marshall will talk about what he needs to make his vision of Alabama, the powerhouse, a reality. It will take time, money, and hard work. It will take a whole new mindset around the AD's office about basketball. This may never be disclosed but you'll see clear examples of his intent as soon as he takes the job Marshall will tell him how much money he needs to have a great staff, and they'll be some talk about Pettway staying. Assume Marshall wants to come. That means that Battle will have to talk with the family. He will  have to invite them to Tuscaloosa. I still haven't been able to determine whether Mrs. Battle went on the trip. I'd really like to know that. Then, of course, there will be a team meeting where he addresses the team. That will be the hardest thing he'll have to do. It won't be any different that when the Bama team learned that Anthony is leaving. His vision, his family, and his old team will be front and center. Those are great kids who played their hearts out and became America's team in a lot of ways. The players know it means more than their coach leaving. Wichita State has a storied tradition but getting back to that level will be hard to do. It will even hard for Marshall to sustain having lost Early last season, Van Fleet, and maybe Baker might go this season. 

     Fans are already saying it is a done deal. It might be,  but I doubt it is at this point. I will say this - I think it is going to get done and soon. My two sources in Tuscaloosa say things went well, but that is all they had to stay. Or that is all they were allowed to stay. I suppose by now you understand that leaks are given to some people to float the idea of what might happen. That's not the case here. We know what the fans will say. Lets give this 24 hours. Lets keep Coach Marshall, his family, and his team in our thoughts. If Marshall turns us down we need to handle it with some class and understanding. Everyone did their homework. Everyone did a good job of letting the other side know what's on their own wishlist . Let me add that if Marshall comes to Alabama it will be a six year contract in excess of 3 million, or maybe 3 million with lots of incentives. There may or may not be talk in public about a new arena, but Marshall will take Battle on his word that will happen. Alabama may be on the cusp of paying a basketball coach a number that would likely make Marshall one of the top ten coaches in the NCAA. Be still my beating heart.