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Lessons to remember: Dale Brown’s first 4 years

Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:38 am
Posted by Im4LSUnTN
Brentwood, TN
Member since Jul 2015
918 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:38 am
I’m old enough to remember before extremely hostile social media clicks were prevalent when our basketball program was in a very similar plight. In the early 70s, Dale Brown took over our basketball program that was dead after the Maravich years, and had to be completely rebuilt. Daddy Dale was considered failing at his job by many after his 1st 4 years of losing and was an SEC bottom dweller. Sound familiar? But the recruiting of Rudy Macklin and solid support players around him created the beginning a new exciting era of LSU basketball. He had his first winning season in his 5th year that then manifested into LSU basketball glory years including 2 Final Fours in 1982 and 1986.

Coach McM deserves a similar 5th year opportunity.
Posted by saturday
Pronoun (Baw)
Member since Feb 2007
7902 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:40 am to
Posted by Mad Dogg
LA
Member since Sep 2016
4158 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:40 am to
We’re in a slightly different era where it doesn’t take 5 years to turn around a program.
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
171316 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:41 am to
Except Dale is a polar opposite personality to McMahon and was willing to leave no stone unturned when it came to generating donations and building fan interest.

McMahon is Trent Johnson minus the sec championship.
Posted by liquid rabbit
Boxtard BPB®© emeritus
Member since Mar 2006
64878 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:41 am to
Different era.
Posted by WaydownSouth
Stratton Oakmont
Member since Nov 2018
11066 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:41 am to
Shut the frick up.

Its a totally different sport than the 70's. Or even 2010's.

You can totally turn a program around in year one.

Posted by tigerbait1.6
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2013
4840 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:42 am to
quote:

McMahon is Trent Johnson minus the sec championship.


Damn lol
Posted by JRtiger75
Member since Oct 2019
833 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:45 am to
That is the dumbest analogy ive seen on here and that saying something. dale brown and mcmahon arent in the same stratosphere. Outside of having Jai Morant on his team, his record and history is non remarkable. Dale also didn have to deal with money and NIL that is going around now. Dale could build a team because he didnt have to worry about the portal. Dale also didnt have to deal with and SEC that has alot of schools prioritizing basketball and are many more teams that are very good at it in the conference. See Bama, Texas, Mizzou, A&m, UF, etc. McMahon had 4 years to fix it and for different portal classes and recruiting classes to build something. He hasnt and thats enough time and changes. Its time to move on.
Posted by ellessuuuu
Member since Sep 2004
9489 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:46 am to
quote:

I’m old enough to remember before extremely hostile social media clicks were prevalent when our basketball program was in a very similar plight. In the early 70s, Dale Brown took over our basketball program that was dead after the Maravich years, and had to be completely rebuilt. Daddy Dale was considered failing at his job by many after his 1st 4 years of losing and was an SEC bottom dweller. Sound familiar? But the recruiting of Rudy Macklin and solid support players around him created the beginning a new exciting era of LSU basketball. He had his first winning season in his 5th year that then manifested into LSU basketball glory years including 2 Final Fours in 1982 and 1986.

Coach McM deserves a similar 5th year opportunity.




This isn't the 70's, you don't get 5 years to "build" a program.
This post was edited on 3/12/26 at 10:58 am
Posted by BilJ
Member since Sep 2003
162599 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:47 am to
quote:


Coach McM deserves a similar 5th year opportunity


Posted by Im4LSUnTN
Brentwood, TN
Member since Jul 2015
918 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:47 am to
Agree it’s a different era. But if our NIL budget is in the lower half of the SEC, no coach will be able to fix it.
Posted by redfish99
B.R.
Member since Aug 2007
19106 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:48 am to
Then u should be smart
Enough to realize it dont work that way anymore. The right guy and 8-10mil we’re packing the house and in the dance immediately. He ain’t the guy
Posted by BeepBopBoop
Northshore
Member since Dec 2023
1343 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:49 am to
quote:

Coach McM deserves a similar 5th year opportunity.


You can pay players now, totally different time man, c'mon, you know this. The right coach could have a team in the sweet 16 next year or you can keep McDummy and go 12-15 again.

If a coach can't win after 4 years he can't win after 5, 6, 10, 15.

Mulkey came in an won right off the bat, same thing happens with a good men's coach.
Posted by Gus007
TN
Member since Jul 2018
14542 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:51 am to
Don't put Dale and Mac in the same paragraph.


Dale came when LSU had never sniffed a playoff.

Mac came after we had made the tourney, even won the SEC.

You can compare Wade and Brown but don't ever compare either to the last four years.
Maybe Mac, Johnny, and Johnson would be in conversation as to who was worst.
Posted by EvrybodysAllAmerican
Member since Apr 2013
12782 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:51 am to
Like him or not, everybody knows Dale Brown busted his arse all over the state trying to make basketball relevant. Everybody knew he was putting hte work in. Not so sure about McM
Posted by lsudave1
Baton Metairie
Member since Jan 2005
12101 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:53 am to
Dale took the LSU job 54 years ago. Things have slightly changed in the last half century.
Posted by GetmorewithLes
UK Basketball Fan
Member since Jan 2011
22714 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:57 am to
quote:

Daddy Dale was considered failing at his job by many after his 1st 4 years of losing and was an SEC bottom dweller. Sound familiar?


Not really because back then there was no Transfer Portal. You had to grow your own team.

Now, teams are a one year construct. You cant even depend on retaining your current players.

To win today you have to have a solid coaching staff, a sustainable financial program, and a talented roster to win now.
Posted by ellessuuuu
Member since Sep 2004
9489 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 10:57 am to
quote:

Agree it’s a different era. But if our NIL budget is in the lower half of the SEC, no coach will be able to fix it.


This year our NIL budget was in the top half of the league, and we finished dead last.

Who exactly is going to contribute to basketball NIL to a coach who hasn’t proven he can win at this level? Nobody with any business sense.
This post was edited on 3/12/26 at 10:59 am
Posted by GetmorewithLes
UK Basketball Fan
Member since Jan 2011
22714 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:00 am to
quote:

This year was in the top half of the league, and we finished dead last. Who exactly is going to contribute to basketball NIL to a coach who hasn’t proven he can win at this level? Nobody with any business sense.


NIL is still no guarantee. UK spent the most this year and they are bottom half.

Indiana, in football, was not a big NIL spender and they spanked everyone’s arse
Posted by WaydownSouth
Stratton Oakmont
Member since Nov 2018
11066 posts
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:05 am to
quote:

Agree it’s a different era. But if our NIL budget is in the lower half of the SEC, no coach will be able to fix it.


The NIL budget is meaningless.

He has consistently brought in classes ranked in the top half of the league and has finished in the top half 0/4 years.

He is a TERRIBLE coach
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