Mike Schafer retiring 2025

[Beeeej]

Yes.  What is this?  When did this touring begin?   Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

NCAA teams have been allowed to go on one foreign tour every four years for a long time (they can go anywhere overseas). Last year, for example, 61 men's basketball teams went on foreign tours. The UConn women's basketball team has done so on multiple occasions.

 Join the party!  Registration has been open since January 1.  

 Here's an account of the 2014 tour.

Anybody yet go deep enough into the process to share a rough price estimate?

[marty]

Yes.  What is this?  When did this touring begin?   Perhaps it was back in August of 2024.

Has anyone else here ever heard of an every four year European tour allowance?

NCAA teams have been allowed to go on one foreign tour every four years for a long time (they can go anywhere overseas). Last year, for example, 61 men's basketball teams went on foreign tours. The UConn women's basketball team has done so on multiple occasions.

 Join the party!  Registration has been open since January 1.  

 Here's an account of the 2014 tour.

Anybody yet go deep enough into the process to share a rough price estimate?

$2750 plus tax,  airfare,  and nominal tour guide and/or bus driver gratuity - there are some tours of the locations included - per person.

I think there is still time to book.  I'm leaning toward passing on this guessing there might not be that many alums or parents - but that is speculation based on a message from someone who was on the 2014 tour.

[BearLover]

Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it's still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn't require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ's contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

[marty]

Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it's still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn't require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ's contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

Maybe watch it again.  He explained what happened in sequence. Ben was offered the position,  then b then c.  He was as clear as he could be without airing the laundry.

[BearLover]

Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it's still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn't require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ's contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

Maybe watch it again.  He explained what happened in sequence. Ben was offered the position,  then b then c.  He was as clear as he could be without airing the laundry.

He did not say Ben was offered the position. I watched it multiple times. Where does he say that? Maybe I couldn't make it out.

[BearLover]

Watched it again. Here's what he said:
"I was thinking of retiring last spring. I confided in some people...Brekke, CJ, Don Vaughan...at the end of the season, I was pretty much retired. I was thinking about it, I was on my way out probably. And then Benny Syer got the job at Princeton. And I think he kind of hesitated a little bit, wondering what Cornell was gonna do. ***Knowing at that particular moment that it wasn't just going to be a handoff to Ben, I advised Ben, I said 'you've wanted this your whole life, go for it, go get the job.'*** And he did. But then I was like, 'now what am I gonna do?' I didn't wanna leave our team in a lurch. Ben has been such a big part of our program..."

Having now watched this again, I think the implication is that Syer was NOT offered the job. Rather, Schafer told him to take the Princeton job because he would not be handing the Cornell job off to Ben.

The part at the end about not wanting to leave the team in a lurch was a reference to not wanting the team to lose both its head coach and top assistant at the same time.

[ugarte]

Did anybody catch the clip during the second intermission on ESPN+ where Pierre McGuire asked Schafer how they ended up hiring CJ? Schafer said a lot of stuff in response but it's still unclear to me what the search process was like and how Syer factored in. Was the an opportunity for Syer to take over the job? Did the AD actually speak with other candidates? It sounded like they hired CJ in part because his contract didn't require a buyout, and also maybe he was less expensive than some other options? Was CJ's contract really up at Clarkson, as Schafer said? If so, what was going on where CJ was still performing head coaching duties at Clarkson in June without a new contract?

For me, that clip provided more questions than answers.

Maybe watch it again.  He explained what happened in sequence. Ben was offered the position,  then b then c.  He was as clear as he could be without airing the laundry.

He did not say Ben was offered the position. I watched it multiple times. Where does he say that? Maybe I couldn't make it out.

i think marty was saying Syer was offered the Princeton job not the Cornell job and he would agree with your longer summary

[marty]

Watched it again. Here's what he said:
"I was thinking of retiring last spring. I confided in some people...Brekke, CJ, Don Vaughan...at the end of the season, I was pretty much retired. I was thinking about it, I was on my way out probably. And then Benny Syer got the job at Princeton. And I think he kind of hesitated a little bit, wondering what Cornell was gonna do. ***Knowing at that particular moment that it wasn't just going to be a handoff to Ben, I advised Ben, I said 'you've wanted this your whole life, go for it, go get the job.'*** And he did. But then I was like, 'now what am I gonna do?' I didn't wanna leave our team in a lurch. Ben has been such a big part of our program..."

Having now watched this again, I think the implication is that Syer was NOT offered the job. Rather, Schafer told him to take the Princeton job because he would not be handing the Cornell job off to Ben.

The part at the end about not wanting to leave the team in a lurch was a reference to not wanting the team to lose both its head coach and top assistant at the same time.

Sorry I didn't read your note as carefully as I listened to Coach Mike. What I meant was that Ben was offerred the Princeton job not the Cornell has coaching position.  That along with the decision to retire is what began the process.  Always a process in this sport.

[BearLover]

Watched it again. Here's what he said:
"I was thinking of retiring last spring. I confided in some people...Brekke, CJ, Don Vaughan...at the end of the season, I was pretty much retired. I was thinking about it, I was on my way out probably. And then Benny Syer got the job at Princeton. And I think he kind of hesitated a little bit, wondering what Cornell was gonna do. ***Knowing at that particular moment that it wasn't just going to be a handoff to Ben, I advised Ben, I said 'you've wanted this your whole life, go for it, go get the job.'*** And he did. But then I was like, 'now what am I gonna do?' I didn't wanna leave our team in a lurch. Ben has been such a big part of our program..."

Having now watched this again, I think the implication is that Syer was NOT offered the job. Rather, Schafer told him to take the Princeton job because he would not be handing the Cornell job off to Ben.

The part at the end about not wanting to leave the team in a lurch was a reference to not wanting the team to lose both its head coach and top assistant at the same time.

Sorry I didn't read your note as carefully as I listened to Coach Mike. What I meant was that Ben was offerred the Princeton job not the Cornell has coaching position.  That along with the decision to retire is what began the process.  Always a process in this sport.

Well then we are in agreement!

Still a lot of questions though...

[Tcl123]

I'm actually surprised Schafer is retiring given the state of the team. I respect how he's handled it in regards to trying to make a smooth transition with CJ, but this team has the potential to be serious national contenders for at least two more years. The only thing not on his resume. Yet.

[Cop at Lynah]

He's a grand parent now, it makes perfect sense for him to retire

[VIEWfromK]

How long have people referred to him as "CJ"?

[marty]

He's a grand parent now, it makes perfect sense for him to retire

He has also mentioned his health issues.

[upprdeck]

several things went into the decision.

[Scersk '97]

How long have people referred to him as "CJ"?

Exactly never.