More on Keith Heyward

I'm still waiting to hear the official reason for his departure. Last night I thought it was money, but Heyward didn't really get a raise when cost of living is factored in. In fact, he got less, even after factoring the lack of State income tax. So, here are some other reasons he may have left:

• Washington is a better, more historical program. Easier to get recognized there.
• Big city life.
• On a staff where everyone recruits/he isn't the lowest paid coach in the conference doing the most recruiting. AKA recognition for results. This one is squarely on Riley–he's paying Brennan and Brasfield 15k more than Heyward.
• No chance of promotion on the OSU staff unless someone dies or retires.
• I hear his fiancee lives in Seattle. But, she also likes Oregon, so I am not sure that was the issue.

Cursory glance and initial reaction is that this looks very bad for Riley and OSU, both in terms of their cluelessness but also what could be brewing on the inside. A lot of recruits have been waffling and looking for something better. Something just doesn't feel right.

I think this comment by FedUpBeav summed things up nicely:

Seems like our most dynamic people like Stansbury and Heyward are being pushed out or deciding to leave because their voices will be more appreciated at many other institutions where the stale and old doesn't rule the roost like at OSU.  Don't like our priorities at all of overly rewarding the dinosaurs that don't feel they have to do anything different and stifling the Young Lions with the most energy.

The only counter-argument I'd make is that the two young, new guys are making more than Heyward (maybe this is simply an inflation adjusted hiring rate vs a cost of living pay increase), but otherwise the statement rings true.

As far as a replacement, haven't heard any names, but knowing Riley and his ignorance of recruiting, he'll likely promote Mitch Meeuwsen. This would be the nail in the coffin. What OSU needs is to hire someone with LA ties who can keep intact the best class in over a decade.

To me this looks like Heyward said, "I'm doing all the recruiting and not getting any of the reward. Guys doing less are getting more". He spoke with his leverage. Sort of like how I said fans should do the same with their wallets.

Something doesn't feel right, folks.