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Stephen F. Austin Basketball
SFA to face team that almost stole Brad Underwood in 2014
Spring of 2014 was a fun time to be a fan of Stephen F. Austin. Unlike this past NCAA Tournament where a dominant Lumberjacks team dismantled West Virginia, it took a fluky (clutch) 4-point play to defeat Virginia Commonwealth that year in the round of 64.
Also, unlike 2016, SFA had never experienced that kind of attention before. It was new and it was fun. It was also the year Brad Underwood first became a coveted commodity.
As soon as that season ended, Underwood's first in Nacogdoches, the phone started ringing. Marshall, a team SFA had beaten earlier in the season, was the first to interview Brad. When nothing came of the Thundering Herd's interest, SFA fans started resting easy.
Nearly a month passed - suddenly another suitor was in play. Southern Mississippi had just lost their head coach, Donnie Tyndall to Tennessee, and they wanted the man in Nacogdoches.
Underwood met with administration at Southern Miss and it appeared to be a done deal. Gary Parrish with CBS Sports broke the news that, barring a surprise, Underwood was expected to accept the Golden Eagles' offer.
All we know for sure is, the dreams of the Golden Eagles were dashed a day later when the SFA athletics department announced that Underwood was staying. “I couldn’t be happier,” Hill told the Daily Sentinel. “He’s big on feel. He just thought that SFA was the right fit for him.”
There was also a financial aspect. Underwood signed a new contract at SFA weeks later that nearly doubled his salary and extended his deal to 8-years. It turned out to be a brilliant decision for both parties.
Just a few months later, Southern Miss was neck-deep in NCAA scandal. Their departed coach, Donnie Tyndall was investigated for improper financial assistance given to players academically ineligible. Because the violations took place during his time in Hattiesburg, Southern Miss and their new coach, Doc Salder, bore plenty of penalty.
A postseason ban along with other sanctions have left the Golden Eagles' program, off back-to-back 27+ win seasons under Tyndall, in the basement of Conference USA. By all accounts, Sadler has handled the adversity and reputation restoring process well. It hasn't translated on the court though where he has a 20-48 record leading into today's battle with SFA.
Meanwhile, Underwood remained for two more seasons in Nacogdoches. The Lumberjacks would keep their winning ways afloat long enough to smash West Virginia this past spring and earn their leader an even bigger payday at Oklahoma State.
A single day in April 2014, a single decision by one man no longer involved at either school, changed the trajectory of both Southern Miss and Stephen F. Austin when Underwood flew back to Nacogdoches without signing a contract. Today, both programs effected by that decision will cross paths in Hawaii.
The Golden Eagles and Lumberjacks have never played basketball against each other before today. All that means is that SFA is 1-0 in this series.
Also, unlike 2016, SFA had never experienced that kind of attention before. It was new and it was fun. It was also the year Brad Underwood first became a coveted commodity.
As soon as that season ended, Underwood's first in Nacogdoches, the phone started ringing. Marshall, a team SFA had beaten earlier in the season, was the first to interview Brad. When nothing came of the Thundering Herd's interest, SFA fans started resting easy.
Nearly a month passed - suddenly another suitor was in play. Southern Mississippi had just lost their head coach, Donnie Tyndall to Tennessee, and they wanted the man in Nacogdoches.
Underwood met with administration at Southern Miss and it appeared to be a done deal. Gary Parrish with CBS Sports broke the news that, barring a surprise, Underwood was expected to accept the Golden Eagles' offer.
All we know for sure is, the dreams of the Golden Eagles were dashed a day later when the SFA athletics department announced that Underwood was staying. “I couldn’t be happier,” Hill told the Daily Sentinel. “He’s big on feel. He just thought that SFA was the right fit for him.”
There was also a financial aspect. Underwood signed a new contract at SFA weeks later that nearly doubled his salary and extended his deal to 8-years. It turned out to be a brilliant decision for both parties.
Just a few months later, Southern Miss was neck-deep in NCAA scandal. Their departed coach, Donnie Tyndall was investigated for improper financial assistance given to players academically ineligible. Because the violations took place during his time in Hattiesburg, Southern Miss and their new coach, Doc Salder, bore plenty of penalty.
A postseason ban along with other sanctions have left the Golden Eagles' program, off back-to-back 27+ win seasons under Tyndall, in the basement of Conference USA. By all accounts, Sadler has handled the adversity and reputation restoring process well. It hasn't translated on the court though where he has a 20-48 record leading into today's battle with SFA.
Meanwhile, Underwood remained for two more seasons in Nacogdoches. The Lumberjacks would keep their winning ways afloat long enough to smash West Virginia this past spring and earn their leader an even bigger payday at Oklahoma State.
A single day in April 2014, a single decision by one man no longer involved at either school, changed the trajectory of both Southern Miss and Stephen F. Austin when Underwood flew back to Nacogdoches without signing a contract. Today, both programs effected by that decision will cross paths in Hawaii.
The Golden Eagles and Lumberjacks have never played basketball against each other before today. All that means is that SFA is 1-0 in this series.
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