Battlecat455

" Isn't this still really a gripe over >2 bad losses? " Actually, no. The griping started long before the two bad losses. There is and was a sentiment on this board that Brad couldn't/can't get the job done. The recent turn of events have added fuel to the fire. Indeed, I believe had we won those games we would not have won well enough to suit many. Witness the grudging affirmation after we beat Xavier. "If they had shot better....." Well, they didn't.

I like Shimmy too, but the women aren't tearing it up. What makes you so sure that is a great example?

To some degree, I would anticipate Brad's coaching will continue to improve. Better players would help as well and it's not a foregone conclusion that help isn't coming. I presume that most people improve in their respective field of endeavor with time and experience and that includes those that have been at their occupation for awhile. We have seen the slo-mo offense ditched this year in favor of a more up tempo offense. I'm hoping I continue to improve at my profession even after 20 years.

Kappy, I understand the point you're making, but again, these are your opinions. There isn't much momentum today, I agree. There was last Sunday and there may very well be again this Sunday. My main objection to the "fire Brad" posters is that this season isn't over and people want to follow Brad around with shovels. Let's see how it plays out. In the end there is nothing else for us to do anyway. BTW, of course TL, LM, KL and DP are better this year. They have been coached to be better. It doesn't happen in a vaccuum.

FutureBill, it is not a question of fear. We disagree as to the best way to build a program. I tend to agrre with the posters that feel continuity is important to that process. The point has been made that the problems far exceed the current coaching staff and I agree. Firing the coach without addressing the underlying issues is, in fact, a treading water position. To those that think that firing Brad can only help, I would ask , how can you assure me the situation won't get worse? It very well could. This season is not even over and most of you have tossed in the towel. I sure hope the players have more faith in themselves than you seem to have.

What other barometer would one use besides won-lost record? Your subjecture opinion?

Except that you are not happy with growing pains which is what SLU is experiencing. Regardless of your opinion regarding the teams recent performance, we are better off now than a year ago. You don't think the growth is quick enough. I suspect you would be complaining about Anderson as well.

I couldn't agree more, Roy. The folks that scream to fife UB without substantial improvements being made to the budget, the infrastructure, marketing, etc., will be terrribly disappointed when a new coach doesn't solve the problem. Soderberg faces the same issues that Grawer, Spoonhour, and Romar faced in terms of being able to compete against top echelon programs. The new arena is being built which is a step in the right direction. However, I would point out that it took the school's administration 25 years since Grawer's hiring to do anything substantial towards improving our practice facilities which have been a recruiting handicap for at least as long. I'm not sure about Brad either, based on recent events, but I'm not in favor of rebuilding AGAIN. The problems are still the same and they are not all x's and o's.

Those fellows were atrocious. It was like watching two seperate games between the halves. To be charitable, they were inconsistent.

On a related note, let's go Bonnies. Let's go Dukes. Might as well pull for them now.

"Exactly Drew. Freedom of speech. Some people on this board >do not think it is right to express that. Whether its a >sign or a website." Do you make no distinction between the right of expression and the appropriateness of expression? IMO, the actions of the "Fire Brad" campaign are intolerate, mean spirited and counter indicated to the overall future success of the program, whether Brad is retained or not. You are, of course, free to act in any immature, intemperate and vindictive fashion you desire.

"How will it hurt the program to have someone who can game >coach, motivate, and recruit?" It wouldn't, but that's not the point of this tread. The question was the appropriateness of the "Fire Brad" movement and those involved therein.

"This guy is not a pre-school teacher. There is pressure on a >Division 1 head coach. He accepted that aspect of the job >when he took the position. It is a high-risk, high-reward >position. He and his family have enjoyed the rewards to date >and now they may have to deal with the risk side of things. >It is the nature of the beast." Even if your extremely cynical view were correct, how does that justify a lack of compassion, which I believe is Billikan's point? I also agree that this type of activity is potentially detrimental to the program without producing any positive results beyond satisfying your own sense of outrage and vindictiveness.

Are you applying for a job or something? What an amazing syncophant.

> "Now, I didn't have a Fire Brad sign, nor did I even see one, >but I don't see anything wrong with it. What happened to >free speech? Do we not have any vested interests in this >team and this game. If someone in the audience feels there >is something wrong with the team, then he or she is allowed >to show his or her feelings on the matter! " No one said that displaying such a sign is illegal or that people don't have the right to express themselves. It is not a free speech issue. The comment was that is classless, and I concur. There is a big difference between having the right to do something and exercising restraint in doing it.

Spot on analysis.

Veteran leadership is hard to replace.

>All of you old time SLU fans need to wake up. Our program >sucks ass right now and all you do is ***** at me because I >have the "audacity" to reveal the truth. We are a very lucky >10-4 team. We might be the worst 10-4 team in America. Yes. We are SO fortunate to have you.

Those aspirations are not negetive. What is negetive are comments such as "Brad has lost the team!", "the season is OVER", piping up at halftime of games spouting "we will never make the tournament", etc. Your tendency towards exaggeration results, in the case of this reader, to dismiss your points as hating blather. As previosly noted, you seem to relish saying I told you so. That may not be the case, but it's how I interpet your attitude.

I couldn't disagree more. Your reaction is completely up around the bend. It would be worrisome if Brad wasn't expressing frustration at the players inability to perform consistently for 40 minutes. Secondly, if you have "never seen a more inconsistent team" you haven't been watching college basketball all that long. Consistency, is a difficult thing to acheive, even for kids with talent. That's why not every kid with talent turns out to be a great player. Playing basketball consistently well is alot harder than consistently firing off negetive comments on a message board. In any case, since you pronounced the season over in a previous thread, you should be gratified if things turn out as you expect.

Greenfield only sees three more losses. I could live with that. It seems to me that getting through the conference schedule with three losses is attainable.

I'm sorry you felt that way. The prayer always seemed appropriate to me.

In fact, it has something to do with keeping an open mind about Brad's leadership. That is apparently something you are unable to accomplish.

"You call me defeatist? That >may be the most condemning statement I have read about SLU >bball" Are YOU serious? Aren't you the fellow that pronounced the team's tournament hopes dead at halftime of the Pacific game?

I believe your point about starting over with a new coach is valid and one of the reasons I fail to understand the Brad nay-sayers. Personally, I think the program is on the right track, but if it isn't, who wants to start over? If that happens we will be 4 years further down the road and in the same position we are now, if we are lucky. The gloom and doom posters seem to think that a change of head coach would somehow put us in a better position and I don't see that things would be any different. The truth is, we are better off now than when Brad took over. It is likely that we will be better next year than this year, given expected improvement in the play of the holdovers. It's just as cheap to be optimistic. Complain all you want, but as we sit here, Brad's the coach. I sure would like to see folks get on board with UB and get behind the progress that has been made.