Since it's obvious that now we will never get any answers to the "hardball" questions posed in the last entry - then we'll move on the the new Brian Wardle era...
Wardle is already offering some new kids and two pressing issues that will be worked on over the next few days are:
-What players are gonna stay and who is gonna leave?
..surely some of the current players on the roster will leave but seems a lot of people think a huge effort should be made to placate Josh Cunningham and get him to stay here.
Well - I think it's huge disaster to placate anyone. I think that's exactly what got Geno Ford in huge trouble. There are numerous reports that right from the start Geno did not discipline strongly. that players were allowed a lot of leeway and often got by goofing off and doing things that would not be tolerated even on a high school team.
We saw beyond question that some players were total goof-offs and some did finally get run off (Swopshire) and many ended up goofing off and getting into legal troubles (Barnes, Jones, Grier, Bell) - kids who were underage yet allowed to go bar-hopping at 2am on game nights!!!
Plus there were endless reports of players missing team busses, late for practice, wearing sloppy, disrespectful baggy clothing to games when not in uniform... - well you get the picture.
Now there are fans calling for the new coach to go begging and kiss butt to keep a player here - wow.
Nope - I say the coach sets the bar - orders the disciplinary code, and if the kid wants to stay & play then fine - otherwise DO NOT COMPROMISE!
Wardle has done OK at UWGB without having to kiss butt to recruits and AAU-types.
-Then.....who will be Bian Wardle's assistant coaches.
If he wants to keep someone currently on the staff then I will leave that 100% to B rian Wardle - otherwise it is yet another recipe for disaster to force a coach to take staff he does not choose.
I hope everyone knows - that this exact same situation is a large part of why Bradley has been so bad for the past five years.
....in 2010 when Dr. Glasser wanted to "force the issue" but was unable to get Board approval to fire Jim Les,
She required by virtue of cancelling their contracts, that Jim Les fire two assistants (Buescher & Alvin Brooks) and that two new assistants would be hired...
of the two, JL was allowed input on one and the other would be chosen with little or no input from JL..
Willie Scott was one - Jim Platt was the other - and Platt was encouraged to bring in one recruit of HIS own choosing above & beyond any preference of head coach Jim Les - in other words Dr. Glasser essentially brought in Andrew Davis - -- committing a scholarship to a player that was not in any way a preference or choice of the head coach - an incredibly odd & unusual situation that clearly doomed Bradley to a disastrous year in 2010-11.
Thus - when the record was bad that year - it got blamed on the head coach when the real blame was largely elsewhere.
Seriously - how does a school let a President pick the recruits over the judgement of the head coach? But it happened and now we see the distant fallout from such idiocy.
I say let let's try something new this time - let Brian Wardle run the show & pick his own people without interference.
Remember - Jim Les' overall record when he had ALL his own staff that he was able to choose himself was 102-71 (.590)
But his overall record when one or even TWO of his assistants were chosen by someone else was amazingly - 52-69 (.437)
Let's not make the same stupid mistakes that were made repeatedly this past 4-5 years & that we're all suffering dearly for.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Some actual hardball questions for the departing AD - questions that never got asked by the media
The interviews and tributes that the PJStar have done this past week on Dr. Cross were really softballs - pretty much allowing Dr. Cross to boast and lay claim to lots of things and avoided asking him any tough questions at all about the incredibly bad state of both Athletics & finances...
Too bad the enablers at PJS didn't ask any real questions - would love to know the answers to...
-how did the spending deficits more than TRIPLE in Athletics & explode to over $7.1 million in just the past 3-4 years under your watch.
This irresponsible spending plus inaccurate and "non-transparent" reporting of financial losses, has really hurt the entire University for years to come.
-why not listen to and give credence to the comments of the fans who have left, given up season tickets and openly give their reasons in letters to you and letters in the newspaper - instead of calling them uneducated and impatient and discounting what they say because you don't want to hear it.
These have been the people who tossed your way hundreds of warnings that you should have heeded that you were dragging the programs down & going in the wrong direction - all the while claiming you're headed the right way.
-why do we never heard any comments on all the programs that are doing so badly - only the bragging on Cross Country and soccer (which of course was doing great - Elite Eight - before you got here?)
Volleyball 2-26, WBB & MBB - last place repeatedly, Baseball 2-19 in MVC play - really historically bad performances.
But the real centerpiece of all Bradley Athletics is Men's Basketball - and the quality of play plus the bungling of all the TV deals and marketing have led to record losing seasons, national embarrassment, turning Bradley into a perennial bottom dweller & laughingstock, cancelling all the events, booster get-togethers, bus trips, etc, costing $ MILLIONS, and dropping attendances to historic lows - all the while you just keep denying all this is happening and keep claiming we are in such good shape and fans ought to shut up and be happy.
-how is it any credit can be taken for Ren-Col when it was already open and VB games being played even before you arrived, and all the plans, funds, construction, etc. were long done even before that?
Much of it was even done before Dr. Glasser arrived and is to the credit of Ken Kavanagh. Yet your speeches and interviews keep claiming the problems at Bradley all preceded you and were so very deep and severe when you got here and you've done such a yeoman's job fixing all the problems?
Now the proof is clear and even the Board knows it - that we were in FAR better shape before and you need to step up, be honest, and admit your failures and take responsibility instead of stepping even harder on the accelerator and driving even faster over the cliff.
-when firing the past men's basketball coach then hiring the new MBB coach - the TWO most significant event in the past five years - how is it so much of those two processes were bungled so badly and everybody denies and deflects responsibility?
The news of the 2011 firing got leaked to a Chicago blogger before being mentioned in Peoria - and was so badly handled that it angered a large part of the fan base, there were issues made public about the failure to honor the old coach's contract, multiple candidates were brought in to interview then heard something that caused them to leave & decline even though they were turning down an admittedly great position that THEY SOUGHT which doubled their salaries, then we violated the new coaches existing contract and got involved in lawsuits (that have been costly for both Bradley & Geno, then we way overpaid for coaching abilities that clearly were far under what was needed
-lastly - why take the repeated swipes at the fans - the lifeblood of this program?
Why label then uneducated, stuck in the past, too nostalgic, too impatient - hey - it was YOU who promised we'd be better right away - even in the very first year when - as it turned out - we were actually all-time-record worse,
and it was you who promised we'd be competing for championships as soon as Geno got his own players - when in fact the more players Geno brought in to replace the ones left over - the worse we got and the more player issues, suspensions, and arrests we had.
That's just a starter - but even if I never get answers - I am ok with moving on - and hopefully the next AD will man-up and take responsibility for the choices he makes even if they fail.
Too bad the enablers at PJS didn't ask any real questions - would love to know the answers to...
-how did the spending deficits more than TRIPLE in Athletics & explode to over $7.1 million in just the past 3-4 years under your watch.
This irresponsible spending plus inaccurate and "non-transparent" reporting of financial losses, has really hurt the entire University for years to come.
-why not listen to and give credence to the comments of the fans who have left, given up season tickets and openly give their reasons in letters to you and letters in the newspaper - instead of calling them uneducated and impatient and discounting what they say because you don't want to hear it.
These have been the people who tossed your way hundreds of warnings that you should have heeded that you were dragging the programs down & going in the wrong direction - all the while claiming you're headed the right way.
-why do we never heard any comments on all the programs that are doing so badly - only the bragging on Cross Country and soccer (which of course was doing great - Elite Eight - before you got here?)
Volleyball 2-26, WBB & MBB - last place repeatedly, Baseball 2-19 in MVC play - really historically bad performances.
But the real centerpiece of all Bradley Athletics is Men's Basketball - and the quality of play plus the bungling of all the TV deals and marketing have led to record losing seasons, national embarrassment, turning Bradley into a perennial bottom dweller & laughingstock, cancelling all the events, booster get-togethers, bus trips, etc, costing $ MILLIONS, and dropping attendances to historic lows - all the while you just keep denying all this is happening and keep claiming we are in such good shape and fans ought to shut up and be happy.
-how is it any credit can be taken for Ren-Col when it was already open and VB games being played even before you arrived, and all the plans, funds, construction, etc. were long done even before that?
Much of it was even done before Dr. Glasser arrived and is to the credit of Ken Kavanagh. Yet your speeches and interviews keep claiming the problems at Bradley all preceded you and were so very deep and severe when you got here and you've done such a yeoman's job fixing all the problems?
Now the proof is clear and even the Board knows it - that we were in FAR better shape before and you need to step up, be honest, and admit your failures and take responsibility instead of stepping even harder on the accelerator and driving even faster over the cliff.
-when firing the past men's basketball coach then hiring the new MBB coach - the TWO most significant event in the past five years - how is it so much of those two processes were bungled so badly and everybody denies and deflects responsibility?
The news of the 2011 firing got leaked to a Chicago blogger before being mentioned in Peoria - and was so badly handled that it angered a large part of the fan base, there were issues made public about the failure to honor the old coach's contract, multiple candidates were brought in to interview then heard something that caused them to leave & decline even though they were turning down an admittedly great position that THEY SOUGHT which doubled their salaries, then we violated the new coaches existing contract and got involved in lawsuits (that have been costly for both Bradley & Geno, then we way overpaid for coaching abilities that clearly were far under what was needed
-lastly - why take the repeated swipes at the fans - the lifeblood of this program?
Why label then uneducated, stuck in the past, too nostalgic, too impatient - hey - it was YOU who promised we'd be better right away - even in the very first year when - as it turned out - we were actually all-time-record worse,
and it was you who promised we'd be competing for championships as soon as Geno got his own players - when in fact the more players Geno brought in to replace the ones left over - the worse we got and the more player issues, suspensions, and arrests we had.
That's just a starter - but even if I never get answers - I am ok with moving on - and hopefully the next AD will man-up and take responsibility for the choices he makes even if they fail.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Career scoring of every player who has suited up for Geno at Bradley
*Walt Lemon 13.24
Warren Jones 11.86
Tyshon Pickett 11.54
Tramique Sutherland 11.33
*Dyricus Simms-Edwards 10.20
*Taylor Brown 9.92
Omari Grier 8.36
*Will Egolf 8.01
Josh Cunningham 7.88
Auston Barnes 6.53
*Jordan Prosser 5.52
*Jake Eastman 4.84
Ka'Darryl Bell 4.28
Jalen Crawford 3.34
Xavier Taylor 3.10
Donte Thomas 2.84
Shayok Shayok 2.52
Jermaine Morgan 2.50
*Anthony Thompson 1.89
Nate Wells 1.57
*Milos Knezevic 1.34
Mike Shaw 1.34
Jordan Swopshire 1.31
Chris Blake 0.97
Anthony Fields 0.81
Stefan Zecevic 0.55
Donivine Stewart 0.36
Devon Hodges 0.00
6 of the top 12 are players who were left over in the cupboard.
14 of the worst 16 are players brought in by Geno - many with tremendous hype as upgrades, better talent, TOP 100 players, game-changers, difference-makers, and go-to-guys.
Nine of the worst 16 have been regular or fairly regular STARTERS the past couple years under Geno. Seriously - nine guys who don't average 4 ppg in your starting lineup.
We got to get some scorers and guys who can make baskets!
How effective given the current circumstances can Geno possibly be in landing talent?
Thursday, March 5, 2015
The search to replace the President, the 2nd in command, the Provost, the Athletic Director, and possibly more...
A new story by WEEK.com has a remarkably odd sounding quote from Councilman Chuck Grayeb..
the story is about the impact all the personnel changes at Bradley might have, and Grayeb says...
Decisions at Bradley University effect the entire city
The decisions Bradley makes about its key leaders has an impact on its future. And that impact extends far beyond this campus.
"They're a leading employer, they do a lot to help our economy, if you subtract
Bradley you have a huge negative impact on Peoria's economy; nevermind all
of the other aspects that can't even be quantified by dollars," said 2nd District
City Councilman, Chuck Grayeb."
http://www.cinewsnow.com/home/Decisions-at-Bradley-Univeristy-effect-the-entire-city-295107091.html
What?? "If you subtract Bradley..." ???
why is he comparing anything to a Peoria with Bradley completely "subtracted" out of the entire equation?
Who ever suggested that Bradley would ever be "subtracted" or completely gone from Peoria?
Or is he suggesting that the current admin has dragged down Bradley so far they are becoming less relevant or it simulates not having Bradley in the community at all..
But Grayeb does get one thing right...
"The status quo cannot continue," Grayeb said. "We have to have not only a
strong academic program but strong programming as it relates to all athletic
activities, including Bradley basketball. It is an economic thrust to our
community."
The accompanying article
"Major shake up at Bradley seen as opportunity for board chair"
"Bradley Board of Trustees Chairman Doug Stewart said they are looking at this as an opportunity,
"When you look at the leadership in any position, whether it's the Athletic Director, a Dean, the President,
the Provost, the qualities and the attributes that you're looking at tend to change in terms of the context
of the landscape you're working in and the landscape is dynamic and changing."
Bradley has already started the interview process for a new AD."
http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Major-shake-up-at-Bradley-seen-as-opportunity-for-board-chair--295073911.html
This seems to hint that this is Doug Stewart's LEGACY-defining moment...this is his "opportunity for board chair"
...let me remind you that just 3 months ago Stewart was hailing everything done recently as GREAT
(see this report about Doug Stewart's letter - http://bubravesblogger.blogspot.com/2014/12/letter-of-nov-24-2014.html )
...and touting that Bradley was doing better than any time in the past 30 years, and that changes did not need to be made - even rewarding the top dogs with contract extensions - in Dr. Glasser's case - 5-6 years into the future!
...all the while assuring us that he's in the driver's seat and he's supporting all the current personnel.
....then massive changes get made with all the top personnel out the door costing Bradley multiple millions in buyouts-- so doesn't this trouble some that just maybe Stewart does not see the problems & the needs as most people do, and as they really are - yet he's in the driver's seat again selecting the direction for the future?
I am troubled that the very guy taking credit for driving Bradley to the brink of collapse is now anxious to be the guy who selects all the next top brass.
Time will tell - but obviously even the Peoria City Councilman believes this has to be done right and that it is currently a disaster waiting to happen comparable to have a Peoria with Bradley subtracted out altogether!!!
the story is about the impact all the personnel changes at Bradley might have, and Grayeb says...
Decisions at Bradley University effect the entire city
The decisions Bradley makes about its key leaders has an impact on its future. And that impact extends far beyond this campus.
"They're a leading employer, they do a lot to help our economy, if you subtract
Bradley you have a huge negative impact on Peoria's economy; nevermind all
of the other aspects that can't even be quantified by dollars," said 2nd District
City Councilman, Chuck Grayeb."
http://www.cinewsnow.com/home/Decisions-at-Bradley-Univeristy-effect-the-entire-city-295107091.html
What?? "If you subtract Bradley..." ???
why is he comparing anything to a Peoria with Bradley completely "subtracted" out of the entire equation?
Who ever suggested that Bradley would ever be "subtracted" or completely gone from Peoria?
Or is he suggesting that the current admin has dragged down Bradley so far they are becoming less relevant or it simulates not having Bradley in the community at all..
But Grayeb does get one thing right...
"The status quo cannot continue," Grayeb said. "We have to have not only a
strong academic program but strong programming as it relates to all athletic
activities, including Bradley basketball. It is an economic thrust to our
community."
The accompanying article
"Major shake up at Bradley seen as opportunity for board chair"
"Bradley Board of Trustees Chairman Doug Stewart said they are looking at this as an opportunity,
"When you look at the leadership in any position, whether it's the Athletic Director, a Dean, the President,
the Provost, the qualities and the attributes that you're looking at tend to change in terms of the context
of the landscape you're working in and the landscape is dynamic and changing."
Bradley has already started the interview process for a new AD."
http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Major-shake-up-at-Bradley-seen-as-opportunity-for-board-chair--295073911.html
This seems to hint that this is Doug Stewart's LEGACY-defining moment...this is his "opportunity for board chair"
...let me remind you that just 3 months ago Stewart was hailing everything done recently as GREAT
(see this report about Doug Stewart's letter - http://bubravesblogger.blogspot.com/2014/12/letter-of-nov-24-2014.html )
...and touting that Bradley was doing better than any time in the past 30 years, and that changes did not need to be made - even rewarding the top dogs with contract extensions - in Dr. Glasser's case - 5-6 years into the future!
...all the while assuring us that he's in the driver's seat and he's supporting all the current personnel.
....then massive changes get made with all the top personnel out the door costing Bradley multiple millions in buyouts-- so doesn't this trouble some that just maybe Stewart does not see the problems & the needs as most people do, and as they really are - yet he's in the driver's seat again selecting the direction for the future?
I am troubled that the very guy taking credit for driving Bradley to the brink of collapse is now anxious to be the guy who selects all the next top brass.
Time will tell - but obviously even the Peoria City Councilman believes this has to be done right and that it is currently a disaster waiting to happen comparable to have a Peoria with Bradley subtracted out altogether!!!
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