Wessler- Better days are not ahead

[dogsrus]

The fact that McDade resigned as a trustee was a huge loss - and tremendous embarrassment - for the university. "Most everyone knows that Wayne McClain would have a Big mistake." Can you prove that?

No he can't...no more thean you can prove it would have been a good hire. The point is he wasn't hired so it doesn't really matter.

IF you are going to go THAT route there were far more qualified applicants then WM that BU passed over.

[squirrelgotdead]

Excellent point Dogs. . .and the thing that always gets overlooked is we get the comparisons to the other FINALISTS for the job (Gregory, Jones, etc. . .). I have heard that the group of finalists may have been configured so as to help shape the arguments for the end result.

We don't know necessarily who the BEST qualified candidates were beyond the finalists, either.

Truthfully, I have to think there were some monster apps in there. . .but since the fix was in, they didn't get a credible shot at the job.

[BradleyBrave]

Excellent point Dogs. . .and the thing that always gets overlooked is we get the comparisons to the other FINALISTS for the job (Gregory, Jones, etc. . .). I have heard that the group of finalists may have been configured so as to help shape the arguments for the end result.

We don't know necessarily who the BEST qualified candidates were beyond the finalists, either.

Truthfully, I have to think there were some monster apps in there. . .but since the fix was in, they didn't get a credible shot at the job.

You mean a laughable lowball salary, and silly, petulant questions? Add those to junior high-level facilities with no promise for anything better, and of course people are going to withdraw.

Brian Gregory was twice as qualified as the finalists. So was Steve Merfeld. Both didn't even come close to getting real consideration.

[Da Coach]

Gregory and Jones would both have likely been the top 2 choices to be the Bradley coach if they had decided to stay in consideration. But both pulled out by their own decision. I have heard these rumors of a "fix" too, but only by those who don't have any real knowledge of what happened. The more I learned from those who know, that is far from the case.
Jim Les was only added to the list of those to get an interview in Atlanta in the first round of interviews as a courtesy to supporters who pulled so strongly for him to be considered. After that, the JL supporters played no part at all. He was only invited back to campus for a second interview because so many other candidates either were eliminated or pulled out on their own. From there, the rest is pretty well known.

[squirrelgotdead]

But, can you explain to me how the press release was already prepared announcing Jim Les before all of this?

[dogsrus]

Polotics in a hiring process...say it ain't so.

Bottom line is the guy that got hired ain't gettin it done and I don't care who you are if the results aren't there..... you won't be either.

[Da Coach]

But, can you explain to me how the press release was already prepared announcing Jim Les before all of this?

I don't know what you are referring to. Maybe another myth?
The decision was made by Pres. Broski, only after the entire process played out.

[tulip]

It's third party info listed on a BU website. I don't have the time, nor desire, to Google every source that BU cites and point you to it. Do it yourself if you like. I have no doubts about BU's quality. If you do then you should transfer to one of the schools on the list that I linked.

And yes, I was BU educated. I learned that names (like tulip) should be capitalized

Yes, you are right tulip should be capped. I prefer to lc it.

[Chico]

so your saying that reading what others say is your biggest mistake?
Why..because you believed it?
I think that's odd...I read tons of what others say, and if it turns out not to be true, I don't have a freakin' cow....in fact, much of the time, I actually predict is won't be true and then enjoy watching when it's not...

First off, I'm not having a freakin' cow. I thought it was obvious what I was saying is I wouldn't be so disappointed if I didn't get so excited after all the hype. Read the whole post T, and you'll see where I said I also contribute to the hype.

[Chico]

When BU chose Les, they lost not only the chance to have Wayne McClain join the program but also lost a beloved trustee, Joe Billy McDade. That was a very sad chapter in Hilltop history. Unfortunately, I do not believe that the current administration has any greater vision that will pull the team, or the university, from the abyss. BU has awesome, energetic students and highly talented faculty - people who could be teaching at superior institutions. Yet they choose BU because they love it and they love the idea of it. Once we find an administration equal to the vision of Lydia Moss Bradley, the Bradleys - those on the court and off - won't be stoppable.

I for one lost a little respect for JBM when he stepped down as a trustee because his choice wasn't selected. Wasn't a sad day for me or many others when Jim Les was selected as coach. We all would have liked for things to have so far turned out better, but who's to say Wayne could have done any better.

[amckillip]

When BU chose Les, they lost not only the chance to have Wayne McClain join the program but also lost a beloved trustee, Joe Billy McDade. That was a very sad chapter in Hilltop history. Unfortunately, I do not believe that the current administration has any greater vision that will pull the team, or the university, from the abyss. BU has awesome, energetic students and highly talented faculty - people who could be teaching at superior institutions. Yet they choose BU because they love it and they love the idea of it. Once we find an administration equal to the vision of Lydia Moss Bradley, the Bradleys - those on the court and off - won't be stoppable.

Really, people still honestly say Wayne McClain would have been a good hire??? His basketball pedigree is no where near JL's yes, he was high school coach, so was CB. Wayne was only hired at U of I to get several highly ranked recruits from his school including his son. If Wayne was such a no-brainer hire, where is he now? Oh, right, the exact same job. But he is a killer recruiter right? Errr... I mean, U of I's recruiting was really weak until they brought in Jerrance Howard... SO maybe Wayne wasn't the amazing hire people act like he would have been. I've been lurking pretty much exclusively because the discussion has largely digressed into personal attacks that are not based on reason but occasionally a post like this compels me to post.

JL is not perfect, it is, indeed, time to take stock of the program. However, to act like KW hasn't been consistently anti-JL is ignorant, and to pretend WM would have this program in a better place is unfounded. I know as a recent grad, JL, even if for a short while, put BU Basketball back on the map for students, and he brought in an incredibly great group of guys. I'm not sure how much longer JL should be around, but I do think he was the right hire at the time and don't think he's the villain many here make him out to be. Sometimes reading this board is pretty disappointing...

[wizard1]

Wessler - Better Days----

Allow me to introduce some facts regarding the hiring of JL.

1. Brian Gregory dropped out when he learned that the salary & other compensation was far less than he could get elsewhere.

2. JBM was on the search committee. The committee was supposed to review applicants, narrow the list down, and recommend a final group of candidates to be interviewed.

3. While the committee was supposed to do thier job in an open-minded manner, JBM was a 1000% McCain supporter from the beginning and didn't really want to consider anyone else. As the process went along, things got
tense and bad on the committe and JBM finally took his marbles and went home when he didn't get his way. He apparently thought a resignation from the Trustees might turn things around but it didn't work. Its as simple as that!

4. The "book" at that time on WM at Illinois was not good based on what their people had to say.

5. Thru the years, JBM has been asked by several BU coaches if he could help in the recruiting process, when that was allowed by the NCAA. To my knowledge, he did not responded with help and was even critical of BU.

6. IMO while JBM is a wonderful judge and a great person in most areas, he looks at things regarding BU from a perspective that is sometimes controversial and not always helpful to BU.

[BradleyBrave]

Really, people still honestly say Wayne McClain would have been a good hire??? His basketball pedigree is no where near JL's yes, he was high school coach, so was CB. Wayne was only hired at U of I to get several highly ranked recruits from his school including his son. If Wayne was such a no-brainer hire, where is he now? Oh, right, the exact same job. But he is a killer recruiter right? Errr... I mean, U of I's recruiting was really weak until they brought in Jerrance Howard... SO maybe Wayne wasn't the amazing hire people act like he would have been. I've been lurking pretty much exclusively because the discussion has largely digressed into personal attacks that are not based on reason but occasionally a post like this compels me to post.

JL is not perfect, it is, indeed, time to take stock of the program. However, to act like KW hasn't been consistently anti-JL is ignorant, and to pretend WM would have this program in a better place is unfounded. I know as a recent grad, JL, even if for a short while, put BU Basketball back on the map for students, and he brought in an incredibly great group of guys. I'm not sure how much longer JL should be around, but I do think he was the right hire at the time and don't think he's the villain many here make him out to be. Sometimes reading this board is pretty disappointing...

Wayne would have been a bad hire then, and would be an even worse hire now.

[Da Coach]

Wizard- thanks for your input.
Usually we try to limit rumors regarding the hiring process, because so much of it was kept in secret.
However, because of how closely you were involved at that time, I appreciate your comments. Beside, everything you have said is now public knowledge to some extent. I believe the Judge even stated publically that he was for WM during the interview process.

[Dallas Brave]

Allow me to introduce some facts regarding the hiring of JL.

1. Brian Gregory dropped out when he learned that the salary & other compensation was far less than he could get elsewhere.

2. JBM was on the search committee. The committee was supposed to review applicants, narrow the list down, and recommend a final group of candidates to be interviewed.

3. While the committee was supposed to do thier job in an open-minded manner, JBM was a 1000% McCain supporter from the beginning and didn't really want to consider anyone else. As the process went along, things got
tense and bad on the committe and JBM finally took his marbles and went home when he didn't get his way. He apparently thought a resignation from the Trustees might turn things around but it didn't work. Its as simple as that!

4. The "book" at that time on WM at Illinois was not good based on what their people had to say.

5. Thru the years, JBM has been asked by several BU coaches if he could help in the recruiting process, when that was allowed by the NCAA. To my knowledge, he did not responded with help and was even critical of BU.

6. IMO while JBM is a wonderful judge and a great person in most areas, he looks at things regarding BU from a perspective that is sometimes controversial and not always helpful to BU.

In the words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."