PJStar Interview with Bradley AD, Dr. Michael Cross

[wily coyote]

Give me a break. There is some unrest within the fan base. What do you want him to do, act like there aren't some people unhappy? He's just calling a spade a spade, which doesn't seem to be acceptable to some.

BB, I couldn't agree with you more. I thought it was a question that needed to be addressed. KW didn't ask what so many of us would have liked to. Not sure where SF was coming from.

[Out of Balance]

[quote=Beninator;162995]From the PJS article re: Management Style:

" I believe in giving people authority. When you’re in a position like this, you have an obligation to set the standards, to have principles, to set the tones, to have the values, to set the culture. Then, letting people go out and have autonomy and authority to make decisions, within parameters, is very, very important. If all I do is dictate what we’re going to do, that can get old very quickly."


Given our Presidents tendency to micromanage, I believe that this will be Dr Cross' toughest obstacle to overcome. I wish Dr Cross luck.[/quote]

I agree And if the old saying is right (A Picture tells the story), WELL the picture in the PJS is funny in a way Not a picture of Dr. Cross along at his desk or something like that, but with the Queen, arm and arm and her arm on top of his and she has his ear

[Buesch N Chips]

I'm sure you've got it figured out right here. . .

Certainly its not the 500, 1000+ extra fans not in attendance at games this year. Or the dozens more audible boobirds in attendance at the games.

It's important to realize that message boards are not representative of a fan base, positive or negative, or otherwise.

Your last sentence is correct. The one above it is speculation. Maybe there are fewer people because of the economy. Maybe there were too many Sunday games or whatever. Maybe they raised prices. Or maybe it is people who don't like Jim Les. To say that lower attendance is definitely "unrest" is a stretch. Too many other variables. In fact, is attendance even down?

[Braves4Life]

I will go on record as saying that I have no problem with Wessler's "unrest" question. It is a reporters job to ask tough questions and to sometimes ask them in a "controversial" way to elicit a response. I also applaud Dr. Cross for NOT taking the bait.

Regarding President Glasser I think she has done a good job. Whether I agree with her micomanagerial style is irrelevant. I think she has done good things for BU since her arrival and set BU on an even better path to achieving national academic prominence.

[Buesch N Chips]

I will go on record as saying that I have no problem with Wessler's "unrest" question.

I don't have a problem either, if it is true.

[Beninator]

[QUOTE=Out of Balance;162998]

From the PJS article re: Management Style:

" I believe in giving people authority. When you??™re in a position like this, you have an obligation to set the standards, to have principles, to set the tones, to have the values, to set the culture. Then, letting people go out and have autonomy and authority to make decisions, within parameters, is very, very important. If all I do is dictate what we??™re going to do, that can get old very quickly."


Given our Presidents tendency to micromanage, I believe that this will be Dr Cross' toughest obstacle to overcome. I wish Dr Cross luck.[/quote]

I agree And if the old saying is right (A Picture tells the story), WELL the picture in the PJS is funny in a way Not a picture of Dr. Cross along at his desk or something like that, but with the Queen, arm and arm and her arm on top of his and she has his ear

I guess you could say that this is evidence of her hands on management style!

[Air Petey]

BSS fine

Give me a break. There is some unrest within the fan base. What do you want him to do, act like there aren't some people unhappy? He's just calling a spade a spade, which doesn't seem to be acceptable to some.

There may be some "Unrest" with the Upper Bowl fans..... But the BSS support is as strong as ever. I guess Kirk likes the Upper Bowl fans to make the news?

[shaunguth]

There may be some "Unrest" with the Upper Bowl fans..... But the BSS support is as strong as ever. I guess Kirk likes the Upper Bowl fans to make the news?

Don't forget about the students that don't show up. Maybe they aren't showing up because of "unrest"?

P.S. - I'm an "Upper Bowl fan" that goes to almost every game and has never booed our players/staff/program.

[houstontxbrave]

The man is going to evaluate the Men's and Woman's program and both along with every other program deserves evaluation often.

But to ask the AD after 1 month and while the Men's basketball season is still underway how he plans on doing the evaluation is unfair. Jim Les and his program deserves to have this season completed before any determination on HOW the program is evaluated is defined.

I am sure the AD has an idea on how he would plan to design an evaluation but with incomplete information how could he give an accurate evaluation let alone an accurate answer to the question.

But the part that is kicking a person when he is down is the "unrest in the program" there has been unrest to all kinds of degrees since Les took over. The tone of his question, is very telling in Wesslers personal opinion of Jim Les.

[SFP]

If KW would have phrased his question a bit better perhaps he would have been able to elicit a better response. His despair for JL is so obvious. You see a first rate reporter would have said,"what you have described sounds like the schools jeweled program, can you elaborate more." not there is "unrest." Big difference and not leading Dr. Cross into a negative where he'll just deflect it. A good reporter uses the information from the person they are interviewing. KW does not know how to be objective when it comes to JL, period. If you prefer to see 2nd rate reporting then continue reading KW's articles.

[Skut Farcus]

It seems to me, the only time the President micromanages is when it comes to disciplining BB players.

[dogsrus]

Your last sentence is correct. The one above it is speculation. Maybe there are fewer people because of the economy. Maybe there were too many Sunday games or whatever. Maybe they raised prices. Or maybe it is people who don't like Jim Les. To say that lower attendance is definitely "unrest" is a stretch. Too many other variables. In fact, is attendance even down?

Attendance IS down. ANYONE that tries to blow smoke up your behind with this ticket sold number is doing you and BU a disservice. There is a problem and instead of burying our head in the stands SOMETHING needs to be done to fix it. As I have said time and time again...Ray Charles could see something ain't right in the river city.

Not only is attendance down but the atmosphere is fast appraoching an all time low. Like many of you I have been going to games for 20 + years and I have to think back to the final years of Albeck to recall it this dead.

That is an undeniable fact.

I may not know X's and O's as well as some but I know crowds and excitment. I LIVE for a full house like the MSU game a few years ago and for the Days of Hawk and our own Jim Les. If anyone missed those days...WOW.

Attendance MAY be down due to a few of the factors that you listed but its just an excuse.... like any "product"....if its REAL good, people will buy it.

The BU "product" just isn't real good right now (and that pains me to say it) and people will use all those other excuses NOT to go.

Mr. Cross needs to see some tapes of what the Arena CAN be like and HAS been in the past. BU has great fans but MANY...WAY to many are staying home and MANY that ARE there are losing steam.

[dogsrus]

Forum folks need thicker skins! Channel your anger for underachieving coaches who overpromised and underdelivered!

I have NEVER begrudged JL for his promises...I mean what was he SUPPOSe to say. I envsion a series of 4,5th and 6th place finishes along with NO Valley or Tourney championships. Not even a sniff.....


Now the failure to deliver....THATS another story.

[Buesch N Chips]

Attendance IS down. ANYONE that tries to blow smoke up your behind with this ticket sold number is doing you and BU a disservice. There is a problem and instead of burying our head in the stands SOMETHING needs to be done to fix it. As I have said time and time again...Ray Charles could see something ain't right in the river city.

Not only is attendance down but the atmosphere is fast appraoching an all time low. Like many of you I have been going to games for 20 + years and I have to think back to the final years of Albeck to recall it this dead.

That is an undeniable fact.

I may not know X's and O's as well as some but I know crowds and excitment. I LIVE for a full house like the MSU game a few years ago and for the Days of Hawk and our own Jim Les. If anyone missed those days...WOW.

Attendance MAY be down due to a few of the factors that you listed but its just an excuse.... like any "product"....if its REAL good, people will buy it.

The BU "product" just isn't real good right now (and that pains me to say it) and people will use all those other excuses NOT to go.

Mr. Cross needs to see some tapes of what the Arena CAN be like and HAS been in the past. BU has great fans but MANY...WAY to many are staying home and MANY that ARE there are losing steam.

You may be right. Who knows. I'll disagree a little. For the crowds, I would say that the Drake crowd was the first I have seen all year that was flat. Every other time this year, the crowd that was there have done a great job.