Great Article on Coach Stowell's double firing from BU

[SFP]

But why exactly did KW have to mention that "Stowell and head coach Jim Les have had no relationship to speak of beyond their postgame radio show. Some in the Les camp believe Stowell is not supportive enough, while Stowell points out his radio job is ???analyst, not cheerleader.???

He then follows this up with "I??™m told by multiple sources, however, that Les had no input on the decision and was genuinely surprised when he learned Stowell wouldn??™t be working men??™s games."

Why does he feel the need to even mention JL's name in an article about Joe Stowell?

I'm by far not a KW fan and I believe he is not a JL fan but actually here he did the right thing by eliminating JL as the cause of Coach's predicament. In reality everything I have heard I'm not surprised about him being removed from working the men's game but the HOF is completely another matter.

There's more to this story and it would be nice to get the whole picture.

[lake Camelot]

KW and the PJS, as usual, are trying to create a tempest in a teapot. This is simply not that big of a deal, and the motives of KW for trying to make it one are obvious.

I am not connected as to what is going on at BU currently, but there are so many topics that lately you seem to be defending the administration when it makes little sense. I feel like I am living through the cold war and the government is telling everyone what is happening when they can see something else is going on. Sorry but I am getting bad feelings on most of the moves lately. The new arena being used for the men is hard for me to understand anyone defending. And why do we have to blame KW for every report. What is going on ?

[amckillip]

I am not connected as to what is going on at BU currently, but there are so many topics that lately you seem to be defending the administration when it makes little sense. I feel like I am living through the cold war and the government is telling everyone what is happening when they can see something else is going on. Sorry but I am getting bad feelings on most of the moves lately. The new arena being used for the men is hard for me to understand anyone defending. And why do we have to blame KW for every report. What is going on ?

We're not doing that at all this year. STOP IT ALREADY

[lake Camelot]

Were not doing what at all this year ? If you mean playing in the new arena, I am happy for that. I feel that so many people saying it was a bad idea may influence whether it is done in the future. I am not sure that is what you meant though.

[Bravesfan]

hmmm...clearly there are reasons....some seem to think things happen for "no reason"...
just maybe nobody here nor writing hit pieces really knows those reasons, but hey - that never stopped anyone beofre from drawing bad conclusions....
Why can't a private organization do as they wish without always being criticized? They basically employed the man for 55 years of his life
as well as gave him the opportunity to play college ball and get an education..
I have loved Coach Stowell for the more than 40 years I have known him and yet I am not at all surprised by this and it seems pretty benign actually.
The guy is 84 years old....how many schools employ people that long and yet get ripped when he's gone?? Only one I can think of.
..reading this stuff - it sounds like Bradley's never done a thing for the man and stabbed him in the back -- couldn't be further from the truth..
BTW-- the Egyptian National basketball team also let him go decades ago -- maybe let's ask them for a reason....

Nobody's ripping the university tornado, at least not me. But it is exactly for that reason, since he has been employed with the university for 55 years of his life that I think the public should at least be informed as to why he was fired. If it's because they want to move towards a younger and/or new direction, that's all they have to say. But I for one am not critisizing them. I'm just curious as to why the move was made, that's all.

[Bravesfan]

This may be the case, but the BU administration has the final say.
There is a reason the terms on the HOF committee are limited, and 2 other members of the committee also were not renewed, so this was not an action directed solely at Coach Stowell. And, he was replaced by Corky Robertson, who is every bit as loyal and knowledgeable about past Bradley sports figures as Stowell.

It is always hard for fans to accept changes like this, but I find it ironic that many of the fans who are the most vocal about this change are the same fans who demanded changes in BU administration, and then wanted to see those newly hired people make major changes in the athletics department.
Now we have seen a lot of changes in coaching and other athletic department personnel, which typically happens when administrators change. And yet with every change, many who wanted the change now act incredulous and question the moves.

Thanks for the explanation regarding the HOF committee term limits. That makes sense to me now, and I am more than satisfied with that explanation, and I think that's what most were asking for.

Regarding the same vocal fans acting hypocritical regarding athletic department changes, I believe that most don't catagorize Coach Stowell in the same manner as current coaches and athletic department personnel. Coach Stowell is a legend here and more an ambassador to the game than an actual current coach or manager. In other words, I would separate Stowell's role with the university than with the current coaches who, rightly or wrongly were criticized by some fans on here and throughout the Bradley community. Coach Les and some administrators were the target of some of the vocal fans far more than Coach Stowell would ever be.

Anyway, what's done is done, and I agree the adminstration has every right to do what I want. I wish Coach Stowell all the best in his future endeavors, including commentating on the women's basketball broadcasts which I think will be pretty cool!

[Bravesfan]

Why, the Hell didn't BU at lease call Dr. K. in to make it a mercy thing with no pain You wait tell they come to put a tag on your toe DC, I bet you won't be saying it is time and its the right move Personally I agree with everything Bravesfan posted Can't beet good old common sense with respect
Also DC, you lost a little here when you pointed the finger to pass the buck onto KW and the PJS, for the unprofessional conduct taken on yet another loyal and longtime BU Supporter, by the BU Admin

Thank you Out of Balance. I try to be respectful with my posts even when disagreeing with someone. And as you can see by my two previous posts above, my intent was not to stir things up so to speak. Just trying to obtain a simple explanation of the firing, which I did, no more, no less.

[tornado]

..the public should at least be informed as to why he was fired....

nowadays there are privacy laws, and also a desire to say as little as possible since the local media plays up anything whether it's true or not..

(case in point...note the comment "It is not much of a secret, for example, that Stowell and head coach Jim Les have had no relationship to speak of.." then the immediate concession that such a fact had nothing to do with this!
Then the writer speculates on a "conspiracy theory" and again immediately concedes that there isn't one and the two issues are unrelated)


Here are some facts that it seems everyone is agreeing with...
-Joe Stowell has been employed and revered at BU and by BU for well over 50 years, but that he is almost 84, doesn't get around well, and cannot travel to road games. 99.8% of all people are retired or end their active employment by age 84, and there are reasons...but in this case, many reasons are not being stated.
-Joe Stowell was not fired by Bradley from his broadcasting gig. This was stated clearly to be the decision of WMBD alone.
-Despite the swipe at JL in the paper, the writer clearly acknowledges that BU and JL had nothing to do with the broadcasting decision, plus that decision was made by WMBD and was unrelated to the issue with the committee.
-How many D-I basketball head coaches are fired by a school from that capacity, but then retained and employed in some other capacity for 30+ years more?? I'll bet you cannot name many...thus I think BU has been every bit as loyal to Joe Stowell as vice-versa.
BU even has one of their top awards named for Coach... - http://is.gd/fvzlc
-the committee decision was back in August and unrelated to this WMBD decision, but Coach Stowell had been given the opportunity to serve on the committee since the 1960's -- way longer than anyone in history has been given to serve.
Since it was back in August that the decision on the committee was made - couldn't they find at least one quote -- maybe a comment from Stowell or anyone on that topic...but we see none.
Even when Stowell was quoted - he mentioned only the separate broadcasting issue and even then he did not seem unhappy.
The story also notes that two other members of the committee also had their terms expire and were likewise replaced, but those members remain unnamed, thus it doesn't seem like this was in any way aimed directly at any one person...perhaps just the relatively new administration's desire to make the changes they brought in here to make? Seems like that's the biggest complaint we ever hear -- people wanting to make changes and bring in "new blood"...right?

[shaunguth]

We're not doing that at all this year. STOP IT ALREADY

I sure hope not.......the NCAA tournament should be in play this season.

[it's boogie time]

I can also understand the decision re. the radio broadcast. However, I also would not have even imagined they would take him off the HOF committee. Bad choice. Yes, it is their choice but I don't like it. It is hard to imagine anyone more dedicated to Bradley Basketball than Coach Stowell. In respecting our tradition I expect better than this.

Although I resisted posting it at the time I was not thrilled that we did not name the court in the new facility the Stowell Court. I think really highly of JJ and I realize it was probably a decision of economics but I admit I really could not think of a more appropriate name for the court than Joe's.

This is basically what I was going to write on all thre points.

[wizard1]

Great article on Coach Stowell---

Coach---You are dead wrong with your totally ungrounded & negative comments about KW.

You often accuse others who don't agree with you of being "haters" but, in truth, you sound like a hater on this one.

KWs job is to report and write informative sports columns and this often includes "the story behind the story". KW did a great job in writing this article IMO.

[BradleyBrave]

I hope that in the unfortunate event that another BU legend is unceremoniously ousted from his position at the university that -

1. He remains loyal to the university the way Coach Stowell has
2. The university is defended the same way they are time and again on here

Personally, I would be shocked if either occurred.

[shaunguth]

I hope that in the unfortunate event that another BU legend is unceremoniously ousted from his position at the university that -

1. He remains loyal to the university the way Coach Stowell has
2. The university is defended the same way they are time and again on here

Personally, I would be shocked if either occurred.

Not sure if you're talking about someone in particular or not, but I don't see why #1 is out of the question.

[bu fan 9]

All I'm going to say is if you talk bad about Glasser you lose your job.

[squirrelgotdead]

Here are some facts that it seems everyone is agreeing with...
-Joe Stowell has been employed and revered at BU and by BU for well over 50 years, but that he is almost 84, doesn't get around well, and cannot travel to road games. 99.8% of all people are retired or end their active employment by age 84, and there are reasons...but in this case, many reasons are not being stated.
-Joe Stowell was not fired by Bradley from his broadcasting gig. This was stated clearly to be the decision of WMBD alone.

Doesn't get around well? So it was his choice to not travel to men's games due to those concerns, but he can get around well enough to do a slate of 11 women's road game broadcasts this year after not traveling for 2 years?

Please explain.

Something doesn't add up. . .