Great Article on Coach Stowell's double firing from BU

[shaunguth]

You do understand the difference between real reporting and asking questions in a press conference or in a private setting as opposed to a chat on a fan-run message board don't you?

I have no problems with a chat. It's neat for the people who like it and it was good of Coach Les to do it. But let's not confuse it for an open media session.

I'm just saying that it does work both ways. JL was clearly and readily available and the reported declined.

Yes.....I do understand the difference between real reporting and asking questions in a press conference or in a private setting as opposed to a chat on a fan-run message board

I really hope it makes you feel better when you ask questions like that......unless, of course, you really did think that I wouldn't know the difference.

By the way......I stand by my opinion that the JL reference in that article added nothing. Of course, I'm not one of the people that would think JL would get someone fired from a radio station or have any influence over Glasser and/or Cross in this situation. I'm sorry if that opinion is not shared by everyone else!

[Beninator]

Since I am coming under attack for defending the administration (which is not exactly the case), let me state my position again-

Most people who have ever worked in any field of business have seen this phenomenon before- whenever a new CEO takes over, there are always major changes as they mold the business (in this case the university) into their own image. I have seen it with a number of businesses I have been associated with. There is usually no longer a deep loyalty to past employees as there might have been with previous administrators. So the changes at Bradley should not surprise anyone, and I expect there will be more. Recall that there were indeed many people here who called for and celebrated the change of adminstrators. I have said this before, and will reiterate it, "Be careful what you wish for".

I have the highest respect for the leaders at Bradley, and I respect and support what they are doing, and I will likely support whatever changes they make in the future, as long as I believe they are good for the university. I am a fan of Bradley University, not just a sports team, and I am not into this for my own gratification, like some fans are.

And again I will ask- how many people here had ever even heard of this Hall of Fame committee before the column by Kirk Wessler? IMO, this whole thing is a minor issue, and my only criticism was the attempt by the PJS to make it into a much biggger deal than it warrants.

well, what is wrong with defending the very school you claim to be a fan of?
can someone give a definition of hypocrisy??

I have one, a fan who repeatedly finds something or some reason to trash their supposed own team/school
...as if a school wants 10,000 more fans like that???

I have not agreed with everything done at or by BU but I am a fan and will not barter with my loyalty..
I was every bit as much of a fan of Jim Molinari (and still am) as I am of JL, and was surprised by Mo's firing,
yet I continued to loyally support BU. And you know what -- I think the school and its leaders appreciate fans like that.
..just sayin'...

But at the same time, a loyal fan and or alumni of Bradley has the right to openly question the decisions that are being made. We have an administration that has done some things the right way, but has illustrated on a couple of occasions this summer their (administrations) need for absolute power. I am not the type of person who can let a person's quest for absolute power go unchecked. That is one of the major reasons why I liked KW's article in yesterday's PJS!

[toddgak]

I'm just saying that it does work both ways. JL was clearly and readily available and the reported declined.

Yes.....I do understand the difference between real reporting and asking questions in a press conference or in a private setting as opposed to a chat on a fan-run message board

I really hope it makes you feel better when you ask questions like that......unless, of course, you really did think that I wouldn't know the difference.

By the way......I stand by my opinion that the JL reference in that article added nothing. Of course, I'm not one of the people that would think JL would get someone fired from a radio station or have any influence over Glasser and/or Cross in this situation. I'm sorry if that opinion is not shared by everyone else!

Again...if I were a reporter who wanted an answer to a question I would never ask it during a chat on a fan-run message board. I would ask the coach in private or in a press conference. Why ask the question so everyone in the chat can see what was asked?

I would certainly hope that Coach Les and the powers that be at Bradley wouldn't make a credentialed reporter and beat writer with Dave Reynolds' history wait for an online, fan chat to ask questions. I highly doubt the great people with the BU Sports Info people would operate that way.

Fans are fans. Media are media. Not the same thing.

I don't know if Jim Les had any say on the Joe Stowell decision. I do think what Kirk wrote bout Jim's and Coach's relationship was very relevant to the article. Now, if was an article about just the Hall of Fame--no. But the radio gig--yes. Jim Les is the head coach of that program after all.

As was said on a different thread--I did find it odd that Jim Les was not once quoted in the article about the schedule release but Mike Cross had all the comments.

[tornado]

...Stowell's view on "cheerleading" vs. analyzing. ..

this was the exact same argument used to justify Steve Stone covering the Cubs -- in the end he was let go also..

• How many committee members are there?
• What do the bylaws stipulate regarding committee terms?
• Who are the other two members whose terms expired that were not renewed?
• Did Dr. Cross approach Coach Stowell before the decision was announced? If so, what are those details?

.

Didn't Kirk Wessler say he was a long time memebr of this very committee?? What better source to ask and find the answer to all these quesitons?

....do not know a single Bradley fan/alum who won't support a new coach...

What??? Your memory is really failing, as I recall MANY, MANY people from Joe B. McDade to well known community leaders who said boldly and bluntly they were ending their affiliation with Bradley and would absolutely never be back after the hiring of Jim Les...
They were mad and felt they were insulted over not being given a voice in the choice...
In fact - one of the other "candidate's" family member actually had to be escorted from the Civic Center when he entered purely for the opportunity to walk down to the bench and confront the current coach and express outrage.
I know the people who owned the season tix next to Da Coach also vocally and openly denounced their affiliation with BU over the hiring and have never been back...etc...

[Buesch N Chips]

this was the exact same argument used to justify Steve Stone covering the cubs -- in the end he was let go also..

Stowell was not nearly as negative as Stone was, but next to Buescher, who was by all accounts very apologetic, he might have seemed worse. I have always thought Snell gets more frustrated on the air than Stowell.


Bottom line. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Simple as that.

[toddgak]

this was the exact same argument used to justify Steve Stone covering the Cubs -- in the end he was let go also..




Didn't Kirk Wessler say he was a long time memebr of this very committee?? What better source to ask and find the answer to all these quesitons?





What??? Your memory is really failing, as I recall MANY, MANY people from Joe B. McDade to well known community leaders who said boldly and bluntly they were ending their affiliation with Bradley and would absolutely never be back after the hiring of Jim Les...
They were mad and felt they were insulted over not being given a voice in the choice...
In fact - one of the other "candidate's" family member actually had to be escorted from the Civic Center when he entered purely for the opportunity to walk down to the bench and confront the current coach and express outrage.
I know the people who owned the season tix next to Da Coach also vocally and openly denounced their affiliation with BU over the hiring and have never been back...etc...

Tornado--I said, or meant to say, I PERSONALLY don't know of anyone. As in, people I know. I'm not saying you or Da Coach don't know people. I am only speaking for my circle of friends, alums, etc. I don't mean to or care to speak for others.

I hope I didn't imply that I knew every Bradley fan. I don't.

[amckillip]

Tornado--I said, or meant to say, I PERSONALLY don't know of anyone. As in, people I know. I'm not saying you or Da Coach don't know people. I am only speaking for my circle of friends, alums, etc. I don't mean to or care to speak for others.

I hope I didn't imply that I knew every Bradley fan. I don't.

.
The way you worded it I took it to mean the same thing tornado did. There are a very large number of people, the author of the article included, who have never given JL a chance.

That being said, I have NO problem with KW's article, nor do I think this should be looked at as no big deal. Bradley is clearly a program that prides itself on its history and tradition, if not, we're an also-ran in a solid conference. So when we push a piece of that away, people are going to be upset. I think it's pretty clear that sports-wise JG is likely not a positive influence. And is very much a micro-manager.

[toddgak]

.
The way you worded it I took it to mean the same thing tornado did. There are a very large number of people, the author of the article included, who have never given JL a chance.

That being said, I have NO problem with KW's article, nor do I think this should be looked at as no big deal. Bradley is clearly a program that prides itself on its history and tradition, if not, we're an also-ran in a solid conference. So when we push a piece of that away, people are going to be upset. I think it's pretty clear that sports-wise JG is likely not a positive influence. And is very much a micro-manager.

I apologize for the confusion. I do disagree with your assertion that Kirk Wessler "never gave Jim Les" a chance. Is that something he told you directly?

I speak to Kirk from time to time and he never told me anything like that in our conversations. Have you heard differently from him? Let's not confuse being upset with the current results as never giving someone a chance.

[amckillip]

I apologize for the confusion. I do disagree with your assertion that Kirk Wessler "never gave Jim Les" a chance. Is that something he told you directly?

I speak to Kirk from time to time and he never told me anything like that in our conversations. Have you heard differently from him? Let's not confuse being upset with the current results as never giving someone a chance.

I have spoke to Kirk several times, obviously he didn't say that. But the man writes columns for a living, it is abundantly clear where he is stance is and has lied. He did not agree with the JL hiring, and published that fact. And has yet to give JL the benefit of the doubt in any article I've seen.

[toddgak]

I have spoke to Kirk several times, obviously he didn't say that. But the man writes columns for a living, it is abundantly clear where he is stance is and has lied. He did not agree with the JL hiring, and published that fact. And has yet to give JL the benefit of the doubt in any article I've seen.

Agreeing with the JL hiring isn't the same as not giving him a chance.

Personally--I didn't agree with the hire at the time. He wasn't qualified for the job. There were better candidates out there. I don't think anyone can really dispute this.

That said--it wasn't my call. They didn't ask me. He was named head coach. That wasn't his fault. He has done his best. He has worked hard. I've read a lot of articles where Kirk is complimentary of Jim.

Also--I think some were saying in this thread that people totally "turned in" their loyalty to Bradley once Jim Les got the job. To lump Kirk into that group would be incorrect. Do you think Kirk no longer cares about Bradley because of the Jim Les hire nine years ago?

Disagreeing with the hire at the time and totally "turning" on the program are two entirely different things.

[amckillip]

Agreeing with the JL hiring isn't the same as not giving him a chance.

Personally--I didn't agree with the hire at the time. He wasn't qualified for the job. There were better candidates out there. I don't think anyone can really dispute this.

That said--it wasn't my call. They didn't ask me. He was named head coach. That wasn't his fault. He has done his best. He has worked hard. I've read a lot of articles where Kirk is complimentary of Jim.

Also--I think some were saying in this thread that people totally "turned in" their loyalty to Bradley once Jim Les got the job. To lump Kirk into that group would be incorrect. Do you think Kirk no longer cares about Bradley because of the Jim Les hire nine years ago?

Disagreeing with the hire at the time and totally "turning" on the program are two entirely different things.

Woah, you're 11 posts in and twisting words worse than anyone I've seen on here. I never even remotely came close to suggesting that KW wasn't a BU supporter.

I simply said, in my experience and analysis, KW stated that hiring JL was the wrong choice, and since then, KW has assumed the worst until proving otherwise regarding JL. I actually AGREED with the KW article in question. Please stop imposing a stance on me.

[BradleyJD]

Stowell was not nearly as negative as Stone was, but next to Buescher, who was by all accounts very apologetic, he might have seemed worse. I have always thought Snell gets more frustrated on the air than Stowell.


Bottom line. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Simple as that.

I disagree. This makes it sound like Stowell did something wrong. He was hired as an analyst, not a cheerleader.

Stowell was negative, he was honest.

[toddgak]

Woah, you're 11 posts in and twisting words worse than anyone I've seen on here. I never even remotely came close to suggesting that KW wasn't a BU supporter.

I simply said, in my experience and analysis, KW stated that hiring JL was the wrong choice, and since then, KW has assumed the worst until proving otherwise regarding JL. I actually AGREED with the KW article in question. Please stop imposing a stance on me.

I apologize. I didn't mean to impose a stance on you. I was just trying to revert back to what was brought up--that there were some fans who "turned in their loyalty card"--so to speak. You then brought up Kirk so I assumed you meant he had done the same.

Again, I apologize for making an incorrect statement. I think we both agree Kirk Wessler very much still cares for Bradley and that he wasn't a huge fan of the hire. Fair enough?

[tornado]

I have a suggestion -- just that, nobody has to do it, but it's a suggestion...
If you have time and inclination -- take about 30 seconds and send a short e mail to the head coach or one of the assistants...

Their e mail addresses are incredibly easy to find but here they are for even easier reference...

I suggest you simply say "Hi, we're supporting you and BU and really appreciate all the hard work"
...or "go get 'em coach, we're pulling for BU to have a great year..."
...or "thanks for the endless hours of hard work and traveling on the road -- we enjoy the end result of all your hard work.."


I send one once in a while, and I can tell you that I not only get back a nice and heartfelt thank you note, but these kinds of messages do way more than you might think...
No matter what your job, you probably hear the negatives and complaints 100 times more than the words from happy or satisfied people, and it's just nice go give some props where due...

jles@bradley.edu
jplatt@bradley.edu
wscott@bradley.edu
kvogt@bradley.edu

[toddgak]

I have a suggestion -- just that, nobody has to do it, but it's a suggestion...
If you have time and inclination -- take about 30 seconds and send a short e mail to the head coach or one of the assistants...

Their e mail addresses are incredibly easy to find but here they are for even easier reference...

I suggest you simply say "Hi, we're supporting you and BU and really appreciate all the hard work"
...or "go get 'em coach, we're pulling for BU to have a great year..."
...or "thanks for the endless hours of hard work and traveling on the road -- we enjoy the end result of all your hard work.."


I send one once in a while, and I can tell you that I not only get back a nice and heartfelt thank you note, but these kinds of messages do way more than you might think...
No matter what your job, you probably hear the negatives and complaints 100 times more than the words from happy or satisfied people, and it's just nice go give some props where due...

jles@bradley.edu
jplatt@bradley.edu
wscott@bradley.edu
kvogt@bradley.edu

Great idea tornado. And man are you right on the last part--it is certainly true in my line of work.