Great Article on Coach Stowell's double firing from BU

[BradleyBrave]

BradleyBrave--I personally do not know a single Bradley fan/alum who won't support a new coach if it were to come to that. We may not all agree on who that person is (when/if the hiring takes place) but I don't know anyone who will denounce their allegiance.

Do you know such people? I hope not.

Unfortunately yes I do.

[dogsrus]

Looks like they are looking for consistency. Hard to argue with that.

Obviously it is as this thread would indicate.....

[BradleyJD]

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. Do you have Joe Stowell's by any chance as well?

[tornado]

No -- I don't but I am sure you can send care of Bobby Parker who is the chair of the HOF committee...
bparker@bradley.edu

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=122848

also..

..
Stowell was negative...

..but the job requirements (as determined by those making the hire) mandated othewise...

[toddgak]

No -- I don't but I am sure you can send care of Bobby Parker who is the chair of the HOF committee...
bparker@bradley.edu

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=122848

also..

..but the job requirements (as determined by those making the hire) mandated othewise...

Were the job "requirements" made public? Have they changed in all the time Coach Stowell was doing the job? I don't think the "requirements" changed--at least not formally. It's just that the people doing the judging changed. If he were too negative he would have been fired a long time ago. Joe was critical at times under Molinari, Versace, Albeck, etc.

He didn't change--other people did.

[tornado]

on that we will disagree........everyone changes and so did Coach...

I personally hire a person who interacts with and greets people that come in the door...
and tho it is not made public, the very base requirement on the hire is that "negative" will not be tolerated...
Gotta think almost all business short of shock-jock radio are the same and negativity is viewed as undesirable...
I don't know all the facts, but I suspect when WMBD hires broadcasters and BU gets to approve -- then enough "negative" drops your name on the list of candidates..

[toddgak]

on that we will disagree........everyone changes and so did Coach...

I personally hire a person who interacts with and greets people that come in the door...
and tho it is not made public, the very base requirement on the hire is that "negative" will not be tolerated...
I don't know all the facts, but I suspect when WMBD hires broadcasters and BU gets to approve -- then enough "negative" drops your name on the list of candidates..

Understood tornado. So, in a roundabout way, you ARE saying that Joe's supposed negativity led to his firing. Are you not?

Personally--I absolutely 100% think his firing has to do with his perceived negativity and his chilly relationship with Coach Les--at least it has a lot more to do with it than his age, him only doing home games, and other excuses given.

Again, I'm not saying it wasn't time for Coach Stowell to step aside. I wish he would have understood this and done it on his own terms. But to say his opinions towards the program at times (on air and off air) had nothing to do with this is nonsense.

As I have said Bradley fiercely guards its "brand". No doubt. There is very much a "for us or against us" attitude. Certainly that is their right. Coach Stowell wasn't toeing the company line. He paid for it. It happens. That's life.

I don't agree with that type of management philosophy but I understand a lot of companies, schools, athletic depts, etc. really dislike anything coming close to "criticism" or "negative"---whether it resides in truth or not. Different ways to skin a cat. I hear criticism both internally and externally on a daily basis. Some of it is true. Some isn't. But I don't ignore it because I don't want to hear it and I don't dismiss the sender and label them one way or another.

[tornado]

Personally--I absolutely 100% think his firing has to do with his perceived negativity and his chilly relationship with Coach Les--at least it has a lot more to do with it than his age, him only doing home games, and other excuses given....

agree with the first half -- that some negativity can be tolerated but it's a weighted assessment and enough, teamed with other things like age, inability to do road games, etc...then the weight of negatives sunk his chances.
Keep in mind -- he's still doing lots of games (women's games) and has always been thoroughly welcomed on campus -- so 90% of this "stab in the back" and "kicked out the door" stuff is way overstated and untrue...

The other half I disagree with -- and even KW stated that he didn't think anything to do with JL or a feud had an impact since it was WMBD making the call on this hire, and BU then giving approval....

[Braves4Life]

a....and even KW stated that he didn't think anything to do with JL or a feud had an impact since it was WMBD making the call on this hire, and BU then giving approval....

So I guess that was important information to include in the article......

[BuB]

.


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.

Do you think that its the fans, alumni, season ticket holders, media, etc that who pride itself on history and tradition or the new regiem? IMO this new leadership is focused on getting rid of those who made our past history and helped create our tradition. They have ran off or discarded alot of good people who were successful at what they did for Bradley. They don't seem to care for history/tradition.

Like I said, they have this right but it can still be the wrong decision. And when it is wrong you are going to hear about it from the people who care so much.

[BradleyJD]

I absolutely 100% think his firing has to do with his perceived negativity and his chilly relationship with Coach Les--at least it has a lot more to do with it than his age, him only doing home games, and other excuses given.

Again, I'm not saying it wasn't time for Coach Stowell to step aside. I wish he would have understood this and done it on his own terms. But to say his opinions towards the program at times (on air and off air) had nothing to do with this is nonsense.

As I have said Bradley fiercely guards its "brand". No doubt. There is very much a "for us or against us" attitude. Certainly that is their right. Coach Stowell wasn't toeing the company line. He paid for it. It happens. That's life.

I don't agree with that type of management philosophy but I understand a lot of companies, schools, athletic depts, etc. really dislike anything coming close to "criticism" or "negative"---whether it resides in truth or not. Different ways to skin a cat. I hear criticism both internally and externally on a daily basis. Some of it is true. Some isn't. But I don't ignore it because I don't want to hear it and I don't dismiss the sender and label them one way or another.

Great points. Maybe the best I have heard on this subject.

I think most reasonable fans will realize Joe is gone because of his candid way of speaking and asking questions.

I really liked your last paragraph, especially. We have too many work places and people who expect all the "underlings" to keep their mouths shut and never ever question authority.

To me, that is un-American in every way.

[Air Petey]

Coach Stowell - Thanks for everything you have done for Bradley and WMBD. Enjoy whatever you choose to do!! Watch out for those card sharks. Take care.

[Braves4Life]

Great points. Maybe the best I have heard on this subject.

I think most reasonable fans will realize Joe is gone because of his candid way of speaking and asking questions.

I really liked your last paragraph, especially. We have too many work places and people who expect all the "underlings" to keep their mouths shut and never ever question authority.

To me, that is un-American in every way.

But would you want somebody who worked for you to be the "mouthpiece" to spread negative information to your customers, prospective customers, and competitors...... even if it was true?

I would not. The radio decision was strictly a PR and talent decision, IMO. Now, the HOF Committee decision is a whole other matter..... and I think it stinks!

And for tornado and da coach....... Where was your support for this Bradley administration when they made the decision to get rid of Ken Kavenaugh? I'm not seeing any consistency here.

[Da Coach]

But would you want somebody who worked for you to be the "mouthpiece" to spread negative information to your customers, prospective customers, and competitors...... even if it was true?

I would not. The radio decision was strictly a PR and talent decision, IMO. Now, the HOF Committee decision is a whole other matter..... and I think it stinks!

And for tornado and da coach....... Where was your support for this Bradley administration when they made the decision to get rid of Ken Kavenaugh? I'm not seeing any consistency here.

Huh? Look back at the board. It is you that is wrong. I have supported Bradley 100% in all of these instances.
I was 100% consistent. I acknowledged they have the right to make whatever changes they want to make. I think KK was a valuable person, and I would have liked to see him stay, but I accepted the change and think Dr. Cross is doing a great job.
I feel the same in this instance. Joe was good for Bradley and I would have been fine if he had been retained. But I am confident Bradley is moving in the right direction, and other than a few hurt feelings, I don't see a problem with these latest moves.
This has really been blown way out of proportion by a few people, some of whom are not BU fans and want to try to use this and any incident to denigrate or try to embarrass Bradley.

I have move on, but anyone who wants to continue to agonize and torture themselves over this "tempest in a teapot" are welcome to do so.

As I said before, I am a Bradley fan...not just a fan of selected individuals.

[Da Coach]

Understood tornado. So, in a roundabout way, you ARE saying that Joe's supposed negativity led to his firing. Are you not?

Personally--I absolutely 100% think his firing has to do with his perceived negativity and his chilly relationship with Coach Les--at least it has a lot more to do with it than his age, him only doing home games, and other excuses given.

Here I disagree. We should take Jim Les' name out of this discussion entirely, because it had nothing at all to do with Jim Les. If it was up to JL, it probably would have happened long ago.
As is usual, there is probably a lot more back-story to this than will ever be publicized. But the right thing to do is to wish Joe well in his new capacity and move on.