ESPN Radio from 2/19

[Braves4Life]

Da Coach said Bradley is an NCAA team next year if Les returns. If that happens we have everybody back. If Les is fired he has said that we would not be an NCAA tournament team and that is because SM and possibly TB and Les' recruits would be gone, as well.

[Bradleyguy10]

Ok thanks for clarifying. I would still be shocked if SM leaves. For some reason though I would be less shocked if TB leaves....

[Braves4Life]

Ok thanks for clarifying. I would still be shocked if SM leaves. For some reason though I would be less shocked if TB leaves....

TB is stuck; he' have to go pro because he'd be screwed if he tried to transfer to another college. Sammy, on the other hand, is in a power position. And, I think he'd go elsewher if Les is gone. If you think about it it only makes sense.

[Chico]

Heather Best stayed at Bradley for her 5th year and played Volleyball. To each his own, I guess. Maybe comparing him to a Hall of Famer isn't fair to Sammy.

As you say, he's done because he graduated. Losing his coach and teammates should not play a part. If they did, we should have wished Danny Granger all the best and given him his release when he went to New Mexico.

If Sammy is interested in maximizing his opportunities, why not just go pro in Europe? Why even bother playing another season of college ball? Didn't we have problems last season with players playing for their own numbers and not the team? Andrew said on the radio they were all on the same page this year. How would Sammy affect a team's chemistry if he came in for one year to maximize his own opportunities? You're either playing for your team or not.

And how do we know there is another team that wants Sammy and Carl is all about that? Is someone tampering?

joe friday

I don't think Sammy would be the kind of player to try to pad his numbers instead of being a team player. dg decided to stay at BU, then let his teammates and so-called friends down by leaving during the season. There is a difference.

[Da Coach]

So which one is it?! No chance of making the NCAAs or can win the league? If we could win the league wouldnt you think we would have at least a chance at the NCAAs?

There is no contradiction in what I predicted. I believe if this team returns intact, which would require the coaching staff also return, Bradley is as good as any other team in the sorry MVC. Of the other 9 teams, only WSU, on paper, looks like a legitimate NCAA possibility in 2011-2012, and even they lose some significant talent. Bradley will be a favorite to win the league. But if there is a coaching change, the team would likely not return intact, and IMO major players would leave. In addition, I believe this scenario would also lead to 3 or 4 recruits asking out of LOIs. It is what almost always happens when there is a coaching change. The result is several years of rebuilding. Feel free not to believe any of this if you don't want to.

[Da Coach]

I don't think Sammy would be the kind of player to try to pad his numbers instead of being a team player. dg decided to stay at BU, then let his teammates and so-called friends down by leaving during the season. There is a difference.

The DG and SM situations are not at all comparable. SM can leave and does not need a release from BU. He will be granted a waiver by the NCAA to transfer and play immediately. There was proven tampering involved with DG, and Bradley was right to refuse to release him.

[jrish12]

There is no contradiction in what I predicted. I believe if this team returns intact, which would require the coaching staff also return, Bradley is as good as any other team in the sorry MVC. Of the other 9 teams, only WSU, on paper, looks like a legitimate NCAA possibility in 2011-2012, and even they lose some significant talent. Bradley will be a favorite to win the league. But if there is a coaching change, the team would likely not return intact, and IMO major players would leave. In addition, I believe this scenario would also lead to 3 or 4 recruits asking out of LOIs. It is what almost always happens when there is a coaching change. The result is several years of rebuilding. Feel free not to believe any of this if you don't want to.

Ok, thanks, I was really looking for clarification and the timing of my post was not good with personal issues going on at home, so my apologies.

[Chico]

The DG and SM situations are not at all comparable. SM can leave and does not need a release from BU. He will be granted a waiver by the NCAA to transfer and play immediately. There was proven tampering involved with DG, and Bradley was right to refuse to release him.

I know. I wasn't comparing them. Guess I worded the post wrong. I was saying SM would not try to pad his stats. Then I was commenting on Joe's mention of dg and his leaving Bradley. Would never ever compare the 2. One is a Brave, the other wasn't.

[Bravesfan]

If he really said this, then IMO he loses all credibility regarding anything else he says about BU.

I think DSE has the potential to be just as good as SM, but I don't think he's there yet. SM has the senior leadership which made all the difference in the world in how well this team played this year.

I'm hoping Matteson meant that DSE was a better player than a less than 100% SM (during the time SM was playing). But even there I would trust an 80% SM over a younger DSE. DSE will have his chance to take over the leadership role soon though.

[Bravesfan]

Classic! Love it DC!

Ditto!

[Bravesfan]

I thought players played for a school and not a coach. Last time I checked Bradley was on the front of the jersey, not Jim Les.

I guess "once a Brave, always a Brave" is just something you put on a wristband.

joe friday

Theoretically, that's probably the way it used to be. And it still happens today, just not as often as it used to happen.

Welcome to the boards joe!

[Bravesfan]

So which one is it?! No chance of making the NCAAs or can win the league? If we could win the league wouldnt you think we would have at least a chance at the NCAAs?

And about the "announcer" comment, no one actually said it was Snell, it was just stated that it was an announcer. Taht could be Snell, Adams, Bassone, or whoever else does the local TV feeds(dont know cause Im not in Peoria and dont get to watch the games on PBS). Dave Snell's name was never mentioned once in this thread until you said it. And just a question, but what if Snell started something along the lines of what Wessler said? That is hypocrisy at its finest that one person could say something almost identical but one person is labelled a liar and the other is treated like a saint. Just my OPINION though....

That's easy. Snell would probably cite his source, or at the very least say "I have credible sources" that say Les will be gone/back next year. Plus he's a class act that doesn't tear people apart when they are having a bad season, even if he privately were to feel that there should be a change. If he did feel that way, he would never say it publically.

Another example of this would involve Cubs tv analyst Bob Brenly. He was highly critical of the team's play throughout last season, but never (at least publically) tore apart Lou Pinella and hoped he would be replaced. That's the difference between a more neutral based announcer and a columnist. I don't think either Snell or Brenly would give their opinions regarding a coach/manager even they didn't like them.

[BUfan14]

I thought players played for a school and not a coach. Last time I checked Bradley was on the front of the jersey, not Jim Les.

I guess "once a Brave, always a Brave" is just something you put on a wristband.

joe friday

This doesn't make any sense. Your saying a kid should change and sacrifice his future for a man he did not sign up to play for?

Who the coach is can change everything for these kids. Let's say the new coach, hypothetically, does things Sammy does not believe in or does not want to be a part of for whatever reason. Should he be forced to do things against his beliefs because a message board poster thinks he is not committed to his school? Not that a new coach would, just a hypothetical thing. I don't think anyone has more passion for Bradley than Sammy, but his beliefs and future are more important than any name on a jersey. These are college kids, not professional players with a contract.....that's the difference.

He could have an extra years worth of money going out and working a job, if he chooses to come back and play for Bradley then it should be under circumstances he likes. Not that Bradley should adjust to him, but that if things don't make Sammy feel comfortable, he has the right to leave.

[Da Coach]

Some how I think all of would still consider Sammy a Brave, even if he left to play elsewhere. That's what the meaning of "once a Brave, always a Brave" is.

[BradleyJD]

This doesn't make any sense. Your saying a kid should change and sacrifice his future for a man he did not sign up to play for?

No, I think he was saying SM signed to play for Bradley, not JL. But I could be wrong.