Recruiting article

[tornado]

I will say what I want.

I hope we see a better season and you'll soften your words...although I am sure you'll agree that far harsher words were used about JL - even before he had a chance to coach a single game...
Even those in the local media attacked & mocked JL, his credentials, his experience, his ability to coach, recruit, etc....and they never let up afterwards even when we have several successful seasons and a Sweet 16.

[lefty]

I hope we see a better season and you'll soften your words...although I am sure you'll agree that far harsher words were used about JL - even before he had a chance to coach a single game...
Even those in the local media attacked & mocked JL, his credentials, his experience, his ability to coach, recruit, etc....and they never let up afterwards even when we have several successful seasons and a Sweet 16.

I'm sure he will agree......

[DoubleJayAlum]

I hope we see a better season and you'll soften your words...although I am sure you'll agree that far harsher words were used about JL - even before he had a chance to coach a single game...
Even those in the local media attacked & mocked JL, his credentials, his experience, his ability to coach, recruit, etc....and they never let up afterwards even when we have several successful seasons and a Sweet 16.

Dude, let it go! Focus on the present, not the past.

[Chico]

Dude, let it go! Focus on the present, not the past.

All T is saying is that this isn't the first time a new coach was blasted before given a chance.

[tornado]

actually JL was blasted before he ever coached a game...
this criticism comes at least after watching 30 games

[Braves4Life]

actually JL was blasted before he ever coached a game...
this criticism comes at least after watching 30 games

Of course the criticism for Les grew strongest toward the end of his 294-game BU coaching tenure...

[lefty]

[QUOTE=tornado;260099]actually JL was blasted before he ever coached a game...
this criticism comes at least after watching 30 games


not surprising reallly. Les had never coached a college game at any level.....I gotta feeling many fans would have felt the same way at other schools in a similar situation

[Chico]

[QUOTE=lefty;260103]

actually JL was blasted before he ever coached a game...
this criticism comes at least after watching 30 games


not surprising reallly. Les had never coached a college game at any level.....I gotta feeling many fans would have felt the same way at other schools in a similar situation

No doubt about that. But most fans welcome back in a positive way a former player who was so well liked as Coach Les, unless they favored another candidate. Now, on to the future. Bring us back to where we belong Geno. Behind you all the way.

[tornado]

..not surprising reallly. Les had never coached a college game at any level........

good one - never miss a chance at a shot....

[lefty]

good one - never miss a chance at a shot....

Not a shot T...just saying it was understandable

[tornado]

Time will -- and pretty much already has - proven that we didn't have it so bad under JL...and I am beginning to see and hear plenty of comments from those who are waking up to that fact.
He recruited extremely well among the local kids - something people clammored for under Mo, and yet we landed all the best local kids like JP, DSE, Jeremy Crouch, etc..
When everyone was healthy - he had great years people seem to forget that.
The stands were full most years, there was excitement, NBA caliber and pro-caliber talent on the team, revenue was being generated at record levels, and all new facilites were planned, developed, and built under Coach Les.
The academics were at the highest level ever - this was in all sports but especially in basketball we had record performances, and guys like Dodie were finalists for NATIONAL Character Awards.
We had it really good and people should have realized it but just like the guy who killed the goose that laid golden eggs, fans were greedy and unsatisfied....and the local press helped out that sentiment by always extolling how great Butler was or Creighton and never saying anything good about our own program!

For years we have had the most inane and naive comments on this board like why don't we just get rid of JL and find a coach who will instantly turn Bradley into a national power and consistent winner.
As if such a decision and action was as easy as going to a car lot and picking out exactly the model you wanted. (you can relate to that)
I think people are finally waking up to the facts that living as a small, private, midmajor without FB in Peoria, IL simply doesn't afford you the ability to land a John Calipari or Coach K nor to field teams every year that'll make everyone happy.
People will need patience and they are beginning to find that out.

A few more years of "rebuilding" ..or as ESPN terms it...
"massive rebuilding" will finally silence those who claim we really had it bad in the JL years.

I reiterate one fact...just to show that I believe you can't totally blame JL

Jim Les' record when he had ALL the staff & assistant coaches of his OWN CHOOSING - 102-71 (2005-2010)
Jim Les' record when he did not have the freedom to choose all his own staff - 52-69 (2002-2005 & 2010-2011)

[bradleyfan20]

A few more years of "rebuilding" ..or as ESPN terms it...
"massive rebuilding" will finally silence those who claim we really had it bad in the JL years.

I reiterate one fact...just to show that I believe you can't totally blame JL

Jim Les' record when he had ALL the staff & assistant coaches of his OWN CHOOSING - 102-71 (2005-2010)
Jim Les' record when he did not have the freedom to choose all his own staff - 52-69 (2002-2005 & 2010-2011)

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest with you. Obviously you feel very strongly about Coach Les, which is great. But in your own words, you quote ESPN who says it is "massive rebuilding"...my question is this: Massive Rebuilding from what? Did this staff derail a top valley team so they have to rebuild? Or did they inherit a bottom of the valley team that must be rebuilt?

Finally, you can agree or disagree that Coach Les needed to go. The one fact that will not change is this: He is gone. You are a Bradley fan. Time to help get behind Coach Ford 100% and stop bringing up the past. If, after 4 years, we see no improvement and we are not progressing fast enough..then it will be time to get behind the next Bradley coach 100% and let that person try to get it going...

[lefty]

T--I'm not anti-LES. I would like to think I'm a realist and show some objectivity. Like I said before I can see why they let JL go and I wouldn't have blamed them if they would have given him one more year. The administration felt BU could do better so they took a chance and made a change......maybe they made a mistake, time will tell.....and it also could be up to people's interpretation if they did make a mistake. What is a success in one's opinion isn't in another and so it goes.

I've supported BU with 4 different coaches and will continue to do so as long as it's possible

[lake Camelot]

Disagree on most of your post T

Re T's post.

How has time told we didn't have it so bad under Les? How is Lefty's comment a shot at Les? I thought the same thing Lefty said about Les hiring. I didn't post it because it sounded negative. But there is no other way to state it except he had really no background when hired.

I think Les did a lot of good things and had a lot of great student athletes. But by the last year or so I was ready to try something else. I am not sure if Geno is the answer or not. But I am sure there is no way to know by now (BU fan 9).

[JMM28]

Time will -- and pretty much already has - proven that we didn't have it so bad under JL...and I am beginning to see and hear plenty of comments from those who are waking up to that fact.
He recruited extremely well among the local kids - something people clammored for under Mo, and yet we landed all the best local kids like JP, DSE, Jeremy Crouch, etc..
When everyone was healthy - he had great years people seem to forget that.
The stands were full most years, there was excitement, NBA caliber and pro-caliber talent on the team, revenue was being generated at record levels, and all new facilites were planned, developed, and built under Coach Les.
The academics were at the highest level ever - this was in all sports but especially in basketball we had record performances, and guys like Dodie were finalists for NATIONAL Character Awards.
We had it really good and people should have realized it but just like the guy who killed the goose that laid golden eggs, fans were greedy and unsatisfied....and the local press helped out that sentiment by always extolling how great Butler was or Creighton and never saying anything good about our own program!

For years we have had the most inane and naive comments on this board like why don't we just get rid of JL and find a coach who will instantly turn Bradley into a national power and consistent winner.
As if such a decision and action was as easy as going to a car lot and picking out exactly the model you wanted. (you can relate to that)
I think people are finally waking up to the facts that living as a small, private, midmajor without FB in Peoria, IL simply doesn't afford you the ability to land a John Calipari or Coach K nor to field teams every year that'll make everyone happy.
People will need patience and they are beginning to find that out.

A few more years of "rebuilding" ..or as ESPN terms it...
"massive rebuilding" will finally silence those who claim we really had it bad in the JL years.

I reiterate one fact...just to show that I believe you can't totally blame JL

Jim Les' record when he had ALL the staff & assistant coaches of his OWN CHOOSING - 102-71 (2005-2010)
Jim Les' record when he did not have the freedom to choose all his own staff - 52-69 (2002-2005 & 2010-2011)

What does Jim Les have to do with Bradley recruiting? You're night boxing.

Geno will be just fine. I am not sure why people are getting their panties in a bunch over a couple verbals in the July recruiting period. Bradley throughout the past 10 years or so has mostly received commitments from players in the early fall and then again late in the Spring. I believe that to be the nature of the beast when recruiting to a mid level MVC team. I will be worried if there are no commitments by the fall signing period close, but until then just let recruiting take its natural course. We might just get someone to fall in our laps.