What's Wrong!

[wizard1]

While I'm normally a very optimistic person who loves BU and have been closely involved for many years in various aspects of the University and its athletic programs, I am terribly saddened by what is happening to our once proud basketball program. Here's a summary of whats wrong IMO. These are not listed in any order of priority:


1. A terrible win/loss record over the past several years.
2. Mediocre players
3. Poor coaching.
4. Bad offenses & no exciting play.
5. Mediocre recruiting
6. No TV
7. Bad preseason events/activities
- Red & White is mixed n with boring womens sports.
- Spaghetti dinner at RC is "Ho-Hum"...Should be at Itoo Hall.
- No game schedule card prior to season.
- Billboards
8. Too many games at RC. Fans don't like RC.
9. Presidents bad reputation for meddling in and micromanaging
athletic affairs.
10. Weak AD
11. No student interest
12. ]ncreased ticket prices in spite of very poor W/L records.
13. No meaningful fan input
14. Closed Practices
15. No bus trips to away games(Ken Golden-Where are you?)
16. Poor recognition of Braves Club members. Free popcorn and a long
line at half time---That's ridiculous!!!

[Da Coach]

While I'm normally a very optimistic person who loves BU and have been closely involved for many years in various aspects of the University and its athletic programs, I am terribly saddened by what is happening to our once proud basketball program. Here's a summary of whats wrong IMO....

That list is way too long.
Unfortunately, wizard, the opinions of such long-time Bradley fans and supporters is no longer valued. You are no longer any use to the university. The athletic department is now controlled entirely by higher-ups in the admin, and by outsourced consulting firms who probably didn't know where Bradley was until we hired them. It's a whole new ball game, and we'll soon see all the older, regular fans disappear, while the marketing firms and consulting firms spend millions trying to attract new, younger fans who will never have the interest and dedication of the BU grads and long time fans. They also won't be donating as much, but no worry! These firms will hope to replace the private donors that have always so generous and who built Bradley into a model that most other midmajors emulated, by attracting corporate dollars instead. Does anyone think that will work?

[Duane82]

17. An usher constantly badgering me at the civic center if I know my seat location and not letting me go down to the floor to see the shoot around before the game as is tradition for my Father and I the last 20 years. This happened at the Evansville game and has made me think twice with everything else going on if I want to continue my season tickets. They need to make fans feel welcome to do these sorts of things. We love interacting with the players. Bradley Basketball is one of my passions and I hate seeing it like this I miss the 10K fans screaming and cheering every game. I know I haven't posted in a while but I wish we would wake up tomorrow as a top 2 MVC team back to at the very least NIT contention.

[AZ BU Fan]

Of course, one good season by BU could turn opinions/optimism around, a la 2005-6.....

Now in the fall of my life (or is it the polar, brutal, fierce, relentless, never ending winter? ), I have a natural tendency to look back wistfully on many things from my past and sadly contemplate how they were much better than they are now.

Change is a certainty.... No change, and things die.... People, Business, even athletic programs....

We all long for the good ol days, the small town atmosphere, the ability to personally reach out to BU coaches, players, etc.

If BU doesn't try new ways to attract fans, different events, etc. when the old fans from the 50's, 60's, 70's and now 80's are gone, who will be left?
IMHO BU can't rely on the past to continue into the future. What is it your kids, grandkids, and next year's and beyond students/alumni want/need to take interest in following + supporting BU MBB?

As for the quality of the MBB program, doubtful BU has any other goal than to be as good as it can be given the landscape BU finds itself in, big money from big media and bigger donors determining who can be successful nationally, and/or universities selling their souls for two and done players, thugs, morons, thieves representing their university...with only a couple exceptions.

If not for what apparently is now two once in a generation players for BU (POB/MS), and the ensuing run BU made in the mid 2000's, who knows where BU MBB would be.

I remember 4 pretty crummy seasons starting in 2000-2001: 9-20, 12-18, 15-16, 13-15, which included a coaching change in 2001-2, before lightening struck in 2004-05. I remember many top players/recruits bailing on BU after the coaching change in 2001-2... I remember some of the duds recruited in the last 14 years by BU, as well as the ones discarded after poor grades, poor attitudes, poor judgements, poor effort etc.

In a similar vein, I am trying to survive the current change in the political/social winds here in the US, and, longingly wanting the 80's Reagan days to return.

I still remain optimistic for our country and BU MBB. I look forward to the day when lightening strikes again, hopefully sooner rather than later, and, hopefully without another coaching change!

[lefty]

That list is way too long.
Unfortunately, wizard, the opinions of such long-time Bradley fans and supporters is no longer valued. You are no longer any use to the university. The athletic department is now controlled entirely by higher-ups in the admin, and by outsourced consulting firms who probably didn't know where Bradley was until we hired them. It's a whole new ball game, and we'll soon see all the older, regular fans disappear, while the marketing firms and consulting firms spend millions trying to attract new, younger fans who will never have the interest and dedication of the BU grads and long time fans. They also won't be donating as much, but no worry! These firms will hope to replace the private donors that have always so generous and who built Bradley into a model that most other midmajors emulated, by attracting corporate dollars instead. Does anyone think that will work?

why do you hate the firms DC? They don't have anything to do with private donors. They don't look to replace private donors...I know you know this already but for some reason you want to continue to bash them.

[bradleyfan124]

I have no problem with change as long as it is for the better. You can have change and still have tradition. That is what all great programs are built on. Talk to the people at Notre Dame about their football. But change that is negative is not good. What is worse is that they dont seem to care. They continue to go in reverse and ignore all the complaints and suggestions. I agree with DaCoach. We need a change and it is not just with the coach. Changes need to be made all the way up to the top. Board of Trustees I hope you are reading this.

[tornado]

nobody hates anything - he is simply questioning the logic of hiring east coast firms to do our midwest marketing, taking months into the season before they got anything done, then seeing fan interest & support, attendance, etc.. continue to slide - all the while being told that all the bad stuff cannot possibly be blamed on any of the current efforts or people who are running the show

wizard, Da Coach, etc...are the fans who any school would love to have - they give their time, money, loyalty....and yet they feel left out...
many more who don't bother to get on a message board are just letting their tix expire and their seats are empty - surely you notice..

[tornado]

btw - lefty- maybe you weren't here in the years from 2000 thru 2011 so I'll remind you ...

people openly and regularly questioned and criticized every aspect of Bradley basketball...
there was a flourishing cottage industry of message board posters and newspaper columnists...

EVERY single day they questioned every hire, and why we didn't hire their favorites, they questioned every aspect of building an on campus arena, claimed it was too small, knocked too many houses down, the people at BU were not open & honest about their plans, people daily criticized Mo's style of play, JL's style of play, the players he recruited, claims of improprieties, attacks on the head coach, the assistants, the players, even unfounded and unsupported allegations of drug use and lawbreaking...demanding firings and calling the program "renegade"...

I reiterate - NOTHING was immune to criticism nor too minor of an issue to blow into a major rant - even the way the coach combed his hair, crossed his arms,
how he talked to the press or revealed his potential starting lineup, whether he recruited jucos or took transfers, alllowed kids to have summer jobs, whether he texted players about their potential playing time or took a vacation to a sunny area, or even who he talked to during time outs... whether you saw it or not - trust me there were irate fans and PJS columnists who were all sure they knew better & ripping endlessly on every one of these issues and many, many more.

BUT -- all the while BU enjoyed record-breaking success, record revenues, sellouts, and high attendances, 20-win seasons, wins over ranked teams, A sweet Sixteen, NCAA wins, NIT wins, the development from zero to nearly 80 members - of the BSS and the $millions that brought in, historic fund-raising that helped build multiple new buildings - Markin Center, Puterbaugh, Renaissance, Alumni Center, etc...

so if all was so good yet we saw daily bellyaching and criticism - then why in such a down-cycle of losing and bad attendance - is any question or criticism now OFF LIMITS or evidence of some defect in the person asking??
It's hypocrisy first but unlike before when those questioning and criticizing did NOT have the University's best interests in mind, they had their own personal agendas in mind...
now those questioning simply have the success and best interests of their alma mater in mind...

[lefty]

btw - lefty- maybe you weren't here in the years from 2000 thru 2011 so I'll remind you ...

people openly and regularly questioned and criticized every aspect of Bradley basketball...
there was a flourishing cottage industry of message board posters and newspaper columnists...

EVERY single day they questioned every hire, and why we didn't hire their favorites, they questioned every aspect of building an on campus arena, claimed it was too small, knocked too many houses down, the people at BU were not open & honest about their plans, people daily criticized Mo's style of play, JL's style of play, the players he recruited, claims of improprieties, attacks on the head coach, the assistants, the players, even unfounded and unsupported allegations of drug use and lawbreaking...demanding firings and calling the program "renegade"...

I reiterate - NOTHING was immune to criticism nor too minor of an issue to blow into a major rant - even the way the coach combed his hair, crossed his arms,
how he talked to the press or revealed his potential starting lineup, whether he recruited jucos or took transfers, alllowed kids to have summer jobs, whether he texted players about their potential playing time or took a vacation to a sunny area, or even who he talked to during time outs... whether you saw it or not - trust me there were irate fans and PJS columnists who were all sure they knew better & ripping endlessly on every one of these issues and many, many more.

BUT -- all the while BU enjoyed record-breaking success, record revenues, sellouts, and high attendances, 20-win seasons, wins over ranked teams, A sweet Sixteen, NCAA wins, NIT wins, the development from zero to nearly 80 members - of the BSS and the $millions that brought in, historic fund-raising that helped build multiple new buildings - Markin Center, Puterbaugh, Renaissance, Alumni Center, etc...

so if all was so good yet we saw daily bellyaching and criticism - then why in such a down-cycle of losing and bad attendance - is any question or criticism now OFF LIMITS or evidence of some defect in the person asking??
It's hypocrisy first but unlike before when those questioning and criticizing did NOT have the University's best interests in mind, they had their own personal agendas in mind...
now those questioning simply have the success and best interests of their alma mater in mind...

well...you know I was here then and before....let's see has there been any changes in your business lately? There has been plenty in mine over the years....it happens.

I have no problem if that's all you guys want to do is criticize everything at BU....

I've talked plenty about the transition to Nelligan...it wasn't smooth for sure......blame them for not bringing in enough revenue via sponsorships,TV, and radio....but not for doing billboards, card schedules, and ticket sales.....that's still on BU

[Buesch N Chips]

There are a ton of things not currently working well in the MBKB program, but I do not lump Geno into that. I think Geno will be fine. The promotions, game-time activities, use of Ren-Col, any of that other peripheral stuff, is a mess. I'd like to blame that on the new companies working for us and transition issues. Looking forward to everything working together in the near future!

[Da Coach]

why do you hate the firms DC? They don't have anything to do with private donors. They don't look to replace private donors...I know you know this already but for some reason you want to continue to bash them.

Huh? Name me one single thing that has been made better? Maybe you haven't noticed but virtually every Bradley program is in the crapper.
My question for you is why are you so satisfied to keep doing the same things that got us here?

[Da Coach]

I have no problem if that's all you guys want to do is criticize everything at BU....

No. You have it all wrong. The real fans only are criticizing losing, and the processes that have brought us to this woeful state we are in. Maybe you are happy being a punching bag in every sport, but I'm not. Evidently a lot of fans who were dressed as empty seats last night aren't happy either.

[AZ BU Fan]

I can't put my arms around it, but, I still think a very big change is/has occurred with BU... Has the % of the student body who have come from Central Illinois changed over the past two decades? A student body which didn't get exposed to BU growing up and don't have same allegiances to BU? In a similar vein, how many graduates in the past 20 years have stayed in Central Illinois post college? Is the local fan base of graduates/parents of graduates shrinking and getting older?

H

[wizard1]

What's Wrong

Coach...Unfortunately, you are probably correct regarding our value to the university, at least in the minds of the current admin. and their hired guns. However, you are wrong about the length of the list which does nothing other than to illustrate the magnitude of the events and actions (or inactions) that have caused our current situation.
The whole matter could be truly summarized in one basic reason that has put us where we are today...The BU President has caused by her actions, policies, directions, and management style, the rapid downturn of Bradley athletics which if allowed to continue will result in the demise of BU athletics as we have known it.
Wiz

[AZ BU Fan]

Huh? Name me one single thing that has been made better? Maybe you haven't noticed but virtually every Bradley program is in the crapper.
My question for you is why are you so satisfied to keep doing the same things that got us here?

Yeah, for cripes sake no more Indian mascot, Joe Stowell, the fieldhouse, panty raids and tp ing houses..,

One thing has changed for the better, MBB had the one thing that prevented earlier coaches from recruiting. TOP RATE practice facilities