Chris Reynolds named new Bradley AD

[bradleyfan124]

BF124, I have no problem taking a gamble on a candidate, I just don't want him to be our tenth choice.
I want our first choice if at all possible. I realize that the first choice might not want to leave where they are at but let's convince them otherwise.

I agree with you!!!

[lefty]

I don't remember Cross trashing his predessors

[Vent]

I understand your trepidation. However, consider the following excerpt from Wessler's latest offering on Chris before you say he hasn't done anything yet:

"Reynolds, who was formally introduced Wednesday as Bradley??™s new AD, has a killer resume. Besides a law degree and a Ph.D., he has worked with and learned from some of the elite people in college sports, and we??™re not even talking about his Hall of Fame college basketball coach, Bob Knight. There are Duke??™s Kevin White and Indiana??™s Fred Glass and Northwestern??™s Jim Phillips, who is chairman of the NCAA Division I Council."

And unrelated, as far as Beckman goes - jury is still out on him in my opinion. He has shown signs of coaching ability unlike what I've thought about Geno since season 1. The Illini did make a bowl game last year (yes, I know just about anyone can go to a bowl), and I see signs of progress in the football program. If it continues, we should have a shot at a serious bowl at some point.

But I digress - Chris Reynolds: there are a million reasons to be excited about this guy!

The word in Champaign is the only thing that kept Beckman from getting fired is he upset Northwestern in the last game of the season.

[tornado]

The word in Champaign is the only thing that kept Beckman from getting fired is he upset Northwestern in the last game of the season.

our last 4 years have been way worse than what Illini have gone thru in FB -
they aren't the worst team in their conference and they haven't lost more than 1/2 half their fan base, and they don't score worse than 340 of the other DI teams.

We are at an all time LOW and we need a home run choice -
I agree we definitely do not need this to drag on while bungle the search & our first 12 choices turn us down...

[ollienanyes]

our last 4 years have been way worse than what Illini have gone thru in FB -
they aren't the worst team in their conference and they haven't lost more than 1/2 half their fan base, and they don't score worse than 340 of the other DI teams.

We are at an all time LOW and we need a home run choice -
I agree we definitely do not need this to drag on while bungle the search & our first 12 choices turn us down...

I don't know about "way worse": it took Beckman two seasons to win ONE Big Ten game and three seasons to win a Big Ten home game. Also, the home games have been a disaster, attendance wise:

https://twitter.com/markxbrennan/status/536200865749950466

I have season tickets and, let's just say that there is usually a lot of leg room at games.

He did improve to 3 Big Ten wins this season (so 4 total in 3 seasons, or 4-20 in total).

But this is a bit like arguing which train wreck is worse.

[Vent]

Dick Versace was a gamble at the time. Junior College!! but that worked out

Dick had also spent time as an assistant at Michigan State and as a head coach at Gordon Tech in the always tough Chicago Catholic League.

[Vent]

I don't know about "way worse": it took Beckman two seasons to win ONE Big Ten game and three seasons to win a Big Ten home game. Also, the home games have been a disaster, attendance wise:

https://twitter.com/markxbrennan/status/536200865749950466

I have season tickets and, let's just say that there is usually a lot of leg room at games.

He did improve to 3 Big Ten wins this season (so 4 total in 3 seasons, or 4-20 in total).

But this is a bit like arguing which train wreck is worse.

You are exactly right!

[tornado]

.. a bit like arguing which train wreck is worse.

well, I know it is...but I wasn't the one who brought up the comparison with Beckman - and just maybe when you have such a train wreck as we do - it is wise to discuss how we got here, who is responsible, and what bad moves were made so we don't repeat these disasters, instead of blaming the fans!!
The fans are too impatient - and now in his latest parting shot - he said they are stuck in the past & have to high of a level of nostalgia.
They cannot see how much good has been done for them. His departing interview kinda reads: ...we used to be bad - now we have "core values of accountability, courage, diligence, integrity and respect."
..and under my leadership "Bradley can be great" - as if we never have been??
Then he says we've "been last in so many things, getting to first is not an easy transition" - say what??? we're going the wrong way!


....I was just responding - and although there are similarities....I am trying to stay on basketball topic but...
even tho many U of I people do feel their FB program is a train wreck - they HAVE gone to the post-season four times since 2008 including the Rose Bowl & still fill their stadium with 42,000
I just think our train wreck is far worse....there's never been any discussion yet of Illinois moving their football game to a 15,000 seat indoor arena or dropping to DII or even 1-AA

[Buesch N Chips]

well, I know it is...but I wasn't the one who brought up the comparison with Beckman - and just maybe when you have such a train wreck as we do - it is wise to discuss how we got here, who is responsible, and what bad moves were made so we don't repeat these disasters, instead of blaming the fans!!
The fans are too impatient - and now in his latest parting shot - he said they are stuck in the past & have to high of a level of nostalgia.
They cannot see how much good has been done for them. His departing interview kinda reads: ...we used to be bad - now we have "core values of accountability, courage, diligence, integrity and respect."
..and under my leadership "Bradley can be great" - as if we never have been??
Then he says we've "been last in so many things, getting to first is not an easy transition" - say what??? we're going the wrong way!


....I was just responding - and although there are similarities....I am trying to stay on basketball topic but...
even tho many U of I people do feel their FB program is a train wreck - they HAVE gone to the post-season four times since 2008 including the Rose Bowl & still fill their stadium with 42,000
I just think our train wreck is far worse....there's never been any discussion yet of Illinois moving their football game to a 15,000 seat indoor arena or dropping to DII or even 1-AA

My point in bringing up Beckman had nothing to do with comparing the programs in any way, only to make the point that talk is cheap. I will laud him for his accomplishments.

[ollienanyes]

- they HAVE gone to the post-season four times since 2008 including the Rose Bowl & still fill their stadium with 42,000
I just think our train wreck is far worse....there's never been any discussion yet of Illinois moving their football game to a 15,000 seat indoor arena or dropping to DII or even 1-AA

Ok, this is just to add some trivia:

1. Their attendance counts are as fraudulent as ours. One time they got almost 40K because it was "high school band day" and they counted them. Another time they gave away free tickets to faculty and staff and counted "almost 40K" when in fact, there were MAYBE 20K there.

2. They HAVE, in fact, given away home games. The last "near Thanksgiving break" games have been so poorly attended that they moved the next 3 "home games" against Northwestern to Chicago and didn't require anything of NW.

Anyone who is on Facebook can check out the football team page; fans are howling about this.

3. After ONE 6-6 season (which ended with getting blasted by a non-BCS team in a minor bowl, they ...you guessed it....RAISED ticket prices (on most sections anyway). This reminded me of what happened after GF's one EIEIO tournament season. There is a lot of howling about that too.

I find it interesting is that struggling programs seem to make similar bad moves which appear to alienate the few remaining fans.

[Vent]

Ok, this is just to add some trivia:

1. Their attendance counts are as fraudulent as ours. One time they got almost 40K because it was "high school band day" and they counted them. Another time they gave away free tickets to faculty and staff and counted "almost 40K" when in fact, there were MAYBE 20K there.

2. They HAVE, in fact, given away home games. The last "near Thanksgiving break" games have been so poorly attended that they moved the next 3 "home games" against Northwestern to Chicago and didn't require anything of NW.

Anyone who is on Facebook can check out the football team page; fans are howling about this.

3. After ONE 6-6 season (which ended with getting blasted by a non-BCS team in a minor bowl, they ...you guessed it....RAISED ticket prices (on most sections anyway). This reminded me of what happened after GF's one EIEIO tournament season. There is a lot of howling about that too.

I find it interesting is that struggling programs seem to make similar bad moves which appear to alienate the few remaining fans.

Good post. As I said in a previous post, had they not upset Northwestern in the final game of the season, Beckman most likely would have been fired, and the Illini would not have gone to a bowl game.

If the basketball team doesn't start having more success, look for the heat to be turned up on Groce.

[tornado]

some nice things said about Chris Reynolds - glad he's getting accepted so widely ...

http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150319/SPORTS/150318931/12696/SPORTS

one thing said here kinda gives some credit to some unlikely people for WHY Chris Reynolds would take this job......

"When he was growing up ..Reynolds would watch players like Roger Phegley and Bobby Humbles, Jim Les and Hersey Hawkins and —
he smiles, slows his speech and raises the volume to enunciate this one — “Mitchell J.J. Anderson!”

They were heroes, recognized all over the Peoria area, and the community loved their Braves."

and I am glad those like KW and other clueless folks who claimed a coup attempt and a group of insiders was fixing this hire..have finally stopped making such asinine statements.
Especially since everything they said was false has come true and everyone they attacked as wrong have been proven right.

[Da Coach]

... ???Mitchell J.J. Anderson!???

They were heroes, recognized all over the Peoria area, and the community loved their Braves."...

Recognized everywhere except in Carver Arena.


FTR, Mitchell Anderson and Donald Reese attended the Bradley Wichita State game 2/25/14, and Bradley chose not to recognized them or announce their presence.

[tornado]

There ought to be a section right at floor level and right behind the bench...that seats can routinely be given to the old stars like JJ, Reese, Hawk, Phegley, etc...and hopefully some day David Thirdkill & others...
as long as they'd be willing to sign for kids and help by just being available and personable as Chris Reynolds' own words indicate would be immensely IMPORTANT.
I have sensed for a very long time that some people feel threatened by attention that the old-school guys get and that their presence in Bradley's history and as part of our legacy & the fans' memories - is something that certain outsiders just do not understand nor appreciate.

[ollienanyes]

There ought to be a section right at floor level and right behind the bench...that seats can routinely be given to the old stars like JJ, Reese, Hawk, Phegley, etc...and hopefully some day David Thirdkill & others...
as long as they'd be willing to sign for kids and help by just being available and personable as Chris Reynolds' own words indicate would be immensely IMPORTANT.
I have sensed for a very long time that some people feel threatened by attention that the old-school guys get and that their presence in Bradley's history and as part of our legacy & the fans' memories - is something that certain outsiders just do not understand nor appreciate.

Interesting point. I'll just make a conjecture here (no hard data to back it up): it appears that, at times, some don't understand that a healthy program has to please many non-overlapping constituencies.

On one hand, the link to the past is important to the older fans and supporters, many who have been generous with support on various levels. To this group, the link to tradition (as described in the quote) is important.

Those older players being there probably wouldn't mean too much to current players; if they are like the other students on campus they are probably more interested in checking their smart phones or taking selfies than in some old guys who played before their parents were born.

And some of the imports (like me: I came to BU in 1991, which is the first year I got season tickets) probably don't really "get it" either but I understand that there is an established tradition that was here well before I arrived that that links to that are important to many.