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PJStar Interview with Bradley AD, Dr. Michael Cross

Interesting comments on branding and success.

I was visiting a construction site (no BU) on Wed, and overheard 2 workers talking basketball, one was at the Drake game and talking about nearly blowing the lead. The other guy said that both Bradley and the Illini need to fire their coaches.

Not the first time I've heard that about either team, but it got me thinking why would a seemingly typical blue-collar guy think the Illini have not been sucessful.. I think we live in an area and have experienced several great basketball championship runs. Bulls 6 in 8 years, then Manual's 4-peat and Central's back-to-back. I think the average guy believes a dynasty=success and an occasional championship run really does not mean much.

I think there is work to do on the local branding perspective, too...
 
Hopefully the new AD will walk the walk. Remember, another person close to the men's basketball program envisioned multiple MVC championships and the return of national prominence for BU with his hiring. :rolleyes:

Guess it isn't as easy as just saying it or hoping for it. ;)

KW is a "Columinst". His job is to create reader interest/reaction, bringing a independent eye to the program. He wants a reaction, positive or negative. DR is the "Beat Writer" who will put the BU Loyalist spin on his writing and appeal to many on this Forum. How long would KW have lots of readers or a job if all of his columns were the rose colored glasses/JL Kool Aid type? A classic good cop (DR)/bad cop (KW) set up. KW is doing the same job Theobald did at the PJS. Don't get so worked up over it! Its not reporting, its editorializing.

Forum folks need thicker skins! Channel your anger for underachieving coaches who overpromised and underdelivered! :lol:
 
bigdaddystuck said:
I have no problem with the way Wessler asked that question. There is unrest in the fan base. I also like how Dr. Cross handled the answers.
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There is always varying degrees of unrest in the fan base. If he is talking about the 5-10 squeaky wheels who dominate the two message boards, then I think it was inappropriate.
 
Does anyone think BU hoops is up to Jim Les' standards right now? He's got as high of standard as anyone out there.
 
Buesch N Chips said:
There is always varying degrees of unrest in the fan base. If he is talking about the 5-10 squeaky wheels who dominate the two message boards, then I think it was inappropriate.
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I'm sure you've got it figured out right here. . .

Certainly its not the 500, 1000+ extra fans not in attendance at games this year. Or the dozens more audible boobirds in attendance at the games.:|

It's important to realize that message boards are not representative of a fan base, positive or negative, or otherwise.
 
AZ BU Fan said:
Hopefully the new AD will walk the walk. Remember, another person close to the men's basketball program envisioned multiple MVC championships and the return of national prominence for BU with his hiring. :rolleyes:

Guess it isn't as easy as just saying it or hoping for it. ;)
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It helps when you've been in the business prior to taking charge, too.

While you raise a good point that it's early with Cross, and it's "wait and see" he seems to have his priorities and order and indicated there were some issues that may have already thrown up red flags.

What we do know is he's been in the business for nearly 10 years and has followed a logical career path to this point which should indicate he knows the business and the score.
 
Buesch N Chips said:
There is always varying degrees of unrest in the fan base. If he is talking about the 5-10 squeaky wheels who dominate the two message boards, then I think it was inappropriate.
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Agree if he was only talking about 5-10 people. I feel that if the new AD wasn't coming in and taking a look at all of the athletic programs, he wouldn't be doing his job. So then, I don't have a problem with KW asking a question about how he is going to review, or critique the $$ making program! Especially if that program is not up to standards or generating said $$!
 
From the PJS article re: Management Style:

" I believe in giving people authority. When you??™re in a position like this, you have an obligation to set the standards, to have principles, to set the tones, to have the values, to set the culture. Then, letting people go out and have autonomy and authority to make decisions, within parameters, is very, very important. If all I do is dictate what we??™re going to do, that can get old very quickly."


Given our Presidents tendency to micromanage, I believe that this will be Dr Cross' toughest obstacle to overcome. I wish Dr Cross luck.
 
BradleyBrave said:
Give me a break. There is some unrest within the fan base. What do you want him to do, act like there aren't some people unhappy? He's just calling a spade a spade, which doesn't seem to be acceptable to some.
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BB, I couldn't agree with you more. I thought it was a question that needed to be addressed. KW didn't ask what so many of us would have liked to. Not sure where SF was coming from.
 
Beninator said:
From the PJS article re: Management Style:

" I believe in giving people authority. When you’re in a position like this, you have an obligation to set the standards, to have principles, to set the tones, to have the values, to set the culture. Then, letting people go out and have autonomy and authority to make decisions, within parameters, is very, very important. If all I do is dictate what we’re going to do, that can get old very quickly."


Given our Presidents tendency to micromanage, I believe that this will be Dr Cross' toughest obstacle to overcome. I wish Dr Cross luck.[/quote]

I agree:!: And if the old saying is right (A Picture tells the story), WELL:razz: the picture in the PJS is funny in a way:roll: Not a picture of Dr. Cross along at his desk or something like that, but with the Queen, arm and arm and her arm on top of his and she has his ear:!: :eek::roll::mad:
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squirrelgotdead said:
I'm sure you've got it figured out right here. . .

Certainly its not the 500, 1000+ extra fans not in attendance at games this year. Or the dozens more audible boobirds in attendance at the games.:|

It's important to realize that message boards are not representative of a fan base, positive or negative, or otherwise.
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Your last sentence is correct. The one above it is speculation. Maybe there are fewer people because of the economy. Maybe there were too many Sunday games or whatever. Maybe they raised prices. Or maybe it is people who don't like Jim Les. To say that lower attendance is definitely "unrest" is a stretch. Too many other variables. In fact, is attendance even down?
 
I will go on record as saying that I have no problem with Wessler's "unrest" question. It is a reporters job to ask tough questions and to sometimes ask them in a "controversial" way to elicit a response. I also applaud Dr. Cross for NOT taking the bait.

Regarding President Glasser I think she has done a good job. Whether I agree with her micomanagerial style is irrelevant. I think she has done good things for BU since her arrival and set BU on an even better path to achieving national academic prominence.
 
Out of Balance said:
Beninator said:
From the PJS article re: Management Style:

" I believe in giving people authority. When you??™re in a position like this, you have an obligation to set the standards, to have principles, to set the tones, to have the values, to set the culture. Then, letting people go out and have autonomy and authority to make decisions, within parameters, is very, very important. If all I do is dictate what we??™re going to do, that can get old very quickly."


Given our Presidents tendency to micromanage, I believe that this will be Dr Cross' toughest obstacle to overcome. I wish Dr Cross luck.[/quote]

I agree:!: And if the old saying is right (A Picture tells the story), WELL:razz: the picture in the PJS is funny in a way:roll: Not a picture of Dr. Cross along at his desk or something like that, but with the Queen, arm and arm and her arm on top of his and she has his ear:!: :eek::roll::mad:
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I guess you could say that this is evidence of her hands on management style!:lol:
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BSS fine

BSS fine

BradleyBrave said:
Give me a break. There is some unrest within the fan base. What do you want him to do, act like there aren't some people unhappy? He's just calling a spade a spade, which doesn't seem to be acceptable to some.
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There may be some "Unrest" with the Upper Bowl fans..... But the BSS support is as strong as ever. I guess Kirk likes the Upper Bowl fans to make the news?
 
Air Petey said:
There may be some "Unrest" with the Upper Bowl fans..... But the BSS support is as strong as ever. I guess Kirk likes the Upper Bowl fans to make the news?
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Don't forget about the students that don't show up. Maybe they aren't showing up because of "unrest"?

P.S. - I'm an "Upper Bowl fan" that goes to almost every game and has never booed our players/staff/program.
 
The man is going to evaluate the Men's and Woman's program and both along with every other program deserves evaluation often.

But to ask the AD after 1 month and while the Men's basketball season is still underway how he plans on doing the evaluation is unfair. Jim Les and his program deserves to have this season completed before any determination on HOW the program is evaluated is defined.

I am sure the AD has an idea on how he would plan to design an evaluation but with incomplete information how could he give an accurate evaluation let alone an accurate answer to the question.

But the part that is kicking a person when he is down is the "unrest in the program" there has been unrest to all kinds of degrees since Les took over. The tone of his question, is very telling in Wesslers personal opinion of Jim Les.
 
If KW would have phrased his question a bit better perhaps he would have been able to elicit a better response. His despair for JL is so obvious. You see a first rate reporter would have said,"what you have described sounds like the schools jeweled program, can you elaborate more." not there is "unrest." Big difference and not leading Dr. Cross into a negative where he'll just deflect it. A good reporter uses the information from the person they are interviewing. KW does not know how to be objective when it comes to JL, period. If you prefer to see 2nd rate reporting then continue reading KW's articles.
 
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