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Let's get Versace back!
- Thread starter Jeffesh
- Start date
I talked to Dick at length just a month ago. As much as we'd all like to see Versace back coaching, and he'd do a great job, he is 74 years old now and happily retired. For that and for one other key reason that most could guess, there is no possible way he'd take the job, even if we offered him double Geno's salary.
When you take a look back at what Dick did for BU, it is pretty impressive. He knew much more about basketball than at times, he was given credit for. In addition to knowing the game, he was a great teacher of the game. He had tremendous teaching/communication skills from being an English/Literature teacher in high schools. When Jim Les transferred here from Cleveland State he was not a great shooter. Dick and his staff turned him not only into a great shooter, but also a great passer. Times and rules have changed since "Dixie" was here. He use to bring kids in from junior college after their freshmen year. Now they have to complete 2 years and get an associates degree before transferring. Also, with many new academic standards in place by the NCAA, some of the players he recruited as freshmen would not be eligible now. The Dick Versace era may have been the most successful and colorful years of all the years I've followed BU. When he was hired, everybody said "Who is he? I've never heard of him"? Ron Ferguson deserves the credit for hiring Dick. In my opinion Fergie was the best A.D. we've had since I've followed BU. It's too bad we can't change the hands of time and bring those people back. Remember how excited we all were to move to the civic center so more people could see the games and we could get better non conference teams to come here to play. Now we have a coach and A.D. that want to go back on campus. Ferguson/Versace vs. Cross/Ford.....not even close. It's embarrassing how far the program has sunk. Glasser, Cross and Ford should be ashamed and embarrassed about it.
Unfortunately, those current people don't really know or appreciate any of that history, and what's worse, they don't care. As I have said before, I once heard one of our athletic department people say, "Bradley fans are too hung up on their past".
That pretty much sums up what the problem is and why it won't get better. There is virtually nothing about Bradley basketball that they haven't changed or tried to change (nickname, logo, mascot, arena, changing coaches, changing AD, watered down schedule, ticket price increases, removing games from TV, and all the events that don't exist any more, etc.) and none of their changes have resulted in any trace of improvement or any benefit to the fans, the few who are left.
That pretty much sums up what the problem is and why it won't get better. There is virtually nothing about Bradley basketball that they haven't changed or tried to change (nickname, logo, mascot, arena, changing coaches, changing AD, watered down schedule, ticket price increases, removing games from TV, and all the events that don't exist any more, etc.) and none of their changes have resulted in any trace of improvement or any benefit to the fans, the few who are left.
tornado
New member
but there was also one other HUGE factor...
Jim Les (and other players Versace recruited) had TREMENDOUS work ethic, competitiveness, and the will to get better and WIN...
We just don't see that much any more....and sure haven't seen it at all since Cellus, Tony Bennett, Will Franklin, Sammy Maniscalco, and a few others - maybe even give ya TP but nobody else lately.......
We have a bunch of softies, coddled by the system and AAU handlers, told every step along the way how great they are, how soon they're gonna be in the NBA, etc..
I posted a few months ago about a few of our own players who were tweeting about their expectations that they were gonna be in the NBA in a year or so...
seriously - think about - we're talking about kids who average 2ppg for a bad DI team and can't stay out of foul trouble.
But even if they DO have NBA dreams and aspirations - and I admire that they have those goals - it would be better to shut up about them, stop tweeting, get in the gym and get better
Anyway -- I offer this rhetorical challenge - name for me the current player or for that matter - ANY current player - who appears to be working hard to get better - to improve his shot and his shooting percentages, or boxing out or getting better defensively..
NONE come to mind - and some of our other recent players only lasted a year here and were run out because their work ethic was horrible - goofing off in practice and totally foolish & immature....thus creating the revolving door we've had every spring.
Sadly (I think even Geno knows this and keeps looking for kids with better work ethic - but the pickings are slim)....the intensity and will to win just isn't there...
I think much of that comes from the top, and isn't necessarily instilled before they get here. It seems nobody minds losing all that much, since they will still be paid for years to come.
I could not agree more!! It definitely starts at the top. It appears this team has no discipline at all. It looks like an AAU team and at that, not a very good one. I don't think these players had bad work ethics or habits prior to getting here, or they would not be getting recruited by other schools. We are bad, just plain bad.
There simply doesn't seem to be anyone, players or coaches, who are all that intent on winning. It's like a YMCA game, they go through the motions, then they seem glad when it's over. Then they go back to whatever else they like to do. There is no pain with losing to these guys, IMO.
Braves2006
New member
In the words of my brother who I couldn't agree with more: "Ford should be a man and resign."
If he had any dignity at all he would. As would the athletic director and president. The only people I feel bad for are the coach's and athletic director's wives and children. I can't imagine the stuff they over hear from fans at the game. Yes, it's part of the job, but that is the ugly side of the job.
Maybe, but no coach would resign with more than $2 million still owed them, and I guarantee Geno won't either. This is on the AD, who feverishly kept writing notes that he used to evaluate the last coach, but I have not seen him jotting a single thing this year or the last couple, and on the President.
When is enough, enough. Time to pull the plus on this woeful disaster.
But considering Mike Cross wrote a recommendation in March, 2011 to retain Jim Les as Head Coach for another season, but was over-ruled by the University President, the onus for change now clearly rests on the one person who is most responsible for destroying Bradley basketball, and Bradley athletics. However, she won't do the right thing either, because she would be admitting her mistakes, something I do not believe "The Best President in school history" (according to some clueless people) will ever have the integrity to do.
I have been patient as a fan, but now all fans must speak up with their voices and their money. This incompetence has to end. We need to clean house, and replace Glasser, Cross, Ford, and any other coach who thinks they are safe with 2-26 or 1-12 records.
Those in charge are not capable and should not be given the privilege of hiring the new coaches. We need to start at the top down.
Those in charge are not capable and should not be given the privilege of hiring the new coaches. We need to start at the top down.
bigjimmy
Active member
Until her majesty is gone nothing will change. She asserted her authority when she got rid of Ken Kavanaugh and then waited until JL had a losing season to get rid of him. She has so many people tied around her little finger and who owe her favors that it's going to take a miracle to get her out of here. But as someone who has survived cancer I have to believe in that miracle.
tornado
New member
.. from the empty seats, it's apparent nobody up there has any fans tied around their finger
bravetime33
New member
Ken was not dismissed by her. Ken left bu because he did not want to work in that environment he liked the community and the school
Surely you know that Ken Kavanagh had less than 1 year left on his contract, and that the President told him his contract would not be renewed after it ran out. Furthermore, she gave her approval and urged him to seek employment elsewhere. So he did, and has done a tremendous job at Florida Gulf Coast University, and has been voted by his peers as the National Athletic Director of the Year.
No he was not technically fired, but he was run out of Bradley just the same. He loved Peoria (and still does), was doing a good job at Bradley, had already been voted Athletic Director of the Year in 2008, and wanted to stay at Bradley, but his contract was not going to be renewed. And it was done for purely personal reasons by a vindictive president. But I am sure you already know that.