If he stayed to long as you suggest that is not a Blair problem that is an AD problem if he agreed with you and didn't act. Go on his blog and give him hell.cbmik95 said:
I don't mind thanking him and honoring him, that doesn't change the fact that he's stayed a few years too long. You are missing the point of the subject line.
We all agree Blair has done wonders, both good and bad. The current wonder is how bad of shape the program is in moving forward….
Bucketrunner said:
Amy Wright took down Vic tonight. Maybe we should get her back?
He has three losses last year. Had three S16 runs in a row. You're just a blowhard who talks about business without having a clue how intercollegiate sports work. Admit you know nothing.cbmik95 said:
I don't mind thanking him and honoring him, that doesn't change the fact that he's stayed a few years too long. You are missing the point of the subject line.
We all agree Blair has done wonders, both good and bad. The current wonder is how bad of shape the program is in moving forward….
You have no clue how a university athletic department works. Hope that helps.cbmik95 said:
First off, you are terribly wrong. I played college tennis and coached college volleyball. Don't you dare tell me I don't understand collegiate sports. You're some old fart that is stuck in the old coaching ways like Blair, Childress, Evans. Get with the times, you don't understand how a business works. This is is multibillion dollar business and Blair hasn't changed his ways with the times. He's out dated.
I bet you're still trying to invest in Blackberry, aren't you?
Again: Gary did more for Texas A&M than you ever will, coach. I told you that already. You should learn to read.cbmik95 said:
Dude, I coached collegiate sports. I'm friends with people in high places. I'm pretty sure I know how this all works. You quoting articles proves nothing of your knowledge. Just shows you can read. Congrats.
Best of luck, Greg. Hope you have fun continuing to watch a train wreck. I look forward to the day when the programs finally takes a step forward again. Hopefully none of us will be in a retirement home when that happens.
He win three out of three S16 trips two with Chennedy before the tournament was canceled prior to the last tournament. You're so quick to judge. Give him real credit. None of naysayers are likely even funding a change in coaching staffs and likely Ross was told to let them expire. Sharp and Banks likely remember the $16 million loan and found it embarrassing in part because fans write checks with their mouths the TMF can't cash.aggiedrjdub said:
Gary Blair did his job. He performed adequately. He took a cellar dweller program and made them relevant in the late 2000s and early 2010s. He deserves our thanks, but also our criticism when he is not meeting our standards. In 17 years at A&M he will be remembered for a national championship, one big 12 title (2 big 12 tournament wins) and one SEC regular season title (one SEC tournament title). Good bull for those runs. Bad bull for what he's put together this season. The next coach needs to exceed those efforts or it isn't good enough.
Chennedy was probably the best all-around player we ever had. That's not stagnation.aggiedrjdub said:
Greg - we disagree. That is all. I'm not so quick to judge. I have given him the credit he deserves. If you're happy with consistently underachieving and the sweet 16 is your ultimate goal, then so be it. I want a program that defies those expectations; ie, South Carolina, Connecticut, Stanford, Tennessee, Baylor, etc. I don't want to be on average the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference. So, yes, thank you Gary Blair for setting that standard, but I want the new coach to come in with guns a blazing and set our program on fire.
We have never been a consistent top ten program. Blair got us closest. The mistake is not allowing time to build a history. As I've noted several times the last three trips were S16 and the missing year was Chennedy''s last year and no one knows what could have happen.Houstonag said:
Reading this discussion is an example of two totally different perspectives on how a program should work. One where a program is overall mediocre, shows up, competes as Slocum use to say and keep going. Then a program that is intent on being competitive in the top 10 year after year and actually being in the final four 40 to 50 % of the time. I blame the administration as much as a coach. We have done this many times with coaches for fear to terminate a coach when the elements of a program are trending down.
One important parameter is recruiting. Another is how to manage the energy and effort of the players. We are slow, make too many mistakes, do not get back to the opponents goal, etc. Another is chemistry on the team.
I am of the opinion that the error in the women's program started years ago and the administration just did not do their job. It will take 3 years at least to bring this program back even with the benefit of a new proven coach who has the talent and energy to recruit and manage as well as coach a top 10 program.
This is the second time in this thread someone has heaped praise on Buzz and while he is great on Twitter, his team isn't performing any better than Garry's team at the moment (I'll give you Covid) but this is year 3 for Buzz and I haven't seen much improvement since year 1. I'm not ready to throw him out yet but too many more years like this and the buzzards will start circling. Losing to LSU and UK are one thing but getting whipped in the 2nd half by USCe is another.aggiedrjdub said:
With regards to fans writing checks - fans write checks to winning programs. 2009-2013 we were winning and well funded. Season tickets were at an all time high. But to connect to today's athletes you have to meet them where they are. Social media (Twitter, Insta, tiktok, etc). Go watch how Dawn Staley and the Arizona coach tweet to their fans and coaches. Heck - look at Buzz. The days of getting someone excited about hard candy being thrown their way are over.
Change happens. We move on. We progress. That's what's happening now. I'm just sad that it's happening like this.
I simply pointed out how he interacts with his athletes and fans. Athletes and fans eat that stuff up. I'm certainly not heaping praise on his record. However, you have to admit, the MBB program is in much better shape than it has been in years. And, actually, his team is performing much better than Gary's team. They have 4 wins in conference. WBB has 1 and 7 losses. I'd also like to point out that they have been competitive in every single loss unlike the women who have been blown out in almost all losses in conference this season.Aaron4885 said:This is the second time in this thread someone has heaped praise on Buzz and while he is great on Twitter, his team isn't performing any better than Garry's team at the moment (I'll give you Covid) but this is year 3 for Buzz and I haven't seen much improvement since year 1. I'm not ready to throw him out yet but too many more years like this and the buzzards will start circling. Losing to LSU and UK are one thing but getting whipped in the 2nd half by USCe is another.aggiedrjdub said:
With regards to fans writing checks - fans write checks to winning programs. 2009-2013 we were winning and well funded. Season tickets were at an all time high. But to connect to today's athletes you have to meet them where they are. Social media (Twitter, Insta, tiktok, etc). Go watch how Dawn Staley and the Arizona coach tweet to their fans and coaches. Heck - look at Buzz. The days of getting someone excited about hard candy being thrown their way are over.
Change happens. We move on. We progress. That's what's happening now. I'm just sad that it's happening like this.
Right - which is why I say that if the next coach does not build on what Gary built, then I would consider that a failure. The status quo mentality must go. Hold all programs to the same standards. BTW, I would have these same discussions in the football, volleyball, softball and baseball forums before Childress left. I think the WBB program has the most potential (outside of football). I think our volleyball and softball program is in disrepair at the moment with no change on the horizon.greg.w.h said:We have never been a consistent top ten program. Blair got us closest. The mistake is not allowing time to build a history. As I've noted several times the last three trips were S16 and the missing year was Chennedy''s last year and no one knows what could have happen.Houstonag said:
Reading this discussion is an example of two totally different perspectives on how a program should work. One where a program is overall mediocre, shows up, competes as Slocum use to say and keep going. Then a program that is intent on being competitive in the top 10 year after year and actually being in the final four 40 to 50 % of the time. I blame the administration as much as a coach. We have done this many times with coaches for fear to terminate a coach when the elements of a program are trending down.
One important parameter is recruiting. Another is how to manage the energy and effort of the players. We are slow, make too many mistakes, do not get back to the opponents goal, etc. Another is chemistry on the team.
I am of the opinion that the error in the women's program started years ago and the administration just did not do their job. It will take 3 years at least to bring this program back even with the benefit of a new proven coach who has the talent and energy to recruit and manage as well as coach a top 10 program.
The notion the program is in disrepair because of a single year is false. The notion that pressurizing the situation produces the results you demand is probably false, too. The notion we should fire coaches every third year is as much an abject failure as any of the supposed failures by the administration you refer to.
If you want to ask Ross, there's a form at bottom of this recap of the last Town Hall. They get to a ton of questions though they might not be responsive to the framing you're using because it's accusatory. There is no administration. There are people trying to do their jobs.
https://12thman.com/news/2022/1/26/ross-bjorks-january-aggie-town-hall.aspx
Don't worry the men's blow out losses are coming, Tues at Tennessee, and at Auburn still to come and assuming LSU isn't back to 100% when they come to Reed, first round was close because LSU was depleted. But you keep thinking middle to bottom half of the standings is soo much better than 2nd to last. It's still not good enough and neither team will make the dance because of it. Started 4-0 and since the loss to UK it has only gotten worse by losing to a sub .500 in conference USCe team. If the team was "competitive" with UK meaning we are closer to UK than USCe that game should have been a blow out walking away especially at home.aggiedrjdub said:
I simply pointed out how he interacts with his athletes and fans. Athletes and fans eat that stuff up. I'm certainly not heaping praise on his record. However, you have to admit, the MBB program is in much better shape than it has been in years. And, actually, his team is performing much better than Gary's team. They have 4 wins in conference. WBB has 1 and 7 losses. I'd also like to point out that they have been competitive in every single loss unlike the women who have been blown out in almost all losses in conference this season.
I also never remember a year where we didn't have a men's practice team...........and if you think it doesn't matter it does.......aggiedrjdub said:
I guess we will see. I mean, we had our chances against Kentucky and then Kentucky followed that up by blowing out Kansas by 30 points. It's really hard to compare. Honestly, I think the men's program is in better shape currently. I may be wrong, but the effort you see from the team is unmatched compared to the women's team. They aren't nearly as talented as what Gary has, but they are playing more competitively than Gary's team. Just my opinion from what I've seen. I think Buzz has his challenges for sure!
Outside of this year, and maybe Gary's first few years here, I cannot recall ever being 1-7 in conference with multiple blow out losses.
I think you're confused. This isn't a forum for you to advertise your credentials as next AD.Houstonag said:
Top 10 is what I expect from all programs at TAMU. That is my standard due to who we are, our size, etc. That is why I wrote checks over the past 30 years. It is a failure of the administration as well as the respective coach if we are not. It is a question of skill and management across the board. Our facilities are tops. Payrolls are tops.
Am I pleased with the men's BB……NO. I do not know what has happened since the Kentucky game where we really showed some skill and strategy.
It is amazing to me why the BCS cheer leading squad protects poor performing coaches. Nice people but this is business, not a YWCA or a local ISD. This is a business that is well funded with big payrolls. I want performance.
That's why you're arguing on an internet forum?cbmik95 said:
I'm friends with people in high places.
cbmik95 said:
First off, you are terribly wrong. I played college tennis and coached college volleyball. Don't you dare tell me I don't understand collegiate sports. You're some old fart that is stuck in the old coaching ways like Blair, Childress, Evans. Get with the times, you don't understand how a business works. This is is multibillion dollar business and Blair hasn't changed his ways with the times. He's out dated.
I bet you're still trying to invest in Blackberry, aren't you?
And she's the interim head coach, isn't she?aggiedrjdub said:
Looks like Florida's coach is building something special in Gatorland.
Was so happy to see a vintage GB and Aggie basketball win last night.
