No more Wright

[JoeFalcon]

My Message to Mr. Krebs:

Mr. Krebs,

I'm sure that you get many e-mails a day, and I'm sure you don't have time to respond to all of them even if you do get a chance to read through them all. I just wanted to let you know that as an alumni of BGSU, and a big fan of all our sports, I'm very disturbed at the direction our basketball program is heading. I know that all teams/programs will suffer through down years or even stretches of years where they don't perform on the court. I can live with that, as can most other fans, I'm sure. What bothers me is our inability to keep our student athletes on the team. In the coming years this will be reflected heavily in our NCAA graduation rate statistic, and with the recent departure of Steven Wright it doesn't look as though we're doing anything to rectify this situation.

If we look back at our recent recruiting classes it is a very disturbing trend that doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon. In 2002 we brought in Raheem Moss, Ronald Lewis, and Steven Wright. That looked like a pretty good recruiting class, and all those guys even flashed varying degrees of potential to us fans. However, unless Mr. Wright stays in school after leaving the basketball program none of these guys will receive degrees from BGSU. In 2003 we brought in Austin Montgomery, Chris Hobson, Isaac Rosefelt, Reggie Harwell, and Matt Lefeld. Of those only Matt Lefeld is currently enrolled at BG (and still playing basketball as well). In 2004 we brought in Perrick Robinson & Scott Vandermeer; we have already lost half of that recruiting class as well. This year we had one recruit (Jeremy Holland) quit the team and return home before ever even putting on a BG uniform. I find this very unsettling, and I'm sure everyone in the athletic department does as well

I'm a big fan of Coach Dakich. I've met him and he's a great guy. He really seems to have a genuine love for both the town and the university; that is a great thing to see in one of our coaches. He also gets the kids that stay in his program to go to class and earn their degrees. Again that's a great quality for a coach to have. However, I'm really starting to think that keeping him is no longer in the best interests of the program. I don't profess to know what the problems inside the program are, nor do I know the best solutions. I trust that you have taken the time to sit down with Coach Dakich and talk through why these things are happening and what we can do to reverse this trend. Down years will quickly turn into down decades when you cannot keep any of your talented student athletes in the program.

I don't know if my e-mail will have any bearing on what you do, I'd be surprised if it does. I'd even be surprised if you took the time to reply to it. That's not what I'm asking for. I just wanted to make sure that you, being on the inside, had a clearer picture of how things look to us, the fans. Thanks for your time, and keep up the good work. You've been nothing less than a stellar AD in your tenure here, and I trust that you will examine the situation and do the right thing.

Sincerely,


Brian Hammer
Class of 2002

[/quote]

Amen, brother. You expressed the sentiments of a a lot of fans in that email.

[BGSU33]

And to just think, it was only about a month or two ago that we all found out that because Wright was in good academic standings, he would be able to receive another year of eligibility to play for BG next season too.

I’ve got a recruiting form on my office wall with several of BG’s recruiting classes listed on it. On the one form, it has Ron Lewis, Raheem Moss and Steven Wright listed, and talks about how good BG will be down the road with this class playing together. HA!!!

[HoustonFalcon]

Overstated? Check around the country and see what schools, especially at the mid major level, don't play at least one non DI-A team. Second, there are two one point losses in that group of games, and an OT loss by 5 in that group. The wheels have fallen off the bus for this team in the last few games, I understand that. I understand how people aren't happy. I'm not happy where we are right now. But I also know that we can't just throw words around like honorable, and be ok with it. We also can't make assumptions like we will have at least two kids leave before next year comes around. To say that you think coach needs to go is one thing, but to use some of the words and accusations that have been thrown around in this thread, that is where I am drawing a line in the sand. I think that Coach Dakich can and will turn this ship around, and then you guys will find something else to bitch about. And I'm not saying all of you guys will do this, but trends in the last few months tell me that someone will find something negative. I really do wish that you that bitch, would try and be a coach at the college level for just a full year. Start out with the recruiting aspect, and then move on to the day to day of a preseason and full season. Then have to turn right back around and start the whole thing over again. All the while making sure that these kids go to class and get their academic work in line. Kids at this level aren't like kids from the past. They are a different type of kid. A lot of these kids have been spoiled by AAU and the way they are handled. They don't have that tough coaching style from these coaches, and a lot of them probably didn't have it in high school. But the problem with that is, some of these kids need that when they get to college, or they aren't going to be successful. These kids don't handle that well, and find a way to get out. How many of you guys are willing to change or compromise your values just because of some kid or kids don't like you? Would you do the same thing if you were coaching these kids? Some of you guys need a reality check. Wins and losses matter in this sport, of which coach still has more wins in the column than losses. But so does training the kid to be a better person. If you think coach needs to go, you give me a better alternative.

[commonsense]

Houstonfalcon, your emotional support for Coach Dakich is admirable, but your facts are way off base. Just last week you posted your usuall "how can you assume players will leave" defense. Well one just left, and I can guarentee two more will go, and I will not mention names.

Your arument of wanting to see the people that bitch be a college coach is a joke. Its like asking an english teacher to be an auto mechanic or a heart specialist to perform brain surgery. You dont hire or keep a basketball coach because he is no worse of a coach than people in the media or a message board complaining.

If AAU basketball is such a big problem in spoiling kids. Why are the players that leave successful at other places. Lewis, Moss, Crawford, Doliboa for a few examples?

[San Diego Falcon]

HoustonFalcon,

I understand everything you are saying. Coaches shouldn't compromise their values in order to win a few more games. However, there are coaches that do maintain their principles while building and maintaining successful programs. I can handle a few losing seasons, but not when you combine that with losing 12 out of 16 kids over a 4-year period. It's impossible to have a successful program with turnover like that. Out of those 12 kids that left, it is hard to conclude that Dakich has been successful in developing them into solid men.

Unless he decides otherwise, Dakich will have one more year to show that he can turn this around.

[orangeandbrown]

Houston--why is it that other teams seem to be able to accomplish this feat, which you appear to think cannot be done by a mortal human?

[Falconfreak90]

Wow...I just found out. Can't say I'm surprised but SOMETHING is definitely wrong. Since I am on the outside, I'll leave it at that.

[Tricky_Falcon]

Houston what the hell do you know? You only coach college basketball

[OSUFALCON]

Houstonfalcon, your emotional support for Coach Dakich is admirable, but your facts are way off base. Just last week you posted your usuall "how can you assume players will leave" defense. Well one just left, and I can guarentee two more will go, and I will not mention names.

Your arument of wanting to see the people that bitch be a college coach is a joke. Its like asking an english teacher to be an auto mechanic or a heart specialist to perform brain surgery. You dont hire or keep a basketball coach because he is no worse of a coach than people in the media or a message board complaining.

If AAU basketball is such a big problem in spoiling kids. Why are the players that leave successful at other places. Lewis, Moss, Crawford, Doliboa for a few examples?

Commonsense "I can guartentee two more will go, and I will not mention names." Then why mention anything at all! This is total BS. Name the names or shut your hole! Guys leave because they don't like this or that or because they see that they not fit or won't be playing enough to suit them. I have never meet many athletes that did think they were better than they really were. I was one myself, this isn't a crime but the fact is many kids don't want to be role players. Here's a story about a player I will name, Austin Montgomery. He was at the Rec Center last spring working on his game and I ask him coming out of the locker room about his transfering out of BGSU, he said that he wanted to be closer to home and a chance to play more. Fair enough. He said he didn't think he was going to get much more time than he received last year. I think he and DD had a good conversation and that was it. DD calls it like he see it. We may not see it that way but we are not paid to coach. Has BG lost more players than other schools yes but in most cases guys left for different reasons.

Holland left before he was hardly here, he was home sick and missed his girlfriend. Vandermeer left because he wanted to be closer to home and his dad thought he would be NBA material. His dad was very upset that DD didn't play him more early in the season. Yes it was a real shame that Ron Lewis left, that was to hard heads hitting each other and neither blinked. Josh Almanson told me that the team was a real team without him. He said it I didn't. I will say DD needs to do a better job of getting kids to understand what he expects as a coach when he recuits these kids. I hate to see Steve Wright leave but I don't think we will be any worst this year. We beat Virginia Tech without him. I think this give Clements and Moten a real shot at getting into the flow before next year. This should help both of them be better prepared for next year.

This team will be much better next year with Miller and Sullivan. Now DD has an extra scholarship to search for another big man.

Let's remember we are all on here because we are all fans. Lets be fans.

[HoustonFalcon]

Look, I have said that if we do have a couple more departures after this season, I will look at changing my position. I have also said that I understand everyone's frustration over the situation that is going on right now, and that I too wish we could have kept a few of the kids that have signed, in the program. I just want to wait until after the season and wait and see. Calling for someone to quit during the season is not what we need to do. I really just took offense to using the words Honorable when asking him to resign. That rubbed me the wrong way. As far as how other coaches are making it work, they are probably better with dealing with the kids that they have, and todays athlete. The best coach to compare coach Dakich with is coach Knight, and he too is having problems with keeping quality players in the program, and winning. That doesn't make it right, and I am in no way making excuses for coach Dakich. His track record with keeping kids in the program the last few years is very bad, and it needs to change. I understand that more than anyone. But I would like to give him a chance to see if he can turn it around. He has had a bad year this year, and if more kids leave, and he doesn't produce next year, then I will join the rest of you guys with wanting someone to lead us. I want to see BG win as much as you do. Please don't think that I am making excuses, and understand that I don't get to see them as much as some of you do, and that is probably why I am a little more leniant.

[orangeandbrown]

Let's remember we are all on here because we are all fans. Lets be fans.

We are.

[OSUFALCON]

HoustonFalcon,

I understand everything you are saying. Coaches shouldn't compromise their values in order to win a few more games. However, there are coaches that do maintain their principles while building and maintaining successful programs. I can handle a few losing seasons, but not when you combine that with losing 12 out of 16 kids over a 4-year period. It's impossible to have a successful program with turnover like that. Out of those 12 kids that left, it is hard to conclude that Dakich has been successful in developing them into solid men.

Unless he decides otherwise, Dakich will have one more year to show that he can turn this around.

Houston and San Diego: You both make excellant points. DD has another year (in fact I think he has two years left on his contract). If players continue change like the seasons around here then DD has no one to blame but himself. DD total focus is around "the team", that's how he was taught. If you look at last years bunch, picked near the bottom but they played like a team and were in the running to win the West but the ran out of gas at the end. That was a team!

[OSUFALCON]

Let's remember we are all on here because we are all fans. Lets be fans.

We are.

Why else would anyone waste time on this site if they weren't fans of the Falcons? Did I miss something?

[bgsufalcon24]

How many years does Dakich have left on his contract? Does anybody know for sure?

[Flipper]

Houston...I understand what you're saying and I largely agree with you. My primary concern is that it doesn't appear that Dan is building a program here. You can't hope to achieve any short term success, much less long term success if you don't have any continuity. I don't think it's time to pull the plug, but then again, I'm not that close to the program and I don't know what the underlying issues are,

I do know that we're, at best, treading water here and that's a real casue for concern.