Norm Wamer op/ed in the Toledo Free Press

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:18 am

On Dakich:

http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=5023

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:26 am

Norm perfectly, perhaps inadvertently, illustrates the dilemma facing Greg Christopher. Norm makes a strong case for Dan Dakich as a person....does he make a case for him as a basketball coach? Greg Christopher has to determine if he's deciding Dan's fate on his standing in the community or (how fricking trite can I be?) our standing in the MAC East
(that's how trite I can be)

guest44 · Post by **guest44** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:27 am

Not a big Norm Wamer fan, but he is spot on with this article. I would not be one bit surprised if Dakich wins and wins big somewhere else!!!!

fredthefalcon · Post by **fredthefalcon** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:29 am

The big thing that Norm said is "I'm biased," and that really is his basis of opinion as is everyones. DD is a great person and has helped a number of individuals above and beyond. Yet that does not mean he should remain as coach of the Falcons. Record and trends means more for that position. A number of nice guys coaches are no longer employed in their field. Say hello to Steve Mariucci, John L. Smith, Alan Trammel, and a whole bunch of others.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:38 am

I actually had a few minute conversation on the air yesterday with Norm about this. He mentioned the article, but I forgot.

Anyway, when I flat out asked him what he thought of Dan as the COACH, he basically just said that he's the same guy that won 20+ games a couple times when he first got here. That is true, but it is obvious that the same coaching approach is no longer working here. I don't know why, but it's just not.

NY-BG-FAN · Post by **NY-BG-FAN** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:48 am

With all DD does in the community, it makes it impossible for me to say for sure he should be let go as coach, despite the struggles on the court. It's depressing to lose, but it would be depressing to lose him as coach too. He just reflects on the university too well. Also, I'm so tired of the "Ancient Arena" excuse. You mean the same arena Curt Miller has recruited with and gone 98-23 the last four years? Wamer also mentioned little fan support, well that is directly related to winning games so that's not really an excuse for a losing program either.

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:57 am

Is this what it was like in the final months of the John Weinert era? I moved to BG in '85 when I was 6 so I don't really know.

All I know is Coach Weinert was similarly liked, respected, and involved in the BG community, and still is to some extent.

I ask in all sincerity, does this situation parallel that one at all?

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:11 am

I split his job into two relatively equal halves.

Part 1 -- Look after the young men that come into the program. Make sure they go to class, and evolve into good people. Be active in the community, and represent the university well.

Most think he's done a pretty good job at Part 1, except for the occasional outburst that some think represents the university poorly.

Part 2 -- Recruit basketball players that will keep you competitive, and run them through a system that will win basketball games, win championships, and get BG to the NCAA tournament.

He's had some good years, including one or two when we should have made the tourney, but lately, the program has fallen on very hard times, for whatever reason. He gets a very low grade for on court performance over the last few years.

I don't know of many professions in which you can only succeed in half of your job description, and still keep your job. College and professional coaches are held to an even stricter standard for job performance than most because of their salaries and publicly known performance.

If you didn't know Dan Dakich as a person, I don't think there's much chance you would want his contract extended past this season.

It's the Journey... · Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:52 am

I wonder if Norm is part of the "Silent Majority" that holds secret meetings in bowling alleys, eats bad cheeseburgers, and discusses how DD should be given a lifetime contract based solely on the fact that he is a damn good guy who doesn't win games anymore? I have had the priveledge of interacting with DD both before and after the WVU defection. He is a great person, and does a great deal of work in the community. And for that is should be congratulated. But, he was not hired as head basketball coach to be a damn good guy. He was brought in to build a strong men's basketball program at BGSU. Since his return just the opposite has happened. This team is just not competitive. He talks about how good we would be if not for all of the mistakes made during games, and he is right. But at the end of the season how many of those mistakes that were made in November are still being made in March? I would think we would make fewer mistakes as the season progresses, but I guess not. The program needs stability and I don't think just having the same staff in place provides enough of that. We need to be able to count on senior and junior leadership and we haven't had that. The excuses about the arena are crap. I think we need a new arena, but that is a totally separate issue. No matter where we play the court is going to have the same measurements. And as far as little support, the way the team plays should not depend on how many are in the stands. Overall, he is a great person but not the coach I want to see on the bench next season. I hope he goes somewhere else and has tons of success, but I just don't think he is the right coach for BGSU anymore.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:05 pm

It's the Journey... wrote:I wonder if Norm is part of the "Silent Majority" that holds secret meetings in bowling alleys, eats bad cheeseburgers, and discusses how DD should be given a lifetime contract based solely on the fact that he is a damn good guy who doesn't win games anymore? I have had the priveledge of interacting with DD both before and after the WVU defection. He is a great person, and does a great deal of work in the community. And for that is should be congratulated. But, he was not hired as head basketball coach to be a damn good guy. He was brought in to build a strong men's basketball program at BGSU. Since his return just the opposite has happened. This team is just not competitive. He talks about how good we would be if not for all of the mistakes made during games, and he is right. But at the end of the season how many of those mistakes that were made in November are still being made in March? I would think we would make fewer mistakes as the season progresses, but I guess not. The program needs stability and I don't think just having the same staff in place provides enough of that. We need to be able to count on senior and junior leadership and we haven't had that. The excuses about the arena are crap. I think we need a new arena, but that is a totally separate issue. No matter where we play the court is going to have the same measurements. And as far as little support, the way the team plays should not depend on how many are in the stands. Overall, he is a great person but not the coach I want to see on the bench next season. I hope he goes somewhere else and has tons of success, but I just don't think he is the right coach for BGSU anymore.

Journey,

Good post. A difficult decision for sure. As much as I love Coach D, it just isn't working here anymore. I listened to the game on the radio last night and the same mistakes and breakdowns are happening at the worst times. In the game at Akron, BG players threw lazy passes inbounds after the Zips scored and they were picked off easily for layups. THOSE kind of things drive me crazy.

My gut feeling? I think Coach D will be looking for a new job. It will be a sad day when he leaves.

HoopsFan · Post by **HoopsFan** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:47 pm

It's the Journey... wrote:I wonder if Norm is part of the "Silent Majority" that holds secret meetings in bowling alleys, eats bad cheeseburgers, and discusses how DD should be given a lifetime contract based solely on the fact that he is a damn good guy who doesn't win games anymore? I have had the priveledge of interacting with DD both before and after the WVU defection. He is a great person, and does a great deal of work in the community. And for that is should be congratulated. But, he was not hired as head basketball coach to be a damn good guy. He was brought in to build a strong men's basketball program at BGSU. Since his return just the opposite has happened. This team is just not competitive. He talks about how good we would be if not for all of the mistakes made during games, and he is right. But at the end of the season how many of those mistakes that were made in November are still being made in March? I would think we would make fewer mistakes as the season progresses, but I guess not. The program needs stability and I don't think just having the same staff in place provides enough of that. We need to be able to count on senior and junior leadership and we haven't had that. The excuses about the arena are crap. I think we need a new arena, but that is a totally separate issue. No matter where we play the court is going to have the same measurements. And as far as little support, the way the team plays should not depend on how many are in the stands. Overall, he is a great person but not the coach I want to see on the bench next season. I hope he goes somewhere else and has tons of success, but I just don't think he is the right coach for BGSU anymore.

Ummm, not to be mean, but I think the "silent majority" already showed their feelings of Dakich by not putting their butts in the seats at the games.

It was a huge difference going to the Wednesday night game and the Thursday night game. On Wednesday, based on the parking lot we should have had 4K in the stands. On Thursday, you just knew that, based on the parking lot and the previous night's 2000 in the stands that there would be only 1000 in the stands.

I'll give Norm one thing. The ancient gym is in a crappy location. Note to BGSU, you already built Olscamp Hall in the greenspace, put a parking lot in the other half for the next 3 years.

Hoopsfan

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:13 pm

Dayons_Den wrote:Is this what it was like in the final months of the John Weinert era? I moved to BG in '85 when I was 6 so I don't really know.

All I know is Coach Weinert was similarly liked, respected, and involved in the BG community, and still is to some extent.

I ask in all sincerity, does this situation parallel that one at all?

I think it is similar. I don't think Weinert was as well liked as DD was, but he certainly had friends. As I recalled, JW resigned before the season ended (after a game, as I recall). Otherwise, it was similar. We had success early, were failing at that point.

tim94064 · Post by **tim94064** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:35 pm

BG has become a "Coach killer" ~

Most all of the fallen (Ankney,Blackney,Haley,Weinert, Powers and some to come) all had experienced some success, before falling on hard times.

Recruiting budget cuts, and facilities eventually did them in, with the exception of football.

It's long overdue for this administration to take action on these buildings, and stop holding the coaches responsible for their inaction.

HoopsFan · Post by **HoopsFan** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:50 pm

tim94064 wrote:BG has become a "Coach killer" ~

Most all of the fallen (Ankney,Blackney,Haley,Weinert, Powers and some to come) all had experienced some success, before falling on hard times.

Recruiting budget cuts, and facilities eventually did them in, with the exception of football.

It's long overdue for this administration to take action on these buildings, and stop holding the coaches responsible for their inaction.

Actually, I think Weinert was different. He resigned in the middle of the season because he was not happy at home. A dying wife will do that to you. I remember he said he enjoyed the wins less and hated the losses more. I believe the AD had something to do with his demise, IIRC this is the same guy that FIRED Don Nehlen for only finishing second for about 3 years in a row

I don't doubt that the administration is cheap, lying (insert your crude descripton here). How else would we have 20 year plans for a new basketball arena and still keep pouring money into football and now maybe hockey?

Well, it's fun to speculate, but I guess it will be resolved (the coach part) in about 10 days.

HoopsFan

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:31 pm

HoopsFan wrote:I believe the AD had something to do with his demise, IIRC this is the same guy that FIRED Don Nehlen for only finishing second for about 3 years in a row

Might be mistaken, but I thought I remember Nehlen saying he left for Michigan when Bo had an opening since "the administration at BG wasn't committed to winning". Maybe it's the different reasons for the same result, but I don't think he was technically "fired", he just wasn't quite given what he felt he needed to be (even more) successful.