Is it wrong to want us to lose?

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:48 am

Is it that wrong to want us to lose Monday night? I know I may be being a bad fan, but I think what's best for the program right now might be to ensure there are no excuses to keep this coaching staff intact. I've been as supportive as possible the past few years, but this program is just abysmal right now. The team is currently awful and only the most blind followers have any sense of optimism for the future.

Like a wounded animal I think the best thing for us right now is to just be put out of our misery. Lose, hopefully not in embarrassing fashion, andn move on. Hopefully coach Dakich will realize that everyone would be better off if he resigned and we can move forward into recruiting season with a new staff in place.

Besides all that, I'm going to the Q on Thursday, and I don't want to have to watch this team anymore. I watched them probably 15 times this year to be supportive, and they're flat out painful to watch. They're boring as hell and just plain terrible. Toledo isn't great, but I'd rather watch them (they're playing well lately) play in the tournament than have us go in there and embarrass ourselves like we did this afternoon.

I'm sorry, but this BG fan is rooting against our own team this Monday...I think it's what's best for the long term health of the program. I never in a million years thought it would come to that.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:54 am

Good to see fans would rather finish their vendetta than support the team fully. Support the freaking players, would you? You think they like getting on here and reading that their "fans" have given up on them because they got a problem with the coach? I'm sorry, but get over the Dakich hate and start acting like you want the program to succeed.

It's the Journey... · Post by **It's the Journey...** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:46 am

Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can take a step forward.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 7:30 am

This should prove to be interesting. I'm going to disagree with two people with opposite stances...at the same time.

Drew, I believe hammb wants the best for the program. I just believe his means are curious.

hammb, we support our own; win or lose. I know you recognize that. I will never believe that you have to wish failure upon members of the falcon clan in order to achieve a desired situation whether there is or isn't certainty in that outcome. In other words, even if a loss would mean we would have John Wooden himself come out of retirement to lead this program, I couldn't wish for a loss.

It's different for professional sports and schools for which you didn't attend Your alma mater; however, is different.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:15 am

To the people in charge of keeping/firing Dan, I don't think Monday's game will have much of an impact either way.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:28 am

I agree, Flipper. And I think the chances are 100% that Dan will be back on the sidelines next season.

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:11 am

The questions that plague me are these: what could DD possibly do next year to earn an extension, and is it at all realistic? If not, and if DD serves out the final year of his term as a lame duck coach, what does that mean for the program, players, and recruiting? If we can't afford to buy him out, then I guess that's all there is to it. However, I hope we aren't going to waste yet another entire year for the sake of a formality. Ultimately, we'd only be doing the favor for DD himself.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:28 am

Bleed--there certainly things Dan could do to earn an extension. If everybody comes back, the team has a decent winning record and the young players are showing improvement (ie, 17-11 record), then I think he could get extended. How likely that is is open to speculation, but under those conditions, IMO he would get an extension.

Red Wing Fan · Post by **Red Wing Fan** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:30 am

orangeandbrown wrote:Bleed--there certainly things Dan could do to earn an extension. If everybody comes back, the team has a decent winning record and the young players are showing improvement (ie, 17-11 record), then I think he could get extended. How likely that is is open to speculation, but under those conditions, IMO he would get an extension.

The big word is IF everyone comes back - and I've already heard that is very unlikely.
The "bean counters"in the Athletic Department have to be aware of the dwindling revenue being brought in by the Men's basketball program. That alone should make a buyout seem like the practical thing to do.

On another note - does anyone know if it's true that those poor kids had to come home and have a practice after that game at Ohio yesterday? If so, that would make them fresh and ready to go on Monday. Why not beat them while their down. I feel so bad for these players right now.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:34 am

I absolutely want what's best for this program in the long term. I have no personal vendetta against Dan or anyone else. But I'm not goinig to be blind to the fact that our program has been run into the ground over the past 4 years.

My thinking is along the lines of what Bleed said. What could Dan possibly do to realistically earn an extension? I don't want to go through a stupid lame duck year where everyone knows our head coach will be gone at the end of the year (like Toledo's going through). It's not good for the team (distractions, etc) and it's not good for the program (effects recruting).

O&B if a 17-11 record next season would earn an extension that would be just terrible. Barring transfers next year's squad will certainly be an improvement over this year's no matter who is the coach. There is nothing Dan could do to earn an extension with me short of a national title. A 17-11 record next season would give him a series of 5 years with 2 mediocre seasons and 3 crappy ones. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for his second tenure here, IMO.

In the end I'd still be happy if we won tomorrow, and you know I'd be wearing orange (probably will anyway) and rooting for the Falcons in Cleveland on Thursday. But at this point I really think what's best for the program is to cut our losses now and start with a fresh start. I loved Dan for 6-7 years here, but the past few years have been too awful to ignore. I just think the best thing for the program is a fresh start.

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:42 am

orangeandbrown wrote:Bleed--there certainly things Dan could do to earn an extension. If everybody comes back, the team has a decent winning record and the young players are showing improvement (ie, 17-11 record), then I think he could get extended. How likely that is is open to speculation, but under those conditions, IMO he would get an extension.

I guess it comes down to whether you still have faith in DD's ability to deliver at BG. You have some faith. Regrettably, I don't. This has been a transition season for me. I came into the season a supportive skeptic, but now I'm completely drained. We'll see what the decision makers think.

I'll be quite surprised if we don't have two departures (not counting Matt for medical reasons).

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:57 am

Another consideration for our coaching situation is fundraising for a new arena. How much does the current state of our program hurt this effort? Or,...would axing DD turn some big donors off? Would bringing in a Gary Waters, Quin Snider (wild fantasy), or Andy Kennedy (pipe dream) spur greater contributions? Political considerations like these are potentially quite big. There are a number of you that are MUCH more in tune with the new facility progress than me. I'd love to read your opinions.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:14 pm

Paul Kreb's uncertain status will have the biggest impact. If he leaves, I could see his successor pushing for a change. If he stays, I think Dan's back as a lame duck. Anything short of significant progress towards a MAC title and Dan's gone after that.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:23 pm

Flipper wrote:Paul Kreb's uncertain status will have the biggest impact. If he leaves, I could see his successor pushing for a change. If he stays, I think Dan's back as a lame duck. Anything short of significant progress towards a MAC title and Dan's gone after that.

The thought of a lame duck season annoys the hell out of me, but I'm afraid you are probably right Flip.

I do think that 3-4 kids coming out saying that they want to transfer might change that, however. It could be possible to see an upsurge of alumni dollars ready to buy him out of that last year if we have another exodus of talent.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:26 pm

Why did you not include Bob Huggins in your list of potential coaches?

Is it wrong to want us to lose?

Is it wrong to want us to lose?

Wondering.....