Directionally, Greg Christopher Doesn't Get It

[transfer2BGSU]

You know, I lost my job back in 2010 and was out of work for a year and a half. Yeah, explain to your kids why Santa didn't bring them anything. It just kills me that compassion goes out the freaking window when it comes to coaches and athletes. Yes, I know it is "part of the job", but think about if the shoe was on the other foot - everybody that walks into your place of work and demands that you be fired. At some point people need to think about the reality of losing a job and realize that no matter who it is, you wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

And the fiscal reality that we do not just have a few hundred thousand dollars to throw around to the different coaches people want to see gone. The Frack money is not going to be used to buyout a contract (when it becomes available). Provide extra funds for the contract plus trying to increase incentives to bring in the bigger name programs that people want to see us play.

[Globetrotter]

You know, I lost my job back in 2010 and was out of work for a year and a half. Yeah, explain to your kids why Santa didn't bring them anything. It just kills me that compassion goes out the freaking window when it comes to coaches and athletes. Yes, I know it is "part of the job", but think about if the shoe was on the other foot - everybody that walks into your place of work and demands that you be fired. At some point people need to think about the reality of losing a job and realize that no matter who it is, you wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

And the fiscal reality that we do not just have a few hundred thousand dollars to throw around to the different coaches people want to see gone. The Frack money is not going to be used to buyout a contract (when it becomes available). Provide extra funds for the contract plus trying to increase incentives to bring in the bigger name programs that people want to see us play.

Might as well give up then.

[BGWriter]

Those of you arguing Orr has only had one year to recruit to the Stroh Center don't get it.

A good coach would have been using that new building to boost recruiting the minute there were detailed plans you could show them. You don't have to have the building in the ground to get kids excited about playing in it. You appeal to them with the idea they will be among the very first to play on the floor.

That's why I don't expect to see any change in the level of recruits that Orr brings in. I fully expect the program will now go down for the next two seasons, and BG will nestle into its role as the bottom feeder program it has become in just about every sport -- except women's basketball.

I wonder what Christopher really sees when he goes through the various sports seasons of teams at BG and consistently sees them finishing in the lower half of the league standings. Does it fill him with pride for a job well done?

A competent AD would have been putting together a possible list of replacements already.

I can guarantee you that OU will make a very good hire on the heels of losing Groce, and they will be right back at the top of the league as they've been in both football and basketball for the past couple years.

Somebody in Athens gets "it".

Somebody in BG doesn't have a clue.

[guest44]

Well the more you get paid in this world, the more pressure that comes with it. It's life. Should BG give Louis Orr a lifetime contract, because he has a family? Should the University expect local businesses to continue to give the same advertising dollars regardless of the teams performance? The program has no energy, no excitement, no plan, yet I'm certain Learfield Sports will be contacting the same places looking for more money.

[Warthog]

A competent AD would have been putting together a possible list of replacements already.

I would venture to guess that Christopher has just such a list. I remember when Brandon was let go that Christopher mentioned having Clawson 'on his list' for a while after watching him coach. I bet he's done the same with basketball coaches. But you can't announce that you have this list while you still have a head coach.

[factman]

Hell......I have a list......it depends who is on his list!

[BGDrew]

Not at all saying I agree with firing Orr but if he were to be relieved of his duties he would still be owed whatever remaining salary that was left on his contract. It's not like he'll be thrown out on the streets.

[Falcon137]

You know, I lost my job back in 2010 and was out of work for a year and a half. Yeah, explain to your kids why Santa didn't bring them anything. It just kills me that compassion goes out the freaking window when it comes to coaches and athletes. Yes, I know it is "part of the job", but think about if the shoe was on the other foot - everybody that walks into your place of work and demands that you be fired. At some point people need to think about the reality of losing a job and realize that no matter who it is, you wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

And the fiscal reality that we do not just have a few hundred thousand dollars to throw around to the different coaches people want to see gone. The Frack money is not going to be used to buyout a contract (when it becomes available). Provide extra funds for the contract plus trying to increase incentives to bring in the bigger name programs that people want to see us play.

Might as well give up then.

Money isn't going to bring in big names. I have no idea if BG is paying for Michigan State to come next year, I doubt that they are. Most schools do 2 for 1 deal so a school like Michigan State can pocket the money for a home game one year, instead of paying BG 60-75k for coming to East Lansing.

Having some money on hand might allow BG to do more deals like that, where they can afford to lose 50k from a buy game every year. But, it's not going to bring in a team like Notre Dame or Michigan State every year.

[guest44]

Lou Orr got a large buyout from his previous firing. If he is not able to give his kids Christmas, that is nobody's fault but his own. He should have never been extended in the first place. A fluke MAC regular season title in which BG was an underdog in the 1 vs. 8 matchup against OU. The idea that a coach has never had a winning record in the non-conference, got a contract extension is laughable in itself. Greg Christopher has to suck up his pride, and do what is best for the program. Lou won't be able to hide behind the other basketball team anymore.

[It's the Journey...]

First off, I am not saying Coach Orr does or does not need to be let go. That is a topic for another post. However the situation some see in Men's Basketball is a symptom of the larger problem within athletics and the University as a whole. The fact we are not doing everything possible as a department and University to build the endowment is laughable. EVERY scholarship the athletic department has should be fully funded by the endowment as should scholarships and University gives, department chairs, deans, vice presidents, and programs. Look at other Universities that are on solid financial footing. They all have built their endowment and no longer worry about year to year funding. They can use their money for campus enhancements or in the case of athletics, buying out a coaches contract to move the program forward. Before some of you jump on the current athletic director remember this is not a problem he created. He is not doing enough to fix the problem but the blame should be laid on every athletic director and president BGSU has had. I would love to see the University lay out a fundraising campaign to move our endowment above 500 million in the next decade. Along with that the athletic department needs to be fully endowed by the end of 2020. Until we get things in order financially we will not be able to remove ineffective coaches until their contracts have expired.

[transfer2BGSU]

I would love to see the University lay out a fundraising campaign to move our endowment above 500 million in the next decade. Along with that the athletic department needs to be fully endowed by the end of 2020.

First things first. We need a Vice President for Institutional Advancement and President of the BGSU Foundation.

[Globetrotter]

It blows my mind that we will have the same conversation next year, that we are having this year, that we had last year. The basketball program is absolutely squandering the momentum it has around both the huge gift and the new arena.

[transfer2BGSU]

It blows my mind that we will have the same conversation next year, that we are having this year, that we had last year. The basketball program is absolutely squandering the momentum it has around both the huge gift and the new arena.

If certain people would just STOP, SHUT UP, and THINK for a minute - everyone would realize what is ultimately going to happen (the writing is there on the wall in black and white) --

In 2010 - the number was 2

In 2011 - the number was 3

in 2012 - the number IS 4

Get on board the wagon NOW because we aren't letting you on a later stop. You're either with us now or against us (and you do not want to go against us).

All athletic funding (save for football) is going to be directed to GYMNASTICS!

[BGorDeath]

[quote="guest44"]Lou Orr got a large buyout from his previous firing. If he is not able to give his kids Christmas, that is nobody's fault but his own. He should have never been extended in the first place. A fluke MAC regular season title in which BG was an underdog in the 1 vs. 8 matchup against OU. The idea that a coach has never had a winning record in the non-conference, got a contract extension is laughable in itself. Greg Christopher has to suck up his pride, and do what is best for the program. Lou won't be able to hide behind the other basketball team anymore.[quote}

Just what I thought...some people just don't get.

[BGWriter]

Lou Orr got a large buyout from his previous firing. If he is not able to give his kids Christmas, that is nobody's fault but his own. He should have never been extended in the first place. A fluke MAC regular season title in which BG was an underdog in the 1 vs. 8 matchup against OU. The idea that a coach has never had a winning record in the non-conference, got a contract extension is laughable in itself. Greg Christopher has to suck up his pride, and do what is best for the program. Lou won't be able to hide behind the other basketball team anymore.[quote}

Just what I thought...some people just don't get.

The only one who doesn't get it is you. If you want to discuss a world where nobody has to compete for a job and everyone is guaranteed an income and no pain in their life -- ever -- perhaps you should seek out a site discussing a socialistic utopia.

That is not how the real world works, and especially not the world of college athletics. These folks make well above the average salary each year to do a job that demands you produce decent results, or that nice income goes away.

Any coach worth his salt knows the risks and joyfully enters into this world.

If he has any success whatsoever, he would be smart to put money aside for the times that happen when that very nice salary won't be there. I'm sure Coach Orr has done that and, if he hasn't, then any pain he may have while unemployed is his own responsibility and nobody else's.

I'm sure I speak for everyone on here when I express my sympathies for the difficulty you went through, but your situation, but your blanket sympathy for anyone who loses their job is misguided and unrealistic.

Nobody is guaranteed a thing in this life. That's not being unsympathetic -- it's accepting the world for what it is.

As for the idea that BG should already have its athletic department and other areas of the university fully endowed by now: I'd be curious to know how many schools with the size and demographics of BG and other MAC-level institutions have achieved such a goal.

My guess is very few.