How likeable is Dakich?

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:19 pm

First, I really dig Dan Dakich.

I've never met him, but I love his sense of humor, his blunt answers, and his throwback sense of style. We have some real characters coaching basketball in this conference, and I don't think Dakich takes a back seat to anyone.

That said...

A friend of mine has his ear to the ground in Bowling Green. He doesn't have any super sources in the basketball program, I don't think. But you all know how Bowling Green is. It's a small town, and most everyone knows everyone.

Anyway, my buddy senses that a lot of the players hate Dakich's guts.

That really surprised me. Because, like I said, I like what I've seen of Dakich -- so much, that I'm willing to accept a bit less in the win/loss column to keep a guy like that around.

But the fact that players keep leaving the program makes me wonder.

My goal isn't to bash Dakich here. I'm just trying to get at other people's take on the players' take on Dakich.

And don't flame me if this question seems ignorant or repetitive. I pay far less attention to the basketball program than I do the football program. I'm just interested in honest answers.

frdmgir7 · Post by **frdmgir7** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:09 pm

I love Coach Dakich. I think he has incredible energy and I love his edge. I think he's a great coach and I am so glad we have him here at BG.

As to the rumor of some of the player's hating his guts...

Thinking back to when I was in college, it was the time of my life when I was discovering myself. I didn't have to report to anyone, I could go and do as I please. Maybe some of our players, as college students, feel held back. They have certain rules they have to follow and they get told what to do most likely by DD. Many college kids have a problem with authority ( I know I did), maybe the players that this comment may elude to have just that.

Personally, I think if they want to go party, go and do as they please, skip classes, etc. Then they shouldn't be here to play basketball. If they want to be a typical college student, then they should go and be one-and not bring our program down because of it.

Just my two cents.

falconfan1 · Post by **falconfan1** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:11 pm

I have the greatest respect for Coach. I believe he is a man of integrity and one of the hardest working guys around. If you listened to Cory Eyink speak after his last regular season home game at Anderson Arena than you know that not all the players dislike Coach. Eyink called him another father and could not get through his talk in any way. Not when he mentioned his parents (who I am sure he loves deeply), but when he spoke of Coach. This young man knows he will be a better person for the rest of his life thanks to Coach. It was quite a tribute indeed.

Likewise I believe J. Reimold and J. Almanson (while more stoic personalities) have plenty of love for Coach. I also noted that the very first player to greet every senior after they spoke was Steven Wright. I thought that was very nice- and a little telling. Good for Steven.

Having said that, obviously, it takes a special/personality/etc. to play for Coach or any particular coach for that matter. I am sure our staff tries to recruit players of a certain style, make up, what have you. Apparently, for whatever reason, was have miseed, misevaluated or something and from that we have players who leave or fail to contribute much or both.

This happens everywhere- and at BG a little more often than most. And I don't like it either.

The same players the coach at Toledo might recruit might not be the same type of players we recruit. Not faulting either program, but I just think that is the way it is. Different systems, different approaches, different requirements. Now, you also must WIN at our level. So our system, our type of player etc must result in the right combination of players on the roster so that we can win games and advaance to post season play. I am sure our Athletic Department has goals for our programs. We need to get there on a regular basis.

And, in any system, if you don't have the players with your mindset and skill combinations in a variety of roles, you have trouble winning and advancing to post season. The player's true dislike of Coach would be amazing to me- during the recruiting process did any of them speak to other players, attend games, watch practice sessions, review academic requirements etc? I would think they would be going in with "eyes wide open". This is our program- if you don't think you are cut out for it, don't come. You will go to class, by the way, and you will graduate.

I want the best for BGSU and BGSU basketball. Until a change happens with our Coach (and one will someday from someplace or another obviously), I simply hope we now make progress forward- always forward. Whether that will continue next year will, in my opinion, depend on a couple key returnees (Vandermeer and Wright), continued improvement from a couple (Soler and Floyd) and significant help from some newcomers.

I didn't make the banquet due to the rather curious scheduling on a fairly important religious evening, but I hope it went well. With Fitch not there and Montgomery apparently exiting, we will certainly need some folks to step up.

Go Falcons!

SaxyIrishTenor · Post by **SaxyIrishTenor** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:21 pm

frdmgir7 wrote:IThinking back to when I was in college, it was the time of my life when I was discovering myself. I didn't have to report to anyone, I could go and do as I please. Maybe some of our players, as college students, feel held back. They have certain rules they have to follow and they get told what to do most likely by DD. Many college kids have a problem with authority ( I know I did), maybe the players that this comment may elude to have just that.

Personally, I think if they want to go party, go and do as they please, skip classes, etc. Then they shouldn't be here to play basketball. If they want to be a typical college student, then they should go and be one-and not bring our program down because of it.

But they should be used to that from high school. Its not the same, but they certainly had curfews and restrictions not unlike ones placed on college athletes.

As for as your latter comment, I agree with that. If you want to go nuts and do your own thing, college athletics is not for you.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:35 pm

These rumors have been around before. For years, there were rumors about this player or that player transferring. Problem is, they've been coming true lately.

Here's a possibility. I think players have a different feeling at the end of their time with Coach than they do in the middle of it. I think Coach Knight's players seem to feel that way. Its brutal and difficult when its going on, and you have strong emotions around that, but when its over, you're glad you did it, or glad you survived, or relieved, or something. And on your senior night, all those emotions come pouring out as it all comes together.

Finally, I don't think Coach Dakich thinks he is supposed to be their friend. The question, in my mind, is this. Which word describes playing for Coach Dakich better: difficult, or impossible.

SaxyIrishTenor · Post by **SaxyIrishTenor** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:47 pm

orangeandbrown wrote:Here's a possibility. I think players have a different feeling at the end of their time with Coach than they do in the middle of it. I think Coach Knight's players seem to feel that way. Its brutal and difficult when its going on, and you have strong emotions around that, but when its over, you're glad you did it, or glad you survived, or relieved, or something. And on your senior night, all those emotions come pouring out as it all comes together.

That reminds me of fundamentals week for the FMB. I dread it from June 1 on and hate it when it happens, but afterwards I'm glad I did it, glad its over and glad its all downhill from there.

BGorDeath · Post by **BGorDeath** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:56 pm

Anyone see "Miracle" when Coach Herb Brooks told his assistant that he was not there to be the players friend and it was the assistant coaches who were suppose to be the players friends? It turned out he needed to be the coach and not their buddy. Maybe all these players that left because when they were in high school, the coach was their buddy because he wanted to make sure they went out for basketball and went to that school. Then, these players get to college and get smacked with reality and can't handle it.

And another thing on transferring...I think the players that transfer out of a university should pay the school back for their education because they did not live up to their end of the deal of playing four years. Schools get screwed all of the time because "mommy and daddy didn't love you enough" or "I have to run too much" or "I want to play in the NBA" or "I had to get a haircut". I am sick and tired of players backing out of their commitments. Of all the players who have left BG, see ya and "I want my two dollars". On the flip side, all the players who transfered to BG, fans of their former colleges should feel the same. Today's players are always looking for an easy way out of an uncomfortable situation, just like the rest of society. I say screw them and make them more accountable for their actions. Quit blaming the coach. He is only a minor part of the problem. I think every player who comes to BG is told exactly what it is going to be like here. Last night, Dakich told of how he first met Soler and told him that Soler will not talk to him in a certain manner. I'm sorry, but blaming the coach only goes so far. Today's players are prima donnas. Not all are going to the NBA. They need to get use to reality at some point in their lives.

Ouch, I just got a splinter in my foot from my soapbox. I have to get down now.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:01 pm

BGorDeath wrote:
And another thing on transferring...I think the players that transfer out of a university should pay the school back for their education because they did not live up to their end of the deal of playing four years.

I don't think they necessarily do agree to a 4 year commitment. Neither does the university. I'm 90% sure that all athletic schollies are actually 5 year renewable. Similar to academic schollies. In other words if you don't meet certain criteria you lose that scholarship next year.

If the university has the option to pull a scholarship after 2 years if you get in some trouble, then I think the kid has the option to pull it himself and leave if he wants. These kids are young, if they realize they made a mistake and want to leave that's fine. I have more of an issue with WHY we are losing so many kids recently...it cannot just be coincidence.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:03 pm

Right, the last thing you want is someone here who is miserable. Feel the same way about guys leaving to go pro.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:10 pm

BGorDeath wrote: And another thing on transferring...I think the players that transfer out of a university should pay the school back for their education because they did not live up to their end of the deal of playing four years. Schools get screwed all of the time because "mommy and daddy didn't love you enough" or "I have to run too much" or "I want to play in the NBA" or "I had to get a haircut".

.

I can see an legitimate reason why one of these execuses might be valid in certain situations. I will leave it up to you all to decide which one and which situations.

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:13 pm

If a guy truly doesn't want to be part of a program, it's best that he leaves promptly. Youth is fleeting, and a kid should take advantage of his college years while he can. Furthermore, bad attitudes can fester and bring down overall morale. Like any good business manager, a coach should have his finger on the pulse of his staff and be helping them along according to their need. A coach needs to maintain this approach for the sake of his reputation.

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:29 pm

If anyone has ever been to Senior Night the past 6 or 7 seven years, you will find out that none of the players hate his guts...or they are really faking
the tears and emotion.

duckunder53 · Post by **duckunder53** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:36 pm

I don't mean to bash anyone, but I think the question here would be why do his assitants leave so often. I think the turnover ratio of his assistants is unreal. Do they move on to head coaching jobs or better jobs, or are they just looking to get as far away from the situation as possible?

I think he's doing a good job, and I hope he stays.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 1:09 am

I think it would be hard to play for Dan if tried to get by giving less than 100%. When your 18, you can be told something like that, but because you're 18 and maybe you've never actually had someone tell you that and MEAN IT, you have no idea what you're letting yourself in for.

I guess the kids that think it's worth it stick around and the ones who don't leave

BleedOrange · Post by **BleedOrange** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:11 am

duckunder53 wrote:I don't mean to bash anyone, but I think the question here would be why do his assitants leave so often. I think the turnover ratio of his assistants is unreal. Do they move on to head coaching jobs or better jobs, or are they just looking to get as far away from the situation as possible?

I think he's doing a good job, and I hope he stays.

I tend to think that assistant coaches are paid so poorly that they move to squeeze out as much salary as possible. These guys make a fraction of their counterparts in industry.