I just spanked Eustachy - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jan 19, 2005

I just spanked Eustachy

Date: Jan 19, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Brad Soderberg
"My St. Louis Billikens just took out the Eagles 65-63 in Hattiesburg. We had a record of 3-12 coming into tonight's game, and we bitch-slapped Eustachy (the freak). I thought your President knew alot about athletics."

He knows as much about athletics as he does academics!

Date: Jan 19, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Brad Soderberg
"My St. Louis Billikens just took out the Eagles 65-63 in Hattiesburg. We had a record of 3-12 coming into tonight's game, and we bitch-slapped Eustachy (the freak). I thought your President knew alot about athletics."

Your post has little meaning for me, I doubt that will make sense to many who read it. What you said was cruel and unnecessary.

Date: Jan 19, 2005

No, what SFT did to James Green was cruel and unnecessary. The ESPN announcers made a point of saying (during the Louisville game) that James Green did alot with one of the most pitiful budgets in the NCAA. They also pointed out Thames was going to pour more money into bball at USM now that Eustachy was at the helm. What they didn't explicitly say, but what was underneath the surface, is that SFT's stance towards the basketball program is racist. I think many people that visit this board understand.

WDAM just showed the highlights of the game, and no matter what they print in the paper, there weren't many people in that building tonight. Nothing SFT lays his hand on has much life left in it for very long.

Date: Jan 19, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Emma
"He knows as much about athletics as he does academics!"

You're right. 9-7 USM was ranked, going into tonight's game, #186 in the nation, after having played the 235th hardest schedule. With tonight's home loss to previously 3-12 St. Louis, both numbers will likely grow.

James Green inherited a 12-15 program from M.K. Turk. Eustachy inherited a 13-15 program from Green (but LE added a McDonald's All-American to the mix). Green proceeded to a 12-15 record his first year. Eustachy is currently 9-8 (after having started 9-2, but that included wins over William Carey and Spring Hill). With road games coming against Marquette, Cincinnati, and Charlotte, and home dates coming with Memphis and Houston (among others), they are likely to have similar first-year records.

What about the second year? Green won 22 games. Let's see what Eustachy does.

Date: Jan 19, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: ESPN Announcer
"No, what SFT did to James Green was cruel and unnecessary. The ESPN announcers made a point of saying (during the Louisville game) that James Green did alot with one of the most pitiful budgets in the NCAA. They also pointed out Thames was going to pour more money into bball at USM now that Eustachy was at the helm. What they didn't explicitly say, but what was underneath the surface, is that SFT's stance towards the basketball program is racist. I think many people that visit this board understand. WDAM just showed the highlights of the game, and no matter what they print in the paper, there weren't many people in that building tonight. Nothing SFT lays his hand on has much life left in it for very long. "

I guess I didn't know the entire story. Nothing was said about Green in the original post on this thread. It's just that sometimes fans can become about as cruel to a losing team, its coaches and its players, as do children on the playground.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

deaf ears,

You're exactly right...you don't know the whole story. Did you know that James Green didn't even have enough of a budget to take a commercial (much less a private) flight to recruit players? He drove countless miles to meet with high school/JUCO coaches and players, to scout, and to evaluate. Reed Green was the worst facility on C-USA. Add to that the fact that other C-USA coaches made double, triple, or quadruple James Green's salary. Then look at James Green's record: not stellar, but solid and competitive, and he ran a clean program that didn't suffer from players with poor character. Individuals in the position to give or not give money apparently didn't want to turn their funds over to a minority coach, and they want to win big (apparently they have a desire to rename Nitchampburg to "NCAATournament#65seedbutwelosttheplay-ingame-ville"). So, we go hire a "big-name" coach with a checkered past and an even hazier future to replace a solid citizen. Last year's team had a record of 14-16 under Green. Eustachy is headed for the same turf, but his players do not seem to be quite the same caliber (character-wise) as Green's. He may have fallen victim to the dark side of the alumni that have been trying (and failing) to corrupt football for the past 14 years.

Back of the E is right, but I don't think that Eustachy's tenure is a sustainable position. From what I've heard, I'd look for a visit from the NCAA sooner than later.

As a side note, your posts admit a lack of information about the situation, so let me say "Way to go with a knee-jerk reaction!" Like a bystander who derides a parent for correcting a child in public, you have no little or no background information, yet you immediately criticize a poster for his thoughts...whether or not you understand or appreciate his humor, he is pointing out that SFT made another great decision when he ran James Green off and hired Eustachy.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager
" As a side note, your posts admit a lack of information about the situation, so let me say "Way to go with a knee-jerk reaction!" Like a bystander who derides a parent for correcting a child in public, you have no little or no background information, yet you immediately criticize a poster for his thoughts...whether or not you understand or appreciate his humor, he is pointing out that SFT made another great decision when he ran James Green off and hired Eustachy. "

Consider the "substance" of the initial post and its "form." Or, if you will, the implicit, connotative message, and the overt, expressed message. The original poster may have been using humor, irony, sarcasm, whatever to get across the point that SFT blundered when he fired Green and hired Eustachy. But, like the customer, the audience is always right. If the writer is not skilled enough to make the underlying message apparent, then the message will be misinterpreted. The initial post about "bitch slapping" and "the freak" appear juvenile to those who are not cognoscenti. The question is, why post at all it if only "those already in the know" will understand?

BTW, this ain't a particularly new problem. Consider Swift's Modest Proposal, Randy Newman's Short People, and John's Revelation.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Back of the E
"What about the second year? Green won 22 games. Let's see what Eustachy does."

There will be a temptation to

Let's pray that Larry doesn't react the wrong way when SFT rachets up the pressure. Some things are more important than basketball.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

You're absolutely right, Gnome Chompski. Is that what you want to hear? Now go back and sit in your study carrel like a good boy.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager
"As a side note, your posts admit a lack of information about the situation, so let me say "Way to go with a knee-jerk reaction!" Like a bystander who derides a parent for correcting a child in public, you have no little or no background information, yet you immediately criticize a poster for his thoughts...whether or not you understand or appreciate his humor, he is pointing out that SFT made another great decision when he ran James Green off and hired Eustachy. "

Brad, you little pompous pretender, you'd be surprised at what I know about that situation. Your ill conceived comments have added nothing of importance. Go back and look at your post that initiated this thread (the first post on the thread). If you're not inclined to do that, I'll print it out for you here: "My St. Louis Billikens just took out the Eagles 65-63 in Hattiesburg. We had a record of 3-12 coming into tonight's game, and we bitch-slapped Eustachy (the freak). I thought your President knew alot about athletics." Nothing in your post - absolutely nothing - relates to your subseqent rude comments. I was trying to treat you decently by admitting that my knowledge may be limited - but it appears you are unable or unwilling to reciprocate. I hope all Billiken fans are not of your ilk.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

deaf ears,

Have you considered that Brad Soderberg and Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager may not be the same poster?

Facilitator

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Facilitator
"deaf ears, Have you considered that Brad Soderberg and Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager may not be the same poster?"

No I hadn't. I was responding as if they were one and the same. That assumption might have been a mistake.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

deaf ears,

The reason I say this is that "Brad Soderberg" is the name of the St. Louis basketball coach, and "Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager" seems to be a play on "Judge Cooley's Risk Manager."

F

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: deaf ears
"I hope all Billiken fans are not of your ilk."

Did it occur to you that these folks (Brad & Brad's roadie) are quite likely not Billiken fans?

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager
"You're absolutely right, Gnome Chompski. Is that what you want to hear? Now go back and sit in your study carrel like a good boy. "

Oh, gosh, I've been dismissed.

At least you spelled "carrel" right.

As long as we're sinking to levels, let me point out that your analogy to a parent-child relationship is flawed. I'll leave it to you to figure out why.

I sure hope you are not faculty, or we are in more trouble than I realized.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Facilitator
"deaf ears, Have you considered that Brad Soderberg and Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager may not be the same poster?"

Whatever answer to that question, perhaps the two (or one) of them should take their discussion to the Eagletalk board. This discussion has deteriorated into one of basketball. The only point I was trying to make in my initial posting is that use of the phrase "we bitch-slapped Eustachy (the freak)" was uncalled for. But you are possibly correct in suggesting that Soderberg and Soderberg's Equipment Manager may not be the same poster.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Brad Soderberg's Equipment Manager
"deaf ears, You're exactly right...you don't know the whole story. .....Individuals in the position to give or not give money apparently didn't want to turn their funds over to a minority coach...Eustachy is headed for the same turf, but his players do not seem to be quite the same caliber (character-wise) as Green's. "

Apparently I don't know the whole story either. You've made a number of damning statements here, without providing evidence for your claims. I'm not disputing their accuracy, but I would like to know the basis for the claims you make concerning the racially fueled withholding of funds from Green (whom I admired as one of the real gentlemen of the game) and the suggestion that Eustachy has brought players of questionable character to USM?

Admittedly Green was screwed over by Thames, which should surprise no one, but I dare say he'd still be the USM coach if he'd somehow been able to surmount the many obstacles in his path and win more games, no matter what his race. Thames may be a closet racist, but I tend to think it's money that drives most of his decisions.

So far as I know, Eustachy's problems at Iowa State were drinking and inappropriately consorting with students, not recruiting violations, or recruitment of character-deficient players. What players has he brought to USM that cause you to make your assertion concerning questionable character? What's the rest of the story, if you know it?

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM BB Fan
" Apparently I don't know the whole story either. You've made a number of damning statements here, without providing evidence for your claims. I'm not disputing their accuracy, but I would like to know the basis for the claims you make concerning the racially fueled withholding of funds from Green (whom I admired as one of the real gentlemen of the game) and the suggestion that Eustachy has brought players of questionable character to USM? Admittedly Green was screwed over by Thames, which should surprise no one, but I dare say he'd still be the USM coach if he'd somehow been able to surmount the many obstacles in his path and win more games, no matter what his race. Thames may be a closet racist, but I tend to think it's money that drives most of his decisions. So far as I know, Eustachy's problems at Iowa State were drinking and inappropriately consorting with students, not recruiting violations, or recruitment of character-deficient players. What players has he brought to USM that cause you to make your assertion concerning questionable character? What's the rest of the story, if you know it? "

My 2-cents as a basketball fan.

First off, LE has a player on the team that two highly regarded coaches in the game (Tubby Smith and Kelvin Sampson) didn't want any part of. He just signed a hot-shot from Cincinnati (for next year) that has still never even been to Hattiesburg. He told the newspapers that his high school coach, who is a long-ago associate of LE, simply said "trust me" and sign with USM. Sound fishy? Lastly, there are several coeds at Missouri that probably think LE himself is gross.

On the other front, if LE gets a longer period and more resources "to build" USM, then any racial interpretation is left to each individual. Personally, I already know which way I'm leaning on this issue.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

First, and only because of the contentious tone of this whole thread, let me define "player's coach." A player's coach is a coach who conducts his or her team not from a strict disciplinarian standpoint, but who treats players like, for lack of a better word, friends.

Anytime you have a player who leaves two (not one) programs with well-respected coaches because he cannot get along with those coaches, a red flag should be raised. Add to that the fact that those coaches fall closer to the "player's coach" side of the spectrum than the "disciplinarian" side of the spectrum, and your eyebrow should shoot up faster than The Rock's. This is my opinion.

Also, according to our files, Iowa State's 1997-98 recruiting class (which was recruited by Eustachy) had a 27% graduation rate, well below the 44% NCAA average for men's basketball that year. Additionally, James Green's graduation rate for that same recruiting class was 100%. These are facts. Information available at www.ncaa.org.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

Actually, the graduation rate for Iowa State's men's basketball 1997-98 recruiting class was 0%, compared to USM's 100%. The boss says he's sorry for the "clerical" error.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: NCAA Investigator
" Also, according to our files, Iowa State's 1997-98 recruiting class (which was recruited by Eustachy) had a 27% graduation rate, well below the 44% NCAA average for men's basketball that year. Additionally, James Green's graduation rate for that same recruiting class was 100%. These are facts. Information available at www.ncaa.org."

Hey Mr. Investigator, from the stats you cite it looks like Larry Eustachy is a disciple of the Tom Penders school of academic excellence. During Pender's tenure at Texas, which was something like 7 years, I don't believe a single player ever completed degree requirements, not even in PE. That's right folks, a 0% graduation rate at the Tier-1 U. of Texas. On the other hand, I believe Jody Conradt's "Lady Longhorns" had a near perfect graduation rate. Says a lot about priorities, eh?

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Texas Ex
"Hey Mr. Investigator, from the stats you cite it looks like Larry Eustachy is a disciple of the Tom Penders school of academic excellence. During Pender's tenure at Texas, which was something like 7 years, I don't believe a single player ever completed degree requirements, not even in PE. That's right folks, a 0% graduation rate at the Tier-1 U. of Texas. On the other hand, I believe Jody Conradt's "Lady Longhorns" had a near perfect graduation rate. Says a lot about priorities, eh?"

Penders, Eustachy, college coaches who don't give a rat's patootie about academics. I can't believe what I'm reading here. Shocking, just shocking.

Here's an idea. Would it be possible to offer a special dispensation to academically challenged USM athletes and allow them to leapfrog all undergrad curriculuum, directly entering the USM Ph.D. program in Economic Development? This would be an excellent fit, and address several sticky problem areas at once. No dicey classroom sessions or taxing assignments for the athletes but plenty of perfectly great field trips, plus a quick boost to the ED enrollment figures. Think of the PR value---USM would become the first ever university to field a basketball team comprised exclusively of Ph.D.'s. I like it. I like it a lot.....

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Athletic Supporter
" Penders, Eustachy, college coaches who don't give a rat's patootie about academics. I can't believe what I'm reading here. Shocking, just shocking. Here's an idea. Would it be possible to offer a special dispensation to academically challenged USM athletes and allow them to leapfrog all undergrad curriculuum, directly entering the USM Ph.D. program in Economic Development? This would be an excellent fit, and address several sticky problem areas at once. No dicey classroom sessions or taxing assignments for the athletes but plenty of perfectly great field trips, plus a quick boost to the ED enrollment figures. Think of the PR value---USM would become the first ever university to field a basketball team comprised exclusively of Ph.D.'s. I like it. I like it a lot....."

We could call our new basketball team the USM RolyPolymers. Oops! I believe that name has already been taken.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Athlete
"We could call our new basketball team the USM RolyPolymers. Oops! I believe that name has already been taken."

Already taken? Well then how about the USM Doctors of Dunk, or the USM Board of Education. That would really be a hoot hearing the PA announcer refer to all the players as Dr. "Dr. Ford drives down the court, passes off to Dr. Haywood. And it's a spectacular behind the back pass from Dr. Haywood to Dr. Carruth, who banks it off the glass for two...."

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Athlete
"We could call our new basketball team the USM RolyPolymers. Oops! I believe that name has already been taken."

OK then, how about the USM Pollyannas?

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Athletic Supporter
"Already taken? Well then how about the USM Doctors of Dunk, or the USM Board of Education. That would really be a hoot hearing the PA announcer refer to all the players as Dr. "Dr. Ford drives down the court, passes off to Dr. Haywood. And it's a spectacular behind the back pass from Dr. Haywood to Dr. Carruth, who banks it off the glass for two...." "

Great idea! Echoes of "Paging Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard."

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Back of the E
" You're right. 9-7 USM was ranked, going into tonight's game, #186 in the nation, after having played the 235th hardest schedule. With tonight's home loss to previously 3-12 St. Louis, both numbers will likely grow. James Green inherited a 12-15 program from M.K. Turk. Eustachy inherited a 13-15 program from Green (but LE added a McDonald's All-American to the mix). Green proceeded to a 12-15 record his first year. Eustachy is currently 9-8 (after having started 9-2, but that included wins over William Carey and Spring Hill). With road games coming against Marquette, Cincinnati, and Charlotte, and home dates coming with Memphis and Houston (among others), they are likely to have similar first-year records. What about the second year? Green won 22 games. Let's see what Eustachy does."

Just 24 hours later and Eustachy's bunch has slipped to #209 in the nation agains the 260th most difficult schedule. Back of the E's prediction on these two numbers was spot on!

If this progression continues, we'll have to house the men's basketball program in the new Trent Lott Center with the other bragging points of the University.

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Back of the E's helper
" Just 24 hours later and Eustachy's bunch has slipped to #209 in the nation agains the 260th most difficult schedule. Back of the E's prediction on these two numbers was spot on! If this progression continues, we'll have to house the men's basketball program in the new Trent Lott Center with the other bragging points of the University. "

Did you say move men's basketball to Trent Lott Center ? Won't there be a whole bunch of nubile coeds working there? I'll have to check with Coach Eustachy, but I don't think he'll have any objection to a move. They'll have a wet bar on the premises, right?

Date: Jan 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Back of the E's helper
" Just 24 hours later and Eustachy's bunch has slipped to #209 in the nation agains the 260th most difficult schedule. Back of the E's prediction on these two numbers was spot on! If this progression continues, we'll have to house the men's basketball program in the new Trent Lott Center with the other bragging points of the University. "

If we house bball with econ devel, the ed people will surely want to tout their exciting proximity to athletes in their big-$ advertisements.