Negativity Hurts This Program

[Bearcat Jeff]

Gentlemen, all the coarse, bitter, negativity that gets spewed on this board is a detriment to this program. Something needs to be done to end or control this.

Guys I'm not talking about criticism. I believe it is fine to be critical of the coach and the teams performance when warranted. I'm talking about the disrespectful, personal attacks of the coach and the university that take place on this board regularly.

The image it paints to anybody that reads this forum is one of a bitter, angry fan base that doesn't support the program. It adds no appeal to the program everyone on here claims to love. Those of you who loosely throw around this venom need to understand the damage you do.

People have berated this coach for saying there would be surprises when he said, "I hope to have a couple surprises". They give kudos to opposing coaches that are recruiting against this university while talking about how horrible this coach is. A potential recruit would certainly have second thoughts if he read the comments on this board. Brent has acknowledged that info on this board has led to the loss of a recruit at least once.

How would you like to be Sean Kilpatrick? How would it be to read how you are a second rate player and shouldn't be playing in the BEast? How about the current players? They get an ear full everyday.

Please think about the tone you take and what you say. It has implications.

[DMoney_70]

All this hysteria over a guy that may never play college ball. Mick isn't done yet. Let's see if he signs anyone and then everyone can decide whether to stick a fork in a wall outlet.

[CincyBeerCo]

Gentlemen, all the coarse, bitter, negativity that gets spewed on this board is a detriment to this program. Something needs to be done to end or control this.

Guys I'm not talking about criticism. I believe it is fine to be critical of the coach and the teams performance when warranted. I'm talking about the disrespectful, personal attacks of the coach and the university that take place on this board regularly.

The image it paints to anybody that reads this forum is one of a bitter, angry fan base that doesn't support the program. It adds no appeal to the program everyone on here claims to love. Those of you who loosely throw around this venom need to understand the damage you do.

People have berated this coach for saying there would be surprises when he said, "I hope to have a couple surprises". They give kudos to opposing coaches that are recruiting against this university while talking about how horrible this coach is. A potential recruit would certainly have second thoughts if he read the comments on this board. Brent has acknowledged that info on this board has led to the loss of a recruit at least once.

How would you like to be Sean Kilpatrick? How would it be to read how you are a second rate player and shouldn't be playing in the BEast? How about the current players? They get an ear full everyday.

Please think about the tone you take and what you say. It has implications.

Agreed..................

[DMoney_70]

By the way, Jeff. Thanks for trying to reel this in.

[bubbachunk]

It is a message board, if the people in our program take it that seriously then we have a problem.

[Bearcat Jeff]

It is words and statements that directly relate to those people and many are just kids. It is intentionally derogatory and hurtful. It isn't constructive criticism, it is simply mean spirited.

Posters like LongTimer are not derogatory or intentionally hurtful. He brings some valid points and presents them well. He cares and it comes thru. There are others that lie in wait for anything to belittle this program and all attached to it. They tear down anything and anyone and have the agenda of doing so.

[qsilvr2531]

It is a message board, if the people in our program take it that seriously then we have a problem.

It is a message board that is representative of the fans the university has (and for some recruits it is the only experience they have with Cincinnati fans). It matters to recruits because we are the people they will be playing in front of for four or five years. Fan support impacts how long a coach will be sticking around and when the fan base is calling the coach names and telling everyone who will listen how bad he is, well if I were a recruit I'd certainly wonder if he'd be around for the entire time I'm in school.

[YouGuessedItFrankStallone]

It is a message board, if the people in our program take it that seriously then we have a problem.

I suspect you're right and that the negative talk on this board has little or no actual effect on the program.

However, it has an immense effect on the quality of this forum. I, for one, am a UC fan and I do not enjoy reading all these posts disparaging the coach and the program. IMO, it makes true fans less likely to participate in the discussion because they don't want to subject themselves to the haters' rants.

I have no problem with legitimate criticism and I'm not suggesting that posts should consist solely of blowing sunshine up eachother's asses. But I am saying that this should be a board for Bearcat fans, not an outlet for frustrated individuals to vent by repetitively bashing the program.

[Bearcat Jeff]

It has an effect. When the fans of some programs get together to "help" recruit a player to their school by chanting his name over and over, or by loading the message board with calls for him to come to their university it has an effect. The same is true of negativity. I'm telling you this stuff gets looked at. There is a reason the athletic department likes to control the information that gets out. When a players name is mentioned and fans talk about what a piece of garbage he is, other schools recruiting that kid can and will use that. When they read that the fan base has no confidence in the coach to bring in other good players they read that. To think that what is said in public isn't used as a recruiting tool, for or against, is silly. It is the information age and everything you say can, and will, be used against you.

[bearcatbbllfn]

Agreed! It clutters all the post up and makes it bad reading. Why bother investing time reviewing that kind of content? I get enough of that crap from all the haters in this city. I would like it more if this was a place to escape that negativity and be with fans are that are optimistic. People are entitled to thier opinion and that should not change. It is a public forum. I just choose not to pertake in it and skip over those types of posting. They are tiresome already and have no entertainment value to me. Negative posting seems to be at least half+ of the material posted now. There used to be so much on here that I liked to read. All the threads seemed to have more substance then and I enjoyed all of them. Now, the threads get really long and most of it is boring input. I cant read through all that crap and dont find much content that I want to read.

[LongTimer]

Gentlemen, all the coarse, bitter, negativity that gets spewed on this board is a detriment to this program. Something needs to be done to end or control this.

Guys I'm not talking about criticism. I believe it is fine to be critical of the coach and the teams performance when warranted. I'm talking about the disrespectful, personal attacks of the coach and the university that take place on this board regularly.

The image it paints to anybody that reads this forum is one of a bitter, angry fan base that doesn't support the program. It adds no appeal to the program everyone on here claims to love. Those of you who loosely throw around this venom need to understand the damage you do.

People have berated this coach for saying there would be surprises when he said, "I hope to have a couple surprises". They give kudos to opposing coaches that are recruiting against this university while talking about how horrible this coach is. A potential recruit would certainly have second thoughts if he read the comments on this board. Brent has acknowledged that info on this board has led to the loss of a recruit at least once.

How would you like to be Sean Kilpatrick? How would it be to read how you are a second rate player and shouldn't be playing in the BEast? How about the current players? They get an ear full everyday.

Please think about the tone you take and what you say. It has implications.

BJ, there is negativity on every forum across America. I do agree that there should be a limit to it. I have more of a problem with the lack of respect toward each other in here. It's pretty bad, No matter what opinion you have, you should be able to state it without getting personally attacked by the ones who do not agree with you. It all starts there. When someone gets personally attacked, he gets defensive and fires back. Then others join in and before long you have a very unstable and negative forum. The degree of negativity and anger escalates and what would have been a typical legitimate criticism of a coach or player becomes a classless or hostile statement or attack that goes way overboard in its degree of negativity. If people could begin their post with "I disagree.....", rather than, "What a clueless post", or "That was an idiotic post!", or "You bring nothing to this board", then the overall atmosphere in here would change for the better. Unfortunately, there are about 5-10 posters who are allowed to continually attack the poster rather than just disagree in a classy way, and 90% of the problems in here are a direct result of that.

[anbuc88]

Wholeheartedly agree. You get banned for insulting anoither poster, but you can call our coach Mickey Mouse, the little leprauchan, etc. without consequence. Premanently ban posters such as this and this would be a better site. They would still have the XU site to continue their diatribe, and would undoubtedly be welcomed with open arms. Good riddance.

[DMoney_70]

Agreed! It clutters all the post up and makes it bad reading. Why bother investing time reviewing that kind of content? I get enough of that crap from all the haters in this city. I would like it more if this was a place to escape that negativity and be with fans are that are optimistic. People are entitled to thier opinion and that should not change. It is a public forum. I just choose not to pertake in it and skip over those types of posting. They are tiresome already and have no entertainment value to me. Negative posting seems to be at least half+ of the material posted now. There used to be so much on here that I liked to read. All the threads seemed to have more substance then and I enjoyed all of them. Now, the threads get really long and most of it is boring input. I cant read through all that crap and dont find much content that I want to read.

The problem is that those who are the biggest offenders WANT to have a negative affect on recruiting becuase they want to pour their sour grapes over the past onto the current coach. If they can contribute to getting him fired, they will.

I would guess the overwhelming majority of us love our Cats and want them to excel and since the process has been slow, we're all anxious for things to look up. We come to this board hoping for positive recruiting news, even rumors of positive recruiting news.

What ends up happening is the minority of people that would rather root against the team they say they are a fan of because of the past are undermining every single thread. Our best course of action is to let them make fools of themselves without reply and to stay on topic ourselves. Allowing them to bait us into petty arguing is exactly the goal. They push our buttons because they know it works.

[jlr1523]

Gentlemen, all the coarse, bitter, negativity that gets spewed on this board is a detriment to this program....

.....I'm talking about the disrespectful, personal attacks of the coach and the university that take place on this board regularly.


I hate to be the one to have to tell everyone this, but bearcatnews.com has nothing to do with the perception, success, or failure of the UC program. Lol. It's nothing more than a chat room for "a few" UC fans to spead and read recruiting rumors and to pick fights with each other. Thats all it is and nothing more. Probably only 1% of all UC fans even log onto this site.

[ralph1950]

As I have been stating all along, the failure of the fans to pack 5/3rd Arena night after night, win or lose, cuts of their noses to spite their face. Mick would have the team farther along if UC had an 82 game sellout streak going at 5/3rd.

[insomniaisevil]

Brent has acknowledged that info on this board has led to the loss of a recruit at least once.


I only visit the board on and off...can someone either link me to what this is referring to or expand on this? Who are we referring to here?

[LongTimer]

I suspect you're right and that the negative talk on this board has little or no actual effect on the program.

However, it has an immense effect on the quality of this forum. I, for one, am a UC fan and I do not enjoy reading all these posts disparaging the coach and the program. IMO, it makes true fans less likely to participate in the discussion because they don't want to subject themselves to the haters' rants.

I have no problem with legitimate criticism and I'm not suggesting that posts should consist solely of blowing sunshine up eachother's asses. But I am saying that this should be a board for Bearcat fans, not an outlet for frustrated individuals to vent by repetitively bashing the program.

There are a lot of absolutely tremendous and loyal Bearcat fans who are very unhappy right now with the direction the program is moving. That unhappiness does not make them less of a fan than the ones who are happy. Both groups, happy and unhappy, are great fans...and I suspect we all want the same thing. Believe me, the degree of happiness from some posters is sometimes mind-boggeling, but I respect your opinion and your right to state it. I have a long history of supporting this program through my attendance and through my financial support. My criticisms of the program on a silly forum does not in any way effect my continued support of the program. My UCATS fee has been paid for next year. My butt will be in my seat at the Shoe and I will be cheering like I have since I was about 5 years old. And, if I don't like what I am seeing, I will post that dissatisfaction on these types of forums. If I like what I am seeing, I will post that too. What I won't do is attack you for your comments, no matter how silly and irrational they are. I expect the same in return!

[Richard_Head]

I hate to be the one to have to tell everyone this, but bearcatnews.com has nothing to do with the perception, success, or failure of the UC program. Lol. It's nothing more than a chat room for "a few" UC fans to spead and read recruiting rumors and to pick fights with each other. Thats all it is and nothing more. Probably only 1% of all UC fans even log onto this site.

I would have to disagree with this a little bit. In this day an age I would think that coaches that are recruiting against UC or any school for that matter would look at what fans are saying about the program or a particular recruit. A coach will try to get any edge they can when it comes to recruiting and if a message board of say UC is bashing the recruits that there coach is either bringing in or has already brought in then I would think it could have a negative impact in that case. I think yesterday Lobot pointed out the Athletic Department was mad about a name getting out and I can only imagine that message boards like this one had something to do with them being upset about it. What is the kid to think if he looks at a board of UC talking about him not being able to play the point in the Big East he is going to be turned off by that. Nobody being recruit to a school wants to hear the fan base talk about them in a negative light, don't be foolish enough to think that A. either coaches recruiting against UC doesn't use this stuff, or B. the recruits themselfs look at this. They are attention seekers.

[jelly,puffy and eddie]

COULD NOT AGREE MORE. SOME REAL BABIES ON HEREBJ, there is negativity on every forum across America. I do agree that there should be a limit to it. I have more of a problem with the lack of respect toward each other in here. It's pretty bad, No matter what opinion you have, you should be able to state it without getting personally attacked by the ones who do not agree with you. It all starts there. When someone gets personally attacked, he gets defensive and fires back. Then others join in and before long you have a very unstable and negative forum. The degree of negativity and anger escalates and what would have been a typical legitimate criticism of a coach or player becomes a classless or hostile statement or attack that goes way overboard in its degree of negativity. If people could begin their post with "I disagree.....", rather than, "What a clueless post", or "That was an idiotic post!", or "You bring nothing to this board", then the overall atmosphere in here would change for the better. Unfortunately, there are about 5-10 posters who are allowed to continually attack the poster rather than just disagree in a classy way, and 90% of the problems in here are a direct result of that.

[LongTimer]

As I have been stating all along, the failure of the fans to pack 5/3rd Arena night after night, win or lose, cuts of their noses to spite their face. Mick would have the team farther along if UC had an 82 game sellout streak going at 5/3rd.

Ralph, I 100% agree with this. Lack of fans at the games is a huge issue right now. When a recruit visits now, what do you think he is thinking when he watches 5,000 fans sitting on their hands and 8,000 empty seats? Would you want to come here to play in this environment right now? I think pricing is a big part of this and unfortunately, our administration left everything status quo for the upcoming season. I believe we'll see less fans at games this year, at least until the espected winning season begins to evolve and hopes start rising with it.

[Richard_Head]

Ralph, I 100% agree with this. Lack of fans at the games is a huge issue right now. When a recruit visits now, what do you think he is thinking when he watches 5,000 fans sitting on their hands and 8,000 empty seats? Would you want to come here to play in this environment right now? I think pricing is a big part of this and unfortunately, our administration left everything status quo for the upcoming season. I believe we'll see less fans at games this year, at least until the espected winning season begins to evolve and hopes start rising with it.

Couldn't agree more, but what do you do about it? I thought the team was on it's way last season to winning back some of the fan base, but with the way the team finished I'm not sure your going to see a huge increase in the attendance so how do you get more people to come out and pack the place and make it easier to recruit too?

[Doss]

So lets see.

1. Mr. Mick Cronin is the best since John Wooden. Great recruiter, great motivator, great X and O's coach
2. Mr. Michael Thomas is the best AD ever, bar none.
3. We have the talent to win the Big East
4. If we get one new recruit we could win it all (NCAA BABY)
5. Cash will be freshman of the year
6. Gates will win Wooden Award
7. Vaugn will be All Big East
8. I expect BB attendence to bounce back to over 13,000
9. McClain will become a dominant post player
10. We have the best dance team in the world (this is true)

[Richard_Head]

Gentlemen, all the coarse, bitter, negativity that gets spewed on this board is a detriment to this program. Something needs to be done to end or control this.

Guys I'm not talking about criticism. I believe it is fine to be critical of the coach and the teams performance when warranted. I'm talking about the disrespectful, personal attacks of the coach and the university that take place on this board regularly.

The image it paints to anybody that reads this forum is one of a bitter, angry fan base that doesn't support the program. It adds no appeal to the program everyone on here claims to love. Those of you who loosely throw around this venom need to understand the damage you do.

People have berated this coach for saying there would be surprises when he said, "I hope to have a couple surprises". They give kudos to opposing coaches that are recruiting against this university while talking about how horrible this coach is. A potential recruit would certainly have second thoughts if he read the comments on this board. Brent has acknowledged that info on this board has led to the loss of a recruit at least once.

How would you like to be Sean Kilpatrick? How would it be to read how you are a second rate player and shouldn't be playing in the BEast? How about the current players? They get an ear full everyday.

Please think about the tone you take and what you say. It has implications.

I agree that the negativity on this board and most message board on the internet is out of control. I think it is just the nature of a message board, you can come into a message board and post anything you want about anybody you want and what are the repercutions? There are none, many of the things that are said here would never be said in person and how do you stop that? I don't think you do unless you start banning people but then all they have to do is sign back up under another account name.

[Richard_Head]

So lets see.

1. Mr. Mick Cronin is the best since John Wooden. Great recruiter, great motivator, great X and O's coach
2. Mr. Michael Thomas is the best AD ever, bar none.
3. We have the talent to win the Big East
4. If we get one new recruit we could win it all (NCAA BABY)
5. Cash will be freshman of the year
6. Gates will win Wooden Award
7. Vaugn will be All Big East
8. I expect BB attendence to bounce back to over 13,000
9. McClain will become a dominant post player
10. We have the best dance team in the world (this is true)

Case in point.

[bearcatbret]

So lets see.

1. Mr. Mick Cronin is the best since John Wooden. Great recruiter, great motivator, great X and O's coach
2. Mr. Michael Thomas is the best AD ever, bar none.
3. We have the talent to win the Big East
4. If we get one new recruit we could win it all (NCAA BABY)
5. Cash will be freshman of the year
6. Gates will win Wooden Award
7. Vaugn will be All Big East
8. I expect BB attendence to bounce back to over 13,000
9. McClain will become a dominant post player
10. We have the best dance team in the world (this is true)

Cash may be. Gates could likely win it before departing to the NBA. Vaughn should be. Let's wait to see a healthy McClain.

[LongTimer]

So lets see.

1. Mr. Mick Cronin is the best since John Wooden. Great recruiter, great motivator, great X and O's coach
2. Mr. Michael Thomas is the best AD ever, bar none.
3. We have the talent to win the Big East
4. If we get one new recruit we could win it all (NCAA BABY)
5. Cash will be freshman of the year
6. Gates will win Wooden Award
7. Vaugn will be All Big East
8. I expect BB attendence to bounce back to over 13,000
9. McClain will become a dominant post player
10. We have the best dance team in the world (this is true)

Doss, honestly....don't you feel better after typing all this positive stuff. I had honestly forgotten about the dance team myself, so my mood has brightened substantially. I already feel better about sending my UCATS pledge in. Thanks for taking the lead in the new era of being "positive" on here.

[long suffering UC fan]

Gentlemen, all the coarse, bitter, negativity that gets spewed on this board is a detriment to this program. Something needs to be done to end or control this.

Guys I'm not talking about criticism. I believe it is fine to be critical of the coach and the teams performance when warranted. I'm talking about the disrespectful, personal attacks of the coach and the university that take place on this board regularly.

The image it paints to anybody that reads this forum is one of a bitter, angry fan base that doesn't support the program. It adds no appeal to the program everyone on here claims to love. Those of you who loosely throw around this venom need to understand the damage you do.

People have berated this coach for saying there would be surprises when he said, "I hope to have a couple surprises". They give kudos to opposing coaches that are recruiting against this university while talking about how horrible this coach is. A potential recruit would certainly have second thoughts if he read the comments on this board. Brent has acknowledged that info on this board has led to the loss of a recruit at least once.

How would you like to be Sean Kilpatrick? How would it be to read how you are a second rate player and shouldn't be playing in the BEast? How about the current players? They get an ear full everyday.

Please think about the tone you take and what you say. It has implications.

This thread is either an attempt to chum the waters for even more negative feedback on the program, or you greatly overestimate the influence of this forum on the program. I agree that personal attacks are not appropriate, but I think many on the forum mistake fair criticism with disrepectful comments or undue negativity. I believe that they really only want what one poster described as "blowing smoke up each other's asses", and don't want the obvious facts facing the fans of this program to get in the way of the smoke.

Like another poster, I'd also love to know who the recruit was that was lost, due to something posted on this forum. Still, if UC somehow lost a recruit b/c of something written on a forum, then I'd question whether I'd want him playing for me, if I were the coach. Unless a player is truly exceptional, there will always be some source of criticism - if they are not thick-skinned enough to deal with some comments on a forum, how are they going to deal with getting yelled at by the coach, taunted by opposing fans when shooting FTs, etc.?

[Doss]

I congratulate you on your 6 TIER 1 tickets. I do my part with my 2 center tickets. Which helps most, supporting UCATS and being season ticket holders or being an always positive poster on this media?

All the rah rah posts are cheap Ralph you put your money on the line!


As I have been stating all along, the failure of the fans to pack 5/3rd Arena night after night, win or lose, cuts of their noses to spite their face. Mick would have the team farther along if UC had an 82 game sellout streak going at 5/3rd.

[bearcatbret]

I for one do not like posters saying this kid stinks or that kid can't play when they have never seen them play. All they do is look at Rivals and see that he is a 3 star and assume that the kid can not play. If the kid is not an all American, he can not play. We have had several under the radar players in the past who have been very good college basketball players. We criticize UC for not recruiting but we have no idea who and how they are recruiting because the try to keep it silent. We should not attack when we do not know.

[bubbachunk]

It is a message board that is representative of the fans the university has (and for some recruits it is the only experience they have with Cincinnati fans). It matters to recruits because we are the people they will be playing in front of for four or five years. Fan support impacts how long a coach will be sticking around and when the fan base is calling the coach names and telling everyone who will listen how bad he is, well if I were a recruit I'd certainly wonder if he'd be around for the entire time I'm in school.

If my recruits are worrying about is being said on message boards then how will they handle the added pressure of college?

[Bearcat Jeff]

I think that I post fairly balanced posts on here and am realistic about what goes on with U.C. basketball. Some have already missed the point of this. I never said every post on here has to be positive. I support the program with my money and time. Is it too much to ask for the post to be subjective and objective rather than biased either way? People in the seats would help tremendously. I'd love to see it.

[DimitriusChristedes]

These kids are Internet savvy. The whole generation is. When they google "bearcats forums" guess what comes up? You don't think they check what peopleare saying about them, and the program? Wouldn't you?

[bearcatbret]

These kids are Internet savvy. The whole generation is. When they google "bearcats forums" guess what comes up? You don't think they check what peopleare saying about them, and the program? Wouldn't you?

My daughter is looking at colleges and she does.

[Richard_Head]

These kids are Internet savvy. The whole generation is. When they google "bearcats forums" guess what comes up? You don't think they check what peopleare saying about them, and the program? Wouldn't you?

Yes I would, and you don't think coaches recruiting against school are having people check and use the info? Recruiting is a nasty game.

[bearcatbret]

Coaches recruiting against Huggs would tell recruits that he would not be around UC to see them play. You can not tell me that did not hurt UC recruiting his last couple of years.

[mikep]

Bad recruiting news makes the forum negative, not the opposite IMO. If we get a top 10 class I will be giving Mick a lot of love.

[Richard_Head]

Bad recruiting news makes the forum negative, not the opposite IMO. If we get a top 10 class I will be giving Mick a lot of love.

I can agree with this, and the lack of recruiting news coming out of UC or on this board for that matter has lead to negative talk when a play is mentioned and doesn't sign.

[London 'Cat]

Ralph, I 100% agree with this. Lack of fans at the games is a huge issue right now. When a recruit visits now, what do you think he is thinking when he watches 5,000 fans sitting on their hands and 8,000 empty seats? Would you want to come here to play in this environment right now? I think pricing is a big part of this and unfortunately, our administration left everything status quo for the upcoming season. I believe we'll see less fans at games this year, at least until the espected winning season begins to evolve and hopes start rising with it.

Great point by Ralph and LT, here. I have stated this before as well. The ONLY way we, as fans, can help UC recruit is to come to the games and cheer like mad for the team. It is a big part of why Indiana, UNC, UK and other elite programs can recruit top players year after year and recover more quickly from down years.

[London 'Cat]

Case in point.

I agree. Knee-jerk, irrational reaction to a valid and rational post. The very type of post Jeff was trying to curb.

[RobPoppeil]

A coach will try to get any edge they can when it comes to recruiting and if a message board of say UC is bashing the recruits that there coach is either bringing in or has already brought in then I would think it could have a negative impact in that case.

Delusional much?

How silly would Rick Pitino look sitting in a recruits home going I know you love Mick Cronin and UC will guarantee you are the focus of the offense and let you start immediately while I'll make you sit a year but look at this - Longtimer just made a post calling Mick and name and said he Mick is not going to do good.

Instead Rick would say we are in the top 10 every year, we sell out all of our games and you will have a chance to compete for the National Champioship. If he brought up a post from Longtimer or anyone on the board he would look foolish.

[LongTimer]

Delusional much?

How silly would Rick Pitino look sitting in a recruits home going I know you love Mick Cronin and UC will guarantee you are the focus of the offense and let you start immediately while I'll make you sit a year but look at this - Longtimer just made a post calling Mick and name and said he Mick is not going to do good.

Instead Rick would say we are in the top 10 every year, we sell out all of our games and you will have a chance to compete for the National Champioship. If he brought up a post from Longtimer or anyone on the board he would look foolish.

Hey there!!! Actually, if he referenced a quote from Longtimer, he would appear quite astute! ;)

[Lobot]

I only visit the board on and off...can someone either link me to what this is referring to or expand on this? Who are we referring to here?

I was told by an "insider" that a couple of years ago we lost a recruit due to info that came from this board. I do not know the details or the player's name.

[richard k.]

Hey there!!! Actually, if he referenced a quote from Longtimer, he would appear quite astute! ;)

How about if Pitino, or more likely one of his assistants, in an "off-hand" comment, said - Why don't you go to some of the UC fan sites and take a look at what some of the most ardent UC fans really think about the coach up there. These kids have all been brought up sitting in front of a monitor banging on a keyboard. If you don't think they are all over the net looking for references to themselves and the teams they are interested in you're fooling yourself.

If you were 17, trying to pick a school from a bunch of offers, there is no way you wouldn't be looking at whatever sites you could find. And I wonder how many kids would not be affected when they read, even in passing, that a particular school's fans think the coach is a joke and most of the players below acceptable for the conference they belong to, at least from a talent standpoint. Why wouldn't you weigh that in your evaluations, even if not decisive, or even a major factor, it certainly could be enough to swing you to some other school.

[RobPoppeil]

How about if Pitino, or more likely one of his assistants, in an "off-hand" comment, said - Why don't you go to some of the UC fan sites and take a look at what some of the most ardent UC fans really think about the coach up there. These kids have all been brought up sitting in front of a monitor banging on a keyboard. If you don't think they are all over the net looking for references to themselves and the teams they are interested in you're fooling yourself.

If you were 17, trying to pick a school from a bunch of offers, there is no way you wouldn't be looking at whatever sites you could find. And I wonder how many kids would not be affected when they read, even in passing, that a particular school's fans think the coach is a joke and most of the players below acceptable for the conference they belong to, at least from a talent standpoint. Why wouldn't you weigh that in your evaluations, even if not decisive, or even a major factor, it certainly could be enough to swing you to some other school.

Again he would look incredibly stupid. He is selling his program. Why would a 17 year old kid care at all what someone on the internet said? It's not like their aren't sites for every program. There is negativity on all of them.

If I was a 17 year old kid, I would be worrying about where I could win, where I could be a big part of the offense, where be seen on National TV, and what coach could help me get to the NBA. Those would be big selling points not a group of guys on the internet who think they are important and wrong over and over again.

[qsilvr2531]

If my recruits are worrying about is being said on message boards then how will they handle the added pressure of college?

If recruits aren't worried about the status of the possible future coach and how he is perceived by his own fans, I'm not sure I'd trust them to make any decisions for themselves.

I don't think recruits worry about what fans are saying, I think recruits get to pick and choose the best possible place for them to spend the next four years, and if given the choice between a place that has fans that are excited to see them play, excited about their coach and in general supportive of the program over a place that regularly dismisses their recruits, downplays any chances they have in the upcoming season and trashes their coach in public, why would anyone pick the later? This isn't a draft, these kids have options.

That doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't criticize or get frustrated but calling our coach a leprechaun and a mickey mouse coach while actively campaigning for current players to transfer is counter productive.

[JerseySean]

1. This forum is hardly representative of the UC fan population. It is a self-selected sample, and the participation is generally among a select few of that self-selected sample. This is not a randomly generated population that could be considered statistically sound and certainly NOT representative.

2. I'm really curious to know which recruit we lost due to chatter on this board. Anyone know?

[Lobot]

I glad this discussion has come up because it's something Keith has been trying to work on for a while. Keith is a very positive guy. Therefore he prefers positive thinking.

Now obviously He and I and Shaun can't tell you what to think or say, but for certain posters being negative is a way of life on here and that/they needs to go away. Other people don't want to read that stuff and it serves no purpose other than to start an argument which is where the board's other main problem lies right now. I've seen other members complain about a certain poster who used some derogatory remarks towards Mick today and I'm glad someone else complained about it.

I'm the unlucky one. I don't have the luxury of ignore. I have to read everything. You can not only ignore the people you don't like (even me) but you can also police the board with us by using the infraction cards in the left window by the posters name. Keep in mind when you do so, it has to be a real rules violation. Being overtly negative and derogatory towards staff and players IS a rule violation. There's a difference between legit criticism and bashing. We're not interested in putting up with the bashing.

We know who the problem children are and we've been slowly eliminating them. If you feel there's a person we should consider for removal or temporary ban please PM me. (Don't publicly post it)

[bearcated]

Negativity does not hurt the team. Bad play on the court, and year after year of season ending collapses hurts the team. I pay my UCATS $, and show up for the games, and cheer the team. That's my job. The rest is on them.

If the team doesn't want to hear negative comments then work on shooting, boxing out, and playing D. If the coaches don't want to hear negative comments then recruit better players.

Sorry folks. I just cannot live in la la land and act like everything is great. I'm not trying to run Mick out of town, but I have to call it as I see it.

[bearcated]

I was told by an "insider" that a couple of years ago we lost a recruit due to info that came from this board. I do not know the details or the player's name.
Come on. You don't think the UK people complain on their boards? You don't think the U of L people complain too?

[Joe_Pong]

I don't think this board is negative at all!. In fact, if anything, it's overly positive. Have you read some of the predictions about both the potential of this team and of our players over the last couple years? Some of it's pretty crazy. I have been ripped to shreds and called an x fan just for throwing in an occasional reality check (points that I have been correct about every single time, I might add). From reading this board, you would never guess this is a squad that hasn't even been able to get into the NIT.

I was recently "warned" for a comment I made suggesting that making the NIT next season would be a solid accomplishment for this team that we could maybe use as a springboard to start getting higher quality recruits. I guess this team is soooo loaded with talent and just soooo dominant that even mentioning the NIT is considered being negative.

[Bearcat Jeff]

Again, there is a difference between being critical and bashing the program's every move and everything associated with it. Winning people in any field want to be where there is support, true knowledge of the field they are in, a positive environment where they can grow, and continuity. Good athletes have egos.

[RobPoppeil]

Again, there is a difference between being critical and bashing the program's every move and everything associated with it. Winning people in any field want to be where there is support, true knowledge of the field they are in, a positive environment where they can grow, and continuity. Good athletes have egos.

And every major program doesn't have people who bash their every move? Of course they do. In fact the bigger they are the more scrutiny they are under.

Look at Duke. There players are hated and tore apart by everyone.

[LongTimer]

I glad this discussion has come up because it's something Keith has been trying to work on for a while. Keith is a very positive guy. Therefore he prefers positive thinking.

Now obviously He and I and Shaun can't tell you what to think or say, but for certain posters being negative is a way of life on here and that/they needs to go away. Other people don't want to read that stuff and it serves no purpose other than to start an argument which is where the board's other main problem lies right now. I've seen other members complain about a certain poster who used some derogatory remarks towards Mick today and I'm glad someone else complained about it.

I'm the unlucky one. I don't have the luxury of ignore. I have to read everything. You can not only ignore the people you don't like (even me) but you can also police the board with us by using the infraction cards in the left window by the posters name. Keep in mind when you do so, it has to be a real rules violation. Being overtly negative and derogatory towards staff and players IS a rule violation. There's a difference between legit criticism and bashing. We're not interested in putting up with the bashing.

We know who the problem children are and we've been slowly eliminating them.

When nothing great is happening in the program, negativity will rear its ugly head. That does not mean that a negative poster is not a great fan, and it does not mean that that particular person can't turn around and become a very upbeat and positive poster once the program gets going.

Hopefully, your statement above about the negative posters going away is not referring to the people who have a less than glowing feeling about Mick. I would argue that there are way more people on this forum, who claim to love everything that Mick is doing, who are in fact the absolute most negative people on the forum because they continually attack anybody who doesn't have their particular opinion. If you got rid of those people in particular, the ones who have a negative view of the program and the ones who have a glowing view of the program would have no problem co-existing together and debating in a civil and classy way. It's not your negative or positive view of the program that is the problem, it's how you respond to each other that ruins this forum.

[Joe_Pong]

Again, there is a difference between being critical and bashing the program's every move and everything associated with it. Winning people in any field want to be where there is support, true knowledge of the field they are in, a positive environment where they can grow, and continuity. Good athletes have egos.

Then I guess reading this board does hurt our chances with recruits! :D

[LongTimer]

I don't think this board is negative at all!. In fact, if anything, it's overly positive. Have you read some of the predictions about both the potential of this team and of our players over the last couple years? Some of it's pretty crazy. I have been ripped to shreds and called an x fan just for throwing in an occasional reality check (points that I have been correct about every single time, I might add). From reading this board, you would never guess this is a squad that hasn't even been able to get into the NIT.

I was recently "warned" for a comment I made suggesting that making the NIT next season would be a solid accomplishment for this team that we could maybe use as a springboard to start getting higher quality recruits. I guess this team is soooo loaded with talent and just soooo dominant that even mentioning the NIT is considered being negative.

Good point JP. The glowing and positive atmosphere in here certainly is not representative of the fan on the street who is no longer attending games at alarming rates. If the average fan of UC Basketball had the same opinion as the majority view on this forum, the arena would be buzzing with excitement and would be sold out or close to it. All you have to do is look at our arena on game day and you will see first hand what the majority are thinking. That is a "fact".

[Lobot]

When nothing great is happening in the program, negativity will rear its ugly head. That does not mean that a negative poster is not a great fan, and it does not mean that that particular person can't turn around and become a very upbeat and positive poster once the program gets going.

Hopefully, your statement above about the negative posters going away is not referring to the people who have a less than glowing feeling about Mick. I would argue that there are way more people on this forum, who claim to love everything that Mick is doing, who are in fact the absolute most negative people on the forum because they continually attack anybody who doesn't have their particular opinion. If you got rid of those people in particular, the ones who have a negative view of the program and the ones who have a glowing view of the program would have no problem co-existing together and debating in a civil and classy way. It's not your negative or positive view of the program that is the problem, it's how you respond to each other that ruins this forum.

Very valid points and well said.

[bearcatbret]

Attendance was going down the last few seasons under Huggs. I think when the games were sold out many people were there because the were Huggs fans. They liked that he was always after the refs and they liked the physical play of his teams (hockey style fans). I think that the off-court issues of the players finally wore on people AND that the teams no longer had the players to play the "helter skelter" press that some people quit going. Then everyone said they loved AK but would not go back because of NZ. Then Mick gets here and that first season was just awful and people said they would not go back because they were bad. I believe that the shoe will get back to full when they put a good product on the court AND beat quality teams.

Just look at football. Attendance was terrible for so many years. I believe that they may have set a season attendance record (or at least recent history) during MDs last season at 19k. Then comes along is BK and because his marketing skills and reputation of the spread o, they set another attendance record. Then last year building off of a 10-win season they set another record. If you win they will come.

I am not sure Mick is the guy who will get us there but he has improved each year. He has managed to beat some good teams. If he gets past the 20-win mark next year and finishes in the top half of the BEast, then I would say he is definitely getting us towards our goal.

[Carin's Dad]

Recruiting is such a crap shoot. Kids don't live up to expectations, they get injured, they get in trouble - you just never know. That's why it's probably better to judge a program on wins alone. This team has improved each year and there's nothing going on that would indicate they won't improve again next year.

Trying to judge Mick's success based on recruiting is ludicrous and short sighted.

[London 'Cat]

When nothing great is happening in the program, negativity will rear its ugly head. That does not mean that a negative poster is not a great fan, and it does not mean that that particular person can't turn around and become a very upbeat and positive poster once the program gets going.

Hopefully, your statement above about the negative posters going away is not referring to the people who have a less than glowing feeling about Mick. I would argue that there are way more people on this forum, who claim to love everything that Mick is doing, who are in fact the absolute most negative people on the forum because they continually attack anybody who doesn't have their particular opinion. If you got rid of those people in particular, the ones who have a negative view of the program and the ones who have a glowing view of the program would have no problem co-existing together and debating in a civil and classy way. It's not your negative or positive view of the program that is the problem, it's how you respond to each other that ruins this forum.

This one takes my award for Post of the Thread. Nice work, LT.

If your opinion of the program happens to be negative and that opinion is rationally based in fact and you share that opinion in a civil and logical manner, you are most welcome here. This forum is to discuss UC athletics, good and bad. It's in how you present the opinion that matters and determines how long you are welcome here.

[Bearcat Jeff]

And every major program doesn't have people who bash their every move? Of course they do. In fact the bigger they are the more scrutiny they are under.

Look at Duke. There players are hated and tore apart by everyone.
Nationally, not at home. They are adored and sell out every game and provide perhaps the best homecourt advantage in the country. We are talking about the local support system.

[BearcatAlum1]

Wow.

The natives are mobilizing their efforts in the wake of the "Riek fiasco." Repitition does not make others find the logic in your arguments.

Alum1

[RobPoppeil]

Nationally, not at home. They are adored and sell out every game and provide perhaps the best homecourt advantage in the country. We are talking about the local support system.

And no one nationally ever goes into their forums?? Look around.

[Bearcat Jeff]

Rob you're missing the whole point. You're arguing something that's not in play in this discussion.

[RobPoppeil]

Rob you're missing the whole point. You're arguing something that's not in play in this discussion.

How is it not in play? The poster said he thinks the negativity on this board is hurting the team. Well name a team without negativity on their board. You can't.

[longtimefan]

How is it not in play? The poster said he thinks the negativity on this board is hurting the team. Well name a team without negativity on their board. You can't.

I think you are wrong. Give us a link for just one that has the level of negativity seen here. It is obvious that many people on here were a fan of a coach, not a team. In some ways I understand that, but how long has it been? It is time to realize that Mick had nothing to do with the removal of that coach. He was the second coach to follow, not the first. The problem I have with the tone of the posts here is a lot of people are taking the Rush Limbaugh approach: they are rooting for Mick to fail. That is old, and the rest of us should not have to put up with it. Show me another board where people actually root for the failure of their own team. I doubt if you find one.

[BeastUC]

Well,to throw my 2 cent in.
I think the negativity does not look good since players/potential recruits do read these boards now a days.
But at the same time,there's negativity on all boards,Louisville for instance,but it has not stopped top recruits from going there.

[westsidecat]

I'm new to this board, but have been to many message boards. This is by far the best one that I have found. Not only for info, but for ture UC fans.

I hope that Mick can get all the "haters" on his side by winning this year, if not, then so be it. Mick has done an outstanding job of starting with nothing and building what he wants.

It's almost if some "fans" want UC to lose, and for Mick to fail, so they can bash him with everything and anything.

Maybe one day, we can be one Bearcat family, under one coach. I have had Mick's back since dayone, and I will have it till he leaves, but that won't be anytime soon.

[Doss]

BRILLIANT!
Can we help by starting a subversive activity task force. I think the folks herein who believe that negative posts destroy our recruiting should start posting on the boards of every team we are competing against for recruits.

That way you can destroy our competition. Can we do the following:
1. Each year determine our recruiting targets
2. Determine our competition
3. Assign several folks to sign onto those schools fan sites under multiple names and then post negatives over and over
4. Sit back and what for the LOI to roll in. We may miss occasionally with an unexpected competitor like Riek-MSU, but we will get most.

As the guy on the beer commercial says "BRILLIANT!"

[Bearcat Cafe]

Or we could just talk about how large our UCATS donation is all the time. That should impress recruits.

[Carin's Dad]

BRILLIANT!
Can we help by starting a subversive activity task force. I think the folks herein who believe that negative posts destroy our recruiting should start posting on the boards of every team we are competing against for recruits.

That way you can destroy our competition. Can we do the following:
1. Each year determine our recruiting targets
2. Determine our competition
3. Assign several folks to sign onto those schools fan sites under multiple names and then post negatives over and over
4. Sit back and what for the LOI to roll in. We may miss occasionally with an unexpected competitor like Riek-MSU, but we will get most.

As the guy on the beer commercial says "BRILLIANT!"Just which team are you coming from? Are you a Louisville plant? :D

Or: Hmmmm, go the boards of the teams we're recruiting against. So you want us to go to the Evansville and W. Kentucky boards and be negative? :D

[Doss]

if negativity REALLY hurt why not be proactive and attack UL, UP, UConn, all Beast, etc.

If one really believes it does, logic says us it against the competitors.

Just which team are you coming from? Are you a Louisville plant? :D

Or: Hmmmm, go the boards of the teams we're recruiting against. So you want us to go to the Evansville and W. Kentucky boards and be negative? :D

[RobPoppeil]

I think you are wrong. Give us a link for just one that has the level of negativity seen here. It is obvious that many people on here were a fan of a coach, not a team. In some ways I understand that, but how long has it been? It is time to realize that Mick had nothing to do with the removal of that coach. He was the second coach to follow, not the first. The problem I have with the tone of the posts here is a lot of people are taking the Rush Limbaugh approach: they are rooting for Mick to fail. That is old, and the rest of us should not have to put up with it. Show me another board where people actually root for the failure of their own team. I doubt if you find one.

Go to any UK and look at the posts from last season. It was negative. I sure Calipari was scared off when he read all of those posts. It seems like all of the recruits are scared too. I know Bledsoe was.

[Bearcat Jeff]

How is it not in play? The poster said he thinks the negativity on this board is hurting the team. Well name a team without negativity on their board. You can't.
Because I am talking about so called fans of this university that snipe at any and every opportunity. I'm not talking about people that come in from other areas of the country to intentionally berate a program. There are a few on here that claim to be Bearcat fans that lie in wait to jump out and yell, "I gotcha!!". There are a few on here that want the team and the coach to fail so they can justify things in their own mind. They criticize every move. This team has half of it's players rated in the top 150. Vaughn is an all big east performer. Kilpatrick one of the top prep players. Still some on here criticize the recruiting. People won't acknowledge what Mick inherited and how far behind he was in recruitng. He came from a low to mid major program and the players he recruited there couldn't compete at this level. Crean came from a highly successful D1 program and carried that to a higher profile D1 program which gave him even more leverage. People throw Andy Kennedy out there. Kennedy took over a team where 6 of the top 7 scorers were returning. Point is that fact and reason have no effect on these people. They want Mick to fail and it shouldn't be on this board.

[Bearcat Jeff]

Go to any UK and look at the posts from last season. It was negative. I sure Calipari was scared off when he read all of those posts. It seems like all of the recruits are scared too. I know Bledsoe was.Horrible argument. Calipari is arguably the most successful D1 coach in the country over the past 5-6 years. It goes back to brand names. Calipari/Kentucky....tough combo to compete with.

[LongTimer]

Because I am talking about so called fans of this university that snipe at any and every opportunity. I'm not talking about people that come in from other areas of the country to intentionally berate a program. There are a few on here that claim to be Bearcat fans that lie in wait to jump out and yell, "I gotcha!!". There are a few on here that want the team and the coach to fail so they can justify things in their own mind. They criticize every move. This team has half of it's players rated in the top 150. Vaughn is an all big east performer. Kilpatrick one of the top prep players. Still some on here criticize the recruiting. People won't acknowledge what Mick inherited and how far behind he was in recruitng. He came from a low to mid major program and the players he recruited there couldn't compete at this level. Crean came from a highly successful D1 program and carried that to a higher profile D1 program which gave him even more leverage. People throw Andy Kennedy out there. Kennedy took over a team where 6 of the top 7 scorers were returning. Point is that fact and reason have no effect on these people. They want Mick to fail and it shouldn't be on this board.

BJ, I don't think it is necessarily a good assumption that a Murray St recruit or player couldn't compete in the Big East. I have seen many mid major programs and players thru the years that would do just fine competing in the Big East. Anthony Buford followed Huggs here from Akron and was a great starter (and leader) on a final 4 team. I suspect Stephon Curry could start on any Big East Team. Butler had players who would fit right in on most Big East teams. This country is loaded with Mid Major players who could start on Big East teams. Many great NBA stars have come from the mid major and low major programs...and even NAIA. There's great talent everywhere. How did Ron Harper do in the NBA with his MAC background? How did Dennis Rodman do in the NBA with his Southeastern Oklahoma State basketball background? Murray St. has always had a very good program and some of those players could have definitely competed with the talent we've been putting on the court lately!

[DMoney_70]

This back and forth bickering is exhausting. And boring. This message board has taken a real turn for the worse. Problem is, there really is nowhere else to go.

[RobPoppeil]

Horrible argument. Calipari is arguably the most successful D1 coach in the country over the past 5-6 years. It goes back to brand names. Calipari/Kentucky....tough combo to compete with.

And there was a ton of negativity in UK last year yet they were still able to get their top choice in coach and now recruits. It proves my point. If the negativity was such a turn off, Calipari wouldn't have gone near it.

[bearcatbret]

Coaches have much thicker skin than do 16-18 year old hs kids. Besides, I think UK is at a different level than UC.

[RobPoppeil]

Coaches have much thicker skin than do 16-18 year old hs kids. Besides, I think UK is at a different level than UC.

Yeah they are at a different level. And when it gets harsh there it is far harsher than at UC. So again the claim is negativity hurts a program. UK was negative last year. Where was the damage?

As far as coaches having a thicker skin, I doubt it. They are all ego-maniacs.

[Bearcat John 69]

Go to any UK and look at the posts from last season. It was negative. I sure Calipari was scared off when he read all of those posts. It seems like all of the recruits are scared too. I know Bledsoe was.

not a fair comparison. uk is not only the only game in town, they are the most popular team in the entire state. they sell out games regardless of how terrible the team is.

uc has pro teams to compete with and eggsavier in town (uc hoops games get bumped off 700 for spring training games, that sure as **** isn't happening to uk anywhere), as well as competing with the suckeyes in the state.

of course uk is on a different level from uc.

[RobPoppeil]

not a fair comparison. uk is not only the only game in town, they are the most popular team in the entire state. they sell out games regardless of how terrible the team is.

uc has pro teams to compete with and eggsavier in town (uc hoops games get bumped off 700 for spring training games, that sure as **** isn't happening to uk anywhere), as well as competing with the suckeyes in the state.

of course uk is on a different level from uc.

I realize that. But when it gets bad it gets far worse there for that very reason and despite that when it got bad this season they went out and got the #1 available coach and now a lot of top recruits. The negativity isn't hurting them at all.

[Bearcat Jeff]

And there was a ton of negativity in UK last year yet they were still able to get their top choice in coach and now recruits. It proves my point. If the negativity was such a turn off, Calipari wouldn't have gone near it.Brand name Rob. Kentuicky is one of the top 3 traditional basketball schools in the country. Cincinnati isn't. That's why they couldn't get a top notch coach to even apply.

[NorrisHopper30]

Brand name Rob. Kentuicky is one of the top 3 traditional basketball schools in the country. Cincinnati isn't. That's why they couldn't get a top notch coach to even apply.

UC was a dump after the whole AK/Huggins debacle, that's why they couldn't get any top notch coaches to apply.

[RobPoppeil]

Brand name Rob. Kentuicky is one of the top 3 traditional basketball schools in the country. Cincinnati isn't. That's why they couldn't get a top notch coach to even apply.

It doesn't change the fact that it was very negative at UK and it didn't hurt their program. No one can point to anything negative that happened because of the negativity.

[qsilvr2531]

It doesn't change the fact that it was very negative at UK and it didn't hurt their program. No one can point to anything negative that happened because of the negativity.

They've run two coaches out of town in a very short span of time. That's not exactly a positive.

[Bearcat Jeff]

It doesn't change the fact that it was very negative at UK and it didn't hurt their program. No one can point to anything negative that happened because of the negativity.
The negativity surrounding this program led to thdrop off of recruiting the last several years of the previous coach.

[RobPoppeil]

They've run two coaches out of town in a very short span of time. That's not exactly a positive.

And still got the #1 coach and a ton of top recruits further proving it didn't have any negative effects on the program. Thanks for helping to prove my point.

[qsilvr2531]

And still got the #1 coach and a ton of top recruits further proving it didn't have any negative effects on the program. Thanks for helping to prove my point.

They got a top coach and top recruits last time they changed coaches, and he lasted two years. If the program is going so strong, why the need for a 3rd coach in 4 years? Can Calipari turn it around? Certainly, but that doesn't change the fact that they've pushed another coach out the door.

[RobPoppeil]

They got a top coach and top recruits last time they changed coaches, and he lasted two years. If the program is going so strong, why the need for a 3rd coach in 4 years? Can Calipari turn it around? Certainly, but that doesn't change the fact that they've pushed another coach out the door.

Yes and all of that negativity lead them to the #1 selection for head coach and tons of top recruits. That really hurt them.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

They got a top coach and top recruits last time they changed coaches, and he lasted two years. If the program is going so strong, why the need for a 3rd coach in 4 years? Can Calipari turn it around? Certainly, but that doesn't change the fact that they've pushed another coach out the door.

Billy Gillispie was ANYTHING BUT a top coach. That's WHY he only last 2 years.

[qsilvr2531]

Billy Gillispie was ANYTHING BUT a top coach. That's WHY he only last 2 years.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a large group of people that agreed with this at the time he was hired. I may be remembering this incorrectly (and I'll welcome some articles from the time of his hiring correcting me), but I thought he was considered a very good hire at the time. Not on the same level as Calipari, but then few hires are. Gillespie had just finished completely rebuilding A&M and had significant success everywhere he'd been prior to Kentucky.

[qsilvr2531]

Yes and all of that negativity lead them to the #1 selection for head coach and tons of top recruits. That really hurt them.

Thank you for repeating yourself. At what point does losing coach after coach reflect badly on a program, regardless of the perceived quality of the coach that follows him?

[Mick's Da Man]

Rick Pitino

"Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old. What we are is young, exciting, hard-working, and we're going to improve. People don't realize that, and as soon as they realize those three guys are not coming through that door, the better this town will be for all of us because there are young guys in that (locker) room playing their a$$es off." He continued, "I wish we had $90 million under the salary cap. I wish we could buy the world. We can't; the only thing we can do is work hard, and all the negativity that's in this town sucks. I've been around when Jim Rice was booed. I've been around when (Carl) Yastrzemski was booed. And it stinks. It makes the greatest town, greatest city in the world, lousy. The only thing that will turn this around is being upbeat and positive like we are in that locker room... and if you think I'm going to succumb to negativity, you're wrong. You've got the wrong guy leading this team."

================================================== ================================================== =====

More reason all the people living in the past need to get behind this program and move on. Pitino had it right. One of the greatest "moving on.......stop the negativity" quotes of all time.

[Mick's Da Man]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a large group of people that agreed with this at the time he was hired. I may be remembering this incorrectly (and I'll welcome some articles from the time of his hiring correcting me), but I thought he was considered a very good hire at the time. Not on the same level as Calipari, but then few hires are. Gillespie had just finished completely rebuilding A&M and had significant success everywhere he'd been prior to Kentucky.

Billy Gillispie seemed to be the "hot" name at the time, but didn't have a long resume of success, IMHO. He had only been a head coach for 2 years at UTEP and then 3 years at Texas A&M before being hired at UK. But then again, Pitino had only been a head coach for 7 years (Boston U., Providence) before they hired him at UK, although he was coming off a Final Four appearance.

[RobPoppeil]

Thank you for repeating yourself. At what point does losing coach after coach reflect badly on a program, regardless of the perceived quality of the coach that follows him?

When you start losing recruits maybe? I.e. a negative occurs. Because obviously being able to replace the coach with an even better coach shows it isn't hurting the program.

[Bearcat Jeff]

You are one of those people that will hold a line regardless of facts. It did hurt their program. It ran Tubby Smith off. They hired the flavor of the month in Gillispie. Fact is they got Calipari because it was his dream job. They couldn't get the coaches they wanted when they hired Gillispie. He was their 4-5 choice. It is Kentucky...that's what you don't get. BRAND NAME!!!! It draws big names to it. Cincinnati does not nor did not do that when there was an opening. A coach at Kentucky is King of the Common Wealth. Cincinnati doesn't have that drawing power. The Brand Name won't overcome negative events. There isn't a Brand Name coach here to aid in that. Huggs name helped draw for years. At the end with all the negative program stuff he stopped drawing. Attendance and recruiting dropped off.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a large group of people that agreed with this at the time he was hired. I may be remembering this incorrectly (and I'll welcome some articles from the time of his hiring correcting me), but I thought he was considered a very good hire at the time. Not on the same level as Calipari, but then few hires are. Gillespie had just finished completely rebuilding A&M and had significant success everywhere he'd been prior to Kentucky.

Not by anyone who knew the whole story of his "adventures" at Tulsa, Illinois, UTEP, or Texas A&M.

Gillispie was a TERRIBLE hire for UK. The AD failed to do his homework in 2007.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

You are one of those people that will hold a line regardless of facts. It did hurt their program. It ran Tubby Smith off. They hired the flavor of the month in Gillispie. Fact is they got Calipari because it was his dream job. They couldn't get the coaches they wanted when they hired Gillispie. He was their 4-5 choice. It is Kentucky...that's what you don't get. BRAND NAME!!!! It draws big names to it. Cincinnati does not nor did not do that when there was an opening. A coach at Kentucky is King of the Common Wealth. Cincinnati doesn't have that drawing power. The Brand Name won't overcome negative events. There isn't a Brand Name coach here to aid in that. Huggs name helped draw for years. At the end with all the negative program stuff he stopped drawing. Attendance and recruiting dropped off.

UC has been Up & Down in my lifetime.

Oscar made the program great in late 1950's. Hogue, Thacker, Bonham, Wilson (et al) made it even better in early 1960's.

Tay Baker failed to take advantage of that. Gale Catlett restored the luster but then got caught cheating.

Ed Badger and Tony Yates made the 1980's UC's worst decade since the 1940's.

The 1990's were UC's best decade since the 1960's but there was a dropoff in the latter part of the 2000's.

50's UP, 60's UP, 70's UP, 80's DOWN, 90's UP, 2K's UP and DOWN.

[Mick's Da Man]

Not by anyone who knew the whole story of his "adventures" at Tulsa, Illinois, UTEP, or Texas A&M.

Gillispie was a TERRIBLE hire for UK. The AD failed to do his homework in 2007.

Absolutely. For once we completely agree.

[RobPoppeil]

You are one of those people that will hold a line regardless of facts. It did hurt their program. It ran Tubby Smith off. They hired the flavor of the month in Gillispie. Fact is they got Calipari because it was his dream job. They couldn't get the coaches they wanted when they hired Gillispie. He was their 4-5 choice. It is Kentucky...that's what you don't get. BRAND NAME!!!! It draws big names to it. Cincinnati does not nor did not do that when there was an opening. A coach at Kentucky is King of the Common Wealth. Cincinnati doesn't have that drawing power. The Brand Name won't overcome negative events. There isn't a Brand Name coach here to aid in that. Huggs name helped draw for years. At the end with all the negative program stuff he stopped drawing. Attendance and recruiting dropped off.

And you have presented no facts at all. I have shown examples how negativity has had no effects on programs. You are keeping your line without any facts.

Yes, UK got Calipari because it was his dream job. Despite negativity surrounding the program. That proves the point. The negativity did not hurt the brand name (even if you capitolize it).

[Mick's Da Man]

And you have presented no facts at all. I have shown examples how negativity has had no effects on programs. You are keeping your line without any facts.

Yes, UK got Calipari because it was his dream job. Despite negativity surrounding the program. That proves the point. The negativity did not hurt the brand name (even if you capitolize it).

UK got Cal for a number of reasons. Near the top of the list was the fact that Memphis was a major program playing in a mid-major conference (CUSA). Once conference play started in January, ESPN and all the other sports coverage media ignored Memphis until about March Madness time. Cal got no attention. UK will be a headline every night and Cal will get plenty of attention that he craves. This was an ego-driven move.

[Carin's Dad]

UK got Cal for a number of reasons. Near the top of the list was the fact that Memphis was a major program playing in a mid-major conference (CUSA). Once conference play started in January, ESPN and all the other sports coverage media ignored Memphis until about March Madness time. Cal got no attention. UK will be a headline every night and Cal will get plenty of attention that he craves. This was an ego-driven move.A successful coach with an ego? A successful anyone with an ego? That's hard to believe!

The biggest reason was to top his old Northeast rival Pitino by finally being the top dog. He's always been 1/2 step behind Rick. Not any more!

[RobPoppeil]

UK got Cal for a number of reasons. Near the top of the list was the fact that Memphis was a major program playing in a mid-major conference (CUSA). Once conference play started in January, ESPN and all the other sports coverage media ignored Memphis until about March Madness time. Cal got no attention. UK will be a headline every night and Cal will get plenty of attention that he craves. This was an ego-driven move.

Yes, all of the negativity surrounding that program didn't change that. Instead they got the best coach and now the top recruits. Negativity didn't change anything.

[Pie Hole]

UK got Cal for a number of reasons. Near the top of the list was the fact that Memphis was a major program playing in a mid-major conference (CUSA). Once conference play started in January, ESPN and all the other sports coverage media ignored Memphis until about March Madness time. Cal got no attention. UK will be a headline every night and Cal will get plenty of attention that he craves. This was an ego-driven move.

Lol, whatever. UK went after Cal because he is the greatest recruiter in the country. And this had nothing to do with ego. What would you do if you were Cal?

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Lol, whatever. UK went after Cal because he is the greatest recruiter in the country. And this had nothing to do with ego. What would you do if you were Cal?

One of the best recruiters, sure. Not better than Roy Williams or Billy Donovan.

[Doss]

So what if Cal is a great recruiter and Rick is a great recruiter, we have Mick.