If The Situation Arises...

[4everwarriors]

whereby Crean is offered the UK job and he accepts, how would you cats feel then about TC. Would those who defend him and spoken favorably in the past, do the same even if he leaves? Would you be genuinely happy for the man and rationalize that MU's job can't compete with Kentucky's? Or, does your tune now change once you realize he fell out of love in Milwaukee and jilted you for a new lover? Pissed off, resigned to the inevitable, or at peace with the thought that he really didn't want to do it, but would be a fool not to?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

whereby Crean is offered the UK job and he accepts, how would you cats feel then about TC. Would those who defend him and spoken favorably in the past, do the same even if he leaves? Would you be genuinely happy for the man and rationalize that MU's job can't compete with Kentucky's? Or, does your tune now change once you realize he fell out of love in Milwaukee and jilted you for a new lover? Pissed off, resigned to the inevitable, or at peace with the thought that he really didn't want to do it, but would be a fool not to?

OK, I'll take the bait and answer as honestly as possible.

whereby Crean is offered the UK job and he accepts, how would you cats feel then about TC. Would those who defend him and spoken favorably in the past, do the same even if he leaves?

Well, I would be disapointed that we lost our coach, but I would understand why he left. I personally don't think UK is the greatest job on earth, but I know that it is a pretty premier gig. I love MU, and I think Crean (if he stays) could do very well here in the long run. I realize that there are some better jobs, but Crean's specific situation here at MU is pretty good and only getting better. He's the king of the campus and has been provided almost everything he could ask for to be successful.

Also, Crean leaving really wouldn't change everything he has done for MU. He has lifted the program a great deal in 8 years and has definately left the program better than be found it.

He also never came out and claimed an un-dying allegence to all things MU, and then bolted for the money. I know we hope Crean bleeds blue and gold and is loyal to MU until his death, but that's not really realistic. Coaches move and change jobs... I just hope the MU job is attractive enough to Crean that he stays another 10 years. 

Would you be genuinely happy for the man and rationalize that MU's job can't compete with Kentucky's? Or, does your tune now change once you realize he fell out of love in Milwaukee and jilted you for a new lover?


I don't really know the Crean's personally, so it would be hard to genuinely feel happy for them if he got the UK job. Like I said, I would understand why, but I would be disapointed that he wasn't still MU's coach (probably a little selfish on my part). Also, I'm not sure Crean taking a new job means he has "fallen out of love with Milwaukee". I grew up in MN and I LOVE it there, but I still live in Milwaukee. I didn't fall out of love with MN when I decided to move to Milwaukee... MU was where I wanted to go to school... so I moved. Doesn't mean I don't like where I used to live.

Lastly, if Crean did leave, I was really hoping that MU landed Rick because I'm a big fan of his and I think he could be successful at MU if he wanted to.

Those are my honest answers.

How would you feel if MU won the national title? would that change your tune?

[LastWarrior]

I would say thanks for all you did for our program, thanks for how far you took us from the mess of Deane, thanks for the energy you brought back to the program, thanks for the Big East, thanks for the yellow shirts, thanks for the weekend games, thanks for the Final Four, thanks for recruiting Wade and the three Amigos, thanks for Trevor Mbakwe and Nick Williams.  I would wish him the best of luck at UK and as much it pains me to root for UK, I would root for him to succeed at UK and win the SEC every year.  I would be very envious of UK because I think they'd be getting a great coach and great person.

No sour grapes on my part... you can't hold a grudge against somebody trying to better themselves.  That said, he's staying and that is a huge coup for MU.  Like I said below, I think he's here for the long haul and that is a good thing for the MU hoops program.

[Harrison]

I do not have the man love for Crean that many do.  I could care less about Crean and that has nothing to do with himself or his success.  I care about Mu basketball not the coach.  If he is the MU coach I expect success or he should be removed.  If he leaves of his own accord I would expect MU to hire someone capable of providing MU with a winner.  I liken it to the CEO of the stocks I own.  Could really care less about them personally, I expect them to perform or be fired and replaced with a performer, or if they choose to leave be replaced with a performer.

As far as Crean and the UK job...like I said two weeks ago it's a non issue, Crean has not done enough in his 8 years to warrant the job.  His time to strike was while his iron was hot...2003.... unfortunately for him ( if he was interested in moving) the best available job was Illionis and he correctly determined it to be no better or worse than where he was.   since then he has gone to 2 NCAA's in 4 years , lost over 11 games a year, has had 1 good recruiting class, and won 1 confernce tournament game and 0 NCAA games. 
     Not what Kentucky was looking for. 

[Final Four or Bust]

I think, realistically, fans would view him as O'Neill -- despite what I view as somewhat revisionist history about the status of the program pre-Crean, I think it is pretty much a consensus that the program pre-O'Neill WAS really at a low.  O'Neill brought us out from that and recruited well and won some big games in the tourney.  Then he bolted for an SEC job (and yes, UT isn't UK, but it is a high profile atheltic program).  Some still give O'Neill a lot of credit, but a lot (far more than I would have expected), want him to fail and were pleased to see him do so in a sort of "you'd still be coaching if you stayed" way.

Crean has done more than O'Neill, and UK is a higher profile job, but if he leaves for anyplace other than MSU (which I think is a little different), then I think a lot of fans will ultimately turn on him.  In part, its human nature.

[Marquette84]

I think, realistically, fans would view him as O'Neill -- despite what I view as somewhat revisionist history about the status of the program pre-Crean, I think it is pretty much a consensus that the program pre-O'Neill WAS really at a low.  

I don't think fans would have a better opinion of Crean after his departure than they did of O'Neill.  First, Crean has adopted the program in a way that O'Neill never did--he apprecated the hisotry, rivalries, etc.   O'Neill couldn't stand that fans cared more about Notre Dame and Wisconsin than they did for the MCC (and later Great Midwest) opponents.  He certainly wasn't very kind with his words as he left.

I just can't picture Crean being anything but gracious when he leaves, thus elminating much of the animosity.

[Dry White Toast]

"...but if he leaves for anyplace other than MSU (which I think is a little different)..."

Why is MSU different?  I know Crean coached there and Izzo is a friend/mentor, but is MSU really a stopping point for a coach?  Would Crean really want to follow his friend and the local legend that he could never live up to?  There are a lot of programs that are better jobs than MU that I can see Crean bolting for...I just don't put MSU on that list. 

Please, somebody educate me.

[ChicosBailBonds]

As an early 1990's graduate, I would thank him for taking MU somewhere that we hadn't been in 30 years and may never be back to again...the Final Four.  That was terriffic.

I would thank him for putting players back in the NBA and actually give me a reason to watch that league from time to time now.

I would thank him for making us competitive on the national scene and in one of the greatest basketball conferences to ever exist (for those early 90's grads you will remember us finishing mid pack in the MCC..now Horizon League).

I would thank him for raising the expectations at MU now to a point where 24 wins and back to back trips to the NCAA tournament are considered "embarrassing" to some and "unacceptable" to others (the vast minority, but these people breathe the same air as sane folks).

I would thank him for elevating the program, keeping us out of the police blotter and NCAA rules infraction committee.

I would completely understand him leaving for a UK type job.  I would not even be disappointed.  If he left for a non-UK type job, then yes I would be disappointed.


He has many faults, we all do.  He's tough as nails to work for (probably to play for) and he doesn't drink after games at Turners which apparently irks some folks.  He demands a lot, has a big ego (as do most coaches) and he isn't Al McGuire.  

[Coach Norman Dale]

Trying ................ not ........... to ............... respond.  Reminding myself it is Good Friday.  Can't .............. fight............. it.  It is my pet peeve, I gotta get over it. 

It is no use.  No offense intended, but my one man fight to eradicate the illogical phrase must go on -------->

I could care less about Crean

Could really care less about them personally

The phrase is "I could NOT care less"!  Please think about it.  ???

[ozmetal71]

That was the height of temerity and ego, signing his book for students and trying to get their money......

[muarmy81]

The phrase is "I could NOT care less"!  Please think about it.  ???

Some of us were in the college of Engineering...2 semesters of English, that's it 

[Sweenz]

Is Crean also trying to get there money by encouraging people to come to games so his next extension will be even larger? I don't see Crean or MU BBall trying to take advantage of student in any way. The prices for Fanatic tickets are so incredibly low, you could buy 5 season packages by just selling the Lousiville game on the street every year. Students aren't getting ripped off by Crean, he does so much for the school. If people want to buy his book, let them, do you expect him to just hand it out to the student population for free? People can buy what they want, we are consumers, and if people choose to buy a book signed by Crean, then great. It seems you continue bringing up this point, and nobody still cares.

[LastWarrior]

they don't even need to sell their Loserville tix... they can sell off the extra bobbleheads, t-shirts, and other give-aways on ebay.  There has been so much more the past few years in terms of give-aways than when I was in school.  The only thing I can remember getting was a Piep from Deep cut-out.

I'm sure Coach Crean is the driver in all of the give-aways and half-time ceremonies.  He's really increased the energy around the program tenfold.