Washington Post - Why Buzz Williams went to VT

[CTWarrior]

Stumbled across this.  No real answers

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/buzz-williams-left-marquette-for-virginia-tech-and-many-wonder-why/2015/03/09/b6809952-c667-11e4-a199-6cb5e63819d2_story.html?tid=trending_strip_2

[tower912]

MU officials swear he ran a squeaky clean program.    He never told VT officials why he was leaving MU.    Maybe just a new challenge for someone who doesn't want to be pigeonholed?   

[Tugg Speedman]

This part is damming ...

He hadn't said anything for a long time, instead writing statistics from a post-game summary – the obituary of Virginia Tech's 21-point loss to Miami, an NCAA tournament bubble team on the Hokies' home floor – before folding the paper, using two fingers to press down so the crease was perfect. "They was booing us," Williams said finally, turning to face the players he inherited almost a year ago.

His team hadn't just lost; it had been lazy and uninspired, deadly sins for a coach who sees himself as an overachiever. Two players missed a weightlifting session two days earlier, he had been told, because they didn't want to walk in the snow. Now this: Virginia Tech's 10th Atlantic Coast Conference loss by a double-digit margin, a bottom-half finish in 18 of the 21 statistical categories maintained by the ACC, and seven consecutive losses to end a miserable first season in Blacksburg.

"I'm not going to endure this just because I'm getting paid," Williams, 42, told the players, who remained quiet. "I'm just . . . not."

[GGGG]

MU officials swear he ran a squeaky clean program.    He never told VT officials why he was leaving MU.    Maybe just a new challenge for someone who doesn't want to be pigeonholed?   

Or, as Paint Touches tweeted, maybe it was just that he knew this year's team was going to be bad too.

[Benny B]

Stumbled across this.  No real answers

It seemed to answer the question of whether we'll ever get an answer about why Bazz left.

[MUfan12]

I liked Buzz while he was here. Loved how his teams competed. Hated the way he trashed the league on the way out.

Reading this makes me so glad things worked out the way they did.

[drewm88]

I liked Buzz while he was here. Loved how his teams competed. Hated the way he trashed the league on the way out.

Reading this makes me so glad things worked out the way they did.

+1

[MerrittsMustache]

Buzz is a unique, complex, selfish, quirky, tightly-wound, thin-skinned guy who strikes me as the type of person who starts feeling uncomfortable when he gets too comfortable. I truly think that he was getting restless at Marquette (it was by far the longest he'd been at one job), felt underappreciated, lost his "underdog edge" and wanted to get a fresh start at a "big 6" school where he'd be a local hero if he took them to the tourney consistently but didn't have great pressure to do so.

[ChicosBailBonds]

MU officials swear he ran a squeaky clean program.    He never told VT officials why he was leaving MU.    Maybe just a new challenge for someone who doesn't want to be pigeonholed?   

Is this supposed to be in teal....

[rocket surgeon]

Buzz is a unique, complex, selfish, quirky, tightly-wound, thin-skinned guy who strikes me as the type of person who starts feeling uncomfortable when he gets too comfortable. I truly think that he was getting restless at Marquette (it was by far the longest he'd been at one job), felt underappreciated, lost his "underdog edge" and wanted to get a fresh start at a "big 6" school where he'd be a local hero if he took them to the tourney consistently but didn't have great pressure to do so.

i like your analysis. his dreams of being carried off the hokie floor filled with moshing students has been crushed.  time to dust off the old station wagon again and see if she has a few more miles in her?

[jesmu84]

This part is damming ...

He hadn't said anything for a long time, instead writing statistics from a post-game summary – the obituary of Virginia Tech's 21-point loss to Miami, an NCAA tournament bubble team on the Hokies' home floor – before folding the paper, using two fingers to press down so the crease was perfect. "They was booing us," Williams said finally, turning to face the players he inherited almost a year ago.

His team hadn't just lost; it had been lazy and uninspired, deadly sins for a coach who sees himself as an overachiever. Two players missed a weightlifting session two days earlier, he had been told, because they didn't want to walk in the snow. Now this: Virginia Tech's 10th Atlantic Coast Conference loss by a double-digit margin, a bottom-half finish in 18 of the 21 statistical categories maintained by the ACC, and seven consecutive losses to end a miserable first season in Blacksburg.

"I'm not going to endure this just because I'm getting paid," Williams, 42, told the players, who remained quiet. "I'm just . . . not."

This reminds me of whatever troll posted how much better VT was than us cause they played Duke close one game

[HutchwasClutch]

One aspect of the article that stood out for me is the anecdote how he was supposed to get VT students enthused about attending a game or games, whatever it was, and he did a 180 flip on that message.  It just reminded me how I don't think I ever heard or read him talk about, much less embrace in any way, shape, or form,  MU students, alums, season ticket holders, support of MU in the greater Milwaukee community, etc. etc.  

I just don't get how a major college coach can just brush off his own team's fan and student base as he does, he has such a bunker mentality, like I don't need you fans, I don't care about you fans.

[HutchwasClutch]

Buzz is a unique, complex, selfish, quirky, tightly-wound, thin-skinned guy who strikes me as the type of person who starts feeling uncomfortable when he gets too comfortable. I truly think that he was getting restless at Marquette (it was by far the longest he'd been at one job), felt underappreciated, lost his "underdog edge" and wanted to get a fresh start at a "big 6" school where he'd be a local hero if he took them to the tourney consistently but didn't have great pressure to do so.

I agree with that completely, that and he knew this team was in for a very rough ride this year.  He had that interview with Parrish from CBSsports where he talked about his almost obsession of being fired from a job.  He knew the heat was really going to get turned up on him this year after the major disappointment of last season.

[HutchwasClutch]

MU officials swear he ran a squeaky clean program.   

That's what is put out there for public consumption.  MU officials are not going to rat themselves out and endanger things while they're getting back on track under Wojo.

[keefe]

This part is damming ...

Leave it to beavers?

[Tugg Speedman]

Leave it to beavers?

Eddie Haskell did a fair share of Damming in adult life.