Some snippets from NOLA.com's messageboard AKA
New Orleans Times-Picayune (
Link):
- "How could any coach leave a plum job like UNO ?? After all UNO is a prestigious SunBelt conference team with thousands of alumni living in N.O. that averages about 500 fans in a 10,000 seat arena!! Looks like this was a no-brainer for Buzz Williams!! Good Luck, Buzz"
- "I agree it wasn't the sporting thing to do right now, but...he was told that he'd be playing in his home arena thisyear and now the alumni are being told that it won't be until 2008."
- "NO offense to Marquette fans--but I mean maybe I could understand his decision if he may have left for Duke, Kentucky etc..
I dont think it is appropriate. No matter if arena is ready or not. Buzz fizzed out on this one. And he wasnt a good coach. Thought UNO was predicted to be better than they were
Need to find a old coach that has been around awhile. Coastal Carolina hired the former CLemson Coach. Maybe we can persuade Digger Phelps to come to UNO! ha"
- "With the declining enrollment and lack of fan support at UNO, there is no wonder why Buzz left. Anyone who thinks being head coach at UNO (Sun Belt) is better than being an assistant at Marquette (Big East) knows absolutely nothing about basketball. The timing is suspect, but who can blame the guy. Maybe it is time to hire Bernard Griffith - finally!"
- "Marquette under Crean is sleazy.
They "allegedly" tampered with Dan Fitzgerald who was playing for Tulane;
They trumpe(t) their academics, but take non qualifiers and partials. (hellow D Wade)
And now this - you might have a case of tortious interference, knowing Crean
Good luck Privateers."
- "This move is bush league. Everyone in the UNO community has known for quite some time that the arena would not be ready for the upcoming bball season. Don't let Mr. Buzz pull your leg on that one! Besides, this was the perfect opportunity for him to build a fan base by recruiting wisely and putting a good product on the floor without any high expectations being pressed on him given the circumstances.
This was a coward move. He either realized that he wasn't ready to be a head coach, or he was just being greedy and going after the money. IMHO, his decision to leave had as much to do with the arena as FEMA has had in helping people get back on their feet."
