Buzz: All you can do now is support him

[LA Muskie]

I've obviously been following this board the last week because of my vested interest in keeping Coach Miller in Xavier Blue.  So with today's announcement, I think it's safe to say that I probably won't be around these parts much anymore.  I hope you didn't mind me hanging around...

Anyway, I wanted to throw this out there for you.  About 4 years ago, Thad Matta left us to go to Ohio State, shrouded in secrecy.  The University acted very quickly to name Sean Miller, a guy very few fans really knew, although he had been on the sidelines for the past 3 years (and, before that, at a number of BCS schools).  Needless to say, the reaction was not nearly 100% positive.  Some folks  outright hated the move -- they thought we deserved an experienced head coach.  Others weren't sure how to feel, but they felt the decision was rushed and that all possibilities hadn't been vetted thoroughly.  Frankly, only a small percentage initially were supportive.

After Miller's first year -- the first non-post-season season in recent memory -- there were calls for his head, with many others expecting him to be on a very short leash.  His second season was marginally better, but still required a run through the A-10 tournament to qualify for the NCAAs.  You probably see where I'm going with this.  Now, 4 years later, Sean is so loved by the fans that he is seen as the program's savior -- the one coach we supposedly can't afford to leave even though we've done pretty well replacing previously irreplaceable coaches.

I am embarrassed to think that I wasn't horribly supportive of my University's choice 4 years ago, and I am even more embarrassed that I didn't give Coach Miller enough of a chance out of the gates.  Most transitions take time -- just ask Billy Gillespie and his UK brethren.  But eventually the cream rises to the top.  There's never a guarantee of success, but the fact that Buzz isn't horribly experienced as a head coach is only one of many, many factors that may determine whether he finds success at Marquette.  If I were you, I'd give him a chance.  I sure wish I had when we were in a similar boat.

[Ahoya06]

Well said.

Can't say I wish we didn't get Miller away from you guys, but all things considered, it'll be interesting to see what happens now.

Good luck, and hopefully, we'll see you in the post-season soon! (Or maybe in the regular. I always thought bringing back an MU-Xavier series would be cool)

[LA Muskie]

Well said.

Can't say I wish we didn't get Miller away from you guys, but all things considered, it'll be interesting to see what happens now.

Good luck, and hopefully, we'll see you in the post-season soon! (Or maybe in the regular. I always thought bringing back an MU-Xavier series would be cool)

Thanks.  I can understand other programs wanting him.  Frankly, this whole Oklahoma State thing has me nervous -- not because I think he'll end up there, but you never know how far the domino effect will go.

And I would love to see that series started up again as well.  I know many, many Xavier fans would, too.  (Of course, they'd also like the Big East to break up and create some sort of "Catholic" conference, but I keep telling them they're smoking the same stuff that Drew Lavendar apparently smokes...)

[77fan88warrior]

LA Muskie,
Thanks for trying to talk sense to some of the fanatics. I lived through the Dukiet years and I'm actually excited we retained a recruiter. Last year the scoopers would have buried Glenn Rivers and now they would have begged for him. It is a difficult hire and let's encourage our coach to be be as succesful as Scoopers are ardent fans.


                                  Go Buzzzzzz!