Crean Sings Praises of Seniors

[Lennys Tap]

Hardly.

Saying nothing in that environment was a sign of respect.  The players had to know that making a negative remark about Crean was a sure-fire applause generator, and a positive remark would have been booed.  Yet three of four avoided the easy cheers.  Why?

In that situation there was every incentive to go public with criticism, and every incentive to keep praise to yourself.




Saying nothing in that environment was indeed a sign of respect - to Senior Day, to their families and to Marquette University - not to Tom Crean. Venting anger toward TC might have been "a sure-fire applause generator" but it wouldn't have been appropriate. Wes's rather good natured jab aside, the seniors took the high road. I applaud the fact that they didn't think "there was every incentive to go public with their criticism" in this forum and I salute their maturity. But I don't for a minute misconstrue their silence as homage to TC.

[PE8983]

If they said anything about TC, why are you assuming it would have been venting anger or that it would be negative?  Why not thanking TC for bringing us together to this fine university, helping us become men, developing our game...  That would have shown alot more class than not saying anything or saying what WM did.  How do you know they would have been boo'ed if they said anything positive?  And, even if they were, they could have stood up for TC, and told everyone what he did for the university and the players, etc...  That would certainly have shown alot of class.

BTW, I'm not saying any of these players lack class.  I'm saying that their lack of any comments regarding TC says alot about their feelings regarding him. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

One thing is for certain, no matter what he does, Crean is always going to be criticized by a certain group of fans.

Last week he was on with Mike Wilbon, and people were disappointed that he didn't say anything about James.

This week, he's quoted in an article praising the 4 seniors, and people are disappointed.

Tom Crean could save a baby from a burning building, and inevitably, somebody would come on this board and say he only did it for the self-promotion.

As far as the players go, why doesn't somebody just ask them?

[PE8983]

The players don't care and don't talk about TC.  Why does he need to do an interview about them?  He doesn't and shouldn't.  He coaches IU now. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The players don't care and don't talk about TC.  Why does he need to do an interview about them?  He doesn't and shouldn't.  He coaches IU now. 

It was a puff piece about 4 graduating seniors and the guy that worked closely with them.

People are looking too much into it.

[NavinRJohnson]

It was a puff piece about 4 graduating seniors and the guy that worked closely with them.

Correct. An easy article for a lazy writer/Crean mouthpiece.

[The Lens]

It was a puff piece about 4 graduating seniors and the guy that worked closely with them.

People are looking too much into it.

I think it's a bit odd that GH chose to use only one voice in that article.  No Buzz, no Fr Wild, No academic support, no Homer, Bradley Center game op staff.  Not saying that TC called GH with the idea, but it is still is a little odd, IMO.

That all being said, it's a great article.  MU needs all the good press it can get.  This backwards state bends over backwards (no pun intended) to talk about the smart, hard-working, gritty, blue-collar, workman-like effort of Joe Krabbenhoft so it's nice to see something praise the impeccable character of MU's 4 seniors.  The one thing you have to give TC...of his players that stuck around, they were GREAT kids.

[PE8983]

"Correct. An easy article for a lazy writer/Crean mouthpiece."

I agree, but it still doesn't mean that TC has to want to get involved.  Let's call a spade a spade, though - TC loves being in the media under any circumstances.

[Lennys Tap]

The problem that many have with TC is that he turns every situation that he's even tangentially involved with into a public relations opportunity for himself. He is like the guy on a blind date who spends the first 30 minutes talking about himself and then says "Enough about me. Lets talk about you. What do you think of ME so far?" He just completed a 6-25 season that incuded a 1-17 slate in conference and a loss at home to mighty Lipscomb. It was easily the worst year in IU history. His "coach-speak" interviews ("It's all about the process", "We're getting better every day", etc.) are uninteresting when he's winning and pathetic when he's getting pounded. I know it's not in his nature, but someone should advise him to give it a rest.

[PE8983]

Completely agree.

"It's all about the process", "We're getting better every day", etc.  These comments are for losers.  Billy Gillespie has been using them over the last month, and he's about to get fired.  Mick Cronin's been saying it lately, and I wouldn't be surprised if he got the boot over what happened with their collapse including yesterday.  TC can get away with that at IU this year, but if it's happening two years from now, he's done.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

"Correct. An easy article for a lazy writer/Crean mouthpiece."

I agree, but it still doesn't mean that TC has to want to get involved.  Let's call a spade a spade, though - TC loves being in the media under any circumstances.

It's fine to feel that way, but let's be honest, it really doesn't matter what the guy does, somebody is going to find fault.

If he never said ANYTHING about the 4 seniors at the end of their season, somebody certainly would have ripped him for that... "Crean should have at least come out and said something about them after everything they did for him... etc. etc."

I don't know where I fall on this topic, I'm just saying that it really doesn't matter what Crean does, he's going to get ripped either way.

In some cases he deserves to be ripped, it some cases people are just looking for a reason to take a shot at him.

[PE8983]

Come on - are there actually any MU fans that would be looking for some TC comments on the graduating seniors? 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Come on - are there actually any MU fans that would be looking for some TC comments on the graduating seniors? 

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=13240.0

read this thread.

It's not exactly a smoking gun, but whenever the guy talks, people post something critical.

If he only talks about IU, then people think he forgot where he came from (WHAT ABOUT MU, TOM?!). If he mentions MU, people think he's self-promoting (GEEZ, TOM, WE GET IT ALREADY!)

It's probably the same way some people at UNO feel about Buzz. I really like him so far, but I bet their fans aren't not his biggest fans.

[PE8983]

A couple of posters on one thread in a message board is what it is - not even a slight minority of the fan base.  By and large, nobody cares what TC says or does re MU. 

[Marquette84]

Why not thanking TC for bringing us together to this fine university, helping us become men, developing our game... 

Because anyone making that statement would have been booed.  Nobody wants to set themselves up for that type of response from the crowd.

That would have shown alot more class than not saying anything or saying what WM did. 

Yes, it would have shown more class.  It also would have attracted a loud chorus of boos.

How do you know they would have been boo'ed if they said anything positive? 

Please.  A Memphis basketball player has more intelligence than you if you believe that a positive statement about Crean wouldn't have been booed. 

A 0.5 second appearance in a four minute long highlight film attracts boos.  Certainly a laudatory statment would do the same.

And, even if they were, they could have stood up for TC, and told everyone what he did for the university and the players, etc...  That would certainly have shown alot of class.

BTW, I'm not saying any of these players lack class.  I'm saying that their lack of any comments regarding TC says alot about their feelings regarding him. 

I agree.  I just don't agree that it signifies that they are upset with him.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I think it's a bit odd that GH chose to use only one voice in that article.  No Buzz, no Fr Wild, No academic support, no Homer, Bradley Center game op staff.  Not saying that TC called GH with the idea, but it is still is a little odd, IMO.

You're right. He would NEVER call a reporter.

[Lennys Tap]

84,

These guys have had 10 months to let everyone know how much TC means/meant to them. Their silence has been deafening. To say that 3 of them not mentioning him on Senior Day was somehow a sign of respect is ludicrous. The love they have for "Coach Buzz" is well documented. That they have mostly kept their negative feelings regarding TC to themselves is to their credit.

[PE8983]

"Because anyone making that statement would have been booed.  Nobody wants to set themselves up for that type of response from the crowd."

I was not able to get to Milw for a game this year, but, are you saying that the overall sentiment of fans (not just a couple of fans) at the BC is a dislike of TC?  To the extent, that they would boo during one of the 4 seniors speech's at their going away celebration?  If so, then that's sad.  Both disrespect for that player, and for what TC did at MU (despite his best Art Modell ditch out of town).

[The Lens]

"Because anyone making that statement would have been booed.  Nobody wants to set themselves up for that type of response from the crowd."

I was not able to get to Milw for a game this year, but, are you saying that the overall sentiment of fans (not just a couple of fans) at the BC is a dislike of TC?  To the extent, that they would boo during one of the 4 seniors speech's at their going away celebration?  If so, then that's sad.  Both disrespect for that player, and for what TC did at MU (despite his best Art Modell ditch out of town).

PE, you're arguing with TC's wife Joanie.  You'll never win.

Kind of like how we all booed Tony Miller when he thanked KO in 1995?

[Marquette84]

I was not able to get to Milw for a game this year, but, are you saying that the overall sentiment of fans (not just a couple of fans) at the BC is a dislike of TC?  To the extent, that they would boo during one of the 4 seniors speech's at their going away celebration?  If so, then that's sad.  Both disrespect for that player, and for what TC did at MU (despite his best Art Modell ditch out of town).

Yes.  Absolutely they would.

Witness:

you're arguing with TC's wife Joanie.  You'll never win.

See what I mean?  Classless response--exactly what I said would would happen if someone said something nice about Crean.

Does Jerel or DJ or Burke really want to be on the receiving end of these comments?  I don't think so.

Why would someone--especially an MU player in a public forum--want to be subjected to this garbage?

Since this is a fairly typical reaction from guys like DamonKeysContactLens and his ilk, keeping your mouth shut in public is more respectful of Crean than actually saying anything.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

A couple of posters on one thread in a message board is what it is - not even a slight minority of the fan base.  By and large, nobody cares what TC says or does re MU. 

You do realize that we both fit in that "couple of posters" in one thread on a message board you are referring to.

My point still remains that regardless of what the guy does, somebody's going to find fault. I know it's the nature of the head coaching profession, but at times it borders on ridiculous.

He could cure cancer and somebody would still say he only did it to get his name out there for another coaching job.

He's never going to be able to win with a certain (small) % of the MU population.