article on Williams (AD)

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Only on this board can you have individuals simultaneously panicking that Buzz is going to be in extremely high demand from other institutions and that our board of trustees is so insanely stupid that they are going to run Buzz out of town.

[garekis]

Just for fun, I'll try to summarize the more coherent and cogent thoughts in this thread:

(1) We all want to keep Buzz.
(2) The most recent past and current University administrations did and have done a good job of protecting and supporting the University's golden goose, Men's Basketball.
(3) Recently (and perhaps historically), some alums also have done an admirable job supporting the University and, specifically, its Men's basketball team.
(4) Some folks are (irrationally) suspicious of Larry because of his undergrad alma mater.
(5) Some folks are (justifiably) concerned that Marquette may find itself in an unfortunate position if the Big East implodes.

I don't find any of this particularly controversial.

[Pakuni]

Let's stop all the rumors and overreactions. Larry Williams is nothing more than a Notre Dame grad who's out to destroy all of Marquette's athletic programs while at the same time ruining all of his credibility as an AD. That was obvious from Day 1.

Larry Williams = Manchurian candidate.

[denverMU]

The issue is: we finally have a great Coach, who loves MU, is a great representative of the values of MU, has a very solid faith based attitude, graduates his student athletes, holds his players accountable, recruits great student athletes and wins.  Our new AD, who happens to be a graduate of a dubious institution in South Bend Indiana, has a chance to speak positively about him and reassure all MU fans he will do everything to keep said Coach at MU but instead makes a couple of of not so nice things and makes a comment about having Buzz signed to a long term contract.  As if Buzz will have no other option at the end of this basketball season.

[ringout]

I will give LW the benefit of the doubt,  same as I did for Buzz in April '08. 

Father Pillarz could not hire anyone who did not understand that Basketball Coach was way down the list of concerns.  Could he?

[MerrittsMustache]

Am I the only one who thinks that Larry used different words but said a lot of the same things that Buzz has been saying for the last few years?

[Pakuni]

Am I the only one who thinks that Larry used different words but said a lot of the same things that Buzz has been saying for the last few years?

Nope.
Mountain being made from a molehill here.

[LON]

Nope.
Mountain being made from a molehill here.

It's quite obvious Walker completely took quotes from LW out of context to paint MU in the most negative light possible.

[79Warrior]

79 Warrior
Fair you think I am way off on The Al. Being a supporter and getting things done are two different things. Former players and a group of alums made it happen.

Goose, I agree. but it starts at the top. If Bob Wild did not support it, it would never have gotten off the ground. All I am saying is the University brass gets it.

[Goose]

79Warriors
It was not a hard sell to Wild to get a free building. I would strongly argue they never have gotten it...but that is just my opinion. Been around here quite a long time and stand behind my comments. Plenty of coaches have come and gone due to issues with the higher brass.

[RJax55]

79Warriors
It was not a hard sell to Wild to get a free building. I would strongly argue they never have gotten it...but that is just my opinion. Been around here quite a long time and stand behind my comments. Plenty of coaches have come and gone due to issues with the higher brass.

Goose, you're living in the past. The last one was KO and that was 1994. Deane was forced out by administration and Crean left on his own accord.

If anything, the administration bend over backwards to keep TC here.

[tower912]

The Jesuits have to tread the tightrope of education and high level college athletics.   I think more recent generations have understood the relationship better than previous generations.    Remember MU turned down an invitation to be part of the original Big East because they thought it would be easier to make the tourney as an independent.    A wee bit off in that forecast.    They also went through a generation that thought (A) the facilities were good enough for Al, they should be good enough for anybody and (B) giving up the Warrior nickname wouldn't have repercussions.      The powers that be now realize that basketball is an integral part of Marquette.   For the last decade, they have done and spent what it takes to be a big-time player, because they know what a successful, hi-profile team does for the image of the educational institution.     I firmly believe that Pilarz (G-town alum) and Larry Williams (ND alum) see it.    I look at this article as a small thing that, if anything, shows that AD Williams is also a work in progress.

[Goose]

RJax
Do you think TC has same limitations of recruiting at IU that he had at MU? MU's definition of student athlete is different than most schools. TC had the same gripe as KO and Rick.

[RJax55]

RJax
Do you think TC has same limitations of recruiting at IU that he had at MU? MU's definition of student athlete is different than most schools. TC had the same gripe as KO and Rick.

What would TC complain about? During his time, MU allowed him to bring in JUCOs and a Prop 48. Seems to me that he had the administration's full support to bring in student athletes that TC thought would be successful here.

I understand KO and Rick's complains, but again, that was long ago and things have changed.

Other than dirty recruiting (which I would not support, and hope other MU fan wouldn't either) how has MU's administration limited both TC and Buzz in who they recruit?

Furthermore, I don't see TC bringing in kids at IU that the MU administration would have turned away.

[tower912]

pretty sure one of the things Chicos was adamant about was that Crean was placed under MORE restrictions at IU, as the administration wanted to exorcise the demons of Davis and Sampson that resulted in lots of recreational pharmaceuticals and failing grades.   Crean wasn't permitted to bring in JUCO's like Buzz was.    You don't remember these things?     Buzz sustained success through JUCo's, Crean had to start from scratch.    Check your gut again, Goose.   

[Goose]

Obviously I am not Chico's. I thought Chico's was off his rocker when he said IU would be tougher.

[tower912]

I have always been of the opinion that starting from scratch with restrictions is tougher in the short term, but recruiting to IU is easier in the long term.     All Crean has to do is close down the borders and occasionally score a national recruit and he can be successful.....if he ever learns to make an in-game adjustment. 

[Canadian Dimes]

Well LArry Williams is from ND, so like every other person that has been associated with that cesspool of arrogance....just sayin

[GGGG]

Dudes been here two months and Scoopers are already throwing him under the bus based on a few quotes that could have been taken out of context.

What a nice, supportive group we have here....

[wildbill sb]

"...the politically correct overpower the right decision to be made."

I'm not sure why "political correctness" (whatever that means) is a negative aspect in the  hiring/retaining of a basketball coach.  It seem to me that MU leadership has embraced a basketball coach who embodies the notion of political correctness, that is, a person, himself from humble origins who actively seeks out those student athletes whose earlier lives have not benefited from from what our society has to offer.  Actually, the activities of Buzz Williams dovetail perfectly with Marquette's mission, whether it be as a pioneer in the admission of women to a university education or the current and continuing aim of providing social/educational opportunities to many of Milwaukee and Chicago's disadvantaged students.

MU and BW - a "marriage" made in heaven!  

[Hoopaloop]

The issue is: we finally have a great Coach, who loves MU, is a great representative of the values of MU, has a very solid faith based attitude, graduates his student athletes, holds his players accountable, recruits great student athletes and wins.  Our new AD, who happens to be a graduate of a dubious institution in South Bend Indiana, has a chance to speak positively about him and reassure all MU fans he will do everything to keep said Coach at MU but instead makes a couple of of not so nice things and makes a comment about having Buzz signed to a long term contract.  As if Buzz will have no other option at the end of this basketball season.

This is crazy talk.  You don't know what context his remarks were made.  You are way over your skis on this one.

One man does not make Marquette.  MU has had many great coaches.  They all leave at one point or another.  Buzz has said he wants to stay, but if he does leave then Marquette will hire another coach. 

Some of the comments in this thread are ignoring that Buzz and the program are a bit under the microscope this year.  The incidents of last year cost two people their jobs, brought some bad publicity to the school.  Not everyone cares about basketball or athletics at the university.  First and foremost, it's a university of higher education, not there to produce basketball players or delight sports fans.  It happens to do the latter, but that is not the core mission.  As a result, there is some scrutiny.  As super fans here on this board, we excuse these things like they didn't happen or had little impact.  Other members of the university see it through an entirely different prism, whether they are right or wrong isn't the point because that's how they view it.

These anti-Notre Dame comments are reflecting very well on the Marquette graduates here.  Very well.  What's next, ripping on Dwyane Wade for wearing shorts from another school? 

[downtown85]

These anti-Notre Dame comments are reflecting very well on the Marquette graduates here.  Very well.  What's next, ripping on Dwyane Wade for wearing shorts from another school? 

Ripping on ND is part of the Marquette experience as far as I am concerned.   

[real chili 83]

Ripping on ND is part of the Marquette experience as far as I am concerned.  

Agreed.

Do we take it too far sometimes....maybe.  But who cares.  

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Ripping on ND is part of the Marquette experience as far as I am concerned.   

Should be a 1 credit class in fact.

[Dawson Rental]

Let's do a little work with one of William's quotes...

"But that is his passion and exuberance. He is either going to explode because his tie is on too tight or he's going to offend somebody that is irrevocable."  Like I just did.

...there, FIXED!