Buzz and Larry Williams Aren't Bosom Buddies...

[Lennys Tap]

Oh, Lenny.
Had the Hiroshimites left it at "I don't think Larry and Buzz are bosom buddies" you (they) wouldn't have received much argument or grief.
However, that's not where it was left. Instead, over the past six months we've heard claims such as:
- Buzz isn't being allowed to recruit JUCOs
- multiple players are being forced out
- new academic standards are being imposed retroactively
- Buzz was forced to suspend Todd Mayo (and every other player he's suspended)
- Buzz didn't suspended players until Larry Williams came along
- Todd Mayo is a victim of new academic standards
- The administration is scaling back the program

None of these claims have proven true, and all the evidence so far indicates they are false.
So, if you want to claim Goodman's remark as some kind of vindication, have at it. But some of us know better.

Pakuni,

"I don't think Larry (+ Fr. Pilarz) and Buzz are bosom buddies" IS pretty much where I left it. A lot of people shared information, and my ONLY nugget was from someone inside the athletic department. In April 2011, this source said Buzz was very happy and hoped to be a Marquette lifer. By February 2012, this same source said that Buzz was miserable. What EXACTLY happened to mess with happy? Don't know, and never said I did. But it doesn't take Holmesian powers of deduction to figure what changed between those two dates.

So, again, I have no idea what the specifics are regarding the rift between the administration and Buzz and really don't want to argue over them. Hiroshima, to me, isn't changed academic standards, dorm policies or any single administration mandate. My Hiroshima would be losing the best coach and representative Marquette University has had since Al McGuire because he feels a once ideal workplace isn't anymore. IMO there are scores of people who could replace Fr Pilarz or LW - MU would barely feel the ripple. OTOH, Buzz is MU's 2nd winning lottery ticket (along with Al) in the last 50 years. The odds against a third are very long.

[real chili 83]

Pakuni,

"I don't think Larry (+ Fr. Pilarz) and Buzz are bosom buddies" IS pretty much where I left it. A lot of people shared information, and my ONLY nugget was from someone inside the athletic department. In April 2011, this source said Buzz was very happy and hoped to be a Marquette lifer. By February 2012, this same source said that Buzz was miserable. What EXACTLY happened to mess with happy? Don't know, and never said I did. But it doesn't take Holmesian powers of deduction to figure what changed between those two dates.

So, again, I have no idea what the specifics are regarding the rift between the administration and Buzz and really don't want to argue over them. Hiroshima, to me, isn't changed academic standards, dorm policies or any single administration mandate. My Hiroshima would be losing the best coach and representative Marquette University has had since Al McGuire because he feels a once ideal workplace isn't anymore. IMO there are scores of people who could replace Fr Pilarz or LW - MU would barely feel the ripple. OTOH, Buzz is MU's 2nd winning lottery ticket (along with Al) in the last 50 years. The odds against a third are very long.

+1

[LAZER]

At some point don't the boosters have some input on this?  Or at least their checkbooks.

[Benny B]

At some point don't the boosters have some input on this?  Or at least their checkbooks.

Of course, but keep in mind that there could always be a boatload of money bigger than yours coming from the opposite side.  Just ask Wayne Sanders.

[LAZER]

Of course, but keep in mind that there could always be a boatload of money bigger than yours coming from the opposite side.  Just ask Wayne Sanders.

I'm not sure what you're referencing.  Would you mind enlightening me?

[brewcity77]

I'm not sure what you're referencing.  Would you mind enlightening me?

Wayne Sanders was the 2004 Marquette Graduation Commencement speaker. His speech is most remembered for him saying he would donate $1,000,000 to Marquette if they changed the nickname back to Warriors, and that another anonymous donor would match that. Shortly thereafter we went through the whole Gold fiasco, but despite the $2M promised donation, Warriors was never on the table.

[muwarrior69]

So those who don't like Warriors donated more or threatened to withold donation?

[Litehouse]

Potentially.  There are a lot of stories that dropping Warriors was connected to getting the Valley Fields land from Potowatomi.

[NersEllenson]

That is simply not true.  Buzz was never told he couldn't recruit JUCOs.  There was nothing to "win."

Throughout this entire episode with Buzz and LW, you have made numerous statements passing them off as fact when indeed they were nothing but guesses.  Yeah, it is obvious that LW and Buzz are not best of friends, but making stuff up doesn't help your case.

Please.  There many here who wanted to think things were just fine between Buzz and LW, that there was no rift, that the statements made to the JS were no big deal...you included.  I have not made numerous statements here passing them off as facts when indeed they were guesses...the latest by Goodman basically affirms what I've written and shared on this topic (and been ridiculed by some) for the last 7 months.  Sorry if it bothers you that what I've shared and been hazed for is starting to get revealed as truth instead of  "nothing but guesses."

[Rubie Q]

Please.  There many here who wanted to think things were just fine between Buzz and LW, that there was no rift, that the statements made to the JS were no big deal...you included.  I have not made numerous statements here passing them off as facts when indeed they were guesses...the latest by Goodman basically affirms what I've written and shared on this topic (and been ridiculed by some) for the last 7 months.  Sorry if it bothers you that what I've shared and been hazed for is starting to get revealed as truth instead of  "nothing but guesses."

You got all that from "Buzz and Larry Williams aren't exactly bosom buddies"?

[Hards Alumni]

So those who don't like Warriors donated more or threatened to withold donation?

I can tell you for a fact that people used to donate less money because the name was the Golden Eagles and not the Warriors.  I used to work in the Blue and Gold Fund office and I saw plenty of donations for low amounts of money that said something to the effect of, "When we are back to the warriors, this will be 100x as much money".

Also, Ners, are you sure you aren't a politician?

[Goose]

Lenny
Great post. You are correct on replaciing Larry or Pilarz is easier task than replacing Buzz. I really do not think any one thing caused the problem aside from new boss not liking Buzz as much as the old one. I said in spring that basically comes down to philosophy and that was and is the issue. Buzz is unique guy and his style is not for everyone. Funny thing is same held true for Al and KO to some degree.

[foreverwarriors]

At some point don't the boosters have some input on this?  Or at least their checkbooks.

Boosters/donors have input into everything...when SP came in, one of the first things that jumped to the top of the to do list was tearing McCormick down - numerous big time donors objected and its now moved down the list and seen a substantial investment to install sprinkler systems on every floor.

[MerrittsMustache]

Please.  There many here who wanted to think things were just fine between Buzz and LW, that there was no rift, that the statements made to the JS were no big deal...you included.  I have not made numerous statements here passing them off as facts when indeed they were guesses...the latest by Goodman basically affirms what I've written and shared on this topic (and been ridiculed by some) for the last 7 months.  Sorry if it bothers you that what I've shared and been hazed for is starting to get revealed as truth instead of  "nothing but guesses."

Saying that a boss and his direct report "aren't exactly bosom buddies" is NOT the same thing as saying that there's a rift between the two people.

[Lennys Tap]

Saying that a boss and his direct report "aren't exactly bosom buddies" is NOT the same thing as saying that there's a rift between the two people.

True, but when the writer suggests that not being bosom buddies might precipitate a move from Buzz, I'd say the implication of a rift is there.

[LAZER]

A timely piece about Larry

http://www.marquette.edu/magazine/recent.php?subaction=showfull&id=1349369276&archive=&start_from=&ucat=7&

[MUeagle05]

A timely piece about Larry

http://www.marquette.edu/magazine/recent.php?subaction=showfull&id=1349369276&archive=&start_from=&ucat=7&

Quote from the article:
"We are NOT de-emphasizing basketball," he declares. "I expect us to compete for national championships, and I believe we'll have the means to do it at Marquette, but there's more to it than that. We're going to do it the right way. We can be a beacon for what's good in college athletics."  [emplasis added]

I'm sure many people will disagree, but I interpret the fact that LW feels the need to clarify that the basketball team will compete "the right way" implies that he feels that things currently and/or previously were not done the right way.  If they were already doing it the right way, he shouldn't feel the need to offer that clarification.  These little cues keep popping up and feed into the perception of a conflict with Buzz.

[PaintTouches]

A timely piece about Larry

http://www.marquette.edu/magazine/recent.php?subaction=showfull&id=1349369276&archive=&start_from=&ucat=7&

Whoa! Huge huge error on the writer's part here:"a shakeup in the athletics department resulting from complaints over the handling of sexual-misconduct allegations against some Marquette basketball players."

When I was on the Trib we were not allowed to say it was against basketball players, and had to refer to it simply as student-athletes. We even got chided by the provost himself for singling out the basketball players in an editorial. I can't believe a Marquette publication would be that careless.

[madtownwarrior]

So I am confused by the Goodman blurb on Buzz. 

Why would Goodman put it out there now?

1)  Rehashing old material - does not seem likely...

2)  He put it out there without Buzz's knowledge - does not seem likely

3)  Buzz had him put it out there - more likely


But why would Buzz have him put it out there?   If Buzz is unhappy and looking at leaving, why stir the pot now?  He could easily just keep quiet, have a great season and take the best job / highest bidder or both in spring.

Or...  Buzz likes it here, wants to stay, wants people to know there are issues with him and LW and wants help pressuring the admin to "not mess with his happy"

thoughts?

[Newsdreams]

A timely piece about Larry

http://www.marquette.edu/magazine/recent.php?subaction=showfull&id=1349369276&archive=&start_from=&ucat=7&

Was just about to post this link. Very straight forward on what he wants to accomplish and does not come across as a person that will meet you half way to compromise.

[Rubie Q]

Whoa! Huge huge error on the writer's part here:"a shakeup in the athletics department resulting from complaints over the handling of sexual-misconduct allegations against some Marquette basketball players."

When I was on the Trib we were not allowed to say it was against basketball players, and had to refer to it simply as student-athletes. We even got chided by the provost himself for singling out the basketball players in an editorial. I can't believe a Marquette publication would be that careless.

My goodness. After the lengths they've gone to to avoid having those allegations associated with the basketball team -- remember when they trotted Buzz out to say that Marquette takes allegations of sexual assault seriously, but then insisted that having Buzz make that statement was NOT an admission that the allegations involved the basketball team? -- that's a really, really bad mistake.

[LAZER]

It was written by Dan McGrath, former Sports Editor for the Chicago Tribune

[Lennys Tap]

Quote from the article:
"We are NOT de-emphasizing basketball," he declares. "I expect us to compete for national championships, and I believe we'll have the means to do it at Marquette, but there's more to it than that. We're going to do it the right way. We can be a beacon for what's good in college athletics."  [emplasis added]

I'm sure many people will disagree, but I interpret the fact that LW feels the need to clarify that the basketball team will compete "the right way" implies that he feels that things currently and/or previously were not done the right way.  If they were already doing it the right way, he shouldn't feel the need to offer that clarification.  These little cues keep popping up and feed into the perception of a conflict with Buzz.

I agree. When LW gives his vision of what MU can become (a beacon for what's good in college athletics), by definition he's ripping what came before. Any coach (especially one as concerned about his players as Buzz is) would be offended. Hell, as an alum and 46 year fan of what I consider to be a program than has generally done it the right way, I'm offended. His self importance should be offensive to everyone.

[Toolbox]

I have an idea.  Let's enjoy this season and hope/pray we make the NCAA Tournament.  Thanks.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Article sure makes him seem like a prick. I went to Notre Dame; my kids go to Yale. I worked my way through law school (albeit a shitty one) while playing in the NFL. My former NFL friends are now struggling because they didn't do what I did. I'm going to build a beacon of light in a dark world. I really care about these kids and preparing them for life after school (as opposed to Buzz, who is a coach that just cares about winning to promote his career). If you value success on the court, then you are using the basketball players (as opposed to continuing to refuse to pay them and just keep the proceeds for the university while spinning this BS).