AD resignation shocked Buzz Williams

[GGGG]

Key words are "your guess."  Hunt suggests Buzz never got this question answer and this was a source of frustration.  This board feared the answer was turning MU into SLU.

But how could the board get it right about SLU if Buzz never got the answer to the question?  That's illogical.

[MU82]

This

See these lines from Hunt ...

But neither the former president nor Williams may have been the right guy for where Marquette is at the moment, or where the big-money donors want it to be.

...

So, it was easy to see where the Williams-Williams conflict came about. The AD was laying down arbitrary law to a successful coach who had never experienced administrative pressure to up the recruiting standards at a school where academic requirements already make it difficult to attract the bluest of chips.

...

In fact, there are Marquette boosters who actually fear the Golden Eagles will never win another national title because Buzz Williams doesn't cheat.


Tower, this board did what it does best ... get the sotry wrong.  Remember Hiroshima?  (another story this board got completely wrong).

Going back to Hunt, I think these lines better describe the situation between Buzz and LW ...

Two very different personalities ignited friction. Weeks would go by without coach and AD speaking.

At one point, Buzz Williams wanted to know what kind of basketball program Larry Williams wanted when there was little communication from either side. Did he expect really good students who were good basketball players, or generally average students who could keep Marquette at an elite level on the national scene?


The last highlighted part is key.  

Pilarz and LW took it amongst themselves to "rein in Buzz."  Buzz was not against a controversy free program.  The problem was Pilarz/LW could not define to Buzz what kind of program they wanted (one thing this board got right ... turn MU into SLU).  Then came the BoT new vision and Pilarz and LW were the wrong guys.

Excellent post, Walt White!

[Tugg Speedman]

But how could the board get it right about SLU if Buzz never got the answer to the question?  That's illogical.

Your missing the word "feared" in my post.  From Hunt ...

At one point, Buzz Williams wanted to know what kind of basketball program Larry Williams wanted when there was little communication from either side. Did he expect really good students who were good basketball players, or generally average students who could keep Marquette at an elite level on the national scene?


This board correctly understood that Pilzrz/LW wanted to change the program.  It feared that meant turning MU into SLU.

Yes this question was probably never answered, and will never be answered as Pilarz and LW are gone.

[GGGG]

Well, it's obvious that they wanted to change the program.  They changed housing requirements, admittance requirements for Jucos, requirements for continuing on scholarship, etc.  The board got that right two years ago, and all of that has been discussed here in the meantime.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I hate to say it, but this seems like it's about the $. (which often happens at private schools).

If LW (and Pilarz) were true rainmakers, they'd still be at MU (if they wanted to be).

When the money isn't pouring in, then the other problems become amplified, relationships matter(ed), and it's probably best for all parties to move on.

Winning covers a lot of quirks for a coach, and donations cover a lot of quirks for an AD and President.

In the past, I've had confidence in the BOT (they are smart people)... but I'm really afraid I might have been wrong. Something isn't working with that group. They need to get this next round of hires correct.

[The Equalizer]

This will come as a shock to everyone on Scoop, but you have your facts wrong. Bill Frieder wasn't fired for interviewing with ASU. He actually agreed to take the job with ASU before the NCAA tourney but offered his expertise to the Wolverines through the tournament's conclusion. Not surprisingly, the powers that be at Michigan declined and Steve Fischer took the team to the title.

The idea that MU fired LW because he interviewed for a job is silly, and if he already had one it would have been announced by his people, not MU.

My recolllection was that the deal with ASU wasn't completely final until after Frieder was officially out at Michigan, but you may be right.  After all, a broken clock is right twice a day.  But you're still wrong about Crowder and Butler being non-top-500 HS players, to cite an oft-repeated error of yours.

However, because there are younger people on this board, as a public service I must point out that you are dead wrong about the possiblity of being fired for interviewing for another job. 

People have been fired for merely leaving a resume on the copy machine. People can (and do) get fired for job hunting.

Again, I specificed that this might not be the case here. 

[GGGG]

However, because there are younger people on this board, as a public service I must point out that you are dead wrong about the possiblity of being fired for interviewing for another job. 

He didn't say that in a general sense.  He specifically said it in terms of LW and Marquette.

[The Equalizer]

He didn't say that in a general sense.  He specifically said it in terms of LW and Marquette.

Which I said in my inital post.  I identified it as an alternate possiblity, which Lenny had no way of knowing if it was true or not at the time.

Which leads to the question why you're defending him instead of accusing him of pulling this out of his ass?

As Chicos says, its not the WHAT that's said, its WHO says the what.
 

[Lennys Tap]

My recolllection was that the deal with ASU wasn't completely final until after Frieder was officially out at Michigan, but you may be right.  After all, a broken clock is right twice a day.  But you're still wrong about Crowder and Butler being non-top-500 HS players, to cite an oft-repeated error of yours.

Your "recollection" was that Bill Frieder was fired for interviewing for another job, which was ridiculous. You say that Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder were ranked in the top 500 nationally coming out of high school. By whom and what was their ranking?

[Lennys Tap]

However, because there are younger people on this board, as a public service I must point out that you are dead wrong about the possiblity of being fired for interviewing for another job. 

People have been fired for merely leaving a resume on the copy machine. People can (and do) get fired for job hunting.

Again, I specificed that this might not be the case here. 

Of course I never said that "people" couldn't be fired for interviewing for another job. Hell, "people" can be fired for not recycling their Coke cans. But coaches and ADs of major universities are not going to be fired for taking an interview. Please cite one real example that contradicts this. Thank you.

[Lennys Tap]

Which I said in my inital post.  I identified it as an alternate possiblity, which Lenny had no way of knowing if it was true or not at the time.

Which leads to the question why you're defending him instead of accusing him of pulling this out of his ass?

As Chicos says, its not the WHAT that's said, its WHO says the what.
 

What in your mind is an "alternate possibility"? One chance in 100? 1000? 1,000,000? The possibility that this happened is about as great as Buzz adopting a player to save a scholarship, another of the "possibilities" you've brought to the board in the past. When you postulate an outrageous scenario and base its possibility on something that didn't happen (Frieder's firing due to an interview) you most certainly are being called out on WHAT you said, but play the victim card if it makes you feel better about yourself.

[GGGG]

Which I said in my inital post.  I identified it as an alternate possiblity, which Lenny had no way of knowing if it was true or not at the time.

Which leads to the question why you're defending him instead of accusing him of pulling this out of his ass?
 

Why are you so obsessed with me?  Normally I would be honored...but you're a little strange.

[Dawson Rental]

Which I said in my inital post.  I identified it as an alternate possiblity, which Lenny had no way of knowing if it was true or not at the time.

Which leads to the question why you're defending him instead of accusing him of pulling this out of his ass?

As Chicos says, its not the WHAT that's said, its WHO says the what.

The victimization virus spreads.

[tower912]

No, it stays primarily contained in two locations.

[Lennys Tap]

I hate to say it, but this seems like it's about the $. (which often happens at private schools).

If LW (and Pilarz) were true rainmakers, they'd still be at MU (if they wanted to be).

When the money isn't pouring in, then the other problems become amplified, relationships matter(ed), and it's probably best for all parties to move on.

Winning covers a lot of quirks for a coach, and donations cover a lot of quirks for an AD and President.

In the past, I've had confidence in the BOT (they are smart people)... but I'm really afraid I might have been wrong. Something isn't working with that group. They need to get this next round of hires correct.

The BOT played "whack-a-mole", trying to please all of the people all of the time. That's a good way to create larger problems than the ones you are (allegedly) solving. Challenges occur everywhere, UW, Notre Dame, MU, etc. Make changes to ensure the university hasn't lost sight of her true mission, but don't throw out the baby with the bath water for PR purposes.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The BOT played "whack-a-mole", trying to please all of the people all of the time. That's a good way to create larger problems than the ones you are (allegedly) solving. Challenges occur everywhere, UW, Notre Dame, MU, etc. Make changes to ensure the university hasn't lost sight of her true mission, but don't throw out the baby with the bath water for PR purposes.

A camel is a horse designed by a committee.

I hope the BOT gets it right this time. I know there are smart people on the board, but I don't know if their decision making process is the best (as you pointed out).

[Tugg Speedman]

The BOT played "whack-a-mole", trying to please all of the people all of the time. That's a good way to create larger problems than the ones you are (allegedly) solving. Challenges occur everywhere, UW, Notre Dame, MU, etc. Make changes to ensure the university hasn't lost sight of her true mission, but don't throw out the baby with the bath water for PR purposes.

This is why the "new vision" unveiled in May is so important.  Now the BoT has a specific criteria and objective in their hiring to look for.

[JakeBarnes]

And Havasau City is actually in Arizona if I recall correctly.

So, if I wanted to sell you London Bridge, then I'd be selling you a bridge in.....

[jsglow]

I've read this thread and the Hunt columns with great interest.

I note that John Ferraro is heading up the current Presidential Search Committee.  I have very strong regard for John and believe he is doing a very thorough job.  I do not believe he was directly involved (other than his participation on the BOT) in the last search.

I also think that many of the issues that have cropped up in basketball (MU becoming SLU metaphorically) may have had certain parallels in other areas of university leadership under Fr. Pilarz.  Whether this led to angst among very big money donors or concern on the BOT is not something I'm privy to.  I do know that Fr. Wild has been very well received and I am very grateful for his service giving us all a second chance to get this right.  And I believe that Buzz is absolutely committed to doing this the 'right way' and is a coach that we can and should be proud to have.    

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/documents/presidential-position-description.pdf

[Benny B]

http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/documents/presidential-position-description.pdf

I think I read the job description as fast as my mouse could scroll through it.  Which probably means I'm not a good candidate for the position... I wasted 12 seconds skimming when I should have been spending that 12 seconds being a visionary (or on the phone raising money).

[bilsu]

Now that Buzz has gotten rid of Pilarz and Williams are MUScoopers next?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Machigatta nai yo!

Step up to the plate, Chico, and go to a proper Izakaya or Onomiya where you can get Kanimiso to Namako to Shiokara to Uni! Barioishii desu ne! 

I go where my daughter wants to go....it's our father daughter thing

[ChicosBailBonds]

This will come as a shock to everyone on Scoop, but you have your facts wrong. Bill Frieder wasn't fired for interviewing with ASU. He actually agreed to take the job with ASU before the NCAA tourney but offered his expertise to the Wolverines through the tournament's conclusion. Not surprisingly, the powers that be at Michigan declined and Steve Fischer took the team to the title.

The idea that MU fired LW because he interviewed for a job is silly, and if he already had one it would have been announced by his people, not MU.

Agree with this...Frieder was fired because he took the ASU job and Bo Schembechler said he wanted a "Michigan man" to run the program if memory serves. 

[keefe]

I go where my daughter wants to go....it's our father daughter thing

A superb teaching moment then. The problem with the vast majority of Japanese restaurants in North America is that they are owned and operated by Koreans. Nothing wrong with that per se, but what you get is a Korean version of Japanese food that is made for gaijin palates. When I go into a Japanese restaurant I don't know I speak Japanese. If I get a blank look I go elsewhere.