Personal Buzz remembrance...

[silverback]

After his first year as head coach, Buzz Williams went on a speaking tour to different alumni groups around the country as part of a fundraising series. I caught his act out in Los Angeles at the time.

I went into the event with no problems regarding his hire, his job performance, his conduct, etc. I was interested in what he had to say. At the event, he seemed pleasant enough. Approachable. Not a backslapper or a hustler. Just polite enough.

But, during the Q&A portion of his speech, he said something that always haunted me and bothered my friends in attendance. I'll paraphrase, but the thrust was "Everybody cheats. We cheat. All other programs cheat. It's just a question of how much and whether you're too aggressive and get caught."

Now, I have no doubt that's true. I've believed that was the case for a long time. I think you're naive if you don't get that. However, what bothered me then and continued to itch away at me during Buzz's tenure was how glib he was in admitting it. I filed it away as, "Well, he was just trying to impress how honest and direct he could be..." Etc.

Still, it always bugged me because there was a dismissive arrogance to how he said it. It wasn't..."It's sad how dirty this business is, but we have to keep up..." It was "We have to cheat more carefully than the Kentucky(s) and UCLA(s) of the world."

Not that it matters now, but with every Vander Blue accusation and DJ Newbill snub, I was kicking myself for not being tuned into Buzz sooner. He told me what he was. I should've believed him, Sweet 16/Elite 8 or not.

No doubt VA Tech will let him roll whatever way he wants.

[Skatastrophy]

Wojo will cheat too, and so will our next coach.

Literally everyone cheats. NCAA doesn't keep tabs on anyone. Gotta keep up with the Joneses.

[Tugg Speedman]

Yes everyone cheats, and it is impossible not too.  The rules are arbitrary and stupid.

Monarch (the new coach of VT!) lost his job for giving a recruit a t-shirt and a 10 minute ride home.  What kind of organizations makes rules like this and demands (or expects) this kind of punishment when its broken?  Answer, the clusterf**k NCAA.

But, you're right, you don't go around bragging about it.

[thekahoona]

Yes everyone cheats, and it is impossible not too.  The rules are arbitrary and stupid.

Monarch (the new coach of VT!) lost his job for giving a recruit a t-shirt and a 10 minute ride home.  What kind of organizations makes rules like this and demands (or expects) this kind of punishment when its broken?  Answer, the clusterf**k NCAA.

But, you're right, you don't go around bragging about it.

Omerta.

or, more precisely,

The first rule of Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club.

[The Lens]

I always liked Buzz for his candor, and how he wasn't some hair-do in a suit but this, assuming true, is just plain stupid.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yes everyone cheats, and it is impossible not too.  The rules are arbitrary and stupid.

Monarch (the new coach of VT!) lost his job for giving a recruit a t-shirt and a 10 minute ride home.  What kind of organizations makes rules like this and demands (or expects) this kind of punishment when its broken?  Answer, the clusterf**k NCAA.

But, you're right, you don't go around bragging about it.

Monarch lost his job for lying.  End. Of. Story.    They make rules for this because one school will give a cotton t-shirt, another school will give a t-shirt sown out of $100 bills.  Another will give a ride home for the kid and accidentally leave the car and keys there.

Look, there are all kinds of dumb rules, but the dumb rules are there because people cheat.  As friends in the NCAA have told me countless times, the rulebook is a function of all the idiots out that and what they have done to break them.  No different than laws.  Someone does something that society doesn't like or finds unfair..."there needs to be a law".  Same with the NCAA.  The rule book grows because people can't be honest.

[spartan3186]

Yes everyone cheats, and it is impossible not too.  The rules are arbitrary and stupid.

Monarch (the new coach of VT!) lost his job for giving a recruit a t-shirt and a 10 minute ride home.  What kind of organizations makes rules like this and demands (or expects) this kind of punishment when its broken?  Answer, the clusterf**k NCAA.

But, you're right, you don't go around bragging about it.

Monarch didn't lose his job because he gave a kid at shirt and a ride. He lost it because he lied about it.

[Groin_pull]

As usual, the cover-up ends up being worse than the crime.

[HutchwasClutch]

Yes everyone cheats, and it is impossible not too.  The rules are arbitrary and stupid.

+1

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wojo will cheat too, and so will our next coach.

Literally everyone cheats. NCAA doesn't keep tabs on anyone. Gotta keep up with the Joneses.

I'll politely disagree with the NCAA not keeping tabs, they do.  Unfortunately, they have limited staff, etc since 96% of their budget goes back to the schools, scholarships \ and running the championships.  As for everyone cheating, well most people speed, but is speeding at 68 in a 65 vs speeding at 99 in a 65 the same thing?  The penalties suggest they are not.

[MUEng92]

Yes everyone cheats, and it is impossible not too.

Well, everyone except Bo Ryan of course! Just ask anyone here in WI not wearing blue and gold clothing.

[Silkk the Shaka]

After his first year as head coach, Buzz Williams went on a speaking tour to different alumni groups around the country as part of a fundraising series. I caught his act out in Los Angeles at the time.

I went into the event with no problems regarding his hire, his job performance, his conduct, etc. I was interested in what he had to say. At the event, he seemed pleasant enough. Approachable. Not a backslapper or a hustler. Just polite enough.

But, during the Q&A portion of his speech, he said something that always haunted me and bothered my friends in attendance. I'll paraphrase, but the thrust was "Everybody cheats. We cheat. All other programs cheat. It's just a question of how much and whether you're too aggressive and get caught."

Now, I have no doubt that's true. I've believed that was the case for a long time. I think you're naive if you don't get that. However, what bothered me then and continued to itch away at me during Buzz's tenure was how glib he was in admitting it. I filed it away as, "Well, he was just trying to impress how honest and direct he could be..." Etc.

Still, it always bugged me because there was a dismissive arrogance to how he said it. It wasn't..."It's sad how dirty this business is, but we have to keep up..." It was "We have to cheat more carefully than the Kentucky(s) and UCLA(s) of the world."

Not that it matters now, but with every Vander Blue accusation and DJ Newbill snub, I was kicking myself for not being tuned into Buzz sooner. He told me what he was. I should've believed him, Sweet 16/Elite 8 or not.

No doubt VA Tech will let him roll whatever way he wants.

Source?

[🏀]

If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.

[Gato78]

Monarch gave the kid a ride to Chicago. Lied about it. We had to report it. Buzz was pissed about it because Monarch was his best friend. Too bad. Monarch cheated and lied to administration. Buzz should have fired him. He put Buzz's job in jeopardy and the University.

[rocket surgeon]

Monarch lost his job for lying.  End. Of. Story.    They make rules for this because one school will give a cotton t-shirt, another school will give a t-shirt sown out of $100 bills.  Another will give a ride home for the kid and accidentally leave the car and keys there.

Look, there are all kinds of dumb rules, but the dumb rules are there because people cheat.  As friends in the NCAA have told me countless times, the rulebook is a function of all the idiots out that and what they have done to break them.  No different than laws.  Someone does something that society doesn't like or finds unfair..."there needs to be a law".  Same with the NCAA.  The rule book grows because people can't be honest.

now that is funny right there and true.  clever, your mind kinda works like you've played the game a little (substitute for teal) but i like your thinking

[WadeATKBurton]

Wojo will cheat too, and so will our next coach.

Literally everyone cheats. NCAA doesn't keep tabs on anyone. Gotta keep up with the Joneses.

True!!

[Shack]

Buzz should have been fired after the sexual assault cover up. Monarch's punishment didn't fit the crime. Karma police got him

[WadeATKBurton]

If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.

EXACTLY..EVERYONE CHEATS

[Anti-Dentite]

After his first year as head coach, Buzz Williams went on a speaking tour to different alumni groups around the country as part of a fundraising series. I caught his act out in Los Angeles at the time.

I went into the event with no problems regarding his hire, his job performance, his conduct, etc. I was interested in what he had to say. At the event, he seemed pleasant enough. Approachable. Not a backslapper or a hustler. Just polite enough.

But, during the Q&A portion of his speech, he said something that always haunted me and bothered my friends in attendance. I'll paraphrase, but the thrust was "Everybody cheats. We cheat. All other programs cheat. It's just a question of how much and whether you're too aggressive and get caught."

Now, I have no doubt that's true. I've believed that was the case for a long time. I think you're naive if you don't get that. However, what bothered me then and continued to itch away at me during Buzz's tenure was how glib he was in admitting it. I filed it away as, "Well, he was just trying to impress how honest and direct he could be..." Etc.

Still, it always bugged me because there was a dismissive arrogance to how he said it. It wasn't..."It's sad how dirty this business is, but we have to keep up..." It was "We have to cheat more carefully than the Kentucky(s) and UCLA(s) of the world."

Not that it matters now, but with every Vander Blue accusation and DJ Newbill snub, I was kicking myself for not being tuned into Buzz sooner. He told me what he was. I should've believed him, Sweet 16/Elite 8 or not.

No doubt VA Tech will let him roll whatever way he wants.

I don't believe a word of this, completely fabricated.

[HutchwasClutch]

I don't believe a word of this, completely fabricated.

+1 Hutch

[ChicosBailBonds]

True!!

Except that it isn't.  To suggest they don't keep tabs on them couldn't be further from the truth.

[Skatastrophy]

I'll politely disagree with the NCAA not keeping tabs, they do.  Unfortunately, they have limited staff, etc since 96% of their budget goes back to the schools, scholarships \ and running the championships.  As for everyone cheating, well most people speed, but is speeding at 68 in a 65 vs speeding at 99 in a 65 the same thing?  The penalties suggest they are not.

Agreed. They do a good job with an extremely limited budget.

[ChicosBailBonds]

They could stop a lot of cheating by making another school the example of the death penalty, but I don't think it will ever happen again.

[rocket surgeon]

EXACTLY..EVERYONE CHEATS

o.k., fine.  but don't give a speech on it for cryminy sakes.  just put the cruise control on 72 and don't weave in and out of the lanes 

[mu-rara]

They could stop a lot of cheating by making another school the example of the death penalty, but I don't think it will ever happen again.

Does the NCAA looks at monetary penalties as a way to cover the budget, shying away from death penalties?

It sure appears that the federal gov't has gone that direction.  The fines JPM has paid over the couple of years have been huge.  I think if they really wanted to stop the cheating they would throw a high level executive in jail.