Yesterday I finally got my first contact from the administration

[BBF]

First of all, let's get something straight. LaVall Jordan seems like a nice kid. I have absolutely nothing against him. But how would you describe him? Well, he's young, he has never been a head coach at any level, and he's a long time assistant for a Big Ten coach who teaches a slow, deliberate style. Does that sound at all familiar? If not, I invite you to watch his press conference or listen to his interview with Bob Michaels. Now close your eyes, and imagine that instead of LaVall Jordan, it's Rob Jeter talking. Because the things LaVall is saying are exactly what Rob has said a thousand times. The things LaVall values are exactly what Rob values. So let's be honest: we have been put through all this, endured this debacle among donors and sponsors, witnessed the fan base thrown into an uproar, so that we could get Rob Jeter 2.0! What is that about? And trust me, I'll be very happy if LaVall turns out to be as good a coach as Rob was. But what was that about?

Jimmy has suggested that it will all be different now, that LaVall will get the support withheld from Rob and (don't forget this, because it's critical) our players. That because LaVall is "her guy" the clouds will part and the sun will shine and the birds will sing. If he fails, she fails.

To which I will reply by reminding you of the parable of the scorpion and the frog.

Negativity? Try objectivity. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[shaun]

First of all, let's get something straight. LaVall Jordan seems like a nice kid. I have absolutely nothing against him. But how would you describe him? Well, he's young, he has never been a head coach at any level, and he's a long time assistant for a Big Ten coach who teaches a slow, deliberate style. Does that sound at all familiar? If not, I invite you to watch his press conference or listen to his interview with Bob Michaels. Now close your eyes, and imagine that instead of LaVall Jordan, it's Rob Jeter talking. Because the things LaVall is saying are exactly what Rob has said a thousand times. The things LaVall values are exactly what Rob values. So let's be honest: we have been put through all this, endured this debacle among donors and sponsors, witnessed the fan base thrown into an uproar, so that we could get Rob Jeter 2.0! What is that about? And trust me, I'll be very happy if LaVall turns out to be as good a coach as Rob was. But what was that about?

Jimmy has suggested that it will all be different now, that LaVall will get the support withheld from Rob and (don't forget this, because it's critical) our players. That because LaVall is "her guy" the clouds will part and the sun will shine and the birds will sing. If he fails, she fails.

To which I will reply by reminding you of the parable of the scorpion and the frog.

Negativity? Try objectivity. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

I think that you are letting your dislike of AB affect your view of Coach Jordan. The best thing you have ever said about him is that he is a "nice kid". He's 37 years old!! I do understand that he has a similar background to Jeter, but guess what, he is a completely different person. I don't know if he will be good or not. Neither do you. He could be worse, the same as, or better, than Jeter. I think Jeter was slightly above average. We knew what we were going to get with him. I don't mind taking a chance on a new coach, whoever that may be. You are only looking at their resumes. But hiring someone involves much more than that.

I see potential in him, because everything I have heard about him, has been good. Everyone that he has worked with, coached, people that know him personally, say very good things about him. I think we have reason to be excited about the future of Milwaukee basketball. Y

What I still don't get though, is why you keep posting? You've said a bunch of times, on both boards, that you are no longer supporting the Panthers. So you are not a fan, yet you still keep coming back to post negative things? I think there is a Marquette guy that does the same thing. Not a fan of the Panthers, yet can't help himself with coming on our message boards and crapping over everything.

[Skrapheap]

Shorter Shaun: Go away, Fran.

[dylanrocks]

I find it amusing that Fran is now being accused of chronic negativity after 11 years of "blind optimism and apology."

Maybe he simply feels as if he's standing on principle?

[TheDarkHawkReturns]

Shaun, I think you have missed Fran's entire point. It is quite plain what he has to say, if you pay attention.

We were told Jeter HAD to go because his style (on and off the court) didn't sell tickets and he was not achieving at a high level (I remind you of the measures - Top 100 RPI and Top 3 in the Horizon).

Fran's point is, and there is little to suggest otherwise at this point, LJ has the exact same style - off and on the court.

Off the Court: He is a very nice and humble man. He is God fearing with high ethical standards. He is very knowledgeable about basketball and has a lot of experience as a D1 assistant, mostly in the Big 10. He is NOT (and neither was Jeter) a human billboard, full of pizzazz, he is not a rah-rah promoter, and he will never be confused for a Pearl-style program builder. We were told RIGHT AFTER THE FIRING that this was the type of guy we would hire and we needed. This hire is essentially what we were just told we didn't want.

On the Court: LJ espouses tough defense and rebounding. He has spent his ENTIRE career playing and coaching in systems that DO NOT RUN (look it up) and play mostly half court set offenses, using a lot of shot clock and working for a good shot. He is also a head coach for the first time, so there is no realistic argument to be made that his presence alone will result in either Top 100 RPI's (which in the Horizon requires 25+ wins per season) or even perennial Top 3 in the Horizon League. He has no head coaching record to base either expectation on at all.

Neither Fran, nor I, say this as any criticism to LJ. None of these things are "bad" at all. What they are is 180 degrees the opposite of what we were told BY AB we were going to hire. What we DID hire is a younger, cheaper version of Jeter after being told that Jeter was not good for the program.

Which leads Fran and many others to the following: Jeter was fired because Jeter was Jeter, as a person, not as a coach or head of the program. It was personal, not professional. And it was happening for years before she finally scraped together the money to do this. It was the execution of a vendetta, not running an Athletic Department.

Had she hired a coach with ample head coaching experience, championships to his credit, and an outgoing salesman and promoter, this criticism could not be levied. She didn't.

She essentially traded in her 2005 Ford F-150 for a 2016 Ford F-150, in the same color, with the same options while telling the world the F-150 needed to go because we needed a Mustang GT 500. We are all now supposed to pretend that the 2016 F-150 is a Mustang GT 500, goes 0-60 in 4 seconds, and turns heads everywhere it goes.

But, it's still a truck. Useful, reliable, and not at all flashy. And definitely not a Mustang GT 500.

[dylanrocks]

In addition to what 'Hawk posted, I think that it's also important to note that the Panthers posted two of the TEN 20-win seasons in the program's Division 1 history in their last two postseason-eligible years.

That's decidedly not mediocre. It's amazing to me today how much Jeter gets his feet held to the flames for Seasons 2 through 4 and 8.

Of course, his dismissal really wasn't about that.

[BBF]

Shaun, I call LJ a kid with no derogation. I was already beginning a professional career when he was yet to be born.

Now, that aside, let's turn to your straw man argument. (Astute readers might say "Which one?" but I'm talking about the one that has you most excited.) I have said I am withdrawing my support (and have told that directly to the athletic administration and to the Chancellor). No more money. No more time taken out of an extremely busy schedule to work on department projects. No more season tickets. No more proselytizing the program to the rest of the world. Not until things change.

But I am going nowhere. In fact, you can rest assured that I'll be here long after our current AD and even our new coach are gone.

No one has outlasted me yet.

[Montana87]

Fran, you make to much sense to even converse with the blind like Shaun. You are right on with all your points. Braun made a grave mistake. If this was the Mafia, she'd be dead for she made it personal. This had nothing to do with business. Watch your back Amanda.

[Montana87]

Go Fran!!!

[dylanrocks]

Oh, one more thing:

UWM has won as many as 25 games once in the history of the program.

OK, you may continue.