Larry Williams Article in JS

[IWB]

I found the original quote, it did say "We hope to have him back".

That is a big difference.

On another note, what are the members of the lacrosse team thinking right now?

[Hamostradamus]

They are thinking, "I better have a plan B."

[Goose85]

I was shocked he said something to the effect that no way would they have ever scheduled Houston. Really, was that a shot at the Big East for adding Houston? We are not a football school, so we better tread lightly when questioning the Big East's motives for adding Houston (a good football team, putting $$$ into athletics, a huge media market).

[MUMac]

The La Crosse and Houston comments should not have been made, IMHO. I agree, if I am a La Crosse athlete/coach, I wonder what is going on. If I am a recruit, I would look far away from Marquette with that type of commitment.

The Houston comment is not only a slap at the BE, it also gives the "small time program" feeling. I understand the money concept, but if MU is that tight on funds, then you have to wonder if they are a big time program or small time program. With all that is going on in the BCS and conference reallignments, comments like these will not be helpful.

[IWB]

The shot at the Big East about Houston was also joined with a shot at the Big East for adding San Diego State for football....

"This isn't pro sports. This isn't the NFL where you have regional conferences and everything else," Williams said. "This is a marrying of academic efforts and athletic efforts and if you stray too far, man, I don't know this is going to be a good end.

"This whole thing is being driven not by the best interests of the student-athlete, but how can we offset their costs or line our pockets," Williams added, fully aware that Marquette is on the outside looking in on the football-centric decisions being made in the Big East.

Is this true? Sure it is, but why would the Big East's newest athletic director be slapping the conference in the face at this critical point in conference realignment? Makes no sense. And Buzz needs to channel and control his emotion?

Buzz has taken a decimated team and built them into a consistent NCAA team, a team that has produced 3 consecutive NBA players, a team that is now ranked #7 in the country and finished in second place in the Big East without a post player. Buzz has flipped recruiting from "Who can we get" to "who should we take".....

I think he has earned the right to be emotional.

[Goose85]

I miss Steve Cottingham.

[wiscwarrior]

It was not the comments about Buzz that made me uncomfortable with the tone. It was the negative outlook of our new AD that caused the discomfort. A CEO that does not have a positive outlook regarding his current market might look to new "markets" where he feels better able to compete. I hope we're not going to become Detroit or Loyola...

[CaribouJim]

It was not the comments about Buzz that made me uncomfortable with the tone. It was the negative outlook of our new AD that caused the discomfort. A CEO that does not have a positive outlook regarding his current market might look to new "markets" where he feels better able to compete. I hope we're not going to become Detroit or Loyola...

I doubt highly that was his intent - why would he want us to become a Detroit or Loyola - that would be a career killer. He is just editorializing on the conference cluster&*^% shuffle. It sucks big time. I think we are in good hands with him.

[Hamostradamus]

I think we are in good hands with him.

The jury is still out on that, I don't think he has done anythig yet to warrant my confidence.

[TrevorCandelino]

I woke up Sunday morning still feeling giddy about Saturday's game....the whole Bradley Center environment was fantastic....Still felt good as I pulled out the JS sports page to read the recap....Then I saw the adjacent article about Larry Williams.....And my mood instantly changed....

It was a strange, strange article, permeating a tone of negativity that was unnecessary on a lot of levels....And for the first time in a long time, more so than all the conference realignment nonsense, I became very concerned with the long term future of MU Men's Basketball......