Do you want Durham fired?

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:28 pm

longhorn_22 wrote:
rtb wrote:
NoGriz wrote:I know members like BAC and BareChest remember MSU basketball games in the early 90's and how much fun they used to be. We students arrived early, partied hard and cheered like hell. The conference games against Weber, Idaho and the Griz were absolutely crazy and we had awesome non-conference games against teams like Mississippi St, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. That excitement is gone.
I was 14 or 15 and my Dad and I made the trip down to Bozeman for the 1996 BSC Tourney. I remember the field house was a mad-house that night we won. The energy in the place was amazing. In the four years I was there 2000-2004 there was never a time when the energy approached anything close. It was sad to go to games and have 90% of the student section sitting like we were watching a chess match. I would love to see that level of excitement come back to basketball. It is happening to the west of us, we better catch up!!
I agree. I stand at every game regardless. I get yelled at because everyone else wants to sit down and all that crap. I'm getting tired of it all. I have stood at every sporting event for my schools that I have ever gone too and I wish people here would do the same. Show some shool spirit for oue basketball team and stand up and yell.

On another note, who in the hell made the basketball schedule? I guess they thought it would be an exquisite idea to schedule eight home games in a row, seven of which no students will be attending because it is over the Christmas break. I am pissed because I won't be in town, and I know most of my friends are too. At least they scheduled the Cat/Griz game two days after we come back.

The seven games over the break isn't the best idea because the students will be gone. I hope to fill that void since my only major plans over break are to go to the Cat games and relax. And some of my friends who went elsewhere to school will be at the games. I am glad that the Cat-Griz game is right after we get back from break.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:32 pm

To answer the question: "used to be 'yes.' now it is 'no.'

Post by **rtb** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:32 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:To answer the question: "used to be 'yes.' now it is 'no.'

What prompted the change? Seems like more people used to be no and now say yes.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:41 pm

I got to know him as a person, and as a coach (before, I only knew what I saw on the court). I agree that he's not the most charismatic person, but he has a plan, and I, admittedly, it is a good plan. He's committed to making the program better, and that has been proven by who he has as assistant coaches (Johnny Brown especially) and who he has recruited since Coach Brown has come to Bozo.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:27 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:I got to know him as a person, and as a coach (before, I only knew what I saw on the court). I agree that he's not the most charismatic person, but he has a plan, and I, admittedly, it is a good plan. He's committed to making the program better, and that has been proven by who he has as assistant coaches (Johnny Brown especially) and who he has recruited since Coach Brown has come to Bozo.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:18 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:I got to know him as a person, and as a coach (before, I only knew what I saw on the court). I agree that he's not the most charismatic person, but he has a plan, and I, admittedly, it is a good plan. He's committed to making the program better, and that has been proven by who he has as assistant coaches (Johnny Brown especially) and who he has recruited since Coach Brown has come to Bozo.

So perhaps the problem lies in that nobody has any reason to be optimistic about the program unless they have the opportunity to get to know him personally and hear the plan. So it goes back to the marketing element -- he needs to get out and sell the merits of his plan and vision to get people excited again. Otherwise, we're left with nothing to go on except the stark reality of the teams wins and losses.

loyalbballfan · Post by **loyalbballfan** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:37 am

This site has some real clowns!!!!!! The Durham led Cats have lost 4 games by a total of 13 points (3 by

so let me throw this crazy thought out. Let's say for some crazy reason the Cats get a few more bounces in those 4 games and win, they would be 7-1 and everyone would be singing the praises of Mick, instead they have had 4 close games and come out on the bottom each time, and we are calling for his head? Why dont we all chill out and let the real season (conference) play out.

MSUCATS · Post by **MSUCATS** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:45 am

Someone mentioned it earlier and I think Danny Sprinkle would be a great person for the job. We want someone young and dedicated to the Bobcat Program. If he does well enough to move up to a bigger school that's perfect!! We all know that Sprinkle cares about MSU so why not take a chance on him?

Are you serious? Sprinks coaching Montana State? No offense to Sprinks, but I can't see it happening. Don't get me wrong, he was an AMAZING player for MSU, but... I think that is a little too risky!!

Scott Hatler on the other hand... I think he's capable of coaching the Cats!

HelenaCat · Post by **HelenaCat** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:12 pm

What is Hatler doing now?? I am not dissing your suggestion-just don't know. I know that Danny is an assistant coach at Cal Northridge and is learning under a pretty good coach in Braswell.

KitCat · Post by **KitCat** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:17 pm

Danny Sprinkle would do well on the Cat bench. Have heard good things about his coaching at Northridge. Is Head Assistant now and has had a great teacher in the Head Coach. Plus, then we could hear the "Danny Sprinkle" song on the radio in Bozo once again!

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:41 pm

loyalbballfan wrote:This site has some real clowns!!!!!! The Durham led Cats have lost 4 games by a total of 13 points (3 by so let me throw this crazy thought out. Let's say for some crazy reason the Cats get a few more bounces in those 4 games and win, they would be 7-1 and everyone would be singing the praises of Mick, instead they have had 4 close games and come out on the bottom each time, and we are calling for his head? Why dont we all chill out and let the real season (conference) play out.

Every loss has been extremely close and the team has put themselves in position to win every game. We just have to let things roll as they may; I think it will be a big step for the Cats to beat those "we-won't-come-to-Bozeman-because-we're-way-too-big" Wyoming Cowboys. And then seven in a row at home will help things start rolling in the right direction. So let's wait and see.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:50 pm

loyalbballfan wrote:This site has some real clowns!!!!!! The Durham led Cats have lost 4 games by a total of 13 points (3 by so let me throw this crazy thought out. Let's say for some crazy reason the Cats get a few more bounces in those 4 games and win, they would be 7-1 and everyone would be singing the praises of Mick, instead they have had 4 close games and come out on the bottom each time, and we are calling for his head? Why dont we all chill out and let the real season (conference) play out.

Yeah, UCLA, Duke and Texas were lucky to eek out those victories against MSU this season by such small margins.

As we are all very aware, people have been asking questions about Durham for years -- what you are reading now is nothing new and is just a continuation of those same people's opinions based on the inability of the team to win games against our current (very weak) schedule.

I'm not personally calling for heads, but I understand where people are coming from who are, and it is certainly fair for people to be disappointed with the results we have seen so far. When you lose to a team that you should beat by 20, the appropriate response should not be "but we only lost by 3!" Horseshoes and hand grenades....

And it is also fair to note that this team did not catch fire (relatively) last year until after this same cycle of talk about Durham surfaced, so perhaps this is just part of the cycle that we have come to expect. This is the proverbial fire lit under one's arse. I hope it works again this season ... and if Mick is still the coach next season, I hope it is not necessary at all if the team can start beating bad teams early in the season as well.

And will somebody PLEASE explain to me how these games are not part of the "real" season? Is our goal ONLY to win the conference? If that is true, then I will grant that to you (and begin a side conversation about pathetically low expectations). However, I am certain that NO TEAM in the country has that mindset. NOBODY wants to have the #65 seed in The Dance. The only games that aren't real are the exhibition games. Everything else is a very "real" season game.

I also understand that many people that post on here are personal friends of Mick, and I know that any criticism will be viewed as unfair criticism. That's understandable, but in terms of anyone calling anyone else "clowns" because you don't agree with their position ... please remove your personal relationship with Mick from the equation before you make those kinds of statements. Let's try to keep things objective to the extent possible.

I personally would love nothing more than for the Cats to win every game throughout the rest of the season, and I'm sure everybody else feels the same way. The best way to silence critics is to win ... but criticizing those who point out the lack of success we've seen so far is far less effective.

NoGriz · Post by **NoGriz** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:46 pm

loyalbballfan wrote:This site has some real clowns!!!!!! The Durham led Cats have lost 4 games by a total of 13 points (3 by so let me throw this crazy thought out. Let's say for some crazy reason the Cats get a few more bounces in those 4 games and win, they would be 7-1 and everyone would be singing the praises of Mick, instead they have had 4 close games and come out on the bottom each time, and we are calling for his head? Why dont we all chill out and let the real season (conference) play out.

I love how people choose names like "Loyal Fan" to infer that those of us calling for change are not die hard Cat fans. I'll put my Cat fan credentials up against anyone and would have to think that anyone regularly reading this board is a pretty darn good fan regardless of where they stand on the subject of Mick.

What the Mick supporters don't understand is that the call for change has nothing to do with this year. It has everything to do with a .500 record over 15 years, a miserable February/March record, terrible execution on the court, declining interest, etc.

Other than "He's a nice guy who runs a clean program" can the Mick supporters point out any specific reasons why he is a good COACH? I'd like to hear some arguments about how he does a great job of COACHING his team on the court.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 7:55 pm

I don't want to see Durham get fired, but Mick Durham-Assistant Athletic Director for Corperate Marketing (or some such title) would sound pretty good to me. He could play golf and schmooze big money boosters-meanwhile maybe we could restore some life to our ailing men's basketball program.

Durham has had some terrible luck (or made some bad recruiting decisions) but losing the kid from Minnesota, losing Latovic after only one season, Shae Washington's defection, and the horrible Frank Brown situation has really driven the program down. Can you imagine this team with Washington and Brown? How much better would they be? It's unfortunate.

But how can Durham explain bringing in yet another barely 6' tall shooting guard (Derrick Edmonds) and snubbing a top in state player like Jack McGuillis? Edmonds can't (or isn't allowed) to break into the lineup of a team playing this badly and McGullis is on a Pac-10 team. Seems to me Edmond's scholarship would have been a whole more valuable in redshirting another freshman for the future. Or why bring in a guy like Taylor Pratt, who maybe plays a minute or two every other game and not take a chance on an in state guy? I just don't get it.

Would we have forgiven Durham if he chose to rebuild last season instead of load up with JC's? I think I might have thought differently. But the truth is, this team isn't much if at all better than last year while the entire rest of the league has gotten a lot better. Some folks are going to be really surprised at Big Sky tournament time at who's on the outside looking in-it just might be the team pick to win it all at the beginning of the season. I really hope I'm wrong, but right now it's lining up that way.

AZCAT21 · Post by **AZCAT21** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:28 pm

Not sure if putting a man with no charisma in a position like assistant ad would be a good idea. How easy would he be to work with when he is bitter because he got booted from his alma mater.....not sure how much his pride would get in the way but I don't think it would be a good situation.

Another thing for all the supporters of durham....next time there is a close game walk on over by the bench and look at durham in the huddle, he acts like he is going to break down and cry. He shakes uncontrolably and never seems to know what to say. But before he goes into the huddle watch as he wastes half the timeout standing outside the huddle talking to his assistants in order to only have to shake and stutter for the other half of the timeout. Not A GOOD LEADER what-so-ever!!

MSUCATS · Post by **MSUCATS** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:56 pm

Another thing for all the supporters of durham....next time there is a close game walk on over by the bench and look at durham in the huddle, he acts like he is going to break down and cry. He shakes uncontrolably and never seems to know what to say. But before he goes into the huddle watch as he wastes half the timeout standing outside the huddle talking to his assistants in order to only have to shake and stutter for the other half of the timeout. Not A GOOD LEADER what-so-ever!!

Why does it matter what Durham does before/during/after a team huddle??

??

I'm sure that's what is on everyone's minds while watching a Bobcat b-ball game! That's been the first thing that came to my mind during every time-out, and it's certainly what we discussed in the car on the way home after each game!

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:30 am

BelgradeBobcat wrote:I don't want to see Durham get fired, but Mick Durham-Assistant Athletic Director for Corperate Marketing (or some such title) would sound pretty good to me. He could play golf and schmooze big money boosters-meanwhile maybe we could restore some life to our ailing men's basketball program.

D

What!!! Mick can't get out and schmooze the loyal boosters, how is he going to schmooze big money interest? Kramer is the best schmoozer in a long time and the big money just is not there.

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:38 am

MSUCATS wrote:
!
Why does it matter what Durham does before/during/after a team huddle??

??

I'm sure that's what is on everyone's minds while watching a Bobcat b-ball game! That's been the first thing that came to my mind during every time-out, and it's certainly what we discussed in the car on the way home after each game!

\\

The head coach is the leader of the team. A gifted leader has confidence to inspire the team to a hiring level. A leader has intuition as what needs to be done. I think we all know that Mic can’t inspire a bees nest. If Mic is getting advice from his assistances during a time out, maybe the assistances should be running the team.

I do not know about you, but I am watching the cute cheerleaders during a time out.

MSUCATS · Post by **MSUCATS** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:42 am

The head coach is the leader of the team. A gifted leader has confidence to inspire the team to a hiring level. A leader has intuition as what needs to be done. I think we all know that Mic can’t inspire a bees nest. If Mic is getting advice from his assistances during a time out, maybe the assistances should be running the team.

No kidding?? Really? Is that what a coach is suppose to do? And here all this time I thought all a coach was suppose to do, was show up! Whoa is me

(Please sense the sarcasm)

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:57 pm

BobCatFan wrote:
MSUCATS wrote:
!
Why does it matter what Durham does before/during/after a team huddle??

??

I'm sure that's what is on everyone's minds while watching a Bobcat b-ball game! That's been the first thing that came to my mind during every time-out, and it's certainly what we discussed in the car on the way home after each game!
\\

The head coach is the leader of the team. A gifted leader has confidence to inspire the team to a hiring level. A leader has intuition as what needs to be done. I think we all know that Mic can’t inspire a bees nest. If Mic is getting advice from his assistances during a time out, maybe the assistances should be running the team.

I do not know about you, but I am watching the cute cheerleaders during a time out.

Speaking of taking charge during timeouts....Carroll college didn't start to win consistently until Steve Keller joined the team as an unpaid assistant. If you noticed them when they played us...Turcott lets Keller do the coaching during timeouts. Keller is very forceful and really knows what he is talking about and can plot strategy during a tense situation.