Pollard Addresses MBB

azn4cy

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2008
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DSM
someone needs to post a cast photo from Space Cowboys...giving a glaring look at all you wet behind the ears brats.


seriously.

I enjoy the hilarity.

Done.

SpaceCowboys.jpg



I also wonder if she'll be at the games.

1265827859-crazy_cat_lady.jpg
 

BryceC

Well-Known Member
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SuperFanatic T2
Mar 23, 2006
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z520a_477730_large.jpg

I use this guy. 60" deck, 25 hp engine. Mow at 8 mph. And all I have is a lot and a half. I do share it with my dad who has 4 lots. Chew on that.

I was joking. And I work for John Deere so much respect on that decision. Great machine.
 

joefrog

Well-Known Member
Apr 29, 2008
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Clive, Iowa
That is f'in ridiculous. Yeah, start writing Geoffrey as he has plenty of time on his hands to worry about Chris Colvin and Justin Hamilton bailing. And if Pollard can't afford to buy out GMac, how would Geoffrey??? Really, what would you have Pollard do? Come out and state that he made a mistake? He can't do that if GMac is going to be our coach next year.

Bottom line is that I'm sure Geoffrey knows Pollards thoughts on the MBB situation. It's not Pollard being stubborn or proud or acting smarter than anyone. It's ISU not having enough money. Or, simply stated, it's the budget, dummy!

That is not correct. I believe JP has even said as much. And if indeed we don't, well that just makes JP look worse, actually. Getting into a very long term contract you cannot get out of is a horrible business strategy. You should always have an exit strategy.

We will lose more next year in ticket sales than we will save in waiting out the contract. The only theory I buy is that JP didn't like any of the potential replacements. Which is weak, because it is always a crapshoot anyhow.
 

JJ4ISU

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
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Funny how quickly JP pulled the trigger on Danny Mac and Wayne Morgan, but for McDermott we hear a lot of excuses! It all comes down to the fact that he hired McDermott and firing him would reflect poorly on him...
 

Dryburn

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Apr 3, 2006
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Somewhere in the U.S.
To me, it's all about your viewpoint. If you are looking at Pollard's letter as an excuse for why GMac isn't winning, then the email is just all BS. If you are looking at the letter as reasoning behind the transfers, then there is some validity to it. I choose the latter and that's why I have no problem mentioning BF...he HAS had some attrition. I believe that the letter was meant for people who see ISU through a fishbowl and are shocked by/complaining about the attrition. The point is that there is attrition everywhere. Now, it's definitely worse at ISU and GMac has done a worse job of dealing with it, but IMO that is besides the point of the letter. The basic point is "it's happening everywhere to some degree".

If we agree that this description of the culture is accurate and nationwide, then the next step is finding a coach who can deal with it and best minimize its impacts. BF has proven that he can do that. GMac doesn't have a lot of time left to prove he's that guy.

It's not just the attrition! It is the fact that GMac has not shown at all that he can win in the Big 12.....not even when he has Big 12 talent! There is not a single shred of evidence that he is capable of that. It's what comes out about how he handles players.

Also, the excuse that it is happening everywhere is nonsense. What other team had a starting all-conference player leave their team after 2 years and transfer to another school, sit out a year, and then become a lottery pick? What other team had a starting player leave in the middle of the season to go play pro ball in Europe, and lie about the reason as to why he had to leave then? What other team has had a starter leave with the excuse that he supposedly wants to play "closer to home" and then accepts an offer at a school that is much further away from his home?

Don't kid yourself......the types of problems ISU has had are unique. WJ, Ham, and Lucca did not leave because they were not getting enough playing time, or they were thinking that ISU was not their path to the NBA. Wake up!
 

acgclone

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Feb 21, 2007
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Can someone please tell me how this letter helps ISU in ANY way? From a tactical standpoint I fail to see how this improves our position at all.
 

azn4cy

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Dec 27, 2008
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Can someone please tell me how this letter helps ISU in ANY way? From a tactical standpoint I fail to see how this improves our position at all.

It doesn't. I'll defer to vmbplayer on this.. probably said it the best of any post in here.

Anyone who buys this is being manipulated.

Does anybody remember how Ham was viewed at a hard working, blue collar kind of kid up until the point he left? The this generation is lazy and entitled didn't seem to be brought up about him before he transferred.

Does anyone remember Lucca? How does what is afflicting this nations entitled youth affect a kid from Germany? Are the kids in German just as screwed as us entitled American youth?

I am a huge JP supporter, but this letter is a load with the exception of the last line.

He is totally playing into all the donors stereotypes. Since all the donations come from older well established people they aren't going to be offended by this comment. Bottom line is every generation has thought the country is screwed because of the next generation.

Any of you over 40 y/o folks remember what your parents were saying about those hippies while you were growing up? Now there is a generation that did nothing but sit around singing and smoking pot. Country is screwed when those hippies are running it.

If the problem is a generational thing why is it that the football coaches are always talking about this guy or that guy being a bring your lunch pale kind of guy? Why aren't all sports effected by this crappy generation?

The easiest way psychologically to get people to avoid looking at a real problem is by playing into stereotypes. There have been studies done that show as soon as you take a room of 20 people and then put them in 2 arbitrary groups they will likely support their group members stances. By making this a generational thing it is playing on that psychological effect. The money (donors) are in an older group already so it's easy to make this younger group look like they don't work hard because they are going to back their group.

This is NOT equivalent to racism, but it is the same sociological manipulation used by racists. If you can make a group of people a scapegoat for your problems you don't have to deal with what they actually are. You're poor? Well that's because Race X controls all the money. You're basketball team sucks? Well that's because the generation of players are good for nothing sloths.


Only thing I agree with in this letter is the basketball program will be fixed one way or the other.
 

agrabes

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Oct 25, 2006
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I for one use an unpowered reel mower, and if you don't, you're a lazy product of a wasteful society. Chew on that bud.

Well, crap I guess I'd might as well just quit my job so I can free them of my lazy dead weight. Thanks for letting me know though :).

It just surprises me how much people on here were saying that anyone 25 and younger is a spoiled, entitled brat. You may have run into a few bad apples, but by and large we are not spoiled. We may feel "entitled" to certain things that are normal to have in this day and age in the same way that the older generation feels "entitled" to electricity when for their parents electricity was a special privilege. The older generation might feel they deserve a job if they work hard, when the generation that grew up during the great depression knew that even hard work was often not enough to secure a job and people entering the workforce today know that they have to leverage to get the most they can out of the position and if they can't get what they want that they should walk away and find a new job. It's all relative, young people grow up and adapt to the circumstances around them.
 

CYKOFAN

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Mar 27, 2006
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I keep hearing from JP worshipers (employees) how we can't get rid of JP because he's raised so much money. Revenues have mainly gone up because JP has made us fans pay a lot more for a lot less. Doesn't take a genius to raise ticket prices and required donations, and as a result we've got terrible basketball for 4 years and lousy football for 3 of the last 4. Most a.d.s would be on the hotseat, and if JP isn't, Geoffrey's job needs to be on the line.
 
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ahaselhu

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Sep 10, 2007
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Clarinda, IA
I would say that the problem isn't so much that kids are more entitled or lazy now than ever before, but that society lets them stay kids longer. I think there's a lot of evidence out there that people just don't grow up emotionally or intellectually as fast as they used to. And I'm not throwing the blame around, I have been as guilty of that as anyone else.
 

Cyclonestate78

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May 23, 2008
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Is it a fact that the childish and rude email posted here was indeed written by JP?

Did JP let Kindler and Cael out of Ames without much of a fight, two very talented and young coaches?

Did JP fire WM and say men's bball is ISU athletics, and then replace him with a coach that has ran that program into the ground?

Did JP give Chizik a contract extension after going 5-19 at ISU?

Has JP neglected the horrible physical appearance around Hilton Coliseum?

I find it astonishing that people cannot realize that our AD has quite a few negatives too. And his arrogance concerning "his" guy as coach of the men's bball team is insulting to most of us.

I was a huge JP fan too. Have spoken with him several times. I want to still feel the way about him that many here do. But I can't anymore. There is too much evidence there now that makes my doubts go stronger everyday.

Do people honestly believe that there are not going to be some uncomfortable situations at the tailgates this summer? Do they really plan on dragging McD around the state and showing him off? To who? And why?

I respect JP. I think he has done a tremendous job in very difficult economic circumstances in raising funds and building our Athletic Dept budget. He has been the driving force behind some much needed upgrades in our athletic facilities and the building of a new basketball practice facility for the men's and women's programs. I give him a great amount of credit for this. While I agree that there are some improvements that still need to be made as far as the facilities go I think he has really done about as much as he can to this point. At this time he can only raise so much funding in an effort to help us recruit and compete with other Big XII programs.

Now it is time for our programs to step up to the plate and start showing some results. CPR and the football team have stepped up, BF and the women's basketball program have stepped up and have been for the last decade, KJ and the wrestling program are still stepping up and have been forever, and CJ and the volleyball program have stepped up and are doing great things. As you can see while the majority of our programs are stepping up one major program is not. Unfortunately for JP it is hard to continue asking for donations etc... based on the poor results of one program and that is just the way it is. Overall he has done a very good job. I was a little frustrated with his handling of the Matt Rainey email and with GMAC. It seems like he is the type of guy that isn't used to failing or having his hands on something that has failed like the men's bball program. Right now it seems like he is in denial of what is going on and is searching for any excuse he can find to avoid owning this failure. That is understandable.

While I hate to see the program sinking to such miserable low, we know this situation isn't going to get any better with GMAC at the helm. I fully believe that JP has a full understanding of the fact that after next season he will have no choice but to send GMAC packing because we will fail next season. It is a certainty. The laundry list of excuses for keeping GMAC will have run it's course and we will still be left in the same position at the end of next season.... the cellar of the Big XII. JP is a business man and he knows that when you **** off your customers long enough with an inferior product they will not only stop buying it but they will also stop buying the other higher quality products you have. After next season.... the GMAC experiment will be over for good. Bank on it.
 

acgclone

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Feb 21, 2007
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I do think that JP has done a great job financially thus far in his tenure. I also think he's made some very big mistakes from a coaching standpoint.

I'll comment mainly on MBB and FB as those are the two programs that count (and generate revenue). He's destroyed our MBB program with the hire and his allegiance to Greg.

Like a blind squirrel finding a nut, CPR has fallen into his lap and appears to be a great hire. His DMac/GC mistake looks like it will turn out well, but what happens to revenue if CPR isn't able to improve our standing in FB?

That is entirely possible as I think you can be a good coach and it still might not look like it if you're at a program like ISU.

We have a nightmare schedule coming up and I could easily see the next two years being very rough in FB.

Where would we stand then? A MBB program that is in shambles and a FB program that isn't doing too hot either.
 

zmanzbo

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Apr 11, 2006
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I think that is pretty accurate.


:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:
 

Cyclonestate78

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May 23, 2008
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I do think that JP has done a great job financially thus far in his tenure. I also think he's made some very big mistakes from a coaching standpoint.

I'll comment mainly on MBB and FB as those are the two programs that count (and generate revenue). He's destroyed our MBB program with the hire and his allegiance to Greg.

Like a blind squirrel finding a nut, CPR has fallen into his lap and appears to be a great hire. His DMac/GC mistake looks like it will turn out well, but what happens to revenue if CPR isn't able to improve our standing in FB?

That is entirely possible as I think you can be a good coach and it still might not look like it if you're at a program like ISU.

We have a nightmare schedule coming up and I could easily see the next two years being very rough in FB.

Where would we stand then? A MBB program that is in shambles and a FB program that isn't doing too hot either.

I agree. The prospects are scary of what could happen if football under CPR falls on some hard times. I can't say that I think it will though. CPR has showed me that he is the man for the job. Sure we had our struggles but those kids on the field were out there to compete. The Nebraska game is the greatest example of that. Our kids didn't have as much size as Nebraska, we didn't have as much speed as Nebraska, and we didn't have as much talent overall on the field as Nebraska.... What we did have was a football team that wanted that game more then Nebraska and they did everything they could possibly do to win that football game. Nebraska was not able to beat us because they couldn't match the heart, desire to win, and sheer effort that ISU showed on that field. I think ISU is going to have a solid season this year and these things listed above are the reason why.

I don't envy JP... It isn't easy to find coaches that are a good fit at ISU. We may have lucked out and hit a home run with CPR and that is fine. I will take it. But in the ultra competitive conference we are in we can't sit around with a coach that isn't cutting it and wait 5 years before making a move. 5 years of a down program will take 5 years or longer to build back up because each year you regress you just keep falling further and further behind the programs that are improving.
 

rholtgraves

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Sep 25, 2009
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I am sick of McD, JP, and their appologists trying to turn this around on the kids. Mcd is the head coach he is paid to win games. He is paid to recruit. He is paid to manage the players. It is not like we are getting all of these high profile recruits who are planning on going to the NBA after a year or two. SO we don't have the biggest prima donas. Even if we did have a them it is McD's job to make them into a team and manage them. That is what good coaches do. Look at Calipari or Self or other similar coaches. These guys get players with huge egos and make it work. You think John Wall's first priority was the team when he came in? No, he knew he was going to the NBA but he got those guys to play together and win a lot of games. And you can't just say that the players we have are babies who don't like tough coaching. Huggins, Martin, Izzo, these guys are tough and they don't have the same problem. And you can't say "look there are transfers all over" because we are way above the average. I just laughed when JP said that we weren't the only ones with transfers. He thinks we are all stupid and can't see for ourselves that problem is the coach. Im sick of excuses. Even assuming that the landscape of college basketball has changed it doesn't excuse McD because everyone else is on the same playing field. It is not like he is the only coach that has to deal with players with and ego or players.
 

CycloneWanderer

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Nov 4, 2007
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Honestly, BF has lost his entire recruiting class for last year as well from a team which has been deep in the dance for several years. I can understand the argument and definitely think it has some weight. There have been a startling number of transfers the last couple years in all of CBB. If the coaches are the same and the fans are the same, by elimination it has to be the students or the parents.
 

Incyte

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Apr 12, 2007
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I keep hearing from JP worshipers (employees) how we can't get rid of JP because he's raised so much money. Revenues have mainly gone up because JP has made us fans pay a lot more for a lot less. Doesn't take a genius to raise ticket prices and required donations, and as a result we've got terrible basketball for 4 years and lousy football for 3 of the last 4. Most a.d.s would be on the hotseat, and if JP isn't, Geoffrey's job needs to be on the line.

Fire Geoofrey. Great idea. :chatterbox: