Love dem Techsters!

[eagle2180]

I'm kinda in the same boat as you are -

I don't lose sleep, it doesn't bother me or bring me down if they lose or give great joy when they win

Football same - as well as basketball and baseball

I'd rather play golf on Saturdays now and if I make the game, I make the game

Basketball - last year about done me in with the staff - as a college basketball fan it was a hard watch

Baseball - I try to make the Friday night games each home stand, then if I make the others I do but I don't block out my schedule like I used to

I will NEVER give a dime to a TECH NIL collective - I'd rather we drop to FCS - and I'm sure that there a lot of fans that feel the same way I do

Well, that is a good summary of Tech athletics. How did we get to this point? Can we improve/ change course? How do we replace long time supporters that have had enough?

[champion110]

Well, that is a good summary of Tech athletics. How did we get to this point? Can we improve/ change course? How do we replace long time supporters that have had enough?

I will never give up, but to improve the future outlook, we have to be willing to do what is necessary to get into another conference (not the Belt), play quality opponents, and have coaches that can win. We are just standing still right now in all sports. Saying that, some winning will help a LOT and I hope we see this across all sports this next year.

[jycww]

I have lost most (all?) interest in sports in general, at least to the point where I actually care about wins-losses. I watch sports some, not nearly as much as I used to, and can take it or leave it. I try to focus on the entertainment value of it and just enjoy it instead of getting all bent out of shape over results.

Universities are dinosaurs, barely hanging on to what they have been, and are still trying to remain such. Times have changed and are changing even more. The role played by colleges is no longer needed. The least important aspects of college will disappear first. Colleges will have to change with the times if they hope to survive. In public colleges taxpayers are largely footing the bill. How does one defend a hard-working taxpayer supporting some kid from out-of-state, from a foreign country, getting a "free ride" at a state college just so they can play some non-revenue sport, like tennis, soccer, water polo, golf, and even really, revenue sports like MBB and football?

At the end of the day, how is the world affected by a Techster win? by a Techster loss? Neither matters...

So, for now, at least have some results that actually mean something. Brooke has always run a clean program, she did so at NSU and is doing so at Tech. So, as long as the college system exists, 'ships just so some kids get to play a game, might as well channel into as positive a result as possible. As opposed to LSU football where worthless thugs play the system hoping to land a $million(s) contract in the pros.

That said, sure, I hope the Techsters win something! Just as long as integrity is not sacrificed to get there.

Wow! Can I assume then that you will no longer post about bad coaching decisions, won/loss records, etc? If you chose to do so, then it would reek of hypocrisy. If the feeling you have (which you are 100% entitled to) is prevalent within this board, then the only discussions we should have going forward is how entertaining the game was (football, basketball, etc). So if Tech gets beat by 45 pts in football, 50 pts in basketball, 9 runs in baseball, etc., as long as you find offense entertaining, you won't mind, right? The opposing teams would have displayed plenty of offense, so we should walk away saying it was entertaining and accept the results? No way I can go there.

I am still of the mind that coaches should be judged on their results, wins/losses, along with running a clean program. If the coaches can't get us to the next level, ie. a conference championship, a NCAA tournament, etc., then even if they have a clean program, they should be given ample chance and then without results, shown the door. Surely there are good asst coaches within major programs that want that first step in leading their own program. Hopefully, the HC in football is on this trek! I guess we give another year to MBB coach to see if the results improve, but the WBB coach and hubby have had ample opportunity to show what they can/can't do.

I am certainly not of the mindset you are (where losses no longer matter) and hope I never get to that point.

[revf]

Wow! Can I assume then that you will no longer post about bad coaching decisions, won/loss records, etc? If you chose to do so, then it would reek of hypocrisy. If the feeling you have (which you are 100% entitled to) is prevalent within this board, then the only discussions we should have going forward is how entertaining the game was (football, basketball, etc). So if Tech gets beat by 45 pts in football, 50 pts in basketball, 9 runs in baseball, etc., as long as you find offense entertaining, you won't mind, right? The opposing teams would have displayed plenty of offense, so we should walk away saying it was entertaining and accept the results? No way I can go there.

I am still of the mind that coaches should be judged on their results, wins/losses, along with running a clean program. If the coaches can't get us to the next level, ie. a conference championship, a NCAA tournament, etc., then even if they have a clean program, they should be given ample chance and then without results, shown the door. Surely there are good asst coaches within major programs that want that first step in leading their own program. Hopefully, the HC in football is on this trek! I guess we give another year to MBB coach to see if the results improve, but the WBB coach and hubby have had ample opportunity to show what they can/can't do.

I am certainly not of the mindset you are (where losses no longer matter) and hope I never get to that point.

Perhaps you don't understand.

Most of the people who post on this board (and especially the other one) are people who have given 110% for YEARS if not DECADES! In that amount of time we have seen a proud program grow stagnate. We have seen multiple years of Presidents who "get it" and yet completely fail where it matters. We have seen Athletic Departments hire marginal coaches and extend their contracts indefinitely. We have seen them make it more difficult for students AND fans to tailgate. We have seen them move to the C-USA, hire an incompetent commissioner, and let her ride out her retirement indefinitely while schools leave. We sat around and let the Sunbelt pass us by as an Athletic Conference. We have seen them be dazed and confused while other schools were courting the AAC. We watched them last year completely and utterly fail at getting a marginal athletic fee passed.

So yeah most of the fans on these boards are tired and probably a little apathetic about Louisiana Tech Athletics right now.

Want to know something even worse?

Since I have been a member of BBB, this board has shrunk. We used to have thousands of visitors. I am guessing now we have maybe 100 on a good day. I am sure the administrators have better numbers, but there is NO excitement around Tech athletics right now. NONE.

[jycww]

Perhaps you don't understand.

Most of the people who post on this board (and especially the other one) are people who have given 110% for YEARS if not DECADES! In that amount of time we have seen a proud program grow stagnate. We have seen multiple years of Presidents who "get it" and yet completely fail where it matters. We have seen Athletic Departments hire marginal coaches and extend their contracts indefinitely. We have seen them make it more difficult for students AND fans to tailgate. We have seen them move to the C-USA, hire an incompetent commissioner, and let her ride out her retirement indefinitely while schools leave. We sat around and let the Sunbelt pass us by as an Athletic Conference. We have seen them be dazed and confused while other schools were courting the AAC. We watched them last year completely and utterly fail at getting a marginal athletic fee passed.

So yeah most of the fans on these boards are tired and probably a little apathetic about Louisiana Tech Athletics right now.

Want to know something even worse?

Since I have been a member of BBB, this board has shrunk. We used to have thousands of visitors. I am guessing now we have maybe 100 on a good day. I am sure the administrators have better numbers, but there is NO excitement around Tech athletics right now. NONE.

Thanks for the response, but I have been around since 1977, so I can say I have lived through most if not all of what you have described. Yet still, I can't get to the point of what was described by Dawg80 and a couple of others. Since graduation in 1981, I moved to Texas for employment so didn't have the "front row seat" by living in Ruston as some of the posters do. And yea, I get just as mad by the dumb decisions, dumb hires, seemingly looking within Louisiana first when trying to hire a coach, etc. But to say we no longer care about wins as long as it is entertaining, just can't go there and hope I never do.

[dawg80]

Wow! Can I assume then that you will no longer post about bad coaching decisions, won/loss records, etc? If you chose to do so, then it would reek of hypocrisy. If the feeling you have (which you are 100% entitled to) is prevalent within this board, then the only discussions we should have going forward is how entertaining the game was (football, basketball, etc). So if Tech gets beat by 45 pts in football, 50 pts in basketball, 9 runs in baseball, etc., as long as you find offense entertaining, you won't mind, right? The opposing teams would have displayed plenty of offense, so we should walk away saying it was entertaining and accept the results? No way I can go there.

I am still of the mind that coaches should be judged on their results, wins/losses, along with running a clean program. If the coaches can't get us to the next level, ie. a conference championship, a NCAA tournament, etc., then even if they have a clean program, they should be given ample chance and then without results, shown the door. Surely there are good asst coaches within major programs that want that first step in leading their own program. Hopefully, the HC in football is on this trek! I guess we give another year to MBB coach to see if the results improve, but the WBB coach and hubby have had ample opportunity to show what they can/can't do.

I am certainly not of the mindset you are (where losses no longer matter) and hope I never get to that point.

Not quite. Maybe this will help clarify my position. I am at the point where Tech athletic failure does not bother me. Good thing too given all the recent failure.

I wore a TECH shirt yesterday while running errands around Natchitoches, including our almost daily sojourn to Walmart . Got some comments ranging from, "Go Tech!" to eyes-rolling from some folks, to one fellow, sporting an LSU shirt and NSU cap who said, "Ugh...Tech." I just smiled and nodded. Good to see "Tech" still invokes reactions.

Anyway, sorry, I'll let you and others beat your heads against the wall whenever a Tech team disappoints. For me, there will be no disappointment possible since I have zero expectation of any successes. Oh, well, except I expect Tech and all its representatives, which includes coaches and players, to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, behavior, and results that matter...like graduation rates and such stuff like that.

Carry on my Dawg brother!

[champion110]

I think some of you are downplaying the conference issue. In order to recruit good players, we MUST play against name programs. In order to increase attendance, we have to win a good share of those games against name programs. It is all a circle and on feeds off another. We have to figure out how to move up in conference or we are doomed. That is NOT having a goal of the Sun Belt. We all know that winning helps, but does not move you up - been there and done that. I don't know how much the administration is even trying - if they are it is certainly behind the scenes. Our choices are limited - I know that, but we need an all out push to get out of CUSA and into a conference that is relevant. That brings the opportunity of great coaches, great players, newsworthy wins, funding increases, excitement by the fans, and crowd size. Just my 2 cents. We are not going to move forward without the first step of a conference upgrade.

While we wait, I will still be cheering on all our teams and not missing a game (at least by streaming). I just hope the wait isn't indefinite.

[dawg80]

202 Tech athletes, men and women, received CUSA academic medals for success in the classroom. Congrats to them all.

And, Brooke's Techsters set an all-time WBB program record having 10 receive the academic medals.

Since this is primarily a sports-oriented forum, on that front, I will say that the results under Brooke have been disappointing. Some of you probably don't remember (nor care) but I was a strong advocate for Tech hiring Brooke as our WBB coach. I followed her very closely while at NSU, had the opportunity to sit through a couple of practices and also was a "guest coach" during a game and got a close-up of her coaching philosophy, knowledge, and ability. She checked all the boxes.

The Southland Conference was not then, and is not now, as strong as CUSA. Brooke enjoyed success winning two SLC conference tournaments and two trips to the Big Dance. One year, which I think was her best coaching success, she took a young, struggling bunch and gradually during the season grew them into a championship-caliber squad. Because of their regular season overall conference record they entered the tournament as the 6th seed, but everyone had them slated as the over-whelming favorite to win it, and they did. That team gelled in late-February into March and they were simply playing lights out.

While CUSA is not a powerhouse conference in WBB, it is superior to the SLC and Brooke has not been able to get us over the hump. Last year she did have the Techsters reach the conference tournament championship game...the same day the Dunkin' Dawgs did...but came up short. This past season was a huge disappointment as we regressed.

I still like Brooke as the Techster coach because she has, overall, created a fine program where the truly important things matter. When I think on it, I want Brooke and her Techsters to enjoy enormous success ON THE COURT, not for me, not for the band-wagon fanbase out there, but for her and for champion110, who has remained steadfast in his belief and optimism! Let's reach the Sweet 16, at least, and see what happens from there.

Love dem Techsters!

[techman05]

I think all of us who are still here care about our programs. However, I think we can be upset and comment about all aspects of the programs without being so invested that we will jump off a bridge if we lose. I, like others, will try to make every game I can. However, if my son has been looking forward to a hunting or fishing trip, I won’t take that away from him. If we have a family gathering planned, I won’t give that up. If conference baseball gets moved to 11 every Sunday, we won’t miss church and family lunch for the game.

[Dwayne From Minden]

Wbb has dropped to fourth on the pecking order here at TECH -

It could easily drop to 5th...

Once the big schools started pouring money into that sport it was over for TECH

Last FINAL FOUR that I went to was in 1997-1998 and it had become nothing more than an overblown LGBT convention

Tech lost Emily Carter to TCU who was a member of a legacy family due to the culture of the locker room

I can't explain how embarrassed I was in 2014 in El Paso at the conference tournament of how Spoon allowed the team to carry and conduct themselves off the court even though they were making a deep run in the tourney -

What Summit did and was allowed to do to that locker room with little to no backlash other than being told to move on by Guice & McClelland was inexcusable -

So yes, I'm ok with how the program is right now - do I want them to win more? of course - but at least they are taking care of business in the class room and community and they are NOT AN EMBARASSMENT to the school

[Bone_afide_Dawg]

It strikes me that there’s probably more thought, energy and desire to succeed being expressed here than anything the Tech powers at be are doing from Guice all the way down to our underachieving coaches. If Tech really wanted to win and was committed to doing better they’d require that the coaches attend off season training clinics and I’m not talking about our coaches teaching kids. I’m talking about our coaches being taught. The point is that Tech’s coaches never get better, their teams don’t improve from season to season and everybody including a majority of the so called fans seem to be okay with that. It’s really quite disgusting.

[Dwayne From Minden]

I'll say it again, even though I've said it a hundred more or so times already - IF a coach is at Tech more than FIVE years we made the wrong hire...

We should be a stepping stone in all sports

I know our folks don't like to hear that, but it is the truth...

[dawg80]

I'll say it again, even though I've said it a hundred more or so times already - IF a coach is at Tech more than FIVE years we made the wrong hire...

We should be a stepping stone in all sports

I know our folks don't like to hear that, but it is the truth...

Leon Barmore was here longer than 5 years. As was Gravy, and Skip Holtz...oh, wait, scratch that one.

[Dwayne From Minden]

Leon Barmore was here longer than 5 years. As was Gravy, and Skip Holtz...oh, wait, scratch that one.

You are missing the point -

Barmore and Gravy, Aillet & Lambright ain't happening again in today's climate and structure -

My point stands with Skip - he should of been gone before year six, same with Konkol...

We should be hiring coaches that are good enough to be hired away by larger schools



And yes Skip

[dawg80]

You are missing the point -

Barmore and Gravy, Aillet & Lambright ain't happening again in today's climate and structure -

My point stands with Skip - he should of been gone before year six, same with Konkol...

We should be hiring coaches that are good enough to be hired away by larger schools



And yes Skip

I get your point. I was just tweaking ya with references to Barmore and Gravy. Actually, you make a very good and valid point. Coaches at Tech should be good enough to be hired away. If one is not than he/she was a bad hire and needs to be replaced. With this caveat...how important is it to apply this to the non-revenue sports? That includes WBB. What does it do for Tech in general, the athletic department in particular, to have a great, up-and-coming coach have success at Tech and be gone in 3-4 years? I mean in sports like tennis, etc...

The argument in favor of such a strategy has been "sports is the window of the university," and some of the by-products of a success on the field/court is increased donations, students wanting to come, some additional revenue, etc.. There are also expenses attached to such a strategy, so it comes down to ROI.

Since this is the WBB forum, what has transpired at Tech keeping Brooke vis-a-vis seeking another coach, one who might have enjoyed "more success" on the court? Can such effects be measured, and if so, what are they?