Comments

I was at the game Wednesday night and I’m at every game I can possibly be at, and yes the crowd as pathetic and we were greatly outnumbered.  However, after watching the game Wednesday night and thinking about the other games I’ve been to this year, it’s hard to blame folks for not coming.  I’m pulling hard for our players, like them, and respect them, but the games have become absolutely boring and there is NO atmosphere.  I’ve missed very few home games over the past 15 years and even during the couple of down years under Skip the games were always fun and enjoyable to attend. I’m still going, but the games for the most part are no longer enjoyable, and I can’t blame people from staying home when it’s no longer fun…

Andy Y on 02/04/2012 (11:09 am)

The sky is not falling.  Wake fans are and always have been fickle.  The team is losing and the games are not free - this is about opportunity cost.  But I am not a complete apologist.  While I do believe this season is an improvement over last, the Deacs must go 3-3 against NCSU, Clem, GT, Miami, BC, and GT.  We live in an immediate gratification world, but doing things the right way takes time.  Coach needs a few recruiting classes and he needs some seniors.  Then he can be judged as harshly as any of you want.  I agree it is sad, but true fans will be there for at least two more seasons while we give this program a chance.

Tony on 02/03/2012 (2:38 pm)

Great incoming soccer class. All of you frustrated basketball fans need to come to Spry in the fall to see passion and enthusiasm!!

jerry on 02/03/2012 (12:33 pm)

Last two Wake teams are the worst we have put on a court in my lifetime and I am 51.  The coach has to go.  We need a coach with some passion and energy with something to prove, one who can recruit.  All that hard work Odom and Prosser did to revive Wake b-ball and energize the fan base is gone.  We have to let the administraion know we want a change and now.

Mark on 02/02/2012 (11:14 pm)

Looks like the fan base has gone from anger to apathy.  What’s worse than “angry letters in a drawer?”  No letters.

I’ve said it before and will say it again—Buzzy was never a winner before, except for a short interlude from his losing ways at AFA.  Why are we surprised that he’s losing now?  None of the experts who panned Welly’s hiring are surprised. 

I just hope they keep losing so Wellman has no choice but to admit he’s wrong.  Buzzy will never win at Wake.  Those of who show “patience” are actually enablers, just like the Cubs fans who kept going to watch a sinking ship for all of those years.

At least we have Webb Simpson!

Rob on 02/02/2012 (8:00 pm)

I’m not connected well enough to know what Ron Wellman is thinking.  I’ve just got to believe that he knows there is a rising tide of discontent.  What I would really like to know is how he feels about this.  However, I’m realistic to know that what he thinks or feels is going to be kept in-house, as it should be.  In the meantime, we just keep going forward, losing more and more of the core support that has sustained WF for so long. Bzdelick is who he is.  There are a lot of stoic and successful coaches out there.  Enthusiasm will only return to the Joel when the team begins to win. If we fans had thought that we had a team that could beat Carolina, the place would have been packed and rocking.  What we had was fans who came to see a basketball game, pretty much knowing that the home team would lose and just hoping it would be a respectable loss….do you think that puts energy into the place?

Jim on 02/02/2012 (4:41 pm)

I have been President’s Club, Deacon Club and a season ticket holder. I have to drive my family 3 hours one way just to get to a game. I would not cross the street to see the product we are putting on the court. I don’t mind losing, I’ve been a Deacon too long to expect that. But I will not waste my time watching this pathetic, embarassing mess. Will we really have to reduce the program to zero before we wake up and get a coach and staff that will represent my alma mater respectfully?

Mitchell Drew Rivenbark ('77) on 02/02/2012 (2:34 pm)

Jeff I agree with you, except for the part that Jeff Bzedlik might have an NCAA bound team in a few years. This will not happen. I certainly agree that Ron Wellman, Jeff Bzdelik, and the Wake Administration have greatly damaged the relationship between the Wake fan base and the university. The only way that this can change is for Jeff Bzdelik to be replaced. I think most Wake fans now believe that Ron Wellman should also be replaced. If Jeff Bzdelik is allowed to coach beyond this season I believe that it will take years for Wake’s basketball team and their fan base to recover. I guess time will tell. I’m still waiting for Ron Wellman to hold a press conference so that he can publically show his support for his coach. I wonder if his non-statements mean that he is considering firing Jeff Bzedlik at the end of the season. I guess not. All reports that I hear is that he believes that Jeff Bzedlik is doing a great job.

Craig Carter on 02/02/2012 (2:17 pm)

How ironic that Dino gives the pregame and halftime assessment of the game.

DTuttle on 02/02/2012 (12:05 pm)

I really think Wellman has set this program back 10 years. Bzdelik may have an NCAA bound team next season or two but a LOT of work has to be done to fix the relationship with the fan base.  This isn’t a matter of fickleness either.  Fans from 30+ years are not watching or coming to games.  The fan base is angry and feels betrayed.

Regardless of the qualifications of Bzdelik or future success.  The way firing Dino was handled and for the reasons given, the fan base expected a huge hire.  When we were left with questions of Who? and scratching our heads at an apparently small coaching search, this is the kind of support you get.

It’s a shame. As a lifetime deac living a far, I still watch games when I can but honestly all I can say about our program is this: I MISS COLLEGE HOOPS….

Jeff on 02/02/2012 (10:40 am)

I was impressed with the number of Wake fans that turned out for the game considering we’re still charging people money to watch this.

Jonathan on 02/01/2012 (8:34 pm)

One picture is worth a thousand words. I hope that AD Wellman and his superiors also view this.
Enough said-end of story.

Jack on 02/01/2012 (7:38 pm)

Gee. In an incredibly bad era of Wake basketball, the in-state WalMart school has more supporters at an in-state game than the private school. I’ll bet that’s never happened before. Better do a front page expose on this one, Disco! Pulitzer material!

Rhenish on 02/01/2012 (6:48 pm)

Jim, the scene at the Joel last night is a big part of the story of Wake Forest basketball midway through the 2011-12 season. I’m just telling the story. No motives. No agenda.

Dan Collins on 02/01/2012 (5:50 pm)

Dan,  I’m a bit puzzled by this.  You have tried to be neutral and, if anything, given us reasons to be patient.  This video is what I would use to stir up the Wake faithful who may not be aware of how pitiful things are at the Joel…empty seats, as many opponent’s fans as ours, little crowd noise and no enthusiasm…maybe, perhaps, you inadvertently are showing your own frustration or perhaps disappointment at what is.  Did you notice the best applause last night was for Randolph Childress, who was on that ridiculous “ask a Deac” commercial?
I do have one question for you.  Will CP3 get a banner and, if so, why hasn’t it been done yet?

Jim on 02/01/2012 (4:54 pm)

The attendance looked even worse on television. Thank goodness the game was on ESPNU; which not everyone gets.

I can remember for my 20 years photographing Wake basketball ball you could hardly get a ticket to the Wake - Carolina game. Now Wake is giving employees tickets just to fill empty seats.

What a sad state the program has gotten into and bringing back the fans will be even more difficult

Maybe someone Weill finally take notice and do something to right the ship before it sinks further.

As disappointed as I am about the DEACS and even more frustrated with Coach Bzdelik I’ll always be Deacon fan.

DTuttle on 02/01/2012 (3:45 pm)

so sad—so very very sad

Paul on 02/01/2012 (3:15 pm)

Looks like one of our home football games.

Doug on 02/01/2012 (2:32 pm)