Comments

Wake alumni and fans deserve to have a better basketball coach period.  Wellman
made a horrible quick decision nd it backfired.  I firmly believe corrective
action must be taken immediately.

grumpy on 03/11/2011 (10:56 am)

Dear Tony C,

I’m sure the program will survive without your financial support. I have yet to see Tony C on any buildings and regret that now I never may….

So you really are of the opinion that they either do exactly what you tell them to do or you will not support the team and will do whatever you can to help the program fail? Just curious if you really mean what you type or if you are just ranting?

Lee Jackson on 03/03/2011 (6:46 pm)

While I wish collegiate athletics were more like they use to be (amatuer, fight for old WFU etc.)or at least appeared to be, the fact is that they aren’t. We are talking about a high powered, big money intertainment business. That’s why ESPN paid the ACC $1.86 billion (as in “B”) for the rights to televise their football and basketball games (obviously for the ACC timing was everything). Any time big money is involved you get a lot of ugly things that go with it….the AAU, lack of perspective, pressure to do what is best rather than what is right, “one and doners”, agents, runners, parties in South Beach etc. Is it any wonder the sports pages are filled with stories about suspensions, arrests, criminal records, pay to play (see Cam Newton)and have been for a number of years.

What also comes with big money and big business in general are high expectations for performance, accountability and very limited patience…which given the money involved are not surprising and not unrealistic. It is a difficult position for an institution like Wake. I think we all want to do it the right way but if you are going to play in this game you cannot accept poor performance for very long or you will never get out of the hole…...and in the real world poor performance is a matter or wins and losses or at least measurable improvement.

Just so you will know that I have not become a total cynic…..I rooting like hell for BYU to win it all.

Deacon23 on 03/03/2011 (11:51 am)

Attend a practice? Come on Bzzz, we got better things to do. I left the Stetson game in the second half with ten minutes to go and said to the couple that normally sits next to me, “See y’all next year”. I knew then that this team was in for a long year with how poorly motivated our coach had them prepared. I meant to say that I will see y’all again when Wake hires a real coach. We have only beaten two teams this year with a winning record. Simply pathetic!

Wakemeup on 03/02/2011 (9:24 pm)

College basketball today is completely different than 10 years ago. Most successful college basketball programs would not even dare hire someone with the negative record that Jeff Bzdelick has. An AD of a school like UNC, Duke, or Kentucky would not even consider hiring Jeff Bzdelick because they know that they would not be AD very long and that fans would have a very negative reaction. I think Ron Wellman was counting on most of the Wake Fans to go along with the hiring of this coach no matter what the record was. I want to be proven wrong about this coach, however you don’t have to have coaching experience to understand that this was a big mistake. Can this program really take another year like we are having? I think those of us who object to the hiring of this coach are just as loyal fans as those who think hiring Jeff Bzdelick was a great hiring move.

Craig Carter on 03/02/2011 (5:07 pm)

Thank you memphisslim and Joey D for answers to my question. If I recall Bob Wade was a high school coach when the Terps hired him. I’m sure the thinking before his ouster was “this guy is in over his head.” It’s a regular theme I hear where coach Bz is concerned. Now Jackie Murdock was previously a pretty fair Deacon player, and 8-18 got him gone after one year at his alma mater. So at one time Wake did not have a problem with making a fast change, and Mr. Murdock was one of the family at that.

Class of 1977 on 03/02/2011 (5:02 pm)

Jim,

Did you see Moubarek stepping aside as ruler of Egypt just a few weeks ago? People, publicity and MONEY have influence. When seats are empty, fans are screaming bloody murder and revenues dry up changes occur quickly and without indication.

I’d say a very loud demonstration by Wake fans, particularly those holding tourney tix, at the ACC tournament with all the ACC and national media gathered may very well be the move that forces Wellman to take action whether he cares to or not.

Joey D on 03/02/2011 (2:03 pm)

Tony, it’s not about having the guts to “call them out.”  It’s accessing the situation and realizing that all indications are Bzdelick is here at least two years, and Wellman has built up too much capital to be on the “hot seat” at this moment.  Our criticism and general unrest as a body may move Bzdelick to make some changes in personnel or coaching style.  Other than that, I don’t see anything else happening.

Jim on 03/02/2011 (12:00 pm)

Tony C: you are well within your rights to not like the coach. I respect the fact that you have spoken with Wellman about it. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a wait and see type of person and realize that this abysmal season has to be placed on the shoulders of the coaches AND the players. When a team is playing like this, it is the fault of both sides.

You obviously should direct your personal and company funding wherever you see fit, but I would ask you to reconsider giving to the Deacon Club. Part of your money would go to a coach (who would get paid regardless) but a larger part would go to providing a kid a Wake Forest education. If you don’t want to support the coach, that’s fine but you are doing more hurt to the rest of the athletes than you are to the basketball coach.

Patrick W. Crist '07 on 03/02/2011 (11:30 am)

Mr. Jackson,

I am much closer to this program than you may think. Contrary to popular belief I have infact spoken directly to Welmen amd Bzdelick and told both of them how I feel.

I also told them that if I was wrong I would be the first in his office to recommit financially my company’s support but I will not invest another dime in which a part goes to pay for this Coach and staff’s salary.

This whole situation is not just about having a bad year, we were ranked number 1 in the country 2 years ago. We are now ranked 245. I like the analogy used by Joey D. It is not only our right as a fan base who is ask by the AD to contribute finacially but it is our obligation to speak out and let Welmen know that this is unacceptable performance which is as a result of decisions he has made by himself as he has admitted. I am amazed that so few people have actually accepted this and say “Oh we should give Bzdelick a chance, and sometimes we must take a step back to move forward”. I am not buying it, again, at the end of the day you do not hire a Coach with the credentials of this Coach if your reasons are lack of post season success and over all direction of the program. It does not add up and the fact that Dan and the rest of the Journal reporters refuse to do any investigative reporting into this send a message that many of the fan base that this stinks to high heaven.
I supported the team with Carl Tacy, Bob Stack, Dave Odom, Skip and Dino. All of them had weaknesses, but any of these Coaches would have the players attention, focused and ready to play. You have to ask yourself questions, why do our freshmen seem to not make the same type progress as the other freshmen in the league. There are too many red flags and not enough of us willing to step out and actually have the guts to call them out, in person on the phone, in writing and in person as I have Mr. Jackson.

Tony C on 03/02/2011 (9:21 am)

Thank you Joey D for your comments. I could not have said it better myself. But I was wondering how much longer we have to pay for Dino? And what is Coach B’s contract length? How much does the AD make a year? Like I said, just wondering.

Kurt M on 03/02/2011 (8:31 am)

To answer the inquiry above, Jack Murdock coached one year 1966 between Bones era & Jack McCloskey. The ‘66 team went 8-18.

memphisslim on 03/01/2011 (11:17 pm)

I don’t mind leaving LJVM disappointed in a loss, I do have trouble leaving disgusted with a loss.  That has been the case more times than not.  We have unfortunately been the victim of the perfect storm of a bad season and it has been wearing hard on all of us.  Personal thanks to you Dan for your perspective on the team and keeping us in the loop during the seasons.  I for one am looking forward to football season and then again next year for some basketball.  Hope you are there as well.  Thanks for your efforts.  Like bobby h signs off “Peace”  - Peace of mind to us all after this season, it is just a game.  Peace to you Dan.

ej on 03/01/2011 (10:31 pm)

C o 77,

I’m guessing the answer to your question is “no”.

But the question that follows that is: Has any 1st year coach had as bad of a 1st season as this one?

The only contender would be Bob Wade at Maryland with the 0-14 season in 1987. But Wade’s mountain was far greater than anything Wake’s faced this season AND he was 9-2 outside of conference.

We are looking 1-15 square in the face and were only 7-8 outside the league. Further, no coach has ever recovered from such a poor start to see any sort of success within the conference.

Joey D on 03/01/2011 (10:04 pm)

I don’t see anyone giving up on our team. I think the fact that our leadership is receiving such scrutiny is a perfect example of us NOT giving up on our team or our kids.

CEOs and Boards of Directors have to answer to their stockholders constantly. Wellman is Chairman of the Board, Bzdelik is the CEO and WE are the stockholders.

When the BoD decided to change directions, many questioned why. Others, like myself, had faith in the BoD. When the new CEO was hired, a few more had questions for the BoD. The new CEO didn’t seem to be a natural fit for the betterment of the company. Some of us, had faith in the judgment of the BoD and adopted a wait and see attitude toward the new product.

Then, we saw the product. It is awful. It appears grossly mismanaged. It appears that little or no progress has been made (I don’t see a single player better now than against Iowa at the end of November). The long term prognosis (the next recruiting class) doesn’t look very good.

Many of us believe now is the time to stop the bleeding. It’s going to take 2 good years to put the wheels back on this bus and if we don’t stop it now, it will be at least 4 years before we get back on track.

The faith of our Chairman in his chosen CEO is causing many of us stockholders to question his judgment. If he doesn’t have the foresight to remove this cancer, then perhaps he no longer has the vision to guide our company.

At this point Bzdelik IS a cancer. His skills as a coach don’t even matter. The stockholders have no faith in him. He has lost the fan base. Without the support of fans, the arena’s empty. No kid we need is going to attend a school with an empty arena and indifferent fans.

Make a new hire, inspire the base, the fans will be back. When the fans come back the players will be motivated and they will improve. That spirit will draw in the kind of kids we need to compete.

Joey D on 03/01/2011 (8:32 pm)

I wonder how many people other than the 15-20 of us who post on here actually read this blog? Dan what’s the count?

Lee Jackson on 03/01/2011 (7:18 pm)

The best thing about blogs is that it is free speech beyond what most people would ever say in person. I doubt Tony C would show his face in Wellman’s office to say any of the things he says on here, but on here he can let off all that steam. I’m not satified with this year’s performance but I’m able to accept that we are going to rightfully give Bzzz a chance. I also truly believe that Dino was a good coach but a better assistant that had shown that he couldn’t take us to the next level. Yes we are taking a few steps backwards this year but sometimes you must retreat to move forward. Don’t be devisive. WFU is a team, a family and a fellowship… we’re all in this together and we need to suck it up and stick together and get through this rough patch. Go DEACS!!!

Lee Jackson on 03/01/2011 (7:16 pm)

When Dino was fired, the expectation of the fan base was that Wake would hire a coach like Skip, who was capable of going head to head with Coach K, and Roy Williams, and winning. We did not want a new “culture” or to be remade in the image of a Butler. We wanted to see winning basketball continue at Wake.

What we got was something very different, and justifiably the fan base is angry. We can argue among ourselves, but the responsibility for this fiasco attaches to Ron Wellman. No matter your position on Coach B, the buck for this stops at the AD’s desk. The anger, the bitterness, and the negativity, are hurting our players and our program, and Ron Wellman set all this in motion with a lack of transparency and a failure to adhere to his own stated requirements for a new coach. Wake has become a case study for how not to lead or manage an athletic program. Instead of going from “Good to Great,” we have gone from “Good to Horrible” in one short season. No one who loves Wake Forest can be happy with what is transpiring, and the winter of our discontent shows no sign of drawing to a close.

Lee on 03/01/2011 (6:29 pm)

A question for Dan and posters, are there any ACC basketball coaches who have been fired after one season? Let’s use the modern era beginning 1960. Thanks.

Class of 1977 on 03/01/2011 (5:55 pm)

Tony, you’re stating comments as if they were facts.  Labeling Coach Bzdelick as the worst coach you have seen, making negative observations about the players, and the comment that there is no evidence he will be successful here is the hysterical drivel that all of us can do without.  No one can be happy with this year’s results.  However, none of us coaches these kids.  We don’t know whether it is immaturity, bad coaching, bad karma, etc.  We certainly don’t know what goes on in the locker room.  What we do know is that this is one bad season, that we have a very young team that is thin in the post and at point guard and is undersized…That it probably wouldn’t have been much better regardles of who the coach is, and that Bzdelick is going to be here at least two more years.  So, instead of fanning the flames of hysteria and negativity with the other naysayers, why not get back in those seats and support these kids in there final home game?  I’m sure these are decent kids and decent coaches, regardless of how much talent they may or may not have, who, after playing their hearts out, would appreciate having some support which just might help to launch a more successful season next year.  We’ve always had a sense of family at WF.  We’ve had success, but we’ve not always been successful.  We’re the only one of the “Big Four” without a championship trophy in football or basketball. However, in spite of our not so great history, we’ve never given up on our teams.  Why would we give up now?

Jim on 03/01/2011 (5:00 pm)