An Hour With Bzdelik
Twenty-eight seconds is hardly an eternity, but it can seem like one when you ask someone a question and wait that long for their reply.
Such was the case yesterday when I dropped by Jeff Bzdelik’s office for an year’s end, wrap-up interview. The first question I asked was a general one just to get the ball bouncing.
“Now that you’ve had two weeks to sort it out, how would you assess the season?’‘
Running my tape back, Bzdelik took 28 full seconds before giving his one-word response.
“Interesting,’’ he said.
“How did you arrive at interesting,’’ I prodded.
“I’ll just leave it at that,’’ Bzdelik replied.
I’m happy to say that the interview did actually pick up from there. As I transcribed it this morning, I was struck by how good it turned out and how forthcoming Bzdelik can at times be. Ask the right question in the right way and he’ll go to places a lot of other coaches I’ve known would never dare tread.
He can also take offense at a moment’s notice, even if none was intended. I picked that up this season when Mike Shalin, a writer we hired to cover Wake’s game at Boston College. asked him if the Deacons could enter the ACC Tournament playing as though they had nothing to lose. They were, after all, 1-15 in the ACC, seeded No. 12 and had just lost by 16 to the team they were destined to play four days later.
Bzdelik’s response, which you may have read, was to the effect that he’s never approached any game not thinking he could win, and to intimate he had disrespected him as a coach. I don’t believe Shalin intimated any such thing. I’ve heard the same question asked a gadzillion times in my years as a sportswriter and never seen a person respond in that manner.
So I wasn’t totally surprised when Bzdelik rared up in a similar fashion to a question I asked yesterday. But one of the things I came to like about Bzdelik through his most trying of all seasons is he can’t carry a grudge past the next question. I’ve known so many coaches who, having been asked a question they didn’t like, completely shut the interview down and stormed off. With Bzdelik, a question later he’s back in the groove and answering questions as though there had never been any contentiousness in the first place.
I’m convinced that some of the problem he had winning over the Wake fan base is that so few people really know him. I’ve been around him dozens of times, and I can’t say I know him all that well. That was another reason I was excited about the interview, in that it was another chance to get to know him better. There are things about him I do like. He does care for his players, and he wants to do his job the right way, or at least the way he perceives to be the right way. We share a love of music, although he’s much more into the Zac Brown Band (who he said he’s going to see at Joel Coliseum on April 6) than am I. But I can’t hold that against him. A person’s taste in music is their own.
But his is a personality that doesn’t really project, and I’m fairly certain the fanbase is having more trouble connecting with Jeff Bzdelik, the person, than they did with a Skip Prosser or a Jim Grobe. The subject even came up in the interview.
As is our standard practice, we’ll run a summary of the interview in tomorrow morning’s paper, after which time I’ll present the entire interview verbatim here on MTOW in smaller, digestible pieces. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 03/23/2011 (2:14 pm)
Comments
Dan,
You need to be careful. There are a lot of your bloggers that are repeating the same comments over and over again. Isn’t that grounds for being kicked off of your blog? Your interview was as about as hard as a soft boiled egg. As soon as Bz backed you down you retreated. And from that point on he had control of your interview. You see I will tell you the truth, like it or not.
Look for my letter to the editor, should be revealing and interesting. If they have the guts to print it at the journal. How about a interview with Rusty or Jeff? Haven’t seen one quote from either one of them? How would they acess this year? What has been the biggest difference in the two years? How has the culture really changed? Challenge his answers! Dig deeper! You’re getting closer. He wouldn’t have lost his composure otherwise.
If I were you I would have been offended for him to tell me that this program needed a change in culture. If that was a problem why has no one in the deacon family heard about this?
Tony C on 03/24/2011 (5:11 pm)
Really appreciate the interview, Dan, as well as your assessment of Buzz. I may be wrong (and we’ll find out in the next couple of years) but I don’t think the majority of our fan base is giving him or Wellman nearly enough credit and I think (hope) that will bear out sooner than later. Either way, love your blog and the insight it provides into the team. Thanks much.
Andy on 03/24/2011 (3:10 pm)
I have to agree with a number of the comments here: there is little in your article, the interview itself, or, most importantly the manner in which this past season unfolded that makes me at all confident that a successful Wake hoops sqaud is anywhere in the near future as long as Buzz sticks around (or is kept around). Prickly guys get good players when they have proven success: Buzz has no proven success (please spare me the Colorado team that made the NIT Semi’s - we have higher standards than that.) I understand you - Dan - are trying to put a positive spin on this - and on Buzz - because this is your bread and butter, but all signs point to a long road ahead.
Geoff on 03/24/2011 (9:46 am)
Country, Perhaps we need to look at this situation from another perspective.
Just asking, but when does Bz’s daughter graduate from WFU?
There is your answer on when Bz will be departing…
The man has never stayed in one place too long and it is time for him to retire!
Tom Willis on 03/24/2011 (9:20 am)
Maybe one of the reasons that Bz hasn’t ‘connected’ with the fanbase is that he has never, not one time, even acknowledged the fanbase. He makes no effort.
He thinks HE’S has a tough embarrassing year, well what about US?
He comes across as stiff, boring and arrogant. I can only hope he’s a little different with his players, but i’ve seen no evidence of that.
Kathy S on 03/24/2011 (7:43 am)
Dan,
I read the article from you and Bz and I can’t, for the life of me, see how we’re going to be competitive next season. And I remain unconvinced that Bz is the right man for the job. As I’ve said before, Wellman owes students, alumni and fans alike an explanation of just what the heck is going on. More and more I think this was a self-serving hire because Wellman won’t come clean!
Ken Green on 03/24/2011 (4:21 am)
Dan,
the fanbase wouldn’t give a rat’s you know what about Buzz personality if he just won games. I’d take a mute coach anyday who’s able to take us to the final four, than a rambling rouser who’s keeps us in the cellar. Unforunately, nothing Buzz has done so far convinces me that he has what it takes to not only compete but win in the ACC.
He gives full scholarships to walk-on caliber players, cause he does not have the chutzpah to go toe to toe with the big boys and compete for the best talent. At a minimum, he should have been able to secure Tyler, with Craig Dawson as he’s coach.
mindact on 03/23/2011 (11:21 pm)
My brother-in-law took me to a bar and grill on the shores of Lake Occonee, GA a few years and told me I had to hear this guy. Turned out it was Zac Brown obviously before his big break (actually a part owner of the establishment). Needless to say he was very entertaining and played all types of different styles of music quite well. Maybe you can get a gig covering the concert. I bet you would like him. GO DEACS!
DeaconDash on 03/23/2011 (10:39 pm)
Dan, I know we trail off on music with the blog every now and then. The Peanut Gallery doesn’t seem to mind. Take this as what it is meant to be simple friendly advice. Stop by “the Joel” and pick up a couple tickets to Zac Brown Band and suprise the wife with a night on the town , she’ll be happy and I’m 99% sure the concert will please your musical ear.
Doug on 03/23/2011 (7:18 pm)
Dan, I look forward to reading and enjoying your piece on Bzdelick. Outside your articles, there is little about Bzdelick that I have found enjoyable. Ever the optimist, I hope that changes next season.
Jim on 03/23/2011 (5:13 pm)
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