Comments

Tony C raises some of the same questions I have.  The reasons Wellman gave when he fired Dino don’t seem to match with the credentials of the coach he hired.  I was talking recently with a mutual friend of ours, Dan, who has covered the ACC since the 70’s.  He’s as baffled as many of us as to why this coach.  I hope things will turn around, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon with the current coach.

Steve on 01/26/2011 (12:40 pm)

Dan,

I read the Wellmen article this morning and then re-read your article after the Duke Game. I still did not hear anyone ask him, Why this Coach? What was so wrong culturally that it needed this Coach? Are you capable of asking the tough questions opposed to accepting the politically correct garbage that Wellmen is selling. Why Larue? If these Coaches are taking us to where we want to go, then justify it! How many championships have they won? How many regular season championships have they won? If they have this special talent to bring this to Wake, why did they not bring it to Air Force or Colorado? Were they final four teams? Hey Ron, we already had winning records which is the only accomplishment I can see at both of his previous spots. What did he do that was so special that we needed here?

And Dino, his post season record was better than what was hired. Dan, you have been around basketball long enough that eventhough you have lost your center, and have CJ playing out of position, you still should beat the teams that have clobbered us. This will not improve. Start asking some real tough questions Dan. Journalism is dead in Winston Salem.

Tony C on 01/26/2011 (10:45 am)

Dan,

I missed the chat (stupid work!).  Is there a place on the Journal website where I can take a look at the transcript?  Thanks!

DC on 01/25/2011 (11:21 pm)

I agree with Craig re Battle and Rusty.

When Rusty was hired some seemed to think that put a lock on Tyler Lewis. Not so. Its bad when Dawson and Larue together can’t steer a player to Wake. However, Bzdelik waited forever to offer Lewis and let him get taken by State. Will be interesting to follow Fields vs Lewis.

Jerry on 01/25/2011 (3:43 pm)

Dan - What do you think about the success of Colorado this year in their first year under new coach Tad Boyle? Save a bad loss at Oklahoma this past weekend the Buffs are 14-6 overall, 3-2 in Big 12 play and seem to be clicking under their new coach. Albeit these are players Bzdelik recruited, but much can be said aboutthese young men buying into their coach.

Jay B on 01/25/2011 (3:17 pm)

Jerry’s comments are correct. The whole hiring process to get this so called X’s and O’s expert does stinks to high heaven. I am sure that Jeff Bzdelik is a nice person, however every time I see him on television after a game he seems completely lost. I do not think in any way is it disrespectful to ask the tough questions about this coaching hire. The two toughest questions to ask are: Why was Jeff Bzdelik hired as coach for a team like WFU when he was at best a below average coach in his skills and in his wins? The other question that has to be asked is whether or not Ron Welmen’s friendship with Jeff Bzdelik clouded his judgement on this hire ? I just got through listening to WFNZ in Charlotte. They took about 15 minutes to make fun of the WFU basketball program. The two moderators of the program also let the listeners know that in no way should Auburn be ranked last in the computer ratings of current college basketball programs, no WAKE FOREST should be ranked last. This was followed by a round of laughter. I would invite everyone to look up the college coaching record of Jeff Bzdelik and tell me: Would you have hired this person to coach one of the big four teams in NC? The one bright spot is that we already have a good coach that could step in to the role of head coach. His name is Jeff Battle. Go to the WFU site for basketball and read his achievements and then compare what he has done with the achievements of Jeff Bzdelik. No wonder Jeff Bzdelik won’t talk to Coach Battle during the time outs. He knows that Coach Battle knows what he is talking about and he doesn’t. The WFU administrators say be patient, I say admit your mistake and hire Coach Battle as the head coach for the rest of the season. As for Rusty Larue I still cannot figure what he has brought to the program.

Craig Carter on 01/25/2011 (2:23 pm)

Just read over at CNN’s SI.com under the truth and rumor section…....headline is “Will Wake go 0-16 in ACC” and become the first team to do so?

jerry on 01/25/2011 (12:51 pm)

I write under my own name, I don’t use profane language nor am I disrespectful to my University or to you Dan. I don’t write under false names to entice reaction. I am simply a Deacon Club member who has still yet to hear the truth from Ron Welmen. Why this Coach? At this time? This whole process stunk from high heaven from the beginning. I was not expecting to be even a mid-level team this year. But would someone answer why it took the Duke game to show any life at all out of this team.
Why can’t we call this what it is? Before you can move forward you must first own up to the truth of why the program is in the condition it’s in. What is Jeff’s average tenure at his last 3 jobs? And why Rusty Larue? Surely not his Coaching ability was it? Let’s see, how did he do at Guilford? And what was his outstanding record at Forsyth Country Day? Come on people. He was out Coached on his AAU Team by Craig Dawson a ex Wake Player. I know, I was there!! We know you are not going to hand over the program to Dino’s assistant after 2 years, you would just have another Dino. So can we have the truth and nothing but the truth. And by the way Coach, I resent the implication that those who would criticize you or your coaching have never built anything positive in their life. Thanks Mr. Welmen!!

Tony Collins on 01/25/2011 (9:21 am)