Wellman: Friendship No Factor
Much has been made of Ron Wellman’s relationship with Jeff Bzdelik and how the two have known each other since they were both at Northwestern in the early 1980s. I mentioned to Wellman that many people had written me and said, in effect, “He’s hired him because he knows him and likes him and he’s going with familiarity and comfort level.’‘
This was Wellman’s response:
“Well I certainly know him. We knew each other 25 years ago. We weren’t friends at Northwestern. We never went out socially. I knew he was the assistant basketball coach and I used to go over and watch basketball practice every once in awhile. I think he came to some baseball games. But our wives didn’t even know each other. It wasn’t that we were close friends at all. I just observed him. He did some things that were really neat. And I saw a veteran coach in the Big Ten at that time really rely up this young guy. I thought `My goodness, that says something about that young guy.’ And that young guy was Jeff Bzdelik.
“When he left Northwestern we didn’t stay in touch. I never contacted him. The first time I saw him after Northwestern was when he was here and I think he was scouting Dwyane Wade. And I saw him outside our locker room. (Dec. 29, 2001). I said `Jeff?’ That was the first time I’d talked with him in probably 20-some years. So yeah, I’m familiar with him because I’ve followed his career and I knew him and was interested in him and thought he was doing a good job. But this isn’t a hire of friendship, I can assure you of that, because we weren’t friends.’‘
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By Dan Collins on 04/15/2010 (3:24 pm)
Comments
DP: okay so they thought he was a whiner. Kensler is also saying “how could he be happy at a school that only rates 4th in the state?” But this is where you miss my point. 4th in this state, with the fan support that the Deacs have, is vastly different from a program that is struggling to draw 8 K fans for a home game. It is my opinion that 4th in NC is far superior to 1st in CO. I think Kensler may have been calling Bzdelik a whiner,but he was doing it while he was dissing Wake. My two cents….and probably worth just that.
MBS on 04/16/2010 (10:01 pm)
Dan,
I hate to deviate from the basketball discussion, but I wanted to thank you for the update on the QB competition taking place on the football team. It looks like Skylar Jones has made some strides in the offseason. You (and the coaching staff) mentioned Jones’ maturation as a major contributor to his rise on the depth chart.
However, nuanced technical adjustments seem to make a more significant impact on a QB’s overall ability than that of other position players (e.g. release point, footwork, holding the ball by the ear and not under the shoulder, reading defenses, etc.). How has he improved his technique, if at all? Between now and August, what are some of the things that he intends to work on in order to give himself the best chance of earning the starting job and playing well? Are players allowed to work with their position coach over that time period? Or is it pretty much up to them? Are there any QB camps that are useful?
Thanks again.
DC on 04/16/2010 (11:16 am)
MBS: The point was that reporters in Colorado saw Bzzz as a whiner, which contributed to his history of job hopping. Remember, they covered him for years, with the Nuggets, Air Force, and CU.
DP on 04/16/2010 (8:20 am)
Tom Kensler’s comments about a Wake fans being no better that 4th in the state behind the Goats, Duke and State shows how little people in Colorado understand about real college basketball. 4th in the state of NC is still 4 times the support he saw from fans in Colorado. Compared to apathy Deacon fans in LJVM WILL seem like his dream job.
I just hope he shows some emotion on the job, a well timed technical foul can be good for what ails you.
MBS on 04/15/2010 (11:52 pm)
This also came from Tom Kensler’s Denver Post blog:
I like Bzdelik. And as far as I could tell, Bzdelik was personable to everybody during his three years at CU. But reporters did see a different side. Publicly, he professed to be an ever optimistic, “glass half full” kind of guy. Privately, he often fretted and complained. That does not make him a bad person. But I wonder if he will find happiness at a school and basketball program that, among fan interest, rate no better fourth in the state, behind North Carolina, Duke and North Carolina State.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2010/04/14/wow-what-a-week-to-be-gone/
DP on 04/15/2010 (7:47 pm)
Hey Dan,
Denver Post reporter Tom Kensler mentioned today that Colorado’s practices were closed when Bzzz was there. Was that the case under Dino? What do you think?
http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2010/03/14/so-long-to-cus-casey-crawford/
DP
DP on 04/15/2010 (7:36 pm)
Interesting that April (off season) is the time to rally around the coach and team, but February and March (in season) weren’t.
Dave O on 04/15/2010 (7:17 pm)
Only concerns I have now is; are the recruits still on board and if they are where can I meet you Country and buy you a beer???
I hope Coach BZ will coach @ least 30 games next year the way he coached the game Wake came to play in Co. against the Air Force several years back. If he does that then he will be a winner!!!
Tom on 04/15/2010 (6:53 pm)
It’s time to rally around the new coach and our team. Wellman has made a change based on what’s best for Wake and he’s got a darn good track record.
I liked Dino. He can recruit. I would have been okay with him coming back. But there was definitely something missing. Maybe it was personality, motivation, intensity, whatever.
But the new guy has an incredibleamout of experience in the pros and college. He’s got some talent here to work with. He’s got a seven footer, or two, who have not been properly developed, two wing who can shoot, and hpefully some talent coming in. He’s got experienced assistants, one who played in the NBA.
Let’s wish Dino well, thank him, and move on. We got a new coach, and I am much more excited about next year because of this change. Go Deacs!
Frank on 04/15/2010 (3:49 pm)
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