Fire Gene Stephenson

[ShockTalk]

Fixed. There is no reason for Gene to step down when he his contractually owed $500k per year through June 30, 2014. And I can't say that I blame him. I don't think I could walk away from $500k very easily. Seems like Gene holds the stronger negotiation hand at this point.

Well, I guess I'm just being a hard*ss. Maybe I can't blame him for being a greedy SOB who thinks the fans and WSU own it to him, even after he walked out on us and said he could do no more for a program at that level. I know, he didn't utter those exact words, but that's what he meant. I seem to remember a basketball coach that did make that statement, left, and the next basketball coach didn't believe it. WSU ended up in the Final Four.

Krusty and Krew aren't coming remotely close to earning their pay and they know it. It's not about holding a stronger negotiation hand. It's about holding WSU and its fans hostage. He fully understands the large sum of money WSU has committed to him and the impact it would have on WSU to "just eat it". I don't know about you, but I would be embarrassed. If they really cared about the program and legacy they built, they wouldn't tarnish it like this. Particularly after WSU welcomed them back from OU. Sorry, unless Gene shows me a much different side than I've seen or a miracle on the playing field, I don't care. I don't care about a statue, renaming the field or stadium, or even giving him season tickets.

[1972Shocker]

Well, I guess I'm just being a hard*ss. Maybe I can't blame him for being a greedy SOB who thinks the fans and WSU own it to him, even after he walked out on us and said he could do no more for a program at that level. I know, he didn't utter those exact words, but that's what he meant. I seem to remember a basketball coach that did make that statement, left, and the next basketball coach didn't believe it. WSU ended up in the Final Four.

Krusty and Krew aren't coming remotely close to earning their pay and they know it. It's not about holding a stronger negotiation hand. It's about holding WSU and its fans hostage. He fully understands the large sum of money WSU has committed to him and the impact it would have on WSU to "just eat it". I don't know about you, but I would be embarrassed. If they really cared about the program and legacy they built, they wouldn't tarnish it like this. Particularly after WSU welcomed them back from OU. Sorry, unless Gene shows me a much different side than I've seen or a miracle on the playing field, I don't care. I don't care about a statue, renaming the field or stadium, or even giving him season tickets.

That's all well and good and I don't really have an issue with anything you say, I just don't expect Gene to walk away from $500K. My guess is he could take or leave an office, a title, and a few box seats as long as the Shocks write him a check for $500K. One he retires he will probably head back to Oklahoma anyways.

The damage has been done. Hopefully, going forward Eric has figured out that he needs to keep the base salaries and contract buyouts reasonable and provide for lucrative incentive bonuses based on excellent performance.

[SB Shock]

The real question is it cheaper to keep gene for another year or is it cheaper to take a short term hit by removing him, knowing long term they will come out ahead. At the very least they are losing 2,000 fans x $10 x 30 dates = $600,000 yr. it has to be more when u account for loss in sponsorships, beer sales, etc.

[SHOXAAC]

If my memory serves me, WSU athletics came upon some "found" money over the past month. Buy him out and let's get on with rebuilding Shocker baseball. Stop allowing GS to hold this University hostage. The shine has worn off folks. Time for a new pair of shoes...now!!!

[KC Shox]

I wonder if Gene reads SN?

[SB Shock]

I wonder if Gene reads SN?

I very much doubt it - just based on it doesn't soud like he know RPI is updated daily on the internet (he was talking about the NCAA RPI - which is updated once a week).

I did heard him talking about about why the Shox RPI was so bad and he was trying to blame it on the team home record. Which would be accurate if WSU didn't have a losing record on the road and have a SOS of 210 (which is not from bad luck, it was 166 based of last year records).

[GoShockers89]

I would be surprised if that old shitboomer even knows how to turn on a computer.

[BostonWu]

I recently asked a business associate who started on 89 team if his F4 tickets were obtained through the athletics department. He said he couldn't get anyone to answer the phone. I then asked "can't you ask someone directly in the baseball department to hook you up with tickets?" He replied "the baseball side is not talking with AD...expect changes soon."

[rrshock]

No comm is a good sign of bad things.

[RoyalShock]

I'm by no means plugged in, but has there ever been communication between the two? I seem to recall when Schaus was brought on he was advised to just leave baseball alone and let Gene run things. That doesn't require much communication.

[shoxlax]

No comm is a good sign of bad things.

Or a good sign of good things!

[shoxlax]

I'm by no means plugged in, but has there ever been communication between the two? I seem to recall when Schaus was brought on he was advised to just leave baseball alone and let Gene run things. That doesn't require much communication.

Back when Gene and his minions had some cache and we had inept or benign ADs there may have been some merit to that directive. Then JS came along and was told the same thing....Gene still had a little power within the University so JS played nicely to a point. Now that, as SB has correctly pointed out, baseball is losing revenue potential as we speak, the engine over at Tyler Field has ran out of gas. Really sad and didn't have to be this way.

[Veritas]

I recently asked a business associate who started on 89 team if his F4 tickets were obtained through the athletics department. He said he couldn't get anyone to answer the phone. I then asked "can't you ask someone directly in the baseball department to hook you up with tickets?" He replied "the baseball side is not talking with AD...expect changes soon."

Curious as to whether the AD talks with the baseball side. I feel if the baseball coaches are fired, a lot of the blame falls on ADES. What business leader allows a department to fall into such a state of affairs. It's almost as if ADES is hoping HCGS will fail.

This never should have reached this level.

Additionally, why is there very little discussion in the paper or sports talk shows discussing what the heck is going on. All you hear is an average team with average players. But why???
-- can't recruit? ( why)
-- less budget?
-- bad assistant coaches?
-- waiting 4 years for an entire coaching change?

Does BK and GS still have radio shows? Have there been any callers ( if one can call in) asking "what's going on?"

Seriously, what is going on over there at Eck? and I wouldn't accept coach speak about how kids have changed. Do the coaches really simply not give a crap and want to be fired?

[WstateU]

Curious as to whether the AD talks with the baseball side. I feel if the baseball coaches are fired, a lot of the blame falls on ADES. What business leader allows a department to fall into such a state of affairs. It's almost as if ADES is hoping HCGS will fail.

This never should have reached this level.

Additionally, why is there very little discussion in the paper or sports talk shows discussing what the heck is going on. All you hear is an average team with average players. But why???
-- can't recruit? ( why)
-- less budget?
-- bad assistant coaches?
-- waiting 4 years for an entire coaching change?

Does BK and GS still have radio shows? Have there been any callers ( if one can call in) asking "what's going on?"

Seriously, what is going on over there at Eck? and I wouldn't accept coach speak about how kids have changed. Do the coaches really simply not give a crap and want to be fired?

[ShockTalk]

I recently asked a business associate who started on 89 team if his F4 tickets were obtained through the athletics department. He said he couldn't get anyone to answer the phone. I then asked "can't you ask someone directly in the baseball department to hook you up with tickets?" He replied "the baseball side is not talking with AD...expect changes soon."

Curious as to whether the AD talks with the baseball side. I feel if the baseball coaches are fired, a lot of the blame falls on ADES. What business leader allows a department to fall into such a state of affairs. It's almost as if ADES is hoping HCGS will fail.

This never should have reached this level.

Additionally, why is there very little discussion in the paper or sports talk shows discussing what the heck is going on. All you hear is an average team with average players. But why???
-- can't recruit? ( why)
-- less budget?
-- bad assistant coaches?
-- waiting 4 years for an entire coaching change?

Does BK and GS still have radio shows? Have there been any callers ( if one can call in) asking "what's going on?"

Seriously, what is going on over there at Eck? and I wouldn't accept coach speak about how kids have changed. Do the coaches really simply not give a crap and want to be fired?

Well, I viewed "the baseball side not talking with AD" as Krusty and Krew being PO'd about ADES not continuing to roll their contracts on out. If that is the case, good for ADES. At over a half mil a year, Gene should be doing more.

"can't recruit?" or don't want to work that hard? I've always felt that their going to OU was because they felt that recruiting would be much, much easier and players would fall over themselves to play for Gene and OU.

"less budget?", not that I've heard of.

"bad assistant coaches". Guess that depends on how you want to define bad.

"waiting 4 years". The Krew has had plenty of time to improve the fortunes of WSU baseball and hold on to their high paying positions. I say BS to not being able to get quality players because of contract uncertainy. If they would have worked at it harder or, perhaps, made a change in staff to a younger, more hungry assistant coach, they wouldn't be in this position.