Fire Gene Stephenson

[SHOCKvalue]

Not anything you guys haven't read In Wichita, but there was an article in the Omaha rag today about the Stephenson Situation. Nothing new, just an outside perspective.

http://m.omaha.com/om/db_90929/conte...tguid=2YsaGj7T

That article has it right; it really is a sad situation. Mean Gene is a PITA, and I desperately want the baseball team to regain some pride, but a big part of me feels bad for the grumpy old fart.

[WSUwatcher]

Does Creighton play all of its home games at the Big House downtown, or do they still use the mini-park on campus for most? If they play mostly on campus, Servais may think a "crowd" of 500 is big in his place, while 2500 looks small and scattered here.

[Ta town]

It's amazing what almost 19,000 fans over two games against Nebraska can do for an attendance average.

don't forget the 9K+ grade school students they bused there in the afternoon yesterday.

[Ta town]

don't forget the 9K+ grade school students they bused there in the afternoon yesterday.

With that said, looking thru their attendance it's a lot better than it was before TD.

[MoValley John]

In some ways I wish I hadn't posted that link. In no way was Servais comparing Creighton attendance to that of Wichita State. He was simply noting the change in atmosphere this year to his previous visits to Wichita. Based on options others have shared on this forum, his remarks fall in line with what seems to be going on. Moreover, I thought Servais was almost passively defending Stephenson. Initially, I believed the article might be an interesting read for some of you, I didn't think it would be a seguay for comparing ballparks and other crap. I'm sorry I posted it. It didn't foster the discussion I anticipated.

[Veritas]

In some ways I wish I hadn't posted that link. In no way was Servais comparing Creighton attendance to that of Wichita State. He was simply noting the change in atmosphere this year to his previous visits to Wichita. Based on options others have shared on this forum, his remarks fall in line with what seems to be going on. Moreover, I thought Servais was almost passively defending Stephenson. Initially, I believed the article might be an interesting read for some of you, I didn't think it would be a seguay for comparing ballparks and other crap. I'm sorry I posted it. It didn't foster the discussion I anticipated.

I happened to catch the first CU game on the Omaha radio. The CU announcers mentioned that while there was a decent crowd on hand, it did not match the normal WSU vs CU games he had attended in Wichita. Though he did note that the outfield viewing area looked pretty full. Curious as to what the attendance appeared to be in the stands.... 1500-2000?

[1972Shocker]

The outfied hill has its pros and cons. Mostly pros. But one problem with the outfiled hill is that it does not create the environment that a half-full grandstand can and does. A crowd of 1,500 (actual attendance) with 800 on the outfield hill, 200 in the aluminum bench seats and 500 spread around the various chairback areas just is not very impressive or imposing in terms of atmosphere.

However, not sure there is a good solution for that. Maybe they need to review the ticket pricing schemes and even close off the aluminum bench seats until the chairback seating is 80% sold out.

I don't think there is a lot you can do to entice the hill people to come into the stadium. For one thing it is out in the sun and most of those folks simply prefer that location. If they can't be on the hill they probably would just stay home.

[DwShock]

Does Creighton play all of its home games at the Big House downtown, or do they still use the mini-park on campus for most? If they play mostly on campus, Servais may think a "crowd" of 500 is big in his place, while 2500 looks small and scattered here.

Yes they play all home games at TD Ameritrade park

[ShockTalk]

In some ways I wish I hadn't posted that link. In no way was Servais comparing Creighton attendance to that of Wichita State. He was simply noting the change in atmosphere this year to his previous visits to Wichita. Based on options others have shared on this forum, his remarks fall in line with what seems to be going on. Moreover, I thought Servais was almost passively defending Stephenson. Initially, I believed the article might be an interesting read for some of you, I didn't think it would be a seguay for comparing ballparks and other crap. I'm sorry I posted it. It didn't foster the discussion I anticipated.

Well, I'm glad you posted it. It not only gave an outsider's viewpoint of the change in atmosphere, but also the perspective of another Valley coach. I think most all of us who are looking for a change, do so feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Wishing that it would not have gotten to this stage.

[shox1989]

Well, I'm glad you posted it. It not only gave an outsider's viewpoint of the change in atmosphere, but also the perspective of another Valley coach. I think most all of us who are looking for a change, do so feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Wishing that it would not have gotten to this stage.

All of this kind of talk has been upsetting to me but I was very surpised by my wife's reaction to the Eagle article. She is very upset about it and said there is no way they can fire Gene. She said if they fire Gene she wants us to not only cancel our season baseball tickets but our SASO membership and basketball tickets too. I told her I have been very upset by all of this talk for some time, but I am not sure we should go that far.

I hope everything gets worked out and whatever happens Gene is not fired because my wife usually wins.

[SB Shock]

All of this kind of talk has been upsetting to me but I was very surpised by my wife's reaction to the Eagle article. She is very upset about it and said there is no way they can fire Gene.

I think she is about to find out there is a way.

She said if they fire Gene she wants us to not only cancel our season baseball tickets but our SASO membership and basketball tickets too. I told her I have been very upset by all of this talk for some time, but I am not sure we should go that far.

There are more people canceling their season tickets because of Gene than those threatening to cancel if they fire Gene.

I hope everything gets worked out and whatever happens Gene is not fired because my wife usually wins.

I think it is pretty clear by Gene comments he's not retiring or going gracefully.

[ShockTalk]

All of this kind of talk has been upsetting to me but I was very surpised by my wife's reaction to the Eagle article. She is very upset about it and said there is no way they can fire Gene. She said if they fire Gene she wants us to not only cancel our season baseball tickets but our SASO membership and basketball tickets too. I told her I have been very upset by all of this talk for some time, but I am not sure we should go that far.

I hope everything gets worked out and whatever happens Gene is not fired because my wife usually wins.

@shox1989:, do you believe WSU should be dominating a conference who pays their coach and staff probably twice what any other Valley school does? If they're worth that much, how often should fans expect a regular season championship and/or Valley tourney championship? Getting top 10% money, how often should the team be good enough to get an at-large bid over a 5 year period whether they win the Valley tourney or not? Does WSU just keep throwing $800,000 a year for the staff until Gene says they can quit? What if things continue as is for another 2, 3, or 4 years? Is there a point where even you would say enough is enough?

At least some fans might be less ready for a change if the staff's paycheck was cut to about $400,000, but with performance bonuses. However, you know as well as I, Gene wouldn't go for that.

I would love for a strong Gene backer to call in on the radio show, tell him how big a supporter they are of him and his staff, and that they go to bat for him on the Shocker fan board. However, "How do I justify the top 10% coach's salary to these detractors year after year?"

[shox1989]

@shox1989, do you believe WSU should be dominating a conference who pays their coach and staff probably twice what any other Valley school does? If they're worth that much, how often should fans expect a regular season championship and/or Valley tourney championship? Getting top 10% money, how often should the team be good enough to get an at-large bid over a 5 year period whether they win the Valley tourney or not? Does WSU just keep throwing $800,000 a year for the staff until Gene says they can quit? What if things continue as is for another 2, 3, or 4 years? Is there a point where even you would say enough is enough?

At least some fans might be less ready for a change if the staff's paycheck was cut to about $400,000, but with performance bonuses. However, you know as well as I, Gene wouldn't go for that.

I would love for a strong Gene backer to call in on the radio show, tell him how big a supporter they are of him and his staff, and that they go to bat for him on the Shocker fan board. However, "How do I justify the top 10% coach's salary to these detractors year after year?"

I guess I don't have as big a problem with his salary as some others do. He was making virtually nothing the first 12 years he coached at WSU. He has taken WSU to 4 national title games and one national championship, that has to be worth some kind of bonus (it certainly is in book).

I also believe WSU has to pay top salaries if they want to compete. I didn't mind Marshall making $1.4 million annually even though he had only won one ncaa tourney game (and none at WSU) prior to this season. And it paid off very nicely this year. If WSU struggles a little in basketball and only finishes 2nd or 3rd in the Valley the next few seasons (Gene has never finished worse than 3rd), I am not going to be calling for Marshall to be fired even though he is paid more than any other Valley coach. The final 4 run is certainly worth something in my mind.

[SB Shock]

I guess I don't have as big a problem with his salary as some others do. He was making virtually nothing the first 12 years he coached at WSU. He has taken WSU to 4 national title games and one national championship, that has to be worth some kind of bonus (it certainly is in book).

He did get a bonus - he got passes for all his off the field antics - including the sexual harassment fiasco should have gotten him fired among others. He got a pass for going to OU and shitting on the program. He got a pass for NOT-COMPETING for the last 4 years.

If you want to be paid big $$$ then you better work your ass off and deliver results - at least that is how the private sector works, I am not going to expect anything different than people making 5-10 times as much as me.

[ShockTalk]

I guess I don't have as big a problem with his salary as some others do. He was making virtually nothing the first 12 years he coached at WSU. He has taken WSU to 4 national title games and one national championship, that has to be worth some kind of bonus (it certainly is in book).

I also believe WSU has to pay top salaries if they want to compete. I didn't mind Marshall making $1.4 million annually even though he had only won one ncaa tourney game (and none at WSU) prior to this season. And it paid off very nicely this year. If WSU struggles a little in basketball and only finishes 2nd or 3rd in the Valley the next few seasons (Gene has never finished worse than 3rd), I am not going to be calling for Marshall to be fired even though he is paid more than any other Valley coach. The final 4 run is certainly worth something in my mind.

Serrano's exit:Was money the primary reason Serrano departed for Tennessee? Probably.

Serrano reportedly signed a five-year contract with a $275,000 base salary, plus media and apparel contracts that will boost his guaranteed annual earnings to $450,000.

So it's reasonable to assume Serrano's yearly earning potential — his top CSF base salary was $140,000 — is well over $500,000 at Tennessee. Other perks he'll reportedly receive are an automobile, life insurance coverage and compensation from baseball camps that he and his staff conduct.

Fullerton doesn't have the financial resources to compete with SEC schools, so Quinn knew he was helpless to persuade Serrano to stay if he received a substantial offer.

Well, apparently we do. In 2010, the average guarantee of all the head baseball coaches of the SEC was $412,000. I figure Gene was making that or more for 2010. Sure be nice to have some of that success the Titans have had for our investment. I wonder where the Shockers would have finished in the Big West given we lost 6 of 7 to their 6th and 7th place teams this year.

And get over Gene not making anything over his first 12 years. He has made a boat load since his last CWS appearance 17 years ago.

By the way, the basketball program makes money. I'll bet Gene ranks higher than Marshall on who's the highest paid among their peers.