Fire Gene Stephenson

[1972Shocker]

I would like to say I am not wild about the title of the thread. I would prefer something like "Replacing Coach Stephenson".

I would prefer WSU does not have to fire Gene but work something out that allows him to retire somewhat gracefully. Although Gene may not be cooperative and they will have to cut him loose.

I don't really care whether we look at replacements from inside or outside the WSU family. We should keep all options open and, hopefully, we will make the right choice for the next phase of Shocker baseball.

[kcshocker11]

I would like to say I am not wild about the title of the thread. I would prefer something like "Replacing Coach Stephenson".

I would prefer WSU does not have to fire Gene but work something out that allows him to retire somewhat gracefully. Although Gene may not be cooperative and they will have to cut him loose.

I don't really care whether we look at replacements from inside or outside the WSU family. We should keep all options open and, hopefully, we will make the right choice for the next phase of Shocker baseball.

+1 Genes earned the right to go out with dignity

[SB Shock]

+1 Genes earned the right to go out with dignity

He had that chance when he left for OU. Since then he said he couldn't win at WSU, was involved in sexual harassment, team discipline issues, additional personal problems and a team(s) performance that have proved his words prophetic.

[shoxlax]

Seitzer, because of his connections with youth baseball, could recruit like a mother in the KC area. We know the guy knows hitting because of what he has done with some of the Royals. Dude played for Eastern Illinois, a non sunbelt, non BCS team, so there is no built in bias there. He could hire a pitching coach like Shane and take over the hitting reins himself. Any Punch and Judy could coach first, even JT. Hell, even SB, myself, or Clamdip could coach first.

The question is: could we get him for 500k or less? He also would have to sell his interest in Mac N Seitz, because that would be a NCAA violation, I'm sure.

Can I at least get a like for this post?

[shoxlax]

I would like to say I am not wild about the title of the thread. I would prefer something like "Replacing Coach Stephenson".

I would prefer WSU does not have to fire Gene but work something out that allows him to retire somewhat gracefully. Although Gene may not be cooperative and they will have to cut him loose.

I don't really care whether we look at replacements from inside or outside the WSU family. We should keep all options open and, hopefully, we will make the right choice for the next phase of Shocker baseball.

How about The Post Gene Era? I agree, Fire Gene is screaming into the body bag a bit.

[shoxlax]

From a Yahoo Sports Article on Alex Gordon:

"It was more of an approach than anything," Gordon told me. "I made a couple of adjustments with my swing--going up there every at bat with a game plan, knowing what I wanted to do, and that was really Kevin Seitzer coming into play, teaching me what I was looking for, what I needed to do in every kind of situation. It was pretty much putting his mind into my body and putting me up at the plate."

Seitzer's philosophy is to take the ball back up the middle as often as possible. Once Gordon embraced it, things began to change.

"[His philosophy is] not trying to do too much," Gordon continued. "I think maybe before I was going up there trying to hit doubles, hit home runs, instead of just thinking, 'Nice and easy, base hits.' If you think that way, the other things are going to come later on. And they did. At first, maybe I didn't believe in what he was saying, but I eventually believed him later on."

He now says he has 100 percent faith in Seitzer.

Wouldn't it be nice if our hitters went up there with a game plan?

[SB Shock]

Can I at least get a like for this post?

there u go

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

He also would have to sell his interest in Mac N Seitz, because that would be a NCAA violation, I'm sure.

He would. Standifer is looking to get out of Sluggers if he hasnt already.

[shox1989]

Seitzer, because of his connections with youth baseball, could recruit like a mother in the KC area. We know the guy knows hitting because of what he has done with some of the Royals. Dude played for Eastern Illinois, a non sunbelt, non BCS team, so there is no built in bias there. He could hire a pitching coach like Shane and take over the hitting reins himself. Any Punch and Judy could coach first, even JT. Hell, even SB, myself, or Clamdip could coach first.

The question is: could we get him for 500k or less? He also would have to sell his interest in Mac N Seitz, because that would be a NCAA violation, I'm sure.

Can I at least get a like for this post?

I doubt if there is any way we could afford him.

[SHOXAAC]

What about reworking Gene's contract to free up some money for a high quality assistant or two? Take the handcuffs off in terms of scholly restrictions. Maybe hire a Hooper to head up recruiting and player development. Instead off tossing a legend of the game out, we should at least try to shake things up a little bit first. This is all assuming he hasn't lost the fire and is willing to try something different, all doubtful :(

If he is really a legend, he should realize the game has passed him by. A legend would seek a way to go out graciously on his own. I appreciate what Gene has done for Shocker baseball. Now do the right thing and hand off the baton. Don't make others do the dirty work.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Really? Legends gracefully bow out? Like Paterno? Babe?

[wusphlash]

How about The Post Gene Era? I agree, Fire Gene is screaming into the body bag a bit.

How about "After Gene Stephenson" or "Soon after Gene Stephenson" or "Better Sooner than Later, After Gene Stephenson".

[GoShockers89]

As someone who follows them pretty closely here in NC, Wake Forest's Tom Walter would be an excellent candidate to replace Gene when the need arises. He is doing very, very impressive things at a program which historically puts minimal effort into competing with the southern ACC baseball powers. Currently in his 3rd year, WF is 19-9 (5-5) with a young team that should compete at the top of the ACC next season.

He is also an outstanding human being- you may remember him from last year's story where he donated a kidney to one of his players. This would be a refreshing change of character.

ETA- He was also the coach for New Orleans when they knocked us off in game 1 of the 2007 Wichita Regional (where we came back to beat Arizona twice to win). He led UNO to their last 2 NCAA appearance in 2007 and 2008 as they were teetering on the edge of financial collapse. They ultimately dropped all sports out of Division I.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

UNO has remained Div 1 and will remain Div 1. They are moving conferences also.

They submitted a D2 proposal, but never dropped down.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Sitting watching two top 12 teams play last night in fromt of 7k people took me back to when i started going to Shocker games. Rowdy crowd, quality baseball, and just a great evening.

Didnt realize exactly how far we have fallen, and how much I missed it.