Did we really just fire Gene Stephenson?

[ShockerFever]

Sure it could have been handled differently, but it needed to be done. There was no way to please everyone. But more people than not are happy that a change is happening.

I'm glad more people are happy. That's fine and dandy.

Will they be happy 3 years from now is the question?

[vancedave56]

Gene said that when taking the OU job - not after the 1989 Championship.

[ShockerFever]

Gene is being allowed to have a nice moment where he can play the victim card for all it's worth in the media.

ADES not giving a ton of reasons outside of on-field disappointment is a sign of respect for everything Gene has done. He could have come out yesterday with both guns blazing and left Gene's legacy in the compost heap next to Rusty Eck's.

The quiet road is the high road here.

That's a fair answer and I didn't think of it that way but I just figured something of this magnitude would have at least garnered a word or two from the head hauncho. Maybe it is respectful to stay silent, but not knowing exactly the reasons is ok? I dunno. If I did bad stuff, let it out. I just wanna know. If Gene did some not so good things, then that's on him. I still think he and the rest of the WSU fanbase deserve to know something more than the "we're going another direction" garb.

[Shocker85]

Can you go much further than a national championship?

Fever, you're a reasonable man, the CWS win was 24 years ago. The recent mediocrity has trumped that Ace.

[ShockerFever]

Gene said that when taking the OU job - not after the 1989 Championship.

And how do you know he wasn't talking about his entire career as a whole? That's what I assumed he meant when saying that.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

I'm glad so many people have found the baseball part of the board this week. The 9 of us posting in this forum have gotten pretty lonely over the last four years.

What? You mean the TENS of thousands Gene backers werent visiting everyday and buying season tickets?!? **SHOCKED**

[ShockerFever]

Fever, you're a reasonable man, the CWS win was 24 years ago. The recent mediocrity has trumped that Ace.

I understand that 85, but in today's college baseball world, is it possible for WSU to go to CWS's in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021? I certainly hope so but realistically, is it possible?

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

I understand that 85, but in today's college baseball world, is it possible for WSU to go to CWS's in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021? I certainly hope so but realistically, is it possible?

Yes. But....

[Shockerman]

Watched the Susan peters interview. I'm sorry, but something stinks here. I can't quite put my finger on it though. Does Stephenson really think WSU fans believe he would have done the job for free or taken a pay cut to stay on board? Everyone associated with the program has seen this coming down the pipe for several years. There is no way he was blindsided by this. At the same time, does ADES have some sort of vendeta against GS? The press release sounds like we are giving GS his gold watch and showing him the door like it is no big deal. The lawyers, no public appearances or q&a with the media. i am not saying we need to air all the dirty laundry, but damn. The whole thing is just odd.

[ShockerEngr]

That's a fair answer and I didn't think of it that way but I just figured something of this magnitude would have at least garnered a word or two from the head hauncho. Maybe it is respectful to stay silent, but not knowing exactly the reasons is ok? I dunno. If I did bad stuff, let it out. I just wanna know. If Gene did some not so good things, then that's on him. I still think he and the rest of the WSU fanbase deserve to know something more than the "we're going another direction" garb.

I'm sure ADES explain ed why to him, and I expect had explained ed long before.

that said, gene hearing why and the fanbase hearing why are two different animals.

[GoShockers89]

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[William]

Yes, I guess you have lost touch (as if you ever had a grasp on reality).

Quick, William, when was WSU's last CWS appearance?

The most telling statistic I have seen posted: 44 teams have made it to the CWS since WSU's last appearance. Making the NCAA tournament from a weak-assed league like the MVC is no accomplishment. Winning games in NCAA play is. WSU Baseball had stopped winning at the NCAA level.

I suppose noone really knows if there is widespread fan support for the firing. The fans have been staying away in droves, so we couldn't ask any of them.

The past is passed. The future begins now.

This is like the circle of life, years ago I had to explain to people here the reasons why our success was less about Gene and more about good circumstances, now I am here to tell you
our struggles are less about Gene and more about bad circumstances. This was a foolish move that lacks perspective about the college baseball landscape.

[ShockerFever]

I'm sure ADES explain ed why to him, and I expect had explained ed long before.

that said, gene hearing why and the fanbase hearing why are two different animals.

Then I guess Gene is a good liar, manipulator, and tear-maker.

[ShockerFever]

It's not reasonable to expect it, but it actually is possible (in spite of what many on this board would have people believe).

Rice and Cal State Fullerton have now been to the CWS more times (8) than we have in our entire history (7) since our last visit in 1996. Non BCS programs paying their coaches less than us are proving it is possible.

Likely? No. Possible? Yes.

Gotta shoot for the stars. Most of this board would have told people they were nuts back in the 90s if ya suggested we'd get back to the Final Four one day. Too much had changed, the landscape was too difficult, our facilities sucked, etc.

It can be done.

Then I guess my next worry is will the correct hire be made to ensure that reasoning is possible.

I've been spoiled myself of our amazing past and tradition. I'm just wondering if we're trying to bite off more than we can chew. I mean if you look at the records and stats of the Gene era, it's pretty incredible how good we have been, even in our less than stellar state over the last 5 years. Not even one fluky 8th place finish in the Valley? 1 freaking losing record?

God, I hope the right decision has been made.

[GoShockers89]

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