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Did we really just fire Gene Stephenson?

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  • #46
    I just finished my own college baseball career. I had a chance to play JuCo ball in Kansas for a coach that has been at the same program for 30+ years. Since I have left the program, there has been a steady decline. I have seen recruiting fall, wins decline, and excitement for the program virtually disappear.

    I see many of these same things happening with the Shockers. Obviously I would be upset if my former coach was fired, and word coming out this summer is that he is in hot water. However, I would understand it. A nice thing about that program is that my coach had the foresight to bring in a young assistant who could step in for him when the time came. It's a shame we couldn't have done the same with Gene.

    I respect the hell out of everything Gene has done for Wichita State. He has been there my entire life, they won the CWS the year before I was born. However, as a college baseball player who has continued to attend WSU games over the past 4 years, I had noticed a considerable drop in the on-field product. They aren't putting the same hitters or pitchers on the field that I grew up watching. There isn't the same passion or excitement for the program that I grew up watching.

    Is it going to get any better with the current regime? I don't think so. Does Gene have the right to continue driving this program into mediocrity? I don't think so.

    Thank you Gene for everything you have done. You have provided my family with a ton of pride regarding Wichita State over the past many years, and for that we are grateful. Good luck with everything and I hope that you are properly honored by the university and the program you built.

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    • #47
      Why is it mediocrity? By what standard? Your post just proved my point. 35 wins is not mediocrity my friend.

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      • #48
        Didn't see anybody calling for his head on a platter? Maybe you should get the eyes checked, try starting with the thread "Fire Gene Stephenson"

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        • #49
          Originally posted by Shockingly View Post
          Why is it mediocrity? By what standard? Your post just proved my point. 35 wins is not mediocrity my friend.
          100+ RPI is the definition of mediocrity. It doesn't matter how many wins you rack up in one of the worst baseball conferences in the country. They didn't beat anyone out of conference, they used to build themselves on that. Mediocrity.

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          • #50
            Noticed your avatar is of a basketball player... How would you describe our basketball team? Powerhouse? Or typically mediocre with a flash of success here and there?

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            • #51
              Originally posted by Shockingly View Post
              Noticed your avatar is of a basketball player... How would you describe our basketball team? Powerhouse? Or typically mediocre with a flash of success here and there?
              All you have to do is look at the direction our basketball program is headed. They have improved every year since Gregg Marshall took over the program. That is amazing. Wichita State baseball on the other hand has been continually sliding toward mediocrity for half a decade. That was a terrible argument and I'm beginning to think you are a troll...

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              • #52
                Originally posted by Shockingly View Post
                Didn't see anybody calling for his head on a platter? Maybe you should get the eyes checked, try starting with the thread "Fire Gene Stephenson"
                OK - since you are a long time reader, you should realize that some people (you refer to as idiots) start threads like this. That doesn't mean everyone feels that way. I feel the majority didn't want Gene to "have to be fired." Many post on here with tons of emotion, and sometimes say things they shouldn't or don't entirely mean things the way the come out.

                I don't really feel like fighting with you about getting my eyes checked or whatever...I could be your mom or dad and you would be cursing me right now...being a little more civil will get a more civil discussion. I don't get into the name calling or call people "blind" or whatever. Not my game...sorry.

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                • #53
                  Actually it will be very interesting to see how fans and the AD react in basketball. Gregg Marshall has improved every year since he took over the program but reality will set in soon and there will come a time when he won't be able to anymore. I have no doubt Gregg Marshall is a good basketball coach but we had a lot of things go our way this year down the stretch. Keep in mind before this great season he had never won an NCAA game at WSU.

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                  • #54
                    Troll? Spare me. I'm realistic. Wichita State basketball will never reach the level of Wichita State baseball nationally. Just wont happen. Sure they may win more conference titles now that creighton is out of the picture. Heck they may even win their FIRST conference tournament. Imagine the party that will set off!

                    What I am is someone who cares deeply about this program. I care about the people involved having known several of them for many years. Are my emotions running high? Probably, but I don't think I'm wrong with what I'm saying.

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                    • #55
                      Originally posted by Shockingly View Post
                      Troll? Spare me. I'm realistic. Wichita State basketball will never reach the level of Wichita State baseball nationally. Just wont happen. Sure they may win more conference titles now that creighton is out of the picture. Heck they may even win their FIRST conference tournament. Imagine the party that will set off!

                      What I am is someone who cares deeply about this program. I care about the people involved having known several of them for many years. Are my emotions running high? Probably, but I don't think I'm wrong with what I'm saying.
                      Clearly your emotions are running high, and it is quite obvious that you know these people personally and will defend them because of that. However, if you can not objectively look at the results over the past 5 years and notice a decline, then I don't know what to say to you. I get it, these guys are important to you, but we can't let personal relationships cloud rational judgement.

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                      • #56
                        TROLL Alert: "may even win their FIRST conference tournament. Imagine the party that will set off!" Wouldn't be our actual first conference tourney win, just first time to win it all in the Lou.

                        Your fandom is now officially in question.



                        Originally posted by Shockingly View Post
                        Troll? Spare me. I'm realistic. Wichita State basketball will never reach the level of Wichita State baseball nationally. Just wont happen. Sure they may win more conference titles now that creighton is out of the picture. Heck they may even win their FIRST conference tournament. Imagine the party that will set off!

                        What I am is someone who cares deeply about this program. I care about the people involved having known several of them for many years. Are my emotions running high? Probably, but I don't think I'm wrong with what I'm saying.

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                        • #57
                          Because I'm not a die-hard basketball fan I'm a troll and my "fandom" is in question. That's funny. If I'm not speaking the truth about the basketball team, please point out my error. Otherwise move along.

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                          • #58
                            shockerofandover - I don't have any problem noticing the decline of the past 5 years. The concern I have is understanding if that is a trend that would have continued or was it a reload after we had a recruiting class decimated by the pro draft after back to back Super Regionals and it took time to work through? I think everyone will admit we had a young team this year (2 seniors) and there are some good young players on this team and signs of players improving from year to year (something that has been missing the past few years). We had a great fielding team (something that has been suspect in several past seasons) and the 2nd half of the season we had less "bonehead" plays as well. I think we were poised to look pretty good next year with no changes in the coaching staff and would have had a good chance to make it back to the NCAA again which would start to reverse the trend.

                            Gene also very recently (the end of last year) changed his coaching philosophy from promising a 4 yr scholoarship to evaluating players year to year. Up until that time he had done a VERY honorable thing that other programs abandoned a long time ago. Would this have paid dividends had we monitored it for the next few years? Don't know. Gene could probably still be coaching at WSU today had he been less loyal to his players and assistant coaches but it's hard to fault that and fire a guy after several seasons that don't meet Shocker Baseball standards.

                            Personally I would have seen a strong AD advise Gene that he was getting a 2 or 3 yr extension (with a specified buyout, restructure of salary) but they would WORK TOGETHER to select a coach that would take over when Gene retired. If the trend continued to improve over the next few years that may be 5 years down the road. If not, Gene could have been fired just like he was today at any time. The difference being then WSU would have a coach ready to take over and wouldn't suffer a recruiting hit. It would also likely allow for a dignified exit that Gene had earned rather than an appearance of a pissed off AD that just fired a legend because they didn't get along (regardless of who is at fault this is poor leadership). It is almost unheard of for someone with Gene's level of sucess to not be involved in selecting the new coach.
                            Last edited by shockfan89_; June 5, 2013, 03:09 AM.

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                            • #59
                              Originally posted by Shockingly View Post
                              Because I'm not a die-hard basketball fan I'm a troll and my "fandom" is in question. That's funny. If I'm not speaking the truth about the basketball team, please point out my error. Otherwise move along.
                              A Final Four in 2013 in a sport like basketball, which is much more nationally relevant than baseball, shows that the WSU basketball program is extremely nationally relevant. I don't think you could argue otherwise, especially as the baseball program continues to lose relevance year after year. The condescension toward basketball coming from the baseball-first side of the fan base reeks of sour grapes.

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                              • #60
                                .
                                Last edited by Guest; August 10, 2013, 06:21 PM.

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