Gene Stephenson interview on Sports Sunday

[Veritas]

I would have agreed with you on these points in the early to mid 90's. However since then, too much has happened to tarnish fHCGS to allow him to run the program. Undoubtedly he is a coaching legend, but like most legends, there comes a time when they cannot be allowed to run the athletic department at their whim and they don't like it. Not that his descretions were on the same level, but looking at "legends" like JoePa, or Bobby Knight should allow one to see that there still has to be control over legends. From what I understand, ADES gave Gene plenty of chance to set his own course; it appears he took the path named, "Don't tell me what to do and when to do it!" ANY AD would then be faced with a choice: turn the keys over to the legend, or take control back. Not an easy decision. FWIW, in MY opinion, fHCGS was unwilling to change his ways, even when it had been shown that they no longer worked. This is the plight of MANY a legend: the inability to recognize when what was successful before is no longer successful. (Hank Iba's basketball style wouldn't fly today.) The TRUE legends recognize change, and either adapt or bow out with their legacy exaulted. fHCGS did neither, placing him in a category similar to athletes who play beyond their prime and end up fading away in a uniform no one recognizes as being correct. Sad it had to end this way, but it had to end.

That's a very thoughtful and fair minded response. Thank you!
Q: how do we know though if ADES provided any alternatives to Gene?
That's the crux of my point regarding an expose. What truly happened? I'd rather a bright and fair minded reporter present a conclusion after multiple interviews and fact gathering than to simply read an opinion from '72 or others that jump on the groupthink Gene bashing wagon and bash the hell out of the guy. Like myself, where there are holes, people tend to fill it with their own interpretation. Mine just happens to be opposite of 80% on this board--- which isn't necessarily a bad thing or even the wrong thing.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

[SHOCKvalue]

The only way Gene leaving/retiring was going to be a clean process was if it was 100% on Gene's terms. Given the circumstances (downward trend of program and Gene riding the horse until death) there really was no way that a coaching change was not going to be exactly what we got, with respect to the drama. I too wish he could have gone out with much fanfare (even in spite of the various messes he made), but it just wasn't going to happen due to the man himself.

Secondly, I lurk fairly regularly over at phog (sort of the same reason you leer at a bad auto accident) and Veritas does in fact defend WSU a lot over there. He gets generally crucified in the process; Most hold him as a WSU troll in fact. This is not to say that his posts lately on SN haven't become a bit tone deaf at times.

[OregonShocker]

That's a very thoughtful and fair minded response. Thank you!
Q: how do we know though if ADES provided any alternatives to Gene?
That's the crux of my point regarding an expose. What truly happened? I'd rather a bright and fair minded reporter present a conclusion after multiple interviews and fact gathering than to simply read an opinion from '72 or others that jump on the groupthink Gene bashing wagon and bash the hell out of the guy. Like myself, where there are holes, people tend to fill it with their own interpretation. Mine just happens to be opposite of 80% on this board--- which isn't necessarily a bad thing or even the wrong thing.

Well, THAT ain't gonna happen! For one, the few people that truly know aren't talking to reporters and two, if they DO talk to a reporter, that reporter isn't going to pass on ANYTHING under fear it will be the last thing they hear outside the press conference room! Unfortunately, that leaves us with only "speculation", but some speculation is more reliable than others shooting from the hip. In this case, I've heard enough speculation from those who haven't led me astray (so far) to believe that Gene was given PLENTY of notice re: performance, both on and off the field (not just the female harassment issue, but showing proper decorum to the AD, etc. In the end, there's only ONE in charge and Gene believed it should be GS and GS alone!) and when the fate was decided he was given the opportunity to resign peacefully. Whether you like how it ended should not sway the recognition that it was ending, one way or another. Even GS should have recognized this, and since he didn't, he falls into the status I mentioned above: a legend, but with a less than clean legacy. Why? Because to "justify" positions taken, some bad laundry has to be hung out. But, no doubt in my mind, it was fHCGS choice on the way it ended. He couldn't have been surprised.

[WuDrWu]

Gene was absolutely offered options, he declined all of the options.

[AndShock]

If the speculation is true and had Sexton released details on Gene's options and how it went down I think Veritas would crucify Sexton for defaming a legend. If Gene was treated unfairly I don't think he would've kept his mouth shut on the whole incident. When Jenn Bates was throwing her little fit last month she mentioned that she saw a bunch of stuff going on at the baseball offices but chose to be "professional" and not bring it up. I'm guessing if she had, someone would've looked very bad. I have no inside info but I like to think I have a decent grasp of Sexton's and Gene's personalities and I can form my own theories based on that and the information from others.

[Veritas]

If the speculation is true and had Sexton released details on Gene's options and how it went down I think Veritas would crucify Sexton for defaming a legend. If Gene was treated unfairly I don't think he would've kept his mouth shut on the whole incident. When Jenn Bates was throwing her little fit last month she mentioned that she saw a bunch of stuff going on at the baseball offices but chose to be "professional" and not bring it up. I'm guessing if she had, someone would've looked very bad. I have no inside info but I like to think I have a decent grasp of Sexton's and Gene's personalities and I can form my own theories based on that and the information from others.

Jenn stated that (paraphrase) she HEARD a bunch of stuff from outside the offices when Gene was being fired and decided not to report it.

I was thinking more of performance trends of W/L, MVC Championships, Regionals, Attendance, as well as
-- Baseball budget at WSU since 1978 and show % compared to overall athletic budget and contrast that to other key schools (KSU, KU, OSU, OU, CU, etc...)
-- Recruiting budget at WSU since 1978 with same trend/contrast to other key schools (KSU, KU, OSU, OU, CU, etc...)
-- Get info straight from Gene on why he thinks he was terminated and his input on why he thinks the performance started to trend down.
-- Is WSU putting competitive money into the program today as perhaps WSU did 10-25 years ago

If Gene was an insubordinate, obstinate sob who had a personality conflict with the AD, then he might have deserved to be discharged. If an affable AD endeavored to treat Gene with respect and provide him a "farewell tour" and Gene spit in his eye, then perhaps the AD had to make a tough decision.
The fact of the matter is no one knows exactly, because the balanced reporting on this topic has been horrendous.

I don't understand all that went into the decision except his W/L % and declining attendance (which in large part is due to W/L). Those that pretend to know could simply be repeating the AD's subjective point of view and not presenting a truly objective viewpoint.

The very fact that no reporter touches this topic could lead one to believe that the AD has made it clear that the future door will be closed to those that question the decision. That doesn't seem very transparent to me.

[Veritas]

Gene was absolutely offered options, he declined all of the options.

Please enlighten us with those options and from whom exactly did you receive that information?

[1979Shocker]

Here's the interview.

http://www.kwch.com/sports/sunday-sitdown-gene-stephenson/26048162

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

You don't want to hear anything that doesn't fit your narrative.

[Veritas]

You don't want to hear anything that doesn't fit your narrative.

Man... that was weak sauce (Malone).

[ShockTalk]

I was thinking more of performance trends of W/L, MVC Championships, Regionals, Attendance, as well as
-- Baseball budget at WSU since 1978 and show % compared to overall athletic budget and contrast that to other key schools (KSU, KU, OSU, OU, CU, etc...)

You mean we get to include Gene and his staff's total salaries of $770,000, plus other baseball budget and compare that total to WSU total athletic budget as a percentage, then get to compare that % to these other schools total athletic budget and their baseball total budget and it's % to the total?

[Kung Wu]

The very fact that no reporter touches this topic could lead one to believe that the AD has made it clear that the future door will be closed to those that question the decision.

Or it could be that pretty much everybody in Wichita that cares already has a decent grasp on why he was let go, and everybody knew he wouldn't go out without causing a ruckus, and therefore this story is uninteresting and old and pressing any further will only result in appearing to bash Gene. And NOBODY wants that because we are very thankful for what the legendary coach has done for Wichita State, even if it was time to move the program in a new direction.

[Veritas]

You mean we get to include Gene and his staff's total salaries of $770,000, plus other baseball budget and compare that total to WSU total athletic budget as a percentage, then get to compare that % to these other schools total athletic budget and their baseball total budget and it's % to the total?

Sure... lay it on the table

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/list_of_sec_baseball_coaching.html

[Veritas]

Or it could be that pretty much everybody in Wichita that cares already has a decent grasp on why he was let go, and everybody knew he wouldn't go out without causing a ruckus, and therefore this story is uninteresting and old and pressing any further will only result in appearing to bash Gene. And NOBODY wants that because we are very thankful for what the legendary coach has done for Wichita State, even if it was time to move the program in a new direction.

I can respect that Point of View... Don't entirely agree with it, because frankly this story should have been told 11 months ago, but can respect it.