Let's clear a few things up.
Gene embarrassed himself and the program off the field. He was offered a more than fair and what would have been an extremely dignified transition into retirement. He elected to tell his boss to go to hell.
Gene was a fantastic leader of a baseball program. An innovator. He was great at what he did, no doubt.
The athletic department has gone out of their way to mend fences. Daron Boatright has made ALL former baseball players members of the All American Club. They are invited to every game. They are treated, as they should be, like royalty. Many of them have begun to support the program.
Brent Kemnitz, who was abandoned by Gene for NO reason except stubbornness and hatefulness, has been key to bridging this gap. Brent has put the University ahead of all else. Not Gene.
Gene has been invited back. Many times. He was invited for the alumni weekend. He was invited for senior weekend. He has declined every effort. He did make a video, a video in which he lied about being unable to attend.
There's no doubt this was an unusual situation. Gene was given next to nothing and told to do what you can. And he did. But he's to blame for this fiasco. No one else.
Gene embarrassed himself and the program off the field. He was offered a more than fair and what would have been an extremely dignified transition into retirement. He elected to tell his boss to go to hell.
Gene was a fantastic leader of a baseball program. An innovator. He was great at what he did, no doubt.
The athletic department has gone out of their way to mend fences. Daron Boatright has made ALL former baseball players members of the All American Club. They are invited to every game. They are treated, as they should be, like royalty. Many of them have begun to support the program.
Brent Kemnitz, who was abandoned by Gene for NO reason except stubbornness and hatefulness, has been key to bridging this gap. Brent has put the University ahead of all else. Not Gene.
Gene has been invited back. Many times. He was invited for the alumni weekend. He was invited for senior weekend. He has declined every effort. He did make a video, a video in which he lied about being unable to attend.
There's no doubt this was an unusual situation. Gene was given next to nothing and told to do what you can. And he did. But he's to blame for this fiasco. No one else.
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