Should Gene retire at the end of the season?

[DUShock]

"LOUD NOISES!"

[Snapshot9]

Whether or not the allegations are true, damage has been done. It will shadow him for some time.

Gene builds good teams every year, but not great teams. He's had plenty of practice in the past to be able to do that.

For some years now, it seems like we beat who we are suppose to, but not who we need to, and thus, fall short of where we need to be.

Gene will know when he needs to go before anyone else, but I personally think it will be within the next 3-4 years.

[ShockerFever]

KC Shox, go back many years ago and look at the kind of teams Gene played. I guarantee most of those were the likes of Friends and Newman. I know because I know people that talked to him back then, so don't bring you crap to me. The point is the man is starting to slip in his coaching abilities, he has for several years now. And that 1989 team that won the CWS, I could have coached that team to a title. He had so much talent he didn't need to coach. Again, I can find many, many people that agree with me on the statement.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what Gene has done for WSU, but the fact is he's not making the best decisions now, and it's hurting the team. That being said, it wont' surprise me if there are some changes made to the coaching staff after the season.

There's a difference between 2 or 3 games a year against D-2 or lower teams (that were schedule fillers, Gene also can't help the weather) and 'most of the wins have come against Newman/Friends'. You're an idiot to say he's run up his percentage against D-2 or lower competition. Just shut your inflated piehole already. Also, like KC said, he can't control the fact that WSU is in the Valley. A win is a win, especially in the sport of baseball. Just because you're mad over the last 3 fiasco losses, which I am too, doesn't give you the right to take shots at Gene for the types of wins he's gotten to get to where he's at on the all-time list. Stop and think a minute before you post next time, so you don't continue to look like a complete moronic buffoon.

That would be greatly appreciated.

[1972Shocker]

My guess is the harassment matter involving Gene will be settled by a confidential court-approved settlement between the parties and there will be no public hearing. Most of the public damage from this probably has been done.

Gene will no doubt be on a short leash regarding his future personal conduct.

What we do not know, is how this matter has impacted Gene's marriage and family relationships. That could be weighing on him as much as anything and may take some time to resolve.

Absent the peronal issues, Gene is to WSU Baseball as Joe Pa is to Penn State football and assuming Gene can get control of his personal life he has probably earned the same consideration regarding his job as Joe Pa has had with Penn State assuming the personal conduct issues are adequately resolved and addressed. Of course, there are limits to everything.

I would sure like to see Gene go out on top and with overall positive feelings.

[DaShox]

Surprise, surprise. Lutz writes an article and it shows up as a topic on ShockerNet. I love it when people wait for the morning paper to form their thoughts. That way, they can't be wrong. You guys mercilessly lambast Lutz, as one who sits on the toilet to write his enlightening articles.

Apparently, if it fits your agenda you roll it out there as evidence to support your position. Make up your mind and stand on one side of the fence.

[1972Shocker]

I, for one, have not seen Lutz article but I will take a look at it.

As far as you point. I think it goes both ways. Lutz probably occasionally gets an idea for a column from what he reads and, of course, issues that are discussed in the press are going to be discussed on ShockerNet.

I don't think anyone ever accused Lutz or the media of getting ALL of their ideas from ShockerNet or other sources.

[DaShox]

Yesterday, I had someone cite the paper as evidence and then proclaim Gene is guilty because "he's a man".

The manner in which people convict people is disturbingly scary.

[Shocker85]

Something Lutz doesn't address directly is the level of integrity at which the WSU program has been run under Stephenson. He is a strong advocate of the "student" part of student-athlete and there have never been any sort of NCAA scrutiny of the program, as far as I know. Stephenson has achieved a good balance of getting players who have aspirations of being pro baseball players, while at the same time fielding a team year-after-year and in filling in the holes vacated by 3 year players who move on and keeping the program at a consistent level. Granted, that level has declined a bit since the mid-90's, but they still make the NCAA tournament virtually every season.

The point about Stephenson getting the benefit of the doubt right now is valid and he's earned that. When players are considering WSU, their baseball future has to be first in their minds and if the allegations are untrue or even just "go away" via a confidential settlement, then few recruits will make it an issue. There are plenty of stories of great coaches who have personal issues (think Bobby Knight), and are still hugely successful.

There have been a few notable coaching blunders as of late, but overall the losses we're bemoaning are due to lack of execution on the field. It is Stephenson's job to put the players in a position to execute, which he has failed at in a few specific instances recently.

The stalking incident in itself isn't serious enough to warrant dismassal - afterall, he has not been charged with a crime. Deapite the curious coaching moves the Shox still have the 19th best winning percentage in the country this season - most programs simply dream of that success. I seriously doubt Gene's job is in jeopardy right now.

I also think the timing for replacing Gene isn't good right now, either. We have a vastly inexperienced AD in Eric Sexton who would have to rely on other resources to make a hire right now. He needs more time to cultivate contacts within athletics circles. The person who I think should be the #1 candidate for the job is probably a season or two away from being in the best position to consider leaving his current job at Charlotte.

--'85.

[1972Shocker]

I don't have a big problem with Lutz article although the basic premise is that at some point we will have a clear guilty - not guilty determination in this case. It just seems like we rarely get to such black and white determinations in the real world.

I would not at all be surprised if there is not some confidential settlement or arrangement between the parties under which Gene does not admit to guilt but does agree to pay the other parties costs and agrees not to harass or in any way attempt to make contact with the other party.

Actually this is probably a more difficult set of circumstances for WSU to deal with than a clear finding of guilt.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

this thread was started late last night after the game. Before kansas.com would have even been updated.

[rrshock]

I also think the timing for replacing Gene isn't good right now, either. We have a vastly inexperienced AD in Eric Sexton who would have to rely on other resources to make a hire right now. He needs more time to cultivate contacts within athletics circles. The person who I think should be the #1 candidate for the job is probably a season or two away from being in the best position to consider leaving his current job at Charlotte.

--'85.

Actually, I wouldn't think hiring a head coach at WSU for baseball would be too terribly difficult. There should be a list a mile long of people that would love to be in control of this program. The difficult part of it would be sorting through the many candidates, but once that was done, it should be pretty easy.

[SB Shock]

I think the mistake Gene made was he should have stayed at OU (for his sake). It would have been much easier path.

There are just to many obstacles of playing at WSU and the MVC for old man to fight through. It's a young man battle that seems to have wore him down.

[DaShox]

For sometime now, people have put the emphasis on winning the midweek games. Last night, Gene and Brent went for it by putting their best available arm (Hoch) on the mound. And yet, people still criticize. If Kemp and his 4.05 era in 13IP starts the ninth and blows it, Gene & Brent get crucified for bringing in an unproven pitcher. One thing is apparent: fans are stupid and there is no winning with some of this crowd.

A few years ago, Gene had surgery and was unable to coach for about two weeks. During that time, Brent was head coach. During that stretch, the offense was pathetic, averaging one or two runs a game.

When Turg left for A&M, people gave their well-wishes. People were so aglow with Gregg, they couldn't fathom a 21 loss season. After a rough season for Marshall, out came the Turg hate. If Gene retires and the Shox have a rough first season with a new coach, how long will it take for this crowd to break out the hate for Gene?

Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

[SubGod22]

What are you smoking DaShox? Turg had A LOT of criticism before the summer started last year. It's had NOTHING to do with how this season went.

[Denny Crane]

this thread was started late last night after the game. Before kansas.com would have even been updated.

Thanks, Sauce. And no I'm not Lutz.