Wichita State looking into women’s basketball transfers

[shockswsu]

Now that the tape has been made public, I think it becomes obvious why players and parents continue to seek a venue which will hear their grievances and truly look for a fair and just solution to things. To have them disparaged as whiny people with a witch-hunt agenda has been very difficult to stand by and watch.

Michelle Price was treated with hatred and contempt for wanting to have her chest pain and shortness of breath evaluated. Her untreated pulmonary embolism carried with it a 30% risk of DEATH. Loss of that young, hard-working, bright young lady's life would have been absolutely tragic, and directly attributable to HCJA and her hyper-controlling, contempt-filled practices. Wichita State as an institution, and the players themselves, deserve MUCH better than what is going on here.

[shocker_67]

LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL! How can anybody sit in that meeting and ignore those girls! This is the same AD that the team is supposed to go to as the "new solution"? The team mentioned a "psychologist" already? Players practicing 2 weeks after having a baby? Playing all season with a torn shoulder? Stress fracture in a foot? Stress fracture in the Spine? Players begging for time because they need to study and their tired because they've gone all day? Not being allowed to stop practice can they can't breathe? 15 people leaving in 3 yrs? Is this the TWILIGHT ZONE? This is one team, one season, what else do we not know? AND you call these girls "weak" " not tough to cut the program" "not d1 athletes". I will tell you in my opinion is weak. THE ADMINiSTRATION FOR NOT HAVING THE GUTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THESE ATHLETES! I don't think there is any doubt now why parents and players are a upset if this is how the program is ran.

[Aargh]

If Adams would have gone down, Sexton would have gone down with her for allowing the situation to develop, exist, and probably escalate after he did nothng when he was informed what was happening. One of the most disgusting exchanges I've ever heard was:

Athlete (being forced to play through a blood clot in her lungs): "I could have died"
Sexton: "Hmmm"

After Sexton was aware of the situation, he gave Adams a new contract with a buyout that makes it very difficult to ever fire her.

This is going to really irritate those who support anything WSU, but..

...It requires a mean coach and a weak AD to allow this situation to occur and continue. I think Sexton is an outstanding person, but this should demonstrate why you don't make Athletic Director be an on the job training position. Sexton had virtually no experience managing people, let alone managing people with strong personalities.

There are questions about how Sexton handled the baseball program. Gene may have had to go, but is it necessary to pay $500K to a coach with no established D1 track record? How does Adams get a raise and a $500K buyout when forcing players to play through a spinal stress fracture and a pulmonary embolism?

Adams got a raise and a "golden parachute" buyout for risking the lives and future health of her players.

[shocker_67]

It also stated in the latest news article that parents and players had gone to Eric Sexton with their concerns. THAT IS AFTER THIS MEETING WITH ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS! Tell me how any player or parent is to trust anyone with doing anything, no wonder they are so upset. AND this was ALL made known in the "listening" tour? I believe I got it right when I called it the "liability" tour. I'm wanting to understand how JA's attorneys were allowed to interview players and put them in that position! These players had to be intimidated. Were they telling these players to keep your mouth shut? And I recall that Becky Endicott was walking around watching current athletes writing down their statements? What a Sham! And they tried to act like they cared and put forth a serious inquiry on behalf of the players. My stomach is sick how this was NOT considered to be a serious situation. From Samantha Smith to Dap & Aly........many players these last years. If that tape is of the players that stayed I'm sure there are many incidents regarding the ones that have left............

[1972Shocker]

After Sexton was aware of the situation, he gave Adams a new contract with a buyout that makes it very difficult to ever fire her.

Difficult but not impossible. Seems like they have plenty of ammunition to establish a termination for cause. Their problem is that the athletic administration seems to be culpable of participating in the commission of the acts that are the basis for a termination of cause. Clearly the athletic administration was aware of what was going on and the failure to take decisive action plus the action they did take was to reward HCJA with a substantial raise and a golden parachute which probably was received by HCJA as a message that her actions were not only acceptable but desirable.

Hopefully, Dr. Bardo will not look back regretfully and think that he could have cited philosophical differences with HCJA and wrote her a check for $500K which might prove to have been a bargain and the best way out of this mess. I suppose that is still an option.

How does Adams get a raise and a $500K buyout when forcing players to play through a spinal stress fracture and a pulmonary embolism?

Adams got a raise and a "golden parachute" buyout for risking the lives and future health of her players.

Also a player with a torn ligament in her shoulder that was prone to chronic subluxation and a player with a stress fracture in her foot. And as @shocker_67 pointed out these were all players were able to tough it out for their careers. Furthermore, these are just examples of the physical health of players. There also have been claims of psychological and mental abuse which seem pretty serious.

Let's be honest though. Adams did not get a raise and a "golden parachute" for risking the lives and future health of her players. She received those for winning basketball games and Valley Championships (even though the Valley hasn't been very good in recent years) and apparently the risk to the health and well-being of the players was apparently considered an acceptable cost of doing business by the WSU administration.

[1972Shocker]

It requires a mean coach and a weak AD to allow this situation to occur and continue. I think Sexton is an outstanding person, but this should demonstrate why you don't make Athletic Director be an on the job training position. Sexton had virtually no experience managing people, let alone managing people with strong personalities.

The irony would appear to be that it wasn't that the players were not tough enough but that Eric Sexton didn't have the toughness needed in this situation.

[shocker_67]

I haven't logged in Shockernet in many months. But a friend text me and pointed out how bad this thread has turned.

I am a big supporter of ALL WSU sports, and student athletes. I know and personally interact with many former players, some of who spent whole college career with the Shox, and some who have left. There is a recurring theme.

When we are losing, many players spend the entire time at our school. When we are winning, it seems many more transfer out for other opportunities.

I dont know @VOTS. Never met them, don't believe I even know their name. But I do know reading this thread that there are many truths to what he says, and many truths to what the players are saying.

There are hundreds of good college coaches that have experienced some success and are very popular with players. The. There are a few great coaches who have achieved amazing success with their programs. The difference between these types of coaches is how they run their program. Running a top level program in D1 is tough. Tough on coaches, players, parents, and fans. Each player has to decide of the program is the right fit, or whether they are not "cut out" for that program.

Duke basketball, UCONN womens, LSU baseball, Alabama football, and all other top of the heap programs have turnover. Why? Players are recruited for talent, but the fit isn't right, then they leave. Every player has to decide what is best for them. Some stick it out, others aren't able to. That is not a knock on them, or the coaches. Just they didnt fit.

Building a culture of winning is tough and demanding. I was part of a very successful college program that I didnt fit with. I left the program. Yes, I could have argued that "every athlete isnt treated the same" and that I was a good enough player to be successful but wasnt. I got yelled at, cussed, ridiculed, and made to do extra drills. Those who could do what was asked enjoyed being made better and thrived. Some of us didnt have it. But I found success elsewhere in a program that fit me. We didnt win a championship but I enjoyed the experience.

The end game of this will be unhappy for one side or the other. I will continue to support ALL who ever wore the Shocker uniform, but at the end of the day, unless you are the player (or her parents) that that c**t DA put against the wall, you should find happiness in finding your fit at a program where you can enjoy your college career.

PS - DA should have been escorted out the door with her box of belongings that day and never allowed to set foot on WSU campus again. That is on the AD and Administration. And "that day" is in reference to many things I and people I trust witnessed. Our program deserved better than that piece of crap.

That is all.

I disagree.....this kind of treatment of athletes has nothing to do with wins or losses like so many would like to muck up the issue with. This is called human dignity and treating respect. I don't think athletes want to stay with an abusive coach just because they are winning. I think kids get stuck because its traumatic to transfer and difficult as well. Besides as this situation, having you name and reputation dragged through the mud "like the girl pinned against the wall" .

[playball]

Just wondering why all the people say how great Jody is are not commenting on the tape? Cat got your touge

[1972Shocker]

I was trying to figure out exactly what the timing of this meeting/recording was and which players where participating in this meeting. Since, Jessie Diamond I think, was saying they did not want their championship tainted I am assuming it was during the 2012-13 season which was the 1st championship year.

From what I could tell the following players were in attendance: Jazimen Gordon (who I think was taking the lead role), Chynna Turner, Jessica Diamond, Michelle Price, Darice Fountaine, Nicole Wells, Kelsey Jacobs, Alex Harden and Molly O'Brien. No way of knowing if it was before or after Molly had quit the team. I am thinking and speculating that this may have occurred shortly after the "push-ups as punishment at half-time incident" which was followed by a mild public reprimand by Eric Sexton.

Players who were on the roster but who I could not tell if they were in the meeting or not was Senior Jasmine Jones and two Freshmen, Michaela Dapprich and Alie Decker. Could be that Michaela and Alie were there but were too overwhelmed to say anything or just deferring to their team leaders.

In any case it is very interesting that this meeting appeared to be lead by Seniors Jazimen Gordon, Chynna Turner and Jessica Diamond which is probably how it should be for a team meeting such as this. What did these seniors have to gain by leading this charge at this point in their careers?

It is also interesting to now hear that Jazimen Gordon and Chynna Turner reportedly provided statements in the recent "listening tour" in support of Jody. What caused Jazimen and Chynna to have such a seemingly major change of heart about Jody? Could it be that both of them are graduate assistants trying to break into the college coaching ranks and that they need Jody's stamp of approval to make any inroads? As Eric Sexton would say, Hmmm.

Also only 1 of the 9 players I could identify (or at least I think I could identify) actually left the team before the end of her career. So what we are getting here are grievances mostly from players who did not transfer out of the program and therefore would seemingly not have had an agenda. Unfortunately, no record was kept of the "listening tour" interviews recently conducted. We are still left to mostly wonder about the experiences of the players who made the decision to extricate themselves from this environment. We did get some insights from Sam Smith's experience in Jody's 1st year from the article that appeared in the Sunflower and we also have the reports of the Molly O'Brien incident which was talked about briefly at the beginning of the audio recording.

But does it really mean anything? From what I can tell this is not new information to the WSU administration so their decision was made with the full knowledge of what has been going on. The tweaks they made were more or less window dressing although maybe Jody will have been scared enough to back off a little bit. So essentially it appears the WSU administration is willing to live with Jody's style as long as she wins I guess. However, even if she doesn't win her "golden parachute" gives her quite a bit of job security.

A the very least, I certainly hope steps will be taken to provide more safeguards for the short and long term physical and mental well-being of these student athletes.

[Veritas]

Hmm, let's see. The athletic programs are winning at levels rarely if ever seen up and down the different teams with few exceptions. Money is flowing in at levels never seen.

Facilities continue to improve, almost across the board fan support has never been stronger. The department is in the black. Championships are pouring in. Student athletes are leaving more prepared for the real world than in the past (my opinion based on personal knowledge).

You also commented, I believe, that Head Coach Todd Butler rubs you the wrong way and that you'll never support him. As someone smarter than I said, that says a heck of a lot more about you than it does about Coach Butler.

Thankfully, the direction of the athletic department isn't steered for the enjoyment or to impress @shockerfanmas:. God only knows what hell hole we'd be in if it was.

Being able to raise money and demonstrating a laissez faire demeanor in running the athletic department and his employees does not equate to being a strong AD. The one time he flexed his AD muscle was over fHCGS and regardless of which side one may fall on whether GS should have been dismissed or not, most will agree it was handled very poorly.
The fact that a proliferating witch hunt now exists over JA is due to the AD failing to immediately address the perceived problem and doing what's best for the student-athletes and the school.
It will be announced soon that ADES will be leaving the athletic department to focus on his new job. JA will probably have a poor season next year and resign. "fADES" will continue to be a bureaucratic political puppet.
I don't know whether JA should be fired or not. But one thing is clear. ADES, again, seems to have mishandled a problem and an employee and doesn't appear to be a leader. Unfortunately.
This could get ugly, and a lot of the parents seem to like ugly.

I hope all involved learn from this unfortunate situation and become better employees and people. Sad situation with no winners.

[1972Shocker]

JA will probably have a poor season next year and resign.

The WBB basketball team may very well have a poor season next year but I can not see HCJA resigning and walking away from a $500,000 golden parachute. She obviously would gladly like a job at a P-5 school but it may be quite some time before the radioactivity attached to her dies down. In the meantime, WSU is stuck with her unless they want to write a $500K check or try to terminate her for cause.

[playball]

Parents like ugly what's meant by that? I think you ment to say justice!!!!!!!!!
?

[shocker_67]

Being able to raise money and demonstrating a laissez faire demeanor in running the athletic department and his employees does not equate to being a strong AD. The one time he flexed his AD muscle was over fHCGS and regardless of which side one may fall on whether GS should have been dismissed or not, most will agree it was handled very poorly.
The fact that a proliferating witch hunt now exists over JA is due to the AD failing to immediately address the perceived problem and doing what's best for the student-athletes and the school.
It will be announced soon that ADES will be leaving the athletic department to focus on his new job. JA will probably have a poor season next year and resign. "fADES" will continue to be a bureaucratic political puppet.
I don't know whether JA should be fired or not. But one thing is clear. ADES, again, seems to have mishandled a problem and an employee and doesn't appear to be a leader. Unfortunately.
This could get ugly, and a lot of the parents seem to like ugly.

I hope all involved learn from this unfortunate situation and become better employees and people. Sad situation with no winners.

First of all, after listening to that tape I would hardly use the term "witchhunt"
Secondly, Eric Sexton has been promoted to be in charge of ALL the students when he can't even ensure the safety of the athletes?
Lastly, I would be very careful using the term "ugly" when referring to parents that have actually had their children wronged in ways that are life altering physically and emotionally. I understand some of these players bodies are constantly in pain and Kelsey's being one of them

[shocker_67]

You know I have to say it out of curiosity - "Hey Missouri Valley Coaches and Cindy Stein - Are you listening now?" (the tape)

Is this what you support in your programs, Jody Adam's "coaching style", now I know why the Valley is weak, I wouldn't play for any of those coaches either!

[ShockTalk]

Unfortunately.
This could get ugly, and a lot of the parents seem to like ugly.

This is NOT the parents fault it may get (or is) ugly. You mentioned many of the reasons in your post.

I hope all involved learn from this unfortunate situation and become better employees and people. Sad situation with no winners.

There were never going to be any winners, although, by ignoring the situation, some may have thought that "winning" could continue.

I was also made aware of a tape, never heard it, but was told of the general contents.