Wichita State looking into women’s basketball transfers

[shocker_67]

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.

72, I believe i know all of the girls on this tape and have been following for years. Michaela and Aly have not arrived at WSU nor had we won a championship yet.......Jazmen Gordon seems to be leading the group, Michelle Price talking about her blood clot, Buggs Jones talking about being tired, no study time, Nicole Wells speaking of wrongdoing, Kelsey talking about her spinal injury and no time to heal, Jessica Diamond is speaking of her shoulder, Darice Fountaine speaking of trying to be forced to come back early from her son and she mentioned Alicia Sanchez coming back after just 2 weeks of giving birth, Alex Harden says her piece, Chynna Turner speaks of her stress fracture, spoke of Krystal Henderson who I believe Jody spoke so harshly of regarding her transfer, and Molly O'Brien speaking of her being pinned by DE.......that would be the season of 2011-2012........that means NOTHING has changed since then?? Refresh my memory but I'm recalling this team the following year doing public push ups! Then Molly leaves! There is no excuse this is prior to our Championships! Its a miracle this whole group didn't transfer that year and not just Krystal!

[Veritas]

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

Well seieing how I already used the word ugly, what can I expect to happen? Being hit with a witches broomstick or having it stuck up my arse?

[ShockdaWorld]

Wow...that tape is pretty damning. I've not had enough information (and still don't) to have an extremely well formed opinion on the whole situation, but that audio certainly makes me question the "coaching techniques" being used.

[1972Shocker]

Wow...that tape is pretty damning. I've not had enough information (and still don't) to have an extremely well formed opinion on the whole situation, but that audio certainly makes me question the "coaching techniques" being used.

Most of the players on this recording and in this meeting were players that Jody like pretty well. I can only imagine what it was like for players Jody disliked or that she otherwise wanted to run off.

[ShockdaWorld]

I don't necessarily know if she "wanted to run off" anybody. I'm just saying I don't like the way that audio makes her and her coaching style look.

[Aargh]

About "players she wanted to run off"...

I have no knowledge, but I'm older than some dirt and I've seen a lot of human dealings. I'm fairly confident in my ability to evaluate interactions between people.

I would wager large amounts of money (and I'm not a gambler) that Adams wanted to run off Molly O'Brien. I suspect that any player who complained about abuse was a "troublemaker" and that would (or could) result in the loss of their scholarship. That will tend to keep players "in line".

[ShockTalk]

Wow...that tape is pretty damning. I've not had enough information (and still don't) to have an extremely well formed opinion on the whole situation, but that audio certainly makes me question the "coaching techniques" being used.

I don't necessarily know if she "wanted to run off" anybody. I'm just saying I don't like the way that audio makes her and her coaching style look.

You've probably got about all that you're going to get. "Proof" is unlikely to happen. No video, no audio of alleged actions by Adams. Nothing witnessed by a third party except for other coaches, players and, possibly, team personnel.

Unless a current or former assistant breaks ranks, nothing else of real substance will probably arise. Given that they depend on Adams for their current job and/or her future recommendation, this is unlikely. This is also where most of Adams supporters are. They are of her coaching tree, current assistants, and players that are, for the most part, looking to enter coaching. However, even some of those players, at some point, have now shown a strong concern/objection to her style. Other coaches, such as the showing by the MVC coaches, are worthless and self serving as they know nothing about what may or may not have gone on at WSU.

The administration/athletic department, I feel, are now also very suspect as to their motives, apparent lack of oversight, and possible lack of clarity/documentation of its review. For me, this makes their opinion a nonfactor.

The parents are going to support their kids, but bring no proof or first hand knowledge (that I know of).

As for the players, it is not just a few malcontents or players that couldn't "cut it". It is a large number from many different years. Some that did transfer, some that did not. Some were little used players, some long time starters of championship teams. Could some just not handle the coaching style? Sure. Could this many? Not so sure to probably not, IMO.

Some here say that HCGM and fHCGS are/were very demanding, tough coaches. I fully agree. However, I also believe that their players knew their coach have/had their backs. It also appears that many players who transfer out of those programs, have a positive relationship with their coach. I have seen very little to make me think that either of these are the case with Adams.

I have never coached professionally at any level. I have coached competitively in youth baseball, basketball and soccer and was privileged to be a part of some very successful teams. Of course, these were younger players, but that doesn't mean the coaching could not be demanding and tough. I could just never see the need for much of what I have heard of about this program. So, yes, I'm biased. As a coach, at any level, one is entrusted by the parents for the overall welfare of their child/young adult. At the same time, the youth/student athlete should have a coach's respect just like the coach expects and demands the players' respect. If a coach paints one kind of picture to a recruit, but actually has a much different kind of program, it is on the coach, not the player for the problems that creates.

Let me ask you, do you think HCGM needs to demand that his players tell half truths or lies about his program? Do you think HCGM doesn't inform a recruit about how he truly runs his program? If you say no, then throw out the comparison of Marshall and Adams.

[vancedave56]

Just out of curiosity, who recorded the tape, and were all participants aware they were being recorded?

[12345shocker54321]

Just out of curiosity, who recorded the tape, and were all participants aware they were being recorded?

Yes everyone in that room was aware they were being recorded.

[shocker_67]

A better question would be....why did the players feel so threatened that they needed to........we have heard the mental abuse allegations in the paper....from Samantha Smith to the accusations of the starters leaving.....mental abuse can be worse than physical abuse .....I think "coaching style" has a different meaning here.

[ShockdaWorld]

Let me ask you, do you think HCGM needs to demand that his players tell half truths or lies about his program? Do you think HCGM doesn't inform a recruit about how he truly runs his program? If you say no, then throw out the comparison of Marshall and Adams.

I don't think any of that about HCGM, and have never and will never compare he and HCJA. I'm also not arguing that one side or the other is correct in this situation. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about it, so I can form a somewhat educated opinion. Up to this point, I've been very neutral, but after hearing that recording, it's harder to remain that way.

[ShockTalk]

I don't think any of that about HCGM, and have never and will never compare he and HCJA. I'm also not arguing that one side or the other is correct in this situation. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about it, so I can form a somewhat educated opinion. Up to this point, I've been very neutral, but after hearing that recording, it's harder to remain that way.

Sorry that I said "Let me ask you" while quoting your posts. By that time of my windy post, I was speaking in generalities to anyone who had made the comparison.

[1972Shocker]

Nuetral? This post in response to Jody's #1 cheerleader doesn't seem terribly neutral. In fact, the emoticon says a lot about where you stand.

I think there are more of us that believe in this possibility than you may realize. We're just the quieter percentage. :)

http://shockernet.net/forum/showthread.php?20166-Wichita-State-looking-into-women’s-basketball-transfers&p=579743&viewfull=1#post579743

Perhaps instead of "quieter percentage" you meant to say "less informed percentage".

[1972Shocker]

nm.

[ShockdaWorld]

Nuetral? This post in response to Jody's #1 cheerleader doesn't seem terribly neutral. In fact, the emoticon says a lot about where you stand.

http://shockernet.net/forum/showthread.php?20166-Wichita-State-looking-into-women’s-basketball-transfers&p=579743&viewfull=1#post579743

Perhaps instead of "quieter percentage" you meant to say "less informed percentage".

So, are you trying to insult the fact that I thought there was a possibility that some of the claims may be unsubstantiated? Or the fact that I thought there were more of us that believed that was a possibility than he had eluded to? Or the fact that I used the term quieter percentage to include myself and others like that me who aren't (or weren't) sure what or who to believe, so we stayed mostly quiet and just listened and read? I'd be happy to discuss my intent with you, if I was aware what it is that you're attempting to use as the basis for your insult.