Re: Are you BB haters going to get your wish

All-In [43977]

TigerPulse: 81%

Posts: 32912

Joined: 2/22/03

Your argument is overly simplistic IMO.

Feb 3, 2018, 1:07 PM [ in reply to Good for Brownlee, after 8ish years of futility it's about time... ]

It's easy to say "We went to the NCAA Tournament the three years before Brownell, so he inherited a great program" but it isn't as simple as that. Yes, we made the NCAAs under Purnell, but we never won a game there. Purnell's most talented teams were in the rear view mirror and recruiting had taken a huge hit. There are certainly many different theories about why OP left for DePaul, including a significant raise, a desire to live in Chicago, and a rumored affair. Some or all of these reasons probably played into his decision, but one that isn't discussed much is the fact that Purnell's last two recruiting classes were not up to par. Although the team in 2009-2010 was talented, it was a step down from previous seasons and he only had one incoming recruit signed for 2010-2011. He was certainly thinking about his future seasons at Clemson, and how it was going to be much more difficult to continue his streak of NCAA Tournament appearances.

This is not to say that Brownell has done everything correctly. He did not recruit well enough his first 3-4 years here, but part of that was due to losing several key assistants a few years in a row to head coaching positions. Lack of staff continuity makes things difficult; we can look no further than football to see how important this is for recruiting consistently. Over the years, Brownell and his staff have improved relationships with high school coaches. Brownell also put in a ton of behind-the-scenes work to get funding for the new arena and practice facility. He almost single-handedly made this happen. Most people don't know that or give him credit for that, though.

Recruiting has improved, and we are seeing the results of that on the court. However, we are still less talented than many of the ACC teams we play, yet we are always competitive - and we are now winning many of the close games we lost last year. What you are seeing this year is not simply "what Brownell should be expected to do," but rather, an outstanding coaching job that is far greater than one should expect based on the level of administrative support, fan support, and talent he has in relation to what many other ACC coaches have.

Brad has matured a lot over the last 8 year, but so has our administration. Brad has had to scratch and claw for additional basketball funding, including raises for assistant coaches and approval for a long-awaited basketball support staff person. Radakovich seems to finally get it, or is at least saying the right things publicly. I honestly think the reason Brad wasn't fired last offseason is because DRad knew that he wasn't giving Brownell and the basketball program the support it needs. It wasn't just Brad who came to the table with things he needed and wanted to improve upon, but Radakovich doing the same as well. And of course, it helped that Brad has done everything else better than any previous basketball coach, including record team GPAs and graduation rates, as well as recruiting good kids who represent our program well on and off the court.

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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall

he's earned some of the money he's been paid for on court performance.

Clemson might not be able to ask for a better person, outside looking in, to lead young men into their next step in life. That's more important to me than titles, but it doesn't excuse the on court either as Clemson could hire 20, $100,000 mentors and shepherd far more young persons for the same money. The Administration made it clear that Brad's time was short and things needed to change - in short fashion. It didn't get to the point of raping his buy-out unless dissatisfaction existed where it mattered most - the powers that be. Good for them and clearly they support the sentiment others in the fan base shared, Brad's MBB under-performed, clearly.

As for my comment, it was intended to be a short and to the point, mostly aimed at the ridiculousness of hate. That's tiring and absurd. Sure, I imagine some have lost their ability to see through and around things and fashion anger toward the man, but why even address idiots of that nature? Let them die a long and lonely life, an internet life if necessary.

The depth of any response at this point in defense of one side or another is long passed the point of boredom and your rehashing is more of the same. Sorry, I appreciate the verve, but it changes nothing.

Good luck to our Tigers, but good folks had good reason[on either side] in discussing our coach's future. I can appreciate the journey, what brought some to their sentiment or point in this, but I don't need to share in the conclusions.

Brad did not win the job by laying out a plan that returned 3 post-seasons in 7 years. Sorry, he under-performed and our matured Administration called him to task for it.

Are you BB haters going to get your wish