Support

I believe We Are Sju made a thread similar to this, but I just want to reiterate...

I think we all need to take a step back here. As recently as a week ago many people were of the opinion that "as long as they fire Norm, anyone will be better!" but now everyone is criticizing every possible candidate. I'm not saying Hewitt is my first choice, I'm not saying Greenberg is my first choice. Aside from the obvious "homerun" coaches, every other possible candidate has many pro's and many con's...but I think one thing we should all be able to agree with is that all the candidates mentioned would still be a serious upgrade from what we've watched the past 6 years.

I'm just as guilty as the rest of you. I've been skeptical and looking for things to criticize about some of the candidates (Hewitt, Greenberg) just because quite frankly I've become used to doing it the past several years, but it would be terrible if the new coach comes in without even being given a chance from the fans. I know we all long for the days of the 80s (especially me since I wasn't even alive for it), but it's a bit unrealistic to expect that change overnight. IMO of the possible candidates mentioned, we're still much better off than we were with Norm. So please, it's fair to critique these coaches and have some doubts, but it'd be so unfair to not give them a chance. I really hope that no matter who the coach is, the fans who swore they'd be back once Norm was gone stick to their word. I'm so tired of a dead and empty CA\MSG (and please don't take that as criticism towards the fans who refused to show because I don't blame you and I even stopped going at the end of this season). I'm tired of being irrelevent. No matter who is hired, it's evident that the administration is serious about winning again, and we're on our way back up. Give the new coach a chance and come out and support the program again!!!!

And I'll just add, while I was thrilled to hear Monasch's comments to be reassured that he's committed to winning, it has now given much of the fan base (myself included) some unrealistic expectations. We were all fine with basically anyone as long as Norm was gone, but then we heard money isn't an issue and Donovan's name kept being thrown around and we all get a little greedy (rightfully so, and again I'm guilty), but like I said I think we need to just take a step back and at the VERY least give the new coach a chance. I was so excited at the thought that fans will finally return due to the dismissal of Norm, but reading some of the boards (well, just JJ and redmen) the past few days I'm seriously starting to worry that if we "settle" on Hewitt that many fans still won't be satisfied and still won't show. Give the new guy a chance!!!!

Another important thing is that we're pretty bad right now when you consider it. Hewitt could be a middle guy, he takes us to the tourney a couple of times, the fan base is back and suddenly we're a lot more attractive. It could be at that time when we're able to get a big time coach like UK can do every time they have an opening.

Another important thing is that we're pretty bad right now when you consider it. Hewitt could be a middle guy, he takes us to the tourney a couple of times, the fan base is back and suddenly we're a lot more attractive. It could be at that time when we're able to get a big time coach like UK can do every time they have an opening.

Agreed 100%, I said nearly the exact same thing in another thread. I'm finally very excited about the future of this program! WE ARE......

yes..what support...guys not even hired yet and you're making plans for the next hire.  Gotta love it.

im just glad we offered billy. thats all we could ever ask for from this administration. i supported norm (for the most part) until the day he was gone, have i no reason not to support the next coach.

getting top recruiting classes and making the tournament every two years will certainly bridge the gap between us and a homerun coach...i have my worries about hewitt like many others on here, and have made them known, but ill support the hire if it happens and ill prob buy season tickets for the first time ever...i just hope they didnt go straight from donovan to hewitt...it would make me feel alot better knowing exactly who we contacted and exactly who turned us down, although we will never know anything more than rumors

WE ARE......

ST. JOHNS!

I'm definitely going to re-up my season tickets for next year.

Quote from: Mparty7441 on March 23, 2010, 11:49:23 PM

Another important thing is that we're pretty bad right now when you consider it. Hewitt could be a middle guy, he takes us to the tourney a couple of times, the fan base is back and suddenly we're a lot more attractive. It could be at that time when we're able to get a big time coach like UK can do every time they have an opening.

Agreed 100%, I said nearly the exact same thing in another thread. I'm finally very excited about the future of this program! WE ARE......

I know it is towards the end of the road for you. please continue to go games and support st. john's next year.

I will give hewitt or whoever is hired 100% of my support but i refuse to do it for six years like i did with norm

… I’m so tired of a dead and empty CA\MSG (and please don't take that as criticism towards the fans who refused to show because I don't blame you and I even stopped going at the end of this season). I'm tired of being irrelevent.
 

Yea, I even noticed you at a few ladies games! 

Seriously, your point is 100% right on target!

 Once i get a few extra bucks i will be getting season tix again.

And I'll just add, while I was thrilled to hear Monasch's comments to be reassured that he's committed to winning, it has now given much of the fan base (myself included) some unrealistic expectations.

Agreed.  I also think it gave the AAU guys some unrealistic expectations.  I really, really believe that the problem with the team isn't exactly recruiting. The team could get better players, sure. But they need a coach, especially if the school doesn't want to wade into the dirty world that is recruiting.  Good players help you win.  But so do good coaches. 

(I also think that if Norm took over at this point - following some Norm-like coach who we hated - he would do a decent job. But the well is way too poisoned for him to be effective.)

If Hewitt rejects the offer, I hope people realize that there are good coaches out there who don't come with the big names - but can coach.

john wooden isn't available.  EVERY other coach in the country has some flaw.

i'm confident mr. monasch will come up with someone we can all root for.

john wooden isn't available.  EVERY other coach in the country has some flaw.

i'm confident mr. monasch will come up with someone we can all root for.

First of all, pretty much anyone would be an upgrade. Hewitt has been to a final 4 and that looks great on a resume.However for the record he would not be my choice. I am going to lay this out once and then Hewitt or whomever gets my 100% support going forward.

I would have gone mid major good X and O guy. I think though an upgrade as a coach Hewitt's main attribute has been his recruiting. I am not sure anyone outside of Pitino,Cal, Donovan will be able to recruit big here. Undoubtably the recruiting could improve, but I am not expecting Hewitt to do as well here as he did at Tech on the recruiting front. I would have gone with a Donahue or someone of that ilk that is a strong game coach and had him recruit slightly lesser talent as long as it fit his system and hope for the occasional stay at home star. I think this way we would be competitive every year.

With that being said I hope Paul Hewitt comes here and does a great job and makes us respectable again.

WE ARE ST JOHN'S!