Steve Donahue & BC basketball

[mnagowski]

A BC blog on Donahue.

Interesting that Foote and Dale are given as examples of Donahue's strong recruiting. From what I've read, they both fell into his lap, so-to-speak. (Not sure about Wittman, to other example.)

I dont remember the exact story on Wittman but I believe Wittman committed to Cornell relatively early possibly in his junior year, got hurt and was sort of overlooked by the Big Ten schools. Then in his senior year he started to get a lot of attention but stayed true to his commitment

I had heard it was kind of the opposite: Wittman was getting a fair amount of attention his junior year, but then an injury kept him from getting any serious offers his senior year. He could have been a walk-on at Indiana or Minnesota, but Cornell was the only school to take the chance and 'sign' him.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100323/SPORTS03/3230358/Cornell-basketball-s-Ryan-Wittman-living-%E2%80%98every-kid-s-dream

[phillysportsfan]

A BC blog on Donahue.

Interesting that Foote and Dale are given as examples of Donahue's strong recruiting. From what I've read, they both fell into his lap, so-to-speak. (Not sure about Wittman, to other example.)

I dont remember the exact story on Wittman but I believe Wittman committed to Cornell relatively early possibly in his junior year, got hurt and was sort of overlooked by the Big Ten schools. Then in his senior year he started to get a lot of attention but stayed true to his commitment

I had heard it was kind of the opposite: Wittman was getting a fair amount of attention his junior year, but then an injury kept him from getting any serious offers his senior year. He could have been a walk-on at Indiana or Minnesota, but Cornell was the only school to take the chance and 'sign' him.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100323/SPORTS03/3230358/Cornell-basketball-s-Ryan-Wittman-living-%E2%80%98every-kid-s-dream

Ok I got it mixed up then, too lazy to look it up

Yes Donahue was lucky to get Foote and Dale but I think he has proven his ability to build a program, it took awhile but he took this program from being a joke to the Sweet 16. Also Donahue did recruit quite a few Ivy rookie of the years 4 in 10 years. I think the freshman we have now have a lot of potential, Donahue has said Peck is probably the best athlete on the team and Miles has such amazing speed, I look forward to next year especially if Donahue stays. The Ivy league title will be so open next year, Princeton is probably a slight favorite with Harvard close behind but Penn is bringing in a very good recruiting class.

[YankeeLobo]

I hope he gets the BC job.  More than anything I want Coach to be successful on the big stage.  I've had conversations with the guy and he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.  Maybe too down to earth for BC, but I think he deserves a shot for everything he accomplished at Cornell.  If he can make Cornell a power in the Ivy League, something that 5 years ago I would've scoffed at, he's got the stuff to make BC at least more competitive than they have been in the ACC the last few years under Skinner.

[ugarte]

Foote may be a bad example of Donahue's ability to recruit players but he is a GREAT example of his ability to develop players. Foote was basically a 98lb weakling and half a spaz when he transferred in. Donahue found the real player inside that guy. For Dale, Donahue gets credit for seeing what others didn't. He got the tape late in the game but was smart enough to know that the rest of the country was making a mistake by passing on this kid from Birmingham.

He should also get credit for Wroblewski, who was a valuable contributor at a tough position as a freshman and we can hope that the players waiting in the wings for the graduation of the core of this team will prove to be good players as well.

[phillysportsfan]

I hope Donahue doesnt take the job but I wish him the best if he does. Although if I was him I dont think I would want the job based on how much of a jackass their AD is. His reason for firing Skinner was that he was too laid back, they werent getting enough fans, their wasnt enough enthusiasm around the program, on and on. He was their most successful coach basketball, for them to just dump him like that is crazy after a few bad years. He also said that he was there too long, he said no many coaches stay in one place after 13 years. Donahue seems to want job security, he has mentioned before how he does not understand how coaches leave for jobs every few years, how their families handle it. BC does not seem to be a good place to go for job security with an AD like that. The last thing I want to see if Donahue go somewhere like BC and get fired after a few years when he could have stayed here and had a job for life. Katz has a great article along these lines about how when are AD's finally going to be held responsible, Holy Cross is another example in article that is amazing, how can a school fire a coach after 1 year??


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/5046760/when-there-culpability-ads

[srg1]

There has been a noticeable lack of outrage over Skinner's firing.  I think it was time for him to leave the program.  The BC AD wants a Coach Izzo.  I think Donahue is more Coach K than Izzo but I still think he can be successful there.

[Trotsky]

Donahue seems to want job security

If he stays he has a job, and the mayoralty of every bar and restaurant in Tompkins County, for life.

[phillysportsfan]

There has been a noticeable lack of outrage over Skinner's firing.  I think it was time for him to leave the program.  The BC AD wants a Coach Izzo.  I think Donahue is more Coach K than Izzo but I still think he can be successful there.

I would say there has been a lack of outrage because no one cares about BC basketball, Boston is a pro sports town and they havent gotten many students to the games recently

[Trotsky]

Boston is a pro sports town

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

[srg1]

There has been a noticeable lack of outrage over Skinner's firing.  I think it was time for him to leave the program.  The BC AD wants a Coach Izzo.  I think Donahue is more Coach K than Izzo but I still think he can be successful there.

I would say there has been a lack of outrage because no one cares about BC basketball, Boston is a pro sports town and they havent gotten many students to the games recently

And this is one of the reasons Skinner was fired.  They want someone to make the students care.  Cornell students didn't care about basketball a few years ago.

[phillysportsfan]

Boston is a pro sports town

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

It is a big college town but not so much a big college sports town

[ugarte]

Boston is a pro sports town

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

It is a big college town but not so much a big college sports town

You. Are. Insane.

[phillysportsfan]

Boston is a pro sports town

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

It is a big college town but not so much a big college sports town

You. Are. Insane.

What do you mean? Boston's college basketball is nothing like Philly with the Big 5

[mnagowski]

Boston is a pro sports town

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

It is a big college town but not so much a big college sports town

You. Are. Insane.

What do you mean? Boston's college basketball is nothing like Philly with the Big 5

I would have to agree with Philly here. With the exception of college hockey, all anybody in Boston can talk about are the god damn Red Sox.

[phillysportsfan]

http://www.nj.com/college-basketball/index.ssf/2010/03/how_seton_hall_landed_its_man_the_kevin_willard_timeline.html

Apparently Seton Hall would have hired Donahue if they did not hire Willard, if this article is trustworthy