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Sucks man. I'm not a Mercer fan but I am a Florence fan. I wonder if he and others are starting to get disgruntled?

I like Slonaker as a person, and I think he did a good job of bringing the program back out of the doldrums of the conference. My freshman year, Mercer had the lowest RPI in Div. 1. Slonaker came in, built a more respectable program, moved the games back to campus, created a buzz, and recruited some good athletes.

Then the university finished the new arena, and more good athletes followed yet the team hasn't taken the next step. I really thought we would be in contention this year. I think it's time for the investment in the new arean to show a return in wins and perhaps a conference title. It would be terrible to waste talent like Florence and others on the team right now and not get one NCAA bid.

I've got enough SkyMiles saved up to wear my orange at any regional in the US. The Bears just need to stop underachieving and finally make it.

You make all valid points Toby... Slonaker is nice (but there's plenty of "nice" people that can coach), he CAN recruit!, and that's about it. Our RPI right now is 298 out of 341 in a 'championship' season. That includes a win over Southern Cal! Where would we be without that? Probably near dead last.

I feel the same way with you, I'm ready to go to a regional and support the team. It sounds like you support it like myself by going to the regular games too. It's just finally time to realize what is holding Mercer back.

So Toby, what do you think the chances Slonaker gets asked to leave? Can he continue to lose, humiliate Mercer with blowout losses to Upstate, and still coach the Bears?

Unfortunately, I'm afraid the attitude with Mercer athletics is ok is good enough. I don't see Bobby Pope being demanding enough of Slonaker to let him go any time soon. But, I think when a school invests in the program as much as Mercer has, they should demand a return. A 298 RPI is not acceptable for this team. Maybe Bobby will surprise me, but one problem with a 298 RPI is who can you get to coach you that's better? A rising D2 coach perhaps?

Either way, the Bears need to rebound with wins this weekend.

We have something that hardly any D1 has, a former player that's an NBA head coach. Sam Mitchell is the man we need to be speaking with. We need to ask him for some leads. I'm sure he knows plenty of young guys or older guys that could coach, and that would love to be coaching a division I team. Who better to evaluate the next head coach than Sam Mitchell?

Now there's the small possibility he wouldn't offer any help, but it's worth the try. I would give him as much input and control as he desired. Maybe when he leaves the NBA one day he'll give us a couple years! I can dream.

Oh and one more thing Toby, I think you're right about Pope. You never hear anything official from him so there's no way to know. He's getting kinda old, so I would think pretty soon we'll get a new AD?

Our strongest weapon right now is our new President. I think he's very sports oriented, and I would bet he had a hand in giving the new women's coach full control of anything she wanted.

She's already pushing Slonaker around a little too. I think there's some double headers this year where the women play second! Good for her.

Good call on Mitchell. From what I understand, he has fond memories of his time at Mercer. I expect he'd be willing to make some recommendations. I agree with you on Pres. Underwood too. He may end up being more demanding than Pope is or Godsey was with regards to athletics. I wonder if they're grooming anyone from within to be Pope's successor when he retires or if they will hire from the outside.

I'd love to know Toby!

Bob Knight is available!