(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:56 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Murphy could very well be the worst coach in the MAC. Lucky for us he can recruit athletic transfers. Maybe we'll finish above .500 someday.

The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

Ehhh a loss like this can do a lot to team morale... There goes the season in my opinion unless it was already over with :tp:

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:56 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Murphy could very well be the worst coach in the MAC. Lucky for us he can recruit athletic transfers. Maybe we'll finish above .500 someday.

The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

Yep, in terms of talent, the better team did not win. MO State is not close to us in terms of personnel. The fact that Paul Lusk was able to get the W with that squad tells me that he is a decent young coach and Rob Murphy...nuff said.

(02-23-2013 02:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:56 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Murphy could very well be the worst coach in the MAC. Lucky for us he can recruit athletic transfers. Maybe we'll finish above .500 someday.

The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

No it means he makes honest assessments and doesn't try to insult everyone's intelligence. That should be respected not derided.

(02-23-2013 02:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:56 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Murphy could very well be the worst coach in the MAC. Lucky for us he can recruit athletic transfers. Maybe we'll finish above .500 someday.

The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

Don't give me that bullshite. I'm here celebrating the Eagles when they are doing well, and I desperately want them to do well all the time...just like everyone else on this site. That being said, I do evaluate our coaches with an objective eye, meaning that my EMU fandom brings me misery more often than not.

(02-23-2013 02:21 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:56 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Murphy could very well be the worst coach in the MAC. Lucky for us he can recruit athletic transfers. Maybe we'll finish above .500 someday.

The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

No it means he makes honest assessments and doesn't try to insult everyone's intelligence. That should be respected not derided.

Good for you. I have a hard time respecting unprovoked insult attempts like that against fans who try to remain optimistic. That's so weak.

(02-23-2013 02:26 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:56 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Murphy could very well be the worst coach in the MAC. Lucky for us he can recruit athletic transfers. Maybe we'll finish above .500 someday.

The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

Don't give me that bullshite. I'm here celebrating the Eagles when they are doing well, and I desperately want them to do well all the time...just like everyone else on this site. That being said, I do evaluate our coaches with an objective eye, meaning that my EMU fandom brings me misery more often than not.

Then why throw fellow fans and posters under the bus? Makes no sense. I agree with you for the most part, especially in terms of today's game, but that was childish.

(02-23-2013 02:30 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:21 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

No it means he makes honest assessments and doesn't try to insult everyone's intelligence. That should be respected not derided.

Good for you. I have a hard time respecting unprovoked insult attempts like that against fans who try to remain optimistic. That's so weak.

It's the truth. Sorry if you don't like it.

So now I'm "insulting"? You and I have different perceptions of what that word means. Steve and cmadler have a whole body of work that illustrates how they perceive English and Murphy. If you cannot detect their lack of objectivity, then I don't know what to tell you. I believe in calling a spade a spade.

This is not an EMU propaganda site. This is not EMU's official athletic page. It is a site devoted to discussing the Eagles, pros AND cons.

(02-23-2013 02:31 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:26 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:08 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:00 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  The worst coach I've seen. Nice to see he had Riley in to rebound the inevitable missed FT by Chandler, who amazingly is in the game.

This game is really clear evidence that the Murphy era is not going to work out as we had hoped. There were obvious coaching issues today (and throughout the year) that were not a result of a lack of talent, but rather conceptual difficulties on Murphy's part. Those types of things are rarely fixable, but rather are indicative of the caliber of coach we have. I've seen the end of the tunnel, and it isn't pretty,

Don't worry though -- Steve and cmadler will still be around to tell us how great everything is.

So you're basically the anti-Steve and CMadler then, by telling us how awful everything is, right?

Don't give me that bullshite. I'm here celebrating the Eagles when they are doing well, and I desperately want them to do well all the time...just like everyone else on this site. That being said, I do evaluate our coaches with an objective eye, meaning that my EMU fandom brings me misery more often than not.

Then why throw fellow fans and posters under the bus? Makes no sense. I agree with you for the most part, especially in terms of today's game, but that was childish.

I am tired with and angry at all those (i.e., administrators, fans) who stand by and applaud decades of abject failure without trying to do anything about it.

You are angry at people who are being supportive. Got it. They aren't "applauding abject failure". That's quite a hyperbolic stretch for someone who calls himself objective.

...and what are they supposed to do about it? And what exactly are you (and Bob Wickersham) doing about it? You both tuned into the game today...that's not exactly taking a stand. What would you have fans do? Not show up? Not watch? Nobody does anyway, so who would notice? How would you change this culture of "abject failure" that we are applauding?

(02-23-2013 02:51 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  You are angry at people who are being supportive. Got it. They aren't "applauding abject failure". That's quite a hyperbolic stretch for someone who calls himself objective.

...and what are they supposed to do about it? And what exactly are you (and Bob Wickersham) doing about it? You both tuned into the game today...that's not exactly taking a stand. What would you have fans do? Not show up? Not watch? Nobody does anyway, so who would notice? How would you change this culture of "abject failure" that we are applauding?

I can tell you that I don't have the answer. I don't know what can be done. I just know that this team...has sufficient talent to be respectable and pretty good. Murphy's in-game coaching is just deplorable.

You absolutely need to understand that Riley can contribute MUCH more offensively than he has so far. He can do it, it is within him to do much more, but Murphy cannot devise a plan to get it out of him. That is coaching! On the other hand, if Eastern's coach was not Rob Murphy, then DaShonte Riley would be playing at another school, I am sure of that. Probably the same with Bryant. It is a catch-22.

For some reason, EMU cannot get a guy who can coach AND recruit. Some could do neither. I just want to win again. It was just awesome when we had great, not good basketball teams around here. I'd give anything to get back to those days. We should all want that.

Instead we get excuses why we cannot. I loved Steve's assertion that with the rise of Oakland U, EMU has been bad. I don't want excuses, I want solutions. I can see Murphy probably is not going to be the answer when it's all said and done. I've no doubt he will get us some decent players (if he stays) but I don't think he'll ever be good enough as a coach or a motivator to get us over the hump. Sorry if that doesn't sound optimistic enough for you, but don't shoot the messenger. I hope I'm wrong more than anyone.

No that's a fair assessment Bob. No argument from me there, except I think it's too early to say he isn't the answer. If we stil have games like this next February, when it will be all his players (including a JUCO all-American), then I'll agree with you wholeheartedly.

My final thought. We just played a woefully undersized team in MO State, yet 39 of our 54 points came from GUARDS! Bryant, Harrison, Riley, and Harris combined for 13 points. My head hurts, I need a drink.

(02-23-2013 02:51 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  You are angry at people who are being supportive. Got it. They aren't "applauding abject failure". That's quite a hyperbolic stretch for someone who calls himself objective.

...and what are they supposed to do about it? And what exactly are you (and Bob Wickersham) doing about it? You both tuned into the game today...that's not exactly taking a stand. What would you have fans do? Not show up? Not watch? Nobody does anyway, so who would notice? How would you change this culture of "abject failure" that we are applauding?

Your argument is akin to saying, "well, why should we vote? None of us can directly change Washington?" If everyone associated with EMU honestly strove for a standard of excellence in athletics, we would not be where we are today.

For example, we now have a head football coach going into his lame duck contract year without being extended or fired. Some of his former assistants saw the writing on the wall and bolted for anything they could get. The football program is a sinking ship, and everyone knows it. Yet, some on this board continue to point to English's "stellar" recruiting classes, saying all he needs is more time. I've actually even seen some on this board try to make the argument that we might be better this year, because the new coordinators will "take the league by surprise". Except that's not how it works. Players typically need at least two years to adjust to different systems effectively, and that seems unlikely to occur here.

Basically, our admin didn't fire English for financial reasons alone. We didn't want to pay his salary for this year. No other d-1 program has ever let their coach enter his lame duck season for completely financial reasons. It is completely unheard of. The administration has basically given us this shite sandwich to eat, and we all eat it gleefully instead of calling the situation what it is. And amazingly, we have our own fans doing the admins jobs for them by trying to point out false positives instead of holding the athletic department's collective feet to the fire. Most fans are unwilling or unable to recognize the situation for what it is: the administration is cheap/impoverished at best, indifferent at worst.

Our neighbors at WMU had a similar situation with Cubit. Cubit was entering his final contract year this year, and he was relatively successful overall at WMU. Yet, many alums of WMU were pissed that they had never won a bowl game or competed for a MAC Championship. This vocal group of fans and alums were responsible for the firing of a relatively successful coach that they knew was not capable of lifting WMU to the level of Toledo or NIU. If WMU fans demand excellence of its programs, why shouldn't we?

We're going to do the same thing with Murphy that we've done with Ramsey and English: we're going to give him one or two more years than he deserves, all while hoping blindly that he can turn it around. Meanwhile, Gragg will be constructing a short list of the cheapest replacements he can find.

(02-23-2013 03:52 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  No that's a fair assessment Bob. No argument from me there, except I think it's too early to say he isn't the answer. If we stil have games like this next February, when it will be all his players (including a JUCO all-American), then I'll agree with you wholeheartedly.

I hope so. We will find out because the talent will be there for us to contend. Next season will tell the story.

Does the Orlando Magic still have an opening?

Dear Friends,
I don't know much about basketball, and just got home after drowning our sadness with a few beers, but after reading the last three pages I can't add much except this...Eastern has no offensive scheme that I can figure out.
Many of you have said this before, but at the game today, all I saw when we had the ball in their end, was a three man weave while our two big men just stood on either side of the three second area. When the time ran down to ten seconds the three man weave started to look at each other as to who was going to try for the three.
Late in the game when Missouri State was pressing Eastern, one of our guards threw the ball up court to Harris. He turned towards the basket at the three point line with no one in front of him, and instead of driving in for a layup, he turned back to the guard that had crossed the time line and threw the ball back to him. I couldn't believe it. Are Eastern's players so intimidated by the system they are playing they can't act independently?
This was terrible.

(02-23-2013 05:25 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
I don't know much about basketball, and just got home after drowning our sadness with a few beers, but after reading the last three pages I can't add much except this...Eastern has no offensive scheme that I can figure out.
Many of you have said this before, but at the game today, all I saw when we had the ball in their end, was a three man weave while our two big men just stood on either side of the three second area. When the time ran down to ten seconds the three man weave started to look at each other as to who was going to try for the three.
Late in the game when Missouri State was pressing Eastern, one of our guards threw the ball up court to Harris. He turned towards the basket at the three point line with no one in front of him, and instead of driving in for a layup, he turned back to the guard that had crossed the time line and threw the ball back to him. I couldn't believe it. Are Eastern's players so intimidated by the system they are playing they can't act independently?
This was terrible.

But it doesn't matter if they get opne or not they still can't shoot worth a damn! So many missed short shots and layups!

Dear Friends,
I forgot to mention, I met superfan! It's always nice to put a face on someone that you have been conversing with, but never seeing. I can see by his post above he thinks like the rest of us.