(01-28-2022 09:40 AM)etsubuc Wrote: Just got done listening to coach Oliver on the morning monster. If Bobby Rader puts the link to that interview up on Twitter I would recommend everyone listen to it. Frankly, I’ve never heard an ETSU coach talk in the way he did about the social media criticism of him (e.g., directly referencing a recent tweet from the Mutiny Twitter account). He spent about 15 minutes defending himself and the team, saying that he had a lot to learn as a first year head coach, etc.
For what it’s worth, I think everything he said was accurate and I’ve appreciated how honest he has been with the media since his arrival.
Just listened to it.
The jumping off point for the conversation was the Twitter stuff. Not sure that it's a good idea to respond to Twitter, but it did give him a way to respond to criticism. I hope his M.O. is not to address Twitter trolls/contributors frequently, but it is his choice.
There was a mix of valid explanations and "poor me/poor us" excuses. Who am I to criticize "poor me"? Tom Izzo and Jim Boeheim use the technique frequently and they've had OK careers.
He made a good point about thinking he had an offensive-challenged team before the season started which flipped to a defensive-challenged team in December.
He said several times that although this is his first go-round, he's got to get better about coaching certain situations. To me, a reasonable statement.
I don't know how psychology-savvy he is, but I do wonder if he's using the Twitter criticism as a motivational tool to get his team to prove the Twitter troll wrong. Just a thought.
I do like he was willing to spend a significant chunk of time on the radio show. I think he will learn to be a little more closed off as he gets experience, but I like he's willing to talk.
Overall, I'd give Coach a B or B- on this interview. Not great, but hardly the whine-fest I was expecting.
And this isn't about Coach, but I hope folks around here realize how much of a treasure Bobby Rader is - he lets people talk. Did he say ANYTHING other than the intro during the interview?