Mike Vacc SJU Critique

[paultzman]

Interesting perspective on program going forward in my opinion;

http://nypost.com/2015/03/18/one-decision-st-johns-must-make-before-deciding-lavins-fate/

 

[gman]

I guess he reads the board

 

[paultzman]

I guess he reads the board

Contrary to what some think here about him, I can attest, from personal experience, he is an avid & knowledgeable hoops fan, especially re: his "Bonnies"

 

[Jack Williams]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

This article was spot on.

He has hit the mark.

He is like the painter--- painting the perfect picture of the scene.

He must come from a family of 6--- where he was the one kid-- who "got it".

And so on and so forth......

 

[ctstorm]

Excellent column and he is right - keeping or firing Lavin can't be the only decision SJ makes.

 

[we are sju]

I am a fan. Seems like a genuine fan unlike most sportswriters who seem to hate their job

 

[paultzman]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University and will effect positive change in due time.

 

[Jack Williams]

I am a fan. Seems like a genuine fan unlike most sportswriters who seem to hate their job

Which I don't understand by the way. I wish that was my job for a living like if I was paid to go to SJU games and go home afterwards and write articles omg

 

[Jack Williams]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University & will effect positive change.

Yea it's a good article. I wish it was longer I guess but you are right it is probably short and to the point because of tourney week and also to keep people's attention.

As for the president, I think it's hard to fire someone after a tournament appearance, so I believe Lavin will be back. Hopefully he isn't given a five year deal or something. I'd rather just fire him unless we beat duke. If we beat duke I'll live with the guy because that'd be awesome and a miracle.

 

[paultzman]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University & will effect positive change.

Yea it's a good article. I wish it was longer I guess but you are right it is probably short and to the point because of tourney week and also to keep people's attention.

As for the president, I think it's hard to fire someone after a tournament appearance, so I believe Lavin will be back. Hopefully he isn't given a five year deal or something. I'd rather just fire him unless we beat duke. If we beat duke I'll live with the guy because that'd be awesome and a miracle.

Jack, just to be clear, my comment had nothing to do with SL. Rather, it was intended to suggest the "mom & pop" historical culture of SJU Athletics merits an evolution to a more business like model. We have a great history, which I have had benefit of enjoying back to the Tony Jackson days. However, those days are over. We need to establish reasonable goals & expectations for SJU basketball, provide economically sensible resources & hire & retain solid management staff to become a consistently competitive program. Putting my soap box away now.

 

[Jack Williams]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University & will effect positive change.

Yea it's a good article. I wish it was longer I guess but you are right it is probably short and to the point because of tourney week and also to keep people's attention.

As for the president, I think it's hard to fire someone after a tournament appearance, so I believe Lavin will be back. Hopefully he isn't given a five year deal or something. I'd rather just fire him unless we beat duke. If we beat duke I'll live with the guy because that'd be awesome and a miracle.

Jack, just to be clear, my comment had nothing to do with SL. Rather, it was intended to suggest the "mom & pop" historical culture of SJU Athletics merits an evolution to a more business like model. We have a great history, which I have had benefit of enjoying back to the Tony Jackson days. However, those days are over. We need to establish reasonable goals & expectations for SJU basketball, provide economically sensible resources & hire & retain solid management staff to become a consistently competitive program. Putting my soap box away now.

Oh. Sorry, I don't really understand the business aspect of the team or any of that so I misunderstood what you were saying

 

[paultzman]

P

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University & will effect positive change.

Yea it's a good article. I wish it was longer I guess but you are right it is probably short and to the point because of tourney week and also to keep people's attention.

As for the president, I think it's hard to fire someone after a tournament appearance, so I believe Lavin will be back. Hopefully he isn't given a five year deal or something. I'd rather just fire him unless we beat duke. If we beat duke I'll live with the guy because that'd be awesome and a miracle.

Jack, just to be clear, my comment had nothing to do with SL. Rather, it was intended to suggest the "mom & pop" historical culture of SJU Athletics merits an evolution to a more business like model. We have a great history, which I have had benefit of enjoying back to the Tony Jackson days. However, those days are over. We need to establish reasonable goals & expectations for SJU basketball, provide economically sensible resources & hire & retain solid management staff to become a consistently competitive program. Putting my soap box away now.

Oh. Sorry, I don't really understand the business aspect of the team or any of that so I misunderstood what you were saying

I'm easy to misunderstand when I am droning on Jack. Enjoyed the conversation! Now hit those books!

 

[Jnaw17]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University & will effect positive change.

Yea it's a good article. I wish it was longer I guess but you are right it is probably short and to the point because of tourney week and also to keep people's attention.

As for the president, I think it's hard to fire someone after a tournament appearance, so I believe Lavin will be back. Hopefully he isn't given a five year deal or something. I'd rather just fire him unless we beat duke. If we beat duke I'll live with the guy because that'd be awesome and a miracle.

Jack, just to be clear, my comment had nothing to do with SL. Rather, it was intended to suggest the "mom & pop" historical culture of SJU Athletics merits an evolution to a more business like model. We have a great history, which I have had benefit of enjoying back to the Tony Jackson days. However, those days are over. We need to establish reasonable goals & expectations for SJU basketball, provide economically sensible resources & hire & retain solid management staff to become a consistently competitive program. Putting my soap box away now.

Great point Paultz. This decision should also be made independent of the Lavin decision. I think we'd all agree that the University needs to make the commitment to the program and put the resources behind it. That would help Lavin if they keep him, or would help a new coach coming aboard.

 

[SJU1512]

Been a fan of his articles all year but this one didn't really get going. Too short for what he was trying to say. We as did hards get it but a casual fan won't be informed of much from that article.

Concise articles are common during Tourney week. I agree with him that SJU has to be realistic in its expectations of the program & provide commitment & resources to achieve those. That commitment should include the presence of an outstanding & visionary AD. I am confident our new President is evaluating the Athletic Department in his analysis of the University & will effect positive change.

Yea it's a good article. I wish it was longer I guess but you are right it is probably short and to the point because of tourney week and also to keep people's attention.

As for the president, I think it's hard to fire someone after a tournament appearance, so I believe Lavin will be back. Hopefully he isn't given a five year deal or something. I'd rather just fire him unless we beat duke. If we beat duke I'll live with the guy because that'd be awesome and a miracle.

Have tried to stay out of the Lavin debate as I know just how much time there will be to discuss it when season is over. I'm also not completely sure where I come out on it yet. So many glaring positives and negatives, very polarizing IMO. Most importantly, really looking forward to SDSU on Friday and these seniors hopefully getting a tournament win.

However did want to point out that, while I generally agree with you Jack that it is difficult to fire someone after a tournament appearance, I don't think that's going to be the primary factor here (whether Lavin stays or goes). This is a new President who seems to be measured and appreciates big picture. I'm sure he also cares about things like image. We as fans can (and perhaps have to, to keep our sanity) joke about the bad news that seems to hit this program too often, and then can just move onto the next game. This is just a diversion for us.

A leader in charge of overseeing it doesn't have that luxury, especially when it comes to one of the most visible arms of the Univeristy that he cares about more than the basketball program. This is very real for him, he more than likely sees it as volatility, and that's a word that matters in business even more than it does in hoops.

 

[TonyinFairfield]

Interesting perspective on program going forward in my opinion;

http://nypost.com/2015/03/18/one-decision-st-johns-must-make-before-deciding-lavins-fate/

I thought that was a fair and truly balanced assessment of St. John's today.

Thanks, Paultz, for posting the link.

 

[we are sju]

The funny thing is I happen to agree with Vaccaro, but the vast majority who want Lavin replaced seem to want to keep the Mom and Pop mentality. If your complaint is supensions and ineligibilities, well I don't care how you upgrade your facilities you would be looking at a Norm Roberts type coach. And with that type of coach you could build a state of the art facility on the dark side of the moon and you would still be a small time sdhool.

 

[SJUalum98]

I don't think the article was a critique.

It came off as an "is the administration and fanbase satisfied with all things considered" overview.

Yes, there are wins, postseason tournaments and highly-ranked recruits. But on the flip side, there has been a lack of coaching, a high number of transfers, suspensions and an overall culture that seems to lack focus/discipline.

It was spot on IMO.

I feel the timing of it is strange because the team is on the verge of something good.
But at the same time, the timing of the last infraction/suspension falls right into that same category so it's fitting.

 

[fun]

The funny thing is I happen to agree with Vaccaro, but the vast majority who want Lavin replaced seem to want to keep the Mom and Pop mentality. If your complaint is supensions and ineligibilities, well I don't care how you upgrade your facilities you would be looking at a Norm Roberts type coach. And with that type of coach you could build a state of the art facility on the dark side of the moon and you would still be a small time sdhool.

Isn't Vaccaro's point that keeping Lavin is an admission that Saint John's is a small time school? That the level that he's achieved - he's not as crazy an Fran, not as corrupt as Jarvis and not as bad as Norm - is good enough?

 

[we are sju]

Fun
Yes, but I think he was stating that if you are prepared to let go off a somewhat succesful coach, you had better be prepared to replace him with a big time coach. And I do not think the school would be prepared to do that.
I agree Lavin seems to be a happy medium for the school, but if replaced I think the school goes the other way instead of moving forward. That is why I would rather keep him warts and all.

My point about posters complaints about Lavin is that the things they complain about, ineligibilities, supensions, weed, self promoting would be far worse with an even more succesful coach.