Class of 72
Active member
Four years ago many celebrated the departure of Steve Lavin after our rookie President played him with a none offer to extend him at a discount. The intention was to insult him out of the job. It worked. Chris Mullin had already been approached that January while in NYC for a St. John's event. After the departure of Lavin there was no intent to search formavailable candidates, including the now favored Cluess, and Chris Mullin was handed a job he didn't even apply for. Most of his players and recruits left and the mantra of "Chris Mullin had to start from zero" began.
Fast forward to April 2019. President Gampsesaw, under pressure from major supporters, gives his new AD power to deliver the vote of no confidence to Mullin with extreme prejudice. There would be not only be no extension but his staff would have to be radically shaken up. This, a year after Mullin wanted to hire Mike Rice, only to be denied by our President. After the departure of Matt it be became obvious no one had recruited other than Matt and now Mullin was selling a new "team effort" to Cragg. Cragg had heard enough. No one was applying for the assistant job worth hiring. Mullin was a lame duck. Mitch was already booked out of town. Matt was gone. Every recruit decommitted. Current players left in the dark decide to transfer.
So, we ask, after 4 years of a terribly planned coup against Lavin does anything seem better? Did Chris Mullin save the program? Or, are we back to a total rebuild because we had the wrong president and a powerless AD who made one of the most questionable hires in college basketball history. Mullin's original supporters are "stunned" and sick to their stomachs over Mullin's departure which is being played by poor actors as voluntary. If it were voluntary Mullin would not be holding up dear alma mater for 4 million dollars. No contracts allow full payment for voluntary departures. Shame on Mullin, Cragg said Gampsesaw for insulting the fans by false statements and the way the current players were notified, especially by Mullin, who was not physically available to them as usual.
All of this could have been avoided had the Board of Trustees hired the right President to lead St. John's.
So, it currently appears this President has not learned from history. Thus, "What's past is prologue" which is a quotation by William Shakespeare from his play The Tempest applies. What we have again is a tempest in our world of college basketball. That we selected the prophetic nickname Red Storm is karma for dropping the beloved Redmen from our history.
Fast forward to April 2019. President Gampsesaw, under pressure from major supporters, gives his new AD power to deliver the vote of no confidence to Mullin with extreme prejudice. There would be not only be no extension but his staff would have to be radically shaken up. This, a year after Mullin wanted to hire Mike Rice, only to be denied by our President. After the departure of Matt it be became obvious no one had recruited other than Matt and now Mullin was selling a new "team effort" to Cragg. Cragg had heard enough. No one was applying for the assistant job worth hiring. Mullin was a lame duck. Mitch was already booked out of town. Matt was gone. Every recruit decommitted. Current players left in the dark decide to transfer.
So, we ask, after 4 years of a terribly planned coup against Lavin does anything seem better? Did Chris Mullin save the program? Or, are we back to a total rebuild because we had the wrong president and a powerless AD who made one of the most questionable hires in college basketball history. Mullin's original supporters are "stunned" and sick to their stomachs over Mullin's departure which is being played by poor actors as voluntary. If it were voluntary Mullin would not be holding up dear alma mater for 4 million dollars. No contracts allow full payment for voluntary departures. Shame on Mullin, Cragg said Gampsesaw for insulting the fans by false statements and the way the current players were notified, especially by Mullin, who was not physically available to them as usual.
All of this could have been avoided had the Board of Trustees hired the right President to lead St. John's.
So, it currently appears this President has not learned from history. Thus, "What's past is prologue" which is a quotation by William Shakespeare from his play The Tempest applies. What we have again is a tempest in our world of college basketball. That we selected the prophetic nickname Red Storm is karma for dropping the beloved Redmen from our history.
