Feature story in today’s Observer including front-page photo spanning 3/4 of page. Interesting story (nothing we don’t really know though), including a time line in the printed edition. Lot of support from Bilas.
And as for those in the other thread complaining about running this on game day… Press is press. For the entire area (those that subscribe/buy) to open up the paper to see a HUGE photo/caption of Lutz is not a bad thing. It generates interest. That was one of the objectives for Lutz: to bring awareness to the program. This story accomplishes that, regardless of the context. I don’t think it’s a negative story. It mentions the obstacles we’ve faced over the years and how despite that, we’ve managed to still succeed. You guys can’t have your cake and eat it to. We either get publicity or we don’t. I thought it was a great read and nothing was out of line. And there was plenty of support noted from a respected member of the sports community, Jay Bilas. Just maybe this story will reach a few extra people who see an opportunity to get behind a good thing. Maybe they’ll want to come support Bobby in hopes of helping him earn an extension. Maybe not. But I’d rather see what I saw this morning in the paper than see another ACC feature story, with us only getting a tiny game-day capsule.
Nice article, those still writing death threats can put the pen down…
two things
There are multiple “in between the lines” comments, that make me think Dubois is willing to open the checkbook for athletics, provided there is money in the account
It is obvious that the juco recruiting is what will ultimately do Bobby in
Mike,
I told you I would reserve judgment until the article came out.
Although I would rather have had, or in addition to, a game day article more about the ACTUAL game, this article was not that distasteful. I still don’t think the timing was that great, but it’s not that distasteful in itself.
To me it’s clear that conference affiliation screwed up the talent level of the last two year’s teams and that Judy and company want to get back to the level we are accustomed to… which I totally agree with. But, I think you can’t hide the fact that moving to the A-10 has been a major obstacle for our program…I don’t get the feeling Judy sees it that way…it seems like she thinks it has much more to do with Bobby than the A-10. But, based on his record in ther C-USA that’s just not the truth.
I thought there were some big time quotes from Jay Bilas…basically saying that Judy and company would be foolish to let Bobby go, and that it would take someone unbelievable to come in, and that they better already be lined up.
It is good to see that Lutz said this is where he wants to retire, and there is no other place he would rather be.
I am pumped about tonight.
[QUOTE=SilvioDante;267190]-tells that season ticket sales have fallen from 2,084 last year to 1,927 this year.
-ticket sales have fallen $175,000 over the past 2 years.
the past 2 years of basketball have cost the school approx. $700,000.[/QUOTE]
-I’m shocked the number of season tickets has not decreased more IMHO. That’s just a sign of the times at a lot of places. However, the big thing is that there were about 1300 season tickets being sold when I was at UNCC. That bothers me more than anything, but it goes back to the marketing of the University.
-Smaller crowds and only down $175,000, not bad but then there isn’t extra money laying around either.
-that’s due primarily to no NCAA money coming in. The A-10 teams haven’t helped us in getting a cut of their tourney revenues.
As for the article, well done, fair and balanced. It laid everything out there.
[QUOTE]Rose said there is no checklist of things Lutz must do to earn a contract extension. She likes what she’s seen of the team in practice, and both [B]Rush[/B] and Dubois said Lutz has done everything asked of him in terms of upgrading the non-conference schedule and being more visible in the community and university.[/QUOTE]
Who is Rush?
-I'm shocked the number of season tickets has not decreased more IMHO. That's just a sign of the times at a lot of places. However, the big thing is that there were about 1300 season tickets being sold when I was at UNCC. That bothers me more than anything, but it goes back to the marketing of the University.
-Smaller crowds and only down $175,000, not bad but then there isn't extra money laying around either.
-that's due primarily to no NCAA money coming in. The A-10 teams haven't helped us in getting a cut of their tourney revenues.
As for the article, well done, fair and balanced. It laid everything out there.
Who is Rush?
the biz journal also did not state the foundation’s substantial shrinkage in membership
as far as the big article on Lutz, the “Rush” thing threw me too…? I definately believe Lutz needed a wake up call and I have been sickened by the lack of D, jucos, and1 style of play, and invisible inside game. But Phil Dubois and Judy have not given Lutz every tool he needs behind the scenes, and now they trot him out there as the scapegoat. [B]
They have shortchanged important assistants that had recruiting pipelines, Phil D refuses to break the tie with “UNC”, put us in the A10, thwarted football until forced by us 6 months ago, scheduled volleyball games forcing hoops into sked issues, and our cheap-ass marketing of our program internally has been a joke for 2 freaking decades…AND IT LUTZ’ fault the community doesnt back the Niners??? wtf[/B]
Lutz is probably 25% to blame for it but the two casting stones share the other 75%. :ticked:
Overall I agreed with the article. We needed to upgrade competition (which we have) and most of us would agree the recruiting prior to this season has dropped. I am not surprised about the season tickets dropping, poor conference (A-10 is a poor conference for us to be in) and losing games caused a lot of that.
I see where people feel like Lutz was pinned as the scape goat. I respect Jay Bilas quotes about Bobby and I understand what he is saying.
However, I did not feel comfortable supporting a Lutz extension at the end of last year. I stand by that and I do think he is responsbile for a lot of the issues we have seen on the court. Poor defense, etc. The move to the A-10 has HURT recuiting and fan support. Judy and Phil do hold some responsibility and it should not be pinned on Lutz about ticket sales, though winning does help your ticket sales.
I think the general consensus is we all want Bobby to stay here. Some feel his record in CUSA speaks for itself and he is entitled to that extension now. Others, like myself, want to see if he can adjust to the A-10 in what will be our 3rd year in this conference. I am fine with an extension if he earns it this year. But if we have another losing season, I can’t support it (barring some major injury issue).
I hate the situation we’re in. The school holds some responsibility, Judy and Phil hold responsibility, and yes, Bobby Lutz holds some responsibility.
Overall I agreed with the article. We needed to upgrade competition (which we have) and most of us would agree the recruiting prior to this season has dropped. I am not surprised about the season tickets dropping, poor conference (A-10 is a poor conference for us to be in) and losing games caused a lot of that.
I see where people feel like Lutz was pinned as the scape goat. I respect Jay Bilas quotes about Bobby and I understand what he is saying.
However, I did not feel comfortable supporting a Lutz extension at the end of last year. I stand by that and I do think he is responsbile for a lot of the issues we have seen on the court. Poor defense, etc. The move to the A-10 has HURT recuiting and fan support. Judy and Phil do hold some responsibility and it should not be pinned on Lutz about ticket sales, though winning does help your ticket sales.
I think the general consensus is we all want Bobby to stay here. Some feel his record in CUSA speaks for itself and he is entitled to that extension now. Others, like myself, want to see if he can adjust to the A-10 in what will be our 3rd year in this conference. I am fine with an extension if he earns it this year. But if we have another losing season, I can’t support it (barring some major injury issue).
I hate the situation we’re in. The school holds some responsibility, Judy and Phil hold responsibility, and yes, Bobby Lutz holds some responsibility.
[QUOTE=amnesiac;267198]You are right on that one Metro.
We should of paid Melvin to stay (we did not learn anything on that mistake) and we should of paid are great recruiters to stay.
Is it Lutz’s fault he is not starting tonight:
Goldwire
Tatum
Wilderness
Beasley
Phil
By the way, combined in their first exhibition games, Beasley and Tatum, scored 50+ points.[/QUOTE]
Alright, this Beasley crap is going to get old… Seriously, why bust Lutz for getting jucos but wanting a guy that will only stay a year?! Sure he is producing, but leaves the team empty the following year…
As for the article, I have yet to read it. But I look forward to it and am liking the coverage.
[QUOTE]Dubois, who is encouraged by a league-wide emphasis on stronger non-conference scheduling to enhance NCAA tournament possibilities, discounts the new conference as a drag on the program’s momentum.[/QUOTE]
I think it will be obvious after the first few games, win or lose, where the team is headed. I loved what I saw at exhibition, and even if we drop a few due to inexperienced mistakes everyone will be able to see the potential out there on the court.
I’d say that after the first big win of the season, or our eventual run through the confernce tourney we’ll start seriously talking about the extension.
Even our tourney team a few years back didn’t have as many pieces in place as this years team. Like…a true center that can play, enough guards that go deep into the bench, quality point guards and multiple forwards that are athletic.
[QUOTE=HappyCamper49;267206] Even our tourney team a few years back didn’t have as many pieces in place as this years team. Like…a [B]true center that can play[/B], enough guards that go deep into the bench, quality point guards and multiple forwards that are athletic.[/QUOTE]
IF Dubois really wants Charlotte to own “UNC Charlotte”, why not change our freaking name. You could make up one hell of a publicity campaign around a name change to bring us closer to the hearts here in Charlotte.
IF Dubois really wants Charlotte to own "UNC Charlotte", why not change our freaking name. You could make up one hell of a publicity campaign around a name change to bring us closer to the hearts here in Charlotte.
Alright, this Beasley crap is going to get old... Seriously, why bust Lutz for getting jucos but wanting a guy that will only stay a year?! Sure he is producing, but leaves the team empty the following year...
Beasley brings things to the table far beyond just production. He brings a ton of pub, ESPN games, recruits who want to play with him (Tatum). Sure he would be a one and done, but it would have been a hell of a year that we could have hoped to build on. It is what KSU is banking on. Unfortunatly for KSU, the inmates seem to run the asylum over there.
Recruiting 1 and done McDonald AA’s is a world apart from 1 or 2 and done JUCO’s
Put me in the camp that wants Lutz to retire here, but when season ticket sales drop 10% from last year and we have gone from a string of NCAA appearances, to the NIT, to watching other teams on TV something has to be done. Our record against High Point is 0-2, and while that goes back to 1970 that is what the early 80s were like for us. We were in a hole that we could get out of only by hiring a mega-buck celebrity coach like St. Louis has done, or getting someone like Jeff Mullins who could leverage his mega-successful personal basketball resume for our benefit. If we slip back down into that hole we still don’t have the money to hire a Majerus and getting a Jeff Mullins is probably a once in a lifetime coup.
I think that the administration has set expectations where I want them–win, do it the right way, build support in the community, and move the program up in the rankings. Lutz runs the program and if he can do these things he will have a job, if he can’t the school wants to be able to go in another direction before beating High Point becomes a reason to storm the floor. That sounds about right to me to.
Head coaches get the credit when things are going well and take the blame when they are not, and they are very well paid to do so. While Lutz was under a longer term contact the program started slipping toward that dark hole and I don’t think simply extending the contract would have fixed that. Winning at Charlotte has always been an uphill battle and we need a coach that relishes the underdog role. One that believes we can beat the teams from the bigger, more well-funded schools and conferences. I think that Lutz was that coach and if it takes pushing him back into that competitive sink-or-swim mentality to get it back on track then it is a chance I can take as a fan. I am pulling for Bobby and Charlotte on this one.