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AngryWheat=FTW= wrote:It appears WSU WILL fire Gene if Gene doesn't bow out. I don't know how I feel about this. Gene Stephenson is a pretty big deal in the world of college baseball. And what about Brent Kemnitz? He's one of the best pitching coaches in the country is he not?

Well it looks like WSU was only firing Gene and JT, and keeping Brent Kemnitz.

The ironic thing is had Gene did what Sexton asked him to do in getting rid of JT and bringing in a new hitting coach he would probably be still coaching for WSU.

Snaggletooth wrote:The ironic thing is had Gene did what Sexton asked him to do in getting rid of JT and bringing in a new hitting coach he would probably be still coaching for WSU.

I guess I kinda see Gene's side on this particular issue.

If you have coached for 36 years and had tremendous levels of success, I think it is fair to say that you have a much better idea who would make a better assistant than an athletic director that has never coached baseball or any other sport at the D1 level (and has only been an AD for a few years). It sounds like some pretty significant micromanaging. Gene, who has more spunk than many, isn't going to allow some guy who never coached baseball to pick his coaching staff (and, one could reasonably conclude that the AD would have known this too...)

When Nebraska fired Tom Osborne's hand picked successor (Frank Solich), it divide the fanbase to such a degree that the fracture has still never healed. Of course, replacing Solich with a coach that was awful didn't help matters either. I hope WSU picks a guy that can win immediately or else the WSU baseball fanbase could be fractured forever. As someone that wants Creighton and WSU to keep playing each other on the baseball diamond for years to come, I hope this turns out okay.

This whole episode was handled badly by all parties. But I think the right move was made by WSU.

I truly wish that our AD had the same courage as Sexton. Instead our program is circling the drain and quickly losing support.

The best decision is sometimes the tough one. It is sad but it has to be done. Could it have been handled more skillfully by Sexton? Yes, without question. Could Krusty have had more grace? Of course. But in the end, Wichita State made their program better yesterday. What a novel concept.

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:This whole episode was handled badly by all parties. But I think the right move was made by WSU.

I truly wish that our AD had the same courage as Sexton. Instead our program is circling the drain and quickly losing support.

The best decision is sometimes the tough one. It is sad but it has to be done. Could it have been handled more skillfully by Sexton? Yes, without question. Could Krusty have had more grace? Of course. But in the end, Wichita State made their program better yesterday. What a novel concept.

What could have Sexton or Krusty done better in your opinion? Krusty would not want a coach in waiting or a farewell tour.

I have a theory that Brent Kemnitz wasn't allowed to recruit the type of players he wanted to recruit. I think he is excited to be able to call the shots on recruiting, at least in the near-term. I think there is a chance we will be seeing more players in Shocker uniforms from areas we have not been used to seeing at Wichita State.


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shocktheheart wrote:

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:
What could have Sexton or Krusty done better in your opinion? Krusty would not want a coach in waiting or a farewell tour.

Great question. I don't have immense knowledge of the situation but I just have to think that those in power could have made it a more amicable ending.

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:

shocktheheart wrote:

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:
What could have Sexton or Krusty done better in your opinion? Krusty would not want a coach in waiting or a farewell tour.

Great question. I don't have immense knowledge of the situation but I just have to think that those in power could have made it a more amicable ending.

Gene thought he was above the law. He was told a year ago what he needed to do - make a change and bring a new hitting coach in - he refused. In fact he was beligerant towards his boss from the stories. He had became a excuse maker, a siloh of no. He called Sexton bluff and lost. He didn't work with the Athletic department well (example the Coy fiasco).

He thought he had beaten Sexton - he scheduled one of his worst schedule ever. Through that he thought he could win so much that nobody could rationally make a case to fire him if he won 50 games. But his team didn't do to well. He thought he had got a reprieve when he pulled the miracle run in the MVC tournament - but he was already a dead-man walking.

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:

shocktheheart wrote:

CaseyGarrisonforPrez wrote:
What could have Sexton or Krusty done better in your opinion? Krusty would not want a coach in waiting or a farewell tour.

Great question. I don't have immense knowledge of the situation but I just have to think that those in power could have made it a more amicable ending.

By doing what? I think it ended better than I thought it would. Gene is a stubborn old man who thinks he shouldn't have to answer to anyone. He wasn't going to retire and WSU couldn't afford to let him coach another year without an extension as it would have killed recruiting even more. Gene would have never let WSU force his hand and have a coach in waiting. The rumors are that Sexton wanted him to get a different hitting coach and he wouldn't even do that.

Is there any truth to the rumor that Gene is good friends with G Marshall and that Gregg had privately thrown some support his (Gene) way? And that Marshall is pretty upset by this firing?

No idea if this is true or not. My FIL heard this at a Spfld Cardinals game......

None.