2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Alumnus urges coach change
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
03/26/08 - To the Cigar,
I wish to thank Brian Kurt for his informative and well-written letter to the Cigar regarding the men's basketball program. Every point that needed to be made was made, and I truly feel the same way he does.
As a recent alumnus, ('04) I, too, am completely disgusted by the way this season turned out down the stretch. It just took a little bit longer for this year's "Baron Collapse" to happen.
My first year at URI, I suffered through the last year of the short-lived career of Jerry D. Then coach Baron came to town, bringing with him the hope that URI basketball was going to improve, and maybe, just maybe, things would return to the way they were in the late '90s.
Two trips to the National Invitation Tournament, and my URI career was done, but as a proud alumnus, I continued to follow the team, hoping that it would reach the NCAA Tournament, so I could brag to friends that we, too, could dance.
I'd also read somewhere that years ending in "8" were good for the Rams, so when we burst out of the gate at 20-4, and were enjoying national rankings and coast-to-coast media attention, needless to say I was hyped was ready to put my March dancing shoes on. However, as A-10 conference play began, so did the annual collapse of the team.
Just like in the '03-'04 season when we started off 12-3 looking great, conference play was the beginning of the end.
How many times do we have to go through this before it is realized that a coaching change is needed? How many times do the hopes of Rhode Island fans have to be raised, only to be shattered halfway through the season when A-10 play begins?
This trend is not to be blamed on the players - to the entire team, my hat goes off to you for a good season.
I feel that a coaching change is needed, and soon.
Brian, you mentioned that students not going to games would hurt URI in the pocketbook. As students get free tickets, it may be difficult to make a stand that way, except having an arena full of empty seats. However, as an alumnus who would pay for admission, my lack of attendance will hurt in the pocketbook. Sadly, this may be the best and only way to make a voice heard.
I owe the best four years of my life to URI, and wouldn't change any of my experiences for anything. However, as a fan, I truly feel that in order to succeed, a change in the head coach position is necessary in order to facilitate a winning program. Like Brian, I am a huge Rhode Island fan as well, so I end with the same words: GO RHODY!
John D. Kurzawa
Class of 2004
I wish to thank Brian Kurt for his informative and well-written letter to the Cigar regarding the men's basketball program. Every point that needed to be made was made, and I truly feel the same way he does.
As a recent alumnus, ('04) I, too, am completely disgusted by the way this season turned out down the stretch. It just took a little bit longer for this year's "Baron Collapse" to happen.
My first year at URI, I suffered through the last year of the short-lived career of Jerry D. Then coach Baron came to town, bringing with him the hope that URI basketball was going to improve, and maybe, just maybe, things would return to the way they were in the late '90s.
Two trips to the National Invitation Tournament, and my URI career was done, but as a proud alumnus, I continued to follow the team, hoping that it would reach the NCAA Tournament, so I could brag to friends that we, too, could dance.
I'd also read somewhere that years ending in "8" were good for the Rams, so when we burst out of the gate at 20-4, and were enjoying national rankings and coast-to-coast media attention, needless to say I was hyped was ready to put my March dancing shoes on. However, as A-10 conference play began, so did the annual collapse of the team.
Just like in the '03-'04 season when we started off 12-3 looking great, conference play was the beginning of the end.
How many times do we have to go through this before it is realized that a coaching change is needed? How many times do the hopes of Rhode Island fans have to be raised, only to be shattered halfway through the season when A-10 play begins?
This trend is not to be blamed on the players - to the entire team, my hat goes off to you for a good season.
I feel that a coaching change is needed, and soon.
Brian, you mentioned that students not going to games would hurt URI in the pocketbook. As students get free tickets, it may be difficult to make a stand that way, except having an arena full of empty seats. However, as an alumnus who would pay for admission, my lack of attendance will hurt in the pocketbook. Sadly, this may be the best and only way to make a voice heard.
I owe the best four years of my life to URI, and wouldn't change any of my experiences for anything. However, as a fan, I truly feel that in order to succeed, a change in the head coach position is necessary in order to facilitate a winning program. Like Brian, I am a huge Rhode Island fan as well, so I end with the same words: GO RHODY!
John D. Kurzawa
Class of 2004