Re: "Eye of the Tiger" - The Coaching Legacy of Jason Whitt (CH2k8)
Behind Closed Doors
"We've got to make a change."
It was that statement from head coach Jason Whitt that ended the discussion. For the past 30 minutes, he had sat there and listened to his staff debate on the front court situation. The last few games have seen a revolving door at the two spots between Alex Gynes, Chad Crumbley, and Nick McFarlin. McFarlin's play especially has been spotty at best, if not down right lazy. He really drew the ire of Coach Whitt after his performance against Richmond.
"Who should we go with then opposite of Alex, Nick or Chad?" asked one of his assistants. I didn't realize who asked as I was finishing taking down the vid equipment after they had watched the game film.
"Neither of them," said Coach Whitt.
Everybody looked on in disbelief and that's when the Coach laid it out.
"We're going to go with Ije at the five in the next game. He's worked his a** off in practice. Despite having his minutes cut this year, he's not complaining about it. And when he does get on the court, he makes the most of it. I should've played him more against Richmond. He did more in seven minutes than what Nick did in over twenty. Plus, we've been getting murdered down low and we could use some toughness. For whatever reason, Nick has turned into a p*ssy this year. He's just not getting in there and getting the tough boards like he has. Plus, what the hell is up with him thinking he's some finesse Euro player with all the mid-range jumpers. He needs a wake up call."
Everyone set there stunned. They've never heard Coach just rip into a player like that before. It has been a trying season for Coach. Working under the cloud of a one-year contract has been taxing on him. Coach was under the impression that the AD would take a look at his contract once the season was over and it was on that impression that he turned down the offer from Boston University. Apparently though, the President took it as a slight that Coach had even talked to them in the first place and that contract extension went the way of the Dodo. In private, Coach has told me he wished he had taken that job now. That'd be fodder for the media types around here. The coach who led Radford to the Dance being treated like a red headed step child just for talking to another school.
Behind Closed Doors
"We've got to make a change."
It was that statement from head coach Jason Whitt that ended the discussion. For the past 30 minutes, he had sat there and listened to his staff debate on the front court situation. The last few games have seen a revolving door at the two spots between Alex Gynes, Chad Crumbley, and Nick McFarlin. McFarlin's play especially has been spotty at best, if not down right lazy. He really drew the ire of Coach Whitt after his performance against Richmond.
"Who should we go with then opposite of Alex, Nick or Chad?" asked one of his assistants. I didn't realize who asked as I was finishing taking down the vid equipment after they had watched the game film.
"Neither of them," said Coach Whitt.
Everybody looked on in disbelief and that's when the Coach laid it out.
"We're going to go with Ije at the five in the next game. He's worked his a** off in practice. Despite having his minutes cut this year, he's not complaining about it. And when he does get on the court, he makes the most of it. I should've played him more against Richmond. He did more in seven minutes than what Nick did in over twenty. Plus, we've been getting murdered down low and we could use some toughness. For whatever reason, Nick has turned into a p*ssy this year. He's just not getting in there and getting the tough boards like he has. Plus, what the hell is up with him thinking he's some finesse Euro player with all the mid-range jumpers. He needs a wake up call."
Everyone set there stunned. They've never heard Coach just rip into a player like that before. It has been a trying season for Coach. Working under the cloud of a one-year contract has been taxing on him. Coach was under the impression that the AD would take a look at his contract once the season was over and it was on that impression that he turned down the offer from Boston University. Apparently though, the President took it as a slight that Coach had even talked to them in the first place and that contract extension went the way of the Dodo. In private, Coach has told me he wished he had taken that job now. That'd be fodder for the media types around here. The coach who led Radford to the Dance being treated like a red headed step child just for talking to another school.
Radford (7-5)
Florida Gulf Coast (6-6)
Liberty (5-6, 1-0 Big South)
Comment