|
Post by belfieldhappyhour on Dec 9, 2019 21:42:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 23won on Dec 10, 2019 7:55:39 GMT -5
Congrats to his years of dedication to the sport and his many successes. It’s time to smell the roses, Four Roses in particular.
|
|
|
Post by nyalum on Dec 11, 2019 8:04:37 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by JoeFedorowicz on Dec 11, 2019 8:53:32 GMT -5
Changed both the trajectory of his career and La Salle's program.
|
|
|
Post by GlitterBro #2 on Dec 11, 2019 9:41:53 GMT -5
this quote in the article..."In the A-10, La Salle has rarely recaptured the success it had in the MAAC." I think it's safe to say "never recaptured", given the zero A-10 conference and tournament championships. The MCC was probably the worst decision the Athletic Department ever made.
|
|
|
Post by 23won on Dec 11, 2019 10:32:53 GMT -5
I liked Speedy as a coach, but quite frankly failing to recruit effectively after Randy Woods senior year was a bigger factor than the MCC, IMO. Speedy would get a local guy and then fail to fill the starting lineup and have adequate bench strength to compete as a mid major. No offense to the players, but those lineups post '92 would have been at most middle of the pack in the MAAC.
|
|
|
Post by explorer88 on Dec 11, 2019 10:36:15 GMT -5
this quote in the article..."In the A-10, La Salle has rarely recaptured the success it had in the MAAC." I think it's safe to say "never recaptured", given the zero A-10 conference and tournament championships. The MCC was probably the worst decision the Athletic Department ever made. Worse decision ever made was approving Gola in 1997 and not going with the 6,800 design that La Salle grads were willing to do the work at a good price. 25 years later we are still paying and trying to fix that mistake. The MCC was a long time ago. It has nothing to do with our issues today. The MAAC is an inferior conference to the A-10. La Salle did not put enough resources into the program for the longest time. Probably still can't put enough in now that most A-10 schools do. MCC should be forgotten at this point.
|
|
|
Post by coqui900 on Dec 11, 2019 10:59:00 GMT -5
Speedy is a really wonderful human being. He could not be more down to earth. I've become good friends with one of his sons over the past few years and they're all really great people. Congrats to him on a hell of a career and life.
|
|
|
Post by nyalum on Dec 11, 2019 19:23:18 GMT -5
this quote in the article..."In the A-10, La Salle has rarely recaptured the success it had in the MAAC." I think it's safe to say "never recaptured", given the zero A-10 conference and tournament championships. The MCC was probably the worst decision the Athletic Department ever made. I think Xavier being in the conference and keeping Notre Dame on the schedule had outsized importance in that decision being made, if I remember correctly. The nearest road game was a few hundred miles away and the conference eventually lost its' automatic NCAA bid. In short, a disaster.
|
|
|
Post by 23won on Dec 12, 2019 12:49:11 GMT -5
With all this WCC talk, I gotta say that we were pretty fortunate to get in to the A10 in 1995.
We played 5 games under .500 in the WCC years and far worse than that in the A10 overall until 2012.
I think we are now positioned to stay in the top half or better of the A10, but if you want to get depressed ...
just think of where we'd be if the A10 admission did not happen in 1995?
|
|
|
Post by belfieldhappyhour on Dec 12, 2019 18:25:10 GMT -5
Someone had alluded earlier in this thread that they wished the Prep had handled this better. Looks like that post was removed.
Anyway, Ch. 6 just did a story on Speedy. I had no idea, he's been battling Parkinson's for 4 years. They said Dunph and L-Train were with Speedy when he told his team earlier this week.
|
|
|
Post by JoeFedorowicz on Dec 12, 2019 21:04:58 GMT -5
With all this WCC talk, I gotta say that we were pretty fortunate to get in to the A10 in 1995. We played 5 games under .500 in the WCC years and far worse than that in the A10 overall until 2012. I think we are now positioned to stay in the top half or better of the A10, but if you want to get depressed ... just think of where we'd be if the A10 admission did not happen in 1995? Wish we were in the WCC. California is nicer this time of year.
|
|
wistergym
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 131
Likes: 95
|
Post by wistergym on Dec 12, 2019 23:11:08 GMT -5
Sorry, can't join the love-in.
He rode a superstar he didn’t recruit to 100 wins in 4 seasons and spent the next 10 seasons riding the 54th all time best college program into a complete mess. Look at his record -100 wins in four years –138 in the next 10 – leaving any chance of the postseason dead and gone and providing sure wins on many schedules. No wonder his pals in the Big 5 love him. He made losing a tradition at a once proud school.
|
|
|
Post by belfieldhappyhour on Dec 12, 2019 23:57:13 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 23won on Dec 13, 2019 10:23:31 GMT -5
It's sad to hear the retirement is Parkinsons related
|
|
|
Post by calsufan on Dec 13, 2019 11:53:11 GMT -5
Sorry, can't join the love-in. He rode a superstar he didn’t recruit to 100 wins in 4 seasons and spent the next 10 seasons riding the 54th all time best college program into a complete mess. Look at his record -100 wins in four years –138 in the next 10 – leaving any chance of the postseason dead and gone and providing sure wins on many schedules. No wonder his pals in the Big 5 love him. He made losing a tradition at a once proud school. I can't disagree with you about him running the program down (by not recruiting), but I'd also say that the administration in place then was part of the problem as well. I would also separate Speedy the man from Speedy the coach. I met him a few times and he was personable, humble and seemed like a nice man. I think the problem was the game changed around him and he didn't change with it. Add to that the lack of support from the administration and that's how we ended up in a hole. Wishing him as healthy as possible retirement.
|
|
wistergym
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 131
Likes: 95
|
Post by wistergym on Dec 13, 2019 19:16:39 GMT -5
Agree. the dereliction of duty on the part of the admin was the cause of the disaster. It was clear by year seven that the coach was facilitating a train-wreak. They knew or should have known the slide was underway and lacked the will or courage to end it. We could clearly see it from the stands,--what were they looking at? Ironically when they did act, they were vilified.
i too can separate--on a personal level I join you in wishing the man well
|
|
|
Post by glorydays on Dec 14, 2019 6:47:34 GMT -5
Last time, I spoke to Speedy was after the Prep beat Salesianum at Widener in a Christmas tourney like 5 years ago..I saw the '69? city title game - - Roman lost to Edison...I was a a Soph at La Salle. Time flies...
|
|
|
Post by broderickpresident on Dec 14, 2019 7:51:30 GMT -5
Agree. the dereliction of duty on the part of the admin was the cause of the disaster. It was clear by year seven that the coach was facilitating a train-wreak. They knew or should have known the slide was underway and lacked the will or courage to end it. We could clearly see it from the stands,--what were they looking at? Ironically when they did act, they were vilified. i too can separate--on a personal level I join you in wishing the man well Year 7 was his 7th straight winning season (also his last winning season), one year removed from an NCAA tournament berth with a limited roster coached to the peak of its ability with an attack years ahead of its time. Smallest recruiting budget in D-I. Near miss on Ketner, Joe Bryant’s dereliction of duty hurt lots. Was able to hit a few recruiting HRs to keep hope (Rab, Romaine, Donnie, Victor, Rasual), but never able to fill out a competent collection of role players.
|
|
wistergym
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 131
Likes: 95
|
Post by wistergym on Dec 14, 2019 10:24:47 GMT -5
Not to belabor ancient history, but year 7 was the pivot. 92-93 record 14-13 was the worst since 1984, and that was followed by eight years of consistent losing. The win totals 11,13,6,10,9,13,11,12- plus 7-24 in the Big Five. No one in the front office seemed to care.
|
|
MisterD
The Baptist Himself
Voted Most Popular Poster 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Posts: 8,469
Likes: 6,369
|
Post by MisterD on Dec 14, 2019 11:11:41 GMT -5
I still look at the late 90s roster and think it had the talent to be better. Then factor in the recruiting near misses ...
|
|
|
Post by explorer88 on Dec 14, 2019 12:38:46 GMT -5
1998-1999 Roster:
Donnie Carr Julian Blanks K’Zell Wesson Victor Thomas Rasual Butler
Team finished 13-15. Team had a world of talent. How the hell did Speedy not win with that team? It had no depth and played little defense but still was head scratching to be 13-15.
A-10 was loaded with talent back then as well.
|
|
|
Post by broderickpresident on Dec 14, 2019 15:07:39 GMT -5
1998-1999 Roster: Donnie Carr Julian Blanks K’Zell Wesson Victor Thomas Rasual Butler Team finished 13-15. Team had a world of talent. How the hell did Speedy not win with that team? It had no depth and played little defense but still was head scratching to be 13-15. A-10 was loaded with talent back then as well. Rasual ineligible first semester. Not enough interior d in a loaded a-10 and blanks just couldn’t shoot a lick. Dangerous team many nights tho
|
|
|
Post by explorer88 on Dec 14, 2019 15:13:30 GMT -5
Blanks made clutch shots. I remember we were In the Cable Car Classic against BU and he was destroying them and the heel of his shoe came off and he couldn’t play after that and we lost.
How he never had a second pair of shoes I will never know but crap like that happened to this program quite a bit back then.
|
|
|
Post by broderickpresident on Dec 14, 2019 15:19:36 GMT -5
|
|
wistergym
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 131
Likes: 95
|
Post by wistergym on Dec 14, 2019 21:32:37 GMT -5
I still look at the late 90s roster and think it had the talent to be better. Then factor in the recruiting near misses ... hate to bring up old bad memories, true some talent was there, but after the Simmons years which didn't need all that much coaching there wasn't a whole lot of effective coaching going on , unless one thinks ripping off your suitjacket and stomping on it somehow passes for coaching. Recruiting however was the main failure. "recruiting near misses.. " is way to kind. There were lots of those to be sure, but wasting four years of giving jobs and tuitions to the Bryant Family in the ludicrous hope that Kobe was coming soon, is the permanent benchmark for lazy recruiting.
|
|
|
Post by hoopsguest on Dec 15, 2019 10:29:32 GMT -5
When Speedy was fired he admitted to not working hard at recruiting. Which is an admission of negligence of your job. But he still criticized Br Mike for firing him. Sad that he has Parkinson's and I pray for him as a human being but the whole love in - yeah count me out too.
|
|
|
Post by coachd on Dec 16, 2019 11:51:39 GMT -5
this quote in the article..."In the A-10, La Salle has rarely recaptured the success it had in the MAAC." I think it's safe to say "never recaptured", given the zero A-10 conference and tournament championships. The MCC was probably the worst decision the Athletic Department ever made. *Other than Mullen trying to revive Explorer football!!!
|
|
|
Post by ogbj20 on Dec 17, 2019 14:02:27 GMT -5
Prayers for Coach and his family as they go through this tough time. Congrats coach on being a Philly coaching Icon and the leader of the best college experience a guy could have. Through all the ups and downs, adversity and successes. Your knowledge of the game and instruction was the blueprint to a successful program and yes 100 W's. For all that like or dislike the outcome of your tenure you have to respect it. I don't need to hear about how he couldn't recruit because you were not there when the closing of getting train was complete. Or what restarted La Salle city wide recruitment of 1, 2 and 3 tier city players and surrounding players. Guys like Steve Black (Overbrook), Ralph Lewis (Frankford), Dallas Philson and Truck Butts (Southern), Mike Brooks (WC) were top players for their teams and highly regarded as such. The influence of players such as these led to Train, myself, Doug, Randy, Jack, Craig, Romaine, Mike Gizzi, Rab, Donnie, Tabby, Reds Smith, Paul Burke, Turk, Rasul, Victor. There may have been some misses along the line but not by much. Most of these guys were player of the year in their league. I've said it before that the move to the mid west was a huge mistake and we should have stayed in the maac because we would have had more chips and a few more nba players due to successes in the Maac and national attention. The non conference schedule was among the tops playing powerhouses and top national players in which we feared better then most thought for a small school. Who in this area would want to come to La Salle to play on the east coast but the conference was in the mid west? BAD decision no doubt, thus loosing out on a number of things, fans, recruitment which was a huge city tie that was broken and we suffered tremendously. So IMO opinion, the move hurt all the way around. While we were good, it took a great coach with great x's and o's and believing in his players to get the job done with the instruction and complete the execution. As much as I was given an opportunity to attend La Salle, I had to earn the opportunity to play on this team for those years and I took it as a personal challenge from coach (as if this some free ride along) to prove to him an everyone else that i would succeed. Getting the best out you was something that coach was good at doing. And this is coming from someone who sat the bench his first year. Again congrats and God Bless coach.
|
|
|
Post by SICguy84 on Feb 9, 2020 14:59:43 GMT -5
|
|