GMac and LE Hangin'

**URBCLONE** · 04-01-2007, 09:00 PM

Given that GM and LE seem to get along, how's this for an idea? ISU schedules Southern Miss for a game at Hilton in one of its nonconference tournaments. At that game, the '99-'00 team is honored and Fizer and/or Tinsley's jersey(s) are retired.

Whether you thought firing LE was the right or wrong thing to do, I think that we can all agree that the greatest team in modern ISU BB history deserves a little recognition.

**baller1** · 04-01-2007, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cypwr

Freshman "B" squad, when is ISU going to offer you a schollie?

They are probably planning on it for the 2010 season. I'm going to be the next John Neal k guys.

**rworkman83** · 04-01-2007, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by URBCLONE

Given that GM and LE seem to get along, how's this for an idea? ISU schedules Southern Miss for a game at Hilton in one of its nonconference tournaments. At that game, the '99-'00 team is honored and Fizer and/or Tinsley's jersey(s) are retired.

Whether you thought firing LE was the right or wrong thing to do, I think that we can all agree that the greatest team in modern ISU BB history deserves a little recognition.

Great Idea!! I'm all for it...I bet JP would be open to do something along those lines...

**Wesley** · 04-01-2007, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by rworkman83

ummm congrats?

One on five?

**CTTB78** · 04-02-2007, 04:52 PM

I think it is interesting to look at how Oklahoma St handled Eddie's alcoholism compared to how ISU handled LE's problem. What LE did in comparison to Eddie, well there is no comparison....

And as far as I can see, the OSU program has not been crippled as a result of their actions which allowed Eddie to stay.

The LE situation was eventually driven by a overzealous U of I regent, and there wasn't anyone at ISU with enough of a spine to say-- "we will offer LE rehabilitation, a second chance. We are in control of this-- not you."

And yes, he was the state's highest paid employee, who had a problem which he has now conquered.

**Bobber** · 04-02-2007, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by CTTB78

I think it is interesting to look at how Oklahoma St handled Eddie's alcoholism compared to how ISU handled LE's problem. What LE did in comparison to Eddie, well there is no comparison....

And as far as I can see, the OSU program has not been crippled as a result of their actions which allowed Eddie to stay.

The LE situation was eventually driven by a overzealous U of I regent, and there wasn't anyone at ISU with enough of a spine to say-- "we will offer LE rehabilitation, a second chance. We are in control of this-- not you."

And yes, he was the state's highest paid employee, who had a problem which he has now conquered.

The A.D. didn't like Larry either..Plenty of blame to go around on all sides of that one.

**BryceC** · 04-02-2007, 05:56 PM

I think that would be a great idea URB. We really should have something honoring them, it was a great year.

Am I the only person here who has zero problem with Larry being fired? I was glad it happened when it did and I am still happy with it. It sounds like Larry is happy with his growth after it as well.

**darts180** · 04-02-2007, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by CTTB78

I think it is interesting to look at how Oklahoma St handled Eddie's alcoholism compared to how ISU handled LE's problem. What LE did in comparison to Eddie, well there is no comparison....

And as far as I can see, the OSU program has not been crippled as a result of their actions which allowed Eddie to stay.

The LE situation was eventually driven by a overzealous U of I regent, and there wasn't anyone at ISU with enough of a spine to say-- "we will offer LE rehabilitation, a second chance. We are in control of this-- not you."

And yes, he was the state's highest paid employee, who had a problem which he has now conquered.

I think that the biggest problem was that Larry was an a$$hole to a lot of people. And if you are going to be an a$$hole, then you need to do one of two things. You need to win (28-33, 9-23 in conference play his last two years), or you need to not have any character flaws for people to exploit. Eddie Sutton won a lot of basketball games.

I cannot believe that this is still an issue 4 years later. My goodness if a coach at the U of I or Nebraska had something like this happen people on this board would still bring it up after all this time. Here, we have people defending a guy that made Iowa State a LAUGHING STOCK, a punchline, a joke.

Larry deserved the second chance that he got, and it sounds like he is taking advantage of it. That is great for him, I hope that he can continue to be an example for people who suffer from this disease.

**URBCLONE** · 04-02-2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I think that would be a great idea URB. We really should have something honoring them, it was a great year.

Am I the only person here who has zero problem with Larry being fired? I was glad it happened when it did and I am still happy with it. It sounds like Larry is happy with his growth after it as well.

I'm a pretty black and white guy, but this honestly is one situation where I can see the merits of the argument on both sides. My major beef in the whole episode was how poorly it was handled by a man who is paid to manage difficult situations. You can bet that the situation would have never developed in the manner in which it did had JP been in charge back then. He would have either gotten in front of the story and taken his lumps or (more likely) have fired LE with his replacement ready to go within 3-5 days. BVD allowed a bad situation to fester by not addressing the situation in January or in March when the Rag told him that they were going to run the story and then botching the hire horribly.

I am not looking to revisit any of the old arguments, I merely would like to see the '99-'00 Conference championship, tournament championship, and Elite Eight team honored. I would also like to see Jamaal and Marcus have their jerseys retired. Maybe the LE saga is still too new, but maybe ISU could have a 10 year anniversary celebration in the '09-'10 season. Thought maybe it was a greater possibility now that GM and JP are in charge and GM gets along real well with LE.

**only4cy** · 04-03-2007, 12:58 AM

Darts takes a break from Dan Mc and embarks on a new obsession .... bashing LE. Wake me when it's over.

**cycloneworld** · 04-03-2007, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by darts180

I think that the biggest problem was that Larry was an a$$hole to a lot of people. And if you are going to be an a$$hole, then you need to do one of two things. You need to win (28-33, 9-23 in conference play his last two years), or you need to not have any character flaws for people to exploit. Eddie Sutton won a lot of basketball games.

I hate to break it to you but you can count the number of NCAA basketball coaches who AREN'T a$$holes on 2 hands.

Originally Posted by darts180

I cannot believe that this is still an issue 4 years later. My goodness if a coach at the U of I or Nebraska had something like this happen people on this board would still bring it up after all this time. Here, we have people defending a guy that made Iowa State a LAUGHING STOCK, a punchline, a joke.

This isn't still an issue. People are merely saying how great it is that LE got sober...and rightfully so. Like he said, his battle with alcohol was bigger than basketball. Why shouldn't we defend the guy? Alcoholism is a proven disease....would you talk so harshly of an-ex Iowa State coach if he had MS or cancer?

Unclinch my friend...

**cycloneworld** · 04-03-2007, 07:48 AM

I also LOVE the idea of bringing back LE to Hilton. That place would be packed for a non-conference game.

Jamie Pollard seems to love press...I would imagine this would get some national press and well as the frenzy of local press it would get. And it sounds like GMac would be all for it seeing as they are good friends.

(I didn't know LE's family was still here)

**cyclonenum1** · 04-03-2007, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Am I the only person here who has zero problem with Larry being fired? I was glad it happened when it did and I am still happy with it. It sounds like Larry is happy with his growth after it as well.

You are not. It was the right thing then and it still is the right thing!

**darts180** · 04-03-2007, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by cyclone#1

You are not. It was the right thing then and it still is the right thing!

This is to the point of ridiculousness. He didn't break any laws, and he didn't violate NCAA rules. However, what he did was wrong.

I understand that much like Wayne Morgan, everything that Bruce Van de Velde did in his time here was wrong, and must be ridiculed. The firing was handled poorly, no doubt, but it had to happen. In light of all of the information that came out as to how Larry treated his players in practice (I would say that Jake Sullivan's father was a pretty reliable source) what parent, in their right minds, would send their kids to play for Larry. So there goes recruiting, not that it had been great up to that point anyway.
So you are reduced to recruiting the thugs that we all claim that we hate other schools for recruiting, and we did enough of that anyway under Larry.

I wonder, because it was going to take at least two more years, even with Wayne's recruiting, before he had a tournament type team, if we had gotten further away from 2001, and all of this came to light if we would all be so forgiving. And if anyone on here thinks that JP, while handling the situation better, would not have made the same decision, after all of the facts came out, then you are kidding yourselves.