Eustacy discussion on DP show

[Gnomeborg]

I think my "eyes" were open to Larry more than anyone on this board, frankly.

Larry was my neighbor, two houses down, when he lived here.

He was a great neighbor. Very friendly. I never saw him drunk...

Just sayin'.

And I tended bar at a bar where Larry frequented. I watched him get sloppy drunk. I watched him drop shots over lunch.

I can count the number of times that I've been noticeably drunk at home before 2am on one hand. I'd bet that being his neighbor probably put you in a bit of a buffer zone.

Like I said, there were a lot of people who were totally unsurprised by the alcohol allegations.

[Tornado man]

I've heard of stories of him drunk off his you know what harrassing waitresses and bartenders at Wallaby's as one of the stories and this is coming from someone that witnessed it one night. Again, that was not the only incident I've heard multiple people tell either here on this board or just in casual conversation. I do think around his team and around his family he had the decency to be sober but away from them was when the problems occured.

I have heard the same stories, and witnessed one sad incident at Whiskey River with LE bothering my buddy's wife. I don't connect getting "drunk" sometimes in the evenings to being an alcoholic, however...
Again, though, I don't equate LE's boorishness with Pitino's disgusting act, or Eddie Sutton putting lives at risk with his drunk driving.

[erikbj]

I see the two as being somewhat different. Although I like LE as a coach, I see what he did as worse then the affair that Pitino had. I don't want our coach out drinking with the coeds at other campuses.

WHAT!!!!!!! Pitno was having relations with this girl on a table in the resturant, granted it was closed at the time but his friend was sitting at the bar listening to them going at it. hopefully it was not a seafood restuarant.

Don't see how that is worse than having a few beers with some college kids. Mike and Mike were saying that didn't understand why LE was fired, he didn't break any laws and no one was impregnated.

[CyPride]

They've been discussing it on Mike & Mike as well, saying that the reason why Eustachy was fired was because he was drinking with students. I sent in an e-mail stating that it wasn't just because he was drinking with students, but because those students were from K-State and Missouri...

AND that he was on a team trip, returning from a game, when he very well should have been with the team, he was messing around drinking with co-eds....because he was afraid to fly, or something. Along with the drinking, it was insubordination.

[jbhtexas]

Like I said, there were a lot of people who were totally unsurprised by the alcohol allegations.

I live far away from Ames and don't get hear interviews/postgame regularly. I did listen to LE on the post game show from time to time over Internet. There were several times when I seriously thought he was IWI (interviewing while intoxicated) during the post game shows. It wasn't slurred speech, but more akin to the "the circle" on That '70's Show. Just kind of whacky, very loose, and free flowing. Other times, he would give more "normal" interviews.

[CYKOFAN]

It seems to me that the perfect storm came together to get Larry fired. A couple of subpar seasons, heavy drinking even at ISU events, the drinking photos, and the media and public outcry on the radio waves and internet about the photos. I think if you take away any of those things BVD may have put LE on a leave of absence to address his drinking problem. I also believe BVD took his orders from the prez when it came to the LE mess.

[cyclone13]

One of the factors that also contributed to LE's firing was initially LE wasn't really forthcoming. I can't remember but I think that time he didn't admit that he was at fault. To certain degree, it must have ****** off the decision makers.

[ajk4st8]

Just the simple fact that there were pictures of the LE event seems to add a dimension that the Pitino case doesnt.

[puckwarrior]

Well, I may be wrong here, but I don't believe that LE was out drinking with legal aged adults as many of you are trying to claim. I agree that he had a drinking problem and should have been allowed to get help. But from what I have been told, he wouldn't admit to a drinking problem at the time and forced BVD into the firing by refusing to look at treatment. LE's drinking went on for years and there have unfortunately been numerous stories about his drinking problem. I have no first hand knowledge of any of this, however MY opinion is that someone with a known drinking problem that won't admit it is potentaily more harmful to ISU's reputation than someone that had a one night affair. No I don't condone the affair. But I still believe that a college coach should not be drinking with underage kids at a party.

[Cyclone42]

They've been discussing it on Mike & Mike as well, saying that the reason why Eustachy was fired was because he was drinking with students. I sent in an e-mail stating that it wasn't just because he was drinking with students, but because those students were from K-State and Missouri...

That was the angle I didn't like. He basically got drunk with fans of opposing teams, and I remember hearing at the time that he would insult and put down his own team with those opposing fans.

I was firmly in the "fire Eustachy" category at the time. I was probably wrong, in hindsight. He had just brought Morgan on board, and the combination of Morgan's recruiting and Eustachy's game-day coaching could have led us to great things. Oh, well.

[crzy4st]

jbhtexas

Do you realize how pathetic Southern Miss. was prior to Larry arriving? You can't turn a program from a single digit win season into a 20 win season in two years, it takes time. He has only 15 wins in season 5, most teams will go through this - have a few good seasons and then drop off a little bit and then come back again the next year.



--Quite frankly, I think LE's style of heavy verbal abuse becomes ineffective over time. This is true in any field. Subordinates just start to tune out the name calling and yelling. The very same thing appears to be happening at Southern Miss. From what I understand, he hasn't exactly changed his approach. Two losing seasons, a 20 win season, and back down to 15 wins in year 5.

[jbhtexas]

jbhtexas

Do you realize how pathetic Southern Miss. was prior to Larry arriving? You can't turn a program from a single digit win season into a 20 win season in two years, it takes time. He has only 15 wins in season 5, most teams will go through this - have a few good seasons and then drop off a little bit and then come back again the next year.

LE got 20 wins in his third seaon, and is presently falling backwards. This trend is very similar to what happened at ISU.

C-USA isn't exactly a power MBB conference. A whiz-bang coach should be able to consistently do some damage there...

[CloneIce]

I still don't get how the hell anyone thinks Eustachy did something worthy of being fired.

Pitino really shouldn't be fired for his deal either. Don't think its that big of a deal, most of the wrongdoing was on her part. He cheated on his wife (unless they have an open relationship).... a-hole move, but I don't think that is really grounds for firing a coach.

Hopefully it will hurt his recruiting and will snare some stud he would have gotten down the road.

[CloneIce]

Just the simple fact that there were pictures of the LE event seems to add a dimension that the Pitino case doesnt.

Exactly! If there is a picture everyone freaks out 10x more. So silly, I guess people really are visual creatures. I don't know why, but you are definitely right, its all about the pictures.

Heck people made a huge deal of some Hawkeye announcer looking at a chubby chicks breasts simply cause there was a picture of it.

[isuno1fan]

LE was fired because he was an embarrassment to the university and city of Ames at the end of his tenure.

Pitino should be fired for the same reason.