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New article about Geno Ford leaving Kent State for Bradley

Da Coach

Da Coach

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Ohio.com, the online version of the Akron Beacon-Journal, posted this column about Geno Ford leaving Kent State for Bradley.
It seems slightly bitter and demeaning toward Bradley and the MVC.
http://www.ohio.com/sports/kent_state/118824634.html


Who would have thought a university (Bradley) with an enrollment of 5,067 undergraduates would be greener pastures?

For those unfamiliar with the Missouri Valley Conference, that's in Peoria, Ill., a destination Ford admitted he'd never set foot in until Sunday evening.

KSU may boast 21,178 students, but Bradley offered Ford a salary that was out of Kent State's league.

If that wasn't enough, Ford went to a school with no football team. Missouri Valley Conference members who do put the pads on play in the Football Championship Subdivision, the old NCAA Division I-AA.
 
Da Coach said:
Ohio.com, the online version of the Akron Beacon-Journal, posted this column about Geno Ford leaving Kent State for Bradley.
It seems slightly bitter and demeaning toward Bradley and the MVC.
http://www.ohio.com/sports/kent_state/118824634.html


Who would have thought a university (Bradley) with an enrollment of 5,067 undergraduates would be greener pastures?

For those unfamiliar with the Missouri Valley Conference, that's in Peoria, Ill., a destination Ford admitted he'd never set foot in until Sunday evening.

KSU may boast 21,178 students, but Bradley offered Ford a salary that was out of Kent State's league.

If that wasn't enough, Ford went to a school with no football team. Missouri Valley Conference members who do put the pads on play in the Football Championship Subdivision, the old NCAA Division I-AA.
Click to expand...

Seems like more sour grapes ... I guess that's a good thing that someone might be frustrated about their coach jumping ship. It means he probably was well-respected and did a good job in the eyes of the media/fans.
 
Every level has their limitations. Kent State's is the salary limits. BU could and did offer more.

Same thing happens to Valley schools when the Big 10 or 12 comes calling.
 
It also tells you that many people outside our area don't have any idea what Bradley is like. I travel a little and most people don't have any idea about Bradley.

People truly in the basketball world do know but the rest have no idea.

Heck even Geno was surprised at the amount of people at the press conference. Wait until he sees his first game day luncheon....
 
Kent St has quietly becoming a coaching factory. I guess I have to ask though - were they upset when their last coach left for TCU? Talk about basketball purgatory.
 
BradleyJD said:
Every level has their limitations. Kent State's is the salary limits. BU could and did offer more.

Same thing happens to Valley schools when the Big 10 or 12 comes calling.
Click to expand...


True, but if a Big 10 or Big 12 school hired Ford away from us, Jojo would be the first in line to make certain that the obligations on our contract were met. However, when the opposite happens, Jojo has not responded to Kent State in a timely manner.
 
I keep getting strong vibes that something was up recently...

I picked up on some words even said BEFORE Geno left to hint at some bitterness coming from Kent State's new AD and his desire to aim all his attention and efforts at their horribly struggling football program...
but since Geno has left -- there's a lot more bitterness bubbling to the surface that does NOT seem brand new...it seems like it was already there but now can be spewed since Geno's gone and can now be the open target of some criticism...

I think there's more to this story -- and the sheer number of Kent State fans hating on Geno and on Bradley are testimony to that...
here are just some comments gleaned fromt heir message board discussions...

"Scre*w you and the horse you rode in on.."
"What a load of crap! Just be honest with the folks, Geno. You??™re at Bradley for the paycheck"
"When we think a coach is an *hole, this behavior is expected"
"Just thought Coach Ford would have the sense not to leave scorched earth behind him"
"Loyalty is a two way street. Fans turn on coaches in a heart beat.
Look at the situation Geno just walked into. Bradley just dumped Jim Les, a Bradley Alum"
"If Bradley paid this for a guy without an NCAA tournament appearance, what would someone pay if Kent State just gets there .. Ford saw Bradley as desperate and took advantage of it"

BTW -- here's a copy of Geno's contract at Kent State - FWIW
http://kentwired.com/fords-departure-leaves-basketball-team-in-state-of-shock/
 
BradleyJD said:
sour grapes...period.
Click to expand...

They should be used to it by now. Heath left for Arkansas, and Christian left for TCU. Now Christian supposedly is interested in the Dayton job, even with TCU's move to the Big East. Start paying more money and maybe guys won't be so ready to leave.
 
When GF went back to tie up loose ends, did that include meeting with his old players? I never read where he did that but it is possible he met with them and it did not get reported by the media.
 
BradleyBrave said:
They should be used to it by now. Heath left for Arkansas, and Christian left for TCU. Now Christian supposedly is interested in the Dayton job, even with TCU's move to the Big East. Start paying more money and maybe guys won't be so ready to leave.
Click to expand...

If they didn't like him as a coach, why are they so mad now??
 
Da Coach said:
For those unfamiliar with the Missouri Valley Conference, that's in Peoria, Ill., a destination Ford admitted he'd never set foot in until Sunday evening.
Click to expand...

Today I learned that the Missouri Valley Conference is in Peoria, IL. Something doesn't sound right...

So someone from Kent, Ohio, is taking shots at Bradley and Peoria. I'll just leave this here: NSFW Language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY

IDK if Kent is considered a suburb of Cleveland, but it's funnier if it is.
 
FlyingSpaghettiMonster said:
Today I learned that the Missouri Valley Conference is in Peoria, IL. Something doesn't sound right...

So someone from Kent, Ohio, is taking shots at Bradley and Peoria. I'll just leave this here: NSFW Language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY

IDK if Kent is considered a suburb of Cleveland, but it's funnier if it is.
Click to expand...

I've seen this video before. It rocks!

Once CAT leaves we can do one for Peoria!
 
They should have included the old pictures of Lake Erie by Cleveland catching fire when so much flammable garbage and pollution was there..




Known as the Cuyahoga River Fire (40 years ago) it extended all the way to Lake Erie..
cuyahoga-river-fire.jpg
 
Hey, I??™m only one KSU fan. Personally, I think institutional cheap shots are inappropriate; have not and will not make them about Bradley University. My only personal experience is that we played the game before you in Detroit in the 2006 NCAA. BU fans represented the school really well and your team was a thrill to watch. That??™s all I personally know, but assume there are many positives to learn about Bradley University.

Someone will have to ask Geno why he left like he did. I??™m sure in his mind, he has reasons. From my experience with him, it was out of character.

There are a few things mentioned that are true. We are emphasizing football because we must; if we don??™t get attendance up our DI status is at risk. Basketball has been king, so the torch moved. Second, as a state school in a recession bound state, resources are more and more scarce. We have to make due with the facilities, budgets, etc. as they are. We don??™t have wealthy alumni to step in. Third, our fan base is fickle and attendance is not what it should be. Sell out a few big games, half full for the rest.

My bottom line is that I??™m a capitalist, and Geno could leave for whatever reasons he wanted. As others have mentioned, we are used to coaches leaving. The thing that??™s different is HOW Geno left, with his finger in the air over a contract he signed a year before and disrespecting a team that loved him. Communicating to the team he called ???family??? days before by directing them to the Bradley website and through Twitter is not the way to go out.

Our extensive experience with coaches leaving, no matter how they really felt, was the AD got a call, the team was told, an announcement was made. Our AD coming out to say that he was directed to the Bradley website for the news and that there is no intention to honor his buy out in the contract is a little tough to take. Even with that, our AD said very nice things about Geno during his press conference and wished him and his family well.

Some fans just wish Geno well. Most fans are disappointed that he left, because we have such a great team returning. Some are bitter and others are very bitter about the way he left. You can read the range of comments from all.

I was among the bitter group, but am moving toward just disappointed. I used to say that Geno Ford was the kind of coach I??™d want for my kid. Not so sure I??™d say that any more.
 
BuB said:
When GF went back to tie up loose ends, did that include meeting with his old players? I never read where he did that but it is possible he met with them and it did not get reported by the media.
Click to expand...

He never met with his players. I still don??™t know that he met with his former players. They are pretty upset.
 
KSUFan said:
Our extensive experience with coaches leaving, no matter how they really felt, was the AD got a call, the team was told, an announcement was made. Our AD coming out to say that he was directed to the Bradley website for the news and that there is no intention to honor his buy out in the contract is a little tough to take. Even with that, our AD said very nice things about Geno during his press conference and wished him and his family well.
Click to expand...

I love BU, but IMO this is more our fault than Geno's. I really like the Ford hire, but once again, it's HOW it happened that bothers me, not WHAT transpired.
 
What's BU to do? Right or wrong, it's Coach Ford's decision how he wants his former employer know that he won't be coming in on Monday.



"Hi, Kent State, Dr. Cross here."
"Dr Who?"
"the man that just hired your basketball coach. In case you didn't know, he quits and is coming to work for us."
"What?"
"thanks for Geno!"
*Click*


Now the buyout thing? Who knows. I don't know the details of what went down, so I'll refrain from speculation. But business is business...
 
Read this contract..how do we know that BU/Gf didnt decide to split this buyout in some manner....

there is a lot more to this.
 
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