Report of Jim Les firing

[Da Coach]

Will Egolf too, huh? I have a hard time believing they're all going to pack up and leave...they have a good chance to be really good next year.

The only reason I would think could happen is that something weird has occurred and it hasn't been reported yet.

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

I am willing to wait and see, but much of what I am hearing is coming from sources that should know what they are talking about.
Will should return for his senior year, since he burned his redshirt year, and it makes for few choices. Lets hope Will improves into the player he has occasionally shown the potential to be.

 

[jrish12]

Thank you Jim for your time, it is always hard to see someone lose their job in any field. I wish him well, and he can spend more time with his family and get the opportunity to watch his son compete at the Division I level out in sunny California.

 

[budu]

dc- you also we pretty sure earlier this year that JL was going to be back next year....

i am pretty sure that the team will not change as much as u think

Will Egolf too, huh? I have a hard time believing they're all going to pack up and leave...they have a good chance to be really good next year.

The only reason I would think could happen is that something weird has occurred and it hasn't been reported yet.

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

We will see how far loyalty goes......Will will be a senior and will have to go thru a year like Drew and Dodie did, too bad...Anthony will get his playing time as will Milos and DSE will be the leader....Stewart will be back up point guard. Then there is the Davis kid who hasn't played yet and the kid from Iowa and then it depends on what happens with the others....tough going in my eyes and i dont like it a bit. Its hard to stomach where good ol BU might be going.

But then again, we get a head coach that is a big ten head assist.??? like from Wisconsin???

 

[SaintLouBrave22]

I really hope that doesn't happen. Because if there is a mass exodus, BU basketball will be 3-5 years away from being competitive again.

Thing is, we weren't competitive this year, and we haven't finished in the top 3 in conference in 12 years or so...


I guess I am with the crowd that if guys just up and leave, so be it...we just have to blow things up completely...

Heck, look at what Indiana State has done in such a short time between McKenna and Lansing (better) and what Wichita has done with Marshall and Missouri State with Martin...heck, even Marty is getting Evansville to start competing better...Jacobsen has done more at UNI than Mac ever did and he was considered a God there...


A turnaround can happen...people just need to take a deep breath and realize we are going to be ok!

 

[Bravesfan]

Tonight my family and I returned from our 17th consecutive MVC tournament. We have been very ardent Bradley fans for as long as I can remember, and we have only missed a handful of games in the last 12 years. Jim Les, as a player and then a coach, has led our team to the two highest peaks the program has seen in my lifetime. He is a childhood hero to me and many, and I will never forget the special memories he helped bring to life.

Having said that, Goodwill Industries is about to recieve a large donation of Bradley gear which I have already started sadly to box up. After the decision made today, to me this administration has transformed Bradley Basketball into something unrecognizable from the program I fell in love with.

It just isn't the same anymore.

I have enjoyed reading many of the thoughtful comments of the posters on this board, and enjoyed games with many of you at the arena and sports bars around the area. Moderators - thank you for your hard work as well.

Well, I agree that the administration burned a lot of bridges today. But I think you could still support the team, that is the players and coaches, without having to support the administration.

I'd say wear your Bradley gear with pride, just don't donate a dime to the school. I know you give money to the school buying tickets, but why hurt the player's welfare by not showing up to games? You can still protest the decision while staying supportive to the team.

 

[Duane82]

So we have to pay JL 1.5 million, pay a new coach xxx, lose millions of dollars from top BSS donors (I'm sure you anti-JL fans will make that up with your $25 per year donation), and now we need to pay a "Professional search committee." We will get set back 5 million + on this..... so much for a capital campaign!! Best of luck to Sam M and our past recruits on where ever they go. We may even get the Eastern Kentucky coach to come here.

Really is this what it has come to. This needs to stop there should be no attacks against other posters fans or any others! We need to come together and support a new coach.

 

[jrish12]

Really is this what it has come to. This needs to stop there should be no attacks against other posters fans or any others! We need to come together and support a new coach.

Agreed, I dont donate any money, because i just graduated from college and am looking forward(insert sarcasm) to paying off student loans. Just because someone doesnt donate big $ doesnt mean they arent a fan.

 

[Da Coach]

jrish, you are right. But what he is pointing out is significant. There are a lot of donors who Jim Les helped get to give big bucks to help build the new facilities, and this is considered a slap in the face of some of the largest donors.

 

[SFP]

Accountability is the word of the day! Someone was held accountable for the season, now some one will have to be held accountable for the program going forward. In all honesty when it comes to sports program the administration has not had the golden touch. The Sweet 16 and our soccer program are the two biggest achievements the last 10 years, neither which we can give the regime credit because both were in the making before her. This will truly be on her going forward and for all of our sakes, I hope she pulls it off.

Now if the players decide to defect, well they defect. BU has been around for decades and will continue to be a fine institution even after each one of us becomes worm food. BU is about a community of people and not one person or a small group can bring it down. All I can say is that the light is now a lot brighter on JG.

 

[BuAlum03]

1. If players leave, i wish them well and thank them for being representatives of the University.

2. Thank you, Jim Les, for your years of passion for the University as well.

3. (opinion alert) I don't believe that we would have challenged for top in the valley next year with the team as slated and the coaching in place.
a. If we didn't, and somebody was injured or didn't come back... would there have been another "get out of jail free" card issued?

4. A promising new coach will be hired. After a period of mourning, many disenfranchised fans will be back to rooting for the Red & White.

5. I have this on VERY RELIABLE SOURCES - the sky is safely suspended well above us, and the sun is going to rise tomorrow.

 

[BUBraves fan]

I have read through most of these posts, on JL's firing, this evening and have a few thoughts as the parent of an athlete. My first thought is (and I say this with humor), do you people have a life outside of speculating every move made by BU, it's Athletic Dept., President G, the players and each other? I understand being passionate about your alma mater, and the money that alumni and the community bring in with their support, but you cross the line when you question the maturity of the current players and recruits, should they decide to go else where.

Those few of you who post on here, who have actually been recruited and played a college sport, understand the commitment a coach makes to you, and visa versa. This is a business, they are the employees and this affects them more so than any of you. They are young men, some still teenagers, and at this moment, they are more worried about their future at BU than your opinions! If you are worried about them leaving, how about showing them some encouragement and support?

 

[SFP]

I have read through most of these posts, on JL's firing, this evening and have a few thoughts as the parent of an athlete. My first thought is (and I say this with humor), do you people have a life outside of speculating every move made by BU, it's Athletic Dept., President G, the players and each other? I understand being passionate about your alma mater, and the money that alumni and the community bring in with their support, but you cross the line when you question the maturity of the current players and recruits, should they decide to go else where.

Those few of you who post on here, who have actually been recruited and played a college sport, understand the commitment a coach makes to you, and visa versa. This is a business, they are the employees and this affects them more so than any of you. They are young men, some still teenagers, and at this moment, they are more worried about their future at BU than your opinions! If you are worried about them leaving, how about showing them some encouragement and support?

I agree and I encourage every poster here to be responsible for your posts and not become a negative draw on the players themselves. At the end of the day they need to do what is right for their future. I hope that BU the institution can stand up on its long term merit to keep the players it has but if it is not found in their hearts I wish them well.

 

[Bravesfan]

I agree and I encourage every poster here to be responsible for your posts and not become a negative draw on the players themselves. At the end of the day they need to do what is right for their future. I hope that BU the institution can stand up on its long term merit to keep the players it has but if it is not found in their hearts I wish them well.

I second that. It's ultimately up to the players to decide where they want to go. I wish them well as well.

 

[Tulsa Brave]

Just got back home to Tulsa. Heard the news at halftime of the game today in STL...guess it wasn't released until a few hours later from the timelines I've seen thus far...

 

[mrcoachdude]

I have read through most of these posts, on JL's firing, this evening and have a few thoughts as the parent of an athlete. My first thought is (and I say this with humor), do you people have a life outside of speculating every move made by BU, it's Athletic Dept., President G, the players and each other? I understand being passionate about your alma mater, and the money that alumni and the community bring in with their support, but you cross the line when you question the maturity of the current players and recruits, should they decide to go else where.

Those few of you who post on here, who have actually been recruited and played a college sport, understand the commitment a coach makes to you, and visa versa. This is a business, they are the employees and this affects them more so than any of you. They are young men, some still teenagers, and at this moment, they are more worried about their future at BU than your opinions! If you are worried about them leaving, how about showing them some encouragement and support?

Love this post! Thanks BradleyMom!

 

[Braves4Life]

Always listen to your mom. Thanks for bringing reality to fantasy land.

 

[BUBraves2006]

This is a business, they are the employees and this affects them more so than any of you.

I agree with everything you've said, not having played D1 college athletics but getting to know many people who did when I was at Bradley.

But, I've snipped out the most important quote here. This is the crux of the entire argument - Bradley Men's Basketball IS a business and when you are in any kind of business, you must be held accountable for your actions (both in performance as well as demeanor/attitude).

I haven't ever seen anyone think that Les lacked anything in the demeanor/attitude department. He was a great ambassador for the school.

What it really comes down to is the performance/results side of it...some think he did plenty to keep his job and others think he underachieved. It's pretty simple to see why there are such divergent opinions.

 

[AZ BU Fan]

After reading the posts in this thread, there is nothing else to be said, that hasn't already been said.

Pro, con, neutral, mothers, insiders, outsiders, haters...

I guess all I can add is I have been glued to my PC pouring over the posts in this thread for over an hour straight. This is must read social networking.

It is sooo much more refreshing than the constant bombardment of national and world crises, inflation, gas prices, religious intolerance, political and financial crooks, etc

Thanks JG, BU MBB fans and BF.com posters!

I have been able to completely put aside all the bad news from the nation and world constantly being dispensed by the media and be completely engulfed with BU MBB posts.

Good luck to JL. Good luck to JG and her administration....Please do the right thing for BU MBB and the alumni and fans. Good luck to departing players, remaining players, and recruits.

One of the best reasons to come to, or stay with, the MBB program at Bradley is the PASSION OF ITS FANS. BU has the most fans, most passionate fans, per student enrollment, than any other DI University in the United States. We care!

 

[Future Walk-On]

After reading the posts in this thread, there is nothing else to be said, that hasn't already been said.

Pro, con, neutral, mothers, insiders, outsiders, haters...

I guess all I can add is I have been glued to my PC pouring over the posts in this thread for over an hour straight. This is must read social networking.

It is sooo much more refreshing than the constant bombardment of national and world crises, inflation, gas prices, religious intolerance, political and financial crooks, etc

Thanks JG, BU MBB fans and BF.com posters!

I have been able to completely put aside all the bad news from the nation and world constantly being dispensed by the media and be completely engulfed with BU MBB posts.

Good luck to JL. Good luck to JG and her administration....Please do the right thing for BU MBB and the alumni and fans. Good luck to departing players, remaining players, and recruits.

One of the best reasons to come to, or stay with, the MBB program at Bradley is the PASSION OF ITS FANS. BU has the most fans, most passionate fans, per student enrollment, than any other DI University in the United States. We care!

Not about to read whole thread......but did we say goodbye to Remy Abell yet?

 

[SFP]

Not about to read whole thread......but did we say goodbye to Remy Abell yet?

He signed a LOI to play at BU so I would hope we do not grant a waiver so quick. I'd give the new coach a chance. Some say we should wait until the Final Four and I'm hoping there was a plan in place and the national recruiting service has been working on this contingency for awhile. The sooner we announce the new coach the sooner we can shore up our roster.