Thanks for sharing LneckDad and giving a great write-up. Hopefully stuff like this is being shared with the powers that be. Maybe Yelk and the staff is still a possibility and they're working on it as we speak, but then again that would mean someone would have to admit they made a mistake.
Anyways, thanks again for the insight.
Who do you want to see as a new HC?
Thank you very much for this insightful and thoughtful post! I do not understand why the deal with Yelk was killed...
Bob
Bob
WIU - Class of 1974
https://www.linkedin.com/in/boblovely
https://www.linkedin.com/in/boblovely
Sorry to hear this. I have no idea what this administration is "thinking".
I think most of us on this board knew the financial problems the state is having, thus the effect it would have on Western, and were more than willing to give Yelk a shot. Unfortunately, just as they didn't ask the players, they didn't ask fans/alumni either.
More than disappointed at the farce the "leadership" of WIU has turned out to be.
I think most of us on this board knew the financial problems the state is having, thus the effect it would have on Western, and were more than willing to give Yelk a shot. Unfortunately, just as they didn't ask the players, they didn't ask fans/alumni either.
More than disappointed at the farce the "leadership" of WIU has turned out to be.
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sealhall74
- Posts: 5994
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:18 pm
- Location: Wherever, Windblows
Well said, LneckDad. ST, it might be worth locking up this thread back on that post. What else is there to say about the current situation?
Embrace the pace of the race.
I wasn't planning on locking it, but I was planning on starting a new "Who do you want to see as a new HC?" post...but specifically noting that it's only to discuss future HC candidates...who we'd like to see...qualifications...etc. It's kinda what I originally intended this post to be, but obviously things went all pear-shaped and we've strayed WAAAAY off topic.sealhall74 wrote:Well said, LneckDad. ST, it might be worth locking up this thread back on that post. What else is there to say about the current situation?
I'll post that soon, and hopefully steer things back towards the future of the program.
I do agree that without any new information about what went on "behind the scenes", there's really not much else we can say. We're all pretty disappointed/upset/pissed off about the situation and at many of the parties involved, but there's not much we can do about it. I'm not going to limit anyone's speech (outside of spam, trolling, or personally damaging stuff), but I will encourage everyone to kinda take a step back and chill out a bit.
Don't let the actions of a few administrators ruin your holidays
Scott Lawson - Board AdminWestern Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
LneckDad pretty much captured the player/parent frustration. Some may know I have a son on the team as well. He noted players received a text when the press conference was cancelled from the Ath. Dept. It stated when more information was available. they would let them know. No communication of any type (personal or otherwise) since then. He will complete finals tomorrow and head home with no idea how this plays out.
Tom
Tom
[thinkpurple]Leatherneck Football[/thinkpurple]
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South Side Lnecks
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:17 pm
Hello All,
New member to the site. Happy to call myself a WIU alumni. Felt the need to chime in while using respectful appropriate language and courtesy as well.
As far as the "Rooney Rule" regulation created in 2003 applying to coaching hires at Western Illinois That is a fantastic question. Here is what the NCAA says about the "Rooney Rule": copied and pasted 100% exactly word for word below, in red bold type, directly from the NCAA website with the URL below.
Does the NCAA have anything like the NFL’s “Rooney Rule?” The “Rooney Rule” is a National Football League policy requiring teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions. Legally, the NCAA can’t adopt such a rule. The NFL is a for-profit business that is legally able to draft and enforce such policies. In contrast, the NCAA is a non-profit and voluntary member association which can’t influence individual campus hiring practices. However, in early 2008, Division I athletics directors recognized the problem and adopted hiring guidelines similar to the “Rooney Rule.” While voluntary, peer pressure plays a major role in ensuring schools comply with these guidelines. The main focus, however, should be getting minority coaches hired, not just interviewed. http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files ... oaches.pdf
Here is an article from ESPN...copied and pasted some of the paragraphs directly below.
Gene Smith, athletic director at Ohio State, said a group of college administrators met with NFL officials about delivering a version of the Rooney Rule to college athletics and learned that they'd encounter major obstacles.
"We went through the process and met with the NFL," Smith said. "There's no way you can get it done in higher education."
The other challenge involves accountability and punitive measures. The Oregon law does not punish schools that do not follow the rule. Oregon State admitted to violating the law in 2013 when it hired a new softball coach without interviewing a minority candidate.
In 2008, members of the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association agreed to interview a minority candidate for openings in college football. Without any official accountability or penalty, however, the schools have not adhered to that agreement, Smith said.
"It worked for a period of time," he said.
Here is the URL to that ESPN article which is dated Sept. 1, 2015 : http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... -athletics
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Now my 2.2 cents: If the WIU administrators are concerned about being fined by the NCAA or the NCAA breathing down their Neck (no pun intended) as it pertains to interviewing a culturally/ethnically/racially diverse group of coaching candidates, the WIU administrators should have announced a national search committee the moment after they accepted coach Bob Nielson's resignation. Calling a press conference, then cancelling the press conference makes the entire school look badly disorganized. Then to say a search committee will be formed next week which could be 7, 8, 9, 10+ days after Coach Neilson resigned? Wow!! Very Bad! The chaos and disorganization leaves the young men on the football team who pour their heart and soul into practice and the game in limbo. The administrators also likely scared off plenty of recruits this week - not for only football, but for other sports as well - both men and women. Would not be surprised if students who don't intend on playing athletics at WIU are scared away by dysfunctional leadership. The football coaching fiasco is not what you want following the announcement of axing/giving the death knell to the men's tennis program at the end of the 2016 season. This is very poor management and poor leadership by the administration.
SMH (Shake My Head) at how poorly the WIU administrators handled this. Leaders lead. Managers manage. Leaders take potential, harvest that potential and build effective dominant organizations, that are dynamic, innovative, and attract the best talent at their level of competition while continuing to strive for improvement week in and week out. Managers who manage instead of lead are just there to fill a space and are more or less the same as clueless ineffective empty Wall Street Suits. And sadly, I know all about ineffective empty Wall Street Suits, but that's another story for another time.
Last but not least, one more very important thing: Mr ST Lawson. God Bless you sir. Your posts are phenomenal, well written, informative and always a great read. Thank You for all that you do sir.
For the parent(s) of the players: I know it's easier said than done, but tell your kids to stay positive, stay focused, stay driven on the field and in the classroom. Never lose sight of the goal, hopes, dreams and aspirations, whatever they may be. The WIU Football team has some tremendous young talent that will be a year older, a year wiser and get even better next season. My hope is for the WIU administrators to show the effective leadership all WIU athletics respectfully deserve and all WIU non-athlete students deserve. 
Kind Regards,
South Side Lnecks (South Side Leathernecks)
New member to the site. Happy to call myself a WIU alumni. Felt the need to chime in while using respectful appropriate language and courtesy as well.
As far as the "Rooney Rule" regulation created in 2003 applying to coaching hires at Western Illinois That is a fantastic question. Here is what the NCAA says about the "Rooney Rule": copied and pasted 100% exactly word for word below, in red bold type, directly from the NCAA website with the URL below.
Does the NCAA have anything like the NFL’s “Rooney Rule?” The “Rooney Rule” is a National Football League policy requiring teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions. Legally, the NCAA can’t adopt such a rule. The NFL is a for-profit business that is legally able to draft and enforce such policies. In contrast, the NCAA is a non-profit and voluntary member association which can’t influence individual campus hiring practices. However, in early 2008, Division I athletics directors recognized the problem and adopted hiring guidelines similar to the “Rooney Rule.” While voluntary, peer pressure plays a major role in ensuring schools comply with these guidelines. The main focus, however, should be getting minority coaches hired, not just interviewed. http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files ... oaches.pdf
Here is an article from ESPN...copied and pasted some of the paragraphs directly below.
Gene Smith, athletic director at Ohio State, said a group of college administrators met with NFL officials about delivering a version of the Rooney Rule to college athletics and learned that they'd encounter major obstacles.
"We went through the process and met with the NFL," Smith said. "There's no way you can get it done in higher education."
The other challenge involves accountability and punitive measures. The Oregon law does not punish schools that do not follow the rule. Oregon State admitted to violating the law in 2013 when it hired a new softball coach without interviewing a minority candidate.
In 2008, members of the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association agreed to interview a minority candidate for openings in college football. Without any official accountability or penalty, however, the schools have not adhered to that agreement, Smith said.
"It worked for a period of time," he said.
Here is the URL to that ESPN article which is dated Sept. 1, 2015 : http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... -athletics
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Now my 2.2 cents: If the WIU administrators are concerned about being fined by the NCAA or the NCAA breathing down their Neck (no pun intended) as it pertains to interviewing a culturally/ethnically/racially diverse group of coaching candidates, the WIU administrators should have announced a national search committee the moment after they accepted coach Bob Nielson's resignation. Calling a press conference, then cancelling the press conference makes the entire school look badly disorganized. Then to say a search committee will be formed next week which could be 7, 8, 9, 10+ days after Coach Neilson resigned? Wow!! Very Bad! The chaos and disorganization leaves the young men on the football team who pour their heart and soul into practice and the game in limbo. The administrators also likely scared off plenty of recruits this week - not for only football, but for other sports as well - both men and women. Would not be surprised if students who don't intend on playing athletics at WIU are scared away by dysfunctional leadership. The football coaching fiasco is not what you want following the announcement of axing/giving the death knell to the men's tennis program at the end of the 2016 season. This is very poor management and poor leadership by the administration.
SMH (Shake My Head) at how poorly the WIU administrators handled this. Leaders lead. Managers manage. Leaders take potential, harvest that potential and build effective dominant organizations, that are dynamic, innovative, and attract the best talent at their level of competition while continuing to strive for improvement week in and week out. Managers who manage instead of lead are just there to fill a space and are more or less the same as clueless ineffective empty Wall Street Suits. And sadly, I know all about ineffective empty Wall Street Suits, but that's another story for another time.
Last but not least, one more very important thing: Mr ST Lawson. God Bless you sir. Your posts are phenomenal, well written, informative and always a great read. Thank You for all that you do sir.
For the parent(s) of the players: I know it's easier said than done, but tell your kids to stay positive, stay focused, stay driven on the field and in the classroom. Never lose sight of the goal, hopes, dreams and aspirations, whatever they may be. The WIU Football team has some tremendous young talent that will be a year older, a year wiser and get even better next season. My hope is for the WIU administrators to show the effective leadership all WIU athletics respectfully deserve and all WIU non-athlete students deserve. Kind Regards,
South Side Lnecks (South Side Leathernecks)