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Author Message Coop for Prez General User Member Since: 3/2/2011 Post Count: 6 Status: Offline     Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/22/2012 10:14:16 AM  Dear Bobcat Nation  *Disclaimer:  I am a Groce fan.  He helped bring the Ohio program back to where it should be, and I think he is a stand up guy.* That being said, in a perfect world Coach Groce would've signed a 20 year contract, moved into the house next to McDavis on campus, turned Ohio into a perennial powerhouse like Gonzaga, Butler, Villanova etc, and become our Joe Paterno (minus the ugly ending).  Ohio would host Big East/Ten teams every year in the Convo in front of 13,000+, we would be ranked higher than OSWho? on a yearly basis, McDonald's All Americans would call Athens home, and we would compete for National Championships down the road. Too bad we don't live in a perfect world.  Coach Groce left us, and he did it in a classy way.  The first thing he did in his Illinois press conference was thank Ohio.  He could've made a big deal about the money, he could've gone to the media and drawn more attention to himself trying to get a bigger contract, but he didn't.  He made the best decision for his career (which anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing) and he made the right choice.  Let's leave it at that, and time to move on.  Thanks for the GREAT memories coach and good luck. Here's where I make my argument.  Let's say he did stay on for just ONE more year.  He would've been destined to leave Athens after one more season.  With the team we have coming back, and the national recognition we gained during our Sweet 16 run (that was oh so sweet) there's no way he would've stayed after the upcoming '12-'13 season.  So then what?  Not only would we would lose our beloved head coach in an off season, we would also lose Cooper, arguably the best point guard to ever play in Athens, Offutt who leads the team on and off the court, Keely & Baltic who hold down the paint, and probably some recruits/transfers that might follow Groce or choose other schools.  And nothing against Coach Groce, as I don't know him on a personal level, but he might not recruit his heart out for a program that he knows he is going to leave.   If he stayed for one more year our program, sure we would hopefully make another run, but we would be devastated after that year.  Let's say I sold  everything I own, cashed out my bank account, and hitting up Vegas for a long weekend.  Terrible idea right?  But man would those 3-4 days in Vegas  be glorious.  I wouldn't have a worry in the world.  But come Sunday my life would be over, I'd have to somehow get a flight home, move in with my parents (I'm only 23 so it wouldn't be TOO bad), and start my life over. In the long run it just wouldn't be worth it.  That's what we would be doing if Groce stayed one more year.  We'd be putting every last egg that our program had in one basket, and then it'd be over. Enter Coach Christian.  This guy might as well have won the lotto.  If I had a choice between taking a year off from work and living on a tropical island, all expenses paid, OR living in Athens coaching this Ohio basketball team for a year, I'd pick Athens and our basketball team every time.  Don't get me wrong he's got a lot to live up to, and there are super high expectations, but he's got a pretty good team to work with.  This allows him to recruit his little heart out for the next year.  He's got scholarships to work with, a program tradition that's only improving, a raucous environment in the Convo for a least another year to show off to those recruits, and in my opinion at least a 25 win season coming up, if not an Elite 8, Final 4 run (I like to aim high).  Sure it might be a little bumpy getting used to the players, and installing your coaching philosophies, but I have faith in our athletic department, and trust they didn't hire some bum off the road.  After all it is THEIR JOB to make Ohio athletics better, and I'm sure they know what they're doing.  I have faith he can replace the players we are going to lose after next season, and he's got all the tools/ a year to do it, as opposed to a few months if Groce stayed another year. Maybe I'm a little delusional after a Saturday night of drinking, maybe I'm going through Athens withdrawals (no cure has been found yet, weekend trips back only ease the pain) and I just want the best for my team and school.  Sure if Groce stuck around for next year it probably would've been glorious, but then what?  Him leaving allows us to plan for the long term, and in my opinion helps us out.  Good luck Coach Groce, I will be following the Fighting illini and will be cheering for you, but I think our program will be better off down the road, and can't wait to support the team/ Coach Christian next season and many more to come.   Yours Truly, A dedicated Bobcat Fan P.S. - If anyone from the AD reads this, can we try to get Illinois/Groce to the Convo next season or the one after that in a home/home trade?  Wouldn't that be cool to beat illinois in the Convo next year?  Just a thought, GO CATS! Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,764 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/22/2012 1:07:00 PM  Well, you make some good points, but one statement ("anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing") simply isn't true.  That most coaches would have made the same decision is certainly a known fact.  Your assertion is not.   The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Ohio69 General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 3,062 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/23/2012 8:36:52 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: Well, you make some good points, but one statement ("anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing") simply isn't true.  That most coaches would have made the same decision is certainly a known fact.  Your assertion is not.   Nah, he's right.  Anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing. Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?..... Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,764 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/23/2012 8:22:17 PM  Ohio69 wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Well, you make some good points, but one statement ("anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing") simply isn't true.  That most coaches would have made the same decision is certainly a known fact.  Your assertion is not.   Nah, he's right.  Anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing.  That's what I like in my sports analysis -- pure, unadulterated dogmatism.   Last Edited: 4/23/2012 8:22:37 PM by OhioCatFan The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Ohio69 General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 3,062 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/24/2012 8:36:34 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: Ohio69 wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Well, you make some good points, but one statement ("anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing") simply isn't true.  That most coaches would have made the same decision is certainly a known fact.  Your assertion is not.   Nah, he's right.  Anyone in their right mind would've done the same thing.  That's what I like in my sports analysis -- pure, unadulterated dogmatism.   Woof ! Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?..... Back to Top giacomo General User Member Since: 11/20/2007 Post Count: 2,734 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/24/2012 3:05:07 PM  Son, you are correct in your post. I will paraphrase your comment and say "any coach in his right mind" would have done the same thing. To be a D-1 coach is like being a pro coach, it's just a matter of time until you get fired. One of your skills must be to keep ahead of the recolving door and survive. Back to Top OUVan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Bethesda, MD Post Count: 5,580 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/24/2012 4:52:11 PM  giacomo wrote: Son, you are correct in your post. I will paraphrase your comment and say "any coach in his right mind" would have done the same thing. To be a D-1 coach is like being a pro coach, it's just a matter of time until you get fired. One of your skills must be to keep ahead of the recolving door and survive. That's actually a great take.  We demand loyalty but expect results.   As soon as the results stopped coming we would have shown John Groce zero loyalty.  Ask Larry Hunter how far the loyalty pendulum swings. Back to Top HeHateMiami General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Mason, OH Post Count: 473 Status: Offline     RE: Coach Groce leaving this season actually helps Ohio in the long run...    Posted: 4/25/2012 11:41:06 AM  OUVan wrote: giacomo wrote: Son, you are correct in your post. I will paraphrase your comment and say "any coach in his right mind" would have done the same thing. To be a D-1 coach is like being a pro coach, it's just a matter of time until you get fired. One of your skills must be to keep ahead of the recolving door and survive. That's actually a great take.  We demand loyalty but expect results.   As soon as the results stopped coming we would have shown John Groce zero loyalty.  Ask Larry Hunter how far the loyalty pendulum swings. I had a similar thought the other day. There would have been a similar outcry if TOS would have jumped after the '05 tournament with Leon and Fears coming back as sophomores. Instead he stuck around, things went haywire and he basically had to take a golden parachute job because he knew he was done in Ohio when his contract came up. 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