(02-16-2009 11:55 AM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(02-15-2009 11:32 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(02-15-2009 11:01 PM)Karl B Wrote:  Whatever your opinion of Mike You have to give him credit for winning at UAM. I follow the Gulf South pretty close and they are one of the smallest schools in the conference with a small budget and a small old gym and he's been in the thick of the race for the last 3 years. I catch his team when he plays in Russellville and he still puts a good entertaining product on the floor.

I just noticed they lost their 4th in a row last night. How his budget compares to other Gulf South schools I have no idea, but I have no reason to doubt your information. I think this is his 8th or 9th year at Monticello. It really is rather sad how far he has fallen. Since most seem to believe he is/was a decent to very good coach, something must have made him a persona non grata in DI coaching circles. You can't fall much further off the map than Monticello, Arkansas.

Mickey, you noticed he lost his 4th in a row last night, but I don't recall you mentioning when they won about 10 out of their first twelve. That's the point I've tried to make. Don't give Newell any credit for anything good that happens, just tell about the bad. I also remember another post where you said he got the NIT home games, and wondered how he got them("he must have paid for them"), but as a fan you "liked it then." As I said before, we usually like a guy when he's winning and he's "ours." And I personally don't care who likes Newell or who hates him, and we all have the right to either, but, lets be fair about things, and give credit when credit is due.

He certainly got off to a great start this season. I have no idea who he played (other than Philander Smith) and I don't know the quality of the competition he beat. He apparently is having a harder time in the conference season, which is generally all that matters. I agree with your assessment- many may think a particular coach is a jerk or "*******". But, when he's "our *******" we generally love him as long as he's winning.

But how in the heck Newell got 3 NIT home games for a program whose attendance was terrible I've never figured out (although at the time I loved it). The amount of money he must have thrown at the NIT must have been staggering.

PTJR was right. UALR and Jerry Davis at Afilliated Foods got two of those home games. Back then the NIT was all about making money and I am sure they are now. UALR got Baylor in the first game and UALR guaranteed a sellout at Barton. What ever tickets were not sold, Afilliated bought. The NIT did not care who bought the tickets and the NIT got all the ticket revenue. Baylor could not guarantee a sellout at Baylor so UALR got it. Next was Stephen F. Austin. Even if Stephen F. Austin guaranteed a sellout it could not sell the number tickets UALR could because of the size of the arena. Next was California. The NIT expected California to win. How could the NIT get the winner of that game to New York for the least amount of money. Now, the Final Four teams had to be in New York the day after the Saturday games. Does the NIT fly UALR to California, then fly California and UALR back across the country the next day. Or send California halfway across the country to UALR, then on to New York the next day. They wanted and expected California to win and it was cheaper to send Cali to LR insted of sending UALR to Cali. It is late and I hope this makes sense.

(02-17-2009 11:59 PM)ez272 Wrote:  But how in the heck Newell got 3 NIT home games for a program whose attendance was terrible I've never figured out (although at the time I loved it). The amount of money he must have thrown at the NIT must have been staggering.

PTJR was right. UALR and Jerry Davis at Afilliated Foods got two of those home games. Back then the NIT was all about making money and I am sure they are now. UALR got Baylor in the first game and UALR guaranteed a sellout at Barton. What ever tickets were not sold, Afilliated bought. The NIT did not care who bought the tickets and the NIT got all the ticket revenue. Baylor could not guarantee a sellout at Baylor so UALR got it. Next was Stephen F. Austin. Even if Stephen F. Austin guaranteed a sellout it could not sell the number tickets UALR could because of the size of the arena. Next was California. The NIT expected California to win. How could the NIT get the winner of that game to New York for the least amount of money. Now, the Final Four teams had to be in New York the day after the Saturday games. Does the NIT fly UALR to California, then fly California and UALR back across the country the next day. Or send California halfway across the country to UALR, then on to New York the next day. They wanted and expected California to win and it was cheaper to send Cali to LR insted of sending UALR to Cali. It is late and I hope this makes sense.

Makes a lot of sense. I remember hearing that argument at the time about sending California here to get them halfway to New York. The only place you are wrong is about today's NIT. It was taken over by the NCAA. It is no longer "just about the money". The teams are seeded before the tournament starts and the schedule is set (matchups are not rearranged to get the biggests crowds). I believe the higher seeds get the home games, but I couldn't swear to that. If that's true, continuing to win should guarantee us an NIT game at home if that's where we go.

California game at Pine Bluff was fun. UALR was nurshing a late lead. Paul Springer, not a very good free throw shooter, was fouled hard in the key and fell to the floor. Springer was sitting there adjusting his shoe before getting up and Newell yelled: "Springer, you're hurt." Paul looked at him and said, "No, I'm fine." Newell said a bit more forcefully, "Springer, you're hurt." Springer shook his head in agreement and started rubbing his leg and was assisted off the floor. Newell sent in his best free throw shooter I am sure. Don't remember who, though. Kevin Johnson played on that California team, his last year, I guess he was a senior, players did not come out early much then. UALR and California were packed for a week's stay in New York. Next day around 6 a.m. UALR headed to New York and Cali went home.

(02-18-2009 12:38 AM)ez272 Wrote:  California game at Pine Bluff was fun. UALR was nurshing a late lead. Paul Springer, not a very good free throw shooter, was fouled hard in the key and fell to the floor. Springer was sitting there adjusting his shoe before getting up and Newell yelled: "Springer, you're hurt." Paul looked at him and said, "No, I'm fine." Newell said a bit more forcefully, "Springer, you're hurt." Springer shook his head in agreement and started rubbing his leg and was assisted off the floor. Newell sent in his best free throw shooter I am sure. Don't remember who, though. Kevin Johnson played on that California team, his last year, I guess he was a senior, players did not come out early much then. UALR and California were packed for a week's stay in New York. Next day around 6 a.m. UALR headed to New York and Cali went home.

Newell definitely had some tricks up his sleave. I remember playing, I believe Texas El Paso, at Barton. I remember running into Dr. J who's tickets were much higher up than mine. I remember being hot, but he was dripping in sweat and complaining about the heat in the arena. Later I found out Newell told the people who ran Barton to push up the thermometers because he felt he had the depth to wear down the other team.

(02-15-2009 11:32 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(02-15-2009 11:01 PM)Karl B Wrote:  Whatever your opinion of Mike You have to give him credit for winning at UAM. I follow the Gulf South pretty close and they are one of the smallest schools in the conference with a small budget and a small old gym and he's been in the thick of the race for the last 3 years. I catch his team when he plays in Russellville and he still puts a good entertaining product on the floor.

I just noticed they lost their 4th in a row last night. How his budget compares to other Gulf South schools I have no idea, but I have no reason to doubt your information. I think this is his 8th or 9th year at Monticello. It really is rather sad how far he has fallen. Since most seem to believe he is/was a decent to very good coach, something must have made him a persona non grata in DI coaching circles. You can't fall much further off the map than Monticello, Arkansas.

The Gulf South is the SEC of D2. It is strong in all sports and teams from the league have won football and BB championships over the last ~10 years or so.

(02-18-2009 01:05 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 12:38 AM)ez272 Wrote:  California game at Pine Bluff was fun. UALR was nurshing a late lead. Paul Springer, not a very good free throw shooter, was fouled hard in the key and fell to the floor. Springer was sitting there adjusting his shoe before getting up and Newell yelled: "Springer, you're hurt." Paul looked at him and said, "No, I'm fine." Newell said a bit more forcefully, "Springer, you're hurt." Springer shook his head in agreement and started rubbing his leg and was assisted off the floor. Newell sent in his best free throw shooter I am sure. Don't remember who, though. Kevin Johnson played on that California team, his last year, I guess he was a senior, players did not come out early much then. UALR and California were packed for a week's stay in New York. Next day around 6 a.m. UALR headed to New York and Cali went home.

Newell definitely had some tricks up his sleave. I remember playing, I believe Texas El Paso, at Barton. I remember running into Dr. J who's tickets were much higher up than mine. I remember being hot, but he was dripping in sweat and complaining about the heat in the arena. Later I found out Newell told the people who ran Barton to push up the thermometers because he felt he had the depth to wear down the other team.

My recollection is that your wife found a maintenance worker and asked him to turn the heat down, and he told her that he couldn't do that because it was set right where Coach Newell told him to set it. Pretty funny. Those two 7 footers from El Paso had a rough time physically that night. It was like an oven in Barton. Ah for the good old days.