Quote:I think he has improved a little in the P.R. department.
I get your point about him being totally pleased about how things were going with the team -- and I think it was a rookie mistake. He wanted to keep the spirits high (he rides off that), and given the injuries and expecting Not to be a winning team, he liked how things were progressing in terms of attitude and keeping the heads in it, etc (assuming Behind the scenes). It should have been a double statement like "No, I'm not pleased, I'm not happy with what we have been accomplishing, or more importantly lack thereof -- but I like the toughness and the willingness to grow. It's an uphill battle, facing tons of adversity, and there's a lot of players who are muddling through this thing and learning well." And to be fair, he's probably said similar comments like that to reporters as well, as the season rolled on.
In the PR dept in general, I'll say this: He hasn't changed, which is what I like. The difference to most others is -- we're WINNING. Listen to the radio interview about the Idaho locker room. He admitted he broke the ceiling tile, and he may do it again (it was a small space he was in too), but took responsibility and will pay for it, etc. If we lost that game and were 0-2, the Fire Fleck thread would be lit up like sparkler. But we won. After playing Purdue tough, and winning that Idaho game -- PR is a whole lot different in how it's taken.
I think he has GREAT PR when a team improves and/or is winning. When it's on a losing streak -- people will bash a coach for his youthful exuberance. His PR, his attitude, his motion, his persona -- all depends on how we're playing on the field on game day, to most people. Right now, I'm loving it! Last year, I still liked it (it'd take multiple years in a row like last year for me to dislike it).
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From BC Enquirer 10-29
