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Full Version: State of ETSU Athletics
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As we all know, Dr. Sander retired and was replaced by Scott Carter in Fall 2017. At the time, we were all generally happy with the position that ETSU athletics was in. We had a charismatic and successful men's basketball coach, a somewhat successful women's basketball program that was setting record attendance numbers, and was about to begin playing football in our new stadium. The only stain seemed to be the tennis program, whose coach had been fired due to criminal activity. I looked up the records of the major sports since that time:

Football has won 43% of its games since the 2017-18 season. To be fair, one of those seasons included a dramatic set of games to win the conference and generate significant interest.

Baseball has won 60% of its games. The new coach appears to have been a good hire!

Women's basketball has won 39% of its games and the record has progressively gotten worse

Softball has won 43% of its games.

Men's tennis- last year they had a 7-6 record before the season was cut short. This year they are 0-5, but against some really strong competition.

Men's basketball- Obviously very successful but then lost our head coach and are currently in the middle of the national anthem debate. Regardless of one's stance on that issue, I think everyone can recognize that it has divided the community in a way that very few other issues would. This could very well take a generation to recover from and will undoubtedly harm the athletic department (and probably the university as a whole) financially.

I am by no means calling for Carter to be replaced, but it seems to be that any momentum that we had is now gone which brings about some questions:

1. Does anyone think significant changes will take place within the athletic department in the near future?
2. How do we improve the play of our teams? It seems like we have given each team the facilities and support that is needed.
3. How in the world does the university respond to this anthem issue in a way that doesn't further divide the community?
(02-20-2021 11:35 AM)etsubuc Wrote: [ -> ]2. How do we improve the play of our teams? It seems like we have given each team the facilities and support that is needed.

I don't see a way. It was good while it lasted but after Dr. Noland's comments, recruiting just became exceedingly difficult. Wouldn't be surprised to see the basketball transfer portal full of ETSU players.

Again, it was fun while it lasted.
(02-20-2021 12:21 PM)BucDoctor Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-20-2021 11:35 AM)etsubuc Wrote: [ -> ]2. How do we improve the play of our teams? It seems like we have given each team the facilities and support that is needed.

I don't see a way. It was good while it lasted but after Dr. Noland's comments, recruiting just became exceedingly difficult. Wouldn't be surprised to see the basketball transfer portal full of ETSU players.

Absolutely— it sure was fun while it lasted. Of course these are unprecedented times in college athletics as we are observing nationwide. However, bringing this recent political activism into the basketball program, AFTER TRUMP IS NOW GONE, looks to be more than pre-Trump politics. Who is captain of the ETSU ship, the hired adult leaders or the inexperienced and yet to be credentialed students, especially the student athletes? Unless I’m out of touch, these are students who can earn their degrees FREE of massive student debt thanks to the ETSU athletic department DONORS and the athletic fees paid by their fellow CLASSMATES. .
What needs to happen here is our leaders need to LEAD our community through this. There is a way, but it’s going to take big boy/girl leadership now.
(02-21-2021 11:20 AM)WingedWarrior Wrote: [ -> ]For some institutional context: https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2020/03-m...iendly.php
Why is advocating for social justice confused with embracing veterans? Those concepts are on two different planets.
(02-21-2021 01:53 PM)BucDoctor Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2021 11:20 AM)WingedWarrior Wrote: [ -> ]For some institutional context: https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2020/03-m...iendly.php
Why is advocating for social justice confused with embracing veterans? Those concepts are on two different planets.

Unfortunately, some people seem to see a contradiction between the two concepts. My point is that ETSU isn’t an anti-military or anti-flag institution.
(02-21-2021 02:44 PM)WingedWarrior Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2021 01:53 PM)BucDoctor Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2021 11:20 AM)WingedWarrior Wrote: [ -> ]For some institutional context: https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2020/03-m...iendly.php
Why is advocating for social justice confused with embracing veterans? Those concepts are on two different planets.

Unfortunately, some people seem to see a contradiction between the two concepts. My point is that ETSU isn’t an anti-military or anti-flag institution.

True! Go Bucs!
(02-21-2021 01:53 PM)BucDoctor Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-21-2021 11:20 AM)WingedWarrior Wrote: [ -> ]For some institutional context: https://www.etsu.edu/etsu-news/2020/03-m...iendly.php
Why is advocating for social justice confused with embracing veterans? Those concepts are on two different planets.

Is there another country in history that has done more, not perfectly, for real social justice than the USA?
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