The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(08-26-2020 10:07 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(08-26-2020 08:57 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-26-2020 07:46 AM)VB Monarch Wrote:  

(08-25-2020 08:26 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Its kinda silly how overrated Blane is by some posters. Fine coach, had a few great years for us; some of the best we’ve ever had. Also had a bunch of really poor seasons.

BT had a good run here. I will always appreciate what he did. But, 10 years ago, ODU fans complained endlessly about his coaching, including many on here.

That is my recollection as well. BTs coaching issues were almost identical to JJs. Again, IMO, fierce rivalrys and in state competition made his era much more fun than todays.As much as everyone griped about the big brown turd in Richmond, who wouldn't take it back in a heart beat compared to what we have now?

The CAA was definitely way more fun back then. I don't remember too much complaining about BT though except for his last 2 seasons. His recruiting tanked once he fell off the wagon, and of course the final drunk year was a total disaster. But otherwise, I remember people loving BT and his fun loving, blue-collar, hard working, silly joke telling ways. The only complaint I recall was it was slow, ugly, terrible shooting basketball. But man, we sure did win that way. And against some pretty good teams too. Most of his time here was fantastic. 3 NCAAs and one with a win, an NIT F4, a Paradise Jam championship and a CIT national championship. Thats good stuff.

Some of the more "popular" posters on here were on that previous board and it was relentless on how they based BT and his style of play.

I was one of those, but it was more about seeing what was happening. It was clear that things were headed south well before the bottom fell out. Recruiting was bad for a couple/few years before the wheels came off, and I definitely was ready to fire him a couple years before he fired himself. I think my position is consistent. I firmly believe that when a program stops moving forward, you should be proactive in making a change. I think that is how you continue to elevate. You have to parlay the success built by one coach into a better hiring pool and, in theory, a better coach. If you wait until a coach has a continued trend downward, you are starting the process over every time you hire a coach, and you are not getting access to the pool of the best available coaches.