(03-30-2011 03:31 PM)niu79 Wrote:  I don't think NIU posters are as defensive about Bradley as we are about folks from Ohio (of all places) denegrating central Illinois. Fact of the matter is the Kent State coach got offered more than double his current pay. If Bradley didn't offer him, plenty of other mid-major schools with financial wealth would have come knocking, regardless if he only has two years of success.

You probably don't know, but KSU poster bopal lives in Illinois. He knows the area and knows that neither are particularly impressive to outsiders.

I agree another mid-major might have come calling. That is all the more reason to not sign a contract within two hours of showing up on campus.

I went to NIU in 2003 for a Kappa Kappa Psi convention. Nice area but it really was corn fields from Chicago on. Nothing wrong with that as I am from upstate NY and we are much the same, though we have hills which are nice.

(03-30-2011 04:28 PM)KStud Wrote:  

(03-30-2011 03:31 PM)niu79 Wrote:  I don't think NIU posters are as defensive about Bradley as we are about folks from Ohio (of all places) denegrating central Illinois. Fact of the matter is the Kent State coach got offered more than double his current pay. If Bradley didn't offer him, plenty of other mid-major schools with financial wealth would have come knocking, regardless if he only has two years of success.

You probably don't know, but KSU poster bopal lives in Illinois. He knows the area and knows that neither are particularly impressive to outsiders.

I agree another mid-major might have come calling. That is all the more reason to not sign a contract within two hours of showing up on campus.

It is more about the total lack of respect that Bradley showed Kent. I personally am not impressed with Bradley in the least and that doesn't have as much to do with its location as how they handled this, so slamming them because of their location wasn't fair of me. Slamming them because they acted poorly is.

It could have been done with class, but that was too much to ask of the Braves. No MAC school deserves to be embarrassed this way, especially by another midmajor. Hearing things like Bradley did it because they don't want to pay for the buyout on Geno's contract really ticked me off, but, now that I've cooled off, I don't think that's why they made the announcement so quickly. It was so Ford didn't back out (a la Dakich and WVU years ago).

Clearly, they knew what they were doing with Ford. He buckled under the pressure like he had never been in a negotiation before. I don't know if he went by himself or with representation, but he was terribly easy to manipulate. No wonder they wanted him to sign before he left and no wonder they announced it without telling him. He probably could have been talked out of it by Kent if they hadn't (or even gone to Dayton anyway). They closed the other door behind him before he could back up, which I suspect they think might have happened.

Anyway, no I don't have any particular problem with downstate Illinois, except that it is awfully flat and that's a little intimidating. But, I do have a HUGE problem with Bradley and a pretty large problem with Geno, who made Kent look very foolish in the process. I've never had a problem with the coach leaving before, but the way he did it was really, really bad. The good news is that only 1 of 2 things will happen, Ford will fail at Bradley or he will succeed and then dump them on a moment's notice for another better school. Dude showed his colors last weekend and it wasn't pretty.

(03-30-2011 02:01 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  hahaha, Bradley?? has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school? Are there any other bball historical powerhouses named after frat boys that i should know about. Trevor U? Chazz A&M?

although I know nothing of their academic track record (obviously) I can't imagine having to explain what a Bradley is on my resume in a job interview outside of the midwest.

of course this brings me back to the root of it all- The 2x MAC COY just got his salary doubled up and a big time upgrade in facilities and fan support by a school I'm making fun of. So in the end, the joke's on me. Laugh it up Bradley fans, you've earned it.

What are you about 12 yo? Grow up little man. It really doesn't surprise me that many in Ohio would not know Bradley. Afterall, they only know one school. Ohio State.

my own personal ignorance aside, you can't honestly believe that Bradley is a nationally known school that people outside of IL readily recognize. Even if its partly because of a terribly tragedy, the name Kent State is much more familar to non bball fans outside of Ohio than Bradley is.

I'm not saying Bradley is not a good school, I'm just saying I, and most people, have never heard of it. So I poked fun at it because when a coach at a more recognizable school gets offered a 133% pay raise from a school with a lower profile I find it surprising. And as a MAC fan, sad.

(03-31-2011 11:04 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(03-30-2011 02:01 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  hahaha, Bradley?? has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school? Are there any other bball historical powerhouses named after frat boys that i should know about. Trevor U? Chazz A&M?

although I know nothing of their academic track record (obviously) I can't imagine having to explain what a Bradley is on my resume in a job interview outside of the midwest.

of course this brings me back to the root of it all- The 2x MAC COY just got his salary doubled up and a big time upgrade in facilities and fan support by a school I'm making fun of. So in the end, the joke's on me. Laugh it up Bradley fans, you've earned it.

What are you about 12 yo? Grow up little man. It really doesn't surprise me that many in Ohio would not know Bradley. Afterall, they only know one school. Ohio State.

my own personal ignorance aside, you can't honestly believe that Bradley is a nationally known school that people outside of IL readily recognize. Even if its partly because of a terribly tragedy, the name Kent State is much more familar to non bball fans outside of Ohio than Bradley is.

I'm not saying Bradley is not a good school, I'm just saying I, and most people, have never heard of it. So I poked fun at it because when a coach at a more recognizable school gets offered a 133% pay raise from a school with a lower profile I find it surprising. And as a MAC fan, sad.

Kent MAY be a more recognizable name because of the tragedy that occured there but that would be the ONLY reason. I am not saying Bradley is a household name llke Duke because they aren't just that they have just as much(if not a little more) b-ball name recognition as Kent nationwide.

Easiest way to solve this... Bradley appeared on ESPN 4 times Kent appeared on ESPN 10 times. ESPN is the best indicator for national exposure.

(04-01-2011 01:51 PM)ilovegymnast Wrote:  Easiest way to solve this... Bradley appeared on ESPN 4 times Kent appeared on ESPN 10 times. ESPN is the best indicator for national exposure.

Very resourceful, you are!

(03-31-2011 11:04 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(03-30-2011 02:01 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  hahaha, Bradley?? has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school? Are there any other bball historical powerhouses named after frat boys that i should know about. Trevor U? Chazz A&M?

although I know nothing of their academic track record (obviously) I can't imagine having to explain what a Bradley is on my resume in a job interview outside of the midwest.

of course this brings me back to the root of it all- The 2x MAC COY just got his salary doubled up and a big time upgrade in facilities and fan support by a school I'm making fun of. So in the end, the joke's on me. Laugh it up Bradley fans, you've earned it.

What are you about 12 yo? Grow up little man. It really doesn't surprise me that many in Ohio would not know Bradley. Afterall, they only know one school. Ohio State.

Even if its partly because of a terribly tragedy, the name Kent State is much more familar to non bball fans outside of Ohio than Bradley is.

Unless they subscribe to Sports Illustrated?



Or unless they're looking to go to college, because Bradley is ranked 6 out of 146 midwestern midsize colleges?

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...es-midwest

Even if you're young, if you like basketball chances are you saw the '06 Bradley-Pitt ("Brad Pitt") 2nd round game because it was the only game on. And their first round upset over Kansas busted everyone's bracket.

(04-02-2011 08:22 AM)Max Power Wrote:  

(03-31-2011 11:04 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(03-30-2011 02:01 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  hahaha, Bradley?? has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school? Are there any other bball historical powerhouses named after frat boys that i should know about. Trevor U? Chazz A&M?

although I know nothing of their academic track record (obviously) I can't imagine having to explain what a Bradley is on my resume in a job interview outside of the midwest.

of course this brings me back to the root of it all- The 2x MAC COY just got his salary doubled up and a big time upgrade in facilities and fan support by a school I'm making fun of. So in the end, the joke's on me. Laugh it up Bradley fans, you've earned it.

What are you about 12 yo? Grow up little man. It really doesn't surprise me that many in Ohio would not know Bradley. Afterall, they only know one school. Ohio State.

Even if its partly because of a terribly tragedy, the name Kent State is much more familar to non bball fans outside of Ohio than Bradley is.

Unless they subscribe to Sports Illustrated?



Or unless they're looking to go to college, because Bradley is ranked 6 out of 146 midwestern midsize colleges?

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...es-midwest

Even if you're young, if you like basketball chances are you saw the '06 Bradley-Pitt ("Brad Pitt") 2nd round game because it was the only game on. And their first round upset over Kansas busted everyone's bracket.

You're trying to counter my assertion that nobody outside of bball fans and Peoria residents have heard of Bradley by referencing a link called "Regional University Midwest Rankings."? You're on a list with other powerhouse name brands like "Truman State" and "Hamline U.". C'mon. And I know you're real proud of your one shining moment 5 years ago but like I said, unless you really follow college bball, Bradley isn't a name people are going to readily recognize.

(04-02-2011 08:22 AM)Max Power Wrote:  

(03-31-2011 11:04 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(03-30-2011 02:01 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  hahaha, Bradley?? has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school? Are there any other bball historical powerhouses named after frat boys that i should know about. Trevor U? Chazz A&M?

although I know nothing of their academic track record (obviously) I can't imagine having to explain what a Bradley is on my resume in a job interview outside of the midwest.

of course this brings me back to the root of it all- The 2x MAC COY just got his salary doubled up and a big time upgrade in facilities and fan support by a school I'm making fun of. So in the end, the joke's on me. Laugh it up Bradley fans, you've earned it.

What are you about 12 yo? Grow up little man. It really doesn't surprise me that many in Ohio would not know Bradley. Afterall, they only know one school. Ohio State.

Even if its partly because of a terribly tragedy, the name Kent State is much more familar to non bball fans outside of Ohio than Bradley is.

Unless they subscribe to Sports Illustrated?



Or unless they're looking to go to college, because Bradley is ranked 6 out of 146 midwestern midsize colleges?

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...es-midwest

Even if you're young, if you like basketball chances are you saw the '06 Bradley-Pitt ("Brad Pitt") 2nd round game because it was the only game on. And their first round upset over Kansas busted everyone's bracket.

It was an impressive run, certainly more impressive than Geno's zero NCAA tournaments at Kent. It's a shame that Bradley couldn't hang onto the coach that took them to that level.

(03-31-2011 11:04 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(03-30-2011 02:01 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  hahaha, Bradley?? has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school? Are there any other bball historical powerhouses named after frat boys that i should know about. Trevor U? Chazz A&M?

although I know nothing of their academic track record (obviously) I can't imagine having to explain what a Bradley is on my resume in a job interview outside of the midwest.

of course this brings me back to the root of it all- The 2x MAC COY just got his salary doubled up and a big time upgrade in facilities and fan support by a school I'm making fun of. So in the end, the joke's on me. Laugh it up Bradley fans, you've earned it.

What are you about 12 yo? Grow up little man. It really doesn't surprise me that many in Ohio would not know Bradley. Afterall, they only know one school. Ohio State.

my own personal ignorance aside, you can't honestly believe that Bradley is a nationally known school that people outside of IL readily recognize.

I live in Virginia, previously Michigan just north of Toledo........and I've definitely heard of Bradley. They've had some good basketball teams in the past.

(04-02-2011 11:15 AM)perimeterpost Wrote:  You're trying to counter my assertion that nobody outside of bball fans and Peoria residents have heard of Bradley by referencing a link called "Regional University Midwest Rankings."? You're on a list with other powerhouse name brands like "Truman State" and "Hamline U.". C'mon. And I know you're real proud of your one shining moment 5 years ago but like I said, unless you really follow college bball, Bradley isn't a name people are going to readily recognize.

Bradley is a small school, and that's a given. But the top schools on that "regional" list I think most people have heard of--Butler, Xavier, Valpo, Creighton, Drake.

I'm not a Bradley fan. I was, until I went to NIU. But it's as absurd to me to think Kent basketball is more well known than Bradley as the reverse is to you. Even though they've only grabbed headlines with that one "shining moment" the last couple decades, they've been a regular in the postseason, even if it's mostly NIT, and before the last decade there's no comparison at all.

(03-29-2011 07:24 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  has anyone who's not a die hard bball fan or resident of Peoria ever even heard of this school?

(04-02-2011 01:24 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I live in Virginia, previously Michigan just north of Toledo........and I've definitely heard of Bradley. They've had some good basketball teams in the past.

(04-02-2011 04:34 PM)Max Power Wrote:  I'm not a Bradley fan. I was, until I went to NIU. But it's as absurd to me to think Kent basketball is more well known than Bradley as the reverse is to you. Even though they've only grabbed headlines with that one "shining moment" the last couple decades, they've been a regular in the postseason, even if it's mostly NIT, and before the last decade there's no comparison at all.

Kent State's bball team has a higher national profile than Bradley's bball team because more people nationally have heard of Kent State than Bradley. You're both arguing that you've heard of Bradley because of their basketball team, and that's exactly my point. Now show me someone who's heard of Bradley that doesn't follow bball and isnt from Ill.

My point to all this is that a public university, with a recognizable name, with 5X the students and who knows how many more alumni, shouldn't be losing their coach to a small, private, regional school with little to no national name recognition. But they did, and that's in part to the positives Bradley has put in place, but to me its a bigger indicator of the sad state of the MAC.

Most impressive for KENT has been the ability to maintain their winning ways over the span of FOUR different coaches. Not many schools at any level can match that. Are the Flashes gonna extend it a fifth, thus getting "One for the Thumb"?