With the news just out that Tony Shaver was fired, I ask you to seriously consider your donations this year. I encourage you to still give to W&M, but to really consider where your donation goes. Right now, I do not believe in, nor have confidence in, the relatively new leadership or direction of the Athletic Department. If you do, I encourage you to continue to do as you have.

There has been too many changes in coaches and staff. Changes in logos and branding. Change for the sake of change. Change is fine and expected but the last two years have been clearly an out with the old, in with the new.

One Tribe, One Day is coming soon. Before you send in your donation to athletics, think to yourself whether you have confidence in and support the path of the last two years and forward. If you do have confidence, press on. If you do not, think about other areas within the school to donate.

Money talks.

You aren’t serious.

(03-13-2019 03:20 PM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  With the news just out that Tony Shaver was fired, I ask you to seriously consider your donations this year. I encourage you to still give to W&M, but to really consider where your donation goes. I do not believe in, nor have confidence in, the relatively new leadership or direction of the Athletic Department. If you do, continue to do as you have.

There has been too many changes in coaches and staff. Changes in logos and branding. Change for the sake of change. Change is fine and expected but the last two years have been clearly an out with the old, in with the new.

One Tribe, One Day is coming soon. Before you send in your donation to athletics, think to yourself whether you have confidence in and support the the path of the last two years and forward. If you do have confidence, press on. If you do not, think about other areas within the school to donate.

Money talks.

Get a grip man. I'm unsure of how this decision turns out, and don't love it, but the vast majority of decisions were badly needed ones that got rid of dead wood that should have been done a while ago. So yeah... if you want to tank our basketball program entirely out of spite, then follow this jerk.

Uh ... the original poster reflects a point of view held by many ... just as Tribe2011's view is held by many.

I will continue to support the program on the assumption that the AD will hire a better coach/person than Tony Shaver, that none of the key players will transfer, that March, 2020 will continue to be circled on the calendar, and that the men's basketball program is now poised to go big-time.

If my assumption is wrong, I will re-consider my position.

(03-13-2019 03:45 PM)nj alum Wrote:  Uh ... the original poster reflects a point of view held by many ... just as Tribe2011's view is held by many.

I will continue to support the program on the assumption that the AD will hire a better coach/person than Tony Shaver, that none of the key players will transfer, that March, 2020 will continue to be circled on the calendar, and that the men's basketball program is now poised to go big-time.

If my assumption is wrong, I will re-consider my position.

+1. The water is murky, need to watch for awhile.

This is a honest thread with bad implications. Why punish our student athletes for the decisions of the adults in charge? Huge took a big risk here in the timing of this move.

I have had no problems with any of the changes Huge has brought about to date. My opinions have ranged from supportive, indifferent, to wait and see. I think this decision, particularly the timing, is very poor. I am not going to make any brash proclamations in the wake of the initial shock, other than to say I plan to email Huge and ask that she reconsider this decision. Beyond that, time will tell.

Go Tribe! Like the decision or not, our kids will receive my support. At this point I trust the decision making.

(03-13-2019 04:44 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  I plan to email Huge and ask that she reconsider this decision.

I am not going to even bother wasting time emailing Huge. However, I have already emailed Katherine Rowe.

However, as Tribe1693 said, "Money Talks" and, unfortunately, I am not considered a "big giver" and consequently nobody at W&M cares what I think.

(03-13-2019 04:58 PM)Zorch Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 04:44 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  I plan to email Huge and ask that she reconsider this decision.

I am not going to even bother wasting time emailing Huge. However, I have already emailed Katherine Rowe.

However, as Tribe1693 said, "Money Talks" and, unfortunately, I am not considered a "big giver" and consequently nobody at W&M cares what I think.

No doubt it would take some very big donors or a ground swell of disapproval to reverse this call, but I figure Tony is owed that much for he has given.

No possible way this decision is reversed. Need to move on and hope Huge has a plan that will calm the Indians that want to go on the warpath.

(03-13-2019 04:44 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  I have had no problems with any of the changes Huge has brought about to date. My opinions have ranged from supportive, indifferent, to wait and see. I think this decision, particularly the timing, is very poor.

I think the timing is as good as it could be for all involved, aside from never. The entire staff has full opportunity in hiring/firing season to find a landing spot, and there's more gathered basketball coaches now than any other time of year in terms of searching for the next coach.

(03-13-2019 03:35 PM)Tribe2011 Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 03:20 PM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  With the news just out that Tony Shaver was fired, I ask you to seriously consider your donations this year. I encourage you to still give to W&M, but to really consider where your donation goes. I do not believe in, nor have confidence in, the relatively new leadership or direction of the Athletic Department. If you do, continue to do as you have.

There has been too many changes in coaches and staff. Changes in logos and branding. Change for the sake of change. Change is fine and expected but the last two years have been clearly an out with the old, in with the new.

One Tribe, One Day is coming soon. Before you send in your donation to athletics, think to yourself whether you have confidence in and support the the path of the last two years and forward. If you do have confidence, press on. If you do not, think about other areas within the school to donate.

Money talks.

Get a grip man. I'm unsure of how this decision turns out, and don't love it, but the vast majority of decisions were badly needed ones that got rid of dead wood that should have been done a while ago. So yeah... if you want to tank our basketball program entirely out of spite, then follow this jerk.

Be careful, Tribe2011. I've crossed this line before and wished I'd been more mature. Make your point without the personal attacks.


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When's a better time to announce it? We still have a scholarship to give. I'd think they want a new coach in place in a few weeks, to meet the players before the end of the semester and get the ball rolling ASAP.

I get the emotion, but who does this actually hurt? If it even hurts Huge at all, think about what the collateral damage is.

Maybe it's because I was a student more recently than I think anybody else here, but my mind immediately goes to how this will impact students. Don't make students play with fewer scholarships/worse equipment/whatever else the consequences might be if athletics gets fewer donations just because you think the AD sucks.

(Also the Pep Band is technically part of athletics, so you know I gotta look out for them )

I literally was going to make my annual donation to the MBB program this morning but got tied up. I’m sure I’ll do the right thing in the end but not today.

(03-13-2019 06:30 PM)2017WithPep Wrote:  I get the emotion, but who does this actually hurt? If it even hurts Huge at all, think about what the collateral damage is.

Maybe it's because I was a student more recently than I think anybody else here, but my mind immediately goes to how this will impact students. Don't make students play with fewer scholarships/worse equipment/whatever else the consequences might be if athletics gets fewer donations just because you think the AD sucks.

(Also the Pep Band is technically part of athletics, so you know I gotta look out for them )

Where to begin?

Some of us played intercollegiate athletics at the College with fewer scholarships and old equipment ... and I wouldn't trade those years for your years.

It is the donor's money to do with as the donor pleases. If the donor does not like the direction of a program, or a school, it is the donor's prerogative to withhold a donation.

The issue is not the withholding of the donation.

The issue is that the school has become reliant upon the donation. That is not a good business model.

(03-13-2019 05:50 PM)TribeInTheBurg Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 04:44 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  I have had no problems with any of the changes Huge has brought about to date. My opinions have ranged from supportive, indifferent, to wait and see. I think this decision, particularly the timing, is very poor.

I think the timing is as good as it could be for all involved, aside from never. The entire staff has full opportunity in hiring/firing season to find a landing spot, and there's more gathered basketball coaches now than any other time of year in terms of searching for the next coach.

The timing is poor because we will arguably have one of the most talented teams in WM basketball history next season. Now that team will have to learn an entire new system. The new system may not fit the talent Shaver assembled for his offense. The timing stinks because we have three academic seniors that will be free to transfer without sitting out a yr per the NCAA's grad transfer rules. Nathan Knight could literally pick where he'd want to go and start next year. Maybe guys transfer out or may they don't, but I'd guarantee they're all considering their options right now due to this decision. The last and perhaps most important reason the timing stinks is because Shaver has earned the opportunity to coach the talent he has assembled for next season. Any decision to keep or fire Tony should have been based on next season's performance and outcome IMO.

(03-13-2019 06:49 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 05:50 PM)TribeInTheBurg Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 04:44 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  I have had no problems with any of the changes Huge has brought about to date. My opinions have ranged from supportive, indifferent, to wait and see. I think this decision, particularly the timing, is very poor.

I think the timing is as good as it could be for all involved, aside from never. The entire staff has full opportunity in hiring/firing season to find a landing spot, and there's more gathered basketball coaches now than any other time of year in terms of searching for the next coach.

The timing is poor because we will arguably have one of the most talented teams in WM basketball history next season. Now that team will have to learn an entire new system. The new system may not fit the talent Shaver assembled for his offense. The timing stinks because we have three academic seniors that will be free to transfer without sitting out a yr per the NCAA's grad transfer rules. Nathan Knight could literally pick where he'd want to go and start next year. Maybe guys transfer out or may they don't, but I'd guarantee they're all considering their options right now due to this decision. The last and perhaps most important reason the timing stinks is because Shaver has earned the opportunity to coach the talent he has assembled for next season. Any decision to keep or fire Tony should have been based on next season's performance and outcome IMO.

Yep. Very questionable timing.

Like others who have posted, what I give is not going to really move the needle, but at this time the brakes are on.

(03-13-2019 06:49 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 05:50 PM)TribeInTheBurg Wrote:  

(03-13-2019 04:44 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  I have had no problems with any of the changes Huge has brought about to date. My opinions have ranged from supportive, indifferent, to wait and see. I think this decision, particularly the timing, is very poor.

I think the timing is as good as it could be for all involved, aside from never. The entire staff has full opportunity in hiring/firing season to find a landing spot, and there's more gathered basketball coaches now than any other time of year in terms of searching for the next coach.

The timing is poor because we will arguably have one of the most talented teams in WM basketball history next season. Now that team will have to learn an entire new system. The new system may not fit the talent Shaver assembled for his offense. The timing stinks because we have three academic seniors that will be free to transfer without sitting out a yr per the NCAA's grad transfer rules. Nathan Knight could literally pick where he'd want to go and start next year. Maybe guys transfer out or may they don't, but I'd guarantee they're all considering their options right now due to this decision. The last and perhaps most important reason the timing stinks is because Shaver has earned the opportunity to coach the talent he has assembled for next season. Any decision to keep or fire Tony should have been based on next season's performance and outcome IMO.

This is where my head is at right now. The timing is just.... wrong to me. I’m sure I have the luxury of being a fan and thinking differently than an AD does, but I usually am fairly objective on these things. This just stinks of finding an excuse (UD loss) to make a move that the AD wanted to make all along to bring in someone they wanted. I see no other logical explanation.

Rarely have I seen such a large “he shouldn’t have been fired” Cry from a fan base after a sports coach was fired. I think that’s very, very telling.

It may work out in the win column, but as much as I want W&M to really succeed in athletics, I don’t prefer this way to do it.

Oh - and I too will delay my (relatively small) donation to see how this pans out.


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