Two years ago there was a coach that never embraced the program. Now the Tigers are battling and leading Blue Bloods Kentucky and Duke for recruits. Personally I never thought Penny would take the job because of time , inexperience, and the hard work that came with it. This is one time I am glad I was wrong. He loves this city and the program. I was a supporter of Cal and still like him. While Penny does not have his experience he has a true love for Memphis and not just himself. He was smart enough to surround himself with an excellent staff. Watching these guys in practice they are more than just popular names but true coaches that teach the game with a passion. Once again I must admit I did not see this coming. This city is in for an awesome ride.

(04-16-2019 02:45 PM)Galilee Wrote:  Two years ago there was a coach that never embraced the program. Now the Tigers are battling and leading Blue Bloods Kentucky and Duke for recruits. Personally I never thought Penny would take the job because of time , inexperience, and the hard work that came with it. This is one time I am glad I was wrong. He loves this city and the program. I was a supporter of Cal and still like him. While Penny does not have his experience he has a true love for Memphis and not just himself. He was smart enough to surround himself with an excellent staff. Watching these guys in practice they are more than just popular names but true coaches that teach the game with a passion. Once again I must admit I did not see this coming. This city is in for an awesome ride.

Thanks for posting.... +3, it's gr8 for those that can express themselves in this way... Food for though, Never question what a man has in his heart, it's immeasurable and it's a judgement of ourselves with those certain circumstances, as opposed to the one whom we are judging

I agree...Penny seems born for this moment.

I'm sure recruits can feel it and identify with the whole Memphis thing.

Cal was good at using the whole it to his advantage for recruiting and motivational purposes but Penny is the real deal.

Penny is surrounded by others who get it as well.

The kids know this. All our recruits are great examples of this but none more than JW.

Penny is preaching the truth, not for his own gain or glory but out of genuine love

Penny is truly the real deal as a quality human being...his authenticity is what makes him so successful in life.

I don’t know Penny, but I do know he is and always will be a Memphis Tiger. We all could see it and feel it the last few years of what was being done to the program. 99% of us never put on a Tiger basketball uniform but seeing the program being run into the ground was aggravating. Therefore I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for the former guys like Hardaway and Madlock who had put their blood, sweat and tears into something only to see it be damaged and neglected. I do agree w/ Galilee- were about to go on an incredible ride

I didn't see this coming as well, but Penny has really never been selfish. He's always played unselfishly. I wondered how he would adapt to the job but he has exceeded everyone's expectations. I've always rooted for him even though he played for a rival school and would drop 40 on us and sit out the 4th quarter. I'd root for him still and hope he has success especially since he is at my school.

I agree. I finally realized we had to have Penny when attendance bottomed out. Thankful that Dr Rudd and everyone involved had the good sense and perseverance to overcome some resistance to hiring him.

After Calipari...I assumed that Memphis would need a similar "salesman" type of coach to sell the program...and bring the big lights of the tv networks back around.
I was wrong...and I have to say...initially I was against the Penny hire.
Not the the reasons people like TOGC are/were tho.
I didn't want to see him possibly subjected to the same type of treatment that Coach Finch was given after things went sour under his watch.
Larry still loved the university after that...but ...it wasn't the same...if you know what I mean.
As long as Penny continues to do the things he's doing now...surrounding himself with good coaches...recruiting at a high level...developing players...I think he could be here until he chooses not to be.

Penny just OOZES the "cool" factor, and he is humble.
Its not all about him...like it was with a certain former coach we had.

(04-16-2019 07:03 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  I didn't want to see him possibly subjected to the same type of treatment that Coach Finch was given after things went sour under his watch.

I too was against the hire. for the reason above and the reason below.

(04-16-2019 02:45 PM)Galilee Wrote:  never thought Penny would take the job because of time , inexperience, and the hard work that came with it. This is one time I am glad I was wrong.

And I'm amazed at the job he has done so far.

Penny truly was the right man at the right time!!!

I've got a good Penny story. My sister used to be a waitress at the Cottage restaurant and the players used to eat lunch in there a lot. Her name is Kelly and Penny called her Shelley a couple of times. My sis is pretty sassy and she started calling him nickel. Just before he left college he gave her and autographed picture - to Shelley, from Nickel. She's got it on the wall in her office. Gotta love Penny, he's a good dude with a sense of humor.

Two thoughts.....the comparisons with Cal will come as Penny experience success but a major difference between Penny's and Cal's recruiting is the level of kid Penny has attracted vs Cal. James and Trendon, Tyler and Alo are all kids who have the reputation of being better people than players. Cal felt he had to recruit borderline kids to attract talent to Memphis. That hasn't been the case with Penny. Even Antwann Jones hasn't been a Sean Banks.

The local media has a fascination with Mike Miller. I love Mike being on the staff but they praise Mike for everything he does. Mike is great with relationships, maybe the best Penny has on staff. It really shows how comfortable Penny is in his skin to not be threatened by Mike and the attention he receives.

(04-16-2019 09:30 PM)finch vanilla Wrote:  I've got a good Penny story. My sister used to be a waitress at the Cottage restaurant and the players used to eat lunch in there a lot. Her name is Kelly and Penny called her Shelley a couple of times. My sis is pretty sassy and she started calling him nickel. Just before he graduated he gave her and autographed picture - to Shelley, from Nickel. She's got it on the wall in her office. Gotta love Penny, he's a good dude with a sense of humor.

Man...that is funny. Glad she has a sense of humor too.

We have come full circle and the universe is in balance again.

Clean Gene Bartow coaches/teaches/mentors Larry

Larry coaches/teaches/mentors Penny

And here we are. Winners learning from winners, in their lives and in their professions.

I was very apprehensive and still am. The list of former NBA players who were coaches in college is dismal: Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Avery Johnson. I know Fred Hoiberg did well, but it just doesn't seem like former NBA players have the drive to recruit, etc.. since they already have ton of $$$'s.

That said, what made Penny different than the above is that he actively pursued the job for several years and did so in a very gracious manner. In other words, he didn't put his foot in his mouth and criticize Tubby (when it would have been SO justified and easy to do so). Great PR skills AND a drive to get the job. In the case of Drexler, Mullin and Ewing, I just get the feeling that these guys sort of did it as a lark and then realized 'holy $hit, this is much harder than I ever anticipated' and the results showed.

Now, I give Penny two years to get us to the Dance. With Wiseman next year, we should at least MAKE the Big Dance. If not then and not the year after, we'll have to look at this hire a bit more circumspectly.

(04-17-2019 10:47 AM)ddramone Wrote:  I was very apprehensive and still am. The list of former NBA players who were coaches in college is dismal: Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Avery Johnson. I know Fred Hoiberg did well, but it just doesn't seem like former NBA players have the drive to recruit, etc.. since they already have ton of $$$'s.

That said, what made Penny different than the above is that he actively pursued the job for several years and did so in a very gracious manner. In other words, he didn't put his foot in his mouth and criticize Tubby (when it would have been SO justified and easy to do so). Great PR skills AND a drive to get the job. In the case of Drexler, Mullin and Ewing, I just get the feeling that these guys sort of did it as a lark and then realized 'holy $hit, this is much harder than I ever anticipated' and the results showed.

Now, I give Penny two years to get us to the Dance. With Wiseman next year, we should at least MAKE the Big Dance. If not then and not the year after, we'll have to look at this hire a bit more circumspectly.

While that is all true... you also have to look at the highlight of the ex-player coaches. In truth, they probably fail around the same rate as non-ex-player coaches, but no one knows about all the John Doe coaches who coach a few years at John Doe University and flame out in a couple of years and disappear back to highschool or into the assistant ranks.

Of the 352? d1 schools, how many are truly successful? How many coaches did that school go through before they did find the one?

Penny hasn't had success at every level by accident. The man works. He works hard. I never doubted he would succeed here.

There are a lot of people who work hard. A few of them do it with a smile. Even fewer with a smile and a big heart.

Memphis is blessed beyond what we deserve.