Even if Barta was planning on keeping Lick, I don't see how he can do it now. This makes Lick pretty much a lame duck coach. No way will he be able to recruit. As far as a replacement and fans wanting a great recruiter, just remember a lot of these guys are at schools that will let just about any one in.
Damage is done.
- Thread starter westview
- Start date
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
I agree I don't think there is a bridge to go back over right now.
Igothawked
Well-Known Member
I agree. There is no way to repair this. The disgust in Lick's quotes with Dolph postgame and the press conference show he is disgusted. I just don't think there is a big enough band-aid for the wound.
rdubbs
Banned
Why is there no way? We don't even know who started all the rumors that spread yesterday.
HawkeyeShane
Well-Known Member
True, but I've narrowed the list of suspects...
1. Any poster at CF.com.
2. A bored Steve Deace.
3. Half of the posters here.
4. Marty Tirrell.
5. Me...I might have over-medicated yesterday...I don't remember.
83Hawk
Banned
It doesn't. It makes the media and fans look bad. I disagree with Jon's "bridges" comment.....yesterday's failed coup attempt will only strengthen Barta's support of Lick.
Lick will be back next season. And he'll only need to win 14-15 games to be back the following season. Why? Because the team will have shown improvement and you don't fire a coach who is improving.
A line has been drawn in the sand...but not by Barta. Barta is not going to be pushed around by the media and fans. He is now going to back Lick all the way.
Igothawked
Well-Known Member
There is no way because of the sheer excitement in the fan base when news broke that Lick would be gone. The fans on message boards all over the place were pumped. It was the most exciting moment of the entire basketball season. That is fact, non debatable.
If he comes back, more players will transfer, the fans will stop going worse than they have, the support for this team will dwindle.
Barta is now in a position where people are excited at the possibility of a new regime. What excitement is there for the basketball program if he comes back? That's right, NONE.
If Lick stays and players, (Example: Fuller or even Gatens) leave, people will be calling for Barta's head for not firing him. This needs to be done at this point. There is no turning back.
rdubbs
Banned
The fact that a rumor went up on a facebook page and was being reported as truth shows how poor journalism is currently.
HawkeyeShane
Well-Known Member
I hear ya rdubbs...when I heard it was being reported on that station's facebook page, I literally said "what the f..."
loesshillshawk
Well-Known Member
Failed coup attempt...nothing failed he wasn't going to fire him yesterday. Lawyers are haggling out buyout numbers, and Gary is securing his money and money for the next coach...takes time. Gary's comments yesterday about TEAM not COACH tell it all. If there was a bridge still there why would you put your coach through that yesterday????? You would of came out and said this is simply false and Todd is coming back. You could tell by Lick actually changing defenses for the first time in 3 years that it was desperate times for Lick. IMPROVING??? Barta, if he had a line in the sand would of drew it yesterday. HE didn't....enough said.
rdubbs
Banned
I hit that moment when Keith and Andy brought it up yesterday afternoon.
HawkeyeShane
Well-Known Member
Haha...that's when I first heard it too!
rdubbs
Banned
I couldn't believe they were reporting something off a Facebook account. So much for a legit source when it comes to breaking news anymore apparently.
HawkeyeShane
Well-Known Member
I couldn't believe they were reporting something off a Facebook account. So much for a legit source when it comes to breaking news anymore apparently.
In Keith and Andy's defense, they were just reporting on the rumor...KCJJ is the full of crap news "breaker" that started the poo storm.
I still think there was way too much smoke yesterday for their to have been no fire. Loose lips sink ships. Something went down this week, and something wasn't suppose to be leaked yesterday, but was. Now we have PR problem.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of something going on.
(1) Barta, aware of the rumor-circus, doesn't publicly back Lick.
(2) Lick, aware of the rumor circus, ominously states the future is Barta's decision.
(3) Fuller & Gatens both give cryptic comments and neither say "we got coach's back" - on top of this Gatens and Tucker are roommates (think they ever talk?), and Fuller, Gatens, and Brommer were all around a bunch of teammates last year who had negative feelings toward Lick.
(4) Payne says "I can speak for freshman class" that "coach is our guy" - does this imply the sophomore class has a different opinion?
(5) The boards went nuts yesterday, and some people certainly believed they knew something.
I think there are two possible explanations.
(1) There was much dissension in the AD's office, boosters, ect... over what to do with Lick, and some people who wanted Lick fired started rumors/leaked info to get the ball rolling. - or
(2) Barta had more or less made his decision Lick would not be back, but many details needed to be worked out, and information leaked way before these details could be taken care of.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of something going on.
(1) Barta, aware of the rumor-circus, doesn't publicly back Lick.
(2) Lick, aware of the rumor circus, ominously states the future is Barta's decision.
(3) Fuller & Gatens both give cryptic comments and neither say "we got coach's back" - on top of this Gatens and Tucker are roommates (think they ever talk?), and Fuller, Gatens, and Brommer were all around a bunch of teammates last year who had negative feelings toward Lick.
(4) Payne says "I can speak for freshman class" that "coach is our guy" - does this imply the sophomore class has a different opinion?
(5) The boards went nuts yesterday, and some people certainly believed they knew something.
I think there are two possible explanations.
(1) There was much dissension in the AD's office, boosters, ect... over what to do with Lick, and some people who wanted Lick fired started rumors/leaked info to get the ball rolling. - or
(2) Barta had more or less made his decision Lick would not be back, but many details needed to be worked out, and information leaked way before these details could be taken care of.
tubahawk
Well-Known Member
I'm a conspiracy theorist: I think the AD's office or someone in the basketball program leaked it as a trial balloon, just to see the reaction, or to start a fire.
The question remains: WHO WAS DEEP THROAT? Who was the leaker?
83Hawk
Banned
I think you are trying to read too much into what they are saying.
Multiple U of I officials have said this rumor is unfounded and false. It there were ANY truth to it they would have either said nothing or deflected the questions some other way.
After saying the rumors are false, how are they going to turn around and fire Lick? No, I just don't see it happening.
