Duft has a record as of today of 50-60 against Division 1 opponents and is 2/3's of the way thru his 4th season as head coach. His record is not even average, which seems to be the standard that Weber Admin finds to be the acceptable goal. He must go; Let him go! He must be miserable and questioning himself with this record. Fire him now and put either Vandiver or Russel in as the interim. Surely, even this AD requires a better than 5% winning record. If he wants things to change, to get better he has to change what is being done. The only way to accomplish that is to replace Duft with hopefully a better coach. I say it is time!
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- Thread starter baller
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Chex
Active member
I know I probably come off as some inpatient complaining fan, but I really want to see coaches succeed. Duft and Mental seem like nice guys, but neither were/are getting the job done. I can be a nice guy. Weber State can hire me for 1/2 the price if they don’t care about results.
Mental inherited a playoff team and got worse with each year. He was almost given 3 full years despite the marked decline. For whatever reason it finally tipped the scales to make the move two games left in the third season. It is going to be a clear rebuild, but I’m optimistic competitive and energetic football is around the corner.
As far as basketball goes, who the hell knows. My guess is Lillard money will keep Duft employed for another 3 years, or the terms of this contract. If they didn’t make the move last year after squeaking out above Sac State for the basement, why would they now? I’m sure there are clauses to remove him…but obviously Duft is protected. It’s sad, because the Dee and bball program are a shell of what it used to be. I went to a kids get in free game and I don’t think they were over 2,000 fans even though they announced it at 2,400. It was ridiculously quiet and the crowd couldn’t get into it. They tried but the game uptempo game was never consistent.
It’s sad to remember packed house for Montana and seeing an enthusiastic atmosphere and see the doldrums now that has been accepted…but money talks. You just have to know the right people who hold the purse strings, and if you do, the gravy train is a hell of a ride!
GoCatsGo!!!
Active member
I know they are two different sports basketball and football but I agree it’s time to kick Duft (beer) out of here!!! Go coach your boy at Fremont High where Grant probably belongs. All he’s done is underperformed as HC and it’s time he gets the Mental treatment. Both I’m sure are swell guys but both are shitters for coaches!!
As for Lillard, I don’t care about his money or his charity. Yes, he’s the greatest basketball player ever here and yes I admire his loyalty to the school, but if his loyalty is only to an awful HC then let him walk too. Weber had great years before he was here, and they can be great again without him, his money, or presence too!! Money is the root of all evil and while I know it isn’t going anywhere if Damian only cares to help with his crony as the HC then tell them both to walk. Tired of politics and money over results!!!!
As for Lillard, I don’t care about his money or his charity. Yes, he’s the greatest basketball player ever here and yes I admire his loyalty to the school, but if his loyalty is only to an awful HC then let him walk too. Weber had great years before he was here, and they can be great again without him, his money, or presence too!! Money is the root of all evil and while I know it isn’t going anywhere if Damian only cares to help with his crony as the HC then tell them both to walk. Tired of politics and money over results!!!!
bigskychamps07
Active member
Amen. I find myself asking would I trade our players for the other teams? I generally say no. I think we consistently have the best players on the court. Then I ask, is it the facilities? No, Weber has the best facilities. So why can’t we be successful again? It’s the coaching. Randy Rahe and Eric Duft are great recruiters but awful coaches. They don’t have the answers. Their offense is awful and boring to watch and can’t make in game adjustments. The athletic department of 15 years ago would have never tolerated this level of play in our proud basketball program. Enough is enough.
talhadfoursteals
Active member
There are some huge warning flags:
1. This is the longest drought in WSU Men's Basketball history without a championship.
2. Home attendance is the worst it ever has been. Even during Joe's last season 3500-4000 showed up.
3. Student interest is virtually 0. Even free tuition can't get them to the games.
4. Our alumni are tuning out and focusing on USU or BYU. I know some fairly deep pocket alumni who aren't interested in Weber State right now.
5. Coach keeps saying, that the "real" games only matter in March. THIS is a definite concern and one the conference MUST address. Get rid of the conference tournament or go back to the regular season champion hosting the tournament. Boise is a bust. It is absolutely hurting Big Sky basketball. Makes the regular season worthless.
6. Coach claiming that other Big Sky schools have deeper benches. The "I don't have enough talent and need more NIL" excuse. He got money and nothing has changed. He had a 1st rounder and couldn't get to the championship.
7. Coach continuously bringing up Injuries and how they are influencing the overall schedule. Well, D'uh! You've been practicing these kids non-stop since April.
8. Only one major donor is involved. This is an enormous issue. That shows us that our deep pocket alumni don't think money can help the situation and don't want to invest in a sinking ship.
What is the purpose of college athletics? It isn't for the coaches, administrators or even really the kids. Yes, student-athletes (amateurism is antediluvial and anachronistic) get a chance to play the sport they love for an educations and then some. However, in this era, they aren't necessarily doing it for a degree, the program or their coach, but for their bank accounts. Why not expect a "higher" level of play? Next, coaches go into this career knowing that they are one bad season away from having to start over. That is the situation. DI coaching is dog eat dog. Randy did a lot of good things, even then, at the end of his WSU career, we wanted change. Its all about succeeding now, the "what have you done lately." Duft is barely average and that's when we add in all of his NCCAA, NAIA, Nons, DII/DIII wins. He's below .500 with DI. Weber's legacy EXPECTS more.
College athletics is to bring money to the institutions. TO build a fan base who will want to attend university events, send their kids to the school, and donate to its programs. Our current interim president knows this VERY well. She comes from Boise State. Great athletics drive university growth, fundraising, and pride. An empty 12000 seat arena is exasperatingly embarrassing.
1. This is the longest drought in WSU Men's Basketball history without a championship.
2. Home attendance is the worst it ever has been. Even during Joe's last season 3500-4000 showed up.
3. Student interest is virtually 0. Even free tuition can't get them to the games.
4. Our alumni are tuning out and focusing on USU or BYU. I know some fairly deep pocket alumni who aren't interested in Weber State right now.
5. Coach keeps saying, that the "real" games only matter in March. THIS is a definite concern and one the conference MUST address. Get rid of the conference tournament or go back to the regular season champion hosting the tournament. Boise is a bust. It is absolutely hurting Big Sky basketball. Makes the regular season worthless.
6. Coach claiming that other Big Sky schools have deeper benches. The "I don't have enough talent and need more NIL" excuse. He got money and nothing has changed. He had a 1st rounder and couldn't get to the championship.
7. Coach continuously bringing up Injuries and how they are influencing the overall schedule. Well, D'uh! You've been practicing these kids non-stop since April.
8. Only one major donor is involved. This is an enormous issue. That shows us that our deep pocket alumni don't think money can help the situation and don't want to invest in a sinking ship.
What is the purpose of college athletics? It isn't for the coaches, administrators or even really the kids. Yes, student-athletes (amateurism is antediluvial and anachronistic) get a chance to play the sport they love for an educations and then some. However, in this era, they aren't necessarily doing it for a degree, the program or their coach, but for their bank accounts. Why not expect a "higher" level of play? Next, coaches go into this career knowing that they are one bad season away from having to start over. That is the situation. DI coaching is dog eat dog. Randy did a lot of good things, even then, at the end of his WSU career, we wanted change. Its all about succeeding now, the "what have you done lately." Duft is barely average and that's when we add in all of his NCCAA, NAIA, Nons, DII/DIII wins. He's below .500 with DI. Weber's legacy EXPECTS more.
College athletics is to bring money to the institutions. TO build a fan base who will want to attend university events, send their kids to the school, and donate to its programs. Our current interim president knows this VERY well. She comes from Boise State. Great athletics drive university growth, fundraising, and pride. An empty 12000 seat arena is exasperatingly embarrassing.
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