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Coach Jim Hayford
- Thread starter nwhoops44
- Start date
oldtimeewualum
Active member
Easy with the hyperbole. Let's not ordain some guy to be a "basketball expert" just because he has a web site and is a basketball fan. It's about the same as proclaiming a kid to be a great recruit before he ever scores a basket or gets a rebound in college basketball. Or, worse yet, stating that a Big Sky recruit is going to play in the NBA as one fan did on this site regarding Powell. Slow down a little!
Oldtime, you have not liked the choice of Hayford from the beginning, which is fine, you should have an opinion. Did you even read what the guy wrote. He is an expert, he has broken many stories over the years and also is well respected by basketball people throughout the world. Plus, he works for Comcast, they do not hire a bunch of fans and people who just have websites. It is ok to not agree with what somebody said, but do not defame someone's credentials or ability to cover college basketball on high level.
Keep smiling.
Keep smiling.
nwhoops, thanks for the Crawford's Court article. I was so impressed by Crawford's Court's knowledge of northwest college basketball that I subscribed to his newsletter. 'Old time alum' hasn't accepted it that Earlywine is gone and he 'ain't coming back'. Unfortunately the same isn't going to be true for the negativism of 'old time'. Eastern is very fortunate that Chaves had the foresight to hire Hayford to repair the damage done to our basketball program by Burns and Earlywine and he will get it done.
Spoeagle said:nwhoops, thanks for the Crawford's Court article. I was so impressed by Crawford's Court's knowledge of northwest college basketball that I subscribed to his newsletter. 'Old time alum' hasn't accepted it that Earlywine is gone and he 'ain't coming back'. Unfortunately the same isn't going to be true for the negativism of 'old time'. Eastern is very fortunate that Chaves had the foresight to hire Hayford to repair the damage done to our basketball program by Burns and Earlywine and he will get it done.
+1
We'll see how this season pans out.........I'm not expecting any miracles. That said, I think there are a lot of reasons to believe we will see a marked improvement with the BBall team in the coming years.
oldtimeewualum
Active member
Let me begin by saying that I have never said anything negative about Coach Hayford or the decision to hire him. I absolutely disagree with the firing of Earlywine. It is 2 different issues.
Regarding the "damage done to our basketball program by Burns and Earlywine" I will say this: one of the two inherited a team that had just won the Big Sky, and four years later left with the program in a shambles. The other inherited that mess, and four years later left behind a team that would be picked 3rd in the pre-season poll even after the second best player in the conference (Dean) departed. That is the reason I disagreed with the firing of Earlywine. He inherited an absolute disaster, and, in my opinion, had clearly turned the program around. The pre-season poll of Big Sky coaches would seem to confirm my opinion.
Allow me to pose this question: Is the program in better shape now than it was when Earlywine took over? Even my friends who were not Earlywine fans concede that point. I am not sure how any reasonable, unbiased person could disagree.
Regarding the "damage done to our basketball program by Burns and Earlywine" I will say this: one of the two inherited a team that had just won the Big Sky, and four years later left with the program in a shambles. The other inherited that mess, and four years later left behind a team that would be picked 3rd in the pre-season poll even after the second best player in the conference (Dean) departed. That is the reason I disagreed with the firing of Earlywine. He inherited an absolute disaster, and, in my opinion, had clearly turned the program around. The pre-season poll of Big Sky coaches would seem to confirm my opinion.
Allow me to pose this question: Is the program in better shape now than it was when Earlywine took over? Even my friends who were not Earlywine fans concede that point. I am not sure how any reasonable, unbiased person could disagree.
oldtimeewualum
Active member
To continue my point, go back and look at all of the pre-season polls prior to Earlywine's first season. We were picked 8th or 9th in every single one.
oldtimeewualum
Active member
Sorry, I forgot one last point. Obviously, the definition of "basketball expert" can vary from person to person. What I consider to be a basketball expert, and what any one of you consider to be a basketball expert is going to be different. I tend to look at things with a very discerning eye, and am very hesitant to drink the Kool-Aid every time it is offered. In my eyes, Jay Bilas, Doug Gottlieb, Gary Parrish, and Jeff Goodman are not basketball experts, so the bar is pretty high for me to hang that title on somebody.
In fairness, the statement was that Coach Hayford COULD build a powerhouse here, not that he WOULD. That is an accurate statement and definitely not hyperbole. I stand corrected and apologize.
In fairness, the statement was that Coach Hayford COULD build a powerhouse here, not that he WOULD. That is an accurate statement and definitely not hyperbole. I stand corrected and apologize.
oldtimeewualum said:Sorry, I forgot one last point. Obviously, the definition of "basketball expert" can vary from person to person. What I consider to be a basketball expert, and what any one of you consider to be a basketball expert is going to be different. I tend to look at things with a very discerning eye, and am very hesitant to drink the Kool-Aid every time it is offered. In my eyes, Jay Bilas, Doug Gottlieb, Gary Parrish, and Jeff Goodman are not basketball experts, so the bar is pretty high for me to hang that title on somebody.
In fairness, the statement was that Coach Hayford COULD build a powerhouse here, not that he WOULD. That is an accurate statement and definitely not hyperbole. I stand corrected and apologize.
You have some fair points, and I definitely agree that the program is in better shape now than when Burns left. I also agree that it's possible to disagree with the way things were handled with the previous coach and still be supportive of the new coach/program. Ultimately I think Earlywine was a decent coach that recruited some good players......he did inherit a bad situation.
I guess it just depends on how you look at things. When Steve Aggers took over EWU was one of the worst programs in Division I, and in a few short years he turned it into a Big Sky Contender. Giacoletti continued that trend.
I'm not a basketball expert and football is my first passion. But there was a time I never missed a home basketball game.
The last two years it was very difficult to get motivated to put on the snow boots and drive 10 minutes at 6:30 in the evening to watch a 7-13 team that had little chance at even making the conference tournament at a mid-major level. I have nothing against Earlywine but he had his chance and simple did not recruit the athletes or coach them up enough to keep me interested. Here's to the future. :thumb:
The last two years it was very difficult to get motivated to put on the snow boots and drive 10 minutes at 6:30 in the evening to watch a 7-13 team that had little chance at even making the conference tournament at a mid-major level. I have nothing against Earlywine but he had his chance and simple did not recruit the athletes or coach them up enough to keep me interested. Here's to the future. :thumb:
JoinTheEAA
Active member
Big Sky records in bold
Coach Burns
2004-2005
8-20
5-9
6th
2005-2006
15-15
6-5
3rd
2006-2007
15-14
8-8
T-5th
38-49
22-22
Coach Earlywine
2007–2008
11–19
6–10
T–8th
2008–2009
12–18
6–10
T–6th
2009–2010
9–21
5–11
7th
2010–2011
10-20
7-9
T–6th
42–78
24–40
Coach Burns
2004-2005
8-20
5-9
6th
2005-2006
15-15
6-5
3rd
2006-2007
15-14
8-8
T-5th
38-49
22-22
Coach Earlywine
2007–2008
11–19
6–10
T–8th
2008–2009
12–18
6–10
T–6th
2009–2010
9–21
5–11
7th
2010–2011
10-20
7-9
T–6th
42–78
24–40
eaglesfootball
Active member
JoinTheEAA said:Big Sky records in bold
Coach Burns
2004-2005
8-20
5-9
6th
2005-2006
15-15
6-5
3rd
2006-2007
15-14
8-8
T-5th
38-49
22-22
Coach Earlywine
2007–2008
11–19
6–10
T–8th
2008–2009
12–18
6–10
T–6th
2009–2010
9–21
5–11
7th
2010–2011
10-20
7-9
T–6th
42–78
24–40
yes, but its more than just wins and losses though!! Burns left the program in complete shambles and couldnt place better than third in the big sky with by far the best player to ever play at any school in this conference!!! He also tried to throw the school under the bus!! at least coach Earlywine left with some dignity!
