BY CHARLES COSTELLO
WFUV’s pregame interview Wednesday with Fordham head coach Dereck Whittenburg was one of the most highly anticipated of the year. Following last weekend’s New York Daily News article chronicling Fordham’s struggles in the Atlantic 10 (Fordham basketball nearing 14th straight year of pain in Atlantic 10), I would’ve liked to have heard more from Whittenburg about his thoughts on the story. But a pregame interview lasting three or four minutes, and taking place a couple hours before a conference game, isn’t the place for an in-depth discussion like that to take place. The focus, rightfully so, was on that night’s game against Temple.
Here’s what Whittenburg did say on WFUV when asked about the Daily News story:
“I think the morale with us is fine. We know our future is bright. We understand we’re going through a tough time but we’re not going to panic. We’ve got some good talent coming in [next year]. We have a chance to get in the conference tournament and that’s what we’re focused on.
“I think we’re getting some support. I think our administration has been supporting us. I’m humbled for the opportunity [to coach at Fordham].”
No follow up questions. Pretty standard answers.
Back to the article that got the basketball buzz going at Rose Hill. Whittenburg deserves credit for saying what he did. He was honest. And his remarks were right on. When asked by the Daily News whether Fordham was in over its head playing in the A-10, Whittenburg said, “I think that’s a question for the administration. To be honest with you, I don’t know why they’re in the A-10.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but haven’t Fordham fans been searching for answers from the administration for the past 14 years. And year after year, they’re frustrated by what they perceive to be the general apathy of the big shots at the university. Seems like a pretty fair comment to me.
When asked if the Rose Hill Gym hindered Fordham’s ability to recruit players, Whittenburg said, “No question. It’s a disadvantage. We have to be honest here, the joke is over. It was a great tradition in this gym. (But) when a guy comes and sees our gym and a guy comes and sees Rhode Island’s gym or he goes and sees Xavier’s, it’s not even a question of what he’s going to like more.”
I’m willing to bet that all Fordham fans agree that the basketball program needs a new arena with better facilities.
And when asked about Fordham’s high academic standards, Whittenburg said, “We have a very good academic school in this league. One of the best. If you look at other programs, they’ve got good academics, too. But they’re not as academically inclined as we are. But by the same token, they want their basketball program at Xavier to have success. And they’re going to invest in it. Xavier’s goal athletically in basketball is to be one of the top teams in the country. Our goal is to try and compete (in the A-10) and competing is going to be cyclical, like a roller coaster. Change the coaches, do what you want, but you can bring Bobby Knight in here, and if you have these same things, their ability to recruit is going to be the same.”
Again, any surprises?
The real focus should be on comments made by Jeffrey Gray and Frank McLaughlin. Father McShane, Fordham’s President, was not quoted in the article. McLaughlin delivered his usual support for the program and commitment to the future, while Gray, the school’s Vice President of Student Affairs, said, “We don’t have the facilities we’d like to support our basketball team. But I don’t think anything will change for us in the short term from a facilities standpoint. We can’t change our physical infrastructure next week.”
Right. But as dorms, a library, a parking garage, and fields have been built and developed, it’s fair to expect an arena to enter the discussion. After all, Fordham joined the Atlantic 10 in 1995. Much has changed at Rose Hill since. The gym is still the gym.
To McLaughlin, the school’s Executive Director of Athletics, who said, “We like being associated with the Atlantic 10. I think the Atlantic 10 wants us to be successful because of the New York presence and the media market. Everyone here at Fordham, from top to bottom, wants us to be successful.”
That includes the fans. And they expect and deserve more.
I believe Whittenburg has done his part. In the six years he’s been at Rose Hill, he’s proven his allegiance to the university and he’s shown he can coach. His detractors were wrong to criticize his comments in the Daily News. They’re the same things they’ve been saying for years. Folks, Whittenburg is not the problem. He’s the most successful coach Fordham has had since joining the Atlantic 10. He’s also a quality guy who knows a thing or two about basketball.
The real need is for Father McShane, Jeffrey Grey, and Frank McLaughlin to start talking. Whittenburg aside, these three represent the public face of Fordham basketball. We need to hear from them. Not individually in a newspaper article, or in a random interview on the radio. The three need to be part of a public forum on Fordham basketball. Whittenburg needs to be there, the radio guys need to be there, and those of us who cover the team in print and online need to be there. And yes, fans should be invited as well. They deserve to hear and be heard.
It’s time.
Then, and only then, can the real story of Fordham basketball be told.
Whittenburg Deserves Praise, Not Criticism, for Comments in Daily News Article
Posted by Fordham SportsNet on February 20, 2009
BY CHARLES COSTELLO
WFUV’s pregame interview Wednesday with Fordham head coach Dereck Whittenburg was one of the most highly anticipated of the year. Following last weekend’s New York Daily News article chronicling Fordham’s struggles in the Atlantic 10 (Fordham basketball nearing 14th straight year of pain in Atlantic 10), I would’ve liked to have heard more from Whittenburg about his thoughts on the story. But a pregame interview lasting three or four minutes, and taking place a couple hours before a conference game, isn’t the place for an in-depth discussion like that to take place. The focus, rightfully so, was on that night’s game against Temple.
Here’s what Whittenburg did say on WFUV when asked about the Daily News story:
“I think the morale with us is fine. We know our future is bright. We understand we’re going through a tough time but we’re not going to panic. We’ve got some good talent coming in [next year]. We have a chance to get in the conference tournament and that’s what we’re focused on.
“I think we’re getting some support. I think our administration has been supporting us. I’m humbled for the opportunity [to coach at Fordham].”
No follow up questions. Pretty standard answers.
Back to the article that got the basketball buzz going at Rose Hill. Whittenburg deserves credit for saying what he did. He was honest. And his remarks were right on. When asked by the Daily News whether Fordham was in over its head playing in the A-10, Whittenburg said, “I think that’s a question for the administration. To be honest with you, I don’t know why they’re in the A-10.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but haven’t Fordham fans been searching for answers from the administration for the past 14 years. And year after year, they’re frustrated by what they perceive to be the general apathy of the big shots at the university. Seems like a pretty fair comment to me.
When asked if the Rose Hill Gym hindered Fordham’s ability to recruit players, Whittenburg said, “No question. It’s a disadvantage. We have to be honest here, the joke is over. It was a great tradition in this gym. (But) when a guy comes and sees our gym and a guy comes and sees Rhode Island’s gym or he goes and sees Xavier’s, it’s not even a question of what he’s going to like more.”
I’m willing to bet that all Fordham fans agree that the basketball program needs a new arena with better facilities.
And when asked about Fordham’s high academic standards, Whittenburg said, “We have a very good academic school in this league. One of the best. If you look at other programs, they’ve got good academics, too. But they’re not as academically inclined as we are. But by the same token, they want their basketball program at Xavier to have success. And they’re going to invest in it. Xavier’s goal athletically in basketball is to be one of the top teams in the country. Our goal is to try and compete (in the A-10) and competing is going to be cyclical, like a roller coaster. Change the coaches, do what you want, but you can bring Bobby Knight in here, and if you have these same things, their ability to recruit is going to be the same.”
Again, any surprises?
The real focus should be on comments made by Jeffrey Gray and Frank McLaughlin. Father McShane, Fordham’s President, was not quoted in the article. McLaughlin delivered his usual support for the program and commitment to the future, while Gray, the school’s Vice President of Student Affairs, said, “We don’t have the facilities we’d like to support our basketball team. But I don’t think anything will change for us in the short term from a facilities standpoint. We can’t change our physical infrastructure next week.”
Right. But as dorms, a library, a parking garage, and fields have been built and developed, it’s fair to expect an arena to enter the discussion. After all, Fordham joined the Atlantic 10 in 1995. Much has changed at Rose Hill since. The gym is still the gym.
To McLaughlin, the school’s Executive Director of Athletics, who said, “We like being associated with the Atlantic 10. I think the Atlantic 10 wants us to be successful because of the New York presence and the media market. Everyone here at Fordham, from top to bottom, wants us to be successful.”
That includes the fans. And they expect and deserve more.
I believe Whittenburg has done his part. In the six years he’s been at Rose Hill, he’s proven his allegiance to the university and he’s shown he can coach. His detractors were wrong to criticize his comments in the Daily News. They’re the same things they’ve been saying for years. Folks, Whittenburg is not the problem. He’s the most successful coach Fordham has had since joining the Atlantic 10. He’s also a quality guy who knows a thing or two about basketball.
The real need is for Father McShane, Jeffrey Grey, and Frank McLaughlin to start talking. Whittenburg aside, these three represent the public face of Fordham basketball. We need to hear from them. Not individually in a newspaper article, or in a random interview on the radio. The three need to be part of a public forum on Fordham basketball. Whittenburg needs to be there, the radio guys need to be there, and those of us who cover the team in print and online need to be there. And yes, fans should be invited as well. They deserve to hear and be heard.
It’s time.
Then, and only then, can the real story of Fordham basketball be told.
Posted in Basketball Commentary | Leave a Comment »