How are you feeling right now about the team and program?

[VCU Heel]

Does the school even have the money to fire him given Ed gave another extension last year?

I doubt it.

I’m not paying for their mistakes.

 

[AlienAiden]

VCU games used to be so fun. Tre, Bri, JeQuan. Going to the games. Seeing them at the restaurant after games.

Nothing is fun anymore. Not the game. Not the pregame. Not the postgame. Not the message board.

It wouldn’t matter that much for the gameday experience, but there was no food for the game today. The corner where Buzz and Neds was… closed down. The concourse concessions, there weren’t even potato chips to go with your mediocre sandwich. Nothing about what we do is professional.

Yep. Heck, a paid donor deck that has constant traffic has one person and the cop who is there to direct traffic was on his cell phone drinking a Monster soda. They were good at one time directing traffic and getting you in and out quickly. There are a bunch of bush league things but it has kind of always been this way. They get something right and then they let it slip.

 

[Ramaholic]

Get immersed in other things -your family, your career, your hobbies... Life is so short. VCU Athletics/ basketball is fun when it is properly run. But currently it is grossly mismanaged. It is a poop show of an over priced product and seemingly zero prudence when it comes to budgeting and negotiating contracts. I find it very imprortant to try to surround with successful people and projects you can excel in. When something isn't working for me-I let it go. Let go of losers when you recognize them and keep the winners.This was my 2nd game. You won't see me at the Stu for the rest of the year.

 

[rambunctiousrowdyram]

Feel like the program is at a major crossroads at what it wants to be and where it is going. I don’t think the leadership is seeing the reality that the program is facing and is assuming they can continue to live off the WW and Shaka era success.

They road that train and hoped they could do that with Rhoades. They didn’t have to do anything because the coaches brought the fans in. All they had to do was collect and then replace those that couldn’t afford it.

 

[VCU Heel]

There's a culture problem within the program. It's not just that we're losing games--the effort is inconsistent, the team is not a likeable team (trash talking, complaining to refs, seeming disinterested at time). That's my biggest gripe--I just don't see things that will change it. The way the players conduct themselves on the court comes down to coach.

I also don't think the coach as "nice" as he appears. Just because VCU is his dream job doesn't mean he's nice. He's not engaging/insightful i don't find him overly involved in the community I'm not saying he's a bad person --but this argument gets old. There's also been some moves within the basketball support staff in the past 2 years that weren't handled in a nice fashion.

So many plus ones for this.

 

[AlienAiden]

Does the school even have the money to fire him given Ed gave another extension last year?

Unfortunately this is the problem. If I know VCU this will just continue. The only coaches that have ever really left the program were poached due to success. Not many have been fired.

 

[Ramcounter]

Unfortunately this is the problem. If I know VCU this will just continue. They only coaches that have ever really left the program were hired. Not many have been fired.

That is my fear too. Honestly, I don’t know how Ed keeps his job either given how badly he has managed the game day product, donor relations and contract extensions. Seems like the program has been effectively gutted during the MR and Ed era.

 

[Yosi Ram]

I also feel we've become spoiled and entitled. I love airplanes and all things aviation. Do we really need to charter a 737 for a weekend game in Philly? I'd get the argument, maybe, after a weeknight game in conference season so the players could get to class. Would it hurt them to ride the bus back from Philly on a Saturday afternoon? I'd rather see the money get invested in some other programs--but aside from baseball and tennis we haven't had a stellar few years in other programs.

But if we're going to spend like we're Kentucky or Duke then the expectations of the program are higher than we're currently performing.

 

[rambunctiousrowdyram]

Unfortunately this is the problem. If I know VCU this will just continue. The only coaches that have ever really left the program were poached due to success. Not many have been fired.

Well then they’ll get to find out what it’s like to own the Washington football team. The fans will revolt and refuse to show. Everything we built will be ruined and it will be their legacy.

 

[Ramaholic]

I also feel we've become spoiled and entitled. I love airplanes and all things aviation. Do we really need to charter a 737 for a weekend game in Philly? I'd get the argument, maybe, after a weeknight game in conference season so the players could get to class. Would it hurt them to ride the bus back from Philly on a Saturday afternoon? I'd rather see the money get invested in some other programs--but aside from baseball and tennis we haven't had a stellar few years in other programs.

But if we're going to spend like we're Kentucky or Duke then the expectations of the program are higher than we're currently performing.

100% agree. If I was Ed, i would be pulling back on the charters, training table, excess staff... and be putting that savings toward buying out MR and let him bring his bland, free for all, disorganized brand of basketball (and remedial speaking skills) to some other program.

 

[RowdyPkunk]

Well then they’ll get to find out what it’s like to own the Washington football team. The fans will revolt and refuse to show. Everything we built will be ruined and it will be their legacy.

Oh so you mean the mens games will eventually start battling the womens games for who can have the lower attendance?

 

[Ramcounter]

100% agree. If I was Ed, i would be pulling back on the charters, training table, excess staff... and be putting that savings toward buying out MR and let him bring his bland, free for all, disorganized brand of basketball (and remedial speaking skills) to some other program.

Doesn’t the school have to find roughly 80-100 million for the athletic village?

 

[rammad90]

That is my fear too. Honestly, I don’t know how Ed keeps his job either given how badly he has managed the game day product, donor relations and contract extensions. Seems like the program has been effectively gutted during the MR and Ed era.

No major donors have problems with Ed. No major donors complain to Mike Rao. Ed as an AD has been successful is winning overall.

There is no incentive for change. Sadly.

 

[VCU Heel]

No major donors have problems with Ed. No major donors complain to Mike Rao. Ed as an AD has been successful isn winning.

There is no incentive for change. Sadly.

I’m a major donor. And I don‘t agree with you on this.

 

[RAMBALLFAN]

So many plus ones for this.

In coaching, as in playing, if job isn’t getting done it’s time to call “next man up”. Having been a VCU alumnus for almost 40 years I know the university won’t make any drastic changes (unless they are pressed into service by outside factors) so we’ll have to watch VCU slip further into mediocrity until MRs contract extension has come to an end. I just hope when he goes, Ed is not too far behind.