Sorry about the bad news

[rebelfan]

I guess I was shocked about the initial news early in the season, but I wasn't all that surprised about today's news. I just hope Bayno can find some happiness.

I feel sorry for the fans, the players and the coaches. It's just an unfortunate situation really.

It's almost deja vu for Coach Good having to take over for Bayno.

I don't know how many of you have been to practice or know any of the players. Or how many know Coach Good or anybody else on the staff. I'll say this about the man. I know he will bust his ass getting this ship right. He may be up there in years but he really has a ton of experience. And you guys have seen him on the sidelines, more energy than a teenager. That's not for a couple hours folks, that's just what the man has inside. He has alot to offer. I understand the apprehension and such since some deem him as a "D2" coach. Well, so was Tressel, but that's besides the point. Look what he did at that D2 school. They were an absolute nothing in basketball. It didn't take him long to compete for a national championship. And getting the school in to position to make the move to D1 says alot.

Now some may say "yeah, but that's with D2 talent". But that further illustrates my point. He won with thoroughbreds at MCI, helping to mold and produce future NBA'ers. Some would say anybody could win with that talent. Maybe so. But with the talent he had at Bryant? Let's get real for a second.

It just shows that the guy can coach. From runnin and gunnin with full court pressure and slam dunking at MCI to zoning and half court at Bryant - that's running the gamut of schemes. It shows that he can win with different styles and he can adjust to the situation.

As for this year, you guys have had it rough, I don't need to tell you. Injuries upon injuries for your best players not to mention the heartache they've been experiencing through this whole ordeal. It's tough to focus and get up with so many uncertainties. Things sometimes snowball. But at least now there is some closure.

The Lions have more talent on the bench and committed to the university for next year than what is being put on the floor right now. Once there is the infusion of talent (and healthy bodies), Coach Good will mold them into something you can be proud of.

Not a flashy name. I grant that. Not a hire that is going to make anybody jump up and down. Understood. Fans just won't get overly excited. Talk to anybody in the inner circle of basketball and they'll tell how good of a coach he is though. Let him start with a clean slate and he will turn things around. And a good part of that is he won't compromise any integrity along the way.

Still, it's a sad day for me personally because I really do have a genuine liking for Coach Bayno.

[ironlions]

Thanks Rebel Fan.

Its been a difficult few months but I'm glad there is some closure now and we can move on. I have watched Coach Good in several practices and he is all that you described. He is full of energy-yelling, cussing, teaching, motivating, joking around. I know he is not a big name coach, and he up there in years but I'm very happy to have him as our head coach. Next year when we have full roster the fans will get more of a chance to see what type of coach we have.

We lost a lot on the recruiting side with Bayno stepping down, but we still have excellent recruiters in Coach Scholl and Levy . Look at some of the players Levy recruited to Cal State Fullerton ( Bobby Brown from Westchester who is now in the NBA), and Coach Scholl has a lot of international contacts. Scholl seems to very well liked by the players. He is a young, smart up and coming African American coach and we are lucky to have him. His work off the court is also very inspiring. LMU fans will see soon enough that there won't be a drop off in the level of recruits we get.

Everything is in place, everyone relax. We just have to make it through this year. With Teel back we will at least be more competitive and have some more depth. We could sneak up on some teams.

Go Lions

[fanblade]

Thanks for your insight rebelfan.

[waterboy]

Max Good is one of the best floor coaches I have seen since Westhead. He coaches 40 minutes of a 40 minute game. Every situation at every moment of each game we played this year has only beens an opportunity to learn to play great Basketball for these kids. I can see why he has so many pro-ballers to his credit.

Also Good is a much better recruiter than given credit on this blog. Some of the kids looking at this program right now with Good as HC...will blow your socks off.
The Espirit de Corp on this team right now is fantastic despite all the set backs. With all the talent coming back from injuries, and the all talent coming in off the bench, and all the talent coming in from recruiting, added to the experience of the present group of players...with a dash of Max Good/Myke Scholl as HC....we'll be something to deal with very soon.

Thank You Bill Bayno!! You've left us in "Good" shape. Only wish it could all happen this weekend.

[rebelfan]

Another thing about Good. He won't candy coat it or make false promises to potential recruits. I know he makes it very clear what he expects out of a player if he's going to play for him. There's no free passes, there's no coddling, it's more of a get with the program or don't come type of attitude. The best part of that is he'll get the exact character-type that he wants.

I guess that might scare some potential recruits off. Alot like their rears kissed and promises made. I know Coach doesn't roll that way. He's very demanding, his upfront, he's honest. There's no hidden agenda. If a player slacks even a little, he's not a Coach Good type of player.

I know he's had a huge impact on the lives of many of his former players. I know he fields calls from players in the NBA thanking him for being hard on them and setting them straight. And, on the flip side, I know players who hated playing for him. And I can honestly say they were good kids, but they were shortsighted.

I remember one particular player that played at UNLV a few years ago. Unbelievable offensive ability. Had one of the highest basketball IQ's I've seen. In fact, in terms of pure offensive ability, even though he didn't amount to alot, he's one of the best I've seen at UNLV in the past 20 years - obviously that's saying quite a bit.

But this kid didn't like to defend - even though he was extremely capability to do so. In fact, with his instincts and long arms, he actually could have been a nightmare. But he was of the mindset "as long as I score one more point than the guy I'm guarding, I did my job".

Well, in spite of his talent, he saw alot more of the bench than he anticipated while much lesser players saw the time. Oh, and did he sulk. He couldn't stand Coach Good at that time. And the sad part is, if he would have defended a bit, I feel he would have been in the league.

Now, several years later, it remains his biggest regret. Only now does he see the forest through the trees. He knows he was wrong, he knows he slacked and he knows he blew a huge opportunity. Only now does he realize what Coach Good was trying to convey. He's a good kid, just very hard headed and no tactic seemed to work with him.

That's what I mean when I say he won't compromise his beliefs. He won't kowtow.

Conversely, and I'm not going to name names here, there was a player at UNLV years ago. Most stubborn person I've ever met in my life. That stubbornness is part of what made him great because he refused to yield. But he also believed his way was the only way. He played for a more accomplished coach, but this coach definitely bent over backwards and closed his eyes and let this kid run the show. Why? Because he was friggin' good. Quickest I've seen up close. Let him run amok and you were still going to win 20 games, and that's exactly what happened. I know Coach Good would have corralled this kid and broke him and made him a much better player. And you know what? So does this kid. He NEEDED a coach like Good. He would have thrived after some severe headbutting with Good. Deep down, it's what he wanted, it's what he needed, but it wasn't there. All didn't turn out bad for him though - he "used" UNLV and his stats to get him exactly what he wanted, a lucrative NBA contract. But he could have been so much better if there were only somebody who would have broke him down and humbled him.

You guys are good fans or you wouldn't be here. Trust me, after going winless in the NCAA's for more than 15 years, we are/were in similar boats. I know you aren't fair weather fans and, like me, you aren't going to bail. Anybody can root for a winner, that's easy. But it takes loyalty to stick with a team when times are rough. It takes character. And you know what else? Winning tastes very sweet after you've experienced the lows.

My advice, not that you are asking for it, is to give it some time, look for the good things, revel in the rebuilding. It won't get there overnight and there will be even more bumps along the way. Enjoy it for the experience and witness the growth.

[longtimelionfan]

Rebelfan,

Thank you for both of your comments. I very much appreciate your comments and their foundation. I agree with your sentiments. The foundation Bayno built to rebuild the program is still in place and believe that if given the opportunity by players, recruits and fans, the current coaching staff will return the program to championship contention and post season play.