It started today. Despite warnings to the contrary, I can promise you that it won’t be ending today.
Lee Fowler issued the first of many “I support Sendek” statements this morning through the News & Observer. Can “Q&A with Lee Fowler” on GoPack.com or Pack Pride be far behind?
I am going to venture to guess that the answer is a resounding…NO.
Now that it has started – now that Elvis has reintroduced the drugs to his diet – there is NO WAY that Lee Fowler will be able to avoid interjecting himself into the media spotlight with multiple statements of support for Herb Sendek.
I can’t wait! I can’t wait to learn which new mstandard Lee Fowler will propose to highlight Herb Sendek’s ‘success’ as the Head Basketball coach of NC State. Since I have no doubt that Fowler’s mouth will soon be in overdrive in another exhausting defense of the great Herb Sendek (that nobody else in the country will hire despite Sendek’s recent overtures)…the real question is – “what will this year’s new standard of evaluation be?” Obviously, I use the term ‘standard’ as loose as humanly possible.
Your company has a job description outlining expectations for your role and performance. It probably includes metrics and standards against which you will be judged. But, your job is in the real world…not at NC State. Lee Fowler and NC State re-write Herb Sendek’s job description each year to make sure that it matches whatever Herb Sendek has recently “achieved”. And, each year around this time we learn of Fowler’s newest standard. He’s such an innovator!!!
Think about it:
* In 2001, after a horrible season and a mediocre (at best) 5-year run that did not include a single NCAA Tournament appearance, Lee Fowler openly proclaimed that he was retaining Coach Sendek because of the great recruiting class that was coming in. – Was it really worth the wait?
* In 2002, the standard was set with simply “making the NCAA Tournament”. – Achieved! On the Bubble.
* In 2003, the standard was ambiguously “build on last year” – Achieved! The ACC was almost as weak as this year as 3rd rated conference in the RPI. State’s RPI was #45, down from #32 the previous year and therefore negating the opportunity to use “show improvement”
* In 2004, it was time to “show improvement” and strive to be 2nd place since NC State could never be expected to compete for first place. – Achieved! Highwater mark in Sendek’s tenure. #2 in the ACC. #17 in the RPI. The worst RPI of any 2nd place team in ACC history.
* In 2005, after a 7th place ACC finish and an NCAA appearance as the worst RPI to receive an at-large bid, the standard suddenly shifted to NCAA Tournament performance. Of course, you can never forget the “Herb is a great guy” component that gets selectively thrown into each year a little here and a little there. – Achieved! NC State has fallen so low that as a #10 seed we are excited about upsetting UNC-Charlotte!!! One upset over UConn after a regular season of going 3-7 vs NCAA Tournament teams and 0-6 vs the RPI’s Top 25…and PRESTO!!! Success!!
So…what will it be in 2006? The truth about the ridiculous “Complete Body of Work” is starting to take root, as are more accurate perspectives around Five Straight NCAA Tournaments (especially after our poor NCAA Tournament performances)
I don’t know what to expect the next time Fowler starts yapping. It is a year too early to start back at 2001 and talk about Sendek’s “great recruiting class”; that has to be saved for next season after we bomb and with Chris Wright coming to town. So, I don’t know what Lee Fowler’s new job standard will be in 2006. I do know that we won’t hear him admit that this team failed to approach his pre-season expectations chronicled here.
