Sendek’s Focus vs Recent Hires

General NCS Basketball Quotes of Note36

Mick Cronin hired at Cincinnati.
From CBS Sportsline

“I’m here to win,”

Mike Anderson hired at Missouri.
From Kansas City Star:

“My goal is to win the national championship,� Anderson said. “I want to win the big one. I can get it done here. I can get it done.�

Anderson — the first black coach in MU history — exuded confidence during his introductory news conference Sunday at Mizzou Arena. Instead of dwelling on the Tigers’ recent, frustrating past, Anderson offered uplifting thoughts about Mizzou’s promising future.

“We’re going to attract big-name players here,� said Anderson, 46. “Believe me, I know the type of athletes that will come here. I know the visibility that this program will have. I know what kind of fan support we’ll have.

For the Tigers, Anderson’s optimistic attitude was sorely needed on a day that began with turmoil. Missouri’s Board of Curators began a nearly three-hour meeting around noon to discuss the future of athletic director Mike Alden. Even though the decision was made to retain Alden, the scenario was just another public-relations hit for a school that continues to draw criticism for its lack of organization and togetherness.

Jim Laranaga, head coach of Final Four bound George Mason on ESPN radio this morning quoting William Jennings Bryan:

“Destiny is not a matter of chance. It’s a matter of choice.�

Herb Sendek Friday, March 15, 2002
From News & Observer

“You always have to go on to the next game, the next season. There’s no final destination, so to speak. That’s why it’s important to enjoy the process, to take more out of it than just the final outcome. Because as soon as there’s one outcome rendered, there’s another waiting. If you live for only that, the final score on the scoreboard, it could be a very hollow existence. That’s why the relationships and the journey itself has to be treasured.”

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General NCS Basketball Quotes of Note

36 Responses to Sendek’s Focus vs Recent Hires

  1. VTPACKFAN 03/27/2006 at 2:06 PM #

    Journey, process, and relationships oh my. If Herb is going to continue smoking this stuff, atleast get the sh-t Phil Jackson smokes.

  2. BJD95 03/27/2006 at 2:10 PM #

    That’s a very good hire for Mizzou. Herb for UAB! They need their level of excitement ratcheted down a few notches. It’s not healthy.

    Of course, how could Herb succeed in the same conference as mighty Memphis?

  3. Alpha Wolf 03/27/2006 at 2:42 PM #

    Take enough Paxil, study Zen and you’ll start believing that stuff.

    Of course, Paxil can make some people psychotic. A nasty little side effect, but one very similar to being an NC State fan. Between our football and basketball team it is hard to tell which has made me throw more foam bricks at the wall. That’s their core competence, or so it would seem.

  4. WV Wolf 03/27/2006 at 2:51 PM #

    While not a recent hire, here’s a quote to compare to Lee Fowler’s “It’s all about how we’re received nationally” comment.

    WVU’s John Beilein speaking to the 500 fans that greeted the Mountaineers when they arrived at the Coliseum after the Texas loss:

    “We play for you,� Beilein said. “We know how much this means to you, and I know a lot of you stayed up much later than you have for a long time. We tried with everything we had, but, as you could see, Texas is a very good team. LSU, who we played very competitively here, is a very good team. We are going to do everything we can to keep this tradition going.�

    “When our coaching staff and our families moved here, we were just trying to give you the best we could give you every day,� Beilein said. “This group, we have all worked so hard for so long. It’s a pretty empty feeling right now. But I hope when you walked away from your TV set, you were pretty proud of the way our kids played.�

    Compare “received nationally” to “we play for you”, the attitude is night and day. Were you proud of the way State played against Texas? I can’t really say I was. And where was Herb’s greeting party, I certainly didn’t hear about it…

  5. Only One 03/27/2006 at 2:52 PM #

    C’mon now guys. give herbie a break I’m going to take that brilliant Herbism and put it on one of those motivational posters like they have at Successories. Put it under the picture of herb doing the chicken dance at the red/white game a few years back. I’m sure with that motivation, I’ll be inspired to get off the couch and………….move over to the recliner.

    All those other quotes like “I’m here to win a national championship”…they just cause stress and ulcers. Why strive for excellence when you can settle for mediocrity.

  6. SaccoV 03/27/2006 at 2:52 PM #

    Although I don’t completely disagree with Herb on this issue, he’s not in a position to speak this tripe like K or Roy. You have to win first to then detract from a win-at-all-costs mentality. The best coach to fit this same scenario is Joe Paterno, who also won his share of national titles and national recognition at Penn State. Herb and his mighty Herb-a-vores have yet to accomplish ANYTHING substantive in Raleigh.

  7. Only One 03/27/2006 at 2:53 PM #

    >And where was Herb’s greeting party, I certainly didn’t hear about it…

    Herb had a greeting party? are you sure you’re not mistaking the moving van companies and real estate offices offering him “deals” to use their businesses for “greeting parties”

  8. Rick 03/27/2006 at 3:19 PM #

    I am sure Murphy was there.

  9. BJD95 03/27/2006 at 3:23 PM #

    Herb’s got his “circle” and that’s enough for him. Don’t think he even cares about winning over the vast “unwashed masses” anymore.

  10. old13 03/27/2006 at 3:54 PM #

    And I’m happy to return Lee Sednek’s great consideration for the Wolfpack fans with similar support for them!

  11. Cardiff Giant 03/27/2006 at 3:59 PM #

    Chopping that wood!

  12. class of '74 03/27/2006 at 4:24 PM #

    I’d like to see someone chop his neck!

  13. Andy 03/27/2006 at 4:57 PM #

    yeah god forbid someone give an honest intelligent answer to a question. Someone send him a book on proper coachspeak

  14. Chief93 03/27/2006 at 5:05 PM #

    I would think a quote from Herb’s hiring would be a better apples to apples comparison rather than some out-of-context quote from whenever that was–after the UConn loss? after the Duke ACCT loss?

  15. zeke 03/27/2006 at 5:26 PM #

    Find the quotes for us Chief.

  16. site admin 03/27/2006 at 5:33 PM #

    April 23, 1996 The News & Observer
    All kidding aside, Sendek scores with Pack fans

    Sendek made no phony transformation from the serious, hardly droll 33-year-old who was introduced as coach last Wednesday at Reynolds Coliseum. There were no cute digs at North Carolina’s Dean Smith, no false promises about 20-win seasons and future NCAA glory.

    “To say we’ll get X number of wins or finish in X place in the ACC – that’s an abstraction,” he said. “It’s an illusion. It’s stardust.

    “I have my visions and dreams, but I’m more present-minded than future-minded. I just keep my nose to the grindstone, focusing all my mental energy on what we can do today to get better.”

  17. site admin 03/27/2006 at 5:44 PM #

    The News & Observer

    April 18, 1996

    State begins Sendek era New Wolfpack coach is serious about his work
    As for his age, he was blunt: It doesn’t matter.

    “Age is really an arbitrary number,” Sendek said as he stood below a sea of Wolfpack championship banners hanging from the Reynolds Coliseum rafters. “Benjamin Franklin helped frame the constitution in his late 70s or 80s and was a journalist at 16. William Pitt became prime minister of Great Britain in his early 20s. Golda Meir was prime minister of Israel late in her life

  18. Mr O 03/27/2006 at 6:01 PM #

    Do quotes mean much either way?

  19. Jeff 03/27/2006 at 7:00 PM #

    MrO, if quotes/words don’t mean anything…then why does anyone bother talking at all?

    Obviously, what people generally say provides an insight into how they are built. If what people say isn’t important, then why do elections have debates? why do job candidates have interviews? and why do sales people personally connect with clients?

    If everyone was built the same…then none of us would be different from each other and there would be no reason to pay coaches as they would all produce the exact same results.

    I actually think the quotes serve to validate Coach Sendek and make all of us who criticize him and Lee Fowler and NC State look stupid.

    You see…HE / THEY have NEVER EVER discussed winning. They have NEVER once misled us into thinking that succeeding at a championship level is a part of their expectations, inner-composition, or job requirements.

    WE are the idiots who talk about Championships and succeeding at Top 20 level. And we are the idiots who have supported them by transferring our defintions of success on to them. Herb’s own words tell you his defintions (or lack) of success.

  20. Andy 03/27/2006 at 7:43 PM #

    Seriously, I mean trying your best and focusing on each opponent. That’s loser talk.

  21. Jeff 03/27/2006 at 8:53 PM #

    ^ Sooner or later someone has to have the nads to admit that Sendek’s best trying isn’t good enough.

  22. Andy 03/27/2006 at 9:40 PM #

    I always get into trouble when I start thinking with my nads

  23. class of '74 03/28/2006 at 7:29 AM #

    If you were in the military and Herb was your leader would you feel confident going into battle after those words of wisdom? Hell, after those remarks I’d say we’re French and where’s our white flag?

  24. Jeff 03/28/2006 at 7:36 AM #

    Andy, we definitely have that in common.

  25. Mr O 03/28/2006 at 7:36 AM #

    Jeff: Can you point out an example of a coach who talked of winning titles at a university like Missouri where the coach was successful in winning those titles?

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