Chronicling the Criticism

General Media NCS Basketball On the Record Quotes of Note Sidney Lowe91

We need your help!

As you are well aware, a significant number of national and local media members have been openly critical of Sidney Lowe’s hire as Head Basketball Coach at NC State. Although this criticism is very relevant, we have chosen not to dwell and focus on it. But, we don’t want to ignore it completely.

So, what we would ask you to do is use our comments section for this entry to share criticisms that you have heard/seen on television and radio, and link to articles and commentaries on the internet. Feel free to include a quotation or two from the article that is particularly critical so if the source chooses to remove the article in the future, we will have the commentary chronicled.

We ask that you do NOT share your own commentary or thoughts on this entry. We just want links, quotes, and recaps. We are trying to compile a single entry with all of the criticism so that we can have it chronicled in one spot. We would LOVE to be able to come back to this entry in a few years and serve up a bunch of crow.

Thanks!

Example–

Randy Capps @ Shelby Starr

http://www.shelbystar.com/story.php?ID=1693

Recent hire trades substance for style for Wolfpack program

He’ll show up at little Johnny’s house, spin a few yarns about the N.C. State glory days and drop a few names from the NBA. It’ll be a good show right up until Roy Williams shows up with a shiny national championship ring and a laundry list of players he’s coached into the pros.

State fans, and apparently, some players got their wish. When Sendek left for Tempe, they got rid of a boring coach with a boring offense.

“(Lowe) told us he wanted us to be free and have fun,‿ said sophomore Gavin Grant. “(Sendek) wasn’t focused on having fun. He was more focused on we’ve got to win and it was this way or no way at all.‿
Yeah, sure. It’s all about fun now at N.C. State. Let’s get it up and down and stick out their chests when they play Duke and Carolina.

It’s a page out of the N.C. State football playbook. Walk loudly and carry a twig.

What you have here is a trade-off that most State fans will welcome. The straight-laced, soft-spoken coach that wins more than he loses firmly in the shadow of his neighbors for the tough-talking State alum that isn’t scared to yell at Coach K or Skip Prosser to fire up his team.

Style over substance never works over the long haul.

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General Media NCS Basketball On the Record Quotes of Note Sidney Lowe

91 Responses to Chronicling the Criticism

  1. GoldenChain 05/08/2006 at 3:05 PM #

    SI.com Seth Davis
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/seth_davis/05/01/ncstate/index.html
    I quote:
    Given this sorry state of affairs, I’m guessing there are a lot of disappointed N.C. State fans, such as the one who goes by the handle gsu101 and posted the following message on an Internet message board two weeks ago. The message is addressed “To all Herb Haters” and it reads: “You guys are now getting a reality check. There is no coach that can propel us past UNC and Duke, at least not right now, but Herb kept pushing the program along in the right direction. He was a classy guy, and a great coach. And his reward [was] ONLY CONSTANT CRITICISM AND SNOTTINESS FROM YOU FOLKS! Consider what is happening to State now as a fitting punishment, you ungrateful people.”

    Can I get an amen?

    End quote

  2. MrPlywood 05/08/2006 at 3:06 PM #

    The level-headed, fair criticism I can understand. The vehement, bile-filled, and just plain silly diatribes (Doyel, ACCBasketBlog) only lead me to believe that the authors have some other axe to grind, or that they are truly worried that this new staff has the potential to topple the sacred cows at UNX and Dook. Their bias is showing.

    Funny how most of them qualify their judgements with a “He may turn out to be a great coach” type of disclaimer…

  3. GoldenChain 05/08/2006 at 3:11 PM #

    On another note, I listen most afternoons to Penner & Max on 610 WFNZ in Charlotte and they have been unmerciful in their criticism.
    I fully intended to write Lowe and the Dir of Hoops Ops a letter requesting that they not entertain any request for an interview prior to next season’s kick-off.
    Same station, The Morning Sports Page is almost as bad.
    – State fans are unrealistic to think they can beat Duke and unx
    – State fans are jerks
    – State fans ran off Herb even though he was as good as they could realistically do
    – State fans live in the past, they had two good years and think they should be Duke and unx
    – so foth and etc

  4. C Dog 05/08/2006 at 3:12 PM #

    JeremyHyatt makes an excellent point. State is not yet a brand name. The Pack has been to 2 final fours, UNC has been to 16. Of course, the Pack are 2 for 2 once they get there. Hard to beat that percentage!

  5. GoldenChain 05/08/2006 at 3:31 PM #

    Fayettevile Observer
    http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article_archive?id=1080088&highlight=n,c,state,wolfpack

    Hi lites:
    “He’s (LF) gone through all the pretty girls (Rick Barnes and John Calipari) and the smart ones (Mike Montgomery, Steve Lavin and John Belein), Now, desperate not to leave empty-handed as closing time approaches, he’s turning his attention to anyone standing at the bar alone.

    Things have gotten so bad that there was a thread on an Internet message board recently wondering sarcastically if Sendek would be willing to come back.”

    “…the search for his replacement is becoming more and more of an embarrassment with each passing day. And it’s not over yet.
    But it could be.
    As difficult as finding a suitable replacement for Sendek has been, Fowler could cut his losses and end the ordeal today if he wanted.
    All he has to do is admit that he fought the good fight and then hire the only man who really seems to want the job.
    Dereck Whittenburg.”

  6. BoKnowsNCS71 05/08/2006 at 3:32 PM #

    There’s an old saying that “If Mama’s happy –everybody’s happy.”

    In this case Wofpack nation is Mama and I think it’s happy with the choice.

    Now all we gotta do is tell those “Yo mama” idiots out there to go away. Forget their psychic predictions and let us move on.

    I’m sure some of these guys never expected us to win the ACCT in 83 or yet to win the National Championship. And I’m sure they didn’t predict all those mid-major teams competing this year.

    To hell with the naysayers.

  7. GoldenChain 05/08/2006 at 3:44 PM #

    BTW, State was also in the Final 4 in 1950 for a total of 3. Just for accuracy sake. That unx number, 17, includes 1946 and 1957.
    When you’re talking down our team atleast be accurate.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_Tournament_Final_Four_Participants

  8. Jeremy Hyatt 05/08/2006 at 3:44 PM #

    By the way, the statements in the 3nd paragraph I posted earlier aren’t necessarily my original opinions. More likely a collection of entries made in past blogs that I have latched onto, and helped me realize some things about the media, fans, and the ACC. It is very true about the brand name; it is funny how many UNC caps I will see at a random sports event.

    Although I once mentioned to a classmate that I went to NC State for my undergrad. His ears perked up. I said “oh.. you’ve probably heard about our computer science department and our highly ranked engineering school”. He said “No, I just know they have a pretty good basketball team”. I smiled, and assumed his comments stemmed from Juluis Hodge and Co. defeating UConn to get to the Sweet Sixteen.

    We are on the map fellows…. we just need a legend. (sorry couldn’t be helped)

  9. goobnav 05/08/2006 at 3:52 PM #

    We, The Wolfpack Nation, don’t want Coach Lowe, to go on the Morning show for G105, WDCG, in Raleigh. That fat, pompus, floor flushing, Smurf bandwagon loving, wouldn’t know basketball Georgia transplant, Bob Dumbass called every State fan, grad, and associate jerks despite having no ties to any NC schools at all. He will just play up to the so-called market fans to get an extra rating point or two because Clear Channel sucks and he knows it.

  10. gumbydammit 05/08/2006 at 4:04 PM #

    I’ll tell you guys the same thing I emailed Greg Doyel:

    Greg,

    Your columns are only worthwhile if actually printed on paper. At least then one can use them to wipe one’s backside.

    Without Regards,

    (my real name)

  11. choppack1 05/08/2006 at 4:09 PM #

    You are better off not responding to those who are writing these manifestos. They only use your e-mails to justify their own pigheadedness.

  12. Wolf80 05/08/2006 at 4:18 PM #

    Doyle you are an obnoxious parasite….yea, my name is Rick May. We are not hiding behind our “wolf names”as you cried on 850. You come on blabbering a bunch of garbage but you are too yellow to take any calls from listeners……serious paranoid loser !

  13. Heels Perspective 05/08/2006 at 4:28 PM #

    Congrats to NC State for hiring a “State” guy. I think the only guarantee at this point is that you guys seem to be very united, although I sense a certain level of apprehension. (Very much like the apprehension in Chapel Hill when Matt Doherty held his press conference).

    I think there has been fair commentary in the media about Coach Lowe’s lack of college experience. However, NOBODY can know what will happen. The one thing we know (as ACC fans) is that a very good staff is being assembled.

    My own thoughts here are that Coach Lowe is really a very likeable guy who I believe will be able to recruit at a level above Herb. I think he has very good chance of success beyond that of Herb. I think there is only a small chance that he will fail (like Coach Doherty). Sidney is not the ASS that Matt is so I don’t think there will be a parellel situation.

  14. chilly water 05/08/2006 at 4:36 PM #

    I know this is off topic, but i have just seen some recruiting videos of chris wright, and all i can say is we gotta have em. He would be perfect for the “up tempo” style of play to be used. He’s fast, makes great passes, and shoots well from the perimeter.

  15. choppack1 05/08/2006 at 4:36 PM #

    Good comments Heels perspective. You are exactly right – no matter who was hired, no one can guarantee what they are going to do. This is a unique job and we made a unique hire.

  16. beowolf 05/08/2006 at 4:39 PM #

    NC State has the best winning percentage in the Final Four of all those teams who have made repeat visits, having won five of six games.

  17. whitefang 05/08/2006 at 4:58 PM #

    Bingo ldr of pack75

    History lesson:
    Sept 1979 “A full time sports network, ESPN, are you kidding me? No way they can make it because TV viewers do not want to watch sports 24 hours a day.”
    October 1996 “FOX NEWS CHANNEL takes on CNN. There is no way they can compete in the cable news market that was established by and is owned by CNN.”
    May 2006 “Whether it’s Sidney Lowe, Rick Barnes or John Calipari, it doesn’t really matter. There’s no way N.C. State will be able to topple the powers-that-be on Tobacco Road. “

    I can’t wait until we can pull this quote back up an laugh at it.

  18. choppack1 05/08/2006 at 5:15 PM #

    It’s silly to say “can’t”. I’m sure people thought that Jim Calhoun was off his rocker to think he could compete w/ Georgetown, St. John’s and Syracuse. They would have said the same thing about Coach K. Of course, those in the media say this, because statisically they stand a good chance of being right. What bothers me more is when writers act like our fans were being unreasonable for wanting a change. I could understand the venom if Sendek had won a title or two or maybe had been to 2 consecutive Sweet 16s.

  19. Texpack 05/08/2006 at 6:20 PM #

    Wufpack. I didn’t interpret Tudor’s column as criticism of the Lowe hire. It focused more on the relationship between Lowe and Whittenburg and wondering how it might be impacted by this outcome. Lorenzo’s comments, at least my interpretation of them, were that he didn’t understand why nobody would talk to Whitt about the job, not that he didn’t understand the hiring of Sidney.

    Randy Capps (Shelby Star) promised me an I was wrong article if he is wrong.

  20. StateFans 05/08/2006 at 7:07 PM #

    ^ How does somebody like that define when they are wrong? Seriously…what is his definition of being wrong?

  21. 4PackinMB 05/08/2006 at 7:49 PM #

    Nice comments from Swagger…..if ya’ll hadn’t seen that yet….congrats

  22. Winston Wolf 05/08/2006 at 7:56 PM #

    I wrote an email to the guy in Shelby. I thought he made some really uncalled for remarks. I initially thought that he was a hole grad. Found out that he went to Garner Webb, so I then thought that he was a closet, Wal-Mart hole fan.

    He emailed me back and was proud to say that he was from South Carolina and had equal distain for all North Carolina schools. I wonder who gave him his job?

  23. chilly water 05/08/2006 at 7:58 PM #

    Courtney fells is a high flyer. The man can jump out of the gym, as well well as pass the rock ..baby. Its a shame we couldnt see his tremendous athletic ability last year but we can all thank buddha (herb) for that. I believe next year will be a hole new ballgame. I can just see it now-davis under the legs pass to fells for the JAM over handjobsborough!!!!

  24. frank 05/08/2006 at 8:47 PM #

    Before everyone becomes all worked up over articles that appear in reference to the new hire let keep a few things in perspective.

    1) If it was not for the internet most of these individuals who write about sports would not have a job, instead they would be writers for their local church or HOA newsletters writing about how Beavis twisted his ankle attempting to turn a single into a double in last Thursday softball game

    2)The Shelby newspaper probally has the same circulation # as my high school newspaper

    3)Most sports writers have very little on the field experience in the actual sport that they cover, they think because they played in little and junior league and watched sports their whole life in their parents basement that they are an expert.

    4)They have to write about something the more controversial the better

    Finally. SL may or may not be successful here but I will take my chances with someone who has played and coached at the highest level (NBA) and who has been involved in coaching at this level for the past 14 years over any mid major coach.

    In regards to his education, he has done pretty well for himself so far and he should be commended for his pending completion of his education. As far as the attacks on where he is finishing his education this is a slap in the face to every CIAA school.

  25. GrandWolf 05/08/2006 at 9:18 PM #

    Prior to the internet, another Sidney Lowe team got the ultimate slap in the face from the media. This time it was the Washington Post the Sudnay Morning before the State-Houston game. You all know it….

    Trees will tap dance, elephants will drive Indy Cars, Orsen Welles will go on a diet before NC State beats Houston.

    Coach Lowe has heard this before. Given what happened after the Washington Post’s brave prediction, maybe the negative press articles of the last 5 days of the Lowe hire are all omens of the great things to come for NC State basektball.

    To hell w/ them all! GO PACK!

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