BJD95’s Wolfpack Club Resignation Letter

AD & Department NC State Administration104

To follow up on my late October rant, I have indeed put my money where my mouth is. Here’s my letter, with private stuff I don’t want on the internet carved out:

January 19, 2010

NC State Student Aid Association
PO Box 37100
Raleigh, North Carolina 27627-7100

RE: Cancellation of Wolfpack Club Membership
Membership #******/Ticket #*****

Dear Sir or Madam:

At this point in time, I do not intend to renew my Wolfpack Club membership for 2010, nor continue to purchase LTR seats for football games. Please do not make any further bank drafts from my State Employees’ Credit Union Account (I have also requested that SECU not permit any further bank drafts after December 2009).

My *****personal family situation***** necessitates that I make some difficult spending decisions. Although I have been a Wolfpack Club member since my graduation in 1995 (and am not dissatisfied with the Wolfpack Club or its leadership), I do not feel that the NC State athletics department has shown the commitment to winning that would justify any additional financial investment on my part. My strong feeling is that NC State’s commitment is only to turning a profit (the LTR system helps disconnect finances from bottom-line results), and that winning games and competing for championships are tangential goals at best. Objective measures across the department range from mediocre to putrid, and accountability is virtually non-existent. The official response to even the mildest, fairest criticism (primarily through Lee Fowler, who would not remain employed at virtually any other peer institution, given the level of “success” under his “leadership”) is to demand that we shut up and send more money.

Although finances are tight now, I am a partner in a *****significant business operation*****, and will likely have significant discretionary income once my children graduate college. But NC State’s continued indifference to athletic success has lost me, and I fear that the same holds true for most of my generation of alumni. I wonder who will realistically replace the current crop of major program donors when their time passes. I can never stop caring about or loving NC State, but like a family member of a drug addict, I can and will stop enabling the debilitating sickness that permeates the athletic department.

Sincerely,

*****BJD95*****

Happy MLK, everybody!

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

AD & Department NC State Administration

104 Responses to BJD95’s Wolfpack Club Resignation Letter

  1. Rick 01/19/2010 at 3:36 PM #

    “Our finishes have been commensurate with our teams talent. The optimism about Harrow, Brown, Cothron, need not be explained further.”

    I am confused how the first sentence supports Sid? He brings in the talent. It is hardly a ringing endorsement to say our talent is awful.

    And I think many people are putting way too much into those three players. While extremely good I think Harrow (and to a lesser extend Brown) may struggle in the transition to the college game. Cothron is no better than the players we have now, if he even gets here.

  2. choppack1 01/19/2010 at 4:12 PM #

    I will say that if review the ACC coaches over the last few years, I’d say that the first 4 years of a coach’s tenure are hardly indicative of what the coach can do.

    However, each situation is different – and what’s different about our situation is that Lowe walked into a situation where the team had gone to the NCAAs 5 consecutive years – that he hasn’t been able to get us to one in his first 3 years and likely won’t this year – doesn’t really make the “he’s a great coach” argument…especially when you look at his NBA argument.

    And really, this is a huge part of the problem. After 4 years, we’re still speculating what this coach CAN do when he gets his highly rated recruits in.

    I’m on board for another year, but can we all agree that if Harrow and Brown aren’t in school here come August, we should make a change?

  3. Master 01/19/2010 at 4:35 PM #

    Look, dropping out of the Wolfpack Club may or may not send a message to the adminsitration. What is not in question is that it deprives our student athletes of financial resources.

    I have supported the University, Alumni Association, Business Department and Wolfpack Club for many years. What I see in that opus is a one-man (child) petulant effort to affect the employment of the Athletic Director.

    I fail to see a coherant rationale connecting the AD’s administrative ability to the records of our various teams. To wit, if you are ending your contribution to the Club because Lee Fowler has not fired XYZ Coach, then make that clear. If you think he is causing our Athletic Department to lose money, make that clear. You have indicated a “feeling” that he may not be as committed to winning as turning a profit, but you have not attempted to prove that in any way.

    I am an entrepreneur, multi-business owner and investor. Speaking from experience, this letter will not cause any change. I believe a more effective way of accomplishing that goal is a mass effort under a single umbrella. This will not begin to create that umbrella or cause the Wolfpack club to become that umbrella. The Club will just shut down your account and tend to the other 15,000 members who still support our teams thru their annual donations. Call us dumb, but we love our school and athletic teams unconditionally, while occasionally complaining to those who may have the ability to make a difference. This letter will not make a difference because it looks like whining and is not constructive.

  4. D_Medlin 01/19/2010 at 4:48 PM #

    Great stuff Master.

  5. hball57 01/19/2010 at 3:55 PM #

    “Has anyone stopped and considered that MAYBE the last three bad years are also due to Herb’s players NOT caring one iota about Sidney or the success of the basketball team?”

    Yes that is the logical answer. Because every Sendek recruit is lazy and does not care. They worked their whole life playing basketball with the sinister plan to come to NCSU and loaf. And this happens in every basketball coaching transition so we should expect it as well.

    Honestly, can you not come up with at least a decent argument.

    Rick-

    I love when people make overbearing, sarcastic renderings of someone else’s opinions and then tries to dismiss them.

    No one calls Costner, Fells or McCauley conspirators to make Sidney Lowe fail. But if you have any experience in sports or in leading people you will know that people are chosen to a team because fit in with the leadership style. Lowe is a different kind of leader that HWSNBM. Those recruits did not respond to that. Simple as that.

    Of course Sidney could have taken the Calipari way and told a bunch of them to leave. You might have liked that.

    IF a win or a loss is the only method you use to judge a coach or a team, fine. But sometimes smart people look at more than just the end result. The result is important, but the result is not guaranteed. As Jimmy V once said – “I can’t guarantee you will win in your work hard. I can only guarantee you will fail if you don’t”.

    I like the progress of this year’s team. If you quit the support years ago, why would we want you back? In fact, why are you posting here? Isn’t in some way this blog in support of NC State athletics?

  6. bradleyb123 01/19/2010 at 4:06 PM #

    It’s just my opinion that a change is needed now because I’m not seeing any real signs of improvement. The only thing I keep hearing on here is that we’ll lose talent if we make a change, and that if we change, we’re in the tank for several more years.

    I still don’t know how people can’t see any real signs of improvement. Going down the line, the upperclassmen are all better than last year. Woods just got freshman of the week. Most of the other freshmen are playing well, too. How this is not viewed as improvement, I don’t understand.

    I firmly believe that there are many good coaches out there who understand the college game and can make an instant impact on programs like this one.

    That may be. But will we bring in one of those coaches. When have we EVER brought in a top-tier coach? What makes anyone think we will THIS TIME. I think I’m hearing WTNC (Wait Til Next Coach), which with our track record of coaching hires, is as bad or worse than saying WTNY.

    Talent guarantees nothing unless it’s top tier, and we don’t have anything like that coming. Good, maybe very good, but not top level.

    Really? Two 5-star and one 4-star recruit is not top tier? It doesn’t get MUCH better than what we have coming in. There are a few better players, like Harrison Barnes, but we have to start somewhere. And starting with 4- and 5-star recruits suits me just fine.

  7. bradleyb123 01/19/2010 at 4:07 PM #

    Yes that is the logical answer. Because every Sendek recruit is lazy and does not care. They worked their whole life playing basketball with the sinister plan to come to NCSU and loaf. And this happens in every basketball coaching transition so we should expect it as well.

    Honestly, can you not come up with at least a decent argument.

    Honestly, can you not come up with a rebuttal any better than “come up with a decent argument?”

    My argument is based on statements made by our current players. I combine that with what I saw on the floor last year, and it makes logical sense that those players were SELFISH. It’s also logical that those guys know it’s their last year. They know they’re padding their “resume” for a potential professional career. Why would they care about some new coach running a new system where they may not thrive? It makes perfect sense that they’d be on their own page.

  8. Rick 01/19/2010 at 4:35 PM #

    “It’s also logical that those guys know it’s their last year. They know they’re padding their “resume” for a potential professional career.”

    Except they played three years under Lowe not just the last one which is the only one which seems to fit your argument.

    What you are trying to tell everyone is these players, who worked their whole lives for a chance to play basketball, decided for three years to play like crap because they do not like Sid.

    And how is playing like crap on a losing team “padding their resume”? Because it was obviously not successful. Lowe has NBA connections, so if they wanted to play professional basketball, it would have been in their best interests to listen and follow what he told them (assuming they did not).

    I am sorry if you do not like me disagreeing with it. Maybe I am just tired of people throwing the players under the bus with nothing but some innuendo.

  9. VaWolf82 01/19/2010 at 4:49 PM #

    And we all know the win column is the ONLY place to find progress. LOL

    In this particular instance, improvement will produce more wins. The ACC is down this year….last year the ACC was the top ranked conference and this year it is ranked 3rd. So if this year’s team is in fact improved over last year’s, then State will finish with more wins and in a higher position in the conference standings. If not, then the TEAM has obviously not improved.

    And it amazes me that you can’t understand why firing Sid asap would result in WTFYFN (Wait Til Five Years From Now).

    There is a substantial difference in facts and speculation….and your speculations are definitely not convincing.

  10. bradleyb123 01/19/2010 at 4:50 PM #

    Except they played three years under Lowe not just the last one which is the only one which seems to fit your argument.

    I didn’t say it was only their last year. Which year was a good year with those guys playing for Sidney? We didn’t HAVE one. Some might say 2006 since we made it to the ACC championship game. But we only beat Duke in that Friday game because Henderson was serving his suspension for slugging Hansbrough the game before. And we got on a roll. That doesn’t mean it was a great season. That run was a fluke.

    All of Sidney’s first three years fit “my argument”.

    I just want Sidney to get his chance with HIS OWN PLAYERS. If we fire him prematurely, I won’t get a chance to come here and gloat when my position is proven to be the right one. 🙂

    This team is poised to make a turn. We’re agonizingly close to being 15-3 right now. But we’re playing with teams that no one expected us to hang with (Clemson, FSU, Wake Forest). I just can’t believe some want to rip the rug out from under this thing when we’re this close to making a turn. Thankfully, the administration is probably in agreement with my position.

    Last year, I was one of the people yelling for Lowe’s job. But I started seeing player development. Then recruiting really picked up steam. And the only problem this year seems to be inconsistency, which should be expected from such a young team.

    I know people will reply about how I’m just making excuses. That’s fine, think what you will. I wouldn’t make excuses if I didn’t think better days were JUST around the corner. I want what we all want — a good team. We just have to disagree on how we get there. I don’t see how pulling the plug on Sidney during his fourth year can be a good thing. If I knew we’d bring in Rick Barnes or someone of that caliber, then *MAYBE* I’d consider supporting that. I just know our track record for basketball coaching hires, and I don’t trust that the next guy won’t be worse than Sidney. I’m willing to give Sidney this year and next and make them his last if we’re not in the postseason next year with a solid conference record.

    And I’m still clinging to the hope that we can get there this year. Wolf, you’re right. I’m willing to give Sidney next year, too. That’s fine. I’ll admit that. I’ve already seen improvement that I wasn’t sure we’d have. That’s really all I expected as a minimum for this year. I think we’ll finish with a winning record, and with a little good fortune, an NCAAT bid.

  11. bradleyb123 01/19/2010 at 4:57 PM #

    And do any of you REALLY want a coaching change with Lee Fowler still running the show? Shouldn’t we get that taken care of first? I don’t want Fowler hiring ANY more coaches for us.

  12. Rochester 01/19/2010 at 5:01 PM #

    While disappointed with our record this year, I do actually see progress that makes me want to stay tuned to see how next year’s recruits fit in with the improving returnees. I like the kids we brought in this year, especially Wood and Howell. I can see Vandenberg being a four-year contributor who gets better each year. I can see Davis being a “best teammate” kind of guy for four years. Painter? Well, not sure on him, but I like his athleticism and maybe next year he’ll be ready to contribute.

    I don’t like the losing any more than anyone else, but I’m willing to be patient for one more season. Hopefully in the meantime we’ll upgrade at the AD position, just in case.

    BTW, take a deep breath guys. There’s little to be gained by flaming each other here.

  13. bradleyb123 01/19/2010 at 5:13 PM #

    Thanks, Rochester. Glad to know someone else sees improvement, too.

    I’m disappointed with 12-6, too. But if we were as bad as people expected, our record could easily be much worse. And then I think how with just a couple of minor breaks, we could be 15-3 right now. How can anyone not see improvement with this team? Florida had to hit a 75 footer to beat us. Clemson made a fantastic block of a shot that would have given us a lead with not much time left. Tracy Smith sat out against Florida and we lost by two. These were some very near misses that, if you don’t like Sidney, are more than happy to hold against him. I can’t give him credit for wins that didn’t happen, but there’s no denying the improvement.

    I’m glad in that I believe Sid will get the chance I want him to get next year. The only thing that concerns me is that the Carolina game STILL isn’t sold out. I’m afraid the NCSU administration could view that in the same light as that 2006 ECU game when the fans made a statement against Amato by selling their tickets and allowing ECU to flood our stadium. Not selling out the Carolina game (and with them having a bad year, too) could come back to haunt Sidney if they choose to blame him for the lack of ticket sales.

  14. gcpack 01/19/2010 at 5:41 PM #

    Well Bradley, Roy “citizen’s arrest” Fife has already complained earlier this season that the baby blue fans didn’t all show up for some of their early season warm up games. Since they say we aren’t their rivals maybe the unsold tx will just go unused and not to the baby blue.

    I mean they are 1-2 in the conference and we all know that once it appears that UNC will have more than 8 or 9 losses in a season their fans bail as well.

  15. Wolfy__79 01/19/2010 at 5:55 PM #

    dude, we’re going to beat unc-ch at home! maybe not on the road, but we’ve got the home win!

  16. Wolfy__79 01/19/2010 at 6:03 PM #

    as far as HWSNBN’s players, they would have done better if we had that one key ingredient.. a point guard! we haven’t had one since atsur. since then sid has learned the hard way about not having a backup to the backup plan. we’re just now getting to the point where pg isn’t the entire problem. it’s still our most limiting factor, but what i’ve seen thus far.. we’re getn better in that dept. improved pg play makes the rest of the team much better. the degand-smith alleyoop was the first i’ve seen in a long time, for us, i’ve seen it done to us for ten years. feeding the post improves.. that’s what we need. the only player i’ve had a problem with and am so thankful he’s gone is costner. he is such a whiner. he just didn’t do jack**** since his freshman year. … … …

  17. Wolfy__79 01/19/2010 at 6:05 PM #

    IMO, mays will develop into the pg we need this year. it may take degand holding his hand a little, but that combo looked really good the other nite.

  18. D_Medlin 01/19/2010 at 7:36 PM #

    Just a heads up to those of you who are returning to read comments for a second or perhaps third time.

    I deleted and edited quite a few responses.

    Some of the responses were nothing more than bickering between two people, the type of bickering that adds nothing to the conversation going on here.

    Keep it classy guys. I don’t like deleting anything, but I will.

  19. gcpack 01/19/2010 at 7:42 PM #

    Well said Master, however be aware that either bjd or tjfoose or some other person at the website who supports bjd’s open letter may remove or edit your comments. So far my initial comments questioning why bjd would post the open letter has been severely edited while another comment I posted has been removed twice!

  20. D_Medlin 01/19/2010 at 7:56 PM #

    gcpack,

    Check your e-mail please.

    And let me address the goals of SFN for just a second.

    Any registered user of the site can disagree with whoever they want for whatever reason, if it’s a moderator or not. That will not change. That being said, people will not be allowed to flame back and forth. It is not productive and makes everyone at SFN look bad.

  21. VaWolf82 01/19/2010 at 8:16 PM #

    There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with anyone at SFN. However, you don’t get to attack the authors or this site.

  22. D_Medlin 01/19/2010 at 8:17 PM #

    Or any of the other posters.

    It’s just not going to be allowed. Sorry.

  23. Wolfy__79 01/19/2010 at 9:25 PM #

    after reading this letter, and posting on this for more than a day i’ll get back to the letter specifically. it is highly controversal, stemming from some highly dissatisfied alumni/fans to ones’ that have more of a blind eye to certain unpleasantries of NCSU. of these two categories its easy to place bjd with the dissatisfied group. personally, i be dat baby daddy boss/the other group. i’m actually doing the exact opposite, trying to free up my discretionary income to slide in one of those vacant slots. i understand people that are frustrated, but i maintain my vision of what we have in store for us. i won’t pretend to nickle and dime on the subject of lee fowler. i know i’m not in a position to say stay or go or review that position at all. i’ll have to leave that to the big whigs for now. the generation of alumni that replaces our current big spenders is there.. as is the future success we’ll have. we aren’t making quite the stink that fsu made with bobby bowden.. but their alumni are in the same general position. disatisfied with what we both call mediocrity… it just so happens they are talking about football and we’re pinning ours on the whole athletic dept. it’s easier for me to look at them for an example of how not to behave. if you’ve got dirty laundry, its better to keep it under the radar until you clean it up. not to imply that we really have dirty laundry.

    many of us as alumni were sold on chuck.. sold on HWSNBN.. those were things that didn’t workout. i’ve taken a more simplified approach to highlight our athletics progress. our facilities are top notch. those alone can provide there own results. sure, our w/l’s haven’t been great.. but i’m sure the neccessary moves will be made to change that. back to the facilities, it says point blank on many dated websites lee fowler was hired and he had goals of building these facilities.. has he not done that? i’m not for or against anyone in a public position. they to some measure, have to jump thru those hoops. i wish i knew how your voice could be heard, b/c i’ve see some very valid points from some of you.. but some of the racy back-n-forth really undermines validity of anything said.

  24. Wulfpack 01/19/2010 at 9:46 PM #

    Sure, LF has orchestrated some nice efforts to improve our facilities. The problem is he hasn’t done anything else.

    N.C. State athletics has fallen into the abyss of irrelevancy on his watch. We are statistically one of the worst overall athletic departments in the country. This is proven with objective measurments. There’s been plenty said on here in that regard. Go back and look and you will see all that you need to see.

  25. tjfoose2 01/19/2010 at 9:49 PM #

    gcpack,

    Dude, relax, drop the conspiracy theories. I don’t know BJD, Mr. Medlin, or any of the contributing authors or editors to this site. I am just a visitor/poster w/ no more access/authority to this site than you.

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