Trying for some measured view of things:
1. Driving home from game Pawlowski said this was his favorite team in terms of 'family' togetherness, heart, etc. That is worth a good deal.
2. The post game celebration also says a lot.
3. ASU is a pretty good team; terrific in the 1st half, but should its coach be lambasted for the 2d half? Complicated game made more so by emotion, inner drive and a million other items.
4. 7-5 with admittedly modest talent, improved academics, and of equal importance what appears to be a group of student/players who are decent, team-oriented, has significant value.
Are the above as important as wins over 'better' teams? For me they come damn close.
5. Should it be better? The facile answer is yes; but that is the beginning not the end of the discussion.
6. There is much argument on this board about speaking one's mind and yes of course one can say anything, but loudly and boldly asserting something and that assertion being true are quite different matters.
Couple of examples:
- too often on this board we read statements that appear to be gospel"no heart on this team.D can't coach" etc. etc. While these observations may be true, as w/most activities in life, especially those w/some complications, most of us who are not doing it, have little idea of those complexities. Practicing law, teaching, making financial determinations, being a cop, coaching are all pretty intense and layered activities.
- another example: D is not recruiting well enough. Now that may be due to his failures as a recruiter or it may have everything to do with recruiting for a team that was 1-11 2 years ago and is described by many here as only a 'so-so' 7-5 team. Merely saying he should be a better recruiter and should be getting 4 and 5 star players does not make it so.
7. The anger and impatience here does not reflect one's best qualities.
1. Driving home from game Pawlowski said this was his favorite team in terms of 'family' togetherness, heart, etc. That is worth a good deal.
2. The post game celebration also says a lot.
3. ASU is a pretty good team; terrific in the 1st half, but should its coach be lambasted for the 2d half? Complicated game made more so by emotion, inner drive and a million other items.
4. 7-5 with admittedly modest talent, improved academics, and of equal importance what appears to be a group of student/players who are decent, team-oriented, has significant value.
Are the above as important as wins over 'better' teams? For me they come damn close.
5. Should it be better? The facile answer is yes; but that is the beginning not the end of the discussion.
6. There is much argument on this board about speaking one's mind and yes of course one can say anything, but loudly and boldly asserting something and that assertion being true are quite different matters.
Couple of examples:
- too often on this board we read statements that appear to be gospel"no heart on this team.D can't coach" etc. etc. While these observations may be true, as w/most activities in life, especially those w/some complications, most of us who are not doing it, have little idea of those complexities. Practicing law, teaching, making financial determinations, being a cop, coaching are all pretty intense and layered activities.
- another example: D is not recruiting well enough. Now that may be due to his failures as a recruiter or it may have everything to do with recruiting for a team that was 1-11 2 years ago and is described by many here as only a 'so-so' 7-5 team. Merely saying he should be a better recruiter and should be getting 4 and 5 star players does not make it so.
7. The anger and impatience here does not reflect one's best qualities.