Recent Comments
> They are not stakeholders. They are reporters. In regards to time, read my comment above. Understanding it would take a long time was not the issue. the issue is they were not willing to wait.
They were made stakeholders when given a Press Pass and VT invited them in to better share the story of VT Basketball.
> it would take a long time was not the issue. the issue is they were not willing to wait.
Bullshit, I just went back and read the series of tweets, first they are just like WTF, then, this is weird and sucks and man he missed Laazer on radio too, then "this is unprofessional" VT missed a chance to say the team was meeting with Buzz and at his decision. To even just say to the Press yes we will have Buzz come out ASAP is a sign of respect but does not force a coach to act that second.
> It's not Buzz's job to lead the media. It's his job to lead the team.
His contract acknowledges required media interactions, both with Press Conferences, and the in house IMG deal. It was a failure of personal leadership to blow one off without a "hey I know you are out there" and a failure of the Basketball Staff as a whole which he leads to at least address it with some sort of official comment.
Weird how there are so many different types of leadership right?
> Answering questions to media will never result in winning. What creates winning is by leading, which he did, which is why we have now won 2 straight against ACC competition.
And you sure as shit can figure out how to do both. Again the simplest question here is do we think that is something Beamer would have done? He managed to win at the highest levels, indeed higher levels than Buzz, so clearly his approach was successful and one that has always been seen as desirable.
And yet SHOULD the media have had to piece it together for themselves by standing around and reading lips?
Is that really how we want the VT Athletics Dept run?
This represents a break down in communication throughout the organization, and a very unfortunate one, which is a failure of leadership in its own way when a unique situation arises and everyone is wandering around unsure of what is up. Hell Buzz could easily have said "itll be a while if yourre around we can talk" but is crickets really acceptable for how you want an organization that has the goal of winning national titles to run?
Buzz is not infallible, he choose the right option and did it just about the worst way possible. That doesnt mean there isnt a need for assessment here
You also dont leave stake holders in the dark.
There is more than just Buzz on the staff. Send an Asst, hell send a GA out to say this is going to be a long time.
They are not stakeholders. They are reporters. In regards to time, read my comment above. Understanding it would take a long time was not the issue. the issue is they were not willing to wait.
That is a failure of leadership right there
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It's not Buzz's job to lead the media. It's his job to lead the team.
And for the 2nd highest paid Virginia Tech employee not the standard of excellence we should expect, or that he demonstrated thus far in his tenure.
I fully expect the 2nd highest paid Virginia Tech employee whose responsibility is to build a winning basketball program to take the steps necessary to win. Answering questions to media will never result in winning. What creates winning is by leading, which he did, which is why we have now won 2 straight against ACC competition. Is there any other proof needed to show that he made the correct decision? nope.
Did the media really need to be told that? No. They pieced it together themselves. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that they wanted quotes to fill a post and they weren't willing to wait for them. How in the world would Buzz know how long that speech is going to take? It's a fluid situation. It takes as long as it needs to take. If they don't want to wait then leave. Barber posted he came back, which I call bullshit on because I am sure his editor told him to get his ass back there and do his job. A job that is dependent upon a coach and team of young players. Not the other way around.
You also dont leave stake holders in the dark.
There is more than just Buzz on the staff. Send an Asst, hell send a GA out to say this is going to be a long time.
Whit Babcock stood with the Press waiting too, per multiple reports between the TSL guys and Breman, and then decided to leave. That is a failure of communication to leave multiple important parties in the dark as to even what the timeline looked like. That is a failure of leadership right there.
And for the 2nd highest paid Virginia Tech employee not the standard of excellence we should expect, or that he demonstrated thus far in his tenure.
Do I believe it is going to be a pattern? No I think by the end of this season he will have total player buy in and not need any more Come to Jesus meetings.
But that doesnt mean we cant learn form the incident and reflect on ways to improve the organization.
He is the HC of an ACC school and the 2nd highest paid employee of the school, there is no such thing as getting a break.
That isnt the job he signed up for, nor is it the job we saw him wanting to do the first year.
Doesn't seem like he is at all. Bitter seems to still think that Buzz is obligated to him first and not to the team. That's bullshit. There is zero instance in which Buzz's job defined responsibility to do media coverage is of more importance than what Buzz feels is needed to be done with the team.
For Bitter to suggest that the same speech could be done after doing the media presser is ludicrous, and leads me to believe that:
a) Bitter has never really played organized sports at a high competition level. You don't delay leadership to answer some questions. You display leadership when leadership is required. If Bitter honestly believes the impact of that speech would be the same after a 30 minute presser to the media then he's been watching too much Newsroom. Get off it. You're not breaking the Watergate scandal, you're reporting sports.
b) Bitter feels the media's time is of greater importance than that of those they are reporting on. News flash dipshit, you have no job without those kids that need a coach to give them an hour and 45 minute pep talk.
Total bullshit.
I dont either, but every toxic situation begins with one incident.
The best groups and organizations reflect and improve, as I believe happened here, Whit is too good and Buzz too committed to not look in the mirror and at least consider how they could avoid similar in the future.
But in the end he did hose on people who rely on him to make a living, and whose job is literally to tell all of us stories about the teams we like. It isnt a bad thing when they call him out for being hosed on.
Dave? Is that you? Buzz is under alot of pressure to win and has a team facing down the barrel of an ACC season they looked just a couple of games ago was not going to go well. You remember those days don't you?
Give the guy a break.
Your portrayal of Buzz seems completely out of line with the character we heard so much about.
Does he have some "process and procedure" stuff he has to iron out? Sure.
Not sure I buy we have a Greenberg situation here.
His character apparently stands for itself with many folks willing to attest.
So these weak bastards went after his clothing. VT colors nonetheless.
Reporters want stories, Buzz gave it to them at a time when noone really cares about VT basketball.
Plenty of time to make up later after everyone starts showing for games, remembering we have a Hoops team.
Almost went to Richmond today, contemplated dropping down for the game. Uggggh. Next year or the next it will take effort and/or $$$$ to get into these games.
I would also expect the 2nd highest paid representative of the University to not treat people based on what company they work for, exactly as you would seemingly have him do.
All media are worthy of time and consideration. The Babcock Administration's willingness to be open with local and new media is part of why TKP has taken off, not just only caring when the WaPo or ESPN turn up.
Thats not the spirit that was embodied for 29 years on the other side of the house, and I dont think it is one we want in Tech, nor do i think you are actively supporting, just taking your argument to its logical conclusion.
If this leads to the downfall of our men's basketball program again, I will gladly eat my words. But public and fan opinion is impacted way more by results and national media perception. While Bitter and Berman do have reach, they aren't national like ESPN. Here's to hoping we do nothing to get on ESPN's bad side.
And I would expect the 4th highest paid employee of the state of Virginia to be better at managing multiple responsibilities over just ignoring one with no warning.
And I would be cautious how many lots you use, when the media coverage turns toxic, that doubles down the negative perception of fans, which means less donation money, which hurts the AD and puts his job at risk, which sure as hell puts a HC's job at risk. And once you get any turnover we are back to square one as the garbage of the ACC.
Yeah but coaches and players are more important than local media. By a lot. A whole lot.
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10 years 6 months
# | BUZZKETBALL CENTRAL: #4 UVA Wahoos (12-1) at Virginia Tech Hokies (9-5) 9PM ESPN2 Definitely some people, but not a huge fracas and they were able to control it pretty well.
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10 years 6 months
# | Special Teamers on Beamer: Frank's Specialists Offer Memories of a Man That "Drips of Class" Wonderful article. I think you really captured some of the things about Frank Beamer that make him so special. Thanks for writing this.
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10 years 6 months
# | BUZZKETBALL CENTRAL: #4 UVA Wahoos (12-1) at Virginia Tech Hokies (9-5) 9PM ESPN2 I did! Not many followed, but whatever
This is easily probably top 3 of my favorite photos I've ever taken.
It's been asked several times, so...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3192440/Spanish-defend...
it's called "magic spray" by players and fans but it's a coolant spray
Couldn't watch the game tonight, but checked TKP and BAM
Thank you both, and I apologize for bringing negativity to this otherwise positive topic. But I went into this game thinking, "It's just a game, and it doesn't really matter," and that would've been true if we had lost. But this win really made me feel better. Funny how sports can make us feel, especially when it comes to the Hokies. Great win tonight.
RIP Phreak. Keep the thread open -this is the example of passion and heat and love for this forum and disagreeing and the somber reality that we're here for only a little while...
Thanks guys, to each and every one of you.
And honestly Buzz got what the end result everyone even the beat writers wanted, an exciting team people want to know about and watch.
I think everyone will just move forward. Buzz mightve got a talking to about not blowing stuff off and the writers hopefully will get a heads up and live with it in the future, and we avoid the cycle of toxicity that got Greenburg canned.
you make it seem like it was some insidious plan of his. My opinion is that it was not. He simply chose to do what he felt was necessary to lead the team. It had nothing to do with media needing to "read lips" or how the Athletics Dept is run. It was about coaching young men into believing they are more than what they believe they are. That simple.
There was no overt plan to subvert the media, VT athletics or anything else. This is simply coaching.
Would it have been a courtesy to send someone? yes. Was it necessary for the media to understand that he was in a team meeting? No. Should he have sent someone? yes. Could Whit have sent someone in to check, or gone himself? yes. Could the media have waited? yes. Does it suck to wait nearly 2 hours? sure, but it's their job.
You are correct. Buzz is not infallible, but neither are the media that were publicly calling him out on twitter like some teenager who was just grounded. That's bullshit. you have a problem then Whit is standing right there. Go talk to the man. You have a problem, then when you see Buzz you address it. Don't bitch and moan on Twitter. That's not reporting. That's being hyperbolic to attract attention. Is that really how you want VT sports reporting to be like? Is hyperbolic bitching acceptable for how you want sports reporting to be?
At the end of the day it boils down to only one thing: Their job is to report on sports. They merely need to show up and offer summaries and introspection, but they MUST ALWAYS wait for sports to happen before doing their job. Sometimes there are delays. Get over it.
The relationship is one of co-dependence. It is predicated on respect for either side. However, if you feel slighted in that relationship I cannot think of a worse way to express that than calling someone a "jerk" on twitter. Or blasting Twitter every 5 minutes you can't get what you want. That's pathetic. Have the professional courtesy you say you deserve and bring up to the man himself and work it out.