Fire Ben Johnson

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Zeppelin Gopher said:
Is Ben even that likeable of a guy? That part confuses me as well.

He's certainly not an unlikable guy, but he's shown zero personality, humor, engagement whatever over 4 years. Diffident Ben is super accurate.

Pitino wasn't prepared for this job, and didn't do well here overall. But like him or not, at least he was engaging and offered SOMETHING as a personality. His snarky sarcastic humor didn't play for everyone but at least offered an ethos.
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Clearly he's nice and accessible to the media. That's what they care about.
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
Lately? Coyle's entire tenure has been spent in a bunker akin to Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. Honestly would be shocked if there's any other AD at a power school who's more mute/silent than him.

Spends his life living in the shadows, never makes an appearance, gives an interview, nothing. Shameful
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If you are a season ticket holder, there are loyalty program events each year where you can have a chance to meet and listen to Coyle. He's not as invisible as some give him "credit" for. Those are usually well attended and some pointed questions get asked and he doesn't dodge them. Everyone should take advantage of those events if they can.
 

fanfromthevalley said:
If you are a season ticket holder, there are loyalty program events each year where you can have a chance to meet and listen to Coyle. He's not as invisible as some give him "credit" for. Those are usually well attended and some pointed questions get asked and he doesn't dodge them. Everyone should take advantage of those events if they can.
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At this point are there more than 100 season ticket holders?
 

fanfromthevalley said:
If you are a season ticket holder, there are loyalty program events each year where you can have a chance to meet and listen to Coyle. He's not as invisible as some give him "credit" for. Those are usually well attended and some pointed questions get asked and he doesn't dodge them. Everyone should take advantage of those events if they can.
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Coyle is doing an amazing job...
 

fanfromthevalley said:
If you are a season ticket holder, there are loyalty program events each year where you can have a chance to meet and listen to Coyle. He's not as invisible as some give him "credit" for. Those are usually well attended and some pointed questions get asked and he doesn't dodge them. Everyone should take advantage of those events if they can.
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I am, and have attended those events.

Uninspiring doens't begin to describe watching him speak in front of a crowd. Even when most of the 100 people in attendance are old blue hairs sitting on their hands.

Guy cannot command a room that's for sure
 


Zeppelin Gopher said:
Is Ben even that likeable of a guy? That part confuses me as well.

He's certainly not an unlikable guy, but he's shown zero personality, humor, engagement whatever over 4 years. Diffident Ben is super accurate.

Pitino wasn't prepared for this job, and didn't do well here overall. But like him or not, at least he was engaging and offered SOMETHING as a personality. His snarky sarcastic humor didn't play for everyone but at least offered an ethos.
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I met him at a bachelor party when he was an assistant. Talked to him for a long time. Totally nice guy.

But, yeah, this whole head coaching a power 5 team thing probably isn't working
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
Guy cannot command a room that's for sure
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Probably exemplifies him well. Not commanding with officials, doesn't seem like he's too commanding with players. Doesn't command the program.

This level of sport just demands a large ego that Ben doesn't have. I don't think that's a bad thing, it just doesn't make him right for this job.
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
Is Ben even that likeable of a guy? That part confuses me as well.

He's certainly not an unlikable guy, but he's shown zero personality, humor, engagement whatever over 4 years. Diffident Ben is super accurate.

Pitino wasn't prepared for this job, and didn't do well here overall. But like him or not, at least he was engaging and offered SOMETHING as a personality. His snarky sarcastic humor didn't play for everyone but at least offered an ethos.
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Ben is extremely likable when you know him without the cameras. Day to day there’s not a nicer guy - that’s all Chip means. People like him and wanted him to succeed. I want(ed) him to succeed, but it hasn’t worked. Pitino great when on camera or radio, wasn’t all that likable day to day. Time to move on from Ben.
 




Never posted over here before but Coyle probably should’ve pulled the trigger on him last year when he lost 10 or whatever it was players to the portal. There’s no time like the present to clean house and be done with it. The only problem is who takes over— Thorson is a disaster. It’s almost cruel and unusual punishment to make Ben finish out the year, though. Historically, I’ve had more years of basketball season tickets than football season tickets and now I think I know the names of two of the players on the men’s hoops team. WTF happened?
 

Ewert86PC said:
I'm drawing a more sinister conclusion. The BoR and Administration are interfering with the timing of the inevitable.
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If the narrative that Johnson was not Coyle's pick and he can't fire him, Coyle should have quit. Coaching decisions are the AD'S job, so you need to be able to say "either I'm the AD or I'm not." That would be the same thing I would expect Fleck to do if Coyle tried dictating to him who starts and what plays to call.

There are caveats. The administration has a proper role in capping how much can be spent on a coach, and blocking a hire that has some off court problems (just like a coach's personnel decisions can be restricted by suspensions for off field behavior). If interference is happening, make the call you want and force the BOR to go on record blocking it.

I don't think any of that is what is happening. I think Coyle made a bad hire a bad decision to stick with him. I blame Coyle for the state of gopher basketball.
 


bleedsmaroonandgold said:
If the narrative that Johnson was not Coyle's pick and he can't fire him, Coyle should have quit. Coaching decisions are the AD'S job, so you need to be able to say "either I'm the AD or I'm not." That would be the same thing I would expect Fleck to do if Coyle tried dictating to him who starts and what plays to call.

There are caveats. The administration has a proper role in capping how much can be spent on a coach, and blocking a hire that has some off court problems (just like a coach's personnel decisions can be restricted by suspensions for off field behavior). If interference is happening, make the call you want and force the BOR to go on record blocking it.

I don't think any of that is what is happening. I think Coyle made a bad hire a bad decision to stick with him. I blame Coyle for the state of gopher basketball.
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I sometimes feel Coyle is purposely trying to destroy the program a la Major League, only we’ve missed the determined and important “F-you” winning sequence by the players.
 







Tucker32 said:
Ben is extremely likable when you know him without the cameras. Day to day there’s not a nicer guy - that’s all Chip means. People like him and wanted him to succeed. I want(ed) him to succeed, but it hasn’t worked. Pitino great when on camera or radio, wasn’t all that likable day to day. Time to move on from Ben.
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Exactly. Most people don't seem to dislike Ben as a person, he is a local kid and seems like a good guy. Compare him to say a Tim Brewster who lots of people didn't like on a personal level or PJ Fleck who has a personality that still rubs some people the wrong way.

Had Ben succeeded here it would have been awesome, local kid comes home to lead his home state team to glory. But of course it hasn't played out that way.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Exactly. Most people don't seem to dislike Ben as a person, he is a local kid and seems like a good guy. Compare him to say a Tim Brewster who lots of people didn't like on a personal level or PJ Fleck who has a personality that still rubs some people the wrong way.

Had Ben succeeded here it would have been awesome, local kid comes home to lead his home state team to glory. But of course it hasn't played out that way.
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How has he not been fired today? His inept coaching at the end of regulation vs Ohio St. was worse than what Eberflus was vs Detroit on Thanksgiving, and on top of that they get blown out vs WI. Also, I don't care what the excuse is, you show up for the post game....that in it self should get him fired. If not, Coyle needs to go too!!
 

Drew21 said:
How has he not been fired today? His inept coaching at the end of regulation vs Ohio St. was worse than what Eberflus was vs Detroit on Thanksgiving, and on top of that they get blown out vs WI. Also, I don't care what the excuse is, you show up for the post game....that in it self should get him fired. If not, Coyle needs to go too!!
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Diffident Ben from day 1.
 



GopherWeatherGuy said:
Ben should have to coach the whole season. The results don't matter anymore. The entire team will be new next year.

Why let Ben off the hook early? Make him suffer through the mess he created rather than forcing one of his assistants to.
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I almost think it would be more suffering on his side to fire him and watch the team get better! I guess not that CBJ would have any idea what so ever what good basketball looked like
 

I'm going to be bold and predict that Monday January 13, 2025 will be an interesting day for Gopher Men's Basketball. Lots of answers with no questions.

Let's see how that holds up.
 

leib0039 said:
I almost think it would be more suffering on his side to fire him and watch the team get better! I guess not that CBJ would have any idea what so ever what good basketball looked like
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It's precedented. Molinari outperformed Monson after Dan was dismissed. Not that we have a Molinari on this staff, but Thorson is an experienced head coach and would at least know what to do.
 


Bad Gopher said:
It's precedented. Molinari outperformed Monson after Dan was dismissed. Not that we have a Molinari on this staff, but Thorson is an experienced head coach and would at least know what to do.
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Why doesn't cbj listen to him then?
 

The Gophers have never gone through a conference season without winning at least one game.
In 1932-33, !928-29, 1926-27, 1922-23 we only won one game...1 and 11 each season. These seasons are almost all 100 years ago.
There are seasons of 2 and 3 wins. None with zero. We have 15 more chances to win one or more games.
 


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