Game Thread - Davidson @ RC Sat 1/31 4:30 PM (USA Network)

[sman]

it's one thing to be a fan of a team, another to be part of it. Golden had a personal relationship with Mooney and his teammates. teams go through a ton together, and not just on game day. they're family. I'm glad he stood up for his coach. he could have played it safe and kept quiet. he didn't. to me that shows character.

and it should be ok to hear a different point of view ... not living in an echo chamber where everyone in your circle repeats your thoughts. too much of that in the world today.

Grant Golden was a great Spider before his comments on the billboard. his comments don't change anything to me.

 

[ManiBenton]

Also side note, if you want a good chuckle go on the Facebook pages. The dialogue in the Richmond fans chat is something

 

[Spider17]

Grant’s response was also because of the initial billboard that was placed. My guess is he wouldn’t have done this if the original billboard was never put up. I am definitely on the side of it would have been best to never have put up the original billboard in the first place. It’s one thing to voice displeasure with the program and I get that it’s a public job, but still I don’t think that was fair to Mooney - who is a great guy and I’m sure does care and is trying his best - or his family. There’s a time and place for everything. Don’t get me wrong, unless something miraculously changes this year I’m all for a coaching change, but I wish that it be handled respectfully and in a dignified way. Mooney deserves that respect. He’s dedicated 21 years to us and has given us a lot of great memories. I wish him all the best.

 

[ManiBenton]

Yeah I like and respect Grant. He's entitled to his opinion and nobody is surprised by it. But agree with your last part. I always find that funny. isn't he a red sox fan? Like I'm sure he was ok losing to the yankees all those times. Tho based on his age he didn't go thru that - pretty easy. Maybe he never would have been a red sox fan. Where are all our new fans going to come from? I have no idea. we certainly aren't cultivating new ones even if Philly Bob and Matt Smith think it's easy. But come on like Grant's never wanted a change in Red Sox manager b4? I'd find that hard to believe.

Just like it's so ironic when Mooney and Philly Bob would talk about the Eagles and how they were underperforming in different years. McFly. Think McFly think. Anybody home? It went over their heads comically.

Yeah I agree with this. I always try to keep the players out of it. Just because I know who the main enemy is

 

[Urmite]

Grant’s response was also because of the initial billboard that was placed. My guess is he wouldn’t have done this if the original billboard was never put up. I am definitely on the side of it would have been best to never have put up the original billboard in the first place. It’s one thing to voice displeasure with the program and I get that it’s a public job, but still I don’t think that was fair to Mooney - who is a great guy and I’m sure does care and is trying his best - or his family. There’s a time and place for everything. Don’t get me wrong, unless something miraculously changes this year I’m all for a coaching change, but I wish that it be handled respectfully and in a dignified way. Mooney deserves that respect. He’s dedicated 21 years to us and has given us a lot of great memories. I wish him all the best.

So you are saying I shouldn’t put up the Golden billboard now?

{FYI I am being sarcastic about being sarcastic}

 

[vt4700]

Also, he was dead wrong. Look at the program now, it is in complete disarray.

Look at the program then, though. Grant played for one of our best teams ever in 2020 (24-7), and was on an A-10 tourney title team and a team who won a 1st round tourney game in 2022. I'm sure he was more than happy with how things turned out for him and the team with the coach he had.

 

[vt4700]

it's one thing to be a fan of a team, another to be part of it. Golden had a personal relationship with Mooney and his teammates. teams go through a ton together, and not just on game day. they're family. I'm glad he stood up for his coach. he could have played it safe and kept quiet. he didn't. to me that shows character.

and it should be ok to hear a different point of view ... not living in an echo chamber where everyone in your circle repeats your thoughts. too much of that in the world today.

Grant Golden was a great Spider before his comments on the billboard. his comments don't change anything to me.

So very well said. Agree 100%.

 

[vt4700]

Grant’s response was also because of the initial billboard that was placed. My guess is he wouldn’t have done this if the original billboard was never put up. I am definitely on the side of it would have been best to never have put up the original billboard in the first place. It’s one thing to voice displeasure with the program and I get that it’s a public job, but still I don’t think that was fair to Mooney - who is a great guy and I’m sure does care and is trying his best - or his family. There’s a time and place for everything. Don’t get me wrong, unless something miraculously changes this year I’m all for a coaching change, but I wish that it be handled respectfully and in a dignified way. Mooney deserves that respect. He’s dedicated 21 years to us and has given us a lot of great memories. I wish him all the best.

Also well said and agree. My support for him has changed dramatically the past 2 years, but if he were to retire after this season, I would certainly wish him the best, and thank him for everything.

 

[carolinaspider]

it's one thing to be a fan of a team, another to be part of it. Golden had a personal relationship with Mooney and his teammates. teams go through a ton together, and not just on game day. they're family. I'm glad he stood up for his coach. he could have played it safe and kept quiet. he didn't. to me that shows character.

and it should be ok to hear a different point of view ... not living in an echo chamber where everyone in your circle repeats your thoughts. too much of that in the world today.

Grant Golden was a great Spider before his comments on the billboard. his comments don't change anything to me.

I too respect players getting close to their coach and being a family. I had a company I subcontracted for and they removed an inside person who helped me out quite a bit. I had to move on with a new contact if I wanted to continue
my contract. College basketball is not only a sport but a business. UR needs to make a business decision with Mooney and remove him, regardless of other feelings. This is not for personal reasons, this is business. It is wins vs losses, profits vs losses. Do the right thing Hardt and Hallock.

 

[ManiBenton]

Look at the program then, though. Grant played for one of our best teams ever in 2020 (24-7), and was on an A-10 tourney title team and a team who won a 1st round tourney game in 2022. I'm sure he was more than happy with how things turned out for him and the team with the coach he had.

True but let’s not act like it was sunshine and rainbows. Pandemic robbed of us of a “what could’ve been”, the next year finished 8th with everyone returning in one of the most disappointing years of all time, gets another year and rally off an insane run. Regular season was not good. So overall I’d say with the talent we had, results weren’t the best

 

[Spiderguy]

This is not for personal reasons, this is business. It is wins vs losses, profits vs losses. Do the right thing Hardt and Hallock.

I agree that it should be viewed though a business lens, but there is nothing that shows me it has been viewed that way. If it was, we wouldn’t be where we are right now. I’ll believe it when I see it from H,H, and PQ.

 

[*23*]

I agree that it should be viewed though a business lens, but there is nothing that shows me it has been viewed that way. If it was, we wouldn’t be where we are right now. I’ll believe it when I see it from H,H, and PQ.

Exactly, we are in year 1 or 2 of a 3-4 long game narrative. Mooney has been whining about the college landscape and NIL and scheduling. So buckle up but get ready to wait. April and May will be here soon and Moon will do a podcast with some random college hoops guy and Hardt will be on vacation. And we will be back here in one more year.

 

[MrTbone]

Exactly, we are in year 1 or 2 of a 3-4 long game narrative. Mooney has been whining about the college landscape and NIL and scheduling. So buckle up but get ready to wait. April and May will be here soon and Moon will do a podcast with some random college hoops guy and Hardt will be on vacation. And we will be back here in one more year.

So depressing bruv.

 

[Spiderp31]

the billboard didn’t achieve its goal. Since Mooney is still the coach and actually started winning after the billboard was placed. Speaking of the moment being today. I don’t know how anyone believes Mooney will achieve with this NIL money and the transfer portal. Clearly every year is going to be different. But Mooney refuses to change his style and play. So the same result will follow it. Basically being .500 or worse.

 

[SpiderRick]

He will always be one of my all time favorites. Speaking of whining......poor guy, did u get your feelings hurt?

There's a difference between being hurt and being pissed...

 

[SpiderRick]

it's one thing to be a fan of a team, another to be part of it. Golden had a personal relationship with Mooney and his teammates. teams go through a ton together, and not just on game day. they're family. I'm glad he stood up for his coach. he could have played it safe and kept quiet. he didn't. to me that shows character.

and it should be ok to hear a different point of view ... not living in an echo chamber where everyone in your circle repeats your thoughts. too much of that in the world today.

Grant Golden was a great Spider before his comments on the billboard. his comments don't change anything to me.

Just to be clear, I don't have a problem with Golden defending his coach. It was the "real fans" comment that wads up my panties.

 

[CityStadiumFan]

Grant’s response was also because of the initial billboard that was placed. My guess is he wouldn’t have done this if the original billboard was never put up. I am definitely on the side of it would have been best to never have put up the original billboard in the first place. It’s one thing to voice displeasure with the program and I get that it’s a public job, but still I don’t think that was fair to Mooney - who is a great guy and I’m sure does care and is trying his best - or his family. There’s a time and place for everything. Don’t get me wrong, unless something miraculously changes this year I’m all for a coaching change, but I wish that it be handled respectfully and in a dignified way. Mooney deserves that respect. He’s dedicated 21 years to us and has given us a lot of great memories. I wish him all the best.

Very good points and I know the billboard situation has been discussed ad nauseam in this forum but you get things like the billboard when fans feel helpless and not heard (we are back there now imo). Short term the billboard had the effect of galvanizing Mooney's supporters (primarily former players and UR employees like Bob) but long term Mooney's results have regressed to the norm. I don't disagree that the billboard wasn't the best idea but I also think that UR athletics tends to hide behind the idea of doing things the "respectful" way vs actually making wise business decisions. We all know that Mooney by all accounts is a wonderful human being and his former players have great things to say about him but the longer he is employed the more "disrespectful" it becomes to let him go and the easier it is for the AD to keep hanging on to the all-time winningest coach.

 

[Spider17]

Very good points and I know the billboard situation has been discussed ad nauseam in this forum but you get things like the billboard when fans feel helpless and not heard (we are back there now imo). Short term the billboard had the effect of galvanizing Mooney's supporters (primarily former players and UR employees like Bob) but long term Mooney's results have regressed to the norm. I don't disagree that the billboard wasn't the best idea but I also think that UR athletics tends to hide behind the idea of doing things the "respectful" way vs actually making wise business decisions. We all know that Mooney by all accounts is a wonderful human being and his former players have great things to say about him but the longer he is employed the more "disrespectful" it becomes to let him go and the easier it is for the AD to keep hanging on to the all-time winningest coach.

There’s a point where the results are too bad to ignore even for our admin. I think that billboard only galvanized support for Mooney and just gave the admin any more reason to keep him. UR is very averse to public criticism. The only way change will occur is if there is a level of apathy seen in attendance/decrease donations that can’t be ignored. The second thing is PQ has to sign off on it I’m sure. So that’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays next year and we just go through the same thing again.

To me, disrespectful isn’t letting someone go. Disrespectful in my eyes is something like VCU firing their women’s coach when there’s one month left in the season and not even letting her finish it out.

I would argue that what’s disrespectful in our case is letting Mooney continue to coach, have a couple more 13-15 win seasons that will only worsen his record and hurt his legacy more. A win-win situation is Mooney steps down on his own terms, we pay out the rest of his contract, allow him to remain involved with the university in some way, and we find someone else to lead our basketball program.

I can guarantee that if/when Mooney is no longer going to be our basketball coach, we will never word it as “firing” or “terminating” his contract. That is a testament to his 20+ years here and that’s the classy thing to do and I agree with that.

 

[SFspidur]

Knock it off with the personal attacks, guys.

 

[SpiderRick]

There’s a point where the results are too bad to ignore even for our admin. I think that billboard only galvanized support for Mooney and just gave the admin any more reason to keep him. UR is very averse to public criticism. The only way change will occur is if there is a level of apathy seen in attendance/decrease donations that can’t be ignored. The second thing is PQ has to sign off on it I’m sure. So that’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays next year and we just go through the same thing again.

To me, disrespectful isn’t letting someone go. Disrespectful in my eyes is something like VCU firing their women’s coach when there’s one month left in the season and not even letting her finish it out.

I would argue that what’s disrespectful in our case is letting Mooney continue to coach, have a couple more 13-15 win seasons that will only worsen his record and hurt his legacy more. A win-win situation is Mooney steps down on his own terms, we pay out the rest of his contract, allow him to remain involved with the university in some way, and we find someone else to lead our basketball program.

I can guarantee that if/when Mooney is no longer going to be our basketball coach, we will never word it as “firing” or “terminating” his contract. That is a testament to his 20+ years here and that’s the classy thing to do and I agree with that.

Only problem with letting him hang around in an administrative role is that he will be involved in picking his replacement (can you say former player).