Comments about ‘Coaches now getting fired for not having fun’

Is the D-news ever going to stop bagging on Majerus? Ever?
The Majerus hate only pails in comparison to the strange cult-like obsession with all things Jimmer.

How can you have fun when you are a school who believes in maintaining an extremely strict honor code of conduct while other universities lure great athletes to thier programs with sex and alcohol. In many cases these players are barely marginal students...and are so undisciplined that they never get suspended or thrown out until they have gone out and really gien thier program a black eye. When you have a code of conduct that states "I will not lie, cheat or steal and will not tolerate others who do." and discipline is an essential part of the entire Military program as the overall academics...what do they expect. The AFA is not Miami Vice On the Loose University.

@ wheres Stocton:
What was that all about ? For someone to say or think you can't have fun without lieing ,cheating, or stealing is a pretty warped sense of values.I hope they don't vote also.

The author missed a key part of the official statement from the Air Force Academy. The purpose of USAFA is to provide the education and motivation to develop career officers for the nation's military -- not basketball players (or any other sport). The Athletic Director and the Superintendent felt that the basketball program, in its current condition, was not adequately contributing to that goal, therefore a change was needed. As a graduate (1962) I fully agree and support that decision.

Lots of little league coaches get fired for the same reason.

I didn't know the Academy was in the business of giving out participation trophies.

That's what they get for joining the Air Force. GO ARMY.

floridian is right on target. These young cadets give everything they have in the service of our country. They have strict rules of how long practice should be because their studies are that demanding. They probably don't need an extremely demanding, brow beating experience but an experience that enhances their leadership training.

pete
A little slow on the uptake???...satire...satire... satire...about firing any coach for the players not having fun. Come on get real!!! It's a Military Academy...stress is a big intended part of the Main purpose of the Academy. program. What's a coach supposed to be... a stand up comedian. If anything playing basketball at an Acadamy is more of a physical release in comparison for the real intended purpose of the Academy. If they were a great winning team and were on target for a championship it would probably be different. Like the article said even Utah players under Majarus while winning weren't really having a lot of fun either. It's not the coaches job to bring happiness to his players....and at Military Acadmies it's even usually less of an issue. This AD is off base if this is his primary reason for firing the coach. Players get out of it what they put into it. Coaches are or are not great motivators. If that is what the problem was then thats the reason he was fired....but for not making it fun...come on!!! These guys go to war when they graduate

Let me put it this way. I know of someone who applied for a coaching position at the AFA. It was made clear to them that the academy is different than most institutions. Academics and leadership training take a huge precedence over athletics. This is not just lip service but how things are structured. Coaches say at other colleges and universities can be quite demanding of their athlete's time (within reason, there are rules). They also suggest hours take the bare minimum of credits. Again, this is not the AFA way as student athletes are on a tightly fit academic and service schedule. Coaching under these conditions is extremely challenging. Student athletes are recruited more for leadership and academic versus athletic ability.

With that said, one might expect the AFA or service academies would want brow-beating, demanding coaches etc. At a certain level they do, at a certain level they don't. They don't want Nick Saban but somebody who can coach these athletes knowing that they have higher callings within the institution itself. I think this bring up the point that probably the AFA wants their athletic programs to be a positive, yet appropriately demanding atmosphere.

These kids are not serving their country yet, they are at school. They don't begin serving until they graduate. Go Navy

The mens basketball team at SUU is not having fun.

SC Native...you do realize how totally uninformed your comment is. Before these Cadets turned a single page as a student or student athlete they took an oath that is absoulute and just as binding as a new recruit at any downtown recruiting station. If the Balloon were to go up today and we were suddenly thrown into actual full blown hostilaties without the luxery of time to prepare...every one of them would be called upon to defend this country regardless of how far they had progressed Academically and Militarily trained. There are litterally thousands of different ways to serve. There does not exist as you are so lackingly attempting to portrey... a distinct line distinguishing when they are serving and when they are not.