Comments on: Righting the Wahoo Ship

By: Byron

Byron — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 18:02:26 +0000

I know, Don, I know…my first thoughts were not nearly so positive, but I hope that my post ends up being correct, particularly if Leitao turns out to be a good recruiter. My pace quickened when I heard that Tubby Smith was their first choice, and I liked the thought of Dave Odom, or of Rick Carlisle, as well. I’d never heard of Leitao…but if he IS a great recruiter, then that’s certainly what they need. But he is in the big leagues now (they don’t get any bigger than the ACC), and we should find out in 2-3 years what he’s made of. I’m just thinking of some other coaches who went to ACC schools, nobody’s-heard-of-him type guys, and done pretty well…Prosser, Paul Hewitt, a guy whose name sounds like “Sheshefski”, etc.

By: Byron

Byron — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 15:28:49 +0000

I knew there were others…maybe it doesn’t hurt as much when a thug goes to Georgetown as when good guys like Hill and Redick and Lynch go to ACC competitors…

By: matt h.

matt h. — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:57:22 +0000

Didn’t Allen Iverson grow up in Hampton, VA? Although, maybe he was a good one to miss out on… (he didn’t do much for Georgetown).

By: Don

Don — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:25:48 +0000

Not sot fast, big guy. Being a resident of Charlottesville and an avid fan of UVa athletics myself, I feel compelled to point out that not everyone here in Wahooland is tipping there Cavaliers cap at this decision. I happen to know from a VERY reliable source that many donors of UVa athletics are extremely unhappy, to the extent that they are pulling their support from the basketball program. The complaint is not that Dave Leitao is a bad coach. The problem is that Dave Leitao is unproven as a head basketball coach in the NCAA. Two years at Northeastern University (where he resigned with a losing record) and three years at DePaul are hardly the credentials one would expect to see form a head coach in the ACC. The feeling among many in Charlottesville is that UVa athletic director, Craig Littlepage, should have tried harder to negotiate with a proven winner like Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser or South Carolina coach Dave Odom. Leitao may in fact be the real deal. Weâ€™ll have to wait and see. But if you donâ€™t mind, Iâ€™ll reserve my hat tipping until after I see the Cavs win a few games.