Billboard Up Today

[abcd]

This. I have heard everything from Dino was banging co-eds to Wellman hates Italians. Maybe it is a combination of everything I've heard.

I thought it was pretty well known that Wellman didn't like Dino and getting curb stomped by Kentucky gave him an excuse to fire him. Then Wellman aimed for the stars and every big name coach said that Wake was an appealing job but didn't want any part of Wellman or his ego so Ron had to come up with an excuse to save face.

 

[dartsndeacs]

I thought it was pretty well known that Wellman didn't like Dino and getting curb stomped by Kentucky gave him an excuse to fire him. Then Wellman aimed for the stars and every big name coach said that Wake was an appealing job but didn't want any part of Wellman or his ego so Ron had to come up with an excuse to save face.

I can't see how this was "pretty well known"

 

[buckets]

anyway.......... palma, what's up with the billboard?

 

[dartsndeacs]

anyway.......... palma, what's up with the billboard?

absolutely zero work or effort has been put forth to date but I promise to contemplate putting forth some effort in the near future

#changeyoucanbelievein

Personally if we have 3 weeks left I'd probably time the 2nd one during a losing stretch and the last 2 right about the time we're failing to get an NIT bid. Maybe one right away actually to capitalize on the Grantland article.

 

[isledeac]

JUST POST MATT'S PICTURE. i don't even care that we are 4-0 now.

 

[Why the Deac Not]

absolutely zero work or effort has been put forth to date but I promise to contemplate putting forth some effort in the near future

#changeyoucanbelievein

Personally if we have 3 weeks left I'd probably time the 2nd one during a losing stretch and the last 2 right about the time we're failing to get an NIT bid. Maybe one right away actually to capitalize on the Grantland article.

Are you sure we aren't into the second week already? Someone above posted that they saw the first two ads as recently as today. This thread started on 11/6 so are we not exhausting our prepaid weeks assuming the first two ads are still running?

 

[bernbp5]

Is there any reason that this shouldn't be clarified/out in the open 4 years later?

Because you can't claim the previous coach didn't win enough if the current coach is winning far less games.

 

[dartsndeacs]

Are you sure we aren't into the second week already? Someone above posted that they saw the first two ads as recently as today. This thread started on 11/6 so are we not exhausting our prepaid weeks assuming the first two ads are still running?

Wasn't my understanding but that's interesting, will check into it tomorrow.

 

[Lectro]

I don't know how a reasonable person could think this.

I totally agree with it...from the conversations I heard at the time -- you know, all that time in the tower serving sandwiches. Anyway, Lenox and Dan knew it like it was gospel.

 

[deacvision7]

This. I have heard everything from Dino was banging co-eds to Wellman hates Italians. Maybe it is a combination of everything I've heard.

I heard a new one recently... that Dino was pressuring professors to giving his daughter better grades. The slander campaign continues against him, even today.

 

[buckets]

I heard a new one recently... that Dino was pressuring professors to giving his daughter better grades. The slander campaign continues against him, even today.

Hadn't she already graduated? Or did he have two daughters at wake?

 

[BabyDeac75]

Hadn't she already graduated? Or did he have two daughters at wake?

Dino's youngest daughter was finishing her freshman year at Wake when he was terminated. Dino had befriended Bz while Bz was still at CO, helping with Bz's daughter's transition to college life at Wake Forest. At his request, Dino's daughter agreed to room with her because she hadnt found someone to live with as a sophomore. After the termination, Dino's daughter said she couldnt live with her, but they could switch and be suitemates. A very difficult but gracious compromise for Dino's daughter.

BTW, that rumor about Dino pressuring professors for grades is ridiculous.

 

[deacvision7]

Oh, I completely agree. I think what the rumor mill has done to Dino's character is nothing short of abominable.

 

[VaDeac]

I heard a new one recently... that Dino was pressuring professors to giving his daughter better grades. The slander campaign continues against him, even today.

So basically he was like every other helicopter parent of a college kid?

 

[BabyDeac75]

Is there any reason that this shouldn't be clarified/out in the open 4 years later?

The reasons have been addressed before. Why not review them on page 74 of this thread?

Dino was not fired for one simple single event. It was a culmination of issues and a final impetus that resulted in the decision to terminate. The underlying factors included poor post-season results his last two years and not being personally and philosophically in tune with his boss. The catalysis for change was RW directing Dino to change recruiting focus away from highly rated players who might leave after a year or two and to go after more traditional “student-athletes” who might stick around for three or four years and thrive with an emphasis on experience and team play. RW saw that model in a few programs he scouted for the NCAA committee and decided that’s what he wanted at Wake. Dino objected and felt that to compete for championships he needed the freedom to recruit whomever he felt was appropriate, including the top talent.

In a power struggle with a boss who is not solidly in your corner, the subordinate is not likely to survive. However, a HC who capitulates to directives limiting his ability to compete as he sees fit is not going to be successful either.

It is easier to say what was not happening. Dino had not lost control of his team. It was difficult to replace Skip and go from assistant to HC. He was fired before he could ever coach a team that had not entered with him as an assistant. Certainly that was a factor, but he had not lost the respect or control of the players as some would like to suggest.

Dino and RW were like oil and water ... in so many ways. Neither was comfortable with the other. RW did not like Dino, for reasons that are unnecessary to discuss at this point. The contract extension was clearly for show so other coaches couldnt use it to suggest to HS juniors that the WF coach who is recruiting them wont be around for their full time at Wake. However, I firmly believe that the decision to terminate Dino was made and the trigger pulled very quickly once the recruiting issue arose. This opinion is reinforced by RW congratulating Dino after the Texas game and telling him that he was pleased with the job he was doing. Maybe it was the Sicilian Kiss of Death.

The "culture change" crap is revisionist BS as interpreted by most. The only "culture change" was to not pursue one-and-done talent. It had nothing to do with character issues per se. A series of issues arose (all distinct in very important ways) that were made public to varying degrees. The entire truth is still not known about a few of them. Please do not be naive enough to believe that there have not been similar situations over the years ... they just were not made public. We are only aware of what "the powers that be" want to let us know.

JJ was a poster boy for the change RW wanted. JJ was clear that he was here to play basketball for one or two years, and school was not a focus for him. Ari was over his head academically. RW did not want Wake to recruit either type of player. BTW, both are really good guys. Tabb is another case entirely. Most of the issues folks point to today actually occurred after Dino was terminated and Bz arrived.

Probably most importantly, if we had been successful in the post-season (ACC and/or NCAA) none of this would have ever happened. I love Wake Forest. It is great to believe that we are special and hold ourselves to a higher standard (and I believe we do and am proud of it). There have been no allegations of cheating or NCAA violations. However, do not think for one minute that if we had won an ACC title or advanced to a Final Four that any of these "culture changes" would have ever seen the light of day.

Finally, we have no idea what transpired in the coaching search. If anyone other than RW himself tells you otherwise, cast a jaundiced eye in his or her direction. I just cant believe it turned out the way RW envisioned.

 

[thedeacfan]

Are you sure we aren't into the second week already? Someone above posted that they saw the first two ads as recently as today. This thread started on 11/6 so are we not exhausting our prepaid weeks assuming the first two ads are still running?

Good question. Someone needs to check. I'd hate for the sign company to accidentally use up all our weeks now...

ETA - Sorry for the Haas...

 

[Strattocaster]

Wasn't my understanding but that's interesting, will check into it tomorrow.

We agreed with the billboard company that it would run until noon last Thursday. I have a vmail into them to see why it is still running. It should not be counted as another week

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[siff]

Let's be honest: Dino got fucked over by an incompetent old man. Period.

 

[RedSoxFaithful]

The catalysis for change was RW directing Dino to change recruiting focus away from highly rated players who might leave after a year or two and to go after more traditional “student-athletes” who might stick around for three or four years and thrive with an emphasis on experience and team play. RW saw that model in a few programs he scouted for the NCAA committee and decided that’s what he wanted at Wake. Dino objected and felt that to compete for championships he needed the freedom to recruit whomever he felt was appropriate, including the top talent.

This is still fucking terrifying to me. An athletic director who objects to the recruitment of top talent is goddamn absurd. The replacement of Wellman is at this point far, far more important than the replacement of any one coach, Bz included.

 

[Why the Deac Not]

Thanks for the post Baby, that was very informative and a helpful summary!

As for the timeframe / timetable of the billboard ads, perhaps I missed something on one of the earlier pages of the thread (in terms of the spacing of the ads) but like TDF said directly above, would hate to see the remaining time slip away before anyone realized there was none left.