I believe that it is perception. I don't believe that freescooter hates him. I don't hate him. When he was shown on TV in the Bahamas and in the immediately following week while we were all waiting for UConn's invite to the ACC, we find out that the Louisville AD snatched that invite out from under us. Regardless of the circumstances, the desire of the southern tier for Louisville, etc. the perception of that overall week is bad. Some people feel that UConn has been demoted. Some people feel that our AD could have been more aggressive. Whether he was or not is irrelevant to what is perception and what is real. Perception appears to be the overall problem for UConn. As you read various comments, a significant number of people don't realize the strength of UConn in academics, athletics. It is all perception. UConn was demoted while this guy is in power. That is the current perception by some people. He will be a big hero when UConn gets out of the AAC.
In the fairly immediate aftermath of the Louisville invitation, Jacobs wrote a column, citing information from sources, that pretty much summed-up attitudes and events prior to the decision being announced. For me, at least, it pretty much confirmed that UCONN never had a prayer.
Portions I sort of remember indicated that:
While the final vote on Louisville was unanimous, Jacobs indicated that UNC, UVA, Duke and Wake were UCONN supporters with VTech non-committal. Miami and BC were adamantly opposed with Flipper being his irrational self (to the point of later losing his gig) and Shalala refusing to even answer Susan's calls (we've heard the stories about a proposed using of some relationship JC had with Bill Clinton to get to Shalala). We also found out that PITT and CUSE, while not having a vote, were far from acting like friends. Very far, in fact. Most importantly, FSU and Clemson wanted a school
perceived as being a football power; and, damn sure, didn't want a basketball school that was on a path to becoming a UNC/UVA clone. FSU and Clemson threw their collective weight around and, in the end, the Tobacco Road schools backed down. Never a prayer. Hell, our entire Congressional delegation could have voted to kill same-sex marriage and allow dispersal of 50-Caliber sniper rifles to every man, women and child. Wouldn't have moved the needle.
Jacobs also, if I remember correctly, noted that WM was in the Bahamas for one purpose only. He was entertaining Boosters; handling events that had long been scheduled. Given the wonderful job Hathaway had done with Booster relations, imagine what it would have looked like if WM had bailed on Boosters that were already "unsure."
To date, unless I've missed something, not one media account has blamed either SH or WM for Louisville. As we all know, UCONN does not deal with a "homer" media mentality. Nothing I remember from Jacob's or any other account provides a shred to indicate that WM or SH screwed the CR pooch. The indication has always been that both were a victim of lack of time to deal with circumstances they inherited. If there was a hint of blame, the State's media outlets would have blown it out of all proportion.
Finally, as it relates to KO and the way JC handled the "succession" issue. One of the best things WM has done since his arrival is standing up to JC.
I say that feeling that JC is probably responsible for 80% of what UCONN has and will become. But, from the outside looking in, it seemed that JC was becoming a tyrant and bully stubbornly insisting on getting things his way. Sort of
"I'm right when I'm wrong because of who I am." By standing up to JC, WM sent a message both to others at UCONN and the outside world, that JC was not running the school or the Athletic Department. Given the number of people that JC had pissed-off/trampled on, that had to happen. In the end, KO got the job and, as an indication that he harbors no hard feelings, has signed two separate extensions. There was no public, media fueled JC/WM nastiness, no tanks in the street. JC is still with UCONN, there's a new BB facility and everybody on the BB side seems happy. Finally, people with a hard-on for JC, that can hurt UCONN from the outside, have ceased hostilities.
So, why do some hate WM?