"We need a lot of guys to get a lot of minutes," Auriemma said. "Unfortunately or fortunately, for Michala and Lauren not to be here is kind of a blessing for them and blessing for us because they weren't going to play. Now we have 11 players who for the most part are going to play and in some way, shape or form are going to be deserving to play. I think that makes practices even better and even more competitive. I am looking forward to that. We haven't had that in a while.
"You take a chance on kids when you are recruiting them. They are not all Jamelle Elliotts or Meghan Pattysons or Jessica Moores. Some kids who take a chance on and they get here and it doesn't work out. While they are here and it is not working out, it is a drain. I know everybody loves to see them in the last two minutes 'oh aren't they cute and why aren't they playing more?' They don't realize it is a drain because they can't keep up with everybody at practice and it make it difficult so going into the season feeling like it is going to be more competitive than ever."
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I re-read the words and have one last thought:
I promised Radylady that this thread was over, but it just springs back to life; sorry Rady
If these kids were pro's, then Geno's comments would be fine.
But they're not, they are students and he is an educator. In the case of Michala who was an emerging star before she was injured, this failure (and that's what it is) to perform, to recover her former strength and potential must be especially rankling.
But she never publicly displayed any such feelings, indeed becoming cheerleader-in-chief; a real sweetheart.
Geno now has the team, every coach dreams of; any one on the squad is capable of turning around a game; For him, it is potentially the same coaching situ he had in the Olympics. Does anyone expect him not to triumph with this bunch?
But to take gratuitous shots at these two vulnerable kids, for no reason, just wasn't necessary. They're doing him a favor, they're leaving, no more problems with people that can't keep up. They did not attack him or the program, but read the handwriting on the wall and quietly snuck out of Dodge. His verbal bon voyage is unbecoming or worse.