One last thought about Geno Auriemma turning 30...

[alexrgct]

Again, Geno is 60 and will be 61 before this season concludes. However, 2014-15 is his 30th season as UConn's head WBB coach.

I just wanted to remind everyone of something. To recap, here were UConn's WBB team W-L records over its first 11 years of existence:

1974-45: 2-8
1975-76: 7-12
1976-77: 7-13
1977-78: 7-13
1978-79: 8-13
1979-80: 9-15
1980-81: 16-14
1981-82: 9-18
1982-83: 9-18
1983-84: 9-20
1984-85: 9-18

That's 11 seasons, 10 of which were of the losing variety. That's three HCs with no success. Oh yeah, and the Fieldhouse was a dump by all accounts.

This was the program Geno inherited in 1985.

Within two seasons, he coached the UConn WBB team to the program's second winning record.

Within 10 seasons, he coached UConn WBB to a national championship.

Within 20 seasons, He coached UConn WBB to a dynasty.

Within 30 seasons, he built a program so dominant that people sometimes question whether it's good for the sport.

I know it's a useless thread to suggest Geno's a great coach. I mean, I could start a thread arguing the sky is blue and grass is green as long as it resides under sufficient precipitation. Meanwhile, it's simply useless to debate whether UConn WBB is good or bad for the sport.

Rather, consider one last time how little Geno had to work with when he first took the head coaching gig. Compare that to a dynasty that's occasionally accused of being too great at what it is and does.

Now THAT, my friends, is juxtaposition.

And Geno, I say once again: Happy 30th, you old fart.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Geno is God

 

[RadyLady]

Again, Geno is 60 and will be 61 before this season concludes. However, 2014-15 is his 30th season as UConn's head WBB coach.

I just wanted to remind everyone of something. To recap, here were UConn's WBB team W-L records over its first 11 years of existence:

1974-45: 2-8
1975-76: 7-12
1976-77: 7-13
1977-78: 7-13
1978-79: 8-13
1979-80: 9-15
1980-81: 16-14
1981-82: 9-18
1982-83: 9-18
1983-84: 9-20
1984-85: 9-18

That's 11 seasons, 10 of which were of the losing variety. That's three HCs with no success. Oh yeah, and the Fieldhouse was a dump by all accounts.

This was the program Geno inherited in 1985.

Within two seasons, he coached the UConn WBB team to the program's second winning record.

Within 10 seasons, he coached UConn WBB to a national championship.

Within 20 seasons, He coached UConn WBB to a dynasty.

Within 30 seasons, he built a program so dominant that people sometimes question whether it's good for the sport.

I know it's a useless thread to suggest Geno's a great coach. I mean, I could start a thread arguing the sky is blue and grass is green as long as it resides under sufficient precipitation. Meanwhile, it's simply useless to debate whether UConn WBB is good or bad for the sport.

Rather, consider one last time how little Geno had to work with when he first took the head coaching gig. Compare that to a dynasty that's occasionally accused of being too great at what it is and does.

Now THAT, my friends, is juxtaposition.

And Geno, I say once again: Happy 30th, you old fart.

Rather than assign Geno the status of deity, I will second your post. I like it!

 

[j66kicker]

Rather than assign Geno the status of deity, I will second your post. I like it!

DC is referring to an old "Geno is God" event

http://articles.courant.com/2002-11-14/news/0211140809_1_sign-store-owner-town-officials

 

[geneticrex]

That 1980-81 team has complete tarnished Geno's accomplishments.

 

[ThisJustIn]

That 1980-81 team has complete tarnished Geno's accomplishments.

As god, maybe he can ask the pope to annul it?

 

[UcMiami]

Nice OP - but I will note that he had two advantages when he came to Uconn that other coaches at other schools have not had:
1. A University that was willing to support WCBB - I know CD complains about things that first year or few years, but ... it has been a very good environment to grow a program.
2. A state that when the program had success jumped on board whole-heartedly.

What he and CD have built is truly magnificent - I am not trying to detract from that, nor deny that they started at the bottom - just pointing out that he was lucky in his choice as well.

 

[DaddyChoc]

DC is referring to an old "Geno is God" event

http://articles.courant.com/2002-11-14/news/0211140809_1_sign-store-owner-town-officials

thanks for understanding... some just look to attack any chance they can

 

[geneticrex]

As god, maybe he can ask the pope to annul it?

I don't see why not.

The Sultan Of Storrs has juice.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Yeah - i have said it many times before...... Geno and CD have set the bar so so so high that other coaches grouse about if it a fair fight going up against us...... half of the natl chmpnshps in the last 20 yrs..... no consecutive losses in 21 years...... winning percentage off the charts..... 5 out of 8 of the undefeated seasons in WCBB..... etc etc

When he hangs it up..... he will have his records out of reach of anyone for quite some time.... looking forward to seeing him perform his magic in Istanbul

 

[MilfordHusky]

Nice OP - but I will note that he had two advantages when he came to Uconn that other coaches at other schools have not had:
1. A University that was willing to support WCBB - I know CD complains about things that first year or few years, but ... it has been a very good environment to grow a program.
2. A state that when the program had success jumped on board whole-heartedly.

What he and CD have built is truly magnificent - I am not trying to detract from that, nor deny that they started at the bottom - just pointing out that he was lucky in his choice as well.

Agreed, but as Gary Player famously said, "The more I practice, the luckier I get."

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I feel sorry for whoever has to replace him because they will be in a no win situation.

 

[j66kicker]

I feel sorry for whoever has to replace him because they will be in a no win situation.

All they have to do is win. Always. Every game. What's the problem?

IMO expectations create performance. If you were born into Joe Kennedy's family the expectations were fairly high - President, Attorney General, Senator, etc. Other families have different expectations. At the opposite end of the spectrum are career criminal, good-for-nothing drug dealer, etc. These deep-seated external expectations have a tendency to get internalized, become deep-seated, and then have a high probability of being fulfilled. There are several UCONN alumni / potential coaches who have expectations for basically winning every game. It has become part of who they are. ?????

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

All they have to do is win. Always. Every game. What's the problem?

IMO expectations create performance. If you were born into Joe Kennedy's family the expectations were fairly high - President, Attorney General, Senator, etc. Other families have different expectations. At the opposite end of the spectrum are career criminal, good-for-nothing drug dealer, etc. These deep-seated external expectations have a tendency to get internalized, become deep-seated, and then have a high probability of being fulfilled. There are several UCONN alumni / potential coaches who have expectations for basically winning every game. It has become part of who they are. ?????

I come from one of those families where near perfection is expected, so I definitely understand that. Some people are able to flourish with high expectations and some are smothered by it. In business, it is not always easy to find those who flourish. I'm sure the same is true in coaching.

 

[j66kicker]

I come from one of those families where near perfection is expected, so I definitely understand that. Some people are able to flourish with high expectations and some are smothered by it. In business, it is not always easy to find those who flourish. I'm sure the same is true in coaching.

Maybe a good place to start could be those who flourished as players, and also displayed very high basketball IQ and leadership (the kind of leadership where they held their teammates accountable, but I also like the, "I will NOT let us lose!" mentality).

 

[DaddyChoc]

everybody's cloth is cut different

 

[j66kicker]

everybody's cloth is cut different

Yes but some are cut from the same cloth

 

[CL82]

I feel sorry for whoever has to replace him because they will be in a no win situation.

They will inherit the best woman's basketball program of all time, with a built in template for success, a supportive university and a rabid fan base. I can think of worse positions to be it.

By the way, Kevin Ollie took the helm in an analogous situation and he seems to be just fine.

 

[Aluminny69]

They will inherit the best woman's basketball program of all time, with a built in template for success, a supportive university and a rabid fan base. I can think of worse positions to be it.

By the way, Kevin Ollie took the helm in an analogous situation and he seems to be just fine.

And yet, UCLA is still looking for a replacement for John Wooden...

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

And yet, UCLA is still looking for a replacement for John Wooden...

They will never find one. They need to find someone who does things his own way instead of trying to find the impossible. Wooden dominated in an era without much parity. It also took him many years to build a big winner. I think he was at UCLA for close to 15 years before they made it to a Final Four.

 

[HGN]

Geno is God

I wouldn't say God......Maybe a Prophet.

 

[meyers7]

thanks for understanding... some just look to attack any chance they can

Attack?

Come on now, your skin isn't that thin.

 

[meyers7]

If you were born into Joe Kennedy's family the expectations were fairly high - President, Attorney General, Senator, etc.

Don't forget Drunkards, Liars, Thieves and Murderers.

 

[meyers7]

Yes but some are cut from the same cloth

And some are "of the cloth". And some on here don't even wear cloth, but rather their fur. (those godless killing machines )

 

[DaddyChoc]

Attack?

Come on now, your skin isn't that thin.

not my "in person" skin... but my "internet skin" is at times because people talk * behind screen names but in person they're soft as *! I'm the same person live or on the net.

 

[meyers7]

not my "in person" skin... but my "internet skin" is at times because people talk * behind screen names but in person they're soft as *! I'm the same person live or on the net.

I know, but I still wouldn't classify that as an "attack". That was "soft as *".

 

[BooRadley]

Geno has done nothing less than turn "UConn" into a metonymy. And that is not only rare, it is greatness. We are lucky to live in interesting women's bball times.

Boo

 

[ChicagoGG]

Geno has done nothing less than turn "UConn" into a metonymy. And that is not only rare, it is greatness. We are lucky to live in interesting women's bball times.

Boo

OPB, thank you for teaching me a new word! Very cool. I like to learn new definitions/usages.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I know, but I still wouldn't classify that as an "attack". That was "soft as *".

figure of speech I guess... what do you call it, I'll use your word

 

[RadyLady]

Geno has done nothing less than turn "UConn" into a metonymy. And that is not only rare, it is greatness. We are lucky to live in interesting women's bball times.

Boo

My Facebook post courtesy of you, Boo: Another new word! My world is expanding day by day! And note, these words are not new nonsense words that are finding their way into Websters such as 'twerk' (sheesh)

Metonymy: the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.

or from Wikipedia: is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is called not by its own name but rather by the name of something associated in meaning with that thing or concept. The words "metonymy" and "metonym" come from the Greek: μετωνυμία, metōnymía, "a change of name", from μετά, metá, "after, beyond" and -ωνυμία, -ōnymía, a suffix used to name figures of speech, from ὄνῠμα, ónyma or ὄνομα, ónoma, "name".

Gives us a little origin of the name as well.....cool, huh?


I love new words!