RIVALRY WEEK

[nighthawk]

Be careful....too many people are making to much of the Parkside game.

Coach Jeter does no view those preseason games as must win situations. As a general rule, that game was used as a medium for working on very specific things he was emphasizing.

He recognizes he might have erred in that decision, given the reaction, but they did not lose to Parkside due to a general lack of talent or ability.

As for this team, BlackCat, I think you will end up quite surprised with what they accomplish this season.

As I have asked you in public, and in private, do not be too quick to judge Rob, the program, or this team. Remain steadfast in your belief in good things for this program.

I can personally attest to the dedication of the AD staff, and the coaches. They are very short handed, and are doing all they can.

There will be mistakes and things will be overlooked. When those things happen, let them know right away. Call Jason Clark, Chuck Lang, or Bud. They will work with you to address any issue.

uwmpanthers.cstv.com/school-bio/wiml-staff-directory.html

They cannot fix things they do not know about, though.

[Pantherholic]

i've been having a problem getting pumped for Saturday. every time i burn an effigy of a Phoenix it keeps rising up from the ashes like that mythical creature i can't think of. i'm going through lighters like Pez candy!!!

[blackcatinorange]

NH, I hope you're not suggesting that I should resign my position as the "President" of the "Dave Beine Fan Club". Remember, I was pumping up the Mighty Panther when most of these posters were in middle or high school. My family has gone on many Panther road trips and HL tourney trips, with the "cherry on top" being there for the Sweet 16 game at the old Rosemont. I've been loyal for many years, and that's why I feel I have the knowledge and the right to express my concerns. I want to see this program succeed, and not fail because we're short-handed or the odds are against us. People who fail make excuses. Those who succeed make their mistakes, learn from them, and never make them again. GO PANTHERS !!

[nighthawk]

I would never suggest that. I only ask that you continue to communicate with the Athletic Department and express your concerns.

They cannot fix something they are not aware of.

We need more fans like you and your family.

[Pantherholic]

the Parkside loss was a PR nightmare for this season IMO. this loss gave every cynic their moment to show their resentment towards us and given the way we played early on this season kept reinforcing their beliefs. having a grueling non-con schedule and the losses that amounted from them didn't help either. however if they can keep playing strong and rack up some more wins then there is a sense of optimism for next season (PR wise) given that most of the team returns and the incoming talent that will arrive. in the end, the woes from this season can only be solved one way - win, win and keep winning.

[nighthawk]

From what I have been told, RJ acknowledges that the Parkside game was probably not one of his best decisions, but at the time he thought he was making the right call.

[panthers6thman]

ESPN will help the attendence of this game but I'm not sure how much. I work at the Klotsche Center and the Athletic department gave our which staff, which is completely seperate from athletics, Beat Green Bay shirts. We pull in roughly 1,000 people a day there so hopefully that helps promote the importance of this game. I'm pumped for this game, but will be watching the Detroit game anxiously

[milwsport]

I love RJ but the Parkside decision was a disaster. We had like 400 students there. We haven't even come close to 100 since then. He's a great coach, but he needs to be more PR minded. Losing to a D II team in our opening game was a harsh lesson but I'm sure it's one he's learned.

[pnthr30]

Relating to the Parkside comments and RJ................did RJ miss any shots that game? Did he miss any box outs? Did he fail to run the offence? Did he fail to defend? It isn't RJ's fault that we lost to Parkside - it isn't like UWM wasn't prepared to play them. UWM had all the tools in place to beat them, not the least of which is included better athletes. Parkside flat out wanted it more, and won the game. It is not a scheduling "issue", it is an issue of failing to play well. DI schools have, and will continue to, play lower "ranked" teams, that is part of getting ready for the conference season. I don't know what you want/expect RJ to learn from this, other than he can use it as a tool to get the guys to play harder next time they play a DII team, or any team that they seemingly should beat. In the grand scheme of things, it is better to play a team like Parkside (a good DII program) than to play some foreign team and beat them by 40 - that doesn't prove anything.

[BBFran]

I really have no idea what the Parkside game has to do with any of this. What "decision" did Rob make? Every D1 tyeam is scheduling lower division clubs in the pre-season thanks to the new rule. It's a good rule, and that was a good game. We were not a team then, just a bunch of separate parts that didn't really know each other well or how to play with each other. We are a team now, getting better every week. That doesn't necessarily mean we'll beat Detroit OR GB. But keep the faith because this program is on the move up.

Pantherholic has it right. What will bring the casual fans and students is winning. Gimmicks won't do it. Win and they'll come.

[dylanrocks]

Rob has done a tremendous job with this team over the last few weeks and I look for the upward trend to continue Thursday in Detroit. He must certainly be a master motivator and developer of talent. Just imagine when he has more clay to work with.

[milwsport]

I think from a coaching point of view it was treated more like a scrimmage than an actual game. The constant juggling the line up to experiment etc.

[nighthawk]

The "decision" i referred to was scrapping the offensive sets in favor of an offensive system that would allow us to get a win.

Rob's call was to stick with the offense and let things develop from there.

In the future, I'm sure he may not make that same decision.

and yes, he would acknowledge that he needs to be more PR minded. If you notice, lately he has been far more visible and public. (He was on the highest rated morning show this morning, in studio).

Rob is as smart and capable as BP on and off the floor. the difference is that BP has had a full decade head start on being a head coach, though. Rob will grow into his role as much as the players will.

Assistant Coach and Head Coach are two very different roles, and require almost the total opposite skill sets off the floor.

Enough on the Parkside game. It's ancient history now.

Beat Green Bay.

[brewtownbrian]

The bottom line is it was an embarrassing loss. But it was also a loss that didn't matter in the big picture. It was an exhibition game and didn't count against them in the loss column.

It did matter to the students, casual fans and quite a number of die-hard fans. Myself included. Not like I was jumping off the 411 building or anything, but it was a sign that this season was going to be a long one filled with ups and downs.

I look back now though and am proud to see how much this team has grown-up. If they can finish strong and head into the HL tourney with some momentum, they could shock some people.

[nighthawk]

brewtownbrian said:

If they can finish strong and head into the HL tourney with some momentum, they could shock some people.

Strike that -

WHEN they finish strong and head into the HL tourney with some momentum, they WILL shock some people.