Belling Blasts Geiger

[mcdadenets50]

Calls his hiring a "disastrous mistake."

www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/187529441.html

[PANTHERfan]

If this mouth-breather is blasting Geiger, then I have to believe Geiger must be doing a pretty good job.

It's funny that Belling calls out the AD for not understanding the University and the City, yet in the same breath refers to UWM as a commuter school. Maybe Belling should pay attention to what the University has been doing over the last twenty years. But I guess it's easier to shoot your mouth off and say whatever the hell you want, no matter how uninformed. What's that you say? This is what he does? Oh...

Also enjoyed the comment: "We have helped put them on the map." Really?

I agree with him that the program has fallen far. But had he been paying attention, he would have noticed it began its decent many years ago.

[Hack]

Exactly. If he is truly upset (which I doubt) or understood the situation, he would know the recent history when it pertains to the athletic director position and why Geiger was brought in.

[Duct_Tape_Pounce]

I really don't care much for Mark Belling, but I kind of agree with at least some of what he's saying (and I'll admit I'm saying this as someone who doesn't really know the ins and outs of what's happening... just what has been made public).

What has happened to Panther athletics since he came in? We moved back to the Klotsche Center from the US Cellular Arena. In doing that, we lose a significant fan base, many of which will not come back even with a move back to the Cell.

A new baseball stadium was announced, but last I heard, there was a good chance that it legally couldn't be built. In addition, the money earmarked for a new basketball arena (for our one potential money making sport) was transferred to the baseball stadium, basically eliminating any hope for a basketball arena anytime soon. Other than that, what has been done? If he was hired to lower the status quo (and he very well may have been... maybe they hired him to be the "bad guy"), he has done that. But it certainly hasn't gotten better or even stayed the same since he signed on (unless I'm missing something).

Having said that, the athletic department seems to have been in a downward spiral since Bud Haidet retired and it's not all Geiger's fault. How can we be so bad at picking athletic directors? Koonce was in over his head and Costello didn't work out. We knew that Geiger was not the long term answer and was just here to start the rebuilding process, but I don't think he's done a great job in his one year so far. We have gone from talking about being a top mid-major program and maybe trying to get into the MVC or another better conference in the mid 2000s to legitimately fearing a drop to Division 2 or 3 in fewer than 10 years. There are a lot of people to blame, but it all starts with the lack of a competent long-term athletic director.

I apologize if I'm missing something (and I honestly hope I am). I'm not as "in the loop" as most of you so it's quite possible that I am. It's just upsetting to see the state of the program that I followed very closely since the Bruce Pearl days.

[gman2]

Belling was a regular at UWM games for many years. It would appear the move away from the Arena is the main reason for his rant.

[gman2]

I wonder if Belling has knowledge of the most recent contract extension under Geiger's watch. Wasn't brought up in the article.

[uwm97]

In terms of the move back to Klotsche, I have several alum friends who won't go to games anymore because of it. Agree with it or not, that's a fact.

[The Green Gull]

Here’s a link, it starts at the 3:00 minute mark.

www.belling.com/player/?mid=22796760&station=BLNG-IP&program_id=MarkBelling.xml&program_name=podcast

[gman2]

At the 9:48 mark:

Nothing else goes on in the US Cellular Arena so any date UWM wanted they could have

Not quite true, see Horizon League tournament 2011.

Personal observations:
The program was in the decline before Geiger.
Haidet, not Geiger, gave Jeter the contract through 2016 without merit.

[gman2]

Listening to the entire story, many of his observations are so far off that this cannot be taken seriously.

[uwm97]

I thought the most interesting part was his commenting on some perceived friction between Geiger and Jeter.

Regardless of Belling's comments, I think 95% of those on this board can agree this athletics department - and, specifically, the men's basketball team - is a mess. Geiger is not the long-term answer and I don't know exactly what he's done, either. Where's his fundraising prowess we hear about? Any development on a baseball stadium? A short-timer like Geiger can't do much of anything with respect to long-term planning. Where do we stand with the permanent AD process?

[panther9193]

Jan 19, 2013 20:07:19 GMT -6 uwm97 said:

I thought the most interesting part was his commenting on some perceived friction between Geiger and Jeter.

Regardless of Belling's comments, I think 95% of those on this board can agree this athletics department - and, specifically, the men's basketball team - is a mess. Geiger is not the long-term answer and I don't know exactly what he's done, either. Where's his fundraising prowess we hear about? Any development on a baseball stadium? A short-timer like Geiger can't do much of anything with respect to long-term planning. Where do we stand with the permanent AD process?

+1

[Pounce Needs Pals]

Since people are pointing out their views about Belling. I'm a fan!!

[Pantherholic]

Jan 19, 2013 20:07:19 GMT -6 uwm97 said:

IGeiger is not the long-term answer

You mean a guy who was on a one year contract isn't the long-term answer? This guy is brilliant.

[uwm97]

No, what's brilliant is taking a comment everyone knows to be obvious out of the larger context of the point.
Actually, that's not brilliant; that's being a prick.