or at least invite him in to throw basketballs at Young and Artis. Somebody needs to do something to toughen them up.
Bring back Mike Rice
- Thread starter gary2
- Start date
He was a good coach at RMU. Should have upset (everyone's fav, lol,) Villanova (took them to OT) but the refs screwed them over with lots of bad calls.
I'll never forget that game. One of THE biggest screw jobs I've seen.
Mike Rice crossed the line, but a lot these kids need tough love. Too many of them are enabled.
What part of crossed the line did u miss? What he did was wrong, but a lot of kids benefit from tough love from the Huggy Bears of the world.
So why even mention it with Rice?
DO you think Dixon is easy on players, really? He's notoriously brutal in practices. He just doesn't publicly run down players.
The team has tuned him out the past 2 years. That shows a lack of respect.
I don't see why not. He was a winner at RMU and a proven quality assistant coach. Other coaches have been given second chances for worse, and you can be sure he'd be on his best behavior here while looking for his next chance to be a HC. His ability to recruit well may be hampered given his past but nothing a little time couldn't fix. He would immediately become our top assistant by a wide margin.
I like Rice a lot met him at an aau event and we spoke for ten minutes. Loved his personality and always appreciated his passion. What he did was despicable.
And btw like souf said Dixon walks a fine line over what's acceptable behavior and what isn't at practice imo.
And btw like souf said Dixon walks a fine line over what's acceptable behavior and what isn't at practice imo.
Sorta like our entitled fan base?? Got it, agree 100%.
Rice is a problem, though, just like his father was. I hope for his sake he's gotten counseling. Talented guy. I'm all for second chances, but I think he'll need a couple years w/o any incidents.
Each team has its own personality. Past teams had that toughness. This one not so much. I would love to see Mike Rice hired as an assistant. He knows his behavior would be closely scrutinized. Probably a better recruiter in addition to some much needed tough love too. Go Pitt!
I think he's still radioactive. Good recruiter. Decent coach.
But, still radioactive in this era.
And, again, it is just so Pitt to only look backward for coaches.
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He intentionally hurt players... it was on ESPN and probably the national news.
WTF are we talking about??!?!?!
Did we just put on our "bad idea pants" this morning? ....that's how bad the idea of Rice at Pitt would be.
WTF are we talking about??!?!?!
Did we just put on our "bad idea pants" this morning? ....that's how bad the idea of Rice at Pitt would be.
Scene from the recruiting trail....
Mike Rice - Hi, I'm here to recruit your son and ask that you entrust me to take care of and look out for this fine young man for the next 4 or 5 years of his life.
Parent - ummmm...aren't you the guy who threw basketballs at your players, got physical with them, and verbally abused them with all kind of over the line and over the top garbage?
MR - ummmm..well... Ummm...yea...unfortunately that was me
Parent - nice meeting you Mike (but not really). Now GTFO of my house.
Mike Rice - Hi, I'm here to recruit your son and ask that you entrust me to take care of and look out for this fine young man for the next 4 or 5 years of his life.
Parent - ummmm...aren't you the guy who threw basketballs at your players, got physical with them, and verbally abused them with all kind of over the line and over the top garbage?
MR - ummmm..well... Ummm...yea...unfortunately that was me
Parent - nice meeting you Mike (but not really). Now GTFO of my house.
My bring back Mike Rice thread was not a serious suggestion. I was just pointing out that this team could use someone ALMOST like Mike Rice to toughen it up a bit or more simply get their attention.
I certainly didn't think you were serious about bringing in anyone to throw basketballs at players. But clearly there is a person or 2 in this thread who are ok with it and even seem to think it would be a good idea.
And I am with the lead pack that's hoping for some toughness. Some how, some way. Believe me.
There are all kinds of things going on behind the closed doors of a gymnasium. Some verbal, some physical. Not advocating either one. However, motivation is a strange animal. Some players are highly motivated, some by a challenge, some through fear, some never get it. Huggins' kids will run through a wall for him. I'm also willing to bet that many of Rice's former players would do the same for him. When players are being recruited by a certain coach they know what they're getting in to. Whether it's the soft "don't do that" or the hard :get your a** on that treadmill and crank it up." My point is that if a player knows YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT HIM and you are trying to make him the best person and player they can be, the mode of motivation isn't as relevant to that player as it is to the general public. However, I do agree that a Rice hiring at Pitt wouldn't go over too well.
Don't really disagree with anything you said. However - and I don't know exactly where it is - there is a line - and this guy absolutely crossed it. Could he be a changed man? Possibly. But I don't want my kids anywhere around a guy like this. As for I'm sure most others wouldn't either. Maybe he'll have a nice run at whatever high school he's at now, behave himself, and get another chance in college. But as others have said I think that should be a little ways off.
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