Alex Kline Article

[50YRsofCuse]

Alex Kline published an article in the Syracuse Newspaper that I read today. It provided an insider perspective into Head Coach Adrian Autry tenure the last two years. Alex Kline spoke of the dedication, his loyalty to the players and coaches and the pressures of being a head coach. The article is Alex’s personal perspective and is well written. I believe that it reflects the honesty of how negative fan base can affect a coach’s presence of mind (mental health).

What he did not touch upon was what it is like for a new coach to directly follow a legend. In my view, it did not matter who replaced Jim Boeheim, they were most likely going to fail in the eyes of the critical Syracuse fan base. Adrian’s first team won 20 games and he was criticized that he didn’t do better. It did not end there. Believe that many of our forum was typical of this animosity.

If you get a chance, read the article. You may find the perspective interesting,

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Adrian Autry’s greatest gift: ‘He gave you belief’ (Guest Opinion by Alex Kline)

Former SU general manager praises Autry's positivity, talent development and humanity, and calls out fans for the social media bullying the coach endured in a losing season.

www.syracuse.com

 

[cusefan88]

Everybody will be nice to Red now that he's not the coach. He stepped into an impossible role and was not equipped for it.

Everything said here tells me Red is still an elite assistant coach for many of the reasons Kline wrote. He will land on his feet no problem.

 

[RedtheGOB]

He Aged 20 years in 3 years on the hill.

 

[Scooch]

Reality: Social media is toxic and damaging.

Reality: People who post toxic and damaging things on social media will never, ever stop.

Reality: The best way for anyone, and certainly a public figure, to preserve their mental health is to delete social media. Or limit it in a way where you're not engaging with people (never read the comments, don't allow DMs from strangers, etc.).

Our society is deeply and horribly addicted to social media. Someday we're going to think about this era the way we now think about cigarette usage in the 1950s.

 

[MadNY3]

I start this by saying I really, really like Alex and think he is talented.

But the article wreaked of inexperience/immaturity and Stockholm Syndrome.

Yes, this is more evidence that Autry is a great man. But the job clearly wasn’t being done and that’s what matters. Period. This is high stakes. Results matter.

You cannot ask fans to be one-way passionate. Any scorning from Syracuse fans is no different than most places. It comes with the gig.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

He Aged 20 years in 3 years on the hill.

Like he was a 2 term president

 

[Briancuse]

Reality: Social media is toxic and damaging.

Reality: People who post toxic and damaging things on social media will never, ever stop.

Reality: The best way for anyone, and certainly a public figure, to preserve their mental health is to delete social media. Or limit it in a way where you're not engaging with people (never read the comments, don't allow DMs from strangers, etc.).

Our society is deeply and horribly addicted to social media. Someday we're going to think about this era the way we now think about cigarette usage in the 1950s.

Some people take it too far, but you can't blame people for being upset, we are talking 5 years of being irrelevant. You should see how bad the uk social media, and they made the tournament. Blaming the fans for autrys lack of success is a bad look.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Reality: Social media is toxic and damaging.

Reality: People who post toxic and damaging things on social media will never, ever stop.

Reality: The best way for anyone, and certainly a public figure, to preserve their mental health is to delete social media. Or limit it in a way where you're not engaging with people (never read the comments, don't allow DMs from strangers, etc.).

Our society is deeply and horribly addicted to social media. Someday we're going to think about this era the way we now think about cigarette usage in the 1950s.

Well said. 2-3 of these Syracuse fan site messages boards are the extent of what I can handle mentally ha.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Alex Kline published an article in the Syracuse Newspaper that I read today. It provided an insider perspective into Head Coach Adrian Autry tenure the last two years. Alex Kline spoke of the dedication, his loyalty to the players and coaches and the pressures of being a head coach. The article is Alex’s personal perspective and is well written. I believe that it reflects the honesty of how negative fan base can affect a coach’s presence of mind (mental health).

What he did not touch upon was what it is like for a new coach to directly follow a legend. In my view, it did not matter who replaced Jim Boeheim, they were most likely going to fail in the eyes of the critical Syracuse fan base. Adrian’s first team won 20 games and he was criticized that he didn’t do better. It did not end there. Believe that many of our forum was typical of this animosity.

If you get a chance, read the article. You may find the perspective interesting,

I disagree with one thing. I do not believe the job was impossible to follow JB. Difficult sure. But not impossible. A good coach with good recruiting (portal and otherwise) could have been successful and the fans would have embraced him. Don't forget this was not following terribly successful years by JB. The bar was somewhat lower than if JB had gone out with tournament teams. It could have been done with the right coach. Many here saw early on that Adrian Autry wasn't that person; wasn't the right coach. I first saw it in the first game of his second year when the team struggled against LeMoyne. And it never got better although there were a few moments of it early this year. Hats off to Red for a valiant effort. You just weren't the right person for that job.

 

[Scooch]

Blaming the fans for autrys lack of success is a bad look.

I don't think he was doing that. But I agree with MAD, its a very naive perspective. Basically the basketball equivalent of "why can't we all just get along".

People post mean sh--t. It sucks but you don't have to read it.

 

[SaveSUHoops]

Revisionist history. Autry's three seasons as HC were the worst three-year span in Syracuse basketball history since 1967-1970. On to a new coach and a new era of Syracuse Basketball.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Well said. 2-3 of these Syracuse fan site messages boards are the extent of what I can handle mentally ha.

You see other fan boards? How dare you!!!

 

[RedtheGOB]

Some people take it too far, but you can't blame people for being upset, we are talking 5 years of being irrelevant. You should see how bad the uk social media, and they made the tournament. Blaming the fans for autrys lack of success is a bad look.

Interesting that he specifically mentioned burner accounts. If the staff and team were really paying attention to those posts I do feel bad for them because those are brutal.

I think Autry and the team lost alot of good faith when they got blown out so many times. A loss is frustrating but the 30-40 point blowouts is not something should've ever happened as much as it did.

Also if we are keeping perspective it wasn't just random fans and burner accounts beating them up, when former players and SU legends are commenting that it's not ok well ya know it's not ok.

 

[Nicknack]

I disagree with one thing. I do not believe the job was impossible to follow JB. Difficult sure. But not impossible. A good coach with good recruiting (portal and otherwise) could have been successful and the fans would have embraced him. Don't forget this was not following terribly successful years by JB. The bar was somewhat lower than if JB had gone out with tournament teams.

Agree 100%. I think the way Boeheim went out, the fan base was really excited to have a new coach come in and do some things Jim didn't seem to have it in him to do any longer (recruit, m2m defense, roster management, etc.). Jim over did his stay and most were ready to fully embrace Red. The bar was about as low as it has ever been (at least in my cuse fandom going back to the early 90's). How exactly is that impossible?

This is the second time I've seen something stated from within the Cuse program about success in their first year with 20 wins. Right there is a problem to me. If you think that's success, that's indicative of a bigger problem. If you want to say it was a good start or they did some good things in Red's first year, okay and I'd agree. In fact, most on this board applauded Red for leading the team to 20 wins with all of the off court drama that was reported. However, to say missing the tournament was success, I'm sorry, I just can't get on board with that.

What has soured me the most on Red is the last few weeks seems to be a lot of blaming of players and NIL rather than what most believe, coaching didn't get it done. The last few pressers Red didn't do himself any favors - he wasn't taking any accountability. I'm just glad it's over and we can return to appreciating Red as a great Orangemen who provided many outstanding memories (as a player).

 

[im4cuse]

I start this by saying I really, really like Alex and think he is talented.

But the article wreaked of inexperience/immaturity and Stockholm Syndrome.

Yes, this is more evidence that Autry is a great man. But the job clearly wasn’t being done and that’s what matters. Period. This is high stakes. Results matter.

You cannot ask fans to be one-way passionate. Any scorning from Syracuse fans is no different than most places. It comes with the gig.

Ask Mark Pope. Ask Kenny Payne.

 

[Orangezoo]

Everything Alex said is what makes Red a valuable assistant and recruiter for life. He is the ideal people connector when it comes to the players and staff. He is not the ceo and the guy who can say and do the things that are hard to hear and demand excellence as a result. That requires a certain skillset and demeanor and the ability to adapt who you are as the situation demands, the things you see from BH.

Alex is young and talented and he will learn from this. I don’t like the final statement about saying AA deserved better. That’s a line he will veer from as he learns more and takes on bigger leadership roles where kindness is fine but toughness and what it takes to set a standard as the sole owner of success/failure.

 

[kingtidge]

A very good man, former player, and assistant who was woefully out of his depth as a head coach in a highly-competitive business.

He thought he could do it. We all hoped he could too. He tried. It didn't work. It happens.

He was the wrong hire.

It is as simple as that.

The rest is all noise and the effects of making the wrong hire.

 

[Blanko97]

“ But if Syracuse “fans” really want the best for their program, they will stop being part of the problem online. Support your players and coaches. Adrian Autry deserved better”

The only part I have a problem with. The support was there but the results never were. People shouldn’t have to scream that the ship isn’t sinking while the water goes over their heads to be considered a “fan.” This lack of awareness is why I think a lot of people got frustrated. Sure you have the always toxic idiots on twitter but most fans were just rightfully disappointed in the results and the lack of changes

 

[phil77]

My advice is that if you are a coach or any part of a struggling program with high expectations, don't read twitter or message boards.

 

[PhatOrange]

He should've never been hired so he unfortunately bared the brunt of the bad decision made by people who hired him.

That said, a millionaire once told me don't ever feel sorry for a millionaire.

 

[FloridaCuse]

bad decision made by people who hired him.

and apparently that was more Kent and the BoT than ADJW.

 

[JeffCuse]

Unpopular opinion coming. I'll get my popcorn and my body armor

Did fans REALLY get loud this season and probably to excess? YES.
Did the University fuel this fire by not letting him go after 2 seasons or at any point during his disastrous 3rd? YES.

Fans were angry that they saw it wasn't working. Knew it wouldnt work. Knew it couldn't work. Was told it would work. And this was their "I told you so" moment. It was obnoxious. Yes. But It's group think and social media is what it is. It isnt changing. Even at points throughout the season, simply saying with absolute clarity "Coach will not be back" would have largely called off the dogs. The University had so many opportunities to quell the fire and instead let it burn.

This is not to absolve the chatter. Many were out of line. But its important to see the big picture.

 

[RF2044]

Alex Kline published an article in the Syracuse Newspaper that I read today. It provided an insider perspective into Head Coach Adrian Autry tenure the last two years. Alex Kline spoke of the dedication, his loyalty to the players and coaches and the pressures of being a head coach. The article is Alex’s personal perspective and is well written. I believe that it reflects the honesty of how negative fan base can affect a coach’s presence of mind (mental health).

What he did not touch upon was what it is like for a new coach to directly follow a legend. In my view, it did not matter who replaced Jim Boeheim, they were most likely going to fail in the eyes of the critical Syracuse fan base. Adrian’s first team won 20 games and he was criticized that he didn’t do better. It did not end there. Believe that many of our forum was typical of this animosity.

If you get a chance, read the article. You may find the perspective interesting,

You know what the most likely way to ensure that a coach following a legend fails? By replacing said icon with someone unqualified, into a high-profile, results driven, performance based role.

It was a dumb gamble for a program on the decline to make, at that inflection point in our program's history. And justifying it was complete rationalization, given the decline.

Had we hired a more competent head coach, the results would have been better. This year's roster -- just for example -- was much better than what our record was. Losses to Hofstra and BC... talk about underachievement.

Red inherited a team, lost control, but still managed to win 20 games. But it was with Boeheim's players.

Nobody questions that he is a great guy, that he cared a lot about the players, or that he didn't do his best. But this is a outcome driven role. Those articles toward the end of his tenure were really eye opening about how over his head he was.

And at the end of the day, that's the bottom line. I thought GRob was a "good guy," too. Ditto Scott Shafer -- by all accounts, a great guy. But they weren't up to the challenge.

And neither was Red. Being honest about that assessment isn't being "mean." And it's not piling on.

I look forward to having a competent coach who can reverse this trend.

 

[Owens guy]

My advice is that if you are a coach or any part of a struggling program with high expectations, don't read twitter or message boards.

I would even stay off social media if during winning times.

College athletes and coaches making 6 and 7 figure annual salaries accept the pressure and possible public criticism when they sign up. Yes, some things can cross the line and that is not acceptable.

No one is forcing them to take that deal. They can go D2 or be at many smaller D1 schools and have very little social media criticism.