Fred Whittingham

[SeattleUte]

What are your thoughts about how Majerus treated his players? Van Horn, Andre Miller and Alex Jensen are the exceptions, so they can't be mentioned.

I think he made every one of them who bought into his system better players and people than they would otherwise have been with just about any other coach.

[il Padrino Ute]

I think he made every one of them who bought into his system better players and people than they would otherwise have been with just about any other coach.

How about those who didn't buy into his system?

I personally know three players who did buy into his system and the things they've told me about how they were treated by him would cause a reasonable person to think that Majerus was a basketball genius but a sub-human asshole to his players.

[kccougar]

I think the term "likable" is about PR. When in front of the media or with Utah boosters, Majerus was terrific and very likable.

Yeah, the local media just loved Majerus

[Goatnapper'96]

Yeah, the local media just loved Majerus

That was only a conspiracy to pacify Zoobs.

[Goatnapper'96]

How about those who didn't buy into his system?

I personally know three players who did buy into his system and the things they've told me about how they were treated by him would cause a reasonable person to think that Majerus was a basketball genius but a sub-human asshole to his players.

Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy - the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament.

[il Padrino Ute]

Yeah, the local media just loved Majerus

I suppose I should have specified national media.

Personally, I loved that Majerus wouldn't kiss the kiesters of the local media. Nothing was more amusing to me than listening to local sports radio and the exploding heads of Kinnehan, Monson and the like. Poor local hacks. Majerus wanted his team on a bigger stage and the local guys knew that they didn't meet the criteria. Everyone in Utah already knew who the Utes were.

[il Padrino Ute]

Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy - the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament.

He'd roast those chestnuts as well. And not in the Dean Martin kind of way.

[SeattleUte]

Yeah, the local media just loved Majerus

Liliputions.

[LA Ute]

Liliputions.

It's "Lilliputian," you cretinous wretch.

[RockyBalboa]

How about those who didn't buy into his system?

I personally know three players who did buy into his system and the things they've told me about how they were treated by him would cause a reasonable person to think that Majerus was a basketball genius but a sub-human asshole to his players.

Britton Johnsen regrets not going BYU and loathed Majerus. Still does.

[il Padrino Ute]

Britton Johnsen regrets not going BYU and loathed Majerus. Still does.

I'm not surprised by this. But I'm glad he didn't have any regrets before he signed his letter of intent, ya know?

[LA Ute]

Jack Gardner vs. Stan Watts

Jerry Pimm vs. Frank Arnold

Rick Majerus vs. Roger Reid

Kyle Whittingham vs. Bronco Mendenhall

Why in all the great rivalries between Utah and BYU coaches over the years have the Ute coaches been so much more likeable, full blooded, intrigueing people?

Stan Watts was a great guy, so I hope you are not implying anything negative about him. Gardner is a Utah hoops legend and I revere him, but he did occasionally make some "wince-producing" statements. I remember my junior high buddies who were BYU fans having a field day when Gardner said, about the Marriott Center, "Oh, they'll never get that thing built." That was in the Ernie Wilkinson era of oneupsmanship between BYU and Utah. Right after the Huntsman went up, Marriott went up, but larger. It was inevitable. To Ernie, size definitely mattered. (The JMHC remains a vastly superior place to watch a basketball game.)

Frank Arnold is the one BYU coach I could never stand.

Majerus is a complex guy. By happenstance I got to have dinner with him twice. Nicest guy in the world in that setting. A genuine person, and very straightforward. Now one of my law partners is a former Ute player under Majerus, and that has been an interesting perspective. I've talked to a few other former players who are in the category of "bought into his system" and "Majerus favorites," and they all seem to feel the same way: He taught them a lot and they were in awe of his coaching knowledge, but they were glad when it was over.

Bronco still seems to be figuring out how to function in the public eye, and under a unique kind of microscope. So far he comes across as sanctimonious. I'm not sure how he feels about that. Maybe he doesn't care. I would think even less of him if that's the case.

[SeattleUte]

It's "Lilliputian," you cretinous wretch.

http://board.jokeroo.com/funny-pictures-pg-13/96603-lilipution-ski-slopes.html

[SeattleUte]

Britton Johnsen regrets not going BYU and loathed Majerus. Still does.

That would be surprising considering all he owes Majerus, including the incomparable experience of the 1998 Final Four. I doubt he's that big a fool

[LA Ute]

To tell you the truth I think I would rather hang with Ron McBride or even Wayne Howard than Lavelle.

Actually, it would be terrific to have dinner with all three of them. I knew Wayne Howard and thought he was one of the sweetest, funniest guys I ever knew. He was fiery and emotional and did not control himself well, and that was his downfall. he also changed offenses every year while he was HC at Utah, but that's another story. But for his mercurial personality, I think Wayne could have been a very successful head football coach.