Soup:
It has nothing to do with a like or dislike of basketball. To me, if it is a Penguin sport ..it has my full support. I am looking to buy a Lady Pens bowling glove and I do not even bowl
That being said:
With the uncertainty of the NCAA and conferences, YSU has to be prepared for any possibility ...move up, move down, or stay the same. Either way facilities are what we lack, as that is what makes us more appealing to a conference. (look at the official MAC rejection from 1993). Strollo has been navigating a ship over some very rough seas and even though things have not come as fast as many would like ...he has shown the ability to be a good captain.
Title IX (good or bad) makes the need for more women's scholarships a top priority, if we want to play in a good conference and/or support a 63 (or maybe even 85 someday) men's scholarship equivalent football team. Yes it is a "hit in the gut", but you have to thank your politically correct society. It is not fair that a basketball player can skip college and go pro, while football player cannot, but it was deemed a racial bias by the supreme court back in the 70's. Title IX did the same thing to us ...only much worse.
As to Slocum, again I like him. Yes, like you I want more success, but I believe if anyone can do it (given our current situation) I believe it is he. He is a good fundamental's coach and I do believe he can (and has) help players with more raw talent compete at the DI level. It is these types of player that we traditionally were able to get. Now, as the stature of the HL moving up, we can certainly recruit the better talent ...and we have. If you feel Slocum's time has come, I may not agree, but certainly understand why you feel that way; but give the man his dues for what he has been able to do with the program.
I am not crazy, or looking to lose respect with you or anyone else. it is just how I feel. Look at coach H in football. I had a broom behind him shortly after he took over & when they renewed I was upset ...then 1.5 years later we made the semis. Then when H did leave, I was was upset and felt the timing was bad. Mainly because of his keeping the "Youngstown" brand of football ...even though coach H wanted to change the offense. Then in comes coach W ...he did change the offense ...unfortunately, he changed the defense as well. I now hope that coach P will restore the good old Penguin defenses and coach M can continue to produce points. That being said ...Penguin Club, game and tailgate ticket sales have to be the top priority. Yet when he recruits the local kids, everyone on the board complains; even though we should know it is the best thing (besides winning) that he can do for our program.
