- Joined
- Oct 22, 2008
- Messages
- 9,345
- Reaction score
- 0
Lots of interesting stuff and Capel really opens up. Here it is:
http://podcasting.fia.net/6779/4128387.mp3
http://podcasting.fia.net/6779/4128387.mp3
Lord, would I hate to have to suck up to those two like coaches in the area here have to. Basically zero actual basketball questions, almost all about focus and mentality and intangibles.
Good stuff from Capel, though. I particularly liked him sticking up for Willie Warren from all the fans and media who want to throw him under the bus.
I am at a loss as to how a society in which a high school coach could convince a player that he was actually going to kill him is somehow preferable to what we have today.
Great interview.
Tony,
How was Coach Capel sticking up for Willie? He said the same things that folks like myself have been saying: Poor body language, lack of consistent effort, and someone who is maybe just not cut out to be the leader.
I don't think anyone is saying that Willie is the only reason that this team is 9-5. I am not. I have not once thought that to be true. But it seems to me that Coach Capel feels the same way that myself and several on this board are feeling about Willie.
Willie has surprised me. I think he has surprised Coach Capel as well.
Its funny how two people can hear the same interview and come away with such different interpretations.
Not trying to bag on you, but I had to defend myself a bit since I have been pretty steadfast in my constructive criticism of Willie over the past two and a half weeks.
Great interview.
Tony,
How was Coach Capel sticking up for Willie? He said the same things that folks like myself have been saying: Poor body language, lack of consistent effort, and someone who is maybe just not cut out to be the leader.
I don't think anyone is saying that Willie is the only reason that this team is 9-5. I am not. I have not once thought that to be true. But it seems to me that Coach Capel feels the same way that myself and several on this board are feeling about Willie.
Willie has surprised me. I think he has surprised Coach Capel as well.
Its funny how two people can hear the same interview and come away with such different interpretations.
Not trying to bag on you, but I had to defend myself a bit since I have been pretty steadfast in my constructive criticism of Willie over the past two and a half weeks.
I thought his comments about high level kids were interesting in contrast to a similar interview I heard with Pat Knight.
Capel said a lot of these AAU, high level, high school kids have been getting their butts kissed since middle school and he has to continue kissing their butts during the entire recruiting process. You are dealing with their AAU coaches, handlers, parents, high school coaches, etc. These guys all have a sense of entitlement and that has been a problem with some of the guys Capel has signed.
The interview I heard with Pat Knight was just the opposite. Of course, Knight said he doesnt like dealing with AAU coaches, handlers, and immature players, but he was asked about recruiting juco guys and he said he enjoys it a lot more. They are grown men (20-21 years old), no AAU coaches, no parents, etc. He said they are excited to be part of the team, want to work hard, already know how to work, etc.
With that being said, there are lots of high level guys coming out of high school every year and most of the time their attitudes get checked at the door or it is never really an issue. Capel has recruited some guys with known attitudes, because he is trying to get the best caliber player he can, and I think everyone understands that.
I think OU fans come after Willie so hard because most of us always remember having a leader, and we really haven't seen a leaderless team with a bunch of whiners since we have followed the program. Ryan Minor, Nate Erdmann, Corey Brewer, Hollis Price, Eduardo Najera, Kevin Bookout, Blake Griffin, and Taylor Griffin have filled that role since the beginning of the Sampson era and this is really the first time OU doesn't have that.
I personally haven't seen anyone on this board saying the sole reason for our failures is Willie Warren. Those of you who keep saying that are obviously not listening to those of us that have criticized Willie's attitude and effort this year. Oh and Capel plainly said in this interview that Willie has invited some of the criticism he has received by his body language in games.
It is true that often people preface their critiques by saying that they don't think Willie is the only problem with this team. But there is generally precious little other analysis offered -- ESPECIALLY basketball related critiques as it is almost all character based -- that one can't help but get the feeling that people think Willie Warren is a prima donna and that everything will just be hunky-dory if he comes out and runs down the floor hard. I don't buy that, and I think Willie Warren's attitude/effort is about #271 on the list of problems with this team.
It's obvious from the reactions to this interview that one can hear things the way they want to, but my interpretation of Capel regarding Willie was that he has to understand that being in the position he is -- coming into the season with all the hype -- that he will receive a lot of unwarranted blame for a team's problems, and that people will seize on to something like his body language to make their point. Not that the body language itself was hurting the team.
It is true that often people preface their critiques by saying that they don't think Willie is the only problem with this team. But there is generally precious little other analysis offered -- ESPECIALLY basketball related critiques as it is almost all character based -- that one can't help but get the feeling that people think Willie Warren is a prima donna and that everything will just be hunky-dory if he comes out and runs down the floor hard. I don't buy that, and I think Willie Warren's attitude/effort is about #271 on the list of problems with this team.
It's obvious from the reactions to this interview that one can hear things the way they want to, but my interpretation of Capel regarding Willie was that he has to understand that being in the position he is -- coming into the season with all the hype -- that he will receive a lot of unwarranted blame for a team's problems, and that people will seize on to something like his body language to make their point. Not that the body language itself was hurting the team.
It is true that often people preface their critiques by saying that they don't think Willie is the only problem with this team. But there is generally precious little other analysis offered -- ESPECIALLY basketball related critiques as it is almost all character based -- that one can't help but get the feeling that people think Willie Warren is a prima donna and that everything will just be hunky-dory if he comes out and runs down the floor hard. I don't buy that, and I think Willie Warren's attitude/effort is about #271 on the list of problems with this team.
It's obvious from the reactions to this interview that one can hear things the way they want to, but my interpretation of Capel regarding Willie was that he has to understand that being in the position he is -- coming into the season with all the hype -- that he will receive a lot of unwarranted blame for a team's problems, and that people will seize on to something like his body language to make their point. Not that the body language itself was hurting the team.