Fordham fires Whittenburg

[XU05and07]

Per Goodmanonfox tweet...

"Wow. Fordham fires Dereck Whittenburg this early in the season - should have done it last offseason"

A second airball by Whittenburg...this one did not end up so nice

[sash19]

They have also allowed Gio Fontain to transfer where as they didnt over the summer....Sounds like the walls are crashing down on the Rams...

[XU05and07]

maybe they are pulling the plug on their basketball program...they are the Hofstra on college basketball

[XU05and07]

A mighty fall for Whittenburg's team...since his arrival, his A10 finishes are:

2003-2004: T-5th (East)
2004-2005: 4th (East)
2005-2006: T-5th (overall...no more divisions)
2006-2007: T-4th
2007-2008: 12th
2008-2009: 14th

Should have stayed at Wagner

[CinciX12]

Not unexpected.

[The_Mack_Pack]

That'd be great for the A-10 if they got rid of their basketball team, probably won't happen though. It would piss off the Ram.

[XU05and07]

Message from Fordham's athletic website

He Gone (http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120309aaa.html)

[GoMuskies]

Maybe Fontan will stay now.

[coasterville95]

Good point - where are they going to find a coach at this time of the season? Promote from within? Maybe Coach "cellphone" Sampson is still available. And releasing a player too, hmm I can't see any player saying "I really wanted to go to Fordham just so I can play under Whittenburg"

I mean, assuming the worst for the program, they would at least finish out the season, right? I mean tickets are already sold, scholies have already been awarded, program expenses have already been budgeted.

If not, again, unless they promote from within, or find an alum who is dedicated to the school and wants to coach there, who are they going to find? It's not a destination job, its not even an attractive job. And when you recruit players, your strongest selling card is "You'll get to play in our nations oldest surviving basketball gym still in intercollegiate use?"

I think we have a poster here with ties to Fordham, got any perspective from a Fordham fan on this situation?

[Muskie]

Good point - where are they going to find a coach at this time of the season? Promote from within? Maybe Coach "cellphone" Sampson is still available. And releasing a player too, hmm I can't see any player saying "I really wanted to go to Fordham just so I can play under Whittenburg"

I mean, assuming the worst for the program, they would at least finish out the season, right? I mean tickets are already sold, scholies have already been awarded, program expenses have already been budgeted.

If not, again, unless they promote from within, or find an alum who is dedicated to the school and wants to coach there, who are they going to find? It's not a destination job, its not even an attractive job. And when you recruit players, your strongest selling card is "You'll get to play in our nations oldest surviving basketball gym still in intercollegiate use?"

I think we have a poster here with ties to Fordham, got any perspective from a Fordham fan on this situation?

Sampson has a show cause letter pending against him. He can't coach in the NCAA basically without their permission.

This is a weird time of year to do this? But nothing surprises me about Fordham.

[GoMuskies]

I really think it might have to do with Fontan. You'll know for sure if Fontan plays for them Saturday night.

[coasterville95]

http://fordhamfans.smfforfree.com/index.php is their message board.

Apparently they are moving one of their assistants, Grasso? to "Interim Head Coach" for the balance of the season.

There are a few threads out there on the topic for your perusal.

[QueensbridgeMF]

I think this is the first time I have heard FU mentioned on local (NYC) sports radio, and that's all it gets, a mention. And the host of the current show (Michael Kay) is an FU grad and still isn't talking about it. Maybe Francessa is talking about it:-).

[Muskie]

http://fordhamfans.smfforfree.com/index.php is their message board.

Apparently they are moving one of their assistants, Grasso? to "Interim Head Coach" for the balance of the season.

There are a few threads out there on the topic for your perusal.

Clearly not sorry to see him go huh... judging by the Celebration you-tube clip.

[AdamtheFlyer]

Life rule#342 - Never hire a guy most known for airballing a shot. Coaching jobs are for closers.

[XU 87]

Does it really matter? The program is a disaster. And until they get out of a gym that would make Schmidt Fieldhouse proud, they have little, if any, chance of being successful.

[XU05and07]

Maybe Fontan will stay now.

Some people have asked that question...and Fontan still plans on transferring at the semester

[Masterofreality]

Just drop the "F"- ing program and go away already.

Having "F"-ham in this league is a lasting boondoggle from the Linda Blutarsky legacy. Somehow she and her minions felt that it was important to have a "New York" presence in the A-10. All they've gotten is a New York embarrassment. They never extractracted any committment for improvement in exchange for their inclusion. All that's happened is a further dilution of the post season money earned by those schools who actually care.

She tried to do the same thing a few years later with Boston University to give the league a "Boston" presence. Thank Gawd, the presidents weren't fooled twice.

Blutarsky was a horrible Commissioner. I'm not sure if McGlade is any better given her moving the League office to Newport News. I'll give her a couple of more years before I start calling her McGlitch, however.

[GoMuskies]

She tried to do the same thing a few years later with Boston University to give the league a "Boston" presence. Thank Gawd, the presidents weren't fooled twice.



That would have been awesome! And BU at least has a very nice new arena. Granted, it was mainly built for its powerhouse hockey program, but they allow the Terriers' basketball team to use it sometimes, too.

[Masterofreality]

That would have been awesome! And BU at least has a very nice new arena. Granted, it was mainly built for its powerhouse hockey program, but they allow the Terriers' basketball team to use it sometimes, too.

Go, at least BU discovered their limitations and dropped football. They still wouldn't have been much of a benefit to the league, however. Just another money-sucker with nothing back.

[GoMuskies]

Oh, BU would have been worthless as a member. But every other year I could have seen Xavier fifteen minutes from my office. I'm selfish like that.

[Masterofreality]

Oh, BU would have been worthless as a member. But every other year I could have seen Xavier fifteen minutes from my office. I'm selfish like that.

....and you could have stopped and had Jameson shots with Guinness chasers before the game!!

[X-band '01]

Why couldn't they fire Frank McLaughlin instead?

[Cheesehead]

Really strange point in the season for Fordham to do this. Can we please drop them from the A--10 now?