Jio Update

[El Jefe]

I hear Jio is back and everything looks good so far. I expect he will  lead the team in the fall.  I believe there is still some work to be done on clearing Gaston academically.

I would welcome Jio back and would hope that all true fans would do so as well.  It is possible that he has matured or received advice from a trusted friend that he should remain at Fordham.  It is also possible that he has been promised a change in the coaching staff or a release from his LOI if things do not work out next year.  I have no doubt that Jio would play hard for the team if he does return.  That being said, I checked the team roster which has been updated.  The new players have been added and those confirmed departures are omitted.  Jio's name is missing from the roster.  Certainly, someone at Fordham has given up hope on his return.

[ayteefie]

I would welcome Jio back and would hope that all true fans would do so as well.  

Disagree Jefe.

This kid's posse and entourage trashed the school and his father stated emphatically he wasnt coming back .  There are swirling rumors of tampering for which the school can not comment.

Fans expressing concern over him returning does not somehow make them not "true fans."   For anyone to simply blindly accept this situation back with no reservations is ridiculous. If he comes back, its a big question mark on many fronts.   

[B2Bomber]

Is this all some cruel hoax?     Just asking.     

If he comes back we all have a DUTY to welcome him back on campus, make him feel good about his decision and help him regenerate good chemistry with the team.   

If we get 18 wins this season, Grank will look like siamese twins who just won the lottery.   

I feel very conflicted.  I want the 18 wins for the team and Fordham University, but I want Grank and DW gone.

[Ram 91]

It is also possible that he has been promised a change in the coaching staff or a release from his LOI if things do not work out next year.

Perhaps the latter, but there is no way on God's green earth Frank & Company could ever promise a disgruntled freshman-soon-to-be-sophomore that a coaching change would happen if A) that player is unhappy or B) after retaining DW after a three win season.  On the one hand they show some strength and deny a release and then show abject weakness by handing personnel decisions to that same player?  Maybe if Fontan hits the lottery and buys out DW's contract.

I'm willing and happy to welcome Jio back if his heart and mind are in the right place, but it's up to him to demonstrate that.  A good way of doing that would be to tell his hangers on to mind their own business, this is his life, his education, his college basketball career, and they can be on board with that or stay home.  It can be done, but it requires some public gesture of goodwill on his part, there have been far too many statements and pressure from his side to just assume it.

Fordham fans will be eager to welcome him back into the fold, if he indeed wants to return as a Fordham player intending to graduate as a Fordham player.  If he's hitting the reset button on transfer/release issues until next year then why would anyone blame Fordham fans for feeling we'd be better off with people who want to be here?

[John]

I feel very conflicted.  I want the 18 wins for the team and Fordham University, but I want Grank and DW gone.

I agree about Grank, but at this point I'm persuaded that only retirement or gross misconduct will ever rid us of Frank. Chronic incompetence simply is not enough.

That being said, if Jio returns -- still an if --  Frank and DW will be owed some props on having played the situation correctly. They took a stand, denied the release, took the heat and didn't grovel. Jio was not an ordinary recruit; he was widely touted as a "step-up" recruit for our program. I'm not sure if Frank had a strong hand, or simply stood pat while Jio misplayed his, but as the 2009-10 season looms, it appears Jio's choices have come down to these: (1) pay his way to JUCO for a year, with no guarantee of a spot anywhere he'd rather be the year after, or (2) take the $53K per year scholarship and resume playing immediately as floor leader of a team in a conference well suited to his talent level.

Nothing's fixed yet, but at the moment, we're #14, on paper, in a 14-team conference for next year. The long term health of our program could surely use an improvement year instead of another season wallowing at the bottom.

[ayteefie]

How exactly do the technicalities work?

If schollies are renewed on an annual basis, does that mean he has to sign something accepting the ship in the next few weeks?  

With these guys being on campus all summer, does that free housing and free tuition count as being on 'ship for the upcoming season or does it retro back to last season?  For example, if a player changed his mind right now and wanted to leave before the upcoming season started, but was on campus since May and took a class, does that mean he burned the upcoming year on ship or does it retro backward?

Anyone?

[FUram07]

Two questions:

did jio finish out last semester academically or had he phoned it in by then?

Is rosario staying at RU?

I hope for the best but assume the worst....

[friarsbob]

As stated before, Jio finished the academic year--he was in the cafateria with his teammates throughout the final exams. There are no academic problems. Kudos to Jio for making a mature decision; Probably not his hoped for best scenario. but certainly the best remaining option; clear to many of us, but difficult for a teenager with many outside voices urging other avenues. Good job. And kudos also to the administration for standing firm and QUIET throughout this ordeal. Some class there; I am proud of them--something I rarely feel about the athletic administration--but credit where credit is due.

[Ram 91]

The long national nightmare is over, he's returning as noted in another thread referencing Zagsblog.

Maybe this thread should be locked and all of us move on?

P.S. - To the outsiders who just wanted Fontan to move on for purely selfish reasons... don't let the internet hit you on the butt as you leave!

[ace93]

Maybe this thread should be locked and all of us move on?

I gave that a thought before reading your suggestion, but am thinking that right now all it will accomplish is the start of another thread to talk about whether this is the right/wrong move, whether it is genuine or not, how thrilled/angry people are, etc.  Probably best that those comments just go in here.

[ayteefie]

Maybe A Buttah can come back too......

[Ram 91]

I gave that a thought before reading your suggestion, but am thinking that right now all it will accomplish is the start of another thread to talk about whether this is the right/wrong move, whether it is genuine or not, how thrilled/angry people are, etc.  Probably best that those comments just go in here.

True, that.

[Richie68]

This return of Jio puts a whole new light on the coming season.  Our back court should be very solid with Jio, Brown, Butler, Estwick, Tanner and Melvin as the backup point guard.  Jio can now get the ball to Gaston who I hope is as good as advertized, 6-10 Alihodzic who gives us size and presence, Freeman who gives us size and presence,  Green who I hope has matured and of course can block shots, Gordon who has had a year to practice with the team and Danny Thompson who may be OK.

We certainly have depth.  No excuses for DW to use only 6 or 7 players.  No excuses for not being flexible.  This year we must make substantial progress or something will be very wrong.

[John]

To quote the late President Gerald R. Ford, "Our long national nightmare is over".

DW's coaching seat just got cooler and hotter at the same time. No excuse not to improve. If Jio continues to play well, and the team's record remains dismal, more incentive for Fordham to get another coach for Jio and the team after this season.

I think Jio's decision is a good one, not only for his academic progress, but also in basketball terms. He played a lot of hoops over the summer, at a high level, and this can only help. I'm glad he'll get the chance to play with the friends he helped recruit to Fordham. This probably also firms us up a bit with Joel Wright, as well.

Now it's up to DW to change his scowling, humorless, folded-arms, unimaginative approach to coaching. Now it's up to Frank to put some space between his butt and seat-cushion and start promoting the team. This is one situation where they appear to have come out ahead. But there's a lot more work to be done. We were a 3-win team, remember.

[ace93]

This return of Jio puts a whole new light on the coming season.  Our back court should be very solid with Jio, Brown, Butler, Estwick, Tanner and Melvin as the backup point guard.  Jio can now get the ball to Gaston who I hope is as good as advertized, 6-10 Alihodzic who gives us size and presence, Freeman who gives us size and presence,  Green who I hope has matured and of course can block shots, Gordon who has had a year to practice with the team and Danny Thompson who may be OK.

We certainly have depth.  No excuses for DW to use only 6 or 7 players.  No excuses for not being flexible.  This year we must make substantial progress or something will be very wrong.

You are presuming that all these players "buy into the system". 

[SIram]

I like that a highly rated PG will be returning to play at Fordham and that he will have a better supporting cast, this could be a fun season for us.

I am concerned about how this will all turn out, a lot was said behind closed doors and in the press and egos have been bruised, things will have to be hashed out and changes made before the season starts.

Jio has the benefit of youth and inexperience so it is possible for him to change, but DW?  That guy has not shown even the hint of being able to change his act and that worries me, as good as the season could be I am afraid to think how ugly it could get.

I hope for the best but....

[dcram4]

I think Jio's decision is a good one, not only for his academic progress, but also in basketball terms. He played a lot of hoops over the summer, at a high level, and this can only help. I'm glad he'll get the chance to play with the friends he helped recruit to Fordham. This probably also firms us up a bit with Joel Wright, as well.

I think these are really good points. He did play at a high level this summer and playing with Gaston and Brown will be great to see. Locking up Wright can not be overlooked too as he is clearly an impact player.

[txram]

I think these are really good points. He did play at a high level this summer and playing with Gaston and Brown will be great to see. Locking up Wright can not be overlooked too as he is clearly an impact player.

I haven't seen them, but would it be fair to say that this year's team is more athletic and up-tempo than last year's and thus possibly fits Jio's skills as a playmaker even better?  (that is unless DW run's the same grade school motion offense)

[B2Bomber]

Good for Jio!   Good decision!    Good for us (Fordham)!     And a tip of the hat to Grank for holding firm in a firestorm of criticism and unbelievable pressures to let him go.    And I am delighted that we told Rutgers to "stuff it" and "hands off our players."

Now lets get behind Jio and the team.     I concur with John, that DW has a reprieve, but he also has a huge responsibility to produce with what looks like a solid recruiting effort by his assistant coaches.   

For the moment we can bask in the light of "victory".    We can leave the negativity at the door for another day, another thread.

Go Rams!

[dcram4]

I haven't seen them, but would it be fair to say that this year's team is more athletic and up-tempo than last year's and thus possibly fits Jio's skills as a playmaker even better?  (that is unless DW run's the same grade school motion offense)

I would say yes definitely. There are some post presences like Freeman and Alihodzic which are also a plus from last year but all reports about Gaston and Brown say that they are athletic and can run and finish. The praise is even higher for Wright who is an incredible athlete. Rambacker and others could probably much better attest to their skills as they have likely seen them all play but the reports would definitely indicate that the team is becoming much more athletic which would fit well with Jio.

[Richie68]

You are presuming that all these players "buy into the system". 

"To Buy or not To Buy", aye, there's the rub.

[An Old Coach]

There is no way in the world I let him back without a major "come to Jesus" meeting.  DW is going to be on pins and needles all year waiting for this kid to go off when things get tough, and at Fordham, that is only a matter of time.  Jio did everything possible to get his release and in doing so, made the entire basketball situation at Fordham much worse.  Not only did we look like a sinking ship on the court, he helped to make it look like the program was imploding. 

For all the posters who thought DW had to go, he most likely will now get to finish his contract.  If we win 9-10 games next year he looks like he's resurrecting the program.  Does anyone think that just because Jio is back that DW is now a better coach?  I don't see how this makes him a better teacher, bench coach or communicator. All this does now is delay the real rebuilding process that we need to get the program turned around.

[B2Bomber]

Well....a few salient points on DW:

1.  He is under considerable pressure to deliver the goods.  After last seasons debacle, the loss of players and the Jio Jangle.....DW is clearly on the chopping block.   

2.  If he does deliver, we take the wins and move on.   Every person deserves a chance to change and improve.  DW is no exception.   Yes, I agree he is very problematic.    But I will give him a chance.   And if we get into NIT or NCAA territory.....15 wins or more....who is to deny ANYONE on the team, including DW the praise that comes with that?

3.  I dont care if Bugs Bunny is our coach.   I just want to win and get on with the program.     

[An Old Coach]

He had the last several years to prove he was a capable coach.  He didn't just fail, he failed miserably.  With Fordham's low bar of athletic excellence, a 10 win season cements him for the rest of his contract.  We need to clean house.  This sets us back at least another two years.  We also haven't heard the last of Jio's tantrums.  Just wait.  He is now in charge of the program.

[ace93]

Thinking it over further I am going to go with Ram 91's suggestion to close this thread.  Not trying to stop this talk, but I think now that his status has changed the Jio conversation can go in the Zagoria thread which is receiving some of the same comments that are coming up here.

Any further comments can go here:
http://fordhamfans.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,780.0.html