WHAT isn't really understood (or maybe is intellectually but not emotionally) is how led-on, lied to and just plain abused Spartan basketball fans have been for decades.
Sure, them are strong words but essentially accurate.
There was never a chance to be successful, to actually build a program that hopefully, more often than not, could sport a winning record.
Some of this was due to funding (salaries, recruiting budgets), actually the lack thereof.
Some was because of the choices as head basketball coach by the various athletics directors. The hires were not the 'best available' choices but rather comfort level determinations or bring-in-a-buddy decisions. There was greater allegiance to friends than to San Jose State University itself or the supporters who annually open up their wallets and checkbooks.
Yet the annual calls continued to go out: 'we need money for this or that piece of equipment' or 'join The Rebounders so that we can be more competitive' et al.
It was a sham.
Granted, some involved had the best intentions. Effort was applied.
But truth or any acknowledgement of realism were lacking.
By now you are probably thinking, and this is certainly a fair question to ask, what can those now in charge do about the past?
Nothing in terms of changing history.
However, they can better understand the why of the beatdown Spartan hoops fan psyche. How money was literally thrown away year after year, donated to a losing cause. It was akin to giving money to the addicted -- actually more accurately picture those with a monkey on their back forking $$$ over to a mostly motley crew of ever changing grifters -- with a bottom line knowledge of what the end result would be. Yet the mutual pathology could never be admitted.
This is why some are wary. It's not because of the present but the past.
It's "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice (actually make that a dozen times), shame on me.
Some have re-committed and good for them. Others just can't bear the thought of diving in again and having their hearts stomped on once more.
Yes, faithfulness and dedication can be wonderful qualities.
But at this point they must be earned.
Yes, proverbial lightning can strike and get a program headed in the right direction so that fans appear in droves and revenues increase dramatically, but how often does that really happen? (is such any sort of realistic expectation?)
Ditto with gradual annual improvement but paid butts in the seats usually don't appear until the win totals reach the mid 20s or so and that realistically takes more than one season with such a record.
Giving, in its various forms, for so many years (decades) hasn't resulted in much, if any, difference. But SJSU needs so, so much more in order to become competitive.
It's the ultimate conundrum.
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Below is an addition:
IF one believed in such an element, an impressive case could be made that San Jose State University basketball is simply jinxed, forever to be flawed and the ugly stepchild in whatever association it holds membership.
But that not being the case, at least with jinxes, how do the latest events -- the firing of an associate head coach and the suspension of close to half the team -- get psychologically processed by fans and supporters in lieu of Spartan hoops history? Then comes the coup de gras for the season with two upperclassmen being booted from the program and a third player departing due to seeing the proverbial hand writing on the wall.
There is no all encompassing answer -- it will be up to each individual.
The chorus coming from Washington Square is always stay strong and believe.
But already there is a history, albeit short.
Jack Kennedy, Omar Lowery and now Chris Brazelton -- the trio making up last season's coaching staff, are gone, reasons and motivation generally unknown.
Two upperclassmen, who should be at least among the leaders/elder statesmen on a young team, instead become poison pills with their behavior.
It's painful to type this but there is a question of hiring judgment lingering that isn't going away soon. Coach Wojcik brought in all these individuals and the responsibility lies with him. To his credit, current assistant coaches Mike Lepore and Tyler Ojanen seem solid but the batting average of coach and player hires, to mix sports metaphors, must improve.
Player development has been, let's just say iffy, yet it's is too short a time period for a full-on judgment. So a pass is probably deserved here until more time goes by. However, new recruits Cody Schwartz, Brandon Clarke and Ryan Welage display potential with their respective skill sets but two will need drastic body development to be effective factors in the Mountain West Conference. Each also seems like a solid citizen which is obviously becoming a more crucial element.
So how to continue to believe? What's the formula in order to do so?
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