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Question on culture of IU basketball team...

Bill Walton tells a great story about playing for John Wooden. Bill is in the middle of his freshman year, he's playing well, practicing well. The team has a rule against facial hair. Being the hippy he is, he decides he is going to ask coach Wooden. He says "coach I practice hard, play hard, grades are good, do everything you ask, I'm a grown man and I should be able to choose how I wear my facial hair". Coach Wooden replies "Bill you are absolutely right, you are a grown man and make your own choices and you absolutely CAN grow facial hair"...…..

"We sure are going to miss having you on the team though"

Heard a very similar story about Knight when Mike Midday was a freshman. Midday showed up at first practice with long hair and Knight told him to not show up again without a haircut. Midday retorted something to the effect of "but coach, Jesus Christ had long hair." Knight escorted Midday to Royer pool and challenged Midday to walk across it saying "if you can do that, you can keep your hair long."
 
The fan base is very angry cause we have one of the top five most passionate loyal fan bases in america. Yet for 20 years our results are average at best. It is beyond frusturating when you see the other teams with titles win year after year. Its hard to keep asking for patience after 20 years of it
But at this point we have no choice. We may never be elite again. I except that now.
Yeah, but we are starting to sound like Kentucky.
 
It usually takes turnover to repair culture. Each new person gets the culture and vision from the leadership and sets a foundation for each person that comes afterward. Through attrition, the leader instills culture incrementally, until the majority of remaining people are bought in and sharing in the vision.

Very few companies or programs can change culture successfully with training, accountability and mere words. Millions of dollars are spent each year by companies investing in improving culture. It takes a leader who understands it takes time, is grounded in principles and remains steadfast in their pursuit. They must be able to sell their ideas, show results and earn credibility over time. Soon, the members of a team employ self accountability and require less coaching. Until, you can implement a long term plan for change, your culture is not going nowhere.

I've taken over departments and even companies with bad habits, low morale and poor culture. Coaching them up only gets you mediocre results and leads to frustration on both sides due to underlying philosophical differences.

Set expectations, hold people accountable and let time run its course. Eventually, you will surround yourself with those who believe.

What we have at IU is an undisciplined culture over the last 12-15 years. Arch seems like a guy who gets it. I've seen more discipline in the last year and half than in the previous 10 years. The disappointment and frustration he shows for our current state is a good sign. (Think about the Duke post game presser from last year) The media, fans etc all congratulated him for a hard fought close loss against the number one team. He was appalled at the notion and was having none of it and shut it down.

Now it just takes time and attrition so he can surround himself with others who buy what he is selling. Until then, we will have mixed results. Withholding judgment until at least midway through year 3 is not only fair, it's the responsible thing to do.
i agree with almost all of that. the exception is as a head coach, i am not selling, i'm telling. you do it how i say because i've been doing it for a lot longer than the kids and my teams always won. don't like it? find another team

I think we mostly agree, but I would quibble over that philosophy. My way or the highway is reserved for after you already have sustained success with a proven track record. Credibility is earned, not granted. You don't walk in anywhere as the "new" coach or leader and immediately have respect. It takes time to "sell" your ideas, your philosophy and vision. You achieve success when those around you believe in "buy" your message, usually through continuous improvement and measured results.

There very well may be some "cleaning house" that takes place initially, but it's due to philosophical differences, not because I said so. As a matter of fact, if a new manager in my company tried this move, it would be they that succumb to attrition by proving ineffective.

Once Arch gets his people in place, we can see what kind of leader he is. One that panders to the majority(Crean), one that is self serving (Knight) or one who promotes modern team concepts like self accountability, purpose, engagement and sacrifice (Few, Wright) I hope it's the latter, time will tell.
 
I think we mostly agree, but I would quibble over that philosophy. My way or the highway is reserved for after you already have sustained success with a proven track record. Credibility is earned, not granted. You don't walk in anywhere as the "new" coach or leader and immediately have respect. It takes time to "sell" your ideas, your philosophy and vision. You achieve success when those around you believe in "buy" your message, usually through continuous improvement and measured results.

There very well may be some "cleaning house" that takes place initially, but it's due to philosophical differences, not because I said so. As a matter of fact, if a new manager in my company tried this move, it would be they that succumb to attrition by proving ineffective.

Once Arch gets his people in place, we can see what kind of leader he is. One that panders to the majority(Crean), one that is self serving (Knight) or one who promotes modern team concepts like self accountability, purpose, engagement and sacrifice (Few, Wright) I hope it's the latter, time will tell.
i don't give a damn about their respecting me in a new gig. i will demand they execute and play the way i teach them to. it is not optional. in that way i am not selling anything.
i know people like yourself like to compare coaching to their business environment but that is not the same at all. if you were caught talking while your manager was giving instructions i doubt he would tell you to have a comfy seat and relax while making the rest of your co-workers run suicides until they were coughing up pieces of lung. then follow that with some "kings drill" until your nice suit pants had holes in the knees
 
I'm 56 ..I could care less how long your hair is .
Grow a hipster beard while your at it .If you have game. And abide by team rules..
Go for it..
Mark Few who many wanted as our coach..Lets kids be therselfs
 
Real nice comment. You have no idea of what you are talking about or how much pain has been relieved by professionals who have to deal with the fear you bring to others by making those kinds of cute remarks. Thanks! Do agree it is hell living with the talk from people while living in Purdue country. IUSD grad from the 60’s. Have seen the great days and these days, but still love I.U.

I get it papa.

The root canal had a bad reputation that is not even close the way it used to be. Bad comparison by me and created bad PR for dentists.

I had a dentist growing up (in the days before gentle dentistry) who was a big believer in doing his work with as little numbing agent as possible.
And I called him “Dr. Mengele.”
 
I think we mostly agree, but I would quibble over that philosophy. My way or the highway is reserved for after you already have sustained success with a proven track record. Credibility is earned, not granted. You don't walk in anywhere as the "new" coach or leader and immediately have respect. It takes time to "sell" your ideas, your philosophy and vision. You achieve success when those around you believe in "buy" your message, usually through continuous improvement and measured results.

There very well may be some "cleaning house" that takes place initially, but it's due to philosophical differences, not because I said so. As a matter of fact, if a new manager in my company tried this move, it would be they that succumb to attrition by proving ineffective.

Once Arch gets his people in place, we can see what kind of leader he is. One that panders to the majority(Crean), one that is self serving (Knight) or one who promotes modern team concepts like self accountability, purpose, engagement and sacrifice (Few, Wright) I hope it's the latter, time will tell.
i don't give a damn about their respecting me in a new gig. i will demand they execute and play the way i teach them to. it is not optional. in that way i am not selling anything.
i know people like yourself like to compare coaching to their business environment but that is not the same at all. if you were caught talking while your manager was giving instructions i doubt he would tell you to have a comfy seat and relax while making the rest of your co-workers run suicides until they were coughing up pieces of lung. then follow that with some "kings drill" until your nice suit pants had holes in the knees

Well, if you don't give a damn, then that's on you. Great coaches and leaders earn the respect of those that follow. In turn, they work harder and play harder and sacrifice for the greater good. I'm old school myself, when it comes to discipline and respect. I also believe in accountability and consequences.

Some of the best books written on leadership are by coaches. The business world translates to sports very well actually and vise versa. Anywhere you have a team working toward a common goal, the same principles apply. Morale, motivation, dedication, respect, commitment and sacrifice are all attributes or descriptions of a team. If you attend a leadership conference or key note address, you're just as likely to be sitting next to a high level coach, as you are a CEO. That's because getting a group of people to act as one toward a goal is difficult. It takes brains, not braun to figure it out. It's a different generation, we have moved passed Knight and Hayes and into Stevens and Wright. Those left hanging on to outdated methods will eventually get passed by. Science wins, not authoritarianism.

No disrespect, but you sir are missing the point. You can yell, kick and scream and make them run suicides all day if you want. But in the end you don't have a culture of excellence, you have "your" way or the highway. Might work initially but will never have sustained results. Eventually that message tires out. Others may even emulate what they see creating a poor environment.
Conversely, a culture of self accountability is built over time and is proven to yield better results. It's not a snowflake approach like you think. It's built on a disciplined, demanding structure where team goals trump individual accomplishments. Accountability comes from within not from the coach. It proves itself over time. You can't disagree, it's not subjective at this point
 
Well, if you don't give a damn, then that's on you. Great coaches and leaders earn the respect of those that follow. In turn, they work harder and play harder and sacrifice for the greater good. I'm old school myself, when it comes to discipline and respect. I also believe in accountability and consequences.

Some of the best books written on leadership are by coaches. The business world translates to sports very well actually and vise versa. Anywhere you have a team working toward a common goal, the same principles apply. Morale, motivation, dedication, respect, commitment and sacrifice are all attributes or descriptions of a team. If you attend a leadership conference or key note address, you're just as likely to be sitting next to a high level coach, as you are a CEO. That's because getting a group of people to act as one toward a goal is difficult. It takes brains, not braun to figure it out. It's a different generation, we have moved passed Knight and Hayes and into Stevens and Wright. Those left hanging on to outdated methods will eventually get passed by. Science wins, not authoritarianism.

No disrespect, but you sir are missing the point. You can yell, kick and scream and make them run suicides all day if you want. But in the end you don't have a culture of excellence, you have "your" way or the highway. Might work initially but will never have sustained results. Eventually that message tires out. Others may even emulate what they see creating a poor environment.
Conversely, a culture of self accountability is built over time and is proven to yield better results. It's not a snowflake approach like you think. It's built on a disciplined, demanding structure where team goals trump individual accomplishments. Accountability comes from within not from the coach. It proves itself over time. You can't disagree, it's not subjective at this point

I can't quote your grammar mistake, but you slander Indiana University basketball history like you know 1000 wins were the wrong way to do things.

On your business ideas I will just say that there is a massive difference between sports and business. Sports teams are real teams who share real victories. Businesses make their decisions based on money, including when they get rid of team members. They also employ people who have never been on a sports team who don't understand how teams work together.

Within businesses, internal competition can lack the integrity and clarity that occurs in sports. Power struggles can go on long term without resolve, and sacrifice is not generally appreciated like it is on a sports team. When McRoberts dives, fans cheer.
 
Well, if you don't give a damn, then that's on you. Great coaches and leaders earn the respect of those that follow. In turn, they work harder and play harder and sacrifice for the greater good. I'm old school myself, when it comes to discipline and respect. I also believe in accountability and consequences.

Some of the best books written on leadership are by coaches. The business world translates to sports very well actually and vise versa. Anywhere you have a team working toward a common goal, the same principles apply. Morale, motivation, dedication, respect, commitment and sacrifice are all attributes or descriptions of a team. If you attend a leadership conference or key note address, you're just as likely to be sitting next to a high level coach, as you are a CEO. That's because getting a group of people to act as one toward a goal is difficult. It takes brains, not braun to figure it out. It's a different generation, we have moved passed Knight and Hayes and into Stevens and Wright. Those left hanging on to outdated methods will eventually get passed by. Science wins, not authoritarianism.

No disrespect, but you sir are missing the point. You can yell, kick and scream and make them run suicides all day if you want. But in the end you don't have a culture of excellence, you have "your" way or the highway. Might work initially but will never have sustained results. Eventually that message tires out. Others may even emulate what they see creating a poor environment.
Conversely, a culture of self accountability is built over time and is proven to yield better results. It's not a snowflake approach like you think. It's built on a disciplined, demanding structure where team goals trump individual accomplishments. Accountability comes from within not from the coach. It proves itself over time. You can't disagree, it's not subjective at this point
you've been reading those self-help books again, haven't you?
 
Well, if you don't give a damn, then that's on you. Great coaches and leaders earn the respect of those that follow. In turn, they work harder and play harder and sacrifice for the greater good. I'm old school myself, when it comes to discipline and respect. I also believe in accountability and consequences.

Some of the best books written on leadership are by coaches. The business world translates to sports very well actually and vise versa. Anywhere you have a team working toward a common goal, the same principles apply. Morale, motivation, dedication, respect, commitment and sacrifice are all attributes or descriptions of a team. If you attend a leadership conference or key note address, you're just as likely to be sitting next to a high level coach, as you are a CEO. That's because getting a group of people to act as one toward a goal is difficult. It takes brains, not braun to figure it out. It's a different generation, we have moved passed Knight and Hayes and into Stevens and Wright. Those left hanging on to outdated methods will eventually get passed by. Science wins, not authoritarianism.

No disrespect, but you sir are missing the point. You can yell, kick and scream and make them run suicides all day if you want. But in the end you don't have a culture of excellence, you have "your" way or the highway. Might work initially but will never have sustained results. Eventually that message tires out. Others may even emulate what they see creating a poor environment.
Conversely, a culture of self accountability is built over time and is proven to yield better results. It's not a snowflake approach like you think. It's built on a disciplined, demanding structure where team goals trump individual accomplishments. Accountability comes from within not from the coach. It proves itself over time. You can't disagree, it's not subjective at this point
you've been reading those self-help books again, haven't you?

You don't have to read books to be able to make a point. I suppose you're right then, because you say so lmao. Might be ok on your 8th graders but not young adults, adults and borderline professional athletes
 
You don't have to read books to be able to make a point. I suppose you're right then, because you say so lmao. Might be ok on your 8th graders but not young adults, adults and borderline professional athletes
said the guy who never drew a paycheck coaching basketball
 
Heard a very similar story about Knight when Mike Midday was a freshman. Midday showed up at first practice with long hair and Knight told him to not show up again without a haircut. Midday retorted something to the effect of "but coach, Jesus Christ had long hair." Knight escorted Midday to Royer pool and challenged Midday to walk across it saying "if you can do that, you can keep your hair long."
Wasn’t it Mike Miday from Ohio, quoted about the same time as the hair incident, as saying he would run through a brick wall for Coach Knight, only to later transfer away from IU, apparently because he couldn’t take it any longer?
 
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I said when they hired archie if he failed thats it for iu as ever being relevant again. You can only try and do this so many times. This is it folks.
I completely disagree with this way of thinking. IU is and always will be an elite program because of the rich tradition previous players and coaches built. Like with Notre Dame football, you have to go through coaches until you find the right fit. If Archie doesnt make it, that does not mean the school is doomed. It means we bring someone else in who is the right fit. One right choice can turn this program around in a couple seasons.
As for a culture problem, I see this team has a turnover and mistake problem. That is ok at the beginning of the season but you have to learn from those mistakes and correct them and this team has not done that. To me, that is a Coaching issue. Someone on here posted that Archie is just trying to get top talent and hope that's enough to get around his lack of experience and coaching abilities. At this point in his second season, I think that is a valid statement. I feel that he his a better teacher of Defense than we have seen in a while but the overall Coaching of the team is lacking.
 
I completely disagree with this way of thinking. IU is and always will be an elite program because of the rich tradition previous players and coaches built. Like with Notre Dame football, you have to go through coaches until you find the right fit. If Archie doesnt make it, that does not mean the school is doomed. It means we bring someone else in who is the right fit. One right choice can turn this program around in a couple seasons.
As for a culture problem, I see this team has a turnover and mistake problem. That is ok at the beginning of the season but you have to learn from those mistakes and correct them and this team has not done that. To me, that is a Coaching issue. Someone on here posted that Archie is just trying to get top talent and hope that's enough to get around his lack of experience and coaching abilities. At this point in his second season, I think that is a valid statement. I feel that he his a better teacher of Defense than we have seen in a while but the overall Coaching of the team is lacking.
iu has the potential to be an elite program once again. we are not one currently. other than 2002, when was the last final four? how many decades of mediocrity must pass before you accept we are no longer elite. that status is measured in wins so it is fairly objective. college football and basketball history is littered with the skeletons of formerly great programs.
 
I wish Risley had been a bit more specific in his criticism than using a nebulous term in sports such as a team’s “culture.” How about saying the biggest problem is competitiveness, toughness, lack of accountability, poor coaching, poor fundamentals, poor shooting, etc. In D-bag Dakich’s interview with Ted Kitchel the other day, Ted said that the team won’t be able to turn the corner until losing hurts more than the love of winning. I think that means coming out and playing with a competitiveness and fire from the get go to show just how much you hate losing. Now that’s a culture I would love to see in this team.


I agree with the need to be more specific.

I'm most interested/alarmed about the ongoing lack of physical & mental toughness.

I don't think we've had a team that has had physical toughness as a defining characteristic since the '02 team with Moye, Fife & Coverdale. Even the Zeller/Watford/Hulls/Vic/Yogi teams were more finesse than physical, although Vic was a no nonsense guy........not many like him lately.

There's also been a shortage of what I'll call 'passion' and mental toughness, which I see as two different matters. Using this team as an example, lack of passion shows itself in repeatedly being 'late to the game'....not focused and ready to play to start the game. Lack of mental toughness? How about inability to shoot 50% in a tough road environment?

I don't put much of this on Archie.....but it does look like this horrible roster of players the last 2 years and the injuries have gotten the better of him........I still see it being 85% a roster issue. The other 15? Perhaps a more self-assured and experienced coach would have shaken up the roster more from the get-go. I'm not sure Archie had the confidence to do so under the circumstances of taking over such a high profile program.

I will also say I've watched most of Archie's PCs this year. and the PC after the Purdue game was the first time I was disappointed in what he said. There's a difference between slow & steady and blowing sunshine up our ass.....and his last PC was of that variety.
 
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Wasn’t it Mike Miday from Ohio, quoted about the same time as the hair incident, as saying he would run through a brick wall for Coach Knight, only to later transfer away from IU, apparently because he couldn’t take it any longer?
Yep
 
I agree with the need to be more specific.

I'm most interested/alarmed about the ongoing lack of physical & mental toughness.

I don't think we've had a team that has had physical toughness as a defining characteristic since the '02 team with Moye, Fife & Coverdale. Even the Zeller/Watford/Hulls/Vic/Yogi teams were more finesse than physical, although Vic was a no nonsense guy........not many like him lately.

There's also been a shortage of what I'll call 'passion' and mental toughness, which I see as two different matters. Using this team as an example, lack of passion shows itself in repeatedly being 'late to the game'....not focused and ready to play to start the game. Lack of mental toughness? How about inability to shoot 50% in a tough road environment?

I don't put much of this on Archie.....but it does look like this horrible roster of players the last 2 years and the injuries have gotten the better of him........I still see it being 85% a roster issue. The other 15? Perhaps a more self-assured and experienced coach would have shaken up the roster more from the get-go. I'm not sure Archie had the confidence to do so under the circumstances of taking over such a high profile program.

I will also say I've watched most of Archie's PCs this year. and the PC after the Purdue game was the first time I was disappointed in what he said. There's a difference between slow & steady and blowing sunshine up our ass.....and his last PC was of that variety.
makes you miss thomas bryant, doesn't it?
 
I agree with the need to be more specific.

I'm most interested/alarmed about the ongoing lack of physical & mental toughness.

I don't think we've had a team that has had physical toughness as a defining characteristic since the '02 team with Moye, Fife & Coverdale. Even the Zeller/Watford/Hulls/Vic/Yogi teams were more finesse than physical, although Vic was a no nonsense guy........not many like him lately.

There's also been a shortage of what I'll call 'passion' and mental toughness, which I see as two different matters. Using this team as an example, lack of passion shows itself in repeatedly being 'late to the game'....not focused and ready to play to start the game. Lack of mental toughness? How about inability to shoot 50% in a tough road environment?

I don't put much of this on Archie.....but it does look like this horrible roster of players the last 2 years and the injuries have gotten the better of him........I still see it being 85% a roster issue. The other 15? Perhaps a more self-assured and experienced coach would have shaken up the roster more from the get-go. I'm not sure Archie had the confidence to do so under the circumstances of taking over such a high profile program.

I will also say I've watched most of Archie's PCs this year. and the PC after the Purdue game was the first time I was disappointed in what he said. There's a difference between slow & steady and blowing sunshine up our ass.....and his last PC was of that variety.
the problem is how to shake up the roster when you look down our bench?
 
iu has the potential to be an elite program once again. we are not one currently. other than 2002, when was the last final four? how many decades of mediocrity must pass before you accept we are no longer elite. that status is measured in wins so it is fairly objective. college football and basketball history is littered with the skeletons of formerly great programs.
Because of our history, we will always be seen as an elite program. We havent been very good since Bobby's last team but that is besides the point. Notre Dame football sucked for a long time but because of their strong tradition the right coach came in and brought them right back in the elite status. I am going to give you one example that proves my point.

Purdue's individual teams have outperformed us for the last 20 years which I think we all can agree on give or take a couple seasons. Because of our elite status and tradition, we continue to get the best basketball players year after year and they get our left overs (granted their coach does more with who he has than we do). This year we got Romeo. Next year we get Trace Jackson. After 18 bum seasons at IU and the way you make out the program, that would be reversed. It is like that because Purdue has no tradition and we do. With 5 banners hanging from Assembly Hall and old people to pass down the stories of our golden years with RMK we will always be seen as an elite basketball school. Archie came in and brought in 2 Mcdonalds all americans year 1 and 2 of recruiting!
 
Because of our history, we will always be seen as an elite program. We havent been very good since Bobby's last team but that is besides the point. Notre Dame football sucked for a long time but because of their strong tradition the right coach came in and brought them right back in the elite status. I am going to give you one example that proves my point.

Purdue's individual teams have outperformed us for the last 20 years which I think we all can agree on give or take a couple seasons. Because of our elite status and tradition, we continue to get the best basketball players year after year and they get our left overs (granted their coach does more with who he has than we do). This year we got Romeo. Next year we get Trace Jackson. After 18 bum seasons at IU and the way you make out the program, that would be reversed. It is like that because Purdue has no tradition and we do. With 5 banners hanging from Assembly Hall and old people to pass down the stories of our golden years with RMK we will always be seen as an elite basketball school. Archie came in and brought in 2 Mcdonalds all americans year 1 and 2 of recruiting!
do you consider nebraska football elite, because that is where we are right now. we are not even the premiere program in our conference. also, how many "elite" programs are there nationwide?
 
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the problem is how to shake up the roster when you look down our bench?

The fact that our bench is so thin might actually make such a move more effective at sending a message.

We’d probably lose any game that our supposedly best players sat, of course. But so what? We’re losing with them on the floor.
 
The fact that our bench is so thin might actually make such a move more effective at sending a message.

We’d probably lose any game that our supposedly best players sat, of course. But so what? We’re losing with them on the floor.
oh sure. i'm a big proponent of clearing all 5 guys off the floor and replacing them with the end of the bench just to get their attention. early in the season
 
oh sure. i'm a big proponent of clearing all 5 guys off the floor and replacing them with the end of the bench just to get their attention. early in the season

The season is getting pretty close to being burned anyway. Heck, even to just do it for a half.

But don’t let the sharp falloff in talent down the bench deter us. That’s beside the point.
 
do you consider nebraska football elite, because that is where we are right now. we are not even the premiere program in our conference. also, how many "elite" programs are there nationwide?
Of course I consider Nebraska elite. Same issue we are having. They can still get a top notch coach and talent because they are Nebraska. They havent had any luck with coaches although I think this coach may be able to bring them back to the level they have always been.
 
Of course I consider Nebraska elite. Same issue we are having. They can still get a top notch coach and talent because they are Nebraska. They havent had any luck with coaches although I think this coach may be able to bring them back to the level they have always been.

Part of me agrees, part disagrees.

Until 2009, Alabama's football program had gone 27 years since last winning the national championship. Prior to that one in 1992, it had been 23 years. Since 2009, they've won 5 and come pretty close several other times. Even with their loss in this year's CFP, I still think they're the current gold standard of college football. And I don't think it's unfair to say that the single biggest thing they did to return to prominence was to hire Nick Saban. That might not be all of it -- but it has clearly been a successful marriage for both of them.

If it were the case that a once great, has-been college sports program was condemned to continue being once great and has-been, then what Saban did at Alabama couldn't have happened. But it did happen.

But few observers of college football today would label Nebraska as "elite." They're a once great, has-been football program....until and unless they achieve an enduring level of success that entitles them to shed that harsh but accurate description.
 
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Of course I consider Nebraska elite. Same issue we are having. They can still get a top notch coach and talent because they are Nebraska. They havent had any luck with coaches although I think this coach may be able to bring them back to the level they have always been.
can you answer the second part of the question?
 
Heard a very similar story about Knight when Mike Midday was a freshman. Midday showed up at first practice with long hair and Knight told him to not show up again without a haircut. Midday retorted something to the effect of "but coach, Jesus Christ had long hair." Knight escorted Midday to Royer pool and challenged Midday to walk across it saying "if you can do that, you can keep your hair long."

Change of subject. We chatted about seats in TAH a couple of years ago. Did you change or stay in yours?
 
Change of subject. We chatted about seats in TAH a couple of years ago. Did you change or stay in yours?

I stayed in the bleachers - hard to believe I've been there for 14 years now! I can't remember the context of our conversation about seats?
 
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I stayed in the bleachers - hard to believe I've been there for 14 years now! I can't remember the context of our conversation about seats?

Just about switching from bleachers and running the risk of getting bumped over time.
 
Just about switching from bleachers and running the risk of getting bumped over time.

Yeah - I remember now. While I would marginally prefer a low main level padded seat the possibility of being bumped by first time "buy-in" large/corporate donors when we hire the wunderkind coach (seems when we were having the conversation Brad Stevens was a hot topic) made staying put the less risky option. Might be worrying about nothing as it turns out but I hope not!
 
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It usually takes turnover to repair culture. Each new person gets the culture and vision from the leadership and sets a foundation for each person that comes afterward. Through attrition, the leader instills culture incrementally, until the majority of remaining people are bought in and sharing in the vision.

Very few companies or programs can change culture successfully with training, accountability and mere words. Millions of dollars are spent each year by companies investing in improving culture. It takes a leader who understands it takes time, is grounded in principles and remains steadfast in their pursuit. They must be able to sell their ideas, show results and earn credibility over time. Soon, the members of a team employ self accountability and require less coaching. Until, you can implement a long term plan for change, your culture is not going nowhere.

I've taken over departments and even companies with bad habits, low morale and poor culture. Coaching them up only gets you mediocre results and leads to frustration on both sides due to underlying philosophical differences.

Set expectations, hold people accountable and let time run its course. Eventually, you will surround yourself with those who believe.

What we have at IU is an undisciplined culture over the last 12-15 years. Arch seems like a guy who gets it. I've seen more discipline in the last year and half than in the previous 10 years. The disappointment and frustration he shows for our current state is a good sign. (Think about the Duke post game presser from last year) The media, fans etc all congratulated him for a hard fought close loss against the number one team. He was appalled at the notion and was having none of it and shut it down.

Now it just takes time and attrition so he can surround himself with others who buy what he is selling. Until then, we will have mixed results. Withholding judgment until at least midway through year 3 is not only fair, it's the responsible thing to do.

What is a reasonable, thought provoking guy like you doing here?
 
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