When you study law, they often teach priciples by exploring the gray areas. You’ll learn a law, like it’s illegal to kill unless it’s self defense. Then you’ll explore the boundaries by looking at cases where maybe a man is attacked by another man and he shoots him. If the orginal attacker didn’t have a weapon other than his fists, is that self defense?
For an ACC basketball program like NC State, it’s a fact that fans expect excellence. They’ve won two national championships and want a program that reflects those standards. They won’t tolerate mediocrity. Pretty clear, huh? Well, what then to make of Herb Sendek, a coach who has presided over a steady climb in the program’s fortunes, but never quite reached greatness? He’s had teams that were very good (last year) and he’s improved every so slightly in each of his first eight years (more or less – work with me here). Is that good enough? Will he reach greatness or should State start over?
Caulton Tudor wrote a really good piece on this issue this morning. He doesn’t say that State should fire Sendek, but he points out that he has only reached “good.” He also points out that many great coaches didn’t win titles until they were at their programs for many years.
When Sendek arrived at State, it was probably the worst team in the conference. It was clearly behind the other Big Four schools. Duke was on the mountaintop, smirking down at its rivals, and it’s still there. Carolina was right there with Duke, but fell down for a few years before shooting back up past State again. Wake was ahead of State then and has improved a bit to stay clearly ahead of the Pack.
So, is good or even very good good enough? Does it matter that “good” includes being not quite as good as the other three in-state schools? Is it reasonable to fire a guy who went 11-5 and won Coach of the Year last year?
I don’t know the answers, but it’s a damn interesting debate. It’s one that’s raged among Pack fans for years, like an unextinguishable tire fire that smolders for years.
One thing is for sure though. If the Pack isn’t invited to the dance this year, the fire will heat up and the gray will turn ever so much blacker.
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