Doug Elgin

[valleychamp]

I really like Elgin, and I agree that all of this is not his fault.

[DUBulldog]

I really like Elgin, and I agree that all of this is not his fault.

Not picking on you, Valleychamp......but for those who think Elgin isn't responsible for the decline in the MVC the last few years; would you also then say that he wasn't responsible for the improvement of the MVC 5-7 years ago?

[PeKaph]

No kidding. When we do well, he's a genius. When we stink, he's a powerless figurehead. Could we pick one, please?

[valleychamp]

I really like Elgin, and I agree that all of this is not his fault.

Not picking on you, Valleychamp......but for those who think Elgin isn't responsible for the decline in the MVC the last few years; would you also then say that he wasn't responsible for the improvement of the MVC 5-7 years ago?

I guess, to an extent you could say that. But quite frankly, there is only so much he can do. I believe he was was important to our success in the mid 2000's but he can only nudge schools in the right way. Its up to the individual schools to go out and do the correct things to be successful. MVC schools did those things in the past, but are not doing them now.

I don't think talent is as big of an issue as other think. I think there is plenty of talent in the league right now. Scheduling is probably the main issue.

Quite frankly, teams just need to start winning games. Its really hard to figure out why the MVC hasn't been winning the non-conf games like we used to. But if history has shown us anything, its that these types of things are cyclical. We are down now, but we will be back up again soon.

[Snapshot9]

I posted this in another thread:

On a slightly different note, I'm becoming a little frustrated with Elgin and not only because of the BB and the fact that he didnt make sure we got in the promo.
First off scheduling, how does ISU play SIU for the first time on the 16th conference game, how does WSU play Drake twice in the first month? In a league where every team plays each other twice, logically why would you not schedule every team to play each other in the first 9 and then the back 9 again.
Secondly TV, I think we have some good deals, but tv needs to be adjusted throughout the season. Why, when MSU, 1 in standings, plays at EU do they have SIU vs Drake on FSN? This isn't the only example. The good teams should be on tv for the betterment of the league, simple as that.
The RPI rule, which I think was pretty key to our success a few years ago, was also withdrawn. I may be alone but I think that has cost us a bid or 2, ISU the year Drake won the conference in particular.

I think he became satisfied with the status quo, and we the conference has consequently gotten worse.

That's right, if you aren't moving forward, you are drifting backward.

[Snaggletooth]

I really like Elgin, and I agree that all of this is not his fault.

Not picking on you, Valleychamp......but for those who think Elgin isn't responsible for the decline in the MVC the last few years; would you also then say that he wasn't responsible for the improvement of the MVC 5-7 years ago?

In retrospect I think it was just a "Perfect Storm" of events. All MVC teams had a good non-conference records, had some upsets to validate those good non-conference results and then you had a pretty good solid break between upper and lower division teams.

For example:

Indy St - wins over Butler and Indiana (9-0 non-conf record)

Not to bad for the last place MVC team.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Quite frankly, teams just need to start winning games.

Agreed. The MVC's current level of suckitude isn't Elgin's fault. All of the conference members need to recruit better and win the noncon games that we were winning several years ago.

Tougher SOS may also help, although right now I'm afraid doing so would just amount to more losses.

Face it folks, we just aren't very good right now. But I fail to see how that is Elgin's fault. For a lot of teams, the MWC game and the bracketbuster are the two best noncon teams on their schedule.