I'm not suggesting firing him because of anything he has or hasn't done. I'm suggesting that he's had a great run and that sometimes you need a new voice. I'd keep him in the department and bring a new broadcaster in with the new coaching staff.
WHY BOB BLACK MUST GO
- Thread starter iSpider
- Start date
Is Bob Black this beloved figure to Spider fans? I think he’s a decent PBP man, but I also think he was decent at being a talk show host on the radio (he’s better than Al, Burton and McElroy, but that’s a low bar). With all the talent being produced out there and guys who would kill for that gig, I think it might be time for new blood.
It’s important to note that any new person we get would be at a minimum as much of a homer that Bob is. It’s what the university wants. When Sisisky was let go at VCU, he was replaced by even bigger homers than he ever was. It’s the way things work nowadays.
It’s important to note that any new person we get would be at a minimum as much of a homer that Bob is. It’s what the university wants. When Sisisky was let go at VCU, he was replaced by even bigger homers than he ever was. It’s the way things work nowadays.
I think we’ve jumped the shark a bit here. Bob is paid by the university to positively promote Spider athletics. If we hire someone new, they will also be paid to positively promote Spider athletics.
If we want to talk about needing a fresh voice “just because”, I guess that argument could be made but it’s not really our style.
Agreed I emailed him few weeks back and he feels the fan base pain and knows a correction of
some type needs to take place. His job is to be positive for the student athlete and put a positive
spin on UR to the public.
Bob is an employee of UR and a huge sports fan. When he announces his info on
the other team is usually spot on, almost to point I think he gives the opponent too
much press. But I appreciate his sharing and reference he made to "being like Bucknell"
in 2018 was I believe in reference to their success. Yea they are below .500 now but
have played I think 9 road games.
We had better overall players on the floor last night: quicker, more athletic. But difference
was they ran their system better and adjusted defensively in second half showing their
senior leadership and experience.
the other team is usually spot on, almost to point I think he gives the opponent too
much press. But I appreciate his sharing and reference he made to "being like Bucknell"
in 2018 was I believe in reference to their success. Yea they are below .500 now but
have played I think 9 road games.
We had better overall players on the floor last night: quicker, more athletic. But difference
was they ran their system better and adjusted defensively in second half showing their
senior leadership and experience.
Last edited:
I would say Fish and Matt Smith are doing a good job considering the homer restrictions. They are still somewhat objective. Once the outcome was decided last night, Smith went on a mini rant and vented his frustration some. I think Fish joined in. At least they will give you some real reasons why the team is not winning such as the defense can't get a stop or a rebound when it is needed.
I feel so sorry for Beckwith. That has to be a tough gig when all you can talk about is energy and focus.
Oh come on never hit the "enlisted troops" who are carrying out orders (except maybe the Nuremberg Trials) but go for the top leaders - that would start with the President of the University and the Board of Trustees and make its way down from there. Keith Gill is toast but those above him remain. Was talking to someone at the game last night about when we "hung" President Modlin in effigy. Now with the "snow flake softness" guess those kind of events are only fond memories......................
Bob Black is not the problem; he's a symptom. Besides, if UR didn't want to "Be Like Bucknell" why'd they hire their AD?
I love Bob Black. He is not culpable in this mess, he is just doing his job.
That's what makes the comment so disturbing. Bob has been a great asset, I've called him one of the best recruits UR every got. He's professional, entertaining etc. etc. That said as an senior level employee of UR his statement that UR strives to be at Bucknells level of play in a year or two is certainly damming because I assume that is the athletic departments goal. HOW PATHETIC IS THAT. We hope to be an under 500 team in the patriot league that just lost to VCU. Our if our goal is to be at Xavier, Gonzaga, Butler level I get it we may not get there; but Bucknell is our goal!!!!!!.
If his job requires him to use Bucknell as our goal for basketball, then put the AD should validate that and include it in all the spider club solicitation material, and lets see how well that goes over.
You try and come up with 440 minutes of commentary to create hope based on the mess we have created this year. If only 1-2 sentences are getting scrutinized, that seems pretty good to me.
Agree with the general tenor of this thread. Bob is just doing his job and as an employee of the school, he kind of has to tow the company line. With that said, he is coming off a little "Baghdad Bob" at the present in his constant and seemingly omnipresent defense of the indefensible. I think another thing that is clouding Bob's judgment and many other people judgments that are on the inside of our program is that they have developed really close personal friendships with Mooney and his staff. Chris has been here for 13 years, he stuck with UR instead of leaving for a BCS, he took us to some really great moments early on, and he is a really nice guy.
It has to be a very unsettling place for them to be in, you know what the program has become but there is no way you are going to throw a good friend under the bus in a public setting. I'm sure if you had Bob 1:1 with a few drinks in him, you might get some different takes. Further, I think as the season progresses and the losses mount, additional stressors are going to come to bear on our many people associated with our basketball program. You can see it already happening and I think it is only going to get worse. I am most interested if their is going to be some tipping point during the year where the rock rolling downhill become unstoppable. Our home game against VCU in February might be a trigger.
Finally, on our moderators, Fan1 and 05. These guys are the "adults" in the room at all times and they have to be that way to make sure this board stays functional and serves its purpose. They both do a great job at facilitating the dynamic conversation on this board. They are underappreciated for the role they play and I'm sure sometimes they would very much like to be a bigger part of the conversation, but they understand their role as moderator largely discourages that. Keep up the good work guys.
It has to be a very unsettling place for them to be in, you know what the program has become but there is no way you are going to throw a good friend under the bus in a public setting. I'm sure if you had Bob 1:1 with a few drinks in him, you might get some different takes. Further, I think as the season progresses and the losses mount, additional stressors are going to come to bear on our many people associated with our basketball program. You can see it already happening and I think it is only going to get worse. I am most interested if their is going to be some tipping point during the year where the rock rolling downhill become unstoppable. Our home game against VCU in February might be a trigger.
Finally, on our moderators, Fan1 and 05. These guys are the "adults" in the room at all times and they have to be that way to make sure this board stays functional and serves its purpose. They both do a great job at facilitating the dynamic conversation on this board. They are underappreciated for the role they play and I'm sure sometimes they would very much like to be a bigger part of the conversation, but they understand their role as moderator largely discourages that. Keep up the good work guys.
I agree with your second sentence he is an employee and has to lean towards making a bad situation look better but that is also the concern......Is the 'company' line 'we want to be as good as Bucknell in a couple of years"
No, I don't think so, that is a terrible analogy. He is on the air for several hours every game trying to polish this crap. At some point, you are going to say some stupid stuff to fill the air. He probably has down a bottle of Mylanta after every game to settle his stomach these days.
So does he/the school correct the statement or simply let it go and hope its forgotten over time? Or is it true, is that what they really feel? Again I really think Bob does a great job but this statement confirms what many people are beginning to feel is the actual goal.
You can argue that Black and certainly the Marketing Department have done an outstanding job this year. Bob has created hope and optimism in fans (outside of this forum) and Marketing has put butts in seats at a record pace this year. They’re doing their job well considering they only have 2 wins to work with......
Are you saying UR needs to issue a correction of Bob's statements? Thats silly.
As pointed out above he has a tough task of filling a lot of air time talking about a bad team. He does the best he can to "polish the turd." Just because he made a stupid statement doesn't mean he needs to go or the university should issue some kind of retraction.
Good lord. Get a grip, man.
Our basketball team sucks. Our university has never been held in higher regard. You tell me which aspect really matters.
Alright - grip! Are you saying that basketball doesn't matter? Surprise you would be posting on the basketball forum since it doesn't matter? As far as the school never having been held in higher regard, that viewpoint would depend on whom you ask?
Of course basketball matters. But firing the president and the BOT because our basketball team stinks is a ridiculous idea.
And our school has never been held in higher regard academically, etc., than it is now, by USN&WR, by the Princeton Review, by Kiplinger's, or any by other evaluating group.
And our school has never been held in higher regard academically, etc., than it is now, by USN&WR, by the Princeton Review, by Kiplinger's, or any by other evaluating group.
No, next time Bob's on the air he needs to say something like "I didn't mean the teams goal should be to be like Bucknell (losing record, losing to VCU etc), I meant we'll have senior leadership like Bucknell or something like that....(if it's the truth). Then maybe he can state what Richmond's goal really is..... (state whatever it is). You make a misstatement you either apologize or correct it. It's not like mistakenly say Bucknell is in NJ instead of PA. or Solly is from Wilimington NC instead of Del. This is a fairly big statement, and frankly bigger now because right now we are worse than Bucknell.
Personally, I think Bob has handled things fine and professionally. Of course he is not going to say that he thinks Mooney should be fired, the program sucks, etc etc. No one should pin any of that on him or expect him to be "honest" even if he does actually believe all that.
At the same time, he's been our "voice" for 30 years or so, and everything runs its course. No offense to Bob because he has done nothing wrong, but at some point it's easy to see why people paint our athletics department the way they do. It sorta feels like we are stuck in 1990 in many ways. A new voice might help bring us into the 21st century, and a new coach might help get us back to the NCAAs.
At the same time, he's been our "voice" for 30 years or so, and everything runs its course. No offense to Bob because he has done nothing wrong, but at some point it's easy to see why people paint our athletics department the way they do. It sorta feels like we are stuck in 1990 in many ways. A new voice might help bring us into the 21st century, and a new coach might help get us back to the NCAAs.
Last edited:
The thread is about Bob Black needing to go as if somehow his firing would improve the basketball team. My "point" is that change takes place when those with the authority and ability to make changes do so. Otherwise all the talk in the world about changing the coach amounts to nothing other than idle talk.
Don't take message board posts too seriously. If you do you might possibly end up with some ridiculous ideas........................
This is ridiculous. iSpider I don't know who you work for, but I daresay that if you publicly criticized your employer you wouldn't have a job for long (unless you are self employed). I love the way Bob announces our games, I think he is one of the best. He's also a nice guy. I don't like listening to all the bull on his talk show (especially Ivan), but I just don't listen.
PLEASE, come back to ramnation and sell us your insurance on broad street. Please. Do not bail because your ncaa streak is in jeopardy, we will win out and laugh at Shaka once more we will. Slick Willy too. we will raid rice until they lose more games than the ticks. Don't despair.
Great post.
The school should hire a sports psychologist and could commission a study that examines every aspect from the time a fan leaves home until the fan returns from a Spider basketball game. Interactions with every person that takes place should be examined starting with the parking lot attendants, the school and county police directing traffic, the RMC event staff, the people at the giveaway tables, the people doing the refreshment sales, the personnel in the suites, the attitudes of every fan, the body language of all coaches and players, the refs professionalism, the announcers performance, and the staff and cheerleaders activities before, during, and after games. Or maybe even overcrowded restrooms are the problem? Who can know - maybe the person selling popcorn (not picking on you, just an example) needs to go? Maybe lurking somewhere is a Machiavellian attitude that needs to be eliminated and holds the key to Spider basketball being turned around? The Theatre of the Absurd may answer this intriguing puzzle = a scapegoat can be found! Maybe even this tread itself is the scapegoat????
It takes a village. THEY may end up firing spidernation posters. I welcome your psych evaluation. The more losses the more sane I become.
I, you are too smart for this. Suspect you are just stirring the pot.
Bob Black is employed by the University of Richmond. A paid cheerleader essentially, as are all other college sports announcers. Would you publicly bad mouth your employer or the company's results?
Black neither recruited the players nor coaches the team. This season sucks, particularly since the incumbent coach has had 13 years to establish a consistent playoff caliber program. I'm sure Black recognizes the obvious too.
Fire Bob Black for the shortcomings of others? What next, should we impale Webster at half time?
Bob Black is employed by the University of Richmond. A paid cheerleader essentially, as are all other college sports announcers. Would you publicly bad mouth your employer or the company's results?
Black neither recruited the players nor coaches the team. This season sucks, particularly since the incumbent coach has had 13 years to establish a consistent playoff caliber program. I'm sure Black recognizes the obvious too.
Fire Bob Black for the shortcomings of others? What next, should we impale Webster at half time?
change takes place when those with the authority and ability to make changes do so.
And it should only be done when necessary, not because the powers that be just feel like it.
We need a new basketball coach. Acknowledged.
We don't need to fire Bob Black. Listening online from the opposite coast, the p x p guy sounds just fine. He's paid to make the best of a bad situation.
And it should only be done when necessary, not because the powers that be just feel like it.
We need a new basketball coach. Acknowledged.
We don't need to fire Bob Black. Listening online from the opposite coast, the p x p guy sounds just fine. He's paid to make the best of a bad situation.
Fair enough, I didn’t hear the comment nor do I know the context. I suspect he was just trying to fill air, there wasn’t much to be positive about.
