Comments on: Low times in Lubbock

By: Jim Fitzpatrick

Jim Fitzpatrick — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:14:41 +0000

Mechelle — Your comment about Kristy Curry not being able to develop a bond with the Texas Tech fans struck a chord for me, but it relates to Kansas women’s basketball. I think that’s a big part of the problem at KU — not much connection between Bonnie Henrickson and the fans. To me, she’s just a fast-talking — literally — x’s and o’s coach. The mouth is way ahead of the brain. And where’s the heart?

By: LVnNville

LVnNville — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:44:24 +0000

This story is sad to read. As a long-time Lady Vol fan, I remember the 90′s when the Lady Vols used to travel to Lubbock to play the Lady Raiders. The intensity and passion of the crowd were incredible. I’ve known that the program was having problems but it’s sad that it’s effected the fan base as adversely as you say.

By: Whitepaladin

Whitepaladin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:13:52 +0000

I am a long-time Red Raider and one-time Lady Raider season ticket holder. I am saddened by the decline in Lady Raider basketball, but I also believe we’re one step from a real chance at returning to those glory years. However, I think that one step is to fire Curry and hire former Lady Raider great, national champion, and current West Texas A&M coach Krista Kirkland Gerlich.

There were some who thought Kirkland should have gotten the job when Sharp retired, and though I really thought she’d someday be a great coach for Tech, I did think the Curry hire was a good move by Myers. Now I think we should have gone the other way and we can still do that but now we’d be getting a proven winner with head coaching experience.

http://www.gobuffsgo.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/012710aaa.html

http://www.gobuffsgo.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/gerlich_krista00.html

By: Howard

Howard — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:13:12 +0000

Interesting piece on a significant story of WBB history I knew little about. Thanks.

Rhetorical question here: Is this kind of thing an inevitable phenomenon that is bound to play itself out, sooner or later?

Neophytes of this game we love may only know of programs such as UConn, Tennessee, Stanford, et.al., as the standard-bearers of success. But what about the leaders of years gone by? What about rise and fall of former powerhouses such as Old Dominion, LA Tech, Immaculata or Virginia?

I don’t know the specifics on any of these other schools…is TX Tech’s story similar or different in its basic components?

By: 71Raider

71Raider — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:35:53 +0000

Mechelle, with this article, you really nailed the state of the Lady Raiders team and the Lady Raiders Nation! In the ’80′s, I watched the Lady Raiders struggle against the far-superior teams that Jody Condradt fielded at Texas, and was envious of UT. When Tech began to field competitive teams, and then actually begin to beat Texas, I was amazed. Then when Tech won it’s national championship, and continued its domination of the old Southwest Conference (until it’s demise) and the newly formed B-12 Conference, the pride of the Lady Raider Nation was unsurpassed in this area of the country. Now, to see the team fall so far, so fast, with no hope of climbing back up soon, it is just sad, sad, sad. In four years, Coach Curry has not been able to field consistently competitive teams. As you point out in your article, she also has done absolutely nothing to keep the fans in their seats, nor to win them back. Just sad indeed!

By: teachntexan

teachntexan — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:11:21 +0000

First, Thank you for a very objective article that communicates and empathizes with the changes in collegiate women’s basketball.
Second, just a suggestion — perhaps the pressure on players, coaches, and schools to perform as farm clubs for the WNBA needs to be confronted. The history of women’s BB is made up of a bigger percentage of good players who loved the game, the fans, and their schools — but never played beyond college. The few that continue are minimal and are, for the most part, not the average height, weight, athlete, and are groomed for the professional game. I would love to see ESPN champion the “little” players and their magnificent stories.

By: Geri

Geri — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:51:14 +0000

Thanks Mechelle…although it makes me very sad.

I was remembering the first time I saw Tech play Texas – I heard that roar and I got goose bumps. So, many games in my 6 years in Lubbock…I only missed 4 in 6 years. Even that last hard year, we lost, but we were never out of the game.

Family in Lubbock who bleed red and black who are Tech boosters are not pleased with Curry. She hasn’t seemed to understand the work it took for Marsha to develop that program and that relationship with the fans. It seems like Curry took it for granted and didn’t nurture it and work on it.

Now it’s almost gone.

And once again she’s embarrassed in how the team played and disappointed in them. And the kids say we just have to work harder. I didn’t see the game, but I’ve heard about the broken hearted looks on those kids faces. They all dreamed of playing for the Texas Tech you described.. Curry needs to take her share of responsibility for that loss. I’m disappointed in her and not because the team is losing.

I hate losing, but it’s the way Tech is losing that’s so painful to watch. I know as painful as it is for us fans, it’s even worse for the players and the Curry’s.

Thanks for caring about Tech!