Barfknecht compares Miles and Snyder (sans personality)

[uneblinstu]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130316/HUSKERS/703169869/1002#barfknecht-shades-of-bill-snyder-in-miles-approach
 
Lee B had what I assume is his season capper on Nebrasketball.  In it he compares how Bill Snyder built KState football to what Miles' challenge here at Dear 'Ole Nebraska U.
 
Couple quotes that caught my eye:

"At the league tourney on Thursday, two student journalists from the Daily Illini walked into the press room, put down their work bags and considered whether to go courtside for Nebraska vs. Purdue.
“Not a great game,” one said. To which the other replied, “Yeah, but let’s go get us some Tim Miles. I love that guy.”

If Miles can motivate students from 500 miles away, maybe even the Husker fan base — a group that ex-Iowa State coach Johnny Orr once likened to dead dogs — has hope.

Going forward, we’ll need to see if Miles can emulate how Snyder got Kansas State football from poor to fair to pretty good to good to really good."

 

*** 
"Ask Miles about the three players he has sitting out — 6-foot-6 Texas Tech transfer Terran Petteway, 6-10 Florida transfer Walter Pitchford and 6-1 Omaha Central guard Deverell Biggs — and you’ll get one of his classic no-bull responses.

“They look good at times,” the coach said. “But when the thumb is on them, we’ll find out.

 

“I mean that as a challenge to them, and I mean it honestly. You don’t know how guys are going to react when pressure is applied. It’s a different beast. They aren’t being judged in public this year. They are playing with house money.”

 

*** 
"But with Miles, like Snyder, it’s not about a single player. It’s about development of all players.

“Our style of play is motion offense,” Miles said. “Actually, motion offense is not an offense — it’s a way of life. So you’re only going to go as far as your player development.

 

“If you’re not doing that and your players aren’t getting better with their skill and decision-making, then you’re in trouble. In fact, you’re going to be brutal.”

 

***

I like that scale Poor >> Fair >> Pretty Good >> Good >> Really Good.  I think we went from poor to fair this season.  Next season let's go from fair to pretty good.  

[jimmykc]

Not a bad analogy by Lee. I guess that would make Vince Gibson the Wildcat's Danny Nee. I must say that the two coaches's  public personalities are about as far apart as possible though.

[HuskerCager]

Sometimes you just have to be you.  Can you imagine Bill Snyder coming into a press conference with a bounce in his step, a broad smile and a bundle of self-depricating jokes?  Just isn't his style, but IMO he's a miracle worker and has the full respect of those around him.

[Daledangdarn]

I honestly do not understand this comparison, looks like someone had to write an article and ran out of ideas.

[cipsucks]

I honestly do not understand this comparison, looks like someone had to write an article and ran out of ideas.

From the article:

 Like Snyder, Miles has created an internal standard of excellence in how you practice and how you play that won't be compromised.

 

 Like Snyder, Miles has refused to put limits on what his program can achieve in any single year, regardless of the roster composition.

 

 Like Snyder, Miles has identified in recruiting which players fit his style.  Miles' simple mantra is "he better be able to pass it, catch it and shoot it."

 

When told of some of Snyders principles, Miles offered something I could imagine Snyder saying:  "What it comes down to is you get what you tolerate."

[49r]

[49r]

Hey cip, have you noticed Miles' catchphrase?

 

"No doubt about it"

 

I think we have a drinking game in the works here.

[cipsucks]

No, I guess I need to pay more attention to his speaking. 

 

I like the drinking game idea, though! 

 

BTW, nice avatar.

[Daledangdarn]

I understand what was written cip, I just at this point don't understand comparing Miles to arguably one of the best football coaches of all time, seems like grasping at straws.

Lee could have used the same examples for coaches that failed, just poor writing IMO.

[cipsucks]

I disagree, Dale.  It would be premature to make the comparison between the two if you only look at Miles' one year at Nebraska.  However, he has turned programs around at all his coaching stops with the philosphy he has today.  There are numerous similarities between K State football and Nebraska basketball.

 

I agree with the comparisons.  Barfknecht may be arrogant, but he's not a poor writer. 

[Daledangdarn]

I actually have never really seen Lee as arrogant or a poor writer, just saying this article is premature. And just to be clear I do understand where you are coming from cip, there are different views of the lantern.

[Chuck Taylor]

I just wish he wouldn't have put it into football context, like that's the only thing anyone could understand. How about comparing TM to Bo Ryan at Wis or Jim Larranaga at Miami? maybe I'm overreacting, but it would be so nice to get past that mindset.

[jimmykc]

I think Barfy just believes most of us can fit both football and basketball into our gourds at the same time. A few can even chew gum while they are doing that. From what I am led to believe all of those fanatic Bluejay boosters in Omaha are huge Big Red football fans too, so maybe Lee is just pandering to the crowd.

[49r]

I actually have never really seen Lee as arrogant or a poor writer, just saying this article is premature. And just to be clear I do understand where you are coming from cip, there are different views of the lantern.

 

I actually agree with this.  Lee's article came off to me more as wishful thinking than hard-hitting analysis.

 

I mean for us as fans, there's lots of reasons to be optimistic there's no doubt about it (heh), but to compare Miles after one year at NU to the man responsible for quite possibly the greatest turn-around job in the history of college football is a bit like comparing apples to turkey basters.

[nustudent]

Actually think Barfnecht is horrible. 

 

That being said...I enjoyed this article quite a bit

[HB]

I thought it was a very good and insightful article.  I've read a lot about Miles, but this provided another glimpse into his world.  Also had some good discussion of what it might take to succeed here, including the level of recruits and player development.

 

True, it's too early to compare Miles to Snyder, but the task of making us relevant in hoops is about as daunting as what Snyder faced.  I would love to be able to make the comparison someday--Snyder's accomplishments without his surliness and paranoia. 

 

I've spent a fair amount of time around Barfnecht.  Talented writer, and indeed quite arrogant, although many of the people in his profession are that way.  I believe generally he's too hard on Bo, but his comments in this article were not out of bounds.   Never could understand how Lee hammered Barry so much but gave Doc a pass for the most part.  I do believe how much time of day people give the Great Lee affects his writing--thus Mike Leach, Barry and Bo columns vs. Doc, who provided a free golf outing to Lee every year.   

[atskooc]

Watching the "30 for 30" on N.C. State tonight, I think Miles is more like Jimmy V than Snyder...at least publically.  He's charismatic, good with the press, and a great salesman.

 

Let's hope Miles can get similar results.

[AuroranHusker]

Watching the "30 for 30" on N.C. State tonight, I think Miles is more like Jimmy V than Snyder...at least publically.  He's charismatic, good with the press, and a great salesman.

 

Let's hope Miles can get similar results.

 

Oh my, never thought of the personality comparisons.  Winning it all would be outstanding.  Can you even imagine???