Let's all welcome Lauren Netherby-Sewell to Fresno State University. Known to some as Scandal U, heck now it may just be Sexual Discrimination U. Netherby-Sewell said she's not worried about any of that, because this is new blood running the program. Yes, the current athletic director had nothing to do with the lawsuits. But one big common denominator remains in place, President John Welty, some love him, but a lot more hate him or at least want his resignation. Netherby-Sewell, the San Clemente lady, gets an opportunity to lead the female 'Dogs to something they, well let's face it, aren't accustomed to...winning. Ruben Nieves came highly touted, with his fancy Stanford pedigree and national acclaim. Yup, he failed miserably. Now it's time a 29-year-old turns the program around, that has been in the news for more negatives than positives in the last three years. Here's some good news for the new coach, she has two great players stepping foot on campus this August. Here's the best part, for me at least, they are from the central valley. And more impressive is that the two girls come from a program where winning is like breathing (Buchanan High). Brianna Clarke and Baylee Platt are going to be a big part of Fresno State's future success. They both will be thrown right into the fire, because Netherby-Sewell has to build for the future. And the future involves these two highly touted athletes, oh by the way they know how to win. Winning is something that most Bulldogs have forgot about in the last three years with Nieves. Oh, how those days are over, at least we hope, and now it's time to hope this female coach leaves us with good memories not another lawsuit.
Friday, February 15, 2008
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I wish Coach Netherby-Sewell and the Fresno State team the best of luck. I hope they both succeed and build an excellent program.
However, I find your criticism of former coach Ruben Nieves to be gratuitious. Ruben is an excellent coach and a fine human being. Coaching is an unforgiving business and, as you correctly note, his teams at Fresno St. didn't win.
As you know, Ruben was handed a disastrous situation, both within the team and the athletic and university administration (Lindy Vivas should still be coach in my view). Ruben was well on his way to reloading the team. The two players you note, Clarke and Platt, were Ruben's recruits (they signed LOI's in November 2007), not Coach Netherby-Sewell's. While coaching is often an unfair business, given two more years, Ruben would be being praised for his turnaround efforts with the team.
I sincerely hope that Coach Netherby-Sewell makes the most of Ruben's groundwork. While the new coach will certainly put her stamp on the program, some part of (hopefully) her future success will be attributable to Ruben significant efforts over the last three years.
DPB
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