Nolan Richardson's Hall of Fame Speech

[hawkhawg]

I love how people say nolan quit coaching and recruiting those last five years but we made NCAA tournaments 4 times, made it to the second round twice, won conf Tourn, and had a good recruiting class coming in.  Everyone talks about how bad we were at the end of Nolan's career, but in reality since he left we haven't even come close to his down years.

[root_hawg]

Just because you are in multiple HOFs and etc; when you crap on the university that gave you the platform for your success...it is kind of hard to honor him.

[TomBigBeeHog]

I love how people say nolan quit coaching and recruiting those last five years but we made NCAA tournaments 4 times, made it to the second round twice, won conf Tourn, and had a good recruiting class coming in.  Everyone talks about how bad we were at the end of Nolan's career, but in reality since he left we haven't even come close to his down years.

wow, hadn't thought of it like that.  Time for UA to honor the man. Everyone else has.

[TomasPistola]

I expect to get blasted but I thought he sounded ridiculous.  He rambled and stumbled over his words for the better part of twenty minutes.  At least he treaded lightly over racial issues.

Yeah...you are pretty much completely wrong...except for the getting blasted part.

[intelligence]

Just because you are in multiple HOFs and etc; when you crap on the university that gave you the platform for your success discrimated against you and wouldn't give you a practice facility...it is kind of hard to honor him.

fixed that for you

[Westcoasthog]

    Nolan Richardson made a great speech at the Hall of Fame Naismith Memorial Basketball.  It is time to name "Nolan Richardson Court" at Bud Walton Arena.

[root_hawg]

Never proved any discrimination; and no one since him has had a practice facility until now.

[Mick Hogger]

It baffles me as well Ched.  Nolan is a legend, built this program, and we have yet to truly honor him.

I hope the hanging of the jersey for him this year is just the beginning.

[jesterzzn]

Yawn..he got paid to win and when he did..he got paid.  When he stopped winning and started complaining, he was gone.  Enjoy the accolades and the retirement.

Nolan was fired during his ONLY losing season (14-15) since his first year, and he had a future All-NBA player signed for the next season.  The season he was fired followed four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and fifteen straight seasons in the postseason (including 13 out of 14 years in the NCAA).

Please stop with the "he wasn't winning" myth.  He was winning.  It makes you look ignorant and stupid.  Especially considering the program's difficulty since Nolan's exit.

He was fired for many reasons, all of which had NOTHING to do with his team's performance.

[Swinesong1]

Nolan was fired during his ONLY losing season (14-15) since his first year, and he had a future All-NBA player signed for the next season.  The season he was fired followed four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and fifteen straight seasons in the postseason (including 13 out of 14 years in the NCAA).

Please stop with the "he wasn't winning" myth.  He was winning.  It makes you look ignorant and stupid.  Especially considering the program's difficulty since Nolan's exit.

He was fired for many reasons, all of which had NOTHING to do with his team's performance.

Standing ovation and +1

[Karma]

That was extraordinary.  Easy to see why his players played so hard for him.

[No1Hog27]

I really enjoyed the speech.

[HogsonHicks]

can't say I blame him. Not a single person stood up for Nolan when he unveiled the supposed true colors of the beloved Frank Broyles. Dude won a national championship and we couldn't spare the money for a practice facility. But boy was ole frank eager to dump loads of cash in the vicinity of Hooty and the Bowlflush.

You realize Broyles hired him too, right?  Broyles hired the first black coach of a significant sport in SWC history, yet he's portrayed as some sort of bigot.  I'm not sure how those things align.

I love Nolan (heck even went to two of his summer camps), but I cringed when he said, "If they go ahead and pay me my money, they can take my job tomorrow" on national TV after a loss. 

Regardless, it was a heck of a speech, and I'm glad the UA and Richardson seem to have put the past behind him.  I love seeing the guy in the crowd during games.

[Karma]

You realize Broyles hired him too, right?  Broyles hired the first black coach of a significant sport in SWC history, yet he's portrayed as some sort of bigot.  I'm not sure how those things align.

I love Nolan (heck even went to two of his summer camps), but I cringed when he said, "If they go ahead and pay me my money, they can take my job tomorrow" on national TV after a loss. 

Regardless, it was a heck of a speech, and I'm glad the UA and Richardson seem to have put the past behind him.  I love seeing the guy in the crowd during games.

Nolan even mentioned Frank in the speech.

[jesterzzn]

Nolan even mentioned Frank in the speech.

He did.  You could tell it hurt him to do it though.

Look, Nolan isn't perfect.  He directed alot of hate towards Frank that was unjustified.  He still does.  But the relationship those two had is history.  Water under the bridge.  They've both said so.  They'll never be friends.  So what.  They can live and let live, and its a shame some of our fans can't.

[intelligence]

He did.  You could tell it hurt him to do it though.

Look, Nolan isn't perfect.  He directed alot of hate towards Frank that was unjustified.  He still does.  But the relationship those two had is history.  Water under the bridge.  They've both said so.  They'll never be friends.  So what.  They can live and let live, and its a shame some of our fans can't.

Granting frank a pardon for compartmentalizing Nolan is far and a way from "live and let live"

[jesterzzn]

Granting frank a pardon for compartmentalizing Nolan is far and a way from "live and let live"

The only time I've heard him bring Frank up since he starting coming back to games was during that speech.  Which for Nolan, says more than a mouthful.  He's moved on.

[TomBigBeeHog]

[quote auth=jesterzzn link=topic=571603.msg9120642#msg9120642 date=1408143621]
The only time I've heard him bring Frank up since he starting coming back to games was during that speech.  Which for Nolan, says more than a mouthful.  He's moved on.
[/quote]

^^^Nolan's still coaching.