Why did everyone hate Marty Fletcher?

[zephyr]

Marty's teams were far from disciplined and he never stressed half court D. He really never stressed half court offense either. Sure, we had some big crowds but we underachieved a lot back then as well. Marty was also not embraced by many here because he really did not allow himself to be. He kind of had an air about him that wasn't really outgoing towards not only media but to the general fan.

[California Cajun]

_ Let me count the ways


1. We never played any D
2. That shrill voice constanly yelling "Foul" at the refs
3. Tim Floyd always kicked our A**
4. The inability to operate in a half court set---stop the transition game and we were toast
5. Guns in the locker room (or so I heard)
6. The feeling that we always underachieved
7. That death march looking jog Fletcher used to take down Cajundome Boulevard
8. The man didn't communicate well with the local media

Reasons I miss Fletcher
1. We won a lot of games until those last couple of years
2. Butch Pierre was by his side
3. Big crowds that we don't see today
4. UMass ans Loyola-Marymount in front of packed houses on ESPN
5. Those UNO games
6. The talent level
7. Beer was only $4
8. Oklahoma _

I think you make some good points, but to me he didn't fit in with the culture. He tried to act extroverted but in reality was introverted. Fans felt like they couldn't communicate with him and didn't like his style of ball. They got frustrated and treated him like dirt. He would have been a better fit in the East, where guys with similar wisecracking demeanors like Jim Valvano, Lou Carnasecca, Dick Vitale, and Al McGuire were popular.

The reality is that Fletcher won at a school with limited resources in a state suffering from an oil depression. It was incumbent upon UL to either give him the PR assistance he needed or let him go, but they did neither. Instead they just hung him out to dry and kept renewing his contract. He was a working stiff just like you and me who carried his lunch pail to work and tried to make it through this old world being himself.

As a transplant who has taken up permanent residence here, I must say that I think the Fletcher experience was a contradiction to all the positive things I have known and experienced within the Cajun culture these past 37 years.

[DestinCajun]

_ I think you make some good points, but to me he didn't fit in with the culture. He tried to act extroverted but in reality was introverted. Fans felt like they couldn't communicate with him and didn't like his style of ball. They got frustrated and treated him like dirt. He would have been a better fit in the East, where guys with similar wisecracking demeanors like Jim Valvano, Lou Carnasecca, Dick Vitale, and Al McGuire were popular.

The reality is that Fletcher won at a school with limited resources in a state suffering from an oil depression. It was incumbent upon UL to either give him the PR assistance he needed or let him go, but they did neither. Instead they just hung him out to dry and kept renewing his contract. He was a working stiff just like you and me who carried his lunch pail to work and tried to make it through this old world being himself.

As a transplant who has taken up permanent residence here, I must say that I think the Fletcher experience was a contradiction to all the positive things I have known and experienced within the Cajun culture these past 37 years. _

Fletcher won 'cause he had "hosses".

[Cajunsmike]

_ I think you make some good points, but to me he didn't fit in with the culture. He tried to act extroverted but in reality was introverted. Fans felt like they couldn't communicate with him and didn't like his style of ball. They got frustrated and treated him like dirt. He would have been a better fit in the East, where guys with similar wisecracking demeanors like Jim Valvano, Lou Carnasecca, Dick Vitale, and Al McGuire were popular.

The reality is that Fletcher won at a school with limited resources in a state suffering from an oil depression. It was incumbent upon UL to either give him the PR assistance he needed or let him go, but they did neither. Instead they just hung him out to dry and kept renewing his contract. He was a working stiff just like you and me who carried his lunch pail to work and tried to make it through this old world being himself.

As a transplant who has taken up permanent residence here, I must say that I think the Fletcher experience was a contradiction to all the positive things I have known and experienced within the Cajun culture these past 37 years. _

You guys are making this too complicated. Marty's problem was simply that he struggled against UNO, an instate school that has less resources than we do. Many of those years we only played ten conference games so the 2 against the Privateers were extremely important. Of course no one else was beating Tim Floyd then either.

[DestinCajun]

_ You guys are making this too complicated. Marty's problem was simply that he struggled against UNO, an instate school that has less resources than we do. Many of those years we only played ten conference games so the 2 against the Privateers were extremely important. Of course no one else was beating Tim Floyd then either. _

Floyd had hosses too. Where he found some of them was quite a story.

[California Cajun]

_ You guys are making this too complicated. Marty's problem was simply that he struggled against UNO, an instate school that has less resources than we do. Many of those years we only played ten conference games so the 2 against the Privateers were extremely important. Of course no one else was beating Tim Floyd then either. _

I think it is complicated.

The football program similarly had a problem against McNeese in the 70s and 80s. We could cite other coaches at UL who were less successful yet not despised by the fan base.

People wanted admission into Marty's private world to satisfy their own need to feel part of something big, but Marty couldn't accomodate them.

I have similarly criticized the UL administration for shutting people out but that's because athletics hasn't been successful. Marty was successful.

[RCAJUN90]

_ First of all let me introduce myself. This is my very 1st post at RP, but I have been reading your post on this forum for at least the last 3 years or more.

I check in with you guys almost everyday just to get the scoop on our UL Cajuns.

Now with my question.

I moved to Lafayette in 1988 when I was 14 years old from Hattisburg Ms.

I have always been a basketball nut. My dad use to take me to the USM Golden Eagle games when I was real little and because of my dads job moved to lafayette.
Well at that moment I became a UL fan because Lafayette became my new home town.

Now the year I left Hattisburg USM had a great BB program, they just won the NIT the same year that I moved.

Then I started getting into UL basketball.

Sidney Grider, Kevin Brooks, Aaron Mitchell was the first team that I was introduced to.
I use to love going to the Cajundome watching those guys play ball. They did not play the best defense in the American South, but they had a high flying offense, and was always at or near the top of the AS standings.

But all I would hear back then is that Fletcher was an outsider and no one locally really embrased him as theres.

He always seemed to be on the hotseat despite the fact that they won 20 games almost every year up until his last season or 2.

I would love to have the days of __ back. It was a joy to watch Sidney Grider hit 65% of his 3 pointers. It was great to see Micheal Allen dominate his competition.

That win in overtime against Kentucty, the tourney win against Oklahoma, the near sweet 16 apperance when they almost beat New Mexico St.

It was a fun time, and all I ever heard was Marty Fletcher had to go.

Why is that?

I would love to have those days back again.
Those were my good ole days.

Jessie Evans was also a good coach in my mind. I would take him back right now.

As for new coaches. If we make a change. Butch Pierre would be my pick. He was Fletcher right hand man. Maybe he can bring back the good times again. _

That was a fun team to watch and I don't like basketball much. Marty has a cushie job today. I wish him the best. http://themwc.cstv.com/staff/staff-d...-fletcher.html

[CharlieK]

Damn, Sidney Grider could shoot.


Marty running was the highlight of my bus trip from Cajun Field to campus.


No defense, no beat UNO. Not hated, just always the feeling that we could do better. So far, not so much.

[Cajunsmike]

_ I think it is complicated.

The football program similarly had a problem against McNeese in the 70s and 80s. We could cite other coaches at UL who were less successful yet not despised by the fan base.

People wanted admission into Marty's private world to satisfy their own need to feel part of something big, but Marty couldn't accomodate them.

I have similarly criticized the UL administration for shutting people out but that's because athletics hasn't been successful. Marty was successful. _

Despite all the points you bring up, if Marty had been above 0.500 against UNO, he would have been accepted here.

[Just1More]

_ Despite all the points you bring up, if Marty had been above 0.500 against UNO, he would have been accepted here. _

We would have accepted Jerry Baldwin if he achieved .500.... but he would have also lost to UNO..... even though they don't have football. Sorry for regressing.

I thought Marty was ok... was snake bit by UNO... but those were pretty good years of Ragin Cajun MBB. I don't think I have ever seen a stranger 3 point exhibition than when Sydney Grider, with his behind the head-over the shoulder 3-point shooting, scorched UNO at the Lakefront one night. They were all over him and he still couldn't miss from anywhere on the floor.

I would take back "MartyBall" right now... yes sir.