"Please stay, but if you're going to leave, then hurry"

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bobinator
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2:13p, 3/24/25
AG
Now that we're onto the postmortem of the season, I think this phrase sums up the thing that annoys me the most about Buzz. At times he's openly antagonistic to our fans. He got on the mic at Reed and said this to the crowd after the Auburn game before the Wade jersey ceremony thing.

Sure, it would be nice if people stayed Buzz, a lot of us did, but it's also already like 10:30 on a weekday and you're asking people to stay around for a "special presentation" that nobody knows what it is and nobody knew in advance it was going to happen. People don't live on your schedule, and expecting them to is ridiculous.

If you want buy-in at a school like A&M, you have to go get it. Buzz has openly admitted that he doesn't "do the types of things" some coaches might to get out in the community and build relationships. Which, to be absolutely clear, is completely fine. But then you can't also complain that that buy-in isn't there.

You can't isolate yourself from everyone and then be mad that you're isolated.

Now, why does this matter? If the team is winning, it doesn't. Fans will come anyway. But they're not personally or emotionally invested in the success of the team, and they're also not emotionally invested in your success as a coach and thus they aren't particularly motivated to donate to things like the NIL fund.

Now, I do think we have a baseline NIL support that's higher than most people on here seem to think. As proof, we've signed a number of national top 150 players and highly sought after guys out of the portal. But, if we need to increase that baseline to keep competing in this conference, people want to feel like that support is valued and appreciated.
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Mikeyshooter
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2:27p, 3/24/25
AG
Yeah, I seriously thought we would get more "Buzz considering his future at A&M" type headlines or rumors since Saturday. I also hope he stays and I realize it's not even 48 hrs since we lost. But it would be nice to have some confirmation that Buzz is looking forward to rebuilding this roster.


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PatAg
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2:27p, 3/24/25
AG
this also doubles for what Buzz should do this offseason
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Heineken-Ashi
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2:42p, 3/24/25
I've been frustrated plenty, but Buzz is a great man and a great coach. I hope he stays. I want to see him try to build the next team to be more than just a down and dirty bunch. I want to see more guys that can compete in the paint and not be undersized or underskilled against traditional centers. It would be really nice to have a big that has some outside range to keep defenses honest. And on the outside, obviously more shooting and less erratic bowling into the paint without a plan. It's possible to marry our hard-nosed grit style with a little more individual skill.
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Method Man
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In reply to PatAg • 2:45p, 3/24/25
This.
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PJYoung
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In reply to Mikeyshooter • 2:45p, 3/24/25
AG
Mikeyshooter said:
Yeah, I seriously thought we would get more "Buzz considering his future at A&M" type headlines or rumors since Saturday. I also hope he stays and I realize it's not even 48 hrs since we lost. But it would be nice to have some confirmation that Buzz is looking forward to rebuilding this roster.
I think you're going to see signs of us hitting the portal very very quickly.
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Proposition Joe
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2:46p, 3/24/25
It's Buzz. He loves to hear himself talk. Wants everyone to know he's an intellectual. And to be fair, the guy has a **** ton of great wisdom... But he wants to make sure you know that. You can almost see the gears turning in his head when they get the 30 second clip heading into halftime on what the team needs to better... "what can I say that sounds really deep and is not at all an actual answer?"

He's not a Bruce Pearl who caters to the fans -- he caters to his players. Which is great, but it also creates a "us against the world block everything else out" type scenario and that's not going to make people want to open up their pocketbooks.

Regarding NIL I go both ways on it... Is there a clear-cut failure in our solicitation of donors? Absolutely. I was there Day 0 pointing out the soliciting the Longhorns were doing for NIL from a crowd-sourcing standpoint and how we were falling way behind. It doesn't seem like we now even have our footing. I'm not sure what it's like now, but it sure looked like we went cheap on infrastructure early and gave it to a group that said "yeah, we can do this!" and we got lapped by those who treated it like a real business.

On the other hand, Buzz has given several indicators that it's not lack of NIL funding that is holding his roster back. We gave a guy double-digit minutes for 5 years that was replacement level or below for much of it. That's a coach not doing everything in his power to build a championship roster. We run an offense that seemingly revolved around doing the opposite of what the game typically asks (taking good shots). There's far more evidence this "predictable shots" approach was not one of necessity but one of design. And if you've heard Buzz for 5 years that absolutely isn't far-fetched.

If he stays... and I hope he does (though I'm not worried if he leaves), do I think he'll adapt? Sure... I can't fathom he's going to continue to lean into this "predictable shots" that has us as one of the worst in shooting % in the nation year over year. At worst I think he'll at least acknowledge it's short-comings and adapt. I hope.

But I'll put it this way... As an Aggie fan if I give $100,000 to football I know it's going to talent. If I give $100,000 to baseball I know it's going to talent. But if I give $100,000 to basketball, I'm not convinced it's not going to go to a role player that "fits the mold".
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Method Man
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2:47p, 3/24/25
I'm a little put off by the "I only care what those guys in the lockerrom think." Uh, we pay for all of you to come here and be good at basketball. I'm not saying you have to care about every negative comment (those some of them do), but the I'm only here for my players bit is annoying. As if the positions just fell out of the sky to him and the players.
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JJxvi
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2:47p, 3/24/25
AG
I thought this title was a transfer portal message for Solo and Payne
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bobinator
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In reply to Proposition Joe • 2:56p, 3/24/25
AG
Yeah like I don't expect him to show up at football games in the front row with his chest painted like a Bruce Pearl, but if you want a community of support you have to build a community of support. You can't just isolate yourself and run the program with a "trust me bro" mentality and expect fans to just keep rallying behind you when things go a little sideways.
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TjgtAg08
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In reply to bobinator • 2:58p, 3/24/25
AG
The niche and image Buzz has created here at A&M is very interesting.

In college sports there are the coaches that are very much pro their school and outwardly representing what their school is about - Coach O at LSU, Bruce Pearl, Dabo, Sam Pittman, Marcus Freeman, even Dennis Gates as Mizzou - and there are coaches that seem to be great reps for just their programs and players, but are neutral reps for their schools as far as traditions and fan buy-in - Coach Cal, Rick Barnes, Saban, etc - and I think either of those ideals are great, because winning is the bottom line no matter what.

But then there are guys like Buzz, who are all about their players and almost rudely ambivalent or ignorant (and even slightly hostile) about the school they represent. I think Buzz as a human and his values is a great representative of Texas A&M, but do I think he cares at all about the fact that he works at Texas A&M? No, I don't. And that's frustrating. It's easy to ignore when a team is winning, but when they struggle, it's really hard to feel any sympathy at all or patience with the coach.
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greg.w.h
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3:02p, 3/24/25
AG
Without meaningful progress towards even a S16 his act is old. Try recruiting and winning.

Our loss streaks are the oldest of old…
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bobinator
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In reply to TjgtAg08 • 3:04p, 3/24/25
AG
Yeah, I do want to clarify a bit here before this gets into weirdo territory. I don't think Buzz needs to be leading the team to a Silver Taps or anything. I don't necessarily care that coaches "get" A&M and our traditions or anything. If they do, great, even better, but that's not necessary.

But this has always been true but it's especially true now, how much your fans like you has a direct impact on your ability to get players, and to me Buzz has not done anything at all to make this a basketball team that the fans feel like they're a part of.
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Texas_Ag11
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3:08p, 3/24/25
AG
It's not that black and white. Does he care about his players and staff first, yes. Does he not care about the university that he is coaching for, no. It's not that simple. I do think there is a priority to him. He does not like the dealing with the alumni and all the pomp and access they want. But he is not antagonistic like Turgeon about all of that.

Basketball coaches are a weird bunch, btw...
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zgolfz85
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In reply to Method Man • 3:13p, 3/24/25
AG
Method Man said:
I'm a little put off by the "I only care what those guys in the lockerrom think." Uh, we pay for all of you to come here and be good at basketball. I'm not saying you have to care about every negative comment (those some of them do), but the I'm only here for my players bit is annoying. As if the positions just fell out of the sky to him and the players.
1000000% this. I LOATHE when coaches and players say this. Sorry, but you're getting paid a lot of money AND getting a ton of free stuff from the university on top of it (and now this can be said for players and coaches alike). You need to care what everyone in the university thinks. We're not asking you to have poor mental health over it, but we don't pay or support you to close yourself off in a locker room and treat us like the enemy.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to bobinator • 3:15p, 3/24/25
AG
bobinator said:
Yeah like I don't expect him to show up at football games in the front row with his chest painted like a Bruce Pearl, but if you want a community of support you have to build a community of support. You can't just isolate yourself and run the program with a "trust me bro" mentality and expect fans to just keep rallying behind you when things go a little sideways.
Bruce Pearl is a perfect example of the opposite of a buzz mentality. Bruce recognizes what makes each university he's worked at so great and endears himself to the fans, student, alums and local community.

Buzz does some of that, but I wish he'd do a lot more.
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TjgtAg08
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In reply to bobinator • 3:16p, 3/24/25
AG
Agree, I couldn't care less if any of our coaches "get" A&M. I just want them to win, period. If you "get A&M" and say "GiG Em" into every mic and bring donuts to the students, that doesn't mean jack if you don't win.

Just don't be openly passive-aggressive toward the fans and school you work for, which Buzz has definitely been.

And if he's that way in public, you know he does ZERO to glad hand and raise money and support in private for NIL and the program, and that's probably the most important thing.

I'd prefer we just have a guy who is fiery about winning and willing to do the things behind the scenes and in recruiting to build support and a high-level roster. I think part of the reason we don't have a much basketball support as we could is we haven't had a coach in 20 years that would (or could) work his butt off to drum up that support while building his program.
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bobinator
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In reply to TjgtAg08 • 3:20p, 3/24/25
AG
I'd actually argue that Billy Kennedy showed the value of building relationships with the right people. He didn't really build them with the fan base writ large, but he definitely had some people in his corner.

I'm not sure Buzz has anyone in his corner around here that isn't directly part of the basketball program.
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DTP02
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3:20p, 3/24/25
AG
Of all the things to nitpick, the "please stay…" line is a really strange one.

I have no problem with him saying it and think it was appropriate for the occasion. I've heard similar remarks at multiple functions over the years of the same nature.

I do think the team had a more adversarial relationship with the fanbase than it should have this year in part due to how Buzz directed their focus and energy. But I think more of that was on the fanbase not reacting to this team they way it deserved to be supported in my opinion.

I don't think this team quite got the recognition and appreciation it deserved for the way the players represented us and bought into A&M, and were also successful on the floor.
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PatAg
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3:20p, 3/24/25
AG
my biggest concern so far, and going forward, is he has openly stated his offensive goal is to just get any shot up and crash the boards.
Is that truly his actual offensive philosophy, or is that what he created to optimize this roster?
Those are 2 drastically different things. If its his philosophy, fire him today and get a real coach.
If it was the best idea they had to maximize this roster, that can be rectified any year by recruiting and NIL portal.

Im concerned he has settled on it being his offensive philosophy now
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Bluecat_Aggie94
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In reply to Mikeyshooter • 3:21p, 3/24/25
AG
Mikeyshooter said:
Yeah, I seriously thought we would get more "Buzz considering his future at A&M" type headlines or rumors since Saturday. I also hope he stays and I realize it's not even 48 hrs since we lost. But it would be nice to have some confirmation that Buzz is looking forward to rebuilding this roster.
The ONLY place I've seen discussion of Buzz's future is here.
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bobinator
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In reply to DTP02 • 3:22p, 3/24/25
AG
It's just stuck with me since then because I think it kind of sums up his whole mentality with people outside the program.
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Luke The Drifter
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3:23p, 3/24/25
AG
Buzz is a very highly paid head coach leading a team of professional athletes. The "rah-rah, give it the ol' college try" days are long gone. This is a business through and through and in business you are paid to win. Period. I like Buzz a lot and I hope he stays, but I am getting pretty played out on all of the "feel good" stuff he brings. If he feels the need to move on, then more power to him. But if he wants to stay, that's great as well. But it's time for the results to match his salary. Turn down the quirky crap, turn up the winning percentage.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
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DTP02
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In reply to bobinator • 3:24p, 3/24/25
AG
bobinator said:
It's just stuck with me since then because I think it kind of sums up his whole mentality with people outside the program.


Please stay but if you have to leave do it quickly (so it doesn't disrupt and distract from the ceremony)? You're reading a whole lot more into that than is justified.

I could come up with a half dozen much better examples off the top of my head of what you're talking about.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to TjgtAg08 • 3:26p, 3/24/25
AG
TjgtAg08 said:
The niche and image Buzz has created here at A&M is very interesting.

In college sports there are the coaches that are very much pro their school and outwardly representing what their school is about - Coach O at LSU, Bruce Pearl, Dabo, Sam Pittman, Marcus Freeman, even Dennis Gates as Mizzou - and there are coaches that seem to be great reps for just their programs and players, but are neutral reps for their schools as far as traditions and fan buy-in - Coach Cal, Rick Barnes, Saban, etc - and I think either of those ideals are great, because winning is the bottom line no matter what.

But then there are guys like Buzz, who are all about their players and almost rudely ambivalent or ignorant (and even slightly hostile) about the school they represent. I think Buzz as a human and his values is a great representative of Texas A&M, but do I think he cares at all about the fact that he works at Texas A&M? No, I don't. And that's frustrating. It's easy to ignore when a team is winning, but when they struggle, it's really hard to feel any sympathy at all or patience with the coach.
man, there's a lot of good posts on this thread. I feel almost vindicated reading these posts altogether in one thread. I feel like Buzz could do himself so many favors if he just broke character and cheesed it up with the fans more. You don't want to? Same...I don't want to put on my happy face every day and pretend I'd rather be talking to clients than play golf or hike with the dogs, etc. But, if I played the Buzz card, I wouldn't have a job. He's a high level coach and there's only so many of those, so he can get away with it, when most of us can't.

Honestly, there's so many of us that give Buzz so much leash because of how honorable a guy he is and how he genuinely cares about making his players not only good adults, but also good Christian men. Part of me is shocked he can still be so religious as a public university coach, but shocked in a good way. He really has some low hanging fruit to take it a step further and get away from that antagonist type relationship with the school and fanbase. Do that, and his job would literally never be in jeopardy here. We're too nice. He hasn't opened up that door though.
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bobinator
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In reply to PatAg • 3:27p, 3/24/25
AG
I think people have misinterpreted that somewhat. The goal isn't just to get up ANY shot and to crash the boards. That doesn't even make sense because even if you succesfully get the rebound you still have to then get another shot up.

I do think he's emphasized that any shot is better than a turnover, so he's willing to live with some bad shots if it means we're not turning the ball over. And he wants the shots to be "predictable" so that we're in position to rebound them.

But I am interested to see what we look like on offense now that Taylor is gone.
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bobinator
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In reply to DTP02 • 3:29p, 3/24/25
AG
Probably, but that's the one I chose and I started the thread .

Obviously he meant it literally, but that's why it stuck with me is it also works for how he's approached things here.
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TjgtAg08
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 3:29p, 3/24/25
AG
Honestly, I just wish that during pressers when he's asked about the crowd he wouldn't say "well, we are grateful when they are there…" even that comes off as passive-aggressively negative.

Just a complete neutral attitude towards Texas A&M and its alumni and fan base would be good enough for me. Be a little encouraging maybe, but that's all we need.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to TjgtAg08 • 3:30p, 3/24/25
AG
TjgtAg08 said:
Agree, I couldn't care less if any of our coaches "get" A&M. I just want them to win, period. If you "get A&M" and say "GiG Em" into every mic and bring donuts to the students, that doesn't mean jack if you don't win.

Just don't be openly passive-aggressive toward the fans and school you work for, which Buzz has definitely been.

And if he's that way in public, you know he does ZERO to glad hand and raise money and support in private for NIL and the program, and that's probably the most important thing.

I'd prefer we just have a guy who is fiery about winning and willing to do the things behind the scenes and in recruiting to build support and a high-level roster. I think part of the reason we don't have a much basketball support as we could is we haven't had a coach in 20 years that would (or could) work his butt off to drum up that support while building his program.
I agree and disagree. I value winning above all, but TAMU is simply a different place. It's why we all went here, or at least most of us. It has higher than average morals and values, etc...all the stuff that we know of. It's the anti LSU. You can take your kid to a game and not have to worry how many words your kids are going to ask the meaning of on the drive home. Every school can pay you lots of money, but we are known as a cult for a reason. Embrace the cult and they'll probably ask you to stay even if you're terrible. Close yourself off from the cult, and you're just another guy...and the cult that you didn't embrace turns on you fast. Just fake it a little bit and you'll have that cult following as long as you want it.
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TjgtAg08
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3:32p, 3/24/25
AG
We have a chance right now to pretty much build whatever style of roster Buzz wants. It will be very interesting if he keeps going with this same strategy or if he goes out and gets guys that have different strengths.

I wonder if we can keep the same strategy in a way but just find slightly better scorers to go along with it, or is there an opposition between those two strategies to some extent?
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DTP02
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In reply to TjgtAg08 • 3:34p, 3/24/25
AG
TjgtAg08 said:
The niche and image Buzz has created here at A&M is very interesting.

In college sports there are the coaches that are very much pro their school and outwardly representing what their school is about - Coach O at LSU, Bruce Pearl, Dabo, Sam Pittman, Marcus Freeman, even Dennis Gates as Mizzou - and there are coaches that seem to be great reps for just their programs and players, but are neutral reps for their schools as far as traditions and fan buy-in - Coach Cal, Rick Barnes, Saban, etc - and I think either of those ideals are great, because winning is the bottom line no matter what.

But then there are guys like Buzz, who are all about their players and almost rudely ambivalent or ignorant (and even slightly hostile) about the school they represent. I think Buzz as a human and his values is a great representative of Texas A&M, but do I think he cares at all about the fact that he works at Texas A&M? No, I don't. And that's frustrating. It's easy to ignore when a team is winning, but when they struggle, it's really hard to feel any sympathy at all or patience with the coach.


I think you've got it exactly backwards if the way Buzz handles stuff off-court makes you less patient of him than the average replacement coach when we're losing. I can't understand that at all.

I think, instead, is that Buzz is a quirky guy so when people inevitably lash out in frustration when we lose, there's lots of non-basketball stuff to irrationally criticize.

Some of you who don't have as close a view of things may not be able to fully appreciate the difference, but I'm sure you've noticed it to some extent. These players, almost without fail, are more involved in A&M life and appreciative of its uniqueness and traditions, and more real and relatable than the vast majority of other Aggie athletes, especially in a revenue sport. If you don't think some of that comes from Buzz I don't know what to tell you.

Winning is the bottom line. It's a competitive sport, and a bigtime one at that. But the types of kids Buzz brings in, and the way they represent us on and off the court, should buy him more patience and consideration, if anything.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to TjgtAg08 • 3:35p, 3/24/25
AG
TjgtAg08 said:
Honestly, I just wish that during pressers when he's asked about the crowd he wouldn't say "well, we are grateful when they are there…" even that comes off as passive-aggressively negative.

Just a complete neutral attitude towards Texas A&M and its alumni and fan base would be good enough for me. Be a little encouraging maybe, but that's all we need.
Agreed -- it's also self harming. You're trying to recruit high level guys, but then you're going to bash attendance in a public forum? Address it locally as you must...not on a national presser.
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TjgtAg08
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 3:36p, 3/24/25
AG
That's fair, but I think what has gotten us into trouble in the past is when we take that idea 2-3 steps too far and only hire guys with either A&M ties or guys who "get A&M" as a pre-requisite of the job.

Hire the guy that's going to do the things it takes to win - if he wins at a high level (which is entirely possible in every sport at A&M), fans are going to love him and then he only has to BARELY buy into the Cult for him to be considered the GOAT.

Schloss is a great example. Won a lot of games, elite coach, wasn't really a big rah-rah guy but bought in a tiny bit any everyone LOVED him. Obviously he's a bad example now, but at the time it was a perfect example.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to DTP02 • 3:38p, 3/24/25
AG
DTP02 said:
TjgtAg08 said:
The niche and image Buzz has created here at A&M is very interesting.

In college sports there are the coaches that are very much pro their school and outwardly representing what their school is about - Coach O at LSU, Bruce Pearl, Dabo, Sam Pittman, Marcus Freeman, even Dennis Gates as Mizzou - and there are coaches that seem to be great reps for just their programs and players, but are neutral reps for their schools as far as traditions and fan buy-in - Coach Cal, Rick Barnes, Saban, etc - and I think either of those ideals are great, because winning is the bottom line no matter what.

But then there are guys like Buzz, who are all about their players and almost rudely ambivalent or ignorant (and even slightly hostile) about the school they represent. I think Buzz as a human and his values is a great representative of Texas A&M, but do I think he cares at all about the fact that he works at Texas A&M? No, I don't. And that's frustrating. It's easy to ignore when a team is winning, but when they struggle, it's really hard to feel any sympathy at all or patience with the coach.


I think you've got it exactly backwards if the way Buzz handles stuff off-court makes you less patient of him than the average replacement coach when we're losing. I can't understand that at all.

I think, instead, is that Buzz is a quirky guy so when people inevitably lash out in frustration when we lose, there's lots of non-basketball stuff to irrationally criticize.

Some of you who don't have as close a view of things may not be able to fully appreciate the difference, but I'm sure you've noticed it to some extent. These players, almost without fail, are more involved in A&M life and appreciative of its uniqueness and traditions, and more real and relatable than the vast majority of other Aggie athletes, especially in a revenue sport. If you don't think some of that comes from Buzz I don't know what to tell you.

Winning is the bottom line. It's a competitive sport, and a bigtime one at that. But the types of kids Buzz brings in, and the way they represent us on and off the court, should buy him more patience and consideration, if anything.
worthy counterpoints, and true. Most of that is seen at a local level though -- he's not a look at me guy, but there's immense value in that. I'm sure recruits' families see and hear that, but the average hoops fan in another part of the country wouldn't know any of that...but what they do see is the seemingly antagonistic comments that he makes on a national stage.
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GrayMatter
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3:38p, 3/24/25
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I'd like to believe his ever evolving, but can't be sure. He's cryptic while trying to be transparent and I am not sure he really is as transparent as he says he is. Maybe to the players and their families, but certainly not to us the fans, people that buy tickets, people who follow the program, etc.

He initially didn't buy in to the NIL concept and then bought into it (somewhat perhaps).

If anything, he's just slow to change his ways.
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