A Plea to Coach Drew

I think we can all agree that Coach Drew has been an outstanding representative of our University in his 6 seasons here (coaching ability aside). He has conducted himself with class and I have never heard anything bad about him personally. On the sidelines, he may not agree with every call. He usually gives a "Come On!" to a referee running by down the sideline after a blown call. While I appreciate his civility, I do have a plea for Coach tonight and the rest of the season: Please lose it for once on the sideline.

Now, I'm not calling for Drew to throw a chair across the floor. That's stupid. It also is totally out of his personality range. If he did something like that, people would think he's had a mental breakdown as opposed to being upset. That's why Bob Knight could do that and be effective. People don't think he's exceeded his personality range until he's about to murder someone.

Let me explain. I believe that every player and coach in the conference has a reputation. If a clumsy post player fouls out every other game, the refs aren't going to have any reservations about blowing the whistle on plays that for others they may let go. I'm not saying it's right. It's just human nature. Bob Knight would get T'd up when he didn't always deserve it. Refs did it as almost a rite of passage. Another example is a baseball player that almost never strikes out. If he takes a close pitch on a full count, 9 times out of 10 he's jogging down the line.

I think what's now happened to Coach Drew is that refs don't have any reservations about blowing the whistle on us. Let me be real clear here: The refs have yet to lose a game for us. I don't think it has anything to do with a conspiracy or the conference wanting to make sure certain teams win based on revenues or fan bases. However, I think a ref subconsciously makes decisions based on reputations. Rick Barnes teams get the benefit of the doubt because refs don't want to get an ear-full from him. The same can be said for a handful of coaches in the league. When a call can go either way, it's easier to screw Coach Drew's team because he won't question it very strongly.

Coach needs to get a technical. I'm asking for it. I don't care if it costs us a couple of points. We leave so many points on the floor as it is anyway so it won't matter. It doesn't need to be spontaneous, just pick the first close one that doesn't go our way. Demand that the official come over and explain himself. When he comes over, just start screaming until he obliges with a Tech. You don't even have to cuss or anything. If you just make enough noise for long enough, it will happen. Think Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers.





This will do a few things. First, and most importantly, it sends a message to your team that you will protect them. There's been some talk about if the team respects Coach. Get a technical defending one of your players, and you move up a few notches. Guaran-Teed (see what I did there). Second, because of the undeniable truth that most Baylor fans that will be present love Drew, this will enrage them. They will blame it on the refs. Old ladies who usually only scream at the person two rows in front of them to sit down will start directing their wails at the officials. Any intimidation that can be put on the zebras should be when you are at home. Finally, the action itself tells the officials that the days of you being "Aw shucks, you need glasses ref?" when we get the bad end of a call that could go either way are over. I wholeheartedly think this will make a difference.

So let's do it Scott. It's just a hunch but I believe if you do this in the right spot of the game on Saturday, it will change the complexion of your team. They will play with more passion and the crowd will feed them energy.