University of Virginia Library

Support Dismayed

We were extremely dismayed to
see 106 of Virginia's athletes
express their support for a coach
who has produced a mediocre
record over the past six years. None
of the 106 have ever played varsity
basketball and none of them
therefore is in the best position to
blame the failure of the basketball
team on the "personal inadequacies
and immaturities" of the players
involved. If the mediocrity of the
basketball team this year was an
exception to the rule, or if only a
few players had griped, one might
understandably blame the players
rather than the coach. Such is not
the case.

On the basis of his poor record
over the last six years, Mr. Gibson's
tenure as a coach here at Virginia
should by now be questionable.
When in addition to his poor
record, his actions and practices
come into question by those
athletes who are in the best
position to judge him, then his
tenure should become doubly questionable.
If our basketball players
are not of the same caliber of the
"106" then the fault would seem to
lie with Mr. Gibson's ability to
recruit better players. It seems
more likely however, as the "106"
indicated that the players on the
squad have not produced to the
fullest extent of their capabilities.
This may be due in part to their
unwillingness to "pay the price,"
and the "106" implied. Again, it
seems more likely that Mr. Gibson
either because of his personality, or
his inability as a coach is responsible.
It seems to us, that it is up to
the coach to get the most out of his
players, and apparently Mr. Gibson
has been unable to do this.

While the players on the basketball
team initially did not choose
the best means available for airing
their grievances, to condemn them
in their efforts to deal with the
mediocrity prevalent in the basketball
program is rather irrational.
The bias of the sports editors in
The Cavalier Daily, if any, was
hopefully also in the best interests
of the basketball program here at
Virginia. The image of Virginia
athletics which the "106" were so
quick to defend has in the past
been one of mediocrity. Mr. Gibson
has done little with the basketball
program to improve that image. No
one will deny that there are both
good players and bad players, but
the same is true of coaches - Mr.
Gibson's record and his obviously
questionable ability to handle
players speak for themselves.