St. Louis Sports Online

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Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 (8:00-9:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays)

I have to admit, that I don't know that much about new St. Louis University Men's Basketball Coach, Lorenzo Romar. Sure, I read his resume. I checked out his coaching record at Pepperdine and his performance as a UCLA Assistant. It is true that he is considered a good recruiter and from one press conference, seems articulate.

Yet, I am not that familiar with him as a Conference USA Head Basketball Coach. Hence, I have decided to give Coach Romar a chance to see what he can do.

Now, all that remains is having the Billiken Nation and Administration follow suit.

It is starting already. Lorenzo Romar is an unknown commodity in these parts, so local fans are skeptical about this selection. I heard it last night on my WGNU Sport Show. Who is this Romar guy? Why I never heard of him? Should I renew my season tickets?

REALITY CHECK: St. Louis University Fans and Administration have to realize that the Billiken Head Coaching job may not be as lucrative as they envision. Earlier in this hiring process, Dave Bliss took his name out of consideration for the SLU job, to concentrate his efforts on the vacancy at Baylor.

Baylor is in Waco,Texas. Waco? Isn't that the home of the Branch Davidians? Doesn't Coach Bliss realize that St. Louis is the home of Mark Mc Gwire, Ted Drewes Custard, Toasted Ravioli, and the Rams?? (Well, three out of four isn't bad)

What about Kelvin Sampson? What is wrong with this guy?? Why would one want to stay in Norman, Oklahoma when he can be a big fish in this Major Market??

The cold, hard reality of the situation, boys and girls, is that the St. Louis University Men's Basketball Coaching position is not as enticing as we all think or hope. The fact is that the Billiken opening did not get an avalanche of responses.

But now, the search is over. Coach Lorenzo Romar is the man. His biggest hurdle is yet to come; having the Billiken Fans and the SLU Administration give him a chance and provide the necessary support that goes with the Head Coaching job.

First and foremost, Lorenzo Romar is NOT Charlie Spoonhour. REPEAT: HE IS NOT CHARLIE SPOONHOUR.

Romar is tall, Spoonhour is short. Spoonhour is nearly 60 years old; Romar just turned 40. Romar has dark hair, Spoonhour has white hair.

Spoonhour has won over 300 college basketball games; Romar has not. Spoonhour is extremely popular in this town; until yesterday, Romar is unknown.

This town has a very bad habit of overreacting when a popular coach is replaced. In the summer of 1990, Joe Torre returned to the Gateway City and took over as the Cardinals Manager from Whitey Herzog. The Red Birds were horrible then; on their way to a last place finish for the first time in over sixty years. Free agents leaving town in droves.

Still , Torre heard the criticism: "He sure isn't Whitey", or "Whitey would not have made that move". or the ever popular "Whitey would have called for a Squeeze Play".

In the summer of 1986, Jacques Demers left the Head Coaching position of the St. Louis Blues in a contract controversy. The always chattering Demers became a fan favorite and a reporter's dream. He was always great copy and always available for quotes. Demers' replacement was a quiet 33 year old coach named Jacques Martin.

The local hockey faithful never did warm up to Martin. He was always refer as "Jacques II." Martin never had Demers' charisma, hence he was treated as dull by the fans and the media.

Both Torre and Martin left the Gateway City to bigger and better things. Torre to the New York Yankees, who have won two World Series Championships in three years. Martin to the Ottawa Senators, who currently has the best record in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

It sure is a shame that neither could coach as well as their predecessor.

To the local Billiken followers: one wish please, give the new coach a chance and do not make comparisons. All together now: "Lorenzo Romar is NOT Charlie Spoonhour".

Aside from the local basketball fans, the administration of St. Louis U needs to step up and show its support to Coach Romar. This selection was a Major Hire for A. D. Doug Woolard and the University. Woolard previously hired some good people for the school: Soccer's Bob Warming and Women's Basketball Jill Pizzotti, to name a couple.

It is encouraging that the School came to the plate with a contract offer to lure Romar from the beaches of Malibu to the shores of the Mississippi. But the job is not done yet.

Comments made by Kevin Stallings after he took his name out of consideration for the Billiken job, after he initially applied, are disturbing. It still not totally clear if Spoonhour's age was the only factor in his retirement? Is SLU willing to compete in the big time?

Memo to the regents of St. Louis University: your men's basketball team is a highly visible symbol of your school. As such, your men's basketball team continues to be in the upper echelon of attendance in Division 1A Men's basketball. This makes your program a cash cow, which means mucho money for the University.

Please allow Coach Romar to do his job without bureaucratic interference and/or university politics. Please do not conduct IRS type audits on each and every of his expense reports. Please do not make him sacrifice his first child in order to get a pay raise for his assistant coaches. Please give him a parking spot.

I am not asking you to cheat or compromise your ethical principals. Rather, be reasonable and supportive to this highly visible, and positive aspect of your university.

Rich Grawer brought your basketball program from life support. Charlie Spoonhour took it to the next level, bringing the school to NCAA tournament play. Now it's Lorenzo Romar's team.

I guarantee that I will learn more about this coach: his philosophy, his strategies, his strengths, his weaknesses.

It won't take long for him to carve out his legacy at SLU.

Hopefully, the fans, media, and school administration won't carve it out for him.