I wrote a letter to Karen Aston

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by racerx5908, Mar 29, 2019.

  1. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    I'm a believer that you shouldn't gripe about something without at least doing something concrete about it. Just grumbling on a forum doesn't let the person or subject matter know your feelings. People may fall back to the (lazy) logic "Well we know the coaching staff reads the forums so they know". That's like my spouse trying to avoid confrontation - make up a scenario so you don't have to address it.
    (yes still happily married)

    So, I wrote Karen (karen.aston@athletics.utexas.edu). Here it is with an embarrassing punctuation error (that way you know some Bot didn't write it):

    Dear Coach Aston,

    I wanted to write you now that the season is over. First, what I know about basketball could fit in my little pinkie. But,
    my family and I have been season ticket holders for many, many years. So, we've seen a lot of basketball. I don't want
    to tell you what to do, but this last year was just not typical Karen Aston basketball. Obviously, you've know as I've
    watched your exasperated post-game press conferences. What can I say that you don't already know?

    What I can say is maybe in regards to recruiting and play: Fewer superstars and more junkyard dogs.

    Maybe we're a bit spoiled as fans, but I think you can right the ship for the next season.

    Best wishes!​
     
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  2. kurupt

    kurupt 1,000+ Posts

    Absolutely. That’s exactly what I mentioned in another thread this team/program needs more dogs.
     
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  3. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Best case scenario is you get the superstars with a junkyard dog mentality - I personally think Brooke and Ariel had a lot of dog in them.
     
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  4. geewago

    geewago 100+ Posts

    If she answers please let the world know what she says.
     
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  5. leanderhorn

    leanderhorn 25+ Posts

    All coaches, including Coach K, Wooden, Summitt, Self, et al, have crummy years. Aston had a crummy year. It happens. There were some holes on defense and offense. Higgs being back and close to pre-injury health will be a giant plus. Only penetrator we had. Warren may be the junkyard dog we need. This year was maddening at time, but I'm upbeat about next year.
     
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  6. JoeDallas

    JoeDallas 1,000+ Posts

    I'm moderately upbeat, but a lot depends on if Lashann can come back even close to form, if we can establish a strong presence on the block (hope Charli gets stronger and more physical), if Joyner is in good form, how Sedona comes through, and if the three new recruits can give us something relatively quickly. I was psyched by the Isabel Palmer tape.
     
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  7. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    A followup, Karen A responded to me today! First I had to look at the signature to see "who in the world is responding to me" and then I realized it was Karen. I won't copy the reply onto here as to preserve her privacy. But suffice it to say it was a fairly generic letter apologizing for the late response, thanking me for my continued support of WBB - I'm pretty sure it wasn't a form letter, but it didn't say anything controversial other than she agreed that she and the staff were frustrated with the results of last season.

    Anyway, fyi.
     
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  8. GameOfHorns

    GameOfHorns 250+ Posts

    Glad she responded. Wish she’d been more forthcoming, but can’t say I would have expected her to be so. Thanks for the update.
     
  9. yelladawgdem

    yelladawgdem 2,500+ Posts

    Brittney Griner is the greatest women's player I have ever seen play. While she was clearly a super star, she was the greatest example of a junk yard dog ever. The two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

    :texasflag:
     
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  10. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    I wrote Mack Brown once. He responded in a very generic manner also, but at least he responded and I respect that. It's possible an assistant wrote it and just had him sign it.
     
  11. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Yeah, I've written Del Conte multiple times. I've gotten responses twice. Once from an intern (probably) and once it seemed like from him (it was short and terse). Regardless, it shows that they actually care.
     
  12. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    I would have cut-and-pasted the response, but in the past when I've had email interactions with Chris Plonsky, when I asked if I could post her response onto a discussion board she said, "No! Please keep our correspondence private." I think it made me realize that I can post what I wrote to them because it's my business. Their response back to me is their business. So, I didn't bother asking KA if I could post it.
     
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