Good Bye to Jake

[MikeShox]

I've posted before concerning my respect and admiration for Jake and would like to do so one more time. I absolutely think the world of Jake Odum. He got so much out of the talent he had and I cannot imagine anybody not appreciating what he accomplished over the past 4 (seems like 7) years.

A lot has been said about Ron Baker's tremendous actions in showing his appreciation for Jake. What has not been talked about is that Fred VanVleet immediately started applauding when Jake was leaving the floor as well. Ron and Fred along with Tekele Cotton and Coach Marshall have all had many very complimentary things to say about Jake. Coach Marshall has talked about him during his coach's show and he and the players have all talked about him in interviews. I've also heard them talk about him personally. They have the greatest respect for Jake.

I'll also mention that the Shox players and coaching staff have a great deal of respect for your team and coaching staff.

None of the Shocker fans who I run with had any illusions that the championship game would be easy. We all expected the Sycamores to give the Shockers a real battle and it certainly worked out that way. I'm eager to watch my DVR'd replay of the game to get a better view of some of the plays. From what I've read, it certainly sounds like the game might have been even tougher if at least one call would have gone in the Sycamore favor. Even to the point of the official who made the call admitting later that he got it wrong.

I know how often the calls in St Louis have gone against the Shockers and certainly understand the frustrations the Sycamores and their fans feel. Believe me, the play some years back when the clock operator failed to start the clock and Creighton had time to inbound the ball, have the receiving player bobble the ball, regain possession, dribble three times and put up a shot, all in 1.9 seconds. Naturally, the shot went in and we went home heartbroken again. This all happened after the Shockers had battled back from being behind by double digits very late in the 2nd half and finally took the lead on a Toure Murry 3 pointer from the corner. Then, we got Creighton to lose control of the ball under their basket, but it was touched by Clevin Hannah as it went out of bounds. What a horrible disappointment that game was.

All the Indiana State fans I saw were great.

You have much to be proud of.

 

[Bally #50]

I've posted before concerning my respect and admiration for Jake and would like to do so one more time. I absolutely think the world of Jake Odum. He got so much out of the talent he had and I cannot imagine anybody not appreciating what he accomplished over the past 4 (seems like 7) years.

A lot has been said about Ron Baker's tremendous actions in showing his appreciation for Jake. What has not been talked about is that Fred VanVleet immediately started applauding when Jake was leaving the floor as well. Ron and Fred along with Tekele Cotton and Coach Marshall have all had many very complimentary things to say about Jake. Coach Marshall has talked about him during his coach's show and he and the players have all talked about him in interviews. I've also heard them talk about him personally. They have the greatest respect for Jake.

I'll also mention that the Shox players and coaching staff have a great deal of respect for your team and coaching staff.

None of the Shocker fans who I run with had any illusions that the championship game would be easy. We all expected the Sycamores to give the Shockers a real battle and it certainly worked out that way. I'm eager to watch my DVR'd replay of the game to get a better view of some of the plays. From what I've read, it certainly sounds like the game might have been even tougher if at least one call would have gone in the Sycamore favor. Even to the point of the official who made the call admitting later that he got it wrong.

I know how often the calls in St Louis have gone against the Shockers and certainly understand the frustrations the Sycamores and their fans feel. Believe me, the play some years back when the clock operator failed to start the clock and Creighton had time to inbound the ball, have the receiving player bobble the ball, regain possession, dribble three times and put up a shot, all in 1.9 seconds. Naturally, the shot went in and we went home heartbroken again. This all happened after the Shockers had battled back from being behind by double digits very late in the 2nd half and finally took the lead on a Toure Murry 3 pointer from the corner. Then, we got Creighton to lose control of the ball under their basket, but it was touched by Clevin Hannah as it went out of bounds. What a horrible disappointment that game was.

All the Indiana State fans I saw were great.

You have much to be proud of.

Mike, I said it in another thread on here but I have been around ISU hoops for 47 years and I can honestly say that I have personally NEVER seen that type of sportsmanship at a game against Indiana State, not even in the bird years. We were all in the dumps at the moment he went out and frankly it gave me a huge lift seeing Baker's actions and one that I desperately needed. Coach Marshall's conversation seemed equally as classy as they went thru the handshake line. I had not heard the rest of your examples but I can tell you from my side, Wichita State has leap-frogged to near the top of my MoVal book and a year or more ago, that would have not been said, not even close.

Stick around in the next few weeks because it would be nice to get your thoughts as you hopefully ROLL thru the NCAA's. We're all rooting for you know (or at least most of us) Go SHOX~

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

It was a classy move by a classy player and one of my favorite in all the country to watch in Ronny Baker - the kid is going to play in the NBA one day.

I might not speak for every Sycamore fan but most Sycamore fans hope that you guys make a deep run in the Dance, I see no reason why you wouldn't and as Greg Lansing said, we've looked for a chink in the armour and couldn't find one.

A lot of coaches, players, fans and media heads across this conference have had a lot of nice things to say about Odum. I think the Shoxs fans as a whole were on his ass the entire game for his in game "antics" but it's really just his game. When time came to show respect most Shox fans did so.

In my mind from the day he stepped on campus to the day he left he was the best PG in the confrence and not a lot of players can maintain that level of play from day 1. That said, VanVleet has put up amazing numbers in his first two years and like Odum he makes those around him better. I don't think Odum has ever been blessed with 1 player the ability level of Baker, Cotton and Early - I'm quite sure of that. Making the run Odum has had that much more impressive.

Good luck the rest of the way!

 

[mitchr57]

Thank you, Mikeshox! We are so proud of all our Sycamores, but none more than Jake Odum. I just want to say publically that we met so many wonderful Shocker fans last weekend. My husband and I had both had bad, bad impressions of your fan base in recent years. (Details omitted.) This year, everyone we talked with was kind, proud of their team and respectful of the competition and effort of the rest of The Valley. Good luck to Wichita State in the NCAA. Do us proud.

 

[Sycamore Proud]

I will be the first to admit that many ISU fans have had a lot of hate/jealou for WSU fans in the past. Ronnie Baker initiated, and Shocker fans came on board, a once in a lifetime experience when Jake left the floor for the final time. Baker's actions and the result of his actions, changed the image of Wichita State for me. That scene will be missing from this year's "One Moment in Time". That is truly a shame.

 

[GuardShock]

Although it was a hell of a gesture. I hate that we have to play against baker and vanvleet for the next two years..

 

[MikeShox]

It was a classy move by a classy player and one of my favorite in all the country to watch in Ronny Baker - the kid is going to play in the NBA one day.

I might not speak for every Sycamore fan but most Sycamore fans hope that you guys make a deep run in the Dance, I see no reason why you wouldn't and as Greg Lansing said, we've looked for a chink in the armour and couldn't find one.

A lot of coaches, players, fans and media heads across this conference have had a lot of nice things to say about Odum. I think the Shoxs fans as a whole were on his ass the entire game for his in game "antics" but it's really just his game. When time came to show respect most Shox fans did so.

In my mind from the day he stepped on campus to the day he left he was the best PG in the confrence and not a lot of players can maintain that level of play from day 1. That said, VanVleet has put up amazing numbers in his first two years and like Odum he makes those around him better. I don't think Odum has ever been blessed with 1 player the ability level of Baker, Cotton and Early - I'm quite sure of that. Making the run Odum has had that much more impressive.

Good luck the rest of the way!

Pertaining to Shox fans being on Jake for his game "antics", we probably are. It's much like I will yell at a ref even when a play may well of been called right. It's all part of the fun about being a fan. We love to boo referees and at times the opponent. Especially when we realize how special an opponent is. Jake has for the last 4 years (I've said so many times that he's been here for 7 years) been such a special player that he becomes the player we most love to hate. But, just because we "love to hate" him certain does not mean that we hate him. We just know how tremendous a player he is, so he will get the loudest boos during the game. However, I personally do not know one Shocker fan who does not respect Jake Odum and I also believe most of us really like him. It does not keep us from booing him. I remember how hard we booed Larry Bird when he would play in Wichita. However, I suspect most Shocker fans, like me, will say Larry is at least one of, of not our all time favorite all time player.

Question: Are your radio broadcasts available on Podcasts? I'm listening to Mike Kennedy's radio broadcast now and would really like to listen to your announcer's take on the team as well.

Thanks to you all.