Despite a last-place standing in the ACC, N.C. State athletic director Lee Fowler said he has been impressed with the Wolfpack's work ethic and attitude in coach Sidney Lowe's fourth season.
"We're disappointed to be 2-8," Fowler said Friday. "We want to be 8-2, but we're encouraged by how this group is playing and the group of players we're adding next season."
Fowler, who hired Lowe in April 2006 after a lengthy search process, added that Lowe will be the Wolfpack's coach next season.
"He's our coach, and he deserves a chance," Fowler said. "He knows he has to turn it around and play at the top of the league."
Lowe, whose coaching record is 65-57 overall and 17-41 in the ACC, has signed guards Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown to join the program next fall. Forward C.J. Leslie, a Raleigh product who was named to the McDonald's All-American team on Thursday, could also join the class.
Comments
Dumb
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 16:22 — JPDOhioNo comment on whether Fowler should be fired or not. Everyone has a right to their opinions and rants, but they essentially don't mean anything. Football and hoops are the high profile, visible sports that are the focus of most outside opinions on AD performance. But there is much more to the job than just on field (or on court) performance, especially the financial stability of the athletic department, which includes all sports. None of us on the outside know enough to make a proper evaluation.
That said, why Fowler felt compelled to give Sid a vote of confidence is beyond my comprehension. Anyone with half a brain knows that it would be a huge mistake to fire Sid now, despite the recent disappointments on the court. There is enough young talent on the current team and enough promise in the next recruiting class to conclude that it is best to let things play out for at least another year. All Lee accomplished with his "vote of confidence" is start the feeding frenzy that we are seeing here.
Just dumb.
It's to early to declare Sidney a "bad hire"
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 09:54 — PuddentainRemember, Dean Smith was hung in effigy (twice!) in his fifth season. Now he has a dome named after him (at least he did until Ol' Roy kicked him out). Is Dean a Presbyterian?
You need to get your facts straight . . .
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 19:55 — melvinfurdIt was Smith's 4th season, not 5th.
REAL pack fans don't air dirty laundry, so pls cease and desist!
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 01:27 — peetiepupYou idiots calling for Fowler or Lowe's or ______'s head:
Don't you have any damned sense?
THIS is not the place to do this. Don't air dirty laundry HERE. Get it?
GET IT?
One more time:
GET IT?
Don't you realize how much satisfaction you're providing the elitist jerks running the newspapers? (i.e. Chapel Hill school of journalism)
These matters of hiring/firing are internal matters, AREN'T THEY?
Go someplace else - someplace more private. Better yet - give the man a chance!
It just galls me with the knee-slapping laughs that "those people" are enjoying at our expense while certain nitwits try to run off the coach that will next year bring the best recruiting class this place has seen in DECADES!
DECADES!!
A coach who is one of us - our hero on the hardwood - who is busting his butt deserves at the very minimum that he be given a fair shot before the shouts from the "instant gratification" crowd drowns out reason.
I know it's difficult - for example, winning big vs Duke, then losing big to Chapel Hill on the same court within a few days. Go figure. But Lowe is still in only his third season as a college coach. And most of the games have been very tough, even in losses, and you can't ask for any more than that from your team. If you think you're entitled to more than that, then cheer for some other team. I beg you. My pity is with them if you do.
SHUT UP!! Especially HERE.
And... GO LOWE!!
4th season
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 11:59 — SurferForget as you may, but this is actually Sid's 4th season.
mixed emotions
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 11:01 — gvillegatrit was a decent post, but the more you typed the more you became pyscho! too long.
peterheadpuppie!!!
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 10:46 — bluecat69bluecat69u win, u are the dumbest poster that i have ever seen!, the cow college will never, never, never, win under SKID, get a grip on yourself, where are the peckers ranked in the acc== answer-- bottom, as in bottom feeder, why dont u become a duke fan , hell we win, ok, go DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See?
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 10:55 — PuddentainI knew you weren't unique!
Message to the N&O
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 10:45 — wolfpacker24Shut down the comments section!!! We shouldn't be given the opportunity to voice our opinions!! What a country!!
If the "Vote Of Confidence"
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 22:31 — JamesinWillowSpringsIf the "Vote Of Confidence" precedes the impending doom that usually transpires in sports hiring and firing, then I think it's Fowler--not Lowe--that needs a vote of confidence. Can we get Randy to phone one in so Lee can get the heads up to start packing his bags?
Fowler
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 20:32 — mad_maxNobody cares about what you have to say. We all already know that you are a joke. Must be good friends with Mike Easley...
cellar-dweller!!!!!!!!
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 20:29 — bluecat69bluecat69the only thing that can keep the cow college out of the cellar is none other than the tarholes, we will find out tomorrow, ok go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Somethings wrong
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 09:58 — Puddentainwith your keyboard
no contract extention
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 20:03 — sbas2Fowler can say whatever he wants-so long as Lowe's contract isn't extended. with no extension of the contract, we know where things really stand.
CJ Leslie
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 19:09 — wolfpacker24I'll be on State's basketball team before this guy. The only way he shows up in Raleigh next year is if UK plays in the RBC.
wolfpecker--24
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 10:51 — bluecat69bluecat69u are 100% correct, if a player has a chance to go to the cow college or kentucky, where do u think he goes, after all he was a team mate of john walls in h. s.go duke!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 13:07 — wolfpacker24Something we can agree on, bluecat...but he won't be a teammate of Wall's next year. Wall will be playing in the Association.
GPA??????
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 14:59 — bluecat69bluecat69I JUST WATCHED COLLEGE GAME DAY WITH BILIS AND DAVIS, TWO CLASSY GUYS I MIGHT ADD, WELL AT LEAST ONE! AND THEY WERE AT KENTUCKY, WHERE THEY HAD 23,500 FANS SHOW UP AT 11 AM FOR THE SHOW, AND COACH CALAPRI RAVED ABOUT JOHN WALLS WORK ETHETIC AND HE ALSO SAID HE HAD THE HIGHEST GPA ON THE TEAM, NOW OL ROY SAID HE WAS NOT A GOOD FIT AT CARAWHINA, CAN U SAY RECRUTING MISTAKE--OL ROY, GO DUKE!!!!!!!
Foul-up
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 18:17 — rflong97Old Lee "Foul-up" Fowler. How does he still have a job? It is a conspiracy. No one has ever accomplished less in a high paid, high profile position and been able to keep his job as long as Foul-up. If he is fired (please Woodson make it happen), the rejoicing from the alumni and students will be as loud as an atomic bomb hitting Raleigh.
Fowler needs to go first.
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:41 — WileECoyoteFowler needs to go first. What an incompetent boob.
wrong thing!
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:23 — springerwell I for one have come to the conclusion that as long as Fowler is athletic director , the pack will never be a championship contender. I have lost all hope in Lowe as have most pack fans have. He's not the right man for the job. So, pack fans let the grumbling continue.............
Right thing
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:06 — SurferCertainly this is the right thing for Fowler to do at this point. But, his statement also sounds like, "okay, by such and such a time the program needs to be here."