Ball State vs. Lewis

[UcantBSme]

Isn't this interesting. I wasn't able to attend the Lewis Ball State game, but I have looked at the stats and read everything about the match, and isn't it interesting that Lewis is still womping up on Ball State!! I mean, lets look at last year, Lewis NO JR, NO GUSTAVO, 1/2 of James Elsea with knee problems, Brandon Sisk has torn ligs in his thumb and trying to set, Kevin Miller gone from the year before, and LEWIS still beats Ball State 3 times last year, including the MIVA Final. OK, now Fabiano is gone, Stuntz is gone, and Lewis is STILL womping up on Ball State!! What happend to "the only reason Lewis is winning is because they use Illegal players"? WHAT HAPPEND TO THAT THEORY?? I think its a lot more likely that Deuser knew how to recruit and how to train his players. Look at the numbers Soler is putting on the board, look at Dayton that Deuser brought in, look at Escalante, Castellano, and now even Matt Mueller is filling Fabiano's spot and doing the job. Deuser knew how to recruit, identify talent, and develope them. Funny thing is watching these guys continue to womp up on the scrubs that Ball State brings in over, and over again. I don't think Walton has a clue. But i hear that his guys are still really good on the bench at doing their little, .....bum, bum, bum...........bum bum, bum bum...thing. ;D Ball State just isn't what it use to be under Don Shondell. They use to know how to block and just be a much better all around team. They blocked a whole 2 balls against Lewis the other night. Lets face it, Deuser's guys are still doing damage even with him gone, and its pretty funny. And there is no foreign guys on the court, so nobody can claim anyone is illegal or ineligible, just like last year when they went back to the Final Four without JR or Gustavo. Oh my goodness, what are people going to blame them winning on now??

Ball State is a joke!

[MIVAMIVA]

Agreed...This is not your typical Ball State team from years past. I laughed my azz off about the Bum bum bum thing too, good point. My initial response to the players Lewis lost was much like everyone elses, "They can't win without Fabi and Stuntz!" But every year they seem to pull it out and be very competetive with what they have. So far they have totally changed my view of how thier season was going to turn out. While my view has remained the same about Ball State and that they are going to suck big time this year. Maybe there is some room at the basketball games for those guys on the bench to cheerlead though.

[OhNo14]

I don't understand how Lewis beats BSU in 3 and you credit it to Dueser. I'm pretty sure its been established that he knowingly and repeatedly cheated, and in the long run hurt the program as much as he helped it. I saw a post on ChicagoSports.com that told recruits they shouldn't go to Lewis because of its reputation. The sad thing is you're going to be the same person over the next couple years saying how Lewis is losing because Deuser's gone, when really it will be because they will be under an avalanche of recruiting, scholarship, and playing sanctions from your 'talented Dueser'.

[vballfan4]

First of all they are not saying bum, bum, bum...if you dont know that it is, then please just leave it alone you bum...hehe...that was funny now, i just called you a bum...anyways...

Yes, Lewis beat BSU again (dont forget BSU beat Lewis in preseason)...Lewis is simply BSU's one team that no matter what they do will always be taugh to beat them...However, BSU will be in the tournament and Lewis will not...i am BSU fan, but i got to say this...Lewis has BALLS and HEART, and BSU had neither when they played them...BSU needs to grow some BALLS and play like they want to win if they want to make it to the Final Four...it will be a long way, and they have potential, but potential is just like potential energy which if you don't use is practicaly wasted and that is what their season will be if they don't figure it out...On the other hand if they do, watch out MIVA...test will come in about two weeks when they play BYU, i think true identity of the team will come out...

Make love, no war

[UcantBSme]

OH NO 14, are you going to cry?? Come on, this last person hit it on the head, Lewis has balls and heart. Deuser knew how to recruit and develope his players. I don't believe everything i hear about the NCAA junk and i'm smart enough to know how administrators will use someone as a scape goat to save their own butts. What ever Deuser did or did not do, the players he recruited and trained for 3 or 4 years just womped up on Ball State. Pre Season?? ha ha ha ha nobody even plays their whole teams in the pre-season little girl, and from what i heard, Lewis was without 2 starters in the pre-season when BSU beat them. Deuser did more for Lewis in the way of publicity and advertizing than anyone ever could have or ever will again. And the guy got results. CHEAT SHMEAT! How did he get back to the Final Four last year without cheating?? How did he get to the Final Four in 96, and 98? Go ahead and point to the 2003 championship and say what you want. The entire Lewis starting line up are all Deuser recruited, and Deuser trained players. Thats why they are winning. Don't know this Friend guy, but hear he is a joke. But the main point of my previous post, was not to praise Deuser, but was to point out how bad Ball State and Walton is. So don't be a hater "ohno14" Don't be another one of those jealous Deuser haters that does nothing but talk %*$#, and never accomplishes anything themselves! ;D
Peace

[future]

Wait a minute, while I agree with some of your points about this years BS team and lack of explosive athlete......and some of the personality rub off of Walton, I think you miss a very very important and undeniable point about the Lewis Program.

When you have experienced players such as Gustavo, JR and Costas(Hawaii) playing with and against you every day , they make you better. They are older, teachers, people you emulate.....players that are more advanced, smarter ......get my point?

A coach can train all he wants but one of the best teachers is ...showing/watching/emulating great players.

With this experience comes expectations that rise. These expectations are passed on from year to year and again TEACH. All of this makes everyone in hte program better and play at a higher level!.....are you following me?

Problem is that these players formentioned were all illegall. There fore they gave not only an unfair advantage on the playing field.....BUT ALSO THE PRACTICE FIELD!


Here is a scenario. Your coach brings in a College team to practice with and against your High School team. Illegal! HS team has to forfeit post season! Fact!

Did you know that by even bringing in college players in season to a HS practice this is illegal.

OK....in short the illegal players (oustanding as they were) did give an unfair advange to the Lewis program.......and it seems has no doubt made the team......and continues to make the team and individual players better.

Why do any of us want to play against or with great players? It makes us better. It is my OPINION that this factor has helped these guys on the Lewis Roster....more power to them!

Look at Soto....then Ptak.....then Matty. No doubt each player improved and learned from the previous player.


OH and by the way I believe this is one of the most important weaknesses of Men's volleyball.......lack of exposure to young athletes.....lack of great skilled players to watch.


Kids grow up and see how hockey, tennis, football, basketball, baseball,. etc and therefore have an instant teacher.

Excuse me while I go back to my "Bike-ride across America" followed by Bull-Riding on NBC this Sat. Afternoon.

[DaRookie]

Come on, this last person hit it on the head, Lewis has balls and heart. Deuser knew how to recruit and develope his players. I don't believe everything i hear about the NCAA junk and i'm smart enough to know how administrators will use someone as a scape goat to save their own butts. What ever Deuser did or did not do, the players he recruited and trained for 3 or 4 years just womped up on Ball State.

Right ON! Balls and Heart! Well Said! Bravo!

I truly find it amazing that Dave Deuser is not even involved in the game of volleyball at the college level and SOME people still want to bash the guy! He got the boys to the FINAL FOUR last year without those alleged illegal players and even the NCAA tried to lynch Deuser for changing a ticket for JR to another player so that the teammates could fund the cost of sending JR to Hawaii. It was a Witch Hunt!

Be that as it may, 90% of the present Lewis team is the Deuser hand-picked team. Bash this man Deuser if you want, but I can assure you that he does know how to locate and train talent. He sat in my living room over 3 years ago, 1200 miles from campus, to recruit my son. Never saw him play in person but heard from many sources at tournaments that my son had potential. He talked to us for 2 days. Over 35 other coaches from all over the country had a shot at my son but Dave was the man for the job. He is sincere and he is one helluva coach. He took a kid with good offense and minimal defense and spent the time to TEACH him the right techniques, one day at a time.

All I know about the new coach is that he is stepping into a very delicate situation and there were other candidates for the job who had spectacular resumes and qualifications. My son was involved in the interview process also. But after working with him thus far this season, I am informed that he is a fine human being and a good coach that the players just need to adjust to alittle bit. He is new to the MIVA but he knows his stuff and we all need to give him some time.

Just like we need to give teams like MSOE their opportunity for building their teams like Lewis was built. If you critics want the sport of mens volleyball to really succeed in the future, you best get on the damned bandwagon instead of standing in front of it to slow it down. As far as I see it, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Ball State will be far better by the end of the year. Lewis will always give you a good game, whether or not they are eligible for the playoffs. It's called pride gentlemen! The present Lewis players will hold their heads up high despite the critics.

For those of you who want to stir up the Dave Deuser pot some more, please try pounding some salt as an alternative! Who knows, you may enjoy it! As for me, Dave Deuser was, is, and always will be high on my list of the good people in this world!

"X" Senior

[future]

You do realize that I was not saying Dave wasn't a good coach?!.....just trying to put another perspective on this that people don't seem to consider.

[DaRookie]

You do realize that I was not saying Dave wasn't a good coach?

Our Course I realize that. My comments on the Dave bashing were primarily directed to the previous poster with the following comments:

I'm pretty sure its been established that he knowingly and repeatedly cheated, and in the long run hurt the program as much as he helped it.

Future - Your comments were accurate and I agree.

[OhNo14]

Not that i care what you think, but just to clarify, although i did throw in some "hating" on Dueser, my point was that you incorrectly gave him all the credit for Lewis beating BSU. That being said, since the match was a week ago, and Dueser probably won't ever be around volleyball again, this topic is beat.

[DaRookie]

OhNo14 said:

...and Dueser probably won't ever be around volleyball again...

I wouldn't bet too much on that one otherwise you will be saying "Oh No!"

[benwhipdrofn]

Did Deuser ever leave volleyball???haha I don't think so in fact, from what I understand he is still heavily sought out for speaking engagements and training camps.

Also, I think even if you talk to coaches they will admit Dave D was an amazing coach, he took good players and made them great. Yes, having other players that were better forced weaker players to play up to their level, but if you can't coach, those players are not going to help all that much. AND Lewis has been to the championship several times before Gustavo ever put on a Lewis uniform.