I am a 44 year supporter and follower of all grade levels of the student athletes who proudly play their hearts out for the orange and black.
The only reason I didn't submit this letter sooner is because I felt Coach Ogle had been denied due process.
With that issue resolved and because I respect and know many of the people who have spoken out on this issue, it is not easy to respectfully disagree with a lot of them.
I won't presume to self-annoint myself as the official spokesman for the vast majority of Tiger basketball fans as Matt Dick seems to have done. But having delivered the mail in this great community for more than 35 years, I can't imagine anyone, other than Dave Fulkerson, who knows and talks to more Tiger basketball fans than me.
I can only speak for myself and the 100-plus fans I have personally spoken to: Not only from our community, but long-time fans from other schools I see at the many estate sales I attend all over northern Indiana.
As a former 35-year holder of season basketball tickets. I have talked to dozens of long time fans like myself who could only bear to watch one or two seasons of "Ogleball." I hear the same two reasons why, almost without exception; not only from local fans but out-of-towners as well.
Number one is, the system in place now only vaguely resembles what was arguably the best system and program in the state under Al Rhodes. The other reason I hear, which I personally think has caused most of the problems for Coach Ogle when it comes to basketball, is his arrogant attitude and ego which get in the way and cause poor decisions in his interactions with players, parents, and long-time fans and administrators.
When Perky Plumee was interviewed by The South Bend Tribune, he said that he and Coach Ogle had a civil conversation around the kitchen table and flatly denied threatening Coach Ogle and found it troublesome that Ogle would make that claim.
Also any Coach who tells a promising, talented young player coming up through his system (and he admitted saying it ) that he ought to go and enroll another school because that's where he would end up playing varsity basketball is not the type of squeaky clean role model and leader he is painted out to be.
Never in 44 years of following Tiger sports have I seen a coach in any sport alienate so many long-time fans, including the athletic director. Knowing Dave Fulkerson to be an honest and fair administrator and long-time supporter of Coach Ogle, it should speak volumes to all Tiger fans and administrators that he no longer does.
Also, since basketball revenues have declined by $18,000 dollars and adult season ticket holders have fallen from near 2,400 to around 400 since Coach Ogle took over, that ought to tell us something.
