Dennis Gates "seemed like the genuine article to me at his very first press conference...do me a favor and click on the link below and just watch & listen for just two minutes...from about the 18:30 mark to 20:15.
To be clear...I have been moved before at such press conferences by charismatic and talented public speakers...and you always wonder, "Is this guy telling the truth? Is he really that passionate and genuine? Or is he just feeding us a line and telling us what we want to hear?"
I get it...this one press conference , though very, very good ...does not make Gates special...but it was the first sign.
Some of you will roll your eyes and make fun of my post...I get it. I can be hokey and over dramatic at times...and I've posted as such before. Many of you have judged me as a guy who likes coaches just because they are a good guy. I heard that from several of you in my post about Steve Bieser.
I'm truly not offended by that...I get it. Many of you scan the board...you just want the latest news...and I'm singing to the choir here because this post is already TL/DNR for you guys.
But I'm telling you...and we don't know for sure yet because is still too soon...but I really think Dennis Gates is DIFFERFENT...and I think he just might prove to be really special.
I don't know Dennis Gates personally...and likely never will. But I have watched him coach his team and listen to every one of his interviews I can find. I am always looking to see if I can find a flaw...a crack in the armor...a tell-tale sign letting me know that he's just trying to say the right things to "tell us what we want to hear."
I'm going to share this one story from yesterday and then I'll sign off...because I know I ramble and talk too much.
I drove to CoMo yesterday. to watch some former players at MSHSAA State Wrestling. As I was walking up the concrete stairs on the far end going up to Mizzou Arena I suddenly find myself face to face with Dennis Gates walking brisky down the stair going out as I was going in.
I could sense by the way he was walking that he didn't have time to chit-chat...so I just say as I'm wallking by, "Coach Gates! Hey...I'm a big fan!" and I start to go on my way and let him do the same.
Then he firmly but gently grabs my arm to stop me and smiles big and says, "Hey...I appreciate that...what's your name and where are you from?" So we end up talking for about 5 minutes. I just tell him how much I enjoy seeing us competitive and seeing the Arena full and the students excited again, and he says, "Well...we're trying..,lotta work to do yet...but we're getting there. Apprecioate ya...because it's going to take ALL of to get to where we wanna go!"
He told me how much he and his family love it here...LOVE the University...love the town...love the community! Then he starts asking me questions about me...wants to know about my family and my background.
I was blown away by his personality and charm...and it was obviously not phony...he was just being Dennis Gates. I was enjoying the hell out of the visit...but felt guilty about taking up his time...so I said I had better get going to wrestling and I knew he was busy and had better things to do than talk to "Joe-Fan".
He smiled big and said," I've always got time to talk to fans like you...and it's Don, right...not JOE!" as he winked and walked away. Then he turned back around smiling and blurts out, "MIZ!" I yelled back, ZOU!
So is this guy genuine? Yeah...I think so....
Can he Coach? Only time will tell...but it's looking pretty good so far...
To be clear...I have been moved before at such press conferences by charismatic and talented public speakers...and you always wonder, "Is this guy telling the truth? Is he really that passionate and genuine? Or is he just feeding us a line and telling us what we want to hear?"
I get it...this one press conference , though very, very good ...does not make Gates special...but it was the first sign.
Some of you will roll your eyes and make fun of my post...I get it. I can be hokey and over dramatic at times...and I've posted as such before. Many of you have judged me as a guy who likes coaches just because they are a good guy. I heard that from several of you in my post about Steve Bieser.
I'm truly not offended by that...I get it. Many of you scan the board...you just want the latest news...and I'm singing to the choir here because this post is already TL/DNR for you guys.
But I'm telling you...and we don't know for sure yet because is still too soon...but I really think Dennis Gates is DIFFERFENT...and I think he just might prove to be really special.
I don't know Dennis Gates personally...and likely never will. But I have watched him coach his team and listen to every one of his interviews I can find. I am always looking to see if I can find a flaw...a crack in the armor...a tell-tale sign letting me know that he's just trying to say the right things to "tell us what we want to hear."
I'm going to share this one story from yesterday and then I'll sign off...because I know I ramble and talk too much.
I drove to CoMo yesterday. to watch some former players at MSHSAA State Wrestling. As I was walking up the concrete stairs on the far end going up to Mizzou Arena I suddenly find myself face to face with Dennis Gates walking brisky down the stair going out as I was going in.
I could sense by the way he was walking that he didn't have time to chit-chat...so I just say as I'm wallking by, "Coach Gates! Hey...I'm a big fan!" and I start to go on my way and let him do the same.
Then he firmly but gently grabs my arm to stop me and smiles big and says, "Hey...I appreciate that...what's your name and where are you from?" So we end up talking for about 5 minutes. I just tell him how much I enjoy seeing us competitive and seeing the Arena full and the students excited again, and he says, "Well...we're trying..,lotta work to do yet...but we're getting there. Apprecioate ya...because it's going to take ALL of to get to where we wanna go!"
He told me how much he and his family love it here...LOVE the University...love the town...love the community! Then he starts asking me questions about me...wants to know about my family and my background.
I was blown away by his personality and charm...and it was obviously not phony...he was just being Dennis Gates. I was enjoying the hell out of the visit...but felt guilty about taking up his time...so I said I had better get going to wrestling and I knew he was busy and had better things to do than talk to "Joe-Fan".
He smiled big and said," I've always got time to talk to fans like you...and it's Don, right...not JOE!" as he winked and walked away. Then he turned back around smiling and blurts out, "MIZ!" I yelled back, ZOU!
So is this guy genuine? Yeah...I think so....
Can he Coach? Only time will tell...but it's looking pretty good so far...
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