Dave Bliss Speaks

Central Texas Weather and News Authority

Home · News · Weather · Sports · Politics · Job Board · CarSoup · Food · Calendar · TV · Contact Us · 10 Cares · Our Town Texas

Dot Com Daily · KWTX To Go · Desktop Alert · Fun & Games

Dave Bliss Speaks

Topic Author: Julie Shelton

Posted: 8:45 PM Apr 25, 2008

Replies Posted: 14 comments

Save

del.icio.us

Google

Yahoo

digg

Recent Blog Topics

Cheri Oteri's Dad Murdered

Countdown to the Race

Dave Bliss Speaks

Race for the Cure

Spitzer Scandal

Madness on The Interstate

Post Your Comments

Dave Bliss Speaks

You may have seen the promotions by now, but in case you haven't, you'll want to tune in Monday at 10pm as we start a three part series with former head Baylor men's basketball Coach Dave Bliss. It was five years ago this summer that Bliss found himself caught in the middle of one of the biggest scandals in the history of college sports. Bliss resigned the summer of 2003 after school investigators determined, amoung other things, he had been paying tuition for two players on the team...one being Patrick Dennehy. Dennehy was the player who went missing and then turned up dead at the hands of his teammate, Carlton Dotson.

After Bliss resigned, he told me he left Central Texas out of shame, more than anything else. For the past five years, he's been in hiding, and what you see Monday at 10pm, is the first time Bliss has faced questions publically about his involvment in the fall of the men's basketball program. Believe me, I know there will be some of you that would rather leave the past in the past, and never hear Dave Bliss' name again. I can promise you he has a message for you, too. I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say he holds nothing back. I think you'll be suprised at how open the coach was to questions, and how much he has to say to the Central Texas community and Baylor fans around the globe. I'll also be joining Bill and Emily on Monday morning during the 6:30am hour, to give you a preview.

Posted by: Brian I appreciate Julie's blog posts and I especially appreciate her candid responses to people who comment! I can easily imagine the higher-ups not letting their anchor personally respond to comments on her own blog. So cheers to Julie and to KWTX for allowing all of us freedom of speech on here.

Posted by: Julie Location: KWTX
Mary, You are 100% right that the murder and the illegal payments are NOT connected. I do think often people forget that very important point. I believe the part most are upset with is what transpired AFTER the murder. The tapes that were leaked in which Bliss urged his players and coaches to paint Dennehy as a drug dealer..in order to cover up his illegal payments. I can't speak for everyone, but I imagine that's the part that is most upsetting to many fans.

Posted by: Mary Location: Cove
I am not much of a sports fan at all, but I could not help being aware of this story. What I don't understand about all of this is what is so terrible that Dave Bliss did. If I get it right, he was paying tuition for Patrick Dennehy, and Patrick Dennehy was murdered. Am I right that these two issues are unconnected? If that is correct, it seems that Bliss's "sin" was in paying Dennehy's tuition? If so, this is the part I don't understand... Every year, many, many athletes, even those who are academic disasters, have their tuition paid just for a school to have them on their team. What is different about this case? It is an athlete having his tuition paid so he could be on a team. Am I missing something?

Posted by: Julie Location: KWTX
Lynda..thanks for having my back! Thanks for your comments, too...

Posted by: Lynda Location: Killeen
When this story first broke, I was living at Cannon A.F.B in NM. This was a rather large story contected to UNM. I hate it that this happened, but I hope that parents will open their eyes and be involved in their children's lives. I can't imagine losing one of my children, and I refuse to be left out of the loop. Dave Bliss have to answer to GOD now. No matter what we do or say. What he did was awful, and GOD will make sure to do what needs to be done! Leaving tacky comments for Julie is not going to change that fact.

Posted by: james Location: morgans point
bliss was fired from New Mexico at albuquerque 15- 20 years ago for illegal requiting. Baylor should have checked

Posted by: Julie Location: KWTX
John Boy..I do see that on Adam's post. I think he was making a joke about an older post..but I agree..he probably shouldn't be calling himself that...Thanks for the post!

Posted by: john boy i agree, but your sports reporter called himself that on his last blog and if you don't want that kind of stuff to come back on you or anyone else, then don't post stuff like that. just my opinion. thanks.

Posted by: Lory I did not follow BU sports back when Dave Bliss was coaching. I was more of the UMHB persuasion at the time, since I was in school there. Because I do not know much about the situation, I am interested to hear the series. I know many people will not appreciate it simply because of what it is, and I can understand that. But I intend to keep an open mind as I listen to what Bliss has to say as he reflects back on some very difficult and painful moments.

Posted by: Julie Location: KWTX
You all feel free to post whatever you'd like. John Boy accept my apologies...You were mistaken for someone else who has caused some problems with me personally...aside from the blogs. That being said, feel free to comment away. No one is blocking your views. Carly, you can feel free to post, too. I will have to add here, I think it's funny that on all of our anchor and reporter blogs there are some that only chime to take a shot at one of us. It typically has nothing to do with opinion on a subject matter or blog, but rather about Gordon enjoying hunting, or how Dave Bliss would talk to ME...or just calling one of our sports guys a moron. And then there's an entire thread someone decided to create attacking Christopher Heath, one of our most valued employees. We actually have found a way to find humor in it all. There's something that gives bloggers a sense of courage...writing attacks behind the comfort and anonymity of a computer screen and phony name. As for the original post, Carly, believe me, I'm fully aware there will be alot of people who never want to hear Dave Bliss' name around Baylor basketball again. I got the interview after discovering Bliss would be in San Antonio during the final four this year. He know lives in Colorado. I knew the former coach back when he was coaching at Baylor.

Posted by: Carly Location: Salado
Yes...and I noticed that a previous post that reflected a negative opinion was deleted from her blog. Guess she doesn't like anything opposing her views!

Posted by: john boy Basically all of the blogs that you have that has to have comments "approved" before they are posted by the "moderator" and there are several of us that don't like that one bit and by doing that, the "moderator(s") are violating our "freedom of speech" and that's in the "Constitution". Check it out. That's why "Moderator" is another word for "censorship".