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2024 Richmond Spiders Football - Prologue - Lehigh

Yeah, I’m a joke for caring and wanting for some accountability. Lol
‘This affects me more than Huesman’ is wild… I appreciate you claiming to care and wanting accountability. Not enough people do. To b*tch and moan and how horrible this 10 win team is, is wild. They played horrible today. No doubt. You may be a huge part of this program, I have no idea.. if you are, you’re kicking them while they’re down which is absolutely atrocious… if you aren’t, f*uck off. They don’t need you and your seat at 6 home games. “I’m a bigger fan and care more about the game than the players and coaches care about losing” is f’ing ridiculous. You’re the one that feels that way!
 
What wete we doing at the end of the first half? I thought Matt Eberflus was running things for a minute. We should have throw twice to the endzone, then kicked a field goal if need be. Instead we ran the ball once, didn't call timeout and kicked. Ridiculous.
Worst coaching decision in the game IMO
 
What were we doing at the end of the first half? I thought Matt Eberflus was running things for a minute. We should have throw twice to the endzone, then kicked a field goal if need be. Instead we ran the ball once, didn't call timeout and kicked. Ridiculous.
Those are the types of mistakes that leave valuable points off the board. They don’t seem huge at the time but we made a bunch of them today…especially in the first half.
 
What were we doing at the end of the first half? I thought Matt Eberflus was running things for a minute. We should have throw twice to the endzone, then kicked a field goal if need be. Instead we ran the ball once, didn't call timeout and kicked. Ridiculous.
A missed opportunity for a TD instead settling for a fg. That and the 2 penalties on the first drive. Too many scoring opportunities for td were blown for one thing or the other left us taking field goals. Our execution was not there today - both sides of the ball.
 
This was certainly a good season for the Spiders but this was a really disappointing result to finish it off. Strategy and execution were both off today. It felt like we had a hangover from the disappointment of not getting a first round bye. That's certainly human nature but also disappointing that the staff and team leaders didn't do a bit more to guard against it.

Lots of blame all the way around. Upward and onward. Hopefully we can keep Cam Coleman around and have some success with the portal.
 
This was certainly a good season for the Spiders but this was a really disappointing result to finish it off. Strategy and execution were both off today. It felt like we had a hangover from the disappointment of not getting a first round bye. That's certainly human nature but also disappointing that the staff and team leaders didn't do a bit more to guard against it.

Lots of blame all the way around. Upward and onward. Hopefully we can keep Cam Coleman around and have some success with the portal.
Well said Mo.

Think today was also a product of the ridiculously soft CAA schedule. We weren’t as battle tested as we’d want to be. Ironically think we have a chance to have a more difficult schedule in the Patriot League.

Lehigh did enough to beat us. They played with a bigger chip on their shoulder. We probably celebrated the regular season a little too much. We need to win the offseason and get better.
 
Look at the other CAA results today. UNH gets bombed by UT Martin. Rhody and Nova barely survive CCSU and Eastern Kentucky, respectively.

Somehow, incredibly, we played none of those 3 CAA teams. We were basically an unknown commodity after 12 games. Really can't blame the committee for having us play this weekend.

The CAA stinks, it has dishonest leadership, and I'm glad we are out the door.
 
Look at the other CAA results today. UNH gets bombed by UT Martin. Rhody and Nova barely survive CCSU and Eastern Kentucky, respectively.

Somehow, incredibly, we played none of those 3 CAA teams. We were basically an unknown commodity after 12 games. Really can't blame the committee for having us play this weekend.

The CAA stinks, it has dishonest leadership, and I'm glad we are out the door.
Agreed. My major concerns about leaving the CAA are gone. We never play enough of the best teams to test ourselves enough for the playoffs. I hope nova and W&M join us, and then they stop adding teams.
 
Those are the types of mistakes that leave valuable points off the board. They don’t seem huge at the time but we made a bunch of them today…especially in the first half.
Spiders been flirting with this type thing to happen all year. I turned on the radio broadcast after the game ended and caught the last bit of it. They were talking about the Spiders leading the nation in redzone FGs and how having points is great, not scoring TDs is not good.
It finally bit the team today. If combined with the fact that the defense made three bad plays all day and two of them went for TDs and the other being giving up a first down on 3rd and 17 on the play before one of the TDs
 
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Look at the other CAA results today. UNH gets bombed by UT Martin. Rhody and Nova barely survive CCSU and Eastern Kentucky, respectively.

Somehow, incredibly, we played none of those 3 CAA teams. We were basically an unknown commodity after 12 games. Really can't blame the committee for having us play this weekend.

The CAA stinks, it has dishonest leadership, and I'm glad we are out the door.
1000% correct. It is not easy to win 10 straight games no matter the opponents. But look at who we beat and how we beat them for the most part. The CAA is a terrible conference and we will look back at the decision to leave as the correct decision. Awful leadership has destroyed a once dominant FCS conference.
 
Look at the other CAA results today. UNH gets bombed by UT Martin. Rhody and Nova barely survive CCSU and Eastern Kentucky, respectively.

Somehow, incredibly, we played none of those 3 CAA teams. We were basically an unknown commodity after 12 games. Really can't blame the committee for having us play this weekend.

The CAA stinks, it has dishonest leadership, and I'm glad we are out the door.
I am going to disagree. The CAA offers the chance for post season play without winning the conference. In the Patriot, we have to win the conference every year. If we don't we won't sniff the playoffs.
 
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My take aways, among others mentioned:

Huesman is not a great field general and he is not a great game strategist. He needed to expect an increased focus on stopping ZPS. He missed it.

Huesman made too many strategic errors for the team to overcome.

Lehigh dominated the Time of Possession in the 2nd half. We dominated it in the first half. At the end of the game, it was almost even. Our defense was probably worn out.
 
Final stats were pretty even across the board. Russ admits he is not a players coach in
a press conference before the W&M game. So I would think his relationship with his coaches
is not much different. He is a poor interview for the most part.
 
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Final stats were pretty even across the board. Russ admits he is not a players coach in
a press conference before the W&M game. So I would think his relationship with his coaches
is not much different. He is a poor interview for the most part.
Huesman likes to chew people out. He probably had the team completely stressed out about winning the game. What else explains the nerves that led to 2 false start penalties in the first drive at the goal line? And the numerous dropped balls? He dropped the 1-0 mentality and put a ton of pressure on the guys. He should have had them playing loose, with house money. Instead they were wound up into tight coils.

He doesn't have to watch film, he has to look in the mirror.

Huesman lost the game.

This one is on Huesman.
 
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Huesman likes to chew people out. He probably had the team completely stressed out about winning the game. What else explains the nerves that led to 2 false start penalties in the first drive at the goal line? And the numerous dropped balls? He dropped the 1-0 mentality and put a ton of pressure on the guys. He should have had them playing loose, with house money. Instead they were wound up into tight coils.

Huesman lost the game.

This one is on Huesman.
This is a good take. As much as we all love the old school coach mentality because we were raised on it, I just don’t think it works any more. Need Something to keep the kids inspired. Lehighs coach obviously had their team energized and we didn’t. Some of the games we won we were the less energetic team…. Del state, Campbell, Hampton, A&T. We won those with superior talent but that only works as long as you’re not playing physically talented teams.
 
Huesman likes to chew people out. He probably had the team completely stressed out about winning the game. What else explains the nerves that led to 2 false start penalties in the first drive at the goal line? And the numerous dropped balls? He dropped the 1-0 mentality and put a ton of pressure on the guys. He should have had them playing loose, with house money. Instead they were wound up into tight coils.

He doesn't have to watch film, he has to look in the mirror.

Huesman lost the game.

This one is on Huesman.
This is a good take. As much as we all love the old school coach mentality because we were raised on it, I just don’t think it works any more. Need Something to keep the kids inspired. Lehighs coach obviously had their team energized and we didn’t. Some of the games we won we were the less energetic team…. Del state, Campbell, Hampton, A&T. We won those with superior talent but that only works as long as you’re not playing physically talented teams.
Everyone could have done a better job yesterday including Huesman but to put the loss solely on him is ludicrous. We didn't play well yesterday because we lacked concentration not because we were nervous. False starts and dropped balls are a direct consequence of lack of concentration. We didn't respect the opponent. All the talk about the piss poor Patriot League bit us clearly in the butt. And Gallipoli that's mostly on you. These kids obviously read your posts and thought all they had to do is show up with that CAA patch on their uniform and all would be well. It doesn't work like that. That's all the motivation that Lehigh needed.
And as for Huesman chewing on people yesterday maybe he had a reason. You want people held accountable, perhaps that's what he was doing. It's a little too late to wait until after the game and do it in the privacy of his office. You can't have it both ways. Offense, defense and special teams all contributed to the loss yesterday. They all should be looking in the mirror. We better start getting ready for next year because Lehigh and Holy Cross will be waiting.
 
The success of a leader lies in being able to get everyone behind you and doing their very best in following the plan. It was obvious yesterday that some assistant coaches and players did not do their jobs, whether it was preforming or decision making.
 
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Everyone could have done a better job yesterday including Huesman but to put the loss solely on him is ludicrous. We didn't play well yesterday because we lacked concentration not because we were nervous. False starts and dropped balls are a direct consequence of lack of concentration. We didn't respect the opponent. All the talk about the piss poor Patriot League bit us clearly in the butt. And Gallipoli that's mostly on you. These kids obviously read your posts and thought all they had to do is show up with that CAA patch on their uniform and all would be well. It doesn't work like that. That's all the motivation that Lehigh needed.
And as for Huesman chewing on people yesterday maybe he had a reason. You want people held accountable, perhaps that's what he was doing. It's a little too late to wait until after the game and do it in the privacy of his office. You can't have it both ways. Offense, defense and special teams all contributed to the loss yesterday. They all should be looking in the mirror. We better start getting ready for next year because Lehigh and Holy Cross will be waiting.
I hereby accept full responsibility for the loss yesterday.
However, my discussions are directed at the Administration, which at every turn has kneecapped the football team. They did it to Jim Reid's team, they did it to Danny Rocco's team and they did it to Huesman's team.
 
I hereby accept full responsibility for the loss yesterday.
However, my discussions are directed at the Administration, which at every turn has kneecapped the football team. They did it to Jim Reid's team, they did it to Danny Rocco's team and they did it to Huesman's team.
Thanks for being a stand up guy.

"Huesman lost the game."

"This one is on Huesman."

Sounds like it was directed at the Administration to me.
 
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This is a good take. As much as we all love the old school coach mentality because we were raised on it, I just don’t think it works any more. Need Something to keep the kids inspired. Lehighs coach obviously had their team energized and we didn’t. Some of the games we won we were the less energetic team…. Del state, Campbell, Hampton, A&T. We won those with superior talent but that only works as long as you’re not playing physically talented teams.
Fanatic, good point. Players need motivation and they also need to be held accountable. I give Russ credit for changing a veteran, grad student kicker for a freshmen from Ireland. He left Cam as QB, blowing his Redshirt cause Cam gave us the best chance at success. But yesterday there were plenty of mistakes on the sidelines but just as many on the field: #21 had 2 interceptions but he was sucked in, lost the corner and allowed that long TD run. Our DBs had other opportunities to knock the ball down or intercept, but ended up with long gains or that last back breaking TD. How many key throws were dropped by our receivers that would have made all the difference in the world. We ran into a fundamentally strong, well coached team with some excellent skill players we had trouble controlling. I also think our seeding got in our head.
 
I just read the RTD article by O’Connor. Subtitle - 3 trips inside 10 result in 3 field goals for UR. Nothing that anybody at the game or on tv didn’t see, but seeing it in print makes it seem worse.

Just too many blown opportunities and missed plays yesterday. Hopefully we never experience a game like this again. Onto next season.
 

No we’re not Alabama and Russ isn’t Saban but Saban’s comments apply here. I hear Russ and Saban have a great relationship, speak every year.
 
Fanatic, good point. Players need motivation and they also need to be held accountable. I give Russ credit for changing a veteran, grad student kicker for a freshmen from Ireland. He left Cam as QB, blowing his Redshirt cause Cam gave us the best chance at success. But yesterday there were plenty of mistakes on the sidelines but just as many on the field: #21 had 2 interceptions but he was sucked in, lost the corner and allowed that long TD run. Our DBs had other opportunities to knock the ball down or intercept, but ended up with long gains or that last back breaking TD. How many key throws were dropped by our receivers that would have made all the difference in the world. We ran into a fundamentally strong, well coached team with some excellent skill players we had trouble controlling. I also think our seeding got in our head.
Good point. This makes me come back to playing four 1 win teams. It becomes harder to hold players accountable when they’re not challenged enough to expose their flaws. Makes me glad that we’re leaving the CAA because it doesn’t seem like our strength of schedule can get any worse.
 
1000% correct. It is not easy to win 10 straight games no matter the opponents. But look at who we beat and how we beat them for the most part. The CAA is a terrible conference and we will look back at the decision to leave as the correct decision. Awful leadership has destroyed a once dominant FCS conference.
The only problem is even if Spiders make the PL better it is still a one bid conference and even with the loss of Delaware and Richmond the CAA is a three or four bid conference. One slip in conference could likely mean Turkey Day with the family in the future and for that reason and others I am not sure about the move (hope I am wrong).
 
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The only problem is even if Spiders make the PL better it is still a one bid conference and even with the loss of Delaware and Richmond the CAA is a three or four bid conference. One slip in conference could likely mean Turkey Day with the family in the future and for that reason and others I am not sure about the move (hope I am wrong).
time will tell
 
The only problem is even if Spiders make the PL better it is still a one bid conference and even with the loss of Delaware and Richmond the CAA is a three or four bid conference. One slip in conference could likely mean Turkey Day with the family in the future and for that reason and others I am not sure about the move (hope I am wrong).
Here's the problem. The CAA has been decimated by defections by strong teams, JMU, Delaware and Richmond, while simultaneously adding a bunch of cupcakes, who are wannabes.

How strong is the CAA when nationally its undefeated champion isn't considered among the best 8 FCS teams in the country? This is on the Commish. Destroyed a sound, respected conference.

In the future, expect most years PL to get 2 and the CAA no more than 3. One is ascending with the Spider addition, the other is withering.
 
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