Letter to UR Athletic Director
- Thread starter 8legs
- Start date
We are clearly very good at creating committees to find architects. Not so good when it comes to committees for athletic hires
Why? Our academic profile has never been higher. We've set records for applications. We stayed open through the entire academic year, with minimal disruption. I'd say he's done an outstanding job.
It's up to the AD to fire the basketball coach, not the president. It's time for Hardt to do his job, and act. If he wants to fire Mooney, a lame-duck president isn't going to stand in his way.
Yeah, Wood Hall is spot-on here. Crutcher has built upon Ayers's rebranding after the Cooper "mush" debacle. And expanded our profile, raised our standards, welcomed in new folks, etc. He and Dr. Betty have been cheerleaders and supporters at all levels of on- and off-campus life, for students & alums and community members alike.
It was up to PQ and David Walsh, among others, who had the heavy-hand in bringing in Hardt and keeping Mooney. One or both of them need to go.
We have our new prez...I started a new thread to keep this one about AD/coaching.
richmond.forums.rivals.com
New President - Cornell B-School Dean Kevin Hallock
No announcement yet, but I poked around and found the website. He starts along with the next academic year this fall. https://presidentelect.richmond.edu
richmond.forums.rivals.com
i just sent my email to jhardt@richmond.edu like the OP suggested.
My message simply said...
"Please give the passionate Alumni and Supporters our Basketball Program back".
My message simply said...
"Please give the passionate Alumni and Supporters our Basketball Program back".
It's the AD's job to oversee the athletic department, not a lame-duck president. If athletics falter, Hardt's job is on the line, not the president's. Time for Hardt to do his job.
Besides covid and the ridiculous joke of an extension Hardt gave Mooney giving some cover, this Presidential hiring may be another. Anyone think so? I mean there are a million reasons to make a change and they are obvious. Personally I don't think you want to burden the new Pres with that kind of decision early on and let outgoing admin take it on for him almost as courtesy. Of course some will say let the new admin make that call. if so nothing happens to 2022 at earliest.
I believe the former is best approach but my instincts are a 180 from U of R's so I know where this is heading.
For what it’s worth, I feel compelled to follow up and say that I actually received a lengthy email response today from AD Hardt. I won’t cut and paste his entire response. But the paraphrased crux was....”I am very disappointed that the team did not meet expectations this season but the future is bright and our student-athletes are to be commended for the way they handled the challenges of Covid and injuries. Thank you and please continue your loyal support.”
Felt like “This is a recording...”. Only surprise was actually getting a response. Status quo.
Felt like “This is a recording...”. Only surprise was actually getting a response. Status quo.
So Hardt is stealing lines from Gallipoli now? Or is he Gallipoli??
How, exactly, is the future bright, Johnny Boy? The PRESENT was supposed to be the brightest damn bright we've ever seen here, and instead your coach humiliated himself. Answer to that.
How, exactly, is the future bright, Johnny Boy? The PRESENT was supposed to be the brightest damn bright we've ever seen here, and instead your coach humiliated himself. Answer to that.
So I’ll give participation credit that someone took the time to reply whether it was the AD or a minion. Shows at least a marginal degree that someone gives a sh#%.
The future is bright stuff (presumably not verbatim) is a really concerning epitaph. In like three years? That signals an alarming overestimation of what’s in store and when. Not reassuring that the AD is a good evaluator of the present or the future.
The future is bright stuff (presumably not verbatim) is a really concerning epitaph. In like three years? That signals an alarming overestimation of what’s in store and when. Not reassuring that the AD is a good evaluator of the present or the future.
I must admit, it is funny. I claim no authorship of any communication from the Athletic Department. My dog, Winston, may have had a paw in it.
However, my dog Winston always has a sunny outlook. To him, the future is bright. His instincts are as good as the next.
I am not sure. Winston`s strengths are wagging his tail and chasing squirrels. He can certainly teach the finer techniques of these skills to anyone in the Athletic Department. The issue is whether they would learn anything.
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That's big hat no cattle Hardt. It was evident to me basically immediately at his hiring, and validated by some personal interaction as well.
The extension looks horrific, unfortunately there were many of us saying it was an easy time to wait out and see how this season went.
And now a coaching change would just highlight that stupidity and put a focus on the AD.
He can't answer why the future is bright, we'd love to know stop holding out on us. Why is Chris Mooney the right guy to be the coach going forward. It should be an easy answer. But when it's not you get a lot of that meaningless fluff, a lot of big hat no cattle.
The extension looks horrific, unfortunately there were many of us saying it was an easy time to wait out and see how this season went.
And now a coaching change would just highlight that stupidity and put a focus on the AD.
He can't answer why the future is bright, we'd love to know stop holding out on us. Why is Chris Mooney the right guy to be the coach going forward. It should be an easy answer. But when it's not you get a lot of that meaningless fluff, a lot of big hat no cattle.
The future is bright. Sunny days are ahead. The program is headed in the right direction.
That quote was written on the White Star Line company board in 1912. Captain John Mooney Smith at the helm.
lol, I don't know what you guys want him to say.
"You know what ... you're right. The future sucks. Mooney sucks. I'll fire him tomorrow. And then I'll resign. Thanks for the suggestion".
"You know what ... you're right. The future sucks. Mooney sucks. I'll fire him tomorrow. And then I'll resign. Thanks for the suggestion".
There are plenty of people here who would like him to say exactly that.
well of course. guess I meant what would you realistically hope for him to say.
So objectively we all know that’s this is appropriate PR-speak.
I know you’re smart enough to recognize that’s not the point. The point is that he’s either ignorant of what the cupboard looks like (bad) or lying to people (worse). It’s derelict to stay the course if our stated objective is to compete for championships, by which I mean actually win one every now and then. Words matter, intent matters, and actions matter.
No one should be apologizing or giving cover to this nonsense.
I just think he said exactly what he could and should say and what any AD would say in the same situation.
as for the cupboard, I'm in the minority. I think any time you graduate a class that dominates the minutes like the seniors did for us, it's not going to look good. but despite the impressive scoring numbers of the seniors, we didn't win as much as expected. I believe we'll be better defensively next year.
I expect an adjustment period, but we have talent. we need to fill a big man spot. if we get a good one, I'll be excited. I'd throw a couple names out but I don't want to get 97 all fired up.
as for the cupboard, I'm in the minority. I think any time you graduate a class that dominates the minutes like the seniors did for us, it's not going to look good. but despite the impressive scoring numbers of the seniors, we didn't win as much as expected. I believe we'll be better defensively next year.
I expect an adjustment period, but we have talent. we need to fill a big man spot. if we get a good one, I'll be excited. I'd throw a couple names out but I don't want to get 97 all fired up.
Ced Lindsay had a good role & averaged 16.5 minutes as frosh on a S16 team. I’m convinced Mooney would have played Wilson & Dji more had they been ready esp after our bench got shorter. The incoming ones are very much unknowns except for probably Nelson. I don’t think unfair to question the cupboard.
.....and when the cupboard was filled with “the best recruiting class ever” we finished eighth and “couldn’t match other team’s intensity”.
didn't say it was unfair to question the cupboard. just that it's likely better than we know since the seniors played so much.
this year we had 2 clear every minute type guards. plus Goose. Dji and Isaiah were buried.
as for Ced ... he was good right away but some of that was just opportunity. we played 3 guards that year. KA played almost every minute at point. if sophomore year Brothers was ready to be an every minute guy, Ced might have been buried too. instead Brothers and Lindsay split time at the the 2.
this year we had 2 clear every minute type guards. plus Goose. Dji and Isaiah were buried.
as for Ced ... he was good right away but some of that was just opportunity. we played 3 guards that year. KA played almost every minute at point. if sophomore year Brothers was ready to be an every minute guy, Ced might have been buried too. instead Brothers and Lindsay split time at the the 2.
Mooney is going nowhere. Hardt has already expressed his support and I have a feeling, if history follows itself - that Mooney will basically meet or exceed the lower expectations. Minus his first 2 seasons, his worse finish is 10th and 9th.
Lets assume he gets 1 senior to return - doesn't really matter who it is. But you get 1 to return, with Burton, and then I think Wilson will have games where he looks good (and others where not so good). Then you throw in Goose for a little bit of defense, get Grace and Sal splitting time and I think you have a recipe for an A10 finish around 8-10 or 9-9. I would expect the OOC to be light next season, so I think we finish around .500 for the season and the narrative will be the future is bright with so many young guys on the roster and turnover we experienced. He might even get a short extension as a result.
As far as what Hardt should say - its very simple. I believe it was at the end of last season or may be year before. He made a statement that he and Chris talked about the future of the program and where they want to be going. He can simply come out now if he wanted - say the program did not meet the expectations of the players, coaches, administration, or fans and that they are very grateful of all the hard work Coach Mooney and have staff have put into UR Basketball and community, but now is the time to move in another direction.
Lets assume he gets 1 senior to return - doesn't really matter who it is. But you get 1 to return, with Burton, and then I think Wilson will have games where he looks good (and others where not so good). Then you throw in Goose for a little bit of defense, get Grace and Sal splitting time and I think you have a recipe for an A10 finish around 8-10 or 9-9. I would expect the OOC to be light next season, so I think we finish around .500 for the season and the narrative will be the future is bright with so many young guys on the roster and turnover we experienced. He might even get a short extension as a result.
As far as what Hardt should say - its very simple. I believe it was at the end of last season or may be year before. He made a statement that he and Chris talked about the future of the program and where they want to be going. He can simply come out now if he wanted - say the program did not meet the expectations of the players, coaches, administration, or fans and that they are very grateful of all the hard work Coach Mooney and have staff have put into UR Basketball and community, but now is the time to move in another direction.
Trap, good analysis. I see us a bit worse at 12th in the league and only winning single digit games overall.
