I'd say a segment of us values loyalty and pride in the University vs. an embarrassing hissy fit by a bunch of anonymous "fans". I bet the local food pantry could use a payday in the amount spent on the embarrassing hissy fit.
My sources...
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I'd say a segment of us values loyalty and pride in the University vs. an embarrassing hissy fit by a bunch of anonymous "fans". I bet the local food pantry could use a payday in the amount spent on the embarrassing hissy fit.
Did we ever get a figure on how much a digital billboard for a week costs (is that how long they ran it?)
Agree its amazing the mileage and discussion is ongoing to this day, and still mentioned in newspapers around the country. Just saw the PROJO sports writer mention it in twitter the other day.
And somehow, some of you still think it was a rip-roaring idea.
The University of Richmond is lucky to have long term, dedicated fans like SpiderRick.
Had our most wins ever regular season following the infamous billboard. As Jethro Gibbs says "no such thing as a coincidence." Maybe it's time for a football and baseball billboard.
This year I also ate quail for the first time. So I’d actually like to have you attribute the success to me trying quail. Next season I’ll have to try another new thing so that we succeed again. I will take full credit for this season’s success
Edit: I love NCIS so props for that reference. That’s rule number 39
It's interesting that Mooney never mentioned your quail eating as motivation but did mention the billboard but if you would like to take credit carry on. Please stay away from whatever you ate the previous two seasons. That was major heartburn.
Edit: Did you eat Bob or Betty White?
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Funny, a couple people I work with are A10 fans and saw the bb and said the same thing: Why the @#$^ can't we do this.
But, 150 other teams did not have three really good returning starters, along with Blake and Nick, and a good bench coming back. Billboard or no billboard, this team was ready to take off.
And it did, justifying the AD's faith in the head coach. Too bad some just can't acknowledge that, and be happy for a great season.
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I credit the “billboard” with a new defense, a more determined coaching staff and a team with a chip on their shoulder. All of which helped this team succeed this year. Without the billboard we would have played a matchup zone and finished 17-14, Grant and Sherod would be senior transfers and Mooney would have been let go at the end of his current contract. So Hardt, Mooney and us fans may all want to thank the people who paid for the billboard.
In that case, get the gang together and do another one. I'd like to win the A-10 this year.
I'm in the camp, as I was when the billboard came out, that the pieces were in place for success once Sherod was healthy, Francis was eligible, and Burton was on campus ... but the FMM didn't see it.
I see some people still claim that Mooney himself said the billboard provided motivation, when that's not what he said. he said it was unpleasant for everyone in the program. he said some good came of it, as the team bonded together even more. but he never said it motivated him or the staff to change things or try harder like some claim.
I see some people still claim that Mooney himself said the billboard provided motivation, when that's not what he said. he said it was unpleasant for everyone in the program. he said some good came of it, as the team bonded together even more. but he never said it motivated him or the staff to change things or try harder like some claim.
I really think Nick's injury cost us several games two years ago. Maybe we never even see the billboard if we win 17 or 18 instead of 13 that year. When you have very little depth like we did then, an injury to a guy like Nick really sets you back. Yes, we lost a few early games with Nick, but the whole team was still inexperienced then. By midseason and later, we would have been a totally different team last year with a healthy Nick. This year, because of our depth, we could survive injuries better, and we went 4-2 without Blake, but last year it was a big deal to lose a starter.
The bottom line is we traded Yates last year for Nick, Blake, and Burton this year. Combine that with the other guys being that much better with more experience and this team was clearly ready for a big year.
The bottom line is we traded Yates last year for Nick, Blake, and Burton this year. Combine that with the other guys being that much better with more experience and this team was clearly ready for a big year.
This X 100.
"Say it a little louder for the haters hiding in the shadows..." is not a support-the-coach statement. It's a spike-the-ball-at-the-critics statement. Something like "Congratulations, Coach" or "Nobody more deserving" is a support-the-coach statement.
I get it. He's angry with the FMM and about the billboard. Fair enough.
Grant's a great player. He's been engaging and seems like a good young man. A class act, even. That statement? Not classy.
He's smart, too - which makes his repeated obliviousness to legit criticisms of his coach all the more baffling. He says he "doesn't get it." Mooney is entering the final year of his original, massive, unprecedented extension with zero NCAA appearances, zero Atlantic 10 titles, and zero championship games made. And he "doesn't get" that fans are critical or disappointed with the coach? Seriously?
Hardt has acknowledged and legitimized the criticism repeatedly since his arrival. Keith Oddo said he got it. I think based on his public statements, Jacob "gets it," too. Even Bob Black, while he'll never join in, understands. How could you not "get it?"
Then the weasels should come out of the shadows and take credit. Except they won't... #weasels.
Grant is by all accounts an upstanding citizen. However, as we have seen on the court numerous times, his natural tendency is to b*tch and complain when something doesn't go his way. It comes across to me as a bit of immaturity when he does is complaining routine to the refs. He gets criticized on here for doing that, rightly so.
I think I see this post in much the same way. I'm sure all of the players probably feel similarly about the billboard because they all personally like and respect Mooney and you naturally want to defend someone you respect. However, there are ways to communicate that support in a positive mature manner and there is how Grant chose to communicate it.
It's not the end of the world but again I think most coaching staffs would address this with Grant and have him simply delete it because it is does not strike the right chord with a not insignificant part of our customer base.
I also think most of the players understand the fans frustrations with the past 8 years (prior to this one) and can both understand where some of us are coming from and also still be greatly supportive of Mooney at the same time. It's called being able to see the big picture. Our players are smart, well rounded players, I think most of them get it.
I think I see this post in much the same way. I'm sure all of the players probably feel similarly about the billboard because they all personally like and respect Mooney and you naturally want to defend someone you respect. However, there are ways to communicate that support in a positive mature manner and there is how Grant chose to communicate it.
It's not the end of the world but again I think most coaching staffs would address this with Grant and have him simply delete it because it is does not strike the right chord with a not insignificant part of our customer base.
I also think most of the players understand the fans frustrations with the past 8 years (prior to this one) and can both understand where some of us are coming from and also still be greatly supportive of Mooney at the same time. It's called being able to see the big picture. Our players are smart, well rounded players, I think most of them get it.
"Mooney is entering the final year of his original, massive, unprecedented extension with zero NCAA appearances, zero Atlantic 10 titles, and zero championship games made. And he "doesn't get" that fans are critical or disappointed with the coach? Seriously?"
I quoted CB from several posts up. To me this says it all. All the pontificating one way or another boils down to accomplishments and records. Throw out all the pseudo justifications, explanations, and rationalizations. This speaks for itself. It's cut & dry. But don't let loyalty or disgust get in the way of the quoted facts and achievements or lack of.
I quoted CB from several posts up. To me this says it all. All the pontificating one way or another boils down to accomplishments and records. Throw out all the pseudo justifications, explanations, and rationalizations. This speaks for itself. It's cut & dry. But don't let loyalty or disgust get in the way of the quoted facts and achievements or lack of.
So lets use this dialog (term used loosely) as a teaching point for our poor immature Grant. What word would you suggest he use to replace "haters"? He is addressing a group of anonymous (in the shadows) "fans" who pulled the ultimate in "trolling" (trying to use hip language since I am a dinosaur): a public billboard pleading for his coach to be fired. Taylor Swift would call the perps "haters". To counsel an irresponsible Millennial, what word or phrase should Grant use that would be mature, appropriate and acceptable for the Spider board crowd?
Please Grant, never delete your tweet.
Please Grant, never delete your tweet.
I already made suggestions for a "Support your Coach" tweet. You're deflecting.
If "it" is Some fans may be disappointed that the coach is now 8 figures into his current contract without once competing for a championship. [Divide by zero error.]
Do you get it?
Do you think it's reasonable for a 22 year old (?) to "not get it?" (His words)
If "it" is Some fans may be disappointed that the coach is now 8 figures into his current contract without once competing for a championship. [Divide by zero error.]
Do you get it?
Do you think it's reasonable for a 22 year old (?) to "not get it?" (His words)
Oh, I get it. You are unhappy a player called you a "hater" after you disgraced his coach (and probably the most important mentor in his life) and his school in a most public way. And Grant is playing his trump card by highlighting his coach's success and possible contract extension after the public shaming. Well shame on you for questioning his choice of words.
I hope he reads this board to see what kind of "fans" he has.
Signing off. Unless I can't help myself.
If I could like this more I would. It's just a question of return on investment - $10 to $15 million over 10 years for these results. Really? Says a lot about our school's true commitment to excellence in sports when this is tolerated. "Compete" is a smokescreen for mediocrity.
Not a hater. Thought the billboard was poor form and reflected poorly on the University. Hope CM can consistently duplicate our results from this past season.
A numbers guy. A realist. This return on investment would not have been tolerated anywhere I ever worked.
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You sir Mr. Plant are one of the extremes I mentioned, the more in the shadows, less likable of the two extremist groups:
1) FMM - I loosely throw guys in here, though I have a notion the hard core guys that broke there bank to bankroll the billboard are a small few. Mabye even VCU fans messing with truthers (likely)
2) Truthers - Put Mooney and his longest in NCAA and not fired in a P10 conference drought above Richmond Spiders.
If I had to choose, I go with FMM.
Dodging and deflecting, again. It's a simple question. I'll assume from your straw men that you don't agree with any criticism of the coach. Grant has said that he doesn't "understand" criticism of the coach. I don't know what other sports teams he roots for, but he's never been disappointed with any coach....ever? Even if one had missed the playoffs for a decade? Maybe he was referring specifically to the billboard, but that's not how it came out.
He didn't call me a hater. I haven't disgraced his coach or our school.
Not all critics of the coach are FMM. I had nothing to do with the billboard, if that's what you're implying.
by the above definition, I don't think anyone here qualifies as a Truther. some people didn't want Mooney fired when the heat was turned up because they thought he built a roster that would win. how have they not been proven correct? or at least more correct than those who said we'd never win again with him coaching. we're considered near the top 25 preseason. how many times has that even happened? we're in good shape now.
Been here before - 2010-11, 29-8, Sweet Sixteen. Next 8 seasons, 138-128, 51.9% winning percentage. Obviously, this is acceptable performance for our university.
Great season just past, next looking strong, but a loooong track record to overcome before my skepticism is assuaged. Hope he can, but I wouldn't bet Ulla's ranch on it let alone my own.
I’m pretty middle of the road on CM but am curious, what makes you think he’s a good coach. Empirically he’s at best moderately successful.
Not being antagonistic, just curious.
I think he's a good coach. Looking at how he has done against conference teams would be a good way to see if we're talking about just an average coach, or above average. If we allow the 1st 2 years as rebuilding years (I know some won't, but I do), his last 13 seasons have produced 7 winning conference records, 3 .500 records, and 3 non winning records. His conference record during this stretch is 128-92, and 5 of the last 11 seasons has produced records of 13-3, 13-3, 14-4, 13-5, and 12-6. Just my opinion, and good coach can be defined in many different ways, but, even without allowing a few guys in that really could have helped us, Mooney has more than held his own in the A-10.
A 10 Record
T-11
T-12
T-4
T-5
3rd
3rd
T-9
T-8
7th
T-4
9th
T-3
T-5
T 10
2nd
Numbers speak for themselves. Underwhelming over 15 years.
T-11
T-12
T-4
T-5
3rd
3rd
T-9
T-8
7th
T-4
9th
T-3
T-5
T 10
2nd
Numbers speak for themselves. Underwhelming over 15 years.
Agreed that standings provide better context than number of wins in conference. It’s been ugly at times, and ho hum much of the rest of the time. Yuck.
when trying to evaluate a coach or a program over a period of time I generally throw out the top and bottom several years, any program can get lucky and get a "good" class and go on a run, or have a few misses recruiting, injuries etc and have a few bad years. So if you look at a 10 year window, throw out the top 2 and bottom 2 you have a more realistic picture.
Yes those conference numbers are not that super. And they could have been better if he didn't take so darn long to adjust. He was still talking about the matchup d like it was some big secret when other coaches were beating it like drum. This is where I see other coaches bringing in top assistants and listening to them and using there ideas and letting them prosper and fly away.
solid question. I realize those who don't think he's a good coach have plenty of ammunition. guess I'm going more by my eyes than by stats. a couple things stand out.
1) I think we have one of the best run offenses in the country. I watch other teams with plenty of talent and I think their offenses are terrible. I realize getting into our sets is often repetitive, but it works. we get good shots, we have great movement and ball movement. the ball doesn't stick. when we have the right guys running it, it's really impressive.
2) I liked the match up until it didn't work. I thought it was more a personnel issue than a scheme problem, but I might have to rethink that. regardless, Mooney couldn't make it work with our roster anymore and it took him too long to scrap it. this year he had a team that I thought would be very sub-par playing man. we were quick at the guard but small, too slow at the wing, and we had no rim protection. yet we absolutely outperformed my expectations defensively.
3) this roster. currently considered tops in the league and possibly top 25 level, and they're great kids who represent UR well. he's recruiting the right kids for UR.
I think we're in great shape going forward. I understand those that complain about the past. I'm not sure they got to fully enjoy this season though, expecting the past to repeat. sometimes you have to look forward and see the positives. we have a lot to look forward to.
For recruiting purposes I would extend his deal 2-3 years with no raise at this point. Assuming we make the NCAA tourney next year - then that is when the "real" extension and raise questions will need to be had. Especially since basically the entire team will graduate and we may fall right back to where we were last time we made back to back NCAA appearances.
In my opinion - if we make the NCAA next season and I assume we do, I would give Mooney and staff a slight raise and make Mooney's contract a rolling 5 year deal. Meaning - after each season, him and Hardt will sit down and discuss the season - if expectations were met, the deal stays at 5 years (basically getting 1 year extension at the end of the year to keep it at 5 years). If expectations are not met, it goes down to 4 and that signals to Mooney and staff clock is ticking.
BUT - and the big BUT in this scenario is that the University has to be willing to fire Mooney IF it ever gets down to 2 years on the deal. That would mean he had 3 years of failing to meet expectations and that is where I would cut the chord and pay contract and fire him. SO the school would have to be willing to pay Mooney 2 million plus to fire him in the future if needed. You simply can't let the deal run out. That sets the program back several years and shows everyone the school doesn't care about athletics.
I hope it would never get to that - as I think Mooney is a good coach and can have success, but it simply can't be every 10 years. Not for this fan or theoretical AD.
In my opinion - if we make the NCAA next season and I assume we do, I would give Mooney and staff a slight raise and make Mooney's contract a rolling 5 year deal. Meaning - after each season, him and Hardt will sit down and discuss the season - if expectations were met, the deal stays at 5 years (basically getting 1 year extension at the end of the year to keep it at 5 years). If expectations are not met, it goes down to 4 and that signals to Mooney and staff clock is ticking.
BUT - and the big BUT in this scenario is that the University has to be willing to fire Mooney IF it ever gets down to 2 years on the deal. That would mean he had 3 years of failing to meet expectations and that is where I would cut the chord and pay contract and fire him. SO the school would have to be willing to pay Mooney 2 million plus to fire him in the future if needed. You simply can't let the deal run out. That sets the program back several years and shows everyone the school doesn't care about athletics.
I hope it would never get to that - as I think Mooney is a good coach and can have success, but it simply can't be every 10 years. Not for this fan or theoretical AD.
