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Richmond Athletics is a Zombie

MolivaManiac

MolivaManiac

Spider's Club
Feb 8, 2004
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Results somewhere between mediocre and poor in our ticket-selling sports. Mediocre coaching to mediocre talent. Letting football programs like Stony Brook and Elon pass us by.

Gushing praise of non rev sports competing in a really non-competitive Atlantic 10 (and SoCon).

A turnstile of staffers coming and going in the the Robins Center. Stale voices calling the action. An aging group of supporters and little excitement to generate new supporters.

The entirety of UR athletics seems like a meandering and lifeless zombie. Hardt has some real challenges on his hands here.
 
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MolivaManiac said:
Results somewhere between mediocre and poor in our ticket-selling sports. Mediocre coaching to mediocre talent. Letting football programs like Stony Brook and Elon pass us by.

Gushing praise of non rev sports competing in a really non-competitive Atlantic 10 (and SoCon).

A turnstile of staffers coming and going in the the Robins Center. Stale voices calling the action. An aging group of supporters and little excitement to generate new supporters.

The entirety of UR athletics seems like a meandering and lifeless zombie. Hardt has some real challenges on his hands here.
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That's it. I'm breaking out the Basil Hayden's.
 
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Amen! When you have your eyes only on non rev sports and not have an enthusiastic fan base you are begging for trouble. Stony and Elon shouldn't beat UR. It's a problem and I don't think it will change.
 
MolivaManiac said:
Results somewhere between mediocre and poor in our ticket-selling sports. Mediocre coaching to mediocre talent. Letting football programs like Stony Brook and Elon pass us by.

Gushing praise of non rev sports competing in a really non-competitive Atlantic 10 (and SoCon).

A turnstile of staffers coming and going in the the Robins Center. Stale voices calling the action. An aging group of supporters and little excitement to generate new supporters.

The entirety of UR athletics seems like a meandering and lifeless zombie. Hardt has some real challenges on his hands here.
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So true. We are headed in the same direction as our buddies in Williamsburg.
 
MolivaManiac said:
Results somewhere between mediocre and poor in our ticket-selling sports. Mediocre coaching to mediocre talent. Letting football programs like Stony Brook and Elon pass us by.

Gushing praise of non rev sports competing in a really non-competitive Atlantic 10 (and SoCon).

A turnstile of staffers coming and going in the the Robins Center. Stale voices calling the action. An aging group of supporters and little excitement to generate new supporters.

The entirety of UR athletics seems like a meandering and lifeless zombie. Hardt has some real challenges on his hands here.
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We are a William and Mary clone by design!
 
Nailed it, Mo.

And how much money has been thrown at this sputtering Buick of an Athl Dept in the last 10 yrs? $75 million?
 
I am as disappointed with this loss as the rest of you, but I wouldn't go as far to say we are in Zombie land. Under Keith Gill we were, but under Hardt I have only seen positive signs.

We had record ticket sales last year in basketball. We finished 3rd in attendance in A10 and had one of - if not the highest - attendance in the country for a school of our size. We are completing a $16 million basketball facility that will elevate our basketball program nationally. We also finished a $10 million renovation of our football, weight room, and sports medicine room among other things. On paper, Huesman is bringing in next year the best recruiting class I can remember.

I think our social media presence and advertising has also improved. We have plenty of fans both young and old and are doing a solid job with supporting teams considering how we have under performed the past few years and are a small school. I'm also glad we are focusing more on our non-revenue sports, as long as it isn't detracting from our two main sports (which it isn't as illustrated by the $25 million+ funding). Our lacrosse program has done a remarkable job the past few years. Our baseball team finished much stronger last year and our golf teams have shown improvement.

I have my own connections with the athletic department and can unequivocally say that Hardt is not complacent with mediocrity. He has been an AD for a couple of decades now. He knows what he is doing. This is a process and will take time.

The biggest sign I want to see out of Hardt is how he handles the Mooney situation if we have another underwhelming year this season. I also want to see how Huesman and company adjust their game plan for the rest of the season because clearly what we have been doing is not working.

We have high expectations for our programs, as we should. While things may stink now, bigger picture, I believe our athletics are moving in the right direction.
 
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spiderstudent17 said:
I am as disappointed with this loss as the rest of you, but I wouldn't go as far to say we are in Zombie land. Under Keith Gill we were, but under Hardt I have only seen positive signs.

We had record ticket sales last year in basketball. We finished 3rd in attendance in A10 and had one of - if not the highest - attendance in the country for a school of our size. We are completing a $16 million basketball facility that will elevate our basketball program nationally. We also finished a $10 million renovation of our football, weight room, and sports medicine room among other things. On paper, Huesman is bringing in next year the best recruiting class I can remember.

I think our social media presence and advertising has also improved. We have plenty of fans both young and old and are doing a solid job with supporting teams considering how we have under performed the past few years and are a small school. I'm also glad we are focusing more on our non-revenue sports, as long as it isn't detracting from our two main sports (which it isn't as illustrated by the $25 million+ funding). Our lacrosse program has done a remarkable job the past few years. Our baseball team finished much stronger last year and our golf teams have shown improvement.

I have my own connections with the athletic department and can unequivocally say that Hardt is not complacent with mediocrity. He has been an AD for a couple of decades now. He knows what he is doing. This is a process and will take time.

The biggest sign I want to see out of Hardt is how he handles the Mooney situation if we have another underwhelming year this season. I also want to see how Huesman and company adjust their game plan for the rest of the season because clearly what we have been doing is not working.

We have high expectations for our programs, as we should. While things may stink now, bigger picture, I believe our athletics are moving in the right direction.
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17, appreciate you trying to lighten the pall here, but with all due respect 12-20 and 6-5 do not appear to be the right direction to this Spider.
 
The biggest sign I want to see out of Hardt is how he handles the Mooney situation if we have another underwhelming year this season. I also want to see how Huesman and company adjust their game plan for the rest of the season because clearly what we have been doing is not working.

We have high expectations for our programs, as we should. While things may stink now, bigger picture, I believe our athletics are moving in the right direction.[/QUOTE]
And your evidence for that 'moving in the right direction is'......what..... a hope?
 
KE Spider said:
````

17, appreciate you trying to lighten the pall here, but with all due respect 12-20 and 6-5 do not appear to be the right direction to this Spider.
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KE,

I try to call things as I see them. Whether it is my position on our basketball program, football, etc. I try to be as logical and consistent with my thinking as possible. I don't ride the high's too high and I don't ride the lows.too low.

Truth is, we are not playing good football and it looks like we are going to finish with at most 4 wins this season. Huesman, who has done a great job recruiting, may not be our guy at the end of the day. He did a great job as our defensive coordinator, did a great job in Chatanooga, but how that translates as a HC in Richmond only time will tell.

In the moment, 12-20 and 6-5 are not good at all. However, this thread is about the stagnancy of our athletics as a whole. And I don't quite agree with that. Behind the scenes we are making a lot of movement to push us in the right direction. While results aren't showing up now, that doesn't mean we aren't doing the right things and heading in a positive direction. The million dollar question will be to see what Hardt does with Mooney after this season in basketball. With football, we have to give Huesman at least 1 more year after this to see appreciable results.

Again, I have some connections with the athletic department. Hardt is a very good AD. I have full trust in him that he will elevate all our athletic programs, and mostly basketball. This won't happen overnight and the road may look muddy now with our W-L record, but as a whole we are moving in the right direction.
 
I-M-UR said:
The biggest sign I want to see out of Hardt is how he handles the Mooney situation if we have another underwhelming year this season. I also want to see how Huesman and company adjust their game plan for the rest of the season because clearly what we have been doing is not working.

We have high expectations for our programs, as we should. While things may stink now, bigger picture, I believe our athletics are moving in the right direction.
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And your evidence for that 'moving in the right direction is'......what..... a hope?[/QUOTE]

Not hope, facts. We are elevating our facility profiles in basketball and football to compete at the highest levels. Huesman is bringing in his strongest recruiting class yet. Also, first-hand I can say Hardt wants to win and knows what it takes to get there.

As of right now, I am happy with our direction even though our basketball and football results have not been great. If Hardt doesn't fire Mooney if we have another poor season this year, I will reassess my position. For now, Hardt is doing everything he can be doing.
 
spiderstudent17 said:
KE,

I try to call things as I see them. Whether it is my position on our basketball program, football, etc. I try to be as logical and consistent with my thinking as possible. I don't ride the high's too high and I don't ride the lows.too low.

Truth is, we are not playing good football and it looks like we are going to finish with at most 4 wins this season. Huesman, who has done a great job recruiting, may not be our guy at the end of the day. He did a great job as our defensive coordinator, did a great job in Chatanooga, but how that translates as a HC in Richmond only time will tell.

In the moment, 12-20 and 6-5 are not good at all. However, this thread is about the stagnancy of our athletics as a whole. And I don't quite agree with that. Behind the scenes we are making a lot of movement to push us in the right direction. While results aren't showing up now, that doesn't mean we aren't doing the right things and heading in a positive direction. The million dollar question will be to see what Hardt does with Mooney after this season in basketball. With football, we have to give Huesman at least 1 more year after this to see appreciable results.

Again, I have some connections with the athletic department. Hardt is a very good AD. I have full trust in him that he will elevate all our athletic programs, and mostly basketball. This won't happen overnight and the road may look muddy now with our W-L record, but as a whole we are moving in the right direction.
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17, I sincerely hope you are right.
 
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The arms race in the CAA is real. UR did a wonderful thing by getting the new facility but with all do respect people freaking don't care about lacrisse, baseball or soccer. If you not winning in the big two football and basketball you are in a world of trouble. Those non revs don't move the needle.
 
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I don't believe it is possible to compete for FCS Championships any more without a significant number of FBS transfers. Garnering enough qualifying FBS transfers is problematic for us. We will see difference this makes next week against JMU.
 
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SpiderAlways said:
17, I believe in what you are saying. Rocco saw his crap recruiting and got the hell out. Huesman needs 4 years then we see. Mooney needs to go!
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I believe in what 17 is saying also but I do not think Rocco had trash recruiting by any means. And I dont want to wait for 3 more seasons with Huesman to assess whether hes a good coach or not. I want to see how he coaches with the cards hes dealt just like how any other new coach has to do.
 
17, I hope you're right, too. But while Bucknell basketball is regularly in the PL conversation, Bison football has but one conference championship, and I think it predates Hardt.
 
spiderstudent17 said:
And your evidence for that 'moving in the right direction is'......what..... a hope?
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Not hope, facts. We are elevating our facility profiles in basketball and football to compete at the highest levels. Huesman is bringing in his strongest recruiting class yet. Also, first-hand I can say Hardt wants to win and knows what it takes to get there.

As of right now, I am happy with our direction even though our basketball and football results have not been great. If Hardt doesn't fire Mooney if we have another poor season this year, I will reassess my position. For now, Hardt is doing everything he can be doing.[/QUOTE]
Facilities are an asset but if they were the answer the BBall program would be in the NCAA every year.
How many times do I have to hear 'this is the best recruiting class' it seldom works out that way. I certainly haven't given up on Huesman or Hardt but it's management that is one of, if not the biggest factor in outcome.
 
I-M-UR said:
Facilities are an asset but if they were the answer the BBall program would be in the NCAA every year.
How many times do I have to hear 'this is the best recruiting class' it seldom works out that way. I certainly haven't given up on Huesman or Hardt but it's management that is one of, if not the biggest factor in outcome.
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You are correct when you say facilities are only an asset. They are not going to magically make us a better/NCAA team. However, these facilities are only one - big - aspect of moving our bball program to where it needs to be. It is simply another piece of the puzzle that needs to be done. The facilities, coupled with a great coach/recruiter will pay off dividends. This leads me to other big component of building a strong basketball team and that of course coaching. How Hardt handles the Mooney situation will be the most important decision so far in his tenure here. That remains to be seen. In the meantime, building this facility is the best thing we can be doing for our basketball program. Again, this doesn't address the underlying problem that is Mooney's inability to coach at an A10 level. However, it does address the importance of keeping up with other premier A10 programs in our conference. As Hardt eloquently put it in several of his interviews "Facilities are the physical manifestation of our University's commitment to athletic excellence"

I haven't given up on Huesman either. He was a proven defensive coordinator in our national championship campaign, took an irrelevant Chattanooga and made them nationally relevant, and is recruiting top level talent to come play here. This doesn't guarantee that Huesman will be a great HC here, but all signs point that he will be. Keep in mind that the CAA is the best conference in FCS. We are playing against top 25 talent nearly every week with the smallest football roster in the conference. We have to give Huesman all of this year and next year before getting an accurate sample size of his ability to coach at the CAA level. Right now I see more of an offensive coordinator problem than a head coaching problem.​
 
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Smallest roster you are correct! If you look at other schools rosters its by a margin of maybe 15 to 20 players and you might think they have walk ons, but whose going to walk on at UR. Tuition is to much to walk on. That will never change. Just deal with it!
JMU has 116 players
Towson 105 players
Don't know what the other schools have roster size but its significantly larger then UR roster.
 
Wow, some of you would be slashing your wrists if you had been at U of R in 1966.
“The D-1 school with the longest losing streak in the nation is... yep, Richmond.”
 
“Also, first-hand I can say Hardt wants to win and knows what it takes to get there.”


I think people are really overstating Hardt’s pedigree. He’s coming to us from Bucknell, not Ohio State. Bucknell has done well in basketball for a few years due to a couple coaches they have had, and a current NBA player that they lucked out on. What else makes us think that he’s well equipped to take all of our programs to the next level?
 
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AnnapSpider said:
Wow, some of you would be slashing your wrists if you had been at U of R in 1966.
“The D-1 school with the longest losing streak in the nation is... yep, Richmond.”
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The Spiders will not go winless this season. We've had three winless years: 1965, 1979 and 1982.
 
PASpider said:
“Also, first-hand I can say Hardt wants to win and knows what it takes to get there.”


I think people are really overstating Hardt’s pedigree. He’s coming to us from Bucknell, not Ohio State. Bucknell has done well in basketball for a few years due to a couple coaches they have had, and a current NBA player that they lucked out on. What else makes us think that he’s well equipped to take all of our programs to the next level?
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Perhaps, a little too much optimism has been infused into the replacement of Gill with Hardt and the replacement of Rocco with Huesman. However, would you not agree that neither Hardt nor Huesman has yet been given a fair chance to prove what they can do?

I was as disappointed by our lost to Stony Brook as most, but I do not think that it is fair to allow my disappointment to become anger leveled at two persons who are new arrivals to campus.

I do not think that we can reasonably hold either responsible for the loss. I believe that the Keith Gill fiasco and the unexpected losing of Rocco created a larger bump in the road than we expected and that we now have the parts in place to experience success at even a higher level in both football and basketball.
 
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AnnapSpider said:
Wow, some of you would be slashing your wrists if you had been at U of R in 1966.
“The D-1 school with the longest losing streak in the nation is... yep, Richmond.”
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I was a student at Linkhorne Junior High in Lynchburg. One day during lunch a discussion of college football took place during which I said my favorite college team is the University of Richmond! A student sitting the table said, "You are a fan of Richmond. Don't you know they have the longest losing streak in the country?" That night during supper I told dad about this lunch time event, to which he said, "Son Richmond has a new coach Frank Jones who will make things better." My father was right. Two years later UR won the Tangerine Bowl beating Ohio U 49-42!
 
PASpider said:
“Also, first-hand I can say Hardt wants to win and knows what it takes to get there.”


I think people are really overstating Hardt’s pedigree. He’s coming to us from Bucknell, not Ohio State. Bucknell has done well in basketball for a few years due to a couple coaches they have had, and a current NBA player that they lucked out on. What else makes us think that he’s well equipped to take all of our programs to the next level?
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Hardt understands how elite private academic institutions should operate. We don't have the money, resources, etc. that an Ohio State has so hiring an assistant AD from a P5 school wouldn't really help us. Just because Hardt comes from Bucknell doesn't mean he won't have high aspirations for success. On the contrary, he has repeated numerous times our commitment to excellence. He hasn't just talked the talk so far, but walked the walk with facility upgrades. Our goal is to become a Villanova, Georgetown type school with athletic pedigree. We are not fundamentally built as a school to be like an Ohio State or Alabama.

Wanting instantaneous gratification is human nature. However, as the old adage goes "nothing in life worth having comes easy". We need to endure some rainy days to enjoy the sunny ones. If you don't see how Hardt - in his one year here so far - is laying the foundation for our future success then I don't know what else to say.
 
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spiderstudent17 said:
Hardt understands how elite private academic institutions should operate. We don't have the money, resources, etc. that an Ohio State has so hiring an assistant AD from a P5 school wouldn't really help us. Just because Hardt comes from Bucknell doesn't mean he won't have high aspirations for success. On the contrary, he has repeated numerous times our commitment to excellence. He hasn't just talked the talk so far, but walked the walk with facility upgrades. Our goal is to become a Villanova, Georgetown type school with athletic pedigree. We are not fundamentally built as a school to be like an Ohio State or Alabama.

Wanting instantaneous gratification is human nature. However, as the old adage goes "nothing in life worth having comes easy". We need to endure some rainy days to enjoy the sunny ones. If you don't see how Hardt - in his one year here so far - is laying the foundation for our future success then I don't know what else to say.
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+1
 
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One game at a time guys. While its hard to disagree with the sentiments stated on here if we win I doubt very seriously this thread is started. I've had a hard time motivating myself these past two years (Still been to all of them) to come out to games primarily because I knew there would be a lot of growing pains and head scratching in the stands. While I am certainly not predicting or expecting it, two straight football wins and well begin talking about how we have turned the corner and mocking Rocco for being 1-3.
 
spiderstudent17 said:
Hardt understands how elite private academic institutions should operate. We don't have the money, resources, etc. that an Ohio State has so hiring an assistant AD from a P5 school wouldn't really help us. Just because Hardt comes from Bucknell doesn't mean he won't have high aspirations for success. On the contrary, he has repeated numerous times our commitment to excellence. He hasn't just talked the talk so far, but walked the walk with facility upgrades. Our goal is to become a Villanova, Georgetown type school with athletic pedigree. We are not fundamentally built as a school to be like an Ohio State or Alabama.

Wanting instantaneous gratification is human nature. However, as the old adage goes "nothing in life worth having comes easy". We need to endure some rainy days to enjoy the sunny ones. If you don't see how Hardt - in his one year here so far - is laying the foundation for our future success then I don't know what else to say.
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Not clear on all this pie in the sky stuff but here’s what I know:

1.SBUs RBs ran for 350 yards.

2.SBUs Offensive and Defensive Lines are huge

3.SBU is going to the playoffs and we are not

4.URs 3rd down conversion rate was 20%.For the season,it’s in the low 20%

5.Our recruiting adage of “speed is better than size,anyday” may have to be re-evaluated.Size matters along with speed especially in the CAA.

6.Our end around Option pass for a TD was smart.We need to open up our game.It May help our running game.

7.Our Red Zone fumble mistake on their 13 yd line and their run back for a TD was an early back breaker and a likely game changer even though it was in the 1st Q and we remained close until late into the 3Q.

8.We started a 6-5,220 DE yesterday.Long but no girth.SBU OL were licking their chops.

9.We get down to the SBU 7 yd line early in the 1st Q and settle for a 21 yd FG.Left points off the board again from the Red Zone.


My synopsis last Tuesday:

“Stony Brook is under-ranked.Believe they are the 2nd best team in the CAA.

They are big and physical,both in their lines and backfield.Both RBs are over 215 with low centers of gravity(5-11,230:5-9,215).Their QB can throw,has good days and bad,and can run if need be.Their TE is likely All CAA.

We better have a full complement of LB’s back in uniform.Our corners will be busy on the edge and on 2nd level.

We will need to outsmart and outspeed these guys in order to win.KJ should play short ball in his passing with quick hitters and please keep the ball low.The Seawolves D will be coming after him with plenty of blitzes.They likely know(as we do) that we are unable to run the ball.

The 1.5 point line looks paltry.”
 
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32counter said:
Not clear on all this pie in the sky stuff but here’s what I know:

1.SBUs RBs ran for 350 yards.

2.SBUs Offensive and Defensive Lines are huge

3.SBU is going to the playoffs and we are not

4.URs 3rd down conversion rate was 20%.For the season,it’s in the low 20%

5.Our recruiting adage of “speed is better than size,anyday” may have to be re-evaluated.

6.Our end around Option pass for a TD was smart.We need to open up our game.It May help our running game.

7.Our Red Zone fumble mistake on their 13 yd line and their run back for a TD was an early back breaker and a likely game changer even though it was in the 1st Q and we remained close until late into the 3Q.

My synopsis last Tuesday:

“Stony Brook is under-ranked.Believe they are the 2nd best team in the CAA.

They are big and physical,both in their lines and backfield.Both RBs are over 215 with low centers of gravity(5-11,230:5-9,215).Their QB can throw,has good days and bad,and can run if need be.Their TE is likely All CAA.

We better have a full complement of LB’s back in uniform.Our corners will be busy on the edge and on 2nd level.

We will need to outsmart and outspeed these guys in order to win.KJ should play short ball in his passing with quick hitters and please keep the ball low.The Seawolves D will be coming after him with plenty of blitzes.They likely know(as we do) that we are unable to run the ball.

The 1.5 point line looks paltry.”
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32 re: Our Red Zone fumble mistake on their 13 yd line and their run back for a TD was an early back breaker and a likely game changer even though it was in the 1st Q and we remained close until late into the 3Q.

Excellent synopsis. completely different game if we punch it in there, couldn't agree more. Ask Oregon the same question.
 
"speed vs size needs to be reevaluated"

Amen to that. It seems to be a bet Huesman has taken but the problem is it that takes years to change that.
 
"speed vs size needs to be reevaluated"

Amen to that. It seems to be a bet Huesman has taken but the problem is it that takes years to change that.
 
PASpider said:
“Also, first-hand I can say Hardt wants to win and knows what it takes to get there.”


I think people are really overstating Hardt’s pedigree. He’s coming to us from Bucknell, not Ohio State. Bucknell has done well in basketball for a few years due to a couple coaches they have had, and a current NBA player that they lucked out on. What else makes us think that he’s well equipped to take all of our programs to the next level?
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His daughter roomed with Queally's...
 
KE Spider said:
I don't believe it is possible to compete for FCS Championships any more without a significant number of FBS transfers. Garnering enough qualifying FBS transfers is problematic for us. We will see difference this makes next week against JMU.
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I have heard form some high school recruits that JMU has pretty much stopped recruiting high school players and solely looking at transfers.
 
iSpider said:
Perhaps, a little too much optimism has been infused into the replacement of Gill with Hardt and the replacement of Rocco with Huesman. However, would you not agree that neither Hardt nor Huesman has yet been given a fair chance to prove what they can do?

I was as disappointed by our lost to Stony Brook as most, but I do not think that it is fair to allow my disappointment to become anger leveled at two persons who are new arrivals to campus.

I do not think that we can reasonably hold either responsible for the loss. I believe that the Keith Gill fiasco and the unexpected losing of Rocco created a larger bump in the road than we expected and that we now have the parts in place to experience success at even a higher level in both football and basketball.
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Agreed. I just think we need to pump the brakes on Hardy a little bit. Nobody’s given up on him or said he won’t be successful. Let’s just stop short of saying he’s got this all figured out before we have evidence to either back up or refute this claim.
 
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