With all due respect...

[iSpider]

With all due respect for what Danny Rocco has done for our program, bringing us from shambles back to respectability, which should not go unappreciated, though it works both ways and we have paid him well for doing so, there is something to be said about his handling of this situation as there is to the way certain others have handled it. What is also remarkable to me is Coach Rocco's apparent propensity to or track record of leaving programs after 4 or 5 years in a surprising (for lack of a better word) manner, in view of his success, and when leaving making a lateral move rather than moving up a level. Make no mistake, I am not knocking his character, but there may be something in his personality where he finds a new challenge more to his liking than the maintenance of or building upon success at a school such as UR. I am ok with that as long as it is clear and understood by all. However, the possibility of that part of his coaching goal notwithstanding, I believe that he has created, as someone else on this board appropriately described, a maelstrom when he could have accomplished his goal without such an uproar and embarrassment to our university. Others may argue that we are better off with him having brought our lack of vision and commitment to light, however embarrassing, and I am torn because that argument is also well-taken with respect to the end result, but only as to him personally if such was his intent.

I am not sure why he left Liberty, but apparently, it wasn't for the money and he left with a winning record and at a time when Liberty had as much of a commitment to success at the highest level as we did. After his departure, they paid their new coach more than any other coach in FCS and they remained determined to move to the FBS level. Coach Rocco has stated that he enjoys coaching at the FCS level and maybe he just wants a national championship and feels that there is a better chance at Delaware because of their admission standards, renewed commitment to success, promised renovation to facilities, etc., than at Richmond. I don't know. But just maybe he is just in search of another challenge.

While I and others have a special feeling in our hearts and guts for UR athletics and had hoped that such a feeling would have become a part of Danny Rocco's make-up as well, apparently it did not happen. Such, I guess, is the nature of coaching as a career. If he is seeking a new challenge, then that is his prerogative and no one has the right to challenge it. However, the manner and method of his departure seem to me to be a horse of a different color and one which we have every right to question the manner in which it was handled by him.

As hard as it is for me to accept, I write this post assuming that Rocco's departure from UR and hiring at Delaware is a done deal.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Gosh, you write such long posts but i agree with your sentiment. I feel very conflicted right now about who to be angry with.

Regarding Rocco, i think he had it in mind that he might compete for a National Championship this year and it would be his launching point to his 'last stop' no matter what. After we lost to JMU, had the Broadus 're suspension' and then lost Kyle and the William and Mary game, i think had a complete shit fit. That's when this whole thing with Delaware really flared up.

Then, conveniently or inconveniently, depending on how you look at it, Kevin Johnson made his selfless act and the team rallied and we won some games. While all this was going on, Rocco decided to play out his own, personal drama in the media to justify to himself and others, what he had already decided.

He has left behind some flaming wreckage here. I'm going to delay my complete outrage on UR until i see what happens next on our end. Danny definitely had a big hand in all of this.

 

[ur2K]

you really have to wonder at what point the dance with UD began.

 

[MolivaManiac]

you really have to wonder at what point the dance with UD began.

The first hint i got was on 11/20, the day after the W&M game. I got messages on 11/28 that it was a done deal.

 

[Juris Spider]

We must understand that as a profession , college coaches are nomads at heart . Coaches like William and Mary's Jimmy Laycock , are the exception and not the rule . I remember posting the same sentiment when Mike London bolted for seemingly greener pastures in Charlottesville . It always hurts when you are the spurned party , and the thought of losing our coach does in fact hurt . Nonetheless, I wish coach Rocco all the best, except when he plays against the Spiders !

 

[32counter]

Add that Danny has had no relationship with Gill.I believe that Danny
sized up Gill very early on and concluded that Gill was a lightweight,a Teflon guy with no depth and
that it would be extremely difficult to work for him.As more internal roadblocks(Title IX,Broadus,Admissions) got in Danny's way especially
with Gill not having his back,it was time to get restless which was over a year ago.I think Danny
likes being one of the biggest fish($$$$) in a smaller pond(FCS).
He's a great leader,great football coach which UD will shortly find out.
He will provide them a winner.He will fill up their run down 22,000 seat
stadium.Alumns will feel happy and give more and bigger donations.Maybe the DuPonts will build a new stadium and the Chicken people like Perdue will pay a lot for naming rights.People in Delaware will revere him.Students will use Rocco dollars to buy their meals and textbooks.He will communicate to the AD what he wants and he will get it.He will get academically borderline students(even with UD lower standards)admitted. That's what he wants and a 5 year deal with plenty of incentives for he and his coaching staff.
Maybe I'll see him at the beach in Rehoboth next summer and we'll both have a good laugh.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

With all due respect for what Danny Rocco has done for our program, bringing us from shambles back to respectability, which should not go unappreciated, though it works both ways and we have paid him well for doing so, there is something to be said about his handling of this situation as there is to the way certain others have handled it. What is also remarkable to me is Coach Rocco's apparent propensity to or track record of leaving programs after 4 or 5 years in a surprising (for lack of a better word) manner, in view of his success, and when leaving making a lateral move rather than moving up a level. Make no mistake, I am not knocking his character, but there may be something in his personality where he finds a new challenge more to his liking than the maintenance of or building upon success at a school such as UR. I am ok with that as long as it is clear and understood by all. However, the possibility of that part of his coaching goal notwithstanding, I believe that he has created, as someone else on this board appropriately described, a maelstrom when he could have accomplished his goal without such an uproar and embarrassment to our university. Others may argue that we are better off with him having brought our lack of vision and commitment to light, however embarrassing, and I am torn because that argument is also well-taken with respect to the end result, but only as to him personally if such was his intent.

I am not sure why he left Liberty, but apparently, it wasn't for the money and he left with a winning record and at a time when Liberty had as much of a commitment to success at the highest level as we did. After his departure, they paid their new coach more than any other coach in FCS and they remained determined to move to the FBS level. Coach Rocco has stated that he enjoys coaching at the FCS level and maybe he just wants a national championship and feels that there is a better chance at Delaware because of their admission standards, renewed commitment to success, promised renovation to facilities, etc., than at Richmond. I don't know. But just maybe he is just in search of another challenge.

While I and others have a special feeling in our hearts and guts for UR athletics and had hoped that such a feeling would have become a part of Danny Rocco's make-up as well, apparently it did not happen. Such, I guess, is the nature of coaching as a career. If he is seeking a new challenge, then that is his prerogative and no one has the right to challenge it. However, the manner and method of his departure seem to me to be a horse of a different color and one which we have every right to question the manner in which it was handled by him.

As hard as it is for me to accept, I write this post assuming that Rocco's departure from UR and hiring at Delaware is a done deal.

If I remember right, part of his leaving of Liberty was moving to a stronger conference and where he had access to more diverse athletes. Maybe like what
Mo stated, he has wonderlust after 5 years or so and needs a new challenge to keep him fresh.

 

[URPike]

i, great post. I wrote earlier that this thing is so gummy that it has to be a 2 way street. DR definitely has an ego. He always referred to the team as "my team" and "my program." That rubbed me wrong every time I heard it - it's not his damn team. He is the coach and he runs the program but it is Richmond's team. If he wants to manufacture a reason to leave let him. Gill is a problem for many coaches, not just DR. But the vision thing is a load of crap as is a lack of commitment. I'm tired of this dance - if he wants to go to Delaware let him. We'll hire another coach, we'll continue to have success, and life will go on.

 

[Stonewall D]

If I remember right, part of his leaving of Liberty was moving to a stronger conference and where he had access to more diverse athletes. Maybe like what
Mo stated, he has wonderlust after 5 years or so and needs a new challenge to keep him fresh.

He didn't leave Liberty burning the bridges he did here. This was personal.

 

[I-M-UR]

I'm sorry guys but until we know what the issues were/are you can't determine blame. why my other post....what I want to know before I commit one more dime to UR athletics. Between the two right now I am more inclined to believe Rocco and that what he was asking for wasn't unreasonable. I mean he just lost a coordinator to an in conference team????

So for me I want candid answers and a real AD.

 

[MolivaManiac]

i, great post. I wrote earlier that this thing is so gummy that it has to be a 2 way street. DR definitely has an ego. He always referred to the team as "my team" and "my program." That rubbed me wrong every time I heard it - it's not his damn team. He is the coach and he runs the program but it is Richmond's team. If he wants to manufacture a reason to leave let him. Gill is a problem for many coaches, not just DR. But the vision thing is a load of crap as is a lack of commitment. I'm tired of this dance - if he wants to go to Delaware let him. We'll hire another coach, we'll continue to have success, and life will go on.

The possessive "MY TEAM", "MY KIDS", " MY PROGRAM" has always rubbed me the wrong way too.

 

[I-M-UR]

i, great post. I wrote earlier that this thing is so gummy that it has to be a 2 way street. DR definitely has an ego. He always referred to the team as "my team" and "my program." That rubbed me wrong every time I heard it - it's not his damn team. He is the coach and he runs the program but it is Richmond's team. If he wants to manufacture a reason to leave let him. Gill is a problem for many coaches, not just DR. But the vision thing is a load of crap as is a lack of commitment. I'm tired of this dance - if he wants to go to Delaware let him. We'll hire another coach, we'll continue to have success, and life will go on.

I disagree it is his team, it is Lauletta's team...etc etc. The players and the coaches built it, we enjoyed it. So what was the vision thing? can you tell me with any certainty that Rocco's request weren't valid? Do any of you guys remember the Marshall years, the Shealy years. UR doesn't buy out contracts so if we make a bad hire it's 4 to 5 years of misery. It's a whole lot cheaper to keep a good one (now what Rocco was asking for may not have been reasonable, I want to know and I think we are owed a response)

 

[PhillySpider]

Certain things are facts. Facts our our long term commitment to football are not what lots of others are and most definitely are not what Delaware's are right now. And remember talk is talk. saying we are committed doesn't mean you are. Actions speak much louder than words.

A stronger AD would have been able to get at least some of what was wanted, and more importantly, make the coach feel appreciated and like someone had his back in the battle and ask him to hang in there etc. while kissing his ass in recognition of the great job done under difficult circumstances. Gill did quite the opposite and for this can never be forgiven in my view. Its total failure at one's job.

It didn't have to go like this even if we couldn't /wouldn't give DR much of what he wanted. Some human touch was required. A tough situation also got personal - - and the AD delivering news that we can't give you what the other guys actually needs for it to become personal he can call on that person's loyalty, commitment to kids etc. to entice the guy to stay.

Here I think is the bottom line - - Danny busts his gut, especially emotionally, every single day. Whether in practice or recruiting etc. Think about being in kids houses, day after day, representing the University and begging kids to come and providing them all the good reasons etc. and being rejected more often than not and doing it again tomorrow. And leaving it all out there and your kids doing the same for you and the University every Saturday etc. And you go and ask your boss for things you need to keep up with the others you compete with in those houses and on those fields and then two things basically happen (and this is in fact what basically happened) 1. Your boss tells you to go away and stop bothering him with your wants and needs and just keep doing the job your doing! and 2. That same boss goes "home" (in this case to Washington) and does nothing. Every day. Shows none of the same emotional passion that you bring every day. But scolds you for asking. I am quitting every single day and twice on Sunday. Its not a lateral move because that's a better job day in and and day out if for no other reason than your boss is invested WITH you. Period.

 

[KWeaver]

i, great post. I wrote earlier that this thing is so gummy that it has to be a 2 way street. DR definitely has an ego. He always referred to the team as "my team" and "my program." That rubbed me wrong every time I heard it - it's not his damn team. He is the coach and he runs the program but it is Richmond's team. If he wants to manufacture a reason to leave let him. Gill is a problem for many coaches, not just DR. But the vision thing is a load of crap as is a lack of commitment. I'm tired of this dance - if he wants to go to Delaware let him. We'll hire another coach, we'll continue to have success, and life will go on.

I fired someone once for overusing "I" over "we." When individualism and collectivism collide...

 

[SpiderK]

I fired someone once for overusing "I" over "we." When individualism and collectivism collide...

Obama?

 

[KWeaver]

I have these moments where my socialist side and my capitalist side run into one another. It causes great angst internally!

 

[WebSpinner]

it did not sit well with me either because everyone knows, it is my team! agree with little i's post, think 5 years is about his tenure and nothing wrong with that at all, may be beneficial for both sides at this point. if memory serves all the folks at liberty, including players, could not figure out why he departed for UR and now we are in the same position. just how DR rolls.