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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Mar 13, 2018 19:13:23 GMT -5
But they have a gorgeous basketball arena at UMass, so there's that. True, very nice arena, but when was the last time they played consistently to a full house? Same is true with Boston University using Agganis. Both beautiful facilities that if HC had an enrollment of 20,00 plus, I would hope we would also have. UMass and BU, are 10 times the undergraduate size of HC. Not a fair comparison regarding facilities based on the requirements and use of the institution. '13-'14
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Post by scrantonsader on Mar 14, 2018 12:42:47 GMT -5
Guess the Luth is coming in handy this week with the weather. Did they practice outside in weather like this in previous years ? Will spare any war stories, but more often than not you had to brave at least an hour long practice in the worst of it to some extent, so the ability to practice indoors improves practice quality tremendously. Not many FL/GA/CA/TX kids enjoy Worcester weather during a nor'easter at practice 7 of Spring Ball.
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Post by joe on Mar 14, 2018 13:20:27 GMT -5
Guess the Luth is coming in handy this week with the weather. Did they practice outside in weather like this in previous years ? Will spare any war stories, but more often than not you had to brave at least an hour long practice in the worst of it to some extent, so the ability to practice indoors improves practice quality tremendously. Not many FL/GA/CA/TX kids enjoy Worcester weather during a nor'easter at practice 7 of Spring Ball. Practicing in the hockey rink also a lot of fun, especially falling down on bare cement during thud.
The indoor field is the single most important of the football-related upgrades, better locker rooms a close second, I'd think.
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Post by hcgrad94 on Mar 14, 2018 13:39:15 GMT -5
Weight room
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 14, 2018 13:41:36 GMT -5
Guess the Luth is coming in handy this week with the weather. Did they practice outside in weather like this in previous years ? Will spare any war stories, but more often than not you had to brave at least an hour long practice in the worst of it to some extent, so the ability to practice indoors improves practice quality tremendously. Not many FL/GA/CA/TX kids enjoy Worcester weather during a nor'easter at practice 7 of Spring Ball. Picture two athletes from Florida--went to the same high school-- one goes to play football at Columbia U in NYC and the other goes to Holy Cross. After freshman season they meet back in FLA and are talking to some of their younger HS teammates, star ballplayers themselves, who are weighing college offers of their own. Columbia guy: "Man, New York is tough--we had to bus to our practice field and freeze our posteriors off in rain and snow". Crusader: "We walked up the hill from our dorms and practiced indoors in 68 degree comfort." Of course that's an oversimplification, and I know the prospective recruits are not sissies, but I think the Luth not only sends a persuasive message about comfort but also that this is a school that is investing in its football program....
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Post by ncaam on Mar 14, 2018 14:22:09 GMT -5
time will tell, tho the chesney factor will be greater imho
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Post by bringbackcaro on Mar 14, 2018 15:36:51 GMT -5
Will spare any war stories, but more often than not you had to brave at least an hour long practice in the worst of it to some extent, so the ability to practice indoors improves practice quality tremendously. Not many FL/GA/CA/TX kids enjoy Worcester weather during a nor'easter at practice 7 of Spring Ball. Picture two athletes from Florida--went to the same high school-- one goes to play football at Columbia U in NYC and the other goes to Holy Cross. After freshman season they meet back in FLA and are talking to some of their younger HS teammates, star ballplayers themselves, who are weighing college offers of their own. Columbia guy: "Man, New York is tough--we had to bus to our practice field and freeze our posteriors off in rain and snow". Crusader: "We walked up the hill from our dorms and practiced indoors in 68 degree comfort." Of course that's an oversimplification, and I know the prospective recruits are not sissies, but I think the Luth not only sends a persuasive message about comfort but also that this is a school that is investing in its football program.... And then the Columbia (or whatever Ivy school) coach calls and says “do you want a degree from the Ivy League which guarantees you a job making x-dollars after graduating.” (Because you know that’s one of their big pitches) The facility will help, but it will help more when recruiting against the Buffalo’s of the world than the Ivy’s.
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Post by rgs318 on Mar 14, 2018 15:50:04 GMT -5
Picture two athletes from Florida--went to the same high school-- one goes to play football at Columbia U in NYC and the other goes to Holy Cross. After freshman season they meet back in FLA and are talking to some of their younger HS teammates, star ballplayers themselves, who are weighing college offers of their own. Columbia guy: "Man, New York is tough--we had to bus to our practice field and freeze our posteriors off in rain and snow". Crusader: "We walked up the hill from our dorms and practiced indoors in 68 degree comfort." Of course that's an oversimplification, and I know the prospective recruits are not sissies, but I think the Luth not only sends a persuasive message about comfort but also that this is a school that is investing in its football program.... Then each player will talk about the team's record. That may well be the biggest factor of al that are mentioned. Columbia player this year says - "We were 8-2 (undefeated roc and 5-2 in the Ivy League." Holy Cross player this year says - "We were 4-7 (1-4 ooc and 3-3 in the Patriot League) and our coach got fired mid-season." Who sounds better this year? In such a case I am not sure the LAC will be enough...of course a year or two from now, it may sound a lot better with our new coach and different numbers.
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Post by hcpride on Mar 14, 2018 16:06:27 GMT -5
Will spare any war stories, but more often than not you had to brave at least an hour long practice in the worst of it to some extent, so the ability to practice indoors improves practice quality tremendously. Not many FL/GA/CA/TX kids enjoy Worcester weather during a nor'easter at practice 7 of Spring Ball. Picture two athletes from Florida--went to the same high school-- one goes to play football at Columbia U in NYC and the other goes to Holy Cross. After freshman season they meet back in FLA and are talking to some of their younger HS teammates, star ballplayers themselves, who are weighing college offers of their own. Columbia guy: "Man, New York is tough--we had to bus to our practice field and freeze our posteriors off in rain and snow". Crusader: "We walked up the hill from our dorms and practiced indoors in 68 degree comfort." Of course that's an oversimplification, and I know the prospective recruits are not sissies, but I think the Luth not only sends a persuasive message about comfort but also that this is a school that is investing in its football program.... The full schollies were supposed to be the answer but we did not improve relative to our opposition. Notwithstanding the fact that this huge expense certainly sent the message that "this is a school that is investing in its football program...." Will the Luth help us land higher quality recruits than our FCS competition? Perhaps here and there and at the margins. We'll know we are doing well on that front when we start out-recruiting UNH, Villanova, William and Mary, Richmond, etc for players. CAA-level players can win in our PL league. IMHO Chesney will be far more impactful in that regard. (Forget Columbia, HYP, etc. Luth ain't helping there. Now, if their aid formulas reverse and we become a winning program and have a few NFL draftees...)
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 14, 2018 18:46:30 GMT -5
I certainly agree that Coach Chesney and a winning record may be more persuasive motivators; still, I think the Luth will be a meaningful point of difference versus our competitors. Remember, the definition of a "brand" is something that is (1) differentiated from competition and (2) relevant to the consumer. The Luth really helps differentiate HC from Manu competitors
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Post by hchoops on Mar 14, 2018 19:13:09 GMT -5
And if the results are what we hope for, we will not know which was the greater factor
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Post by joe on Mar 14, 2018 19:21:31 GMT -5
And if the results are what we hope for, we will not know which was the greater factor LAC is not a necessarily a long term differentiator if other institutions decide to keep pace with us and do their own renovations. However, for the foreseeable future, it is going to be quite helpful, and it is imperative that we use it to generate the momentum needed to succeed now and into the future. I think Chesney and co. get this.
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Post by crusader1970 on Mar 14, 2018 20:54:53 GMT -5
Pretty simple:
Chesney + Luth = better recruits
Chesney + better players = winning record
The only question in my mind is how long it will take.
I'm hoping by year two we will see a real improvement.
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Post by cmo on Mar 14, 2018 21:11:42 GMT -5
"Problem" with Year 2 is the first 4 games of 2019. Could be making progress and still be 0-4.
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Post by joe on Mar 15, 2018 5:58:12 GMT -5
Except for maybe Georgetown who we also stopped beating for a while, there are no more gimmies for HC football on any of the published portions of any of the future schedules. Interesting days. If, with the LAC online and what seems like is now a bare minimum of administrative support, the current coach can not get it done within 4 years, it probably can’t be done at the D1 level and within the existing framework.
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Post by rgs318 on Mar 15, 2018 6:23:55 GMT -5
"Problem" with Year 2 is the first 4 games of 2019. Could be making progress and still be 0-4. If they then run the table and take the rest that would be a huge step up wouldn't it? Coming on strong after early setback(s) could well be a model for those upset by the way the entire logo situation is being handled (or mishandled).
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Post by hcpride on Mar 15, 2018 6:34:21 GMT -5
Except for maybe Georgetown who we also stopped beating for a while, there are no more gimmies for HC football on any of the published portions of any of the future schedules. Interesting days. If, with the LAC online and what seems like is now a bare minimum of administrative support, the current coach can not get it done within 4 years, it probably can’t be done at the D1 level and within the existing framework. That is a very good point. I never bought the incoherent argument that we were much better than 4-7 and were just a whisker or a new coach away from a winning record. We could improve in terms of talent and recruits this year and still have a 3rd consecutive 4-7 record. Given the scheduled opponents. I completely agree that Georgetown is a W and other than that I don't see us as a real preseason favorite in any other matchup.
I also never bought the argument that last year's recruiting class was very talented v our scheduled opposition's (PL and OOC) recruits. I am hoping to be convinced otherwise from watching the sophomores play this year and seeing them on the all-conference lists.
I'd also like to be convinced that several members of this years enormous (32!!) recruit class - especially in the skill/speed positions - can compete and succeed in the PL this year. I am actually hopeful in this regard and want to see a few HC frosh gain all-conference honors.
Of course I am the same guy who predicted last year's 4-7 record so take the above for what it is worth.
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Post by joe on Mar 15, 2018 7:17:15 GMT -5
Our best bet right now is that Chesney is indeed a savior and that the rest of our FCS competition doesn't try to keep up with the Joneses. Admin can keep cutting checks to fund the program and maybe let us admit a couple of players. Anything more than that would be gravy.
On a personal note, I'll always be a proud and grateful football alum and fan, who will continue to give back with my time and money. That being said, as someone who has gone "all the way" in school, the most important education for me occurred not in any classroom, at HC or elsewhere, but on the old grass practice field behind the Hart Center, and in the now former fieldhouse at 5 AM during Winter Workouts, taking many, many lumps, failing time and again, but learning how to push through mentally and physically over the long run. That being said, my interest will wane if we don't compete within 4 years. Plus, there is a good chance that my own family lineage of football (now 4 generations going back to the early 1910s) will end with me, so football in general may be someday a former interest. Unbelievable thing for me to consider. Only stating this because a lot of parents with young kids, boys especially, even some of my fellow alums, are growing disinterested with the risks associated with contact sports, especially football and hockey.
Best bet for all of us is to see HC rise. I watch with interest.
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Post by Xmassader on Mar 15, 2018 7:43:40 GMT -5
Met Walter Reynolds (incoming HC freshman defensive back) and his father at UD Jesuit hoops game last night. Walter was sporting a shirt with the new primary HC logo. Both Walter and his dad are looking forward to attending the spring game on 4/14 and Walter is excited about beginning his Crusader career in August.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 15, 2018 7:49:02 GMT -5
If you give any credence to Sagarin's ratings, HC had the second best team in the PL last season, using his "Predictor" metric which he claims is, indeed, a good predictor of games. Of course key questions then arise: (1) will HC, with the loss of Peter Pujals and other seniors, and the addition of new players and a hopefully much better coach be an improved team and (2) how will our opponents improve/decline versus last season? We could start 0-4 as some fear, but before getting any reports from Spring practice or pre-season practice I'd give us a 30% chance at Colgate, 1% at bc, 25% at Yale, and 55% versus Dartmouth. I am not giving up yet...
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Post by rickii on Mar 15, 2018 8:10:02 GMT -5
Guess the Luth is coming in handy this week with the weather. Did they practice outside in weather like this in previous years ? Will spare any war stories, but more often than not you had to brave at least an hour long practice in the worst of it to some extent, so the ability to practice indoors improves practice quality tremendously. Not many FL/GA/CA/TX kids enjoy Worcester weather during a nor'easter at practice 7 of Spring Ball. Scranton -
Love your avatar....guessing a scene circa 1975 or so ? Where'd you find it ?
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Post by hchoops on Mar 15, 2018 8:11:47 GMT -5
I’d go higher, esp the Gate and Yale games
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Post by cmo on Mar 15, 2018 9:44:11 GMT -5
"Problem" with Year 2 is the first 4 games of 2019. Could be making progress and still be 0-4. If they then run the table and take the rest that would be a huge step up wouldn't it? Coming on strong after early setback(s) could well be a model for those upset by the way the entire logo situation is being handled (or mishandled). Certainly. Maybe my post came off as negative, but my point was progress in year 2 shouldn't be measured simply on wins and losses. I'll wait til year 3 for the "you are what your record says you are" posts.
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Post by joe on Mar 15, 2018 9:49:08 GMT -5
By the way how can a school not have a mascot? Is someone going to dress up as an interlocking HC for games? Couldn't we have adopted something similar to the Providence Friar, but less ghoulish? How about we keep the name Iggy and create a variation of St. Ignatius? HC dropped the ball on the one yard line on this.
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Post by rgs318 on Mar 15, 2018 9:57:17 GMT -5
I did have nightmares of a "dancing HC"
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