|
Post by purplehaze on Jan 8, 2019 9:52:01 GMT -5
I also have known Tom to be a gentleman and a PL type of guy - b u t, I honestly thought that Lehigh would make a bigger splash with the replacement for Coen. They took their time (almost two months as they knew about Coen's health issues before his resignation), and I'm somewhat surprised at this hire. I think an objective analysis of his coaching record at HC would show nothing special about it, even considering his one championship.
|
|
|
Post by bringbackcaro on Jan 8, 2019 9:57:53 GMT -5
When Gilmore had good players, his HC teams were very good. He struggled when roster depth was decimated as the Ivy ramped up their "scholarships" and the NEC also went fully schollie, while he was left with nothing and an Admissions Director that was a huge pain in the arse. I'm as big of a Tom Gilmore fan as any, but this is a reach. Is this a polite way of saying he just didn't recruit very well with scholarships? Because I often felt that our non-scholarship teams actually looked more talented than the ones with scholarship players. I was speaking to the time before we had scholarships -- 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 -- when roster depth was decimated as the recruiting pool became much smaller with increased competition from the Ivy's and NEC (say what you want about those schools, but it's tough to argue that them being able to offer scholarships wasn't direct competition with guys who would have provided much needed depth to our rosters). Gilmore's recruiting was OK with scholarships (Chesney appears to be at least a moderate upgrade), but it was an uphill battle to try and refill the depth on the roster that had been depleted during that stretch. Gilmore took a program that had 1 winning season in the previous 11 seasons before he arrived, and reeled of 7 winning seasons in a row starting in just Year 2. IMO, his biggest mistake in his final stretch at HC was putting all of his eggs in Pujals' basket.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 8, 2019 10:24:53 GMT -5
Won PL "Coach of the Year" twice. From Wiki:
His career at Holy Cross was "A Tale of Two Cities" - 2004-2011 and 2012-2017. I don't pretend to know all of the reasons for this dichotomy but I am confident that the answer(s) is/are not black & white or as simple as many here believe.
What I do know about Tom Gilmore is: * He loved Holy Cross and everything it stands for * He wanted, and still wants, Holy Cross to succeed * He is a fierce competitor * He doesn't like to lose and holds high standards for himself and everyone he associates with
The doubters will likely be proven wrong in the long run.
|
|
|
Post by td128 on Jan 8, 2019 10:44:24 GMT -5
"I came to Holy Cross as an overconfident if not cocky 18 year old and 4 years later Tom Gilmore had made me a man."
Holy Cross Crusader graduate from the Class of 2007 shared this sentiment with me. Similar sentiments were shared countless times over the years, often long after the playing days were completed and the time on the hill was in the rear view mirror.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Jan 8, 2019 10:44:44 GMT -5
Congrats to FCTG on the gig at Lehigh. Should make the HC/Lehigh games that much more interesting.
|
|
|
Post by sader81 on Jan 8, 2019 10:54:36 GMT -5
No one worked harder, great assistant coach, and a nicer guy you wouldn't meet. Very tough guy to work for and a so so recruiter at best, and that was his downfall at HC. He could not keep good assistants. I do wish him well.
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Jan 8, 2019 11:01:00 GMT -5
I'm a bit surprised that a head coach who was (dramatically) fired by us mid-season for not getting it done for a few years would be picked up by an in-conference rival just a year or so later.
I've got to believe the Lehigh admin knows what it is doing but could imagine a few questions from their alums. No doubt they (the admins) must believe he can succeed at Lehigh - perhaps they figured out what went wrong w/TG at HC and are satisfied it would not happen at Lehigh.
Of course I also don't know the field of applicants (might not be as deep as I'd imagine) and TG did win for several years as a head coach in the PL (which one might view as an indicator he can win again in the future in the PL).
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 8, 2019 12:10:30 GMT -5
Lehigh board says the press conference for the announcement is today at 2:00 pm and streamed on the PLN/stadium.
Certainly mixed reactions there about TG.
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on Jan 8, 2019 12:21:22 GMT -5
He will work very hard for Lehigh, and without a doubt, he and his team will be a worthy opponent in the future.
|
|
|
Post by joe on Jan 8, 2019 12:27:21 GMT -5
This is a de facto case study. Assuming no other variables, if the same coach wins at School A but not School B, the problem is with School B. If he doesn’t win at either place. the problem is with the coach. I find this to be a most interesting story line. The only indisputable fact at this point is that Lehigh will out for blood when we play them.
|
|
|
Post by southernsader on Jan 8, 2019 12:41:39 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by purplehaze on Jan 8, 2019 13:46:13 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by HCFC45 on Jan 8, 2019 14:03:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by richh on Jan 8, 2019 15:18:45 GMT -5
Well we do have questions. A lot of negative reactions on Lehigh board and AGS. Interesting to note LU football alums on FB are uniformly positive on the hire. Tom was quite impressive at presser. Absolutely clear on his goals. PL titles and playoff Ws not just appearances. I have little doubt on Tom's ability. A lot hinges on his staff. My take on his Cross days. Early on he had great assts. Later on not so much. He wont face the same issue with LU Admissions. Football does not have to battle for slots.
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Jan 8, 2019 15:27:05 GMT -5
I guess they thought adding the Under Armour logo would cover up the fact he had on a purple-white-and-black tie!
|
|
|
Post by spenser on Jan 8, 2019 17:35:32 GMT -5
I’m very glad for the guy. A class act. Hope it works out for him within reason. As in never beats HC.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 8, 2019 18:27:09 GMT -5
That's not the tie he wore at the press conference. I was surprised he wasn't wearing a brown tie.
I suppose he still has some brown ties from the old days but suspect he never thought he'd be going back there.
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jan 8, 2019 22:46:36 GMT -5
Brown—who in their right mind would pick brown for a team color?
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 8, 2019 22:48:05 GMT -5
Well, Brown University, of course!
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 8, 2019 22:59:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by moose1970 on Jan 9, 2019 2:36:36 GMT -5
TBTG Coach Gilmore will not have to face a Syracuse, B.C. type program in 2019. Lehigh Football actually makes a California trip to play UC Davis. That should be a great experience for both players and coaches. Much better than being thumped where the "game" will be over half way through the first quarter. Would be nice to think that your team can step on the field each game with a chance to play and win.
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Jan 9, 2019 7:05:39 GMT -5
I think it is understood that recruiting (nowadays) is not necessarily TG's greatest strength and, given last year's woeful performance (including a 56-0 drubbing by HC) and very significant graduation losses, Lehigh may be in serious need of an infusion of talent. We'll see what sort of success he has in landing any additional quality players for Lehigh in about a month (Feb 6 signing day).
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 9, 2019 7:59:06 GMT -5
I wish Coach Gilmore the best of luck - hey, someone has to be runner up going forward during the Reign of Ches; might as well be him.
|
|
|
Post by nhteamer on Jan 9, 2019 8:44:19 GMT -5
I genuinely wish FHCTG luck. If he learns from his HC experience he will be a better Lehigh HC than he was at Holy Cross.
May Lehigh fans, nonetheless, never have to watch a performance like ours at Yankee Stadium and the Yale Bowl.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 9, 2019 8:52:10 GMT -5
My impression is that while Tom still has the fire in his belly for winning, he mentioned at least twice how he believes you are the sum of your experiences and Tom is smart enough to learn from those experiences including, as he mentioned, going back to being an assistant coach.
He is thrilled for his family that he is able to move back to his roots and extended family in Pennsylvania.
I am happy that he has landed back on his feet.
|
|