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Post by flutiewasrejected on Mar 26, 2019 16:07:01 GMT -5
Is it altitude sickness that effects basic management principles atop the hill?
So far the most exciting piece of news released by HC Athletics has been "There will be a national search for Holy Cross’ next director of athletics" and "Today's Softball Game has been Postponed"
Honestly, why do they make it so damn hard to be a fan of your alma mater? Is the gradual deescalation of excitement around athletics all just a ploy for academics to be the only thing students can focus on?
Christ, look at my handle, the last thing I want to be doing is citing Boston College as an example of good athletic stewardship, but even as their alumni have started to lament on the extension of Christian, am I alone in thinking: Well, at least they know the DIRECTION of the athletic department, whether or not they agree with it.
1) Why has there been no update to the athletic director search?
2) Why can you not at least tell us who is on the "search committee" outside of a firm you hired?
3) Why is there no attempt being made in sourcing alumni in the sports world, (we all know the list of names), to help with this process?
4) Why has there been no: "We are extending Bill Carmody" or "Today we have decided to move our basketball direction in another direction"
I am no longer impressed by fun tweets and videos of shiny new uniforms. We need answers.
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Post by cfrivals on Mar 26, 2019 16:34:43 GMT -5
We still are waiting to hear why Tyrone Cohen is not on the team any longer. Be patient my sons!!
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Post by CHC8485 on Mar 26, 2019 17:14:45 GMT -5
I won't argue that there are things that could be done to make it easier to be a fan but in response to your questions, my first reaction is to ask you, have you asked anyone who can actually answer your questions rather than a bunch of alums and fans an anonymous message board?
That said, to answer your questions as best I can
1. Latest update is they decided on priorities of the new AD and reflected that in a job description posted in the last few weeks - which, IIRC lists different priorities than those listed to hire Nate Pine - and are using a search firm to ID candidates. What more to you want or expect? Do you want a weekly update on number of candidates? A press release of 3 - 5 we're bringing to campus? You might get some information for a story in the paper - though unlikely.
Also, use the recent past to inform the present & future. It took 5 1/2 months from the time it was announced that Dick Regan was leaving to hire Nate Pine and they likely knew well in advance that Dick Regan was going to "leave" before they announced it. Its been about 3 months since Pine left. I'd expect an announcement of a hire in May or June, with a new AD likely to start on July 1 with the beginning of a new fiscal year.
2. That's fair, though I imagine the Board of Trustees' Standing Committee On Athletics is leading the search. And agree you shouldn't have to, but I bet you'd get an answer if you asked some in the college leadership
3. Do you know that they have not done that? What do you base that assumption on?
4. Likely because they have decided to do neither, therefore there is nothing to say.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 26, 2019 18:53:24 GMT -5
It would be nice if the college made more of an effort to communicate to alums and fans — specifically those who contribute to the CAF.
The school certainly gives off the impression they don’t really care about putting winning teams on the field.
Don’t you think it’s interesting that Joe Sterret at Lehigh hired Tom Gilmore? I’m willing to bet he knows that HC doesn’t support their coaches and teams all that much.
How about some sort of update on the AD search and what’s going on with the premier sport on campus’ head coach.
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Post by possum on Mar 26, 2019 19:09:58 GMT -5
Baseball team 5-20, softball team 3-17 we have to be one of if not the worst athletic programs in the country.
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Post by hc87 on Mar 26, 2019 19:17:34 GMT -5
I've basically reached the "acceptance stage" on the death of HC athletics (mainly hoop and football) ever being viewed as important/nationally relevant. Took me about 30 years The school is very content with how D1 athletics "works" for HC now...principally as participatory...helps with enrollment, alumni-giving down the road.
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Post by longsuffering on Mar 26, 2019 19:33:19 GMT -5
Is Flutie on record anywhere saying he was rejected by Holy Cross? I remember retired T&G sports columnist and HC alum John Gearan writing his analysis of why Peter Muldoon was a better quarterback than Doug Flutie.
Then I saw Flutie throw on Fitton Field before he flew to New York from Worcester Airport to accept the Heisman Trophy. I upgraded my opinion of Flutie and sent Gearan the name of my Optometrist.
If Holy Cross rejected Doug Flutie that was a sad day.
Regarding an update on the MBB coach, I don't think a new AD will come in on July 1st, as has been suggested as a logical starting date, with both guns blazing and start firing people. He will probably take time to evaluate the coaching roster and I think TPTB will defer to his judgement. The WBB position will have to be filled by somebody, however.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Mar 26, 2019 21:07:34 GMT -5
All hail HOF ADNP!!
A true leader who left Holy Cross in tremendous position before he jumped ship!
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 26, 2019 21:28:01 GMT -5
No mas
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 26, 2019 21:44:03 GMT -5
At least the social media accounts and hype videos are top notch!
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Post by hc87 on Mar 26, 2019 23:29:54 GMT -5
Nate Pine had about as much of a shot at turning around HC athletics as the guys sitting at the bahhh at Herbie's tonight.....hardly anyone cares if we beat Lafayette in hoop or Lehigh in football....it really is what it is....we are a particpatory D1 athletic school much like Brown or Columbia....not an awful place to be but success on the courts, fields, rink is secondary to getting those kids into HC etc.
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Post by joe on Mar 27, 2019 6:08:53 GMT -5
Implied in accepting that 97 million dollar gift was that by improving the amenities of the student athletes we would win more more games. Team records have not even begun to improve in the slightest. If I were the benefactor I would be most displeased.
Alums are in such denial that they believe apathy toward athletics is actually patience. Eventually the last of us who care about and/or remember higher times will eventually be too old to complain or be dead and buried.
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Post by trimster on Mar 27, 2019 7:24:29 GMT -5
I've basically reached the "acceptance stage" on the death of HC athletics (mainly hoop and football) ever being viewed as important/nationally relevant. Took me about 30 years The school is very content with how D1 athletics "works" for HC now...principally as participatory...helps with enrollment, alumni-giving down the road. Same thing has happened to me. I bought season tickets to men's hoops as I have done for years and didn't make it to one game. Some of it was because I really couldn't but most of it was because I just wasn't that interested. HC hoops was my sports passion for so many years but the fire in the belly is gone. I'd really love to get it back. Maybe next year. I saw teams in the tourney that aren't that well known, come from small conferences, etc and said why not HC. I'm particularly thinking of teams that advanced to round two like Wofford, Murray State and UC Irvine.
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Post by trimster on Mar 27, 2019 7:27:06 GMT -5
Implied in accepting that 97 million dollar gift was that by improving the amenities of the student athletes we would win more more games. Team records have not even begun to improve in the slightest. If I were the benefactor I would be most displeased. Alums are in such denial that they believe apathy toward athletics is actually patience. Eventually the last of us who care about and/or remember higher times will eventually be too old to complain or be dead and buried. I think it's a bit early to make any calls about the impact of the Luth on athletics.
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Post by HCFC45 on Mar 27, 2019 8:17:04 GMT -5
Implied in accepting that 97 million dollar gift was that by improving the amenities of the student athletes we would win more more games. Team records have not even begun to improve in the slightest. If I were the benefactor I would be most displeased.Alums are in such denial that they believe apathy toward athletics is actually patience. Eventually the last of us who care about and/or remember higher times will eventually be too old to complain or be dead and buried. I think it's a bit early to make any calls about the impact of the Luth on athletics. Thoroughly agree with trimster on this! For those with short memories, tomorrow, March 28th will be exactly one month shy of the 1 year anniversary of the dedication of the Luth (April 28th, 2018)! Give it a few years before you judge its impact on athletics! !
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Post by Tom on Mar 27, 2019 8:23:52 GMT -5
4) Why has there been no: "We are extending Bill Carmody" or "Today we have decided to move our basketball direction in another direction" If we're talking about the athletic department as a whole, I think it should be said about Coach Gibbons more so than Coach Carmody. In terms of Coach Carmody, it does seem to be norm today to take one of the actions now, rather than limbo. If, as 8485 suggests, that a decision has been made to do neither at this point (likely setting up a Coach Raynor style exit), I wouldn't like it. IF it is decided he should go at the end of next year, might as well do it now. If it is decided we're happy with the direction, extend him so he's not a lame duck. If it's decided that he's got one more year to prove himself, give him an extension with a very school favorable buy-out. Of course I'm not the one paying any potential buy out
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Post by joe on Mar 27, 2019 8:28:12 GMT -5
Adamantly disagree.
The momentum should have started when the construction of the Luth was announced, not now, one year after it opened, nor next year, nor 4 or 5 years from now, when the novelty will have worn off and other schools will surely have followed suit. The stage of strategic advantage is NOW, not 4-5 years from now. I expected to see some sort of overall improvement - something - a millimeter of needle movement - a trace of culture-shift - in some aspect of HC athletics. The only thing I have seen is the hiring of an exciting football coach which many hope (myself included) to singlehandedly emerge as the savior of the program. With this I do agree patience is required. But beyond this, with a few exceptions, all other sports have not only failed to improve, but some would argue they have become even weaker. Men's basketball has been a major disappointment. This was NOT supposed to have been a rebuilding job - we were not a bad team when the former coach was fired, but we are now. I take no delight in making this very obvious statement.
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Post by rickii on Mar 27, 2019 8:42:51 GMT -5
Implied in accepting that 97 million dollar gift was that by improving the amenities of the student athletes we would win more more games. Team records have not even begun to improve in the slightest. If I were the benefactor I would be most displeased. Alums are in such denial that they believe apathy toward athletics is actually patience. Eventually the last of us who care about and/or remember higher times will eventually be too old to complain or be dead and buried. Sorry joe, what was implied with catching up with the rest of the world with improved facilities was attracting better student-athletes to HC....not that we'd win more games immediately. Chesney is clearly proving the former with 1 full class under his belt while the latter will come when he has 3 full classes of his recruits.
And frankly patience can be painful...at a place with a disjointed athletic history like Holy Cross.
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Post by joe on Mar 27, 2019 9:08:47 GMT -5
Let me be even more clear, and these are my opinions, perhaps representative of the silent majority:
1. I DO NOT believe fancy facilities (Luth) alone will improve recruiting enough to change the direction of HC athletics. Not at all. I think folks are in for more disappointment if they truly believe this. It's insulting to the competitive nature of D1 athletes and D1 athletics in general. Student-athletes want more than to watch HD TVs while they take cold tubs. They want a school and a community where human beings actually give a crap about them, and take pride in their success. By success I mean WINNING BALLGAMES, not just getting a B+ in Organization Management.
2. I DO BELIEVE that with a complete top-to-bottom culture shift, the fancy facilities will be incredibly impactful in attracting the best possible student athletes, in turn helping to change the direction of HC athletics. To think otherwise is nuts.
3. Here's the rub - I see ZERO evidence of a culture shift at HC, either now or on the horizon. I see ZERO enthusiasm or buzz from the president about HC athletics. I see ZERO buzz, either on the street or from sanctioned PR releases from the college, having anything to do with a desire to elevate the success of HC athletics. In fact, I see one botched initiative after another (too embarrassed on behalf of HC to list again). I fear this AD search will end up being just another long and drawn out exercise that will transiently raise people's hopes but end up being a bust.
Here it is put another way: The Luth should have been a RESULT of a culture shift, and not something that HC is trying to use to CATALYZE a culture shift. It's disingenuous to have the tail wag the dog, and although there could be short term gain, this is not an approach that will lead to a long-term competitive advantage. Throwing money at a problem never hurts, but this problem will not be solved in that way alone.
As for patience, I have never seen a more patient group than alumni, myself included, who continue to donate money, mentor athletes, go to games, and basically think about, support, and discuss HC athletics for years on end, waiting for things to finally make logical sense. I really don't want to hear about patience anymore.
Anyway I've said my peace; will turn this back over to others and the OP above for their thoughts.
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Post by flutiewasrejected on Mar 27, 2019 11:18:44 GMT -5
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Post by bigfan on Mar 27, 2019 12:01:17 GMT -5
After watching the NCAA this past week I think we will never match up with teams such as Murray State & Wofford. we can't recruit those type of athletes. I know most people will disagree with me but the PL is holding us back. I can put up with the league in football but BB needs a upgraded schedule and a better league to help our recruiting.
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Post by joe on Mar 27, 2019 12:33:29 GMT -5
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Post by thecrossisback on Mar 27, 2019 13:40:08 GMT -5
After watching the NCAA this past week I think we will never match up with teams such as Murray State & Wofford. we can't recruit those type of athletes. I know most people will disagree with me but the PL is holding us back. I can put up with the league in football but BB needs a upgraded schedule and a better league to help our recruiting. I totally agree, unless we make every shot, we cannot beat one of those top teams.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 27, 2019 14:32:36 GMT -5
After watching the NCAA this past week I think we will never match up with teams such as Murray State & Wofford. we can't recruit those type of athletes. I know most people will disagree with me but the PL is holding us back. I can put up with the league in football but BB needs a upgraded schedule and a better league to help our recruiting. I totally agree, unless we make every shot, we cannot beat one of those top teams. Carmody's strategy is "make shots" so we may have a chance. Problem is, he doesn't seem to prioritize much else besides shooting the ball.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Mar 27, 2019 15:37:29 GMT -5
I totally agree, unless we make every shot, we cannot beat one of those top teams. Carmody's strategy is "make shots" so we may have a chance. Problem is, he doesn't seem to prioritize much else besides shooting the ball. It is unfortunate that this is the current philosophy of the current staff. As a fan who has been watching HC basketball for a long time, nothing is more exciting to me during a game than a center or a forward going up for the offensive rebound, and making the put back shot and getting a plus one. It is statement of imposing your will on the other team. Do this from the beginning, and you win psychological ops on the other team. Nothing better than seeing the other team hanging the heads at th half and in the last five minutes of the game. Looking forward to seeking a team that will be excited to bang under the boards. Hope it will be soon.
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