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Post by efg72 on Dec 21, 2023 20:24:45 GMT -5
My Christmas thought
While I have been silent, I am about to disturb 99% of the posters, and then go back to take a long winters nap
Chesney was a wonderful coach, a friend to many of us, and reestablished Holy Cross as a legitimate NE football program.
He enjoyed his HC opportunity and used his Assumption life to create a degree of bonafides with the HC/Worcester community
We were so fortunate to have him as our coach
He used Holy Cross like others use schools as a stepping stone for the next opportunity
He sprinted towards any opportunity to get him to the next level of coaching and financial stability
And we know, nothing, especially the good stuff, lasts forever
However, Bob was not committed to Holy Cross, he was committed to Bob
I respect that and most all posters would take a similar approach!
We all knew he would go after graduate players and coaches that revered him and he knew they could deliver- all of that is good and understood
What is so wrong is the way he and his staff poached our verbal commits and potentially other recruits on the board
So love him, thank him, but don’t put him on a pedestal, he isn’t close to Mark Duffner, Rick Carter, or coaches that came before them, that truly believed at Holy Cross you could have it all!
Let’s focus on supporting Coach Curren and his staff, create a new staff position-alumni liaison role or two so we are more engaged and aware of recruiting, fully financing the CAF, and creating an 1843 NIL that is the envy of the FCS
The Chesney era is over-Thank you for your service, and let’s move forward
Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families
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Post by gks on Dec 21, 2023 20:40:40 GMT -5
My Christmas thought While I have been silent, I am about to disturb 99% of the posters, and then go back to take a long winters nap Chesney was a wonderful coach, a friend to many of us, and reestablished Holy Cross as a legitimate NE football program. He enjoyed his HC opportunity and used his Assumption life to create a degree of bonafides with the HC/Worcester community We were so fortunate to have him as our coach He used Holy Cross like others use schools do as a stepping stone for the next opportunity He sprinted towards any opportunity to get him to the next level of coaching and financial stability And we know nothing, especially the good stuff lasts forever However, Bob was not committed to Holy Cross, he was committed to Bob I respect that and most all posters would take a similar approach We all knew he would go after graduate players and coaches that revered him and he knew they could deliver- all of that is good and understood What is so wrong is the way he and his staff poached our verbal commits and potentially other recruits on the board So love him, thank him, but don’t put him on a pedestal, he isn’t close to Mark Duffner, Rick Carter, or coaches that came before them, that truly believed at Holy Cross you could have it all! Let’s focus on supporting Coach Curren and his staff, create a new staff position-alumni liaison role or two so we are more engaged and aware of recruiting, fully financing the CAF, and creating an 1843 NIL that is the envy of the FCS The Chesney era is over-Thank you for your service, and let’s move forward Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families Mark Duffner left when the going was about to get tough...and I don't blame him for it. Rick Carter wanted to leave but Fr. Brooks wouldn't let him. All coaches are concerned about themselves and their families first. It is there profession. They all strive to be the best. Merry Christmas.
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Post by hc1996 on Dec 21, 2023 20:44:15 GMT -5
My Christmas thought While I have been silent, I am about to disturb 99% of the posters, and then go back to take a long winters nap Chesney was a wonderful coach, a friend to many of us, and reestablished Holy Cross as a legitimate NE football program. He enjoyed his HC opportunity and used his Assumption life to create a degree of bonafides with the HC/Worcester community We were so fortunate to have him as our coach He used Holy Cross like others use schools do as a stepping stone for the next opportunity He sprinted towards any opportunity to get him to the next level of coaching and financial stability And we know nothing, especially the good stuff lasts forever However, Bob was not committed to Holy Cross, he was committed to Bob I respect that and most all posters would take a similar approach We all knew he would go after graduate players and coaches that revered him and he knew they could deliver- all of that is good and understood What is so wrong is the way he and his staff poached our verbal commits and potentially other recruits on the board So love him, thank him, but don’t put him on a pedestal, he isn’t close to Mark Duffner, Rick Carter, or coaches that came before them, that truly believed at Holy Cross you could have it all! Let’s focus on supporting Coach Curren and his staff, create a new staff position-alumni liaison role or two so we are more engaged and aware of recruiting, fully financing the CAF, and creating an 1843 NIL that is the envy of the FCS The Chesney era is over-Thank you for your service, and let’s move forward Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families Which verbal commits did he poach???
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Post by efg72 on Dec 21, 2023 20:47:42 GMT -5
We signed ten, two outstanding, one injured
You do the math and review the JMU signatures
peace and out
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Post by gks on Dec 21, 2023 20:56:36 GMT -5
We signed ten, two outstanding, one injured You do the math and review the JMU signatures peace and out Holy Cross did very well keeping what they did. Kids choose where to play football for these reasons and in this order. 1. The coach 2. The level of football 3. The school The anger towards a coach who dragged a dead program out of obscurity and onto the national stage is ridiculous. Everyone on this board should be thanking Bob Chesney.
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Post by hc1996 on Dec 21, 2023 21:00:18 GMT -5
Yeah, I’m not angry. Unless I see names of HC commits who sign with JMU, I’m not convinced. That would imply that HC was essentially landing top 25 FBS talent, which I don’t think we were/are.
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Post by saderfan1998 on Dec 21, 2023 21:00:31 GMT -5
He needed HC and HC needed him. Both benefited from the relationship. It was a great run while it lasted and everyone ended up in a better place than where they started.
More things should work this way
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 21, 2023 21:03:02 GMT -5
Doesn't "disturb" me at all but can respectfully disagree with some conclusions while sharing the same "facts". I do think that BC was as committed to Holy Cross as any coach might be and not having been in the area at the time, I can't knowledgably address Duffner, as an example, who in my reading you implied was more committed to HC ("that truly believed at Holy Cross you could have it all!") but also left for greener pastures. Here's how I look at it: I spent 4 years on the hill. Bob spent 6. He's got 2 years on me. As for poaching our verbal commits: 1. I don't know who or how many might be following him to JMU; 2. My guess is that many recruits are as attracted to the coach as they are to the school and don't think this is unusual; 3. He is also being loyal to his players, like Jake Dobbs (while I recognize that your rebuttal might be that he does it for selfish reasons because he knows Jake is a great player and person). I am also aware of at least one other Crusader graduate transfer who is interested in following Bob and Jake to JMU but no decision or announcement on that. Should we expect all of our coaches to prove their loyalty to the College by staying until they die, retire or get fired? For loyalty, like him or hate him, if he wasn't fired, Tom Gilmore would probably still be our football coach. He loved and still loves Holy Cross. So did Bill Gibbons. For any and all who know me, not just peripherally on Crossports, they know the purple blood runs through my veins as much as anyone, but even I believe family comes first. I'm greatly disappointed Bob left before he could get us to a national championship but he had to move for the good of his family. I will say that Tom Gilmore, with 20/20 hindsight, said he probably should have left Holy Cross after he won the PL championship and was in high demand. Instead, he stayed out of loyalty. Bob wasn't a carpetbagger. But it appears that JMU based on another post will make over $500K. That has to be close to or more than double what Holy Cross was paying him. And I guarantee you that any of his Crusader players will be able to count on him to help them going forward whether that be a graduate transfer; letter of recommendation for a job; take them to JMU if that is best for all concerned.
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 21, 2023 21:11:33 GMT -5
P.S. I don't really think efg is angry, he's just trying to get some conversation going. That said, I agree that we need to move on and support Coach Curran. I have no idea how successful he will be but his track record is pretty solid and I do believe he is already "all in" with Holy Cross. But, if he can get us a national championship, he'll be gone too.
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Post by hc1996 on Dec 21, 2023 21:13:37 GMT -5
If 500k is double what we were paying Ches then good for him. If we are paying Curran 250 then I expect him to leave soon after a couple good years. Sorry, but that is just not a good salary for this job. Sure, maybe comparable to other PL salaries, but there’s a reason the league is where it is. Time to kick it up a notch.
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Post by efg72 on Dec 21, 2023 21:39:19 GMT -5
I read these comments and scratch my head and worry that we must have 100 versions of the English language and my comments don’t translate, or people have knee jerk reactions because your view is expressed differently.
My conclusion that we lost a verbal or two struck a nerve, if you don’t like that terrific, but many comments made by posters are no different than the positive statements about the Coach that I put forward
Final answer- Coach Chesney did a terrific job, I consider him a personal friend who is welcome in my house any time, and I will help him if he asks, but he is not a God nor did he handle everything right when he left. If you think differently I am happy for you.
Given the Christmas season I will call it a year
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Post by midwestsader05 on Dec 21, 2023 21:48:40 GMT -5
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Post by rgs318 on Dec 21, 2023 21:50:51 GMT -5
Be well, have a good Christmas season and may 2024 bring you many good things...both here on Crossports and in the real world.
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Post by 78purple on Dec 21, 2023 22:39:25 GMT -5
If 500k is double what we were paying Ches then good for him. If we are paying Curran 250 then I expect him to leave soon after a couple good years. Sorry, but that is just not a good salary for this job. Sure, maybe comparable to other PL salaries, but there’s a reason the league is where it is. Time to kick it up a notch. I think those numbers are low, but I have it on fairly good authority that with his contract renegotiation last year, we made Ches ( and his staff) the highest paid staff in the PL, after being embarrassingly low ( at the bottom of the PL ) in the 5 years prior to that, underlining the fact the it was not all about the money with Ches the first few years, but his dedication to HC and the cause.......I don't blame him one bit, in the prime of his career, to make the move he did....His stock was never going to be any higher, and he was just another 7-4 season away form being yesterday's news
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Post by hc87 on Dec 21, 2023 22:47:09 GMT -5
Chesney had to move....he was about to be the next Mel Massucco.... I kid to a degree but he owed us nothing.....it's the nature of the entertainment biz....good luck to Ray-Bans in Harrisonburg.....I think he may need it actually.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Dec 21, 2023 22:59:07 GMT -5
Sometimes we forget this is a business for these coaches.
Coaching is their profession.
Holy Cross is their employer.
We get too close to it and lose sight of it.
These coaches have families. For most of these coaches, they don’t make that much money. I’ll never disparage a guy who takes another job to put his family in a better financial position.
Chesney benefited from Holy Cross and Holy Cross benefited from him.
Now it’s Dan Curran’s turn to do the same thing.
And, you know what, I hope Curran is coaching at an FBS school in six years. It will have meant HC is a top FCS program, once again.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Dec 21, 2023 23:05:13 GMT -5
Bob Chesney, from my point of view, was the best Holy Cross coach in any sport since I entered HC in 1971.
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Post by mm67 on Dec 21, 2023 23:22:14 GMT -5
Certainly Coach Chesney is in the pantheon of great coaches in HC history. Carter, Duffner, Eddie Anderson, Frank Kavanaugh, George Blaney, Ralph Willard, Doggie, Jack Barry, Hop Riopel. I'm sure there are others I missed and others in various sports women's/men's and, yes, Bob Chesney. HC has a long distinguished history in intercollegiate athletics.
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Post by hc87 on Dec 21, 2023 23:36:25 GMT -5
Duffner was bettah
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 22, 2023 0:01:27 GMT -5
I find no fault with Bob Chesney whatsoever. I don't understand what he did wrong when he transitioned. Defining specific incidents of wrongdoing would help us understand. It's interesting that Coach Curran signed an extension at Merrimack shortly before he left for Holy Cross.
The charge of poaching is outdated because students decide which college they attend, not coaches or fans. Since Colleges and coaches don't own student athletes like ranchers own cattle, student athletes can't be poached.
There's two equally good approaches for college coaches, the Chesney/Curran model of upward career advancement and finding a good fit and staying until retirement like Tim Murphy at Harvard. No criticism of either approach.
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Post by bfoley82 on Dec 22, 2023 0:03:01 GMT -5
My Christmas thought While I have been silent, I am about to disturb 99% of the posters, and then go back to take a long winters nap Chesney was a wonderful coach, a friend to many of us, and reestablished Holy Cross as a legitimate NE football program. He enjoyed his HC opportunity and used his Assumption life to create a degree of bonafides with the HC/Worcester community We were so fortunate to have him as our coach He used Holy Cross like others use schools do as a stepping stone for the next opportunity He sprinted towards any opportunity to get him to the next level of coaching and financial stability And we know nothing, especially the good stuff lasts forever However, Bob was not committed to Holy Cross, he was committed to Bob I respect that and most all posters would take a similar approach We all knew he would go after graduate players and coaches that revered him and he knew they could deliver- all of that is good and understood What is so wrong is the way he and his staff poached our verbal commits and potentially other recruits on the board So love him, thank him, but don’t put him on a pedestal, he isn’t close to Mark Duffner, Rick Carter, or coaches that came before them, that truly believed at Holy Cross you could have it all! Let’s focus on supporting Coach Curren and his staff, create a new staff position-alumni liaison role or two so we are more engaged and aware of recruiting, fully financing the CAF, and creating an 1843 NIL that is the envy of the FCS The Chesney era is over-Thank you for your service, and let’s move forward Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families Mark Duffner left when the going was about to get tough...and I don't blame him for it. Rick Carter wanted to leave but Fr. Brooks wouldn't let him. All coaches are concerned about themselves and their families first. It is there profession. They all strive to be the best. Merry Christmas. And Chesney didn't leave when the going was getting tough? He left HC after his star quarterback and linebacker both ran out of eligibility among other players after a disappointing season in which they didn't make the playoffs.
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Post by hc87 on Dec 22, 2023 0:12:39 GMT -5
Chesney was/is a very good coach,,,,but lest we forget, the Holy Cross job is a great job, we are going to be fine,,,Dan Curran will take us hopefully to heights we haven't reached football-wise.....we are going to be fine,
I wish him well,,,,but sayonora Coach Ray-Bans
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Post by hc1998 on Dec 22, 2023 7:37:19 GMT -5
Forget the sizable increase in compensation, which can't be ignored. Coaches are as or more competitive than the players they coach...they want to win, they want to improve, they want the next challenge. If our coach is complacent and is willing to settle at HC for the remainder of his career, I don't want him. I guarantee if he does well at JMU he will continue to move up, perhaps even quicker than he did from HC and I can only hope we are having the same conversation about Dan Curran in a few years.
For people upset at BC leaving us, I also want to point out a suspicion I have...I have ZERO inside information on this and its just speculation, but I also suspect he saw what he had coming back this year and shut down any interest anybody showed in him last year. His stock was as high, or higher, last year and we heard very little mention of him for any openings. I think he had a goal to come back, win a championship, then leave. He stayed committed to his top guys for an extra year.
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Post by dharry13 on Dec 22, 2023 7:58:51 GMT -5
I think all the opinions on the topic have merit honestly. As SOV stated HC was good for Bob and Bob was good for HC. I honestly thought after Syracuse he would put his interviews aside and start focusing on HC, but JMU came up.
Regarding poached recruits - this did occur. Tyler Brown verbally committed to HC on the 12/8 weekend. The following weekend he must have visited JMU and quickly flipped to JMU when Barnes went down there. So yes, he did take a recruit.
From a coaching standpoint - if you want to put Chesney in the same class as Duffner feel free - you have every right. From a personal standpoint it's not even close. Mark Duffner is a once on the planet type of person. It's not hyperbole - he's that special of a person, and he still gets choked up to this day when talking about Holy Cross. I'll entertain that debate all day long.
Finally - Bob is gone. I'll watch from afar and wish his family health and happiness. But at some point I'd personally love to put this thread to rest.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Dec 22, 2023 8:34:40 GMT -5
I have ZERO inside information on this and its just speculation, but I also suspect he saw what he had coming back this year and shut down any interest anybody showed in him last year. His stock was as high, or higher, last year and we heard very little mention of him for any openings. I think he had a goal to come back, win a championship, then leave. He stayed committed to his top guys for an extra year. I think there's some truth here. I actually think Chesney thought the 2023 Crusaders were going to be better than the 2022 edition. We entered the season ranked around fifth in the country for a reason. This was going to be THE year for HC under Chesney. The year to really make a run at Frisco. We fell short of expectations for a variety of reasons. We lose a bunch of guys who are graduating. Next year's team doesn't project to be as strong. College football is a fickle industry. One year, you're the hottest young name around. After a 7-4 and 6-6 season, all of a sudden your name cools off. My gut tells me Chesney had this year circled as the one to really make moves. He did. And I don't fault him. I congratulate him.
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