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Post by td128 on Dec 12, 2023 13:30:50 GMT -5
Ray, TOTALLY in jest.
I thought the one emoji would have indicated my attempt at humor here. I welcome adding the second emoji to leave nothing in doubt in that regard. There is serious dialogue here but every now and then I think it helps to lighten things up and poke fun at ourselves.
I am confident we will hire a very strong coach and continue our 'commitment to excellence on and off the field'. I appreciate and respect everybody on this board and the collective support for Alma Mater.
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Post by td128 on Dec 12, 2023 12:57:50 GMT -5
Interesting call and endorsement by our esteemed colleague from the Live Free or Die state.
Let's think this through a bit: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuncio
Nuncio noun nun·cio ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌō ˈnu̇n(t)- plural nuncios Synonyms of nuncio : a papal legate of the highest rank permanently accredited to a civil government
If you believe that KH has sourced a candidate who has these kinds of connections and knows the game of football and can recruit, that is a very compelling candidate. Talk about thinking outside the box. WOW.
Might this also be a move to go back to our roots and strengthen the ties with those who founded Alma Mater especially in light of the Benny Liew disaster and recent comments from an alum within the Sciences.
Strong call, teamer. You have certainly piqued my interest.
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Post by td128 on Dec 10, 2023 19:57:29 GMT -5
Should not be too challenging to observe what is possible when a true “commitment to excellence in winning on and off the field” is embraced.
The college displays a lot of excellence on and off the field both from a team and individual standpoint with all of the accompanying benefits that accrue in the process, with much of those benefits shared broadly via an array of media outlets.
It’s important to compete but before competing is the willingness to truly commit and in these pursuits “commit to excellence”. Accepting anything less than that is a willingness to accept some form of mediocrity.
“Commitment to mediocrity”? I have no interest in that.
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Post by td128 on Dec 10, 2023 12:08:53 GMT -5
Aside from the comment that I shared on this thread from Mark Duffner in regard to the fact that, "there is no better place to coach college football than Holy Cross", I have had a number of other exchanges with people and executives in and around both college and professional football. Decorum dictates that I keep names in confidence but the consistent point made is the attractiveness of the Holy Cross head football coaching position at this point in time.
While Bob Chesney has moved on and we all wish him well, the simple fact is HCFB is in a special position now for a number of reasons that have not changed nor departed but continue to distinguish the program and our college in the marketplace. From facilities to quality of the people (on and off campus/90-Wide), academics, current student-athletes and ability to continue to attract high quality prospects (above PL level) from high quality families and high quality schools, ALL of these factors are special and are reasons for generating strong interest.
On that note, I will share one statement from an Executive within one NFL front office who interacts extensively with people in the world of college and professional football. He reached out to me and offered the following, "I have had a number of contacts throughout the football world reach out with interest in the job."
IMO, we are transitioning leadership in our program from a position of strength in the marketplace and that position did not happen by accident but due to many years of effort and discipline by hundreds of people who remain connected to the program. These people are hard at work and laser focused in sustaining success of HCFB.
Fight Hard for Holy Cross!!
Let's Win . . . and win we will !! Count on it.
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Post by td128 on Dec 7, 2023 20:54:37 GMT -5
Given that Coach Duffner is referenced in this thread, I do not think he would mind if I shared these sentiments that he shared with me in the course of discussing today’s developments.
“Larry, I’ve been around football my entire adult life as a college player and coach at various levels and now for the last 25 years in the NFL, I can tell you categorically there is no better place to coach college football than at Holy Cross. There is just something truly unique about Holy Cross and the people are of such high quality that make coaching at Holy Cross so special. I am not just saying this. It’s true.”
Stated very matter of factly. Says it all.
LET’S WIN!! ✝️👊🏻🏈👊🏾✝️
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Post by td128 on Dec 5, 2023 12:00:59 GMT -5
The way that I read this, those with a monopoly do not like ceding that power and control. The Power FB conferences seem to be 'calling the shots' and the NCAA is drafting a proposal to advance their interests with the imprimatur of the NCAA along with it.
Will this plan/proposal ultimately be challenged in the legal courts as well?
Professional sports.
The mid-major schools and especially non-football schools of overall limited means would seem to be facing real challenges here as to how they compete. Money and Power both corrupt yet also carry the day.
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Post by td128 on Dec 5, 2023 10:20:50 GMT -5
We call this free market capitalism. Despite much of what is transpiring currently in our nation and the world at large, I am still a proponent of this system. Any coach who would state otherwise regarding speaking to the comp (both competition and compensation) is either exceptionally naive or a liar.
Seamore Butts? From 3 hours ago? Too funny. He must have an exclusive.
Don't take the bait.
As I wrote yesterday to a current friend/fan of the Crusaders:
"If he stays, fine. If he leaves, that's fine too. Ultimately he is responsible for looking out for himself and his family. That is how this all works. If he leaves, we thank him and we will remain friends and fans. The HC job will remain a very attractive position and will attract significant interest from a number of very qualified candidates. In the process, the new coach will point to some of our recent Crusader grads and soon to graduate and say, "look what can happen both on and off the field." Always play the long game. The weather tomorrow is partly sunny. I am confident that the sun will come up and life will go on and it will be another 'great day to be a Crusader' whether BC is still our coach or not."
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Post by td128 on Dec 2, 2023 10:27:22 GMT -5
CJ Hanson joins very very select company in the history of Holy Cross Football: goholycross.com/documents/2023/9/6/HC_Football_Honors___Awards.pdf
EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME 1939 Joseph Delaney, T William Osmanski, FB
1940 Ronnie Cahill, HB James Turner, G
1943 Tom Alberghini, G Edward Murphy, RB
1947 Walter Roberts, E
1948 Ray Ball, RB Bob Sullivan, RB
1953 Charles Maloy, QB Chester Millett, OG Victor Rimkus, T
1954 Henry Lemire, E
1955 James Buonopane, G Robert Dee, E
1974 John Provost, DB
1988 Gordie Lockbaum, DB
CJ Hanson embraces and epitomizes a true 'commitment to excellence in winning on and off the field.'
What a huge honor!!
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Post by td128 on Dec 2, 2023 10:22:16 GMT -5
Only two Crusaders in the last 50 years have played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Last names Lockbaum and Provost.
HUGE PROPS and MAJOR RESPECT for our right offensive guard CJ Hanson. Bringing real glory and honor to Holy Cross.
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Post by td128 on Nov 29, 2023 5:58:45 GMT -5
One of the last known survivors of this fateful tragedy provided this interview. He was in attendance that afternoon at Fenway Park to witness the Holy Cross upset of Boston College. Rather chilling to read of the locking of the doors that created the fire trap leading to this historic tragedy.
Interview with Cocoanut Grove Fire Survivor Bob Shumway (November 18, 2020) www.cocoanutgrove.org/bobshumway Naples resident remembers the 78th anniversary of the Boston Cocoanut Grove Fire
Seventeen-year-old Bob Shumway sits on the edge of his seat at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1942. He is watching Holy Cross College beat rival and undefeated Boston College in a huge upset in college football, 55-12. After the game, Shumway and his friend, Dick Moulton decided to visit the Cocoanut Grove nightclub on their way home.
They have no idea their lives are about to change forever.
November 28, 2020, marks the 78th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove disaster, the deadliest nightclub fire in history. Shumway, now 96-years old, is one of only three people still living since the fire. Although Shumway's memory is fading, he will never forget the horrors of that Saturday night.
"We were open to anything fun," said Shumway. "We just happened to be there." The Cocoanut Grove nightclub was the most well-known nightclub in Boston. On the night of the fire, 950 people were at the club - well past the 460-capacity limit. Shumway and Moulton mingled with people inside the club, walked outside and then went back into the main floor of the nightclub near the Caricature Bar.
"We weren't there too long," said Shumway. "We were there, and then all of a sudden, something exploded."
The explosion was a blue and orange ball of fire that started in the basement of club where the Melody Lounge was located. The Boston Fire Department report estimates that it took between 2-4 minutes for the fire to spread 40 feet and reach the staircase to the main floor. The staircase acted like a chimney, and the fire raced up the staircase to the bar area and dining room.
"l kept thinking, "Gee, you gotta have a way out of here," said Shumway.
The nightclub had six functioning doors, but Barney Welansky, the owner of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, had locked them. He was concerned that people were sneaking out of the nightclub without paying their bill. On the night of the fire, the only way out of the nightclub for 950 patrons was through one revolving door. Shumway and Moulton along with hundreds of club patrons sprinted to their only escape: the front revolving door of the nightclub. Panic and fear rose as people were stuck inside the revolving door.
'When you get excited, you forget which way the door is supposed to go," said Shumway. Shumway and Moulton pushed and pulled several people out of the door and onto the street. Once outside the nightclub, Shumway and Moulton helped injured people into cars and taxis that took them to Boston City and Massachusetts General Hospital. ln a little over an hour, the fire was out, and 490 people had died.
Shumway and Moulton drove back home to Easthampton, Massachusetts, after the fire. Shortly after the fire, Shumway was drafted into the Army in World War ll and was in the 89th Infantry Division under General George Patton. He was deployed to France and Germany and was one of the first soldiers over the Rhine River.
"l've seen plenty," said Shumway. "That's just another thing. lt (the fire) was pretty bad but so was the war."
Legislators suggested bills within 24 hours after the Cocoanut Grove fire to increase laws around fire protection and building inspections. Regulations changed four days after the fire in cities like St. Louis, Miami, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago After the Cocoanut Grove fire, building with revolving doors also added hinged doors. Emergency lighting became necessary. Physicians at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston City Hospital changed the treatment of burn care by using skin grafts to treat burn patients. lt was also the first time that Penicillin was used in a civilian population. These treatments and innovations of fire and building codes in additional to the medical treatment were adopted worldwide as a result of the Cocoanut Grove fire.
Barney Welansky and 10 others were charged in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire. Welansky was convicted of 19 counts of involuntary manslaughter, (first time this verdict was found in US), and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was pardoned four years later and died of cancer on January 27, 1947.
Theories have developed over the years, but no one knows for sure how the fire started on November 28, 1942. Shumway will always remember one detail about the Cocoanut Grove nightclub and that dreadful night.
"Every time I see those (revolving) doors, it reminds me of the big fire", said Shumway.
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Post by td128 on Nov 28, 2023 19:23:05 GMT -5
All most deserving. A credit to HCFB and Alma Mater.
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Post by td128 on Nov 28, 2023 19:17:53 GMT -5
A huge honor. Richly deserved. A credit to Alma Mater and his family given his humility in the midst of his success. An outstanding student as well. A true embodiment of a Crusader 'committed to excellence in winning on and off the field.'
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Post by td128 on Nov 28, 2023 6:55:25 GMT -5
Think of the number of times the names Holy Cross, Holy Cross Football and Bob Chesney have been displayed for public consumption and review over these last 5-7 days. You might be able to buy this sort of positive exposure but it would cost an exorbitant sum.
Assuming that the news shared by our esteemed colleague and great Crusader football44 is accurate, the Mission in re 'commitment to excellence in winning on and off the field' goes forward. If Coach Chesney were to be moving on, the Mission still and always goes forward. Let's never lose sight of who and what we are and what we are trying to accomplish. HCFB and Alma Mater are about a lot more than winning football games. The winning is incredibly important but it is a byproduct to the commitment. That commitment is the consummate team effort. BC himself knows that. Let's redouble our support of BC, HCFB and Alma Mater.
Start today by making a gift to HCFB on Giving Tuesday: give.holycross.edu/giving-tuesday-2023/?a=7239198
Today and everyday is a great day to be a Crusader.
We take a back seat to nobody.
Let's Win and further embrace and elevate our Mission: 'commitment to excellence in winning on and off the field.'
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Post by td128 on Nov 27, 2023 16:37:44 GMT -5
Smoke and mirrors? OMG. Spare me.
Wow.
The simple fact is if your people are NOT being approached and potentially hired away, you likely are 1. not attracting talented people in the first place 2. not developing your talent 3. otherwise operating a bucket shop-style operation that does not lead to your people attracting interest.
When your people are attracting real interest from high profile schools that certainly reflects well on the individual but also on the operation, that is, our college.
People who do not see this and appreciate this and think "woe is us" and we are a "smoke and mirrors operation" might want to exhale and take a wider angled view of things.
Holy Cross and specifically HCFB are in a unique position to continue to generate national level success. People from coaches, assistant coaches, student-athletes, parents and beyond want to be connected with 1. quality 2. excellence and the commitment to the same and 3. character that all leads to 'winning both on and off the field, courts and other fields of play. This menu is what Holy Cross is serving and the patrons are buying and they are very very happy which is why HCFB has attracted many high level recruits over these last number of years. Why do you think Bob Chesney came here in the first place? He saw the potential at HC. He realized that potential.
Now the job for whether it is BC or whomever is our head coach is to sustain it. Make no mistake, though, that effort to sustain is not and will not be the SOLE responsibility of the head coach. It is now and always will be a group/team effort.
Maybe BC stays and I will be very happy for him and continue to support him.
Maybe BC leaves and I will be very happy for him and continue to support him as a friend and one of his biggest fans. Not a lot of overlap between SU and HC although the bottom of the ACC is closer to the MAC than the P5 schools and we have shown an ability to compete at this level. Let's sustain that. I am confident ADKH has a list of a half dozen top flight candidates who will be very interested in our head coaching position if it were to open up.
No interest in whining or wailing and gnashing of teeth. Not taking a back seat to anybody.
Great days to be a Crusader!!
LET'S WIN!!
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Post by td128 on Nov 24, 2023 13:15:02 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Nov 24, 2023 6:49:10 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Nov 22, 2023 19:16:18 GMT -5
Hear, hear to our esteemed Crusader colleague and leader efg. Well done, my friend. I shared very similar sentiments but in a more concise fashion with our 2023 Crusaders at the conclusion of our 90-Wide Career Night in early October.
I stated in a fairly passionate manner: “We take a back seat to f’#*!n nobody!”
The Crusaders appreciated the message and delivery and responded accordingly.
Let’s Win and never stop embracing and elevating our commitment to excellence in winning on and off the field.
Happy Thanksgiving one and all.
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Post by td128 on Nov 22, 2023 17:46:37 GMT -5
TimHC, thanks very much for sharing this. Would seem this memorial is long overdue but certainly better late than never. My grandfather, a BC grad Class of 1914, was a prosecuting attorney in the Cocoanut Grove case that led to the institution of new fire codes. A great day for Holy Cross FB given the huge upset over the Eagles which was subsequently overwhelmed by the enormity of this tragedy. Here’s a link for those interested in more background details: www.cocoanutgrove.org/lastsurvivors
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Post by td128 on Nov 20, 2023 21:23:04 GMT -5
This might be at long last our opportunity to launch Benny Liew. 🤣😳
Ches, we love you but this is bigger than football. 💥
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Post by td128 on Nov 18, 2023 4:44:54 GMT -5
The 2023 HCFB Crusaders display real pride even in the face of adversity. Beyond that, they also embrace the mission: a commitment to excellence in winning on and off the field. They bring real honor to Alma Mater.
Savor it. Great days to be a Crusader.
Beat Georgetown!!
LET’S WIN!! ✝️👊🏻🏈👊🏾✝️
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Post by td128 on Nov 11, 2023 5:28:59 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Oct 22, 2023 9:50:28 GMT -5
ICYMI . . .for those interested in the topic of public health and as a follow up to the specific points raised above re the Pfizer and Moderna products, I welcome sharing this 28-minute discussion among two members of the European Parliament and an individual named Willem Engel, a human rights activist who is unabashedly critical of the products disseminated by these pharma companies. They discuss the safety, effectiveness and IMO most importantly whether or not the products tested by governmental health agencies were/are in fact the products actually distributed to the public. This part of the discussion ventures into the whole aspect of the integrity of the entire process.
The discussion is hosted by a Dutch-based organization known as Forum for Democracy International: fvdinternational.com/about
The EMA referenced is the European Medicines Agency: www.ema.europa.eu/en, an agency of the European Union in charge of the evaluation and supervision of pharmaceutical products.
I found the exchange to be riveting and knowing the seriousness of what is at hand, think/hope others might as well.
Navigate accordingly.
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Post by td128 on Oct 20, 2023 5:15:49 GMT -5
Following up on the comments from just a few weeks back and given the seriousness of the issues addressed here which impact us all within the Holy Cross community far and wide, I welcome sharing this recent release from the World Council for Health: worldcouncilforhealth.org/about/ There seems to be rather widely acknowledged global confirmation of the data within the release below dated October 11th. I will defer to those with professional experience or informed opinions to weigh in with their thoughts. Given the kindred spirits within this online community I certainly also appreciate hearing from one and all. Thank you. worldcouncilforhealth.substack.com/p/urgent-expert-hearing
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Post by td128 on Oct 19, 2023 14:07:18 GMT -5
1st Team: Coker, Hanson, Dobbs 2nd Team: Sluka, Newman 3rd Team: Fuller
Just realized that our esteemed Crusader friend efg72 had linked to this above.
LET'S WIN!!
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Post by td128 on Oct 15, 2023 20:26:08 GMT -5
I wonder when Hamas was established, what prompted their being founded and who helped in making that happen?
Probably worthy of serious review in light of current developments.
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