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Post by JRGNYR on Dec 7, 2023 16:12:32 GMT -5
Congratulations to Coach Chesney and many thanks for the remarkable job he did with the football program. He exceeded expectations and set an awfully high bar for the next person in the position. Speaking of which, to those of you who are already hand-wringing about what may or may not have been done regarding finding his replacement, please take a deep breath, maybe even step back from the keyboard, and count to 20. Just my experience and common sense tell me that ADKH has a short list already created of potential candidate targets if and when this day came. He's had it at least for weeks since the Syracuse rumors started. It's entirely possible (likely?) he had it before. It's relatively common practice to have an evolving watch list of sorts in the event your higher profile jobs in the department become available. If you're an AD at the FCS level, it's part of life. You have to be prepared for this day to come, and if it does in this way it's because your coach helped bring immense success to the program. Considering the alternatives, this is the best outcome we could've hoped for outside of a lifetime contract for Coach and well... that's just not how the world works, even if many of us wish that was the case. Those types of cases are the extreme exception, not the rule, so while we're at it, any of you who are somehow begrudging Coach Chesney right now... you're making this about yourself and your own feelings and not about him, his family, his financial future, what he did for HC and the big opportunity that awaits him at JMU. I know it's difficult to put down the purple glasses sometimes but here it's required, at least inasmuch as the way we bid Coach farewell. We should demonstrate the same level of class to him in his departure as he demonstrated to the College in his last six years of pouring his heart and soul into the program. The assumption that ADKH wasn't somehow ready for this is presumptuous. The "national search" language is part of every one of these press releases. I wouldn't get tied up in knots about that at all. It's boilerplate for these types of statements. Thank you. You expressed my thoughts better than I ever could have done. Thank you for a wonderful, wise post. I get frustrated here and there and it all tends to pour out of me at once, sometimes more eloquently than others.
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Post by JRGNYR on Dec 7, 2023 14:02:35 GMT -5
Congratulations to Coach Chesney and many thanks for the remarkable job he did with the football program. He exceeded expectations and set an awfully high bar for the next person in the position.
Speaking of which, to those of you who are already hand-wringing about what may or may not have been done regarding finding his replacement, please take a deep breath, maybe even step back from the keyboard, and count to 20. Just my experience and common sense tell me that ADKH has a short list already created of potential candidate targets if and when this day came. He's had it at least for weeks since the Syracuse rumors started. It's entirely possible (likely?) he had it before. It's relatively common practice to have an evolving watch list of sorts in the event your higher profile jobs in the department become available.
If you're an AD at the FCS level, it's part of life. You have to be prepared for this day to come, and if it does in this way it's because your coach helped bring immense success to the program. Considering the alternatives, this is the best outcome we could've hoped for outside of a lifetime contract for Coach and well... that's just not how the world works, even if many of us wish that was the case.
Those types of cases are the extreme exception, not the rule, so while we're at it, any of you who are somehow begrudging Coach Chesney right now... you're making this about yourself and your own feelings and not about him, his family, his financial future, what he did for HC and the big opportunity that awaits him at JMU. I know it's difficult to put down the purple glasses sometimes but here it's required, at least inasmuch as the way we bid Coach farewell. We should demonstrate the same level of class to him in his departure as he demonstrated to the College in his last six years of pouring his heart and soul into the program.
The assumption that ADKH wasn't somehow ready for this is presumptuous. The "national search" language is part of every one of these press releases. I wouldn't get tied up in knots about that at all. It's boilerplate for these types of statements.
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Post by JRGNYR on Nov 20, 2023 9:11:40 GMT -5
If I can be an optimist for a minute... Lafayette is clearly a program on the rise and if both Lafayette and HC can maintain their current level of competitiveness, we might be in a situation where A) the league can garner a little additional respect outside the geographic confines of the northeast and B) we have a rivalry on our hands, similar to HC/Bucknell basketball in the mid-2000s. There's a potential opportunity here, and it's a matter of whether all relevant parties can take advantage. I think there's a lot of similarities between HC and Lafayette regarding the relative histories of the programs, the down years, the anxiety experienced by the alumni, etc., that if we enter another era similar to the late 80s when both programs are good.
I think it's also important to mention that while Fordham took a step back this year, they will be in a position to attempt to reload. Colgate is improving. I think Lehigh is a few years away, but historically with the right coach and correct approach they can be really good. There's a ton of FCS-level talent in PA.
I alluded to this in another post, but maybe going into an offseason where HC needs to regain its edge as a program isn't such a bad thing. Hunter vs. hunted. Not saying the program has gotten complacent, but sharing the league title but not going to the playoffs means they didn't win the games that mattered the most. Simply put. Didn't get it done. You tip your cap to the program that did get it done and you go into the offseason with the expressed purpose of not letting that happen again.
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Post by JRGNYR on Nov 12, 2023 16:00:27 GMT -5
Despite the result, it was a great afternoon of football at Michie yesterday. First time I'd been in many, many years. The Army fans were classy and it was a pretty special moment to see the new enlistments take their oath. It's a pain in the rump to get around that campus, though.
Disappointing result but the team gave it everything they had. Zero problems with the effort. There were a few defensive breakdowns but overall the D showed up yesterday. The offense wasn't able to spring Sluka for any big runs except one that I can recall. So much of the offense is run through him that if he can't break multiple 30-yarders, it's just a little bit more difficult. Army's defense is a half-step faster than most that HC sees during the course of the season.
In many ways, the game was a microcosm of the season overall. A lot of good things but enough bad to prevent them from getting over the hump.
Considering how the season has gone, that HC still has a shot at the league title and postseason is pretty remarkable. Let's see how next week plays out. If things break against HC next week, maybe going into an offseason as a hunter instead of the hunted isn't such a bad thing.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 27, 2023 15:28:34 GMT -5
Army will probably keep Dartmouth because they will want an "easy" game at home. Its the G5 home and homes that will be most likely be shed, like UMASS/UConn. Unlike Army who will have 2 flexible OOC dates every year in the AAC, Navy only has ONE (due to the annual ND game). And they play an FCS basically every year, usually the home opener. It really depends on what weekends get gobbled up for conference play in the AAC schedule. Maybe there's some flexibility there, Army could request to keep certain weekends earmarked for non-conference games. The AAC schedule is likely set already for at least a few years, so if they're just plugging Army in for SMU then there might not be any wiggle room. Not sure if they're using this as a complete revamp of the schedule.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 27, 2023 7:49:49 GMT -5
I wonder if Army built in some language into their scheduling agreements that lowers their buyout if they cancel games due to joining a conference.
Anyway, in terms of FCS games, Army has (had) Dartmouth in '24 and Marist and Lafayette in '25. Any buyouts there are probably minimal, but it'll be tough for Dartmouth to get another game on that date at this point.
Army and Air Force have usually played the first Saturday in November for as far back as I can remember. I have to think that while the Air Force game will always be played, both schools will have to get used to playing it on another weekend.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 15:23:07 GMT -5
Entirely different situation. If they failed on that play, you would have said the same thing. Not necessarily. I was fine they went for it. IThey were going to have to go for 2 starting with the second OT anyway, so you might as well do it in the first OT. I didn't have a problem with it. For the record, I have been critical in the past of HC not taking the FG when they've driven near the goal line in the first half of games but didn't get into the end zone. It's a strategy that's spanned multiple offensive coordinators under Chesney so I have to think that's his philosophy to do that. They tend to do that more often than not. Maybe it's a reflection in their lack of confidence in the kicking game... not sure.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 15:16:57 GMT -5
That was baffling. Take the points. Did you say that when Chesney went for two last year against Fordham in OT? Entirely different situation.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 15:15:22 GMT -5
Not kicking a field goal at the end of the first half now looms very large. That was baffling. Take the points.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 15:12:03 GMT -5
The Yale and Colgate wins really masked some deficiencies with this team, especially on defense. If the offense sputters at all, all the pressure rests on the defense and it just hasn't been up to the challenge in big spots.
Some really logic defying play calls on offense too. You can't go rogue with your playcalling when you can't rely on the defense to get stops.
An unfortunate confluence of events this year.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 15:00:48 GMT -5
And that's the season.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 14:23:45 GMT -5
The offense really misses Chris Smith.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 21, 2023 14:02:39 GMT -5
The Harvard game broke this team.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 19, 2023 8:50:47 GMT -5
I much prefer the throwbacks.
Re: the black, I'm also not personally a fan but typically the athletes love them. Since they're the ones wearing them, they should get a say in the matter. And I'll go back to being the old man yelling at the clouds above my lawn.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 16, 2023 13:01:03 GMT -5
Do the Patriots even have to tank? In a division with the Bills and Dolphins, who are both categorically better than the Patriots this year, and the Jets, who probably should've beaten New England and was a fumble away from making things very interesting with the Chiefs, the Pats are undeniably the worst team in that division. They are in need of a rebuild and the real question is who will be the person in charge.
EDIT: I see a lot of similarities this year between the Giants and the Patriots on the field. Mediocre QB who is most likely not the long-term answer. Injuries to key players. Some truly head scratching play calling. I can tell you the Giants aren't tanking one bit - they're as bad as advertised.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 2, 2023 11:07:05 GMT -5
Yet Fordham lost to Georgetown….., Yes. So? Fordham still has the firepower to keep up with HC and a chip on their shoulder.
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Post by JRGNYR on Oct 2, 2023 10:51:49 GMT -5
Needed a few days on this one. Tough to beat anybody, let alone a team as good as Harvard, when you turn the ball over 5 times. Even harder when the defense has a tough time getting stops. HC had two opponents on Saturday - Harvard and themselves. Too many miscues and still only lost by 10.
Lot of defensive items to correct which I'm sure will be addressed.
More concerned about the Lafayette and Fordham games now.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 18, 2023 10:26:57 GMT -5
"The most meaningless score in football" Even when that score is 20-0. See Cardinals, Arizona. That's also an aberration - largest come-from-behind win for the Giants since 1949. Sure, it can happen, but you can't make a habit out of it.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 18, 2023 10:26:14 GMT -5
Especially as it pertains to last year, HC was sleep walking through the first half and was down 10-7 before a late touchdown made it 14-10 at the intermission. IIRC, HC had 4th and short deep in Colgate territory and opted to go for it instead of kicking the FG. Colgate's D got the stop and used that momentum to rattle off 10 straight points. Moral of the story: don't underestimate them or any conference opponent. Any misstep in conference puts the league title and NCAA berth in jeopardy. You left out the second half. 25-3. Chesney’s HC teams have significantly outscored opponents in the second half. I understand that. My point remains the same - have to play 60 minutes of football in conference games. Yes, they tend to make great second half adjustments. I'm not saying they don't. It almost didn't happen against Lafayette. Had it not, the entire trajectory of last season would have been different.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 18, 2023 7:58:25 GMT -5
Maybe I'm the only one not taking Colgate for an easy win. They seem to always play us tough. 2019= HC 31-10 2020= no game 2021= HC 42-10 2022=HC 35-10Especially as it pertains to last year, HC was sleep walking through the first half and was down 10-7 before a late touchdown made it 14-10 at the intermission. IIRC, HC had 4th and short deep in Colgate territory and opted to go for it instead of kicking the FG. Colgate's D got the stop and used that momentum to rattle off 10 straight points. Moral of the story: don't underestimate them or any conference opponent. Any misstep in conference puts the league title and NCAA berth in jeopardy.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 17, 2023 9:32:02 GMT -5
First time in the history of the series that HC has won three straight against Yale. Also the largest margin of victory for HC over the Eli, surpassing last year's victory by a single point. Four wins in the last five games against Yale. Love to see it. Still will take some time to even out the series. May not get that opportunity after our current series with them runs its course and they're sick and tired of lopsided scores. Although, will give Tony Reno a lot of credit -- he's one coach in the Ivy that has actually played some tough OOC opponents. We'll see. It takes two to tango. If there's a break in the series, I wouldn't mind seeing Princeton on the schedule again for selfish reasons. EDIT: FWIW, FBSchedules has Yale on the non-con through 2028.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 17, 2023 9:00:23 GMT -5
First time in the history of the series that HC has won three straight against Yale. Also the largest margin of victory for HC over the Eli, surpassing last year's victory by a single point. Four wins in the last five games against Yale.
Love to see it. Still will take some time to even out the series.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 11, 2023 14:41:03 GMT -5
COVID significantly disrupted the space-time continuum.
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Post by JRGNYR on Aug 11, 2023 11:00:32 GMT -5
Don't know if the CAA goes with divisions or regional scheduling moving forward, but road trips to Albany, Villanova, Delaware and UNH will be more attractive than Gardner-Webb, Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois. This is a move that makes a lot of sense. An absurd 16 football members now. 4 PODS of 4? Maine, UNH, Bryant, URI Albany, SBU, Monmouth, Villanova Delaware, Towson, W&M, Richmond NCAT, Hampton, Elon, Campbell I would imagine two divisions of eight teams each might make more sense. Seven divisional games with one rotating crossover, maybe. If it were me, I would want to protect the Villanova/Delaware and Richmond/W&M rivalries and pair them in the same division - otherwise you'd have to make that their crossover game every year which defeats the purposes of a rotating crossover. Perhaps the easiest to achieve that is swap Villanova with Towson, and then you have Villanova as the northern end of the south division and Towson is at the southern end of the north division. I have no idea what their plans are.
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Post by JRGNYR on Aug 10, 2023 13:51:24 GMT -5
Don't know if the CAA goes with divisions or regional scheduling moving forward, but road trips to Albany, Villanova, Delaware and UNH will be more attractive than Gardner-Webb, Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois.
This is a move that makes a lot of sense.
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