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Post by hc6774 on Apr 13, 2021 7:12:34 GMT -5
I have run through it quickly
Apparently it was reviewed/endorsed by the BoT... so President Rougeau will 'support' it... for 5 yrs. It documents AD Blossoms reasons for taking the job... with tweaks added for specific HC conditions that he now better understands after 2 years.
Basketball is preeminent for brand marketing reasons [agree with comment that CBN is on notice to win]. Football too but a little less so than bball N.b the specific references to winning head to head recruiting battles & developing recruitment of transfers
In the culture section reference to more interaction by student athletes with students who's interests are not sports juxtaposed by need for special study areas for student athletes in the facilities section
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 13, 2021 7:30:08 GMT -5
I have run through it quickly Apparently it was reviewed/endorsed by the BoT... so President Rougeau will 'support' it... for 5 yrs. It documents AD Blossoms reasons for taking the job... with tweaks added for specific HC conditions that he now better understands after 2 years. Basketball is preeminent for brand marketing reasons [agree with comment that CBN is on notice to win]. Football too but a little less so than bball N.b the specific references to winning head to head recruiting battles & developing recruitment of transfers In the culture section reference to more interaction by student athletes with students who's interests are not sports juxtaposed by need for special study areas for student athletes in the facilities section There is also mention of converting space(s) into a mental health counseling center. The athletics department strategic plan is part of the college's strategic plan. The previous version of the strategic plan was never publicly released; it will be interesting to see whether the college follows ADMB and releases the other sections of the strategic plan.
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Post by thecrossisback on Apr 13, 2021 7:57:39 GMT -5
Five year plan is interesting and they mention a lot of things we want to see addressed. Especially the fans, etc.
I think AD Blossom is a basketball guy. He played on the D1 level that is his favorite sport, of course he wants to see that be the best program. Also he hired Nelson.
As much as I like the HC basketball team. The HC football programs in a much better position to be a "preeminent power"
See how many championships the football team can win in a row in the PL and keep making a push in the FCS playoffs .
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Post by matunuck on Apr 13, 2021 8:12:15 GMT -5
It's still progress. Not long ago, HC admin kept athletics fundraising on a very tight leash.
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Post by mm67 on Apr 13, 2021 9:47:03 GMT -5
The college's marketing brand is defined primarily by sports?
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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 13, 2021 10:24:56 GMT -5
Any strategic plan at a college level is a pastry: light as air. No plan is going to set hard expectations: e.g., "Our strategy is to get out of the Patriot League" or not so specific as to come back to bite the AD, e.g., "five NCAA basketball appearances in the next 10 years." Using phrases like "high-performance culture", well, who is going to propose a low-performance culture? Outside of a $3M annual goal for the Crusader Athletic Fund, there are very few metrics in the prospectus to evaluate its success. Agreed This report was a waste of hours -- and dollars if they paid consultants to do it
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Apr 13, 2021 10:32:03 GMT -5
Would anyone have a copy of another school's athletics plan so we could compare?
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 13, 2021 10:35:36 GMT -5
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 13, 2021 10:35:39 GMT -5
Regarding the schedule, should HC be gentlemanly and offer to relieve Colgate of it's game against BC in the fall with HC's opponent playing Colgate? Nah! Our opponent for September 4th will provide better odds for a HC victory. They are a former long time yearly rival pre PL. Also, the parking is by far more convenient, and the tickets are less expensive. I would like to see the two teams Colgate has scheduled for September 11th and September 18th, visit Fitton during this decade. Just for a change in FCS opponents. fbschedules.com/colgate-football-schedule/I didn't even check the schedule, I was only picturing the wipeout that BC vs Colgate projects to be. You're right our opening opponent offers an even better chance to get an FBS pelt during the Chesney era. I forgot about the UConn game. Some don't but I think UConn and UMass are excellent OOC opportunities for HC.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 13, 2021 10:53:55 GMT -5
Five year plan is interesting and they mention a lot of things we want to see addressed. Especially the fans, etc. I think AD Blossom is a basketball guy. He played on the D1 level that is his favorite sport, of course he wants to see that be the best program. Also he hired Nelson. As much as I like the HC basketball team. The HC football programs in a much better position to be a "preeminent power" See how many championships the football team can win in a row in the PL and keep making a push in the FCS playoffs . "Dance with who brung you Swing with who swung you" -Country song by "Asleep at the Wheel"
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Post by gks on Apr 13, 2021 11:00:31 GMT -5
On the new softball field. My guess is that the new field will be sited on Freshman Field, reversing the current field orientation, with home plate tucked into the slope of the hill. My guess is that the elevation of the field will be raised by several feet (to reduce flooding risk) and that field turf will be installed. New locker rooms for softball will be built between HC facilities building and SE Corner of Fitton stands. From a quick glance at the flood plain maps, the current site of the softball field is at greater risk of flooding than is Freshman Field. The baseball field and the football field are proximate to a regulated flood zone, which probably means you can't berm the perimeter of the baseball field, and reduce the risk of flooding. The regulated flood zone was probably established as a consequence of I-290 construction, particularly the ramp from Southbridge St. headed west. goo.gl/maps/kco2ynHnxsv2MmTa7Google streetview looking toward College Sq and Southbridge St. Note lower row of windows on the old factory building are bricked/boarded up. On the newer building (closest to Southbridge St.) the slight discoloration of the lower course of brick may indicate high water marks. Because the culvert for the Middle River, which runs next to the football stadium, has a restricted opening, the river in flood will back up at the culvert and spill over into College Square and the baseball field and the football field goo.gl/maps/9qmhrozxLPKjdjVT9Google streetview from McKeon Rd. at the bridge over the Middle River, looking at the north stands. Middle River can't be seen, as it is flowing underground in the culvert. This area is also classified as a regulated floodzone. If there are street or yard drains carrying stormwater runoff from College Square and the baseball/football stadiums directly into the Middle River, the river, in flood, will backflow up into those drains and flood the playing fields and College Sq. I'm no scientist or whatever but if this notorious Flood Plain of Fitton is such a burden how were the Tornadoes able to completely build a permanent baseball stadium there?
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 13, 2021 11:01:51 GMT -5
Bentley's plan is so vague it doesn't even cover whether Bentley is committed to D-2 and the NE-10 for the five years the plan covers. It's all general goals everyone has when they get up in the morning.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 13, 2021 11:08:20 GMT -5
On the new softball field. My guess is that the new field will be sited on Freshman Field, reversing the current field orientation, with home plate tucked into the slope of the hill. My guess is that the elevation of the field will be raised by several feet (to reduce flooding risk) and that field turf will be installed. New locker rooms for softball will be built between HC facilities building and SE Corner of Fitton stands. From a quick glance at the flood plain maps, the current site of the softball field is at greater risk of flooding than is Freshman Field. The baseball field and the football field are proximate to a regulated flood zone, which probably means you can't berm the perimeter of the baseball field, and reduce the risk of flooding. The regulated flood zone was probably established as a consequence of I-290 construction, particularly the ramp from Southbridge St. headed west. goo.gl/maps/kco2ynHnxsv2MmTa7Google streetview looking toward College Sq and Southbridge St. Note lower row of windows on the old factory building are bricked/boarded up. On the newer building (closest to Southbridge St.) the slight discoloration of the lower course of brick may indicate high water marks. Because the culvert for the Middle River, which runs next to the football stadium, has a restricted opening, the river in flood will back up at the culvert and spill over into College Square and the baseball field and the football field goo.gl/maps/9qmhrozxLPKjdjVT9Google streetview from McKeon Rd. at the bridge over the Middle River, looking at the north stands. Middle River can't be seen, as it is flowing underground in the culvert. This area is also classified as a regulated floodzone. If there are street or yard drains carrying stormwater runoff from College Square and the baseball/football stadiums directly into the Middle River, the river, in flood, will backflow up into those drains and flood the playing fields and College Sq. Are there any photos of the playing fields flooded and under water?
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Post by Tom on Apr 13, 2021 11:43:41 GMT -5
Back in the late 80's, I remember the underground Blackstone flooding in the downtown area and trashing the section of Grafton St between Washington Sq and Water St and also doing damage inside the Centrum. I don't recall the football, baseball, or freshman fields being flooded, but they might have been spongy.
It is possible the fields were under water and I just don't remember it
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Apr 13, 2021 12:03:47 GMT -5
Back to the topic - this initiative by HC is likely being done collectively with Peak Sports Management, the new sponsorship sales outfit, so they have a prospectus - so to speak, to present to prospective sponsors.
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Post by trimster on Apr 13, 2021 12:08:23 GMT -5
Quick read: Facility highlights. > New softball field > Improvements to soccer and lacrosse fields > Replace field hockey field and track > Videoboards (plural) > Study on what to do about the rink, inference being that it is inadequate. > Feasibility study on installing field turf on certain fields (fields not specified) ---- No mention of changing the number of sports offered More scollies for 'Olympic' sports Higher salaries for coaches Lights for Fitton?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 13, 2021 12:10:18 GMT -5
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 13, 2021 12:28:36 GMT -5
Quick read: Facility highlights. > New softball field > Improvements to soccer and lacrosse fields > Replace field hockey field and track > Videoboards (plural) > Study on what to do about the rink, inference being that it is inadequate. > Feasibility study on installing field turf on certain fields (fields not specified) ---- No mention of changing the number of sports offered More scollies for 'Olympic' sports Higher salaries for coaches Lights for Fitton? No mention of lights for Fitton, not even a hint. Hints are improved concessions, improvements to locker rooms, improved wireless signals (satellite feed?), videoboard (already done). The college had an option under the Luth contract to replace the 12.5 kV main feeder line, and associated switch gear) on campus. One end of this line ends under the east stands at Fitton (well above the flood plain). The option was not exercised, as replacement required bringing in emergency generators to supply some power to the campus as the old line and switchgear was swapped out. IMO, there will be no permanent lights at Fitton until that old 12.5 kV line is replaced.
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Post by hcbball on Apr 13, 2021 12:29:58 GMT -5
I think the athletic programs are going to get worse before they get better. I suspect there’s going to be a significant number of transfers across multiple sports, based on how the administration planned and handled Covid and the resulting pauses across the higher profile teams.
I don’t necessarily think the administration was wrong by not treating the athletes different from the general population, but the results were disastrous to the student athlete.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Apr 13, 2021 12:50:43 GMT -5
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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 13, 2021 12:59:56 GMT -5
I think the athletic programs are going to get worse before they get better. I suspect there’s going to be a significant number of transfers across multiple sports, based on how the administration planned and handled Covid and the resulting pauses across the higher profile teams. I don’t necessarily think the administration was wrong by not treating the athletes different from the general population, but the results were disastrous to the student athlete. This is making an assumption that there would actually be demand from places who could offer a better situation (inclusive of academics). Basketball appears to be stable. There are not many options for football players to transfer -- the upper-echelon of 1-AA is either located in the middle of nowhere (is a New Jersey kid really a threat to transfer to North Dakota State?) and/or are likely more focused on finding players transferring down from 1-A. Are there other programs where there are talented players who could find an upgrade elsewhere given the dreadful performance in those sports virtually across the board for the last infinity years? I don't think "BCS" conferences are looking to poach players from middling (or worse) PL teams. As we saw with the basketball program last year, the idea of transferring might sound nice within the echo chamber of your family and friends telling you how great you are, but the demand on the open market is likely going to be quite different. The two "crown jewels" of this crew of defectors ended up at UNC-Wilmington (7-10, KenPom #248, transferring again) and Eastern Michigan (6-12, KenPom # 289, fired their coach). The rest ended up in even worse situations than that.
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 13, 2021 14:20:19 GMT -5
I think the athletic programs are going to get worse before they get better. I suspect there’s going to be a significant number of transfers across multiple sports, based on how the administration planned and handled Covid and the resulting pauses across the higher profile teams. I don’t necessarily think the administration was wrong by not treating the athletes different from the general population, but the results were disastrous to the student athlete. I don't think that has anything to do with HC admin...the top programs in the country are going to take the best athletes now from the mid majors thus making the quality of the lower schools worse.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 13, 2021 15:09:38 GMT -5
Thanks Phreek. I'm sure there were a few chest pains when photo #46 was viewed.
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Post by CHC8485 on Apr 13, 2021 15:47:34 GMT -5
On the new softball field. My guess is that the new field will be sited on Freshman Field, reversing the current field orientation, with home plate tucked into the slope of the hill. My guess is that the elevation of the field will be raised by several feet (to reduce flooding risk) and that field turf will be installed. New locker rooms for softball will be built between HC facilities building and SE Corner of Fitton stands. From a quick glance at the flood plain maps, the current site of the softball field is at greater risk of flooding than is Freshman Field. The baseball field and the football field are proximate to a regulated flood zone, which probably means you can't berm the perimeter of the baseball field, and reduce the risk of flooding. The regulated flood zone was probably established as a consequence of I-290 construction, particularly the ramp from Southbridge St. headed west. goo.gl/maps/kco2ynHnxsv2MmTa7Google streetview looking toward College Sq and Southbridge St. Note lower row of windows on the old factory building are bricked/boarded up. On the newer building (closest to Southbridge St.) the slight discoloration of the lower course of brick may indicate high water marks. Because the culvert for the Middle River, which runs next to the football stadium, has a restricted opening, the river in flood will back up at the culvert and spill over into College Square and the baseball field and the football field goo.gl/maps/9qmhrozxLPKjdjVT9Google streetview from McKeon Rd. at the bridge over the Middle River, looking at the north stands. Middle River can't be seen, as it is flowing underground in the culvert. This area is also classified as a regulated floodzone. If there are street or yard drains carrying stormwater runoff from College Square and the baseball/football stadiums directly into the Middle River, the river, in flood, will backflow up into those drains and flood the playing fields and College Sq. Are there any photos of the playing fields flooded and under water? From the College Archives ... August 1955 - The baseball field before I-290 was built And I'm not sure where this is but almost certainly at the bottom of the hill. Maybe Southbridge Street heading from Worcester to Auburn?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Apr 13, 2021 16:14:13 GMT -5
This image is circa 1960. Middle River flows past the north stands at Fitton Field. It looks as if the state has started land-taking for I-290. The floodplain which would have detained some of the stormwater from Webster Square and Cambridge St. is now a cemetery.
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