Time to start this week's new string.
Valpo 33 Bye 34
Looks like we have a neck and neck race for the bottom with Morehead State. They got crushed by Jacksonville 69-19. Too early for other PFL scores.
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 14, 2013, 06:30:44 PM
Time to start this week's new string.
Valpo 33 Bye 34
Hahaha. Are we completely sure it will be that close?
Your QB throws for 495 yards and you lose?
Biggest mistake made in the Valpo football program in the last 3+ years -- outscore your opponent with skilled offensive players. Nope. The PFL is not the home of great offensive players because those kids get snatched up by the scholarship schools. No the Valpo FB philosophy should be find the dedicated tough kids and play defense and HOPE you can score one more TD than the other guys week in and week out. Saban's Alabama teams are perfectly content to win 24-10, not 36-33.
Other Updates:
Charleston Southern 30 Campbell 10. There is hope in two weeks.
Mercer 54 Warner 0
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 14, 2013, 07:55:25 PM
Your QB throws for 495 yards and you lose?
Stats are great, and I get your point, but knowing how to WIN is infinitely more important. That is the one (at least) area Carlson has failed. He wanted to teach "the system" vs. keeping kids in the game by any means necessary including coaching to the talent he had. You mean winning and being competitive matters? Who knew?
laura - I hope you feel better after those comments. I agree with you at a 90% level, except for LaBarbera. He is doing a decent job, but here is reality - the Valpo administration does not give a crap about having a successful football program, but just to have it to bring in student players.
Heck, for my prediction I had Valpo winning over Jewell 38-14, and I was serious, and also very objective on this pathetic situation. Losing this game is unacceptable period. Alums are
Cripe, Valpo would not defeat Bye at this stage.
There are a bunch of us football alums trying to gather at Homecoming to raise $20,000 for the program. The goal is close be being raised but the funniest comment was from Rob Giancola who suggested the money should be used to find a new coach!
Just checked the Stetson site -- they won their first game in this era against Warner. Doesn't matter who Warner is, they won. Mercer won #1 too.
Marist beat G'Town today and Butler squeaked out over Franklin.
FB alums should not give a cent to this program until there are changes made. They should demand a meeting with LaBarbera at Homecoming and make it clear to him what an embarrassment this is. Stand up for your brothers men!
Quote from: laura on September 14, 2013, 08:09:58 PM
Carlson is a joke ...He should be cleaning out his desk NOW. Labarberra is a joke if he continues to foist this failure on these kids one more day. >:( No clock management...no game management... no sense of urgency in getting plays in. 120 yards in penalties on Jewell ,over 600 yards AT HOME and he couldn't get this one? This game should have been circled on the calendar the day we picked them up (along with St. Joes) 2 extremely winnable games. I' m beyond Carlson... Labarberra has let this program down he should get the hook also. So many bad coaching decisions, I am getting ill......Cubs Win Cubs Win...make me want to puke.... I'm done. Please keep your apologist defences for LaBarberra and all your snarky comments to yourselves. Valpo vs Bye...just hilarious.
Last year, Laura, you were pissed at the posters thinking we were clobbering the kids, but you've begun to see what many on this board were trying to get across. The poor play by the kids was not about the kids, it was about the coaching and the "system." Regarding ML, football is, without a doubt, his Achilles Heel, but overall, look what's happened: MSO, WSO, VB, Baseball, Mens' BB, Bowling, Golf, Tennis are all thriving right now. USC is spot on about the board though -- but ML can still fire the HFBC to stop the embarrassment. In that light, I've personally asked Mike Avery, the VU Fussball Coach, to take over the program -- at least they play defense and win close games. But he hasn't replied to my plea.
Quote from: vu72 on September 14, 2013, 08:57:06 PMThere are a bunch of us football alums trying to gather at Homecoming to raise $20,000 for the program. The goal is close be being raised but the funniest comment was from Rob Giancola who suggested the money should be used to find a new coach!
wow, that hurts man.
from BBTDS on the Jewell String: Syracuse, NY - After opening the season with losses to Big 10 foes Penn St. and Northwestern, Syracuse Orange hit on all cylinders this afternoon in posting a 54-0 victory over Wagner in front of 33,299 fans at the Carrier Dome in the 2013 home opener for the Orange.
Wagner is NEC with only a handful of scholarships, but lost to a FBS team only 54-0. We get killed by FCS schools! Montana State is FCS (where my daughter got her MS and still lives in Bozeman) and last week lost at Southern Methodist (FBS) 30-31. The gap between FBS and FCS is large, but FCS teams still manage to compete. The gap between FCS and non-scholarship FCS is large as well, but some PFL teams do complete (but don't necessarily win). Valpo can't even compete (and not necessarily win) against the bottom of the PFL let alone .....D-III .....or D-II.
We are recruiting all-league, all-county and some all-state players and other kids with pretty good resumes, yet they come here and something happens. The individual talents are diluted and the game we saw today on television looked exactly like any televised game 3 years ago. Is that progress? Is the program growing and building a strong foundation? Are we getting better? Certainly not as a team. This should be a senior heavy team with a maturity and confidence that would at least get us to .500. Not happening. More and more youngsters are being sent into battle already at this early point in the season.
In retrospect, I sincerely believe that the best game ever played under the Carlson regime was the 45-0 loss to WIU (FCS scholarship team that was a top half MVFC team that year) -- the very first game played by a Carlson team. And that team was filled with Stacy's kids (who were so-o-o-o sub-par ::) ).
I wonder........ what if Stacy was given all the stuff DC was given in terms of budget, uniforms, cleats, recruiting budget, etc. Could he have turned his own program around? I think he would have won a few more games.
Since it is a bye week and our beloved Crusader off for a couple of weeks after losing to a pair of ham and eggers - would this be an appropriate time to make some changes? I don't think the adminisitration has the guts to do it.
Bring back Stacy Adams -- see my post below. I think his kids were less talented, but they played harder and better.
BTW I think Laura deleted her post.
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 14, 2013, 10:10:18 PMBring back Stacy Adams -- see my post below. I think his kids were less talented, but they played harder and better. BTW I think Laura deleted her post.
I saw that - this current team can get the worst in you.
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 14, 2013, 09:44:59 PM
from BBTDS on the Jewell String: Syracuse, NY - After opening the season with losses to Big 10 foes Penn St. and Northwestern, Syracuse Orange hit on all cylinders this afternoon in posting a 54-0 victory over Wagner in front of 33,299 fans at the Carrier Dome in the 2013 home opener for the Orange.
BTW Now we know why they pulled out of our contract. The Syracuse guarantee must have been huge!
If they don't fire him now, please at least take away his social media privileges. Sick and tired of his inspirational quotes, Cubs Win, Cubs Win alerts, what's playing on his iPod during his lunchtime run, restaurant reviews, vacation pictures, etc. Maybe he should spend more time analyzing why he can't win with "his" players instead of feeding his ego tweeting away as a "Head Coach." Trust us, you are the only one impressed with that title! Seems to have a lot of time on his hands. How about we hear from some of the other coaches on the blog and interviewed by Todd Ickow? Oh that's right, it's all about Coach Carlson . . . GET RID OF HIM NOW!!
I think Bye loses in a sqeaker but still covers the spread.
1600 dedicated fans were there for the opening game for WJ. That is a sad attendance for an opening game under nice weather.
I have to wonder if football should even exist at Valpo. I have talked to alums at work, including one recent alum. They all replied that football should be scrapped. It also apprears that student animosity regarding football is prevalent. Would VU be in a better overall situation to scrap football, or will a coaching change and other fixes suffice? Or do they need it to tap in more revenue?
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 15, 2013, 07:48:14 AM
1600 dedicated fans were there for the opening game for WJ. That is a sad attendance for an opening game under nice weather.
I have to wonder if football should even exist at Valpo. I have talked to alums at work, including one recent alum. They all replied that football should be scrapped. It also apprears that student animosity regarding football is prevalent. Would VU be in a better overall situation to scrap football, or will a coaching change and other fixes suffice? Or do they need it to tap in more revenue?
Actually I think 1600 is a pretty good number considering the state of affairs. Over the last 8+ years, they are 17-74. Really, that's a pretty good number of people attending for what is a terrible team year in year out. Carlson's record is 2-34, so it not exactly getting better either. I think I'd be quite happy that
anybody showed up to watch this debacle.
Now, the issue of branding...well that's another story. By being a D1 program, your scores run across the bottom of ESPN all day long. It's not good to have that kind of name recognition. I got a phone call a few years ago when Valpo finally won a game under Carlson, and the gist of it was this...did they win by forfeit? They're a punchline at this point. I am not on campus, or even in the region anymore, but I hear jokes about not being able to beat high school teams, and things of that nature. And I get some of the animosity too, as you don't want to be associated with that kind of product. Like it or don't, football and men's basketball are the most visible part of any university and right now one of those is an anchor tied to a sinking ship.
As for dropping football, not going to happen. The payday is just too great. How else can you get 100 men to pay that kind of money when the football programs gone? You can't. Besides that, just having something on Saturday afternoons is a good thing, even if it's horrific football. At least it's there, because the social life at VU isn't exactly booming either.
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 15, 2013, 11:48:08 AMActually I think 1600 is a pretty good number considering the state of affairs...........
Besides that, just having something on Saturday afternoons is a good thing, even if it's horrific football. At least it's there, because the social life at VU isn't exactly booming either.
Exactly. The men's soccer team drew 900 and were thrilled. What other sport, besides men's basketball, comes close to drawing 1600?
Quote from: historyman on September 15, 2013, 11:57:45 AM
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 15, 2013, 11:48:08 AMActually I think 1600 is a pretty good number considering the state of affairs...........
Besides that, just having something on Saturday afternoons is a good thing, even if it's horrific football. At least it's there, because the social life at VU isn't exactly booming either.
Exactly. The men's soccer team drew 900 and were thrilled. What other sport, besides men's basketball, comes close to drawing 1600?
Actually, if I could influence the scheduling, I would rather have the football games begin at 9 or 10 am instead of 1 pm. The game on Saturday lasted until after 4, and the afternoon is just about done by then. If games were scheduled at 9 and finished by noon, there would still be a Saturday afternoon to enjoy at the dunes or elsewhere, especially on such a nice day as yesterday. After all, it is not like we have to wait until afternoon to hold games for the sake of beer sales. ;)
Quote from: valpopal on September 15, 2013, 12:09:16 PM
Quote from: historyman on September 15, 2013, 11:57:45 AM
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 15, 2013, 11:48:08 AMActually I think 1600 is a pretty good number considering the state of affairs...........
Besides that, just having something on Saturday afternoons is a good thing, even if it's horrific football. At least it's there, because the social life at VU isn't exactly booming either.
Exactly. The men's soccer team drew 900 and were thrilled. What other sport, besides men's basketball, comes close to drawing 1600?
Actually, if I could influence the scheduling, I would rather have the football games begin at 9 or 10 am instead of 1 pm. The game on Saturday lasted until after 4, and the afternoon is just about done by then. If games were scheduled at 9 and finished by noon, there would still be a Saturday afternoon to enjoy at the dunes or elsewhere, especially on such a nice day as yesterday. After all, it is not like we have to wait until afternoon to hold games for the sake of beer sales. ;)
Um, just because they aren't selling it, doesn't mean it's not being consumed. Good luck getting students to be at the game at 9am...on a Saturday.
Granted, I don't like that it eats up the whole day, but it's a few weekends a year, and if the product were better, would we care so much about lost time?
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 15, 2013, 11:48:08 AMQuote from: usc4valpo on September 15, 2013, 07:48:14 AM1600 dedicated fans were there for the opening game for WJ. That is a sad attendance for an opening game under nice weather. I have to wonder if football should even exist at Valpo. I have talked to alums at work, including one recent alum. They all replied that football should be scrapped. It also apprears that student animosity regarding football is prevalent. Would VU be in a better overall situation to scrap football, or will a coaching change and other fixes suffice? Or do they need it to tap in more revenue?
Actually I think 1600 is a pretty good number considering the state of affairs. Over the last 8+ years, they are 17-74. Really, that's a pretty good number of people attending for what is a terrible team year in year out. Carlson's record is 2-34, so it not exactly getting better either. I think I'd be quite happy that anybody showed up to watch this debacle. Now, the issue of branding...well that's another story. By being a D1 program, your scores run across the bottom of ESPN all day long. It's not good to have that kind of name recognition. I got a phone call a few years ago when Valpo finally won a game under Carlson, and the gist of it was this...did they win by forfeit? They're a punchline at this point. I am not on campus, or even in the region anymore, but I hear jokes about not being able to beat high school teams, and things of that nature. And I get some of the animosity too, as you don't want to be associated with that kind of product. Like it or don't, football and men's basketball are the most visible part of any university and right now one of those is an anchor tied to a sinking ship. As for dropping football, not going to happen. The payday is just too great. How else can you get 100 men to pay that kind of money when the football programs gone? You can't. Besides that, just having something on Saturday afternoons is a good thing, even if it's horrific football. At least it's there, because the social life at VU isn't exactly booming either.
Valpo is almost considered to be a Chicago suburb; it's only an hour drive away.
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 15, 2013, 12:23:44 PMValpo is almost considered to be a Chicago suburb; it's only an hour drive away.
Do you travel an hour each way for most of your weekend social events where you live?
Perhaps, depends on what is going on. A lot of Valpo students make trips to Chicago or their respective home or whereever frequently.
To be honest, I went to all the games when I was at Valpo, but I could see many watching the A&M/Bama game, the Big 10, or better yet, the Pac 12 games on TV.
One more point regarding Valpo and the Pac12 - Valpo players still do not have tackling fundamentals, and that is disturbing. They need to sit down and watch Stanford's defense. They may not have the most talented defense around, but they are fundamentally sound and well coached.
I listened to the first half on the radio and decided to attend the William Jewell game when VU was still in it, sort of, at halftime. As I was walking in, WJ scored its 60-plus yard TD on I believe a third-and-13 play. It was little more than a bail-out pass by their QB, who was scrambling to his right. The receiver cut back to the left and scored on the long TD to go up two scores.
That kind of play seems typical of the VU defense under this regime. If someone wanted to do some research akin to jamming your eyeballs with a fork, I'll bet the average length of an opponent TD during the Carlson era is probably between 25-30 yards.
I never thought people would be longing for "the good old days" of Tom Horne. But that's almost where we're at. He had a couple good seasons, but even during the bad seasons the team was at least competitive - with a few exceptions of course particularly in his first three years. Again, that's some research I wouldn't want to do.
One thing Horne told me back then is that he always put his best athletes on defense. Maybe not the Macchi-Giancola guys, but for the most part that was the philosophy. I think it was successful, at least to the degree that you can use that word in association with VU football.
Maybe that's what Carlson needs to do, if he's still around next year. Put the best athletes on defense, play a ball-control offense and try to win a 21-17 game. His high-flying aerial attack that worked at Trine and Ohio Dominican isn't flying very high at Brown Field.
So I stuck around to watch the end yesterday, and of course it was disappointing. I sat near the bad, and the kids in the band were none to pleased to be sitting through that debacle. And I did see LaBarbera - I guarantee he cares about the football program and is just as embarrassed as anyone.
Bye week. We can't lose, can we?
I'm reminded of a Colts team that started 0-13, when they fired the coach and brought in Ron Meyer. Meyer won the last three games, most likely not even knowing all of the players names. My guess is that he provided a fresh start, a fresh review of the players, and made changes that gave the team a chance to win.
If I'm the Valpo AD and I know someone that could come in quickly to provide new direction, and wasn't interested in the long term job, I think I'd be making a change. Also, I'd bring in someone to evaluate the football program to identify the areas (facilities, recruiting, everything) that need change for Valpo to compete at the FCS and PFL levels. I'd also talk to other successful FCS coaches to find what they needed for success, including Lembo at Ball State, with his previous stints at Elon and Lehigh. I'd also talk to coaches of programs I'd most like to emulate to find a young coach that has the qualities of being a good college coach.
A couple thoughts that don't, I promise, simply repeat the battle cry for a coaching change. First, Valpo needs a slight but profound attitude change when it comes to real-time game decisions. In short, we need a "nothing to lose" approach--go for it on 4th and 1 when across the 50, try 3 deep passes when there's 21 seconds left in the first half and you have the ball on your 20. Onside kick when the other team isn't expecting it. What about a trick play? Literally, nothing to lose might strike a lucky spark. Second thought--the team needs a leader or two. Watching the sidelines Saturday showed no player working his teammates (a very different vibe than the random guy who throws down his helmet). In conversations with a few players' dads, they agreed that the team (especially on offense) doesn't have a player positioned to light up his fellow players. Or has their respect. That's a key ingredient to win or turnaround a floundering program. It's been said that in football, the energy on the sidelines spills onto the field for teams that win, and vice versa for teams that don't.
Quote from: Valpo89 on September 15, 2013, 02:23:25 PMI sat near the bad
you and apparently 1600 others
seriously, though, good write up and you almost have me talked into looking up the Big Play Defense (and I can't even say you didn't warn me. graphically, disturbingly, warned me : )
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 15, 2013, 08:10:22 PMQuote from: Valpo89 on September 15, 2013, 02:23:25 PMI sat near the bad
you and apparently 1600 others seriously, though, good write up and you almost have me talked into looking up the Big Play Defense (and I can't even say you didn't warn me. graphically, disturbingly, warned me : )
lol, good wit there.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 15, 2013, 08:10:22 PMQuote from: Valpo89 on Today at 02:23:25 PM I sat near the bad you and apparently 1600 others
I didn't get to sit near the bad. There was room for a track between me and the bad. :(
GENTLEMEN!
AND THE OCCASIONAL LADY WHO ENDS UP HERE BY MISTAKE ON HER WAY TO PINTEREST!
I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP
EGGED ON BY VALPO89
(IF BY 'MOUNTAINTOP" YOU MEAN "ABYSS" THEN YES
YES I HAVE SEEN IT)
AND VERILY I HAVE RETURNED TO TELL YE THE TALEz
BIG PLAY TOUCHDOWNS IN THE CARLSON REGIME
So, I'm pretty ok with numbers, for someone who never had a math class after pre-cal (2nd track) senior year (high school), and while i was doing this i realized...i have no context for these numbers other than the immediate. but bear with me.
Big plays are in this case those resulting in a TD of > 25 yards. Yeah, you have to draw the line somewhere.
Since the dawn of Dale:
1) We have never scored a special teams touchdown.
2) We have given up 8, all but one of which were big, big plays. 2 of them in one recent game, vs ND (the one w/o the leprechaun)
3) We have actually scored 4 big-play touchdowns of our 5 defensive TDs.
4) But we've given up 12, 6 of the big-gulp-size.
5) For the offense (our defense) it's gotten worse under Carlson (than early Carlson).
6) In 2010-11, about one in four TDs was of the big-play variety (31 of 128, 24.2%).
7) In 2012-13, about one in three is a big play (26 of 79, 32.9%).
8) You could make the case that our offense has gotten a little better, if you're into small sample sizes.
9) We have 4 big-play TDs in 3 games already! This after 7 in the previous THREE YEARS COMBINED. St. Joe's is the first time Dale has produced more than one in a game!
10) In fact, we have 10 TD total already--and had 13 TD all of 2010.
11) But only one in six TDs of ours on offense is a big play (11 of 72, 15.9%).
12) So the They, are, in the Carlson regime, scoring 27.5% of TDs on big plays, and are almost twice as likely to have scored on a big play.
OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
2010: 13
2011: 23
2011 MINUS CAMPBELL: 18
2012: 26
2012 MINUS CAMPBELL: 20
2013 (3 games): 10
Which is promising; over a 11-game schedule that projects to 36 touchdowns, or a lot more than before.
Defense is giving up more BPTDs every year:
2010: 15
2011: 16
2012: 20
2013: 6 (projects to 22)
FACT: We once went 11 straight games (the equivalent of a season) without scoring a BPTD.
FACT THE SECOND: We have had only 8 games in the Carlson regime in which we DIDN'T give up a BPTD.
FACT JR: There were 3 different games last year we gave up FOUR BPTD IN A SINGLE GAME!
FACT BLAH BLAH: We made Youngstown really work for it in our 2-game series. Sure, they may have scored 17 touchdowns, but only 2 were big plays. Bend but don't break!
I could go on, but this is already an hour of my life i'll never get back. don't forget basketball starts early this year!
data attached for those with strong stummicks.
O TOUCHDOWN TREE
O TOUCHDOWN TREE
WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN FIELD GOALS
Stuffing the Passer - O Touchdown Tree (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLvSrA5lwZM#ws)
(http://s9.postimg.org/3kgbec4mn/BPTDS_page_1.jpg)
Apostle, impressive as always.
I swear I did not type "bad" on purpose. But, ironically, I guess it was appropriate.
And if there were 1,600 at that football game, there were 125,000 at last week's ND-Michigan game as opposed to 115,000.
I have tried to keep a open mind about Coach Carlson and the program but I can't anymore, enough is enough! His philosophy of playing no defense and trying to win by outscoring your opponents has never worked and will never work. Throwing for 495 yards is great, but not when you rush for 26 yards. William Jewell turned us into a one dimensional team and never should have let us back in the game. The teams that play all three phases of the game (offense, defense, special teams) are the teams that year in and year out play for championships. What he is running is a gimmick and a joke and it is embarrassing. The attendance at Saturdays game was very respectable, the stands were fairly packed. The atmosphere at the game was disheartening. 1600 fans sitting there pretty much in disbelief dead silence at what was happening. I know ML was there and he saw and felt the same thing that I did. There must be a change because the current situation is unacceptable and must be corrected.
I don't think Dale Carlson's philosophy it to play no defense. In fact prior to last season he moved his second leading rusher to cornerback (Dale Cook). This year's top recruit only played offense last year at Warren Central, but Dale has him starting on the defensive line. However, I get the point, and understand everybody's frustrations.
Quote from: chef on September 16, 2013, 12:41:24 AMI don't think Dale Carlson's philosophy it to play no defense. In fact prior to last season he moved his second leading rusher to cornerback (Dale Cook). This year's top recruit only played offense last year at Warren Central, but Dale has him starting on the defensive line. However, I get the point, and understand everybody's frustrations.
This reminds me of the Denver Nuggets experiment in the early 90's under Paul Westhead, where the Nuggies had MIchael Adams and Orlando Woolridge and would lose games 150-130 regularly and had the worst record in the NBA. Well, with the all offense strategy and other actions of pure brilliance, Carlson has a 2-34 record that must satisfy the Valpo administration.
This is a bye week, and I wonder if something is going to happen today somewhere in a leather chair conference room where the administrators will have the guts to make a decision. This situation has been being on for too long.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 15, 2013, 09:27:43 PM
Defense is giving up more BPTDs every year:
2010: 15
2011: 16
2012: 20
2013: 6 (projects to 22)
FACT: We once went 11 straight games (the equivalent of a season) without scoring a BPTD.
FACT THE SECOND: We have had only 8 games in the Carlson regime in which we DIDN'T give up a BPTD.
FACT JR: There were 3 different games last year we gave up FOUR BPTD IN A SINGLE GAME!
FACT BLAH BLAH: We made Youngstown really work for it in our 2-game series. Sure, they may have scored 17 touchdowns, but only 2 were big plays. Bend but don't break!
2010 had a lot of Adams left-overs. While Stacy's teams had a bad record, they were competitive is some of their games and the scores against were not nearly as dramatic. Basically the kids played football -- they just lost games. The increasing BPTDs correlate to the offensive emphasis in recruiting and a clear vibe that it's always all about the O IMO. Since the 2010 offseason, my "fan mail" to DC has been 'play some defense.... please'. But in 4 years I have not noticed any change in alignments, philosophy or, more importantly, emphasis.
But one thing is clear: Alex Green is a football player.
Looking over the data again, there's all kinds of fun things.
Like Saturday was the first time we've ever lost while scoring 5 touchdowns! At least we're losing in new ways!
"lo, and the angel of Touchdowns shone upon them!"
[Seriously, if you guys have any kind of sense of humor like mine, you will really really enjoy "Stuffing the Passer", whence came that video I posted. It's from an ND blog, and I (a Michigan Man) don't even care because it's so funny.
Start at season 1 because it was Charlie's last season: http://www.thehouserockbuilt.com/ (http://www.thehouserockbuilt.com/) ]
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 16, 2013, 05:45:06 AM
Quote from: chef on September 16, 2013, 12:41:24 AMI don't think Dale Carlson's philosophy it to play no defense. In fact prior to last season he moved his second leading rusher to cornerback (Dale Cook). This year's top recruit only played offense last year at Warren Central, but Dale has him starting on the defensive line. However, I get the point, and understand everybody's frustrations.
This reminds me of the Denver Nuggets experiment in the early 90's under Paul Westhead, where the Nuggies had MIchael Adams and Orlando Woolridge and would lose games 150-130 regularly and had the worst record in the NBA. Well, with the all offense strategy and other actions of pure brilliance, Carlson has a 2-34 record that must satisfy the Valpo administration.
This is a bye week, and I wonder if something is going to happen today somewhere in a leather chair conference room where the administrators will have the guts to make a decision. This situation has been being on for too long.
The Enver Nuggets (they had no 'D')!
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 16, 2013, 08:21:02 AM
Like Saturday was the first time we've ever lost while scoring 5 touchdowns!
Last year's home opener against St. Joe's.
Quote from: chef on September 16, 2013, 12:41:24 AMI don't think Dale Carlson's philosophy it to play no defense. In fact prior to last season he moved his second leading rusher to cornerback (Dale Cook). This year's top recruit only played offense last year at Warren Central, but Dale has him starting on the defensive line. However, I get the point, and understand everybody's frustrations.
The last two years we have averaged giving up over 500 yards a game defensively. Recruiting and moving offensive players to defense is not the answer. I still think his philosophy is to try and out score the opponent or the defense would have been addressed.
Quote from: vusupporter on September 16, 2013, 09:16:05 AMLast year's home opener against St. Joe's.
Nope! Only 4 offensive touchdowns in that game. The other was a fumble return TD.
I'll stand up and admit that I said that the AD wouldn't fire Dale Carlson early in the season, because it doesn't often happen, then I saw that Grambling St. fired former Washington Redskins QB Doug Williams about two days after I declared that DC wouldn't be fired until after the season ends. At this point, now that the precedent has been set by a SWAC school, why not let him go now? Sure, it would cost Valpo a buyout, but from some of the posters here, it seems they would be willing to help put up the thousands of dollars needed to buyout DC's contract.
When I was watching on Saturday, I initially felt that it was time to make some personnel switches on the field, but after our running game took a massive hit with Hutson's shoulder injury and Bodz still being out with that serious knee injury, I don't know if it's so much the players playing badly, or it's overthinking what to do because they want to win, but too often they put the cart before the horse, and either don't catch the ball mid-stride, or don't make the necessary tackles that lead to stopping the big play touchdowns. We seems to have ZERO answers to what to do if a major contributor goes down, and I still don't think we have the weapons in the arsenal to overcome deficits on the scoreboard or losses of key personnel. Maybe it's time to scrap 'the system', and just play football. The system doesn't work, and these players don't seem to have the discipline to overcome their faults in the system either, whether DC and coaches are supposed to teach them how overcome these faults with discipline, or if they need to do some self-evaluation of the type of football player each one of them needs to be, but its time to just play some football and leave the motivational quotes, Joel Osteen comments, and excuses in the locker room and coaches offices. None of this is winning football games at Valparaiso University.
If there is going to be any coaching change, now is the time since it is a bye week and you have 2 weeks to adjust.
I think it would be wise to see the Valpo administration show some guts, show that they care, and bag Carlson. This is simply not working. Sometimes you need to take action and stop the pain before it gets worse. I am sure a buyout will not put the athletic department in the red. This has gone too far and the players, parents and alums deserve better than this. This situation for Carlson is a square peg in a round hole.
Good points being made. Either DC is not capable of coaching any other "system" and adjusting "his" style of play to the talent or it's HIS way at any cost. Whichever it is, this is someone who does not deserve to be cashing a paycheck as HC at Valpo. He seems to be very self-absorbed and more interested in the attention he likes to draw to himself. Not the definition of a team player. Always has excuses and never seems to take one ounce of the blame for the situation he has created.
When I think about it, why in the world would any decent assistant coach even consider coming to Valpo knowing that he had managed only 2 wins in 3 seasons. You only jump on board a sinking ship if you are desperate. Open your eyes ML! This guy is not who he likes to pretend to be. He has never put together a stable staff that this team could grow with, learn from and count on. I know that changes are a part of coaching staff, but this is ridiculous.
Like I said before, give this team something to get excited about. Show them you've got their back and make a change now. I bet the alumni would donate their Homecoming donations meant for recruiting and new headsets for the coaches to the cause! Money well spent!
Bye week 49
Valpo 42
It will be a close game throughout, but we will give up a late TD in this one again
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 16, 2013, 10:24:58 AMQuote from: vusupporter on September 16, 2013, 09:16:05 AMLast year's home opener against St. Joe's.
Nope! Only 4 offensive touchdowns in that game. The other was a fumble return TD.
I believe you said 5 touchdowns, not 5 offensive touchdowns. You might have been thinking it but you didn't type it.
Quote from: valpotx on September 16, 2013, 11:46:44 AMLike Saturday was the first time we've ever lost while scoring 5 touchdowns! At least we're losing in new ways!
glean the context from the data then
Well, it is Tuesday and again the Valpo administration once again showed they did not care or they have no guts to make a change.
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 17, 2013, 06:42:46 PMWell, it is Tuesday and again the Valpo administration once again showed they did not care or they have no guts to make a change.
You're wasting your time. It will not happen before the next game. It will not happen during the season either. Valpo football and it's fans will actually be fortunate if it happens during the off season but if the coaching change does happen it will happen then, not before. As chef would say, "You can bet on that."
Quote from: historyman on September 17, 2013, 07:06:02 PMQuote from: usc4valpo on September 17, 2013, 06:42:46 PMWell, it is Tuesday and again the Valpo administration once again showed they did not care or they have no guts to make a change.
You're wasting your time. It will not happen before the next game. It will not happen during the season either. Valpo football and it's fans will actually be fortunate if it happens during the off season but if the coaching change does happen it will happen then, not before. As chef would say, "You can bet on that."
Thanks for your insight and a reality check for me. It is a shame the administration allows this embarrassment to move forward. This would have been a decent time to fix this.
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 15, 2013, 07:48:14 AM1600 dedicated fans were there for the opening game for WJ. That is a sad attendance for an opening game under nice weather.
But a good target for men's soccer! A few more wins and they might have a shot.
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 18, 2013, 06:14:09 AM
Quote from: historyman on September 17, 2013, 07:06:02 PMQuote from: usc4valpo on September 17, 2013, 06:42:46 PMWell, it is Tuesday and again the Valpo administration once again showed they did not care or they have no guts to make a change.
You're wasting your time. It will not happen before the next game. It will not happen during the season either. Valpo football and it's fans will actually be fortunate if it happens during the off season but if the coaching change does happen it will happen then, not before. As chef would say, "You can bet on that."
Thanks for your insight and a reality check for me. It is a shame the administration allows this embarrassment to move forward. This would have been a decent time to fix this.
I'll go one step further...Coach Carlson will be at Valpo until his contract is up (whenever that might be). It just doesn't make any sense financially to do it any other way. Success on the field doesn't generate much additional income for the University, and the program is at absolute rock bottom, so what's the difference if they wait until the end of this season? Valpo plays D1 non scholarship football, I think that in and of itself tells you how much of a priority VU places on football.
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 18, 2013, 01:20:42 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 18, 2013, 06:14:09 AM
Quote from: historyman on September 17, 2013, 07:06:02 PMQuote from: usc4valpo on September 17, 2013, 06:42:46 PMWell, it is Tuesday and again the Valpo administration once again showed they did not care or they have no guts to make a change.
You're wasting your time. It will not happen before the next game. It will not happen during the season either. Valpo football and it's fans will actually be fortunate if it happens during the off season but if the coaching change does happen it will happen then, not before. As chef would say, "You can bet on that."
Thanks for your insight and a reality check for me. It is a shame the administration allows this embarrassment to move forward. This would have been a decent time to fix this.
I'll go one step further...Coach Carlson will be at Valpo until his contract is up (whenever that might be). It just doesn't make any sense financially to do it any other way. Success on the field doesn't generate much additional income for the University, and the program is at absolute rock bottom, so what's the difference if they wait until the end of this season? Valpo plays D1 non scholarship football, I think that in and of itself tells you how much of a priority VU places on football.
[/b]
I don't think that's right at all. Schools like Davidson, Georgetown, Drake, Butler and all the others choose to play non-scholarship because it makes the most financial sense. All these fine institutions are in the same boat yet somehow figure out how to have a winning program. Accepting less than stellar performance, or no performance at all has nothing to do with the level of play from a Divisional level or scholarship level.
Quote from: VUdad on September 15, 2013, 07:40:46 PMSecond thought--the team needs a leader or two. Watching the sidelines Saturday showed no player working his teammates (a very different vibe than the random guy who throws down his helmet). In conversations with a few players' dads, they agreed that the team (especially on offense) doesn't have a player positioned to light up his fellow players. Or has their respect. That's a key ingredient to win or turnaround a floundering program. It's been said that in football, the energy on the sidelines spills onto the field for teams that win, and vice versa for teams that don't.
I get what you are asking for, I really do. It's going to take a VERY special player, or group of players to turn this thing around. I don't know if you were on this forum when they played Jacksonville, but I watched that whole debacle. Only one other time have I felt so bad for a group of kids playing a game. I said it then, and I'll say it now. He absolutely sacrificed those kids that day all in the name of a "system" that had absolutely no chance of working that day. Developing a system is fine, developing a system against a team that's better designed to stop it than you are to run it is outlandish! There wasn't even any clock management to try to limit the bleeding. They'd line up and hike the ball 10 seconds into the play clock...on a punt! Maybe since they score every time they touch the ball, you might want to think about limiting possessions and opportunities? Maybe? He's got a saying this year, "what's important now"...where the heck was it then! I think that saying is very self serving. I think the saying should be, "save my job now because if I allow this debacle to continue I'll be unemployed when my contract is up". Jacksonville was very kind that day to Valpo and that's the ONLY reason they didn't hit 100. It's bad when you throw a wide receiver screen and the corner can get to the ball almost as fast as the receiver, without gambling and jumping a route.
From a Fox Sports article a couple of years ago..."It was humiliating, McCarty recalls, that one game. Valpo's football team was already 0-6, struggling under a new head coach after winning only a single game the year before. Then It was humiliating, McCarty recalls, that one game. Valpo's football team was already 0-6, struggling under a new head coach after winning only a single game the year before. Then Jacksonville University came to town, and everything went wrong. A punt was blocked and recovered in the end zone. An interception was returned for a touchdown, then another. Two and a half hours after opening kickoff, McCarty's team had lost, 86-7, and any optimism for a year that was supposed to be this struggling program's new beginning had vanished.
The team took a knee around their coach. Alumni and classmates had long since left the stands. McCarty's parents, who'd driven three hours to see their son's team get crushed, waited by the gate. The coach gave a short postgame pep talk, then players walked toward their locker room. McCarty could almost feel it: the moment when much of the team checked out.Jacksonville University came to town, and everything went wrong. A punt was blocked and recovered in the end zone. An interception was returned for a touchdown, then another. Two and a half hours after opening kickoff, McCarty's team had lost, 86-7, and any optimism for a year that was supposed to be this struggling program's new beginning had vanished.
McCarty could almost feel it: the moment when much of the team checked out."
Here's the thing...the team is 2-34 under Coach Carlson. What do you think is going to happen to kids psyche when they've been beaten, humiliated, made the laughingstock of the university and they have a coach who won't adapt to their strengths. It's a minor miracle they even have guys around who care enough to suit up at this point. I can't imagine they have any faith in their coach, I wouldn't. It has to be hard, very hard, to lose that much that often, and not really see things get better. What changes have they made to "the system" to improve their chances for success? None that I've seen.
Really think about what you are asking these kids to do and overcome. My hats off to them, I don't know if I could do it...
Quote from: vu72 on September 18, 2013, 01:43:09 PM
I don't think that's right at all. Schools like Davidson, Georgetown, Drake, Butler and all the others choose to play non-scholarship because it makes the most financial sense.
All these fine institutions are in the same boat yet somehow figure out how to have a winning program. Accepting less than stellar performance, or no performance at all has nothing to do with the level of play from a Divisional level or scholarship level.
I don't think I made my point very well...sorry about that. I am not saying you can't win as a non scholarship program, I am saying football is not really very high on the universities list of things they're willing to invest in. It makes financial sense to have scholarship football for 200+ D1 universities, but not Valpo? Interesting. I wonder why that is? It's also interesting how many other universities manage to fund things like stadiums, arena's and you know, a track! Hmm...
I get your point, and I am sure you get mine too.
I feel sorry for the kids who pour their heart and soul into Valparaiso University's football program! The kids come to Valparaiso because it is a great academic school and they get the chance to continue to play the game they love. They come to Valparaiso to turn this program around and make it something the university and the community can be proud of. Only to realize it seems, the players commitment to the program runs deeper than the university's.
I've said it several times before when this is brought up, but a new football stadium and more resources will in NO WAY affect the current football players ability to win games. These things will only help to recruit BETTER football players, not increase the likelihood that the current players will win. Don't get me wrong, as I feel bad for the players that we lose all of the time, but we need to be realistic that the guys showing up to play for the program know what they are getting into when they see the facilities on their visits. Changing their facility will not make them winners, they have to do it for themselves.
Quote from: willy on September 18, 2013, 02:51:02 PMOnly to realize it seems, the players commitment to the program runs deeper than the university's.
Bingo! It is time for the university's attitude to change towards football. The first change that should be made is a new coach and then they can address the facilities, equipment, funding that are required to actually win. I just don't believe the board of directors has the will or desire to invest in what it takes to make the football team a winning program.
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 18, 2013, 02:40:45 PM
Quote from: vu72 on September 18, 2013, 01:43:09 PM
I don't think that's right at all. Schools like Davidson, Georgetown, Drake, Butler and all the others choose to play non-scholarship because it makes the most financial sense.
All these fine institutions are in the same boat yet somehow figure out how to have a winning program. Accepting less than stellar performance, or no performance at all has nothing to do with the level of play from a Divisional level or scholarship level.
I don't think I made my point very well...sorry about that. I am not saying you can't win as a non scholarship program, I am saying football is not really very high on the universities list of things they're willing to invest in. It makes financial sense to have scholarship football for 200+ D1 universities, but not Valpo? Interesting. I wonder why that is? It's also interesting how many other universities manage to fund things like stadiums, arena's and you know, a track! Hmm...
I get your point, and I am sure you get mine too.
Yes I do my friend. I suppose the difference is simple. Being non-scholarship isn't necessarily a bad thing or one that somehow paints you into a "loser" or "cheapskate" mode. As I stated earlier, with schools like Georgetown and Davidson in the same category we have good company. Miracle's point is very valid and just points to commitment by the administration, alumni and sports fans at Valpo in my view. Mercer plays at the same level and plays in a brand new facility. I doubt very seriously that anyone in D1 non-scholarship has worse facilities and I certainly could be wrong. Those who travel with the team or ex-players could comment on this. If there are worse facilities then a double shame on you to Valpo as someone with worse facilities finds a way to attract a winning coach and players.
Willy's point is also a good one. The player's commitment is CLEARLY bigger. Witness the fact that what? 30 of them stayed all summer to workout? I doubt other similar programs had that kind of participation. There is only one answer to an attempt to stop the bleeding and we all know what that answer is.
Quote from: vu72 on September 18, 2013, 01:43:09 PMValpo plays D1 non scholarship football, I think that in and of itself tells you how much of a priority VU places on football.
[/b]
I don't think that's right at all. Schools like Davidson, Georgetown, Drake, Butler and all the others choose to play non-scholarship because it makes the most financial sense. All these fine institutions are in the same boat yet somehow figure out how to have a winning program. Accepting less than stellar performance, or no performance at all has nothing to do with the level of play from a Divisional level or scholarship level.
Valpo, along with many other schools that had NCAA Division I programs for most sports except football, was forced to go Division I in all sports. That is the driver for the PFL - like minded institutions that wanted to be Division I in football, but non-scholarship, so it wouldn't have to compete with Division I and I-AA programs that gave scholarships. As pointed out, there are schools that have had success at the non-scholarship level, which is an example of the schools commitment to football. Valpo has shown it is not committed to football, but not by being in the PFL, but by letting mediocre to bad PFL seasons be the norm. In the 20 previous seasons of PFL play, Valpo has only had four non-losing seasons in the PFL. I don't care if Valpo is in a non-scholarship league, but they need to be competitive. A 0.500 season or better in the PFL should be the expectation, not the exception.
If the hiring of Dale Carlson was the first step in making the Valpo football team competitive, as stated in the strategic plan from 2012: Goal 2.4: Finish in the top 3 in the Pioneer Football League while winning the Championship at least once every four years; then the last few weeks fall woefully short of this goal.
Valpo is in the PFL not because Valpo does not care about football, but because Valpo cares about being Division I in everything else. The Valpo Administration commitment to football needs to be more than words in a strategic plan. And soon.
Great post covufan. That really sums up the reasonable goals. Goals imply consequences or the authority at the top means nothing.
Hats off to LaBarbera for all the other sports. If this is last year of FB contract I would guess we get an announcement in late November.
Quote from: crusadermoe on September 18, 2013, 06:45:24 PMHats off to LaBarbera for all the other sports.
Absolutely! :thumbsup:
Quote from: covufan on September 18, 2013, 05:39:20 PMValpo is in the PFL not because Valpo does not care about football, but because Valpo cares about being Division I in everything else. The Valpo Administration commitment to football needs to be more than words in a strategic plan. And soon.
excellent point, and based on this, my conclusion is that if Valpo is not committed to make football work, then drop the sport. It would be more beneficial to the school if they dropped football than having this lackidaiscal attitude from the key stakeholders and continue that dismal performance. Right now, very few people care, and it will stay this way unless the status quo is gone.
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 18, 2013, 06:55:36 PM
Quote from: covufan on September 18, 2013, 05:39:20 PMValpo is in the PFL not because Valpo does not care about football, but because Valpo cares about being Division I in everything else. The Valpo Administration commitment to football needs to be more than words in a strategic plan. And soon.
excellent point, and based on this, my conclusion is that if Valpo is not committed to make football work, then drop the sport. It would be more beneficial to the school if they dropped football than having this lackidaiscal attitude from the key stakeholders and continue that dismal performance. Right now, very few people care, and it will stay this way unless the status quo is gone.
I certainly can't blame anyone for feeling this way. I believe chef and others closer to the administration that say Valpo cares about the football program. But the numbers are not there. Since Coach Amundsen had a string of five winning seasons end in 1973, we've had eight winning seasons, two 0.500 seasons, and 29 losing seasons. This should not be acceptable.
There are a number of schools that in the last few years have either brought back football after several years, or started football from scratch. I've heard rumblings that Evansville, and other schools that have dropped football for monetary (or lack of caring) reasons, are now reconsidering those decisions. I'd hate to see Valpo give up on football, but I understand your frustration with the current state of Valpo football. When one person says it, there are many others thinking the same thing. With only 1600 showing up for the home opener, the revenue stream has to be down as well. I hope that alumni that show up for homecoming show their displeasure by boycotting the game, spending their money someplace else while watching other games on TV. If Valpo knows that they have xxx number of alumni in town for dinners and other activities, and only 1/10 of xxx show up for the game, maybe they'll get the hint (but I doubt it).
I really hope that Carlson junks his "system", and allows all of the coaches input to put these players in a position to win. I'd even accept the lonesome polecat, for those that remember Koch's last season.
Go Cookie!
I remember that classic 1981 season when the offense did not score until homecoming in the fourth quarter. They played Albion in the third game of the season, where the placekicker attempted a 25yard FG that was kicked short of the uprights - and this is not a typo.
Milan--I understand your point about the coach's responsibility for what's happening. My point on team leadership was not intended as an indictment of players. Instead, I simply tried to point out a missing element on this team to consider. And if/when a special player(s) does happen to grab hold of the leadership challenge and have a positive impact on his teammates, win or lose, I hope he captures the attention he deserves from all of us watching from the stands. Like you, I assume, I'm definitely far more concerned about the players and their character formation then the coach and his offensive formations. (Pun intended)
Facility Guy here. Those of you who know my posts know how much I believe that Valpo has to upgrade all of its facilities -- especially the non-track and Brown Field. That winning $400 million Powerball ticket I just bought would have that happen by next fall.
HOWEVER, I will go on the record as stating that a new granstand will not stop an opposing TB from breaking a 72 yard run against us or prevent a KO from going the distance against us. The only thing that will stop that is (a) talented kids willing to play a team focused game and (b) a coaching staff that knows how to the get very best out of every kid who steps on the field. I sincerely believe we have (a). But without (b) we are condemned to repeat past experiences. Isn't insanity defined as making the same mistake over and over expecting a different result? In 3.273 seasons the same mistakes (not by the players; I'm referring the systems and the processes that are used to put the kids on the field) are repeated over and over. Insanity.
Back to facilities. They are nice to have, but they don't win games. Well coached FB teams win games regardless of how good or bad the facilities are. Tex is right. The kids who come to Valpo know what they are getting into facilitry-wise, but they come anyway believing they can make a difference -- only to find out that no matter how hard they want it, they are not given the guidance to achieve it.
A great deal of insight here...yet seems like the same system...same results. Hopefully some changes are made in both the system and approach to the games.For example, I know this freshman class IS talented and it would be a shame if they get bogged down in the mayhem. Saw some nice plays and motivated players at the scrimmage when they got in there...maybe rotate some in and turn em loose!!! Nothing to lose.
Quote from: covufan on September 18, 2013, 07:36:32 PMI hope that alumni that show up for homecoming show their displeasure by boycotting the game, spending their money someplace else while watching other games on TV. If Valpo knows that they have xxx number of alumni in town for dinners and other activities, and only 1/10 of xxx show up for the game, maybe they'll get the hint (but I doubt it).
I think if you are an alum, who only comes for Homecoming once every few years, the curiosity of seeing why Valpo football is so bad gets the best of you and you end up going to the game. You might leave early after the team gets down a few touchdowns (okay, maybe not against Campbell this year) and find something else to do. Even if you do stay till the end, when they lose it will be extremely disappointing. You will draw your own conclusions but I don't think ultimately it will change anything.
Quote from: historyman on September 18, 2013, 03:06:33 PM
Quote from: willy on September 18, 2013, 02:51:02 PMOnly to realize it seems, the players commitment to the program runs deeper than the university's.
Bingo! It is time for the university's attitude to change towards football. The first change that should be made is a new coach and then they can address the facilities, equipment, funding that are required to actually win. I just don't believe the board of directors has the will or desire to invest in what it takes to make the football team a winning program.
If the VU Board is actually going to address substantial facility upgrades, basketball as the flagship should be the priority and should not compete with football in this regard. Both the basketball and football venues are garbage, but the difference is that the basketball program has had far more success with what it has had to work with generally. Address basketball first and then football.
Quote from: willy on September 18, 2013, 02:51:02 PMI feel sorry for the kids who pour their heart and soul into Valparaiso University's football program! The kids come to Valparaiso because it is a great academic school and they get the chance to continue to play the game they love. They come to Valparaiso to turn this program around and make it something the university and the community can be proud of. Only to realize it seems, the players commitment to the program runs deeper than the university's.
Has the administration ever been directly asked about the football situation?
What is Bernardi doing now? Will he come back and coach?
Quote from: VUOR63 on September 19, 2013, 12:20:49 PM
What is Bernardi doing now? Will he come back and coach?
Sam has a great gig at Valpo High School. He is "dean of students" or something like that and, I believe, the offensive coordinator for the football team.
I know he's probably making more than he ever did as Tom Horne's defensive coordinator.
Good for him. Ask any of his players and they'll tell you what a damn good Def Coordinator he was.
enough of this hypothetical matchup.
What about VU FB vs. Bayh?
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 20, 2013, 09:00:54 AMenough of this hypothetical matchup. What about VU FB vs. Bayh?
Bayh?
wow, I feel something is missing in my daytoday, no loss to discuss on a Saturday. It will be interesting to see how SD and Butler do against the Ivy League schools.
I was at both the Butler-Dartmouth and USD-Harvard games last year in New england. They both were competitive (staying fairly close ) for 3 quarters and then they eventually ran out of steam (or the Ivy schools found their true high gear) and lost.
Butler lost 7-35 and was behind 7-21 at the half. USD lost 13-28 but was up 13-7 at the end of the 3rd quarter. At the time I believe I posted a comment or two on how just staying close keeps you in a football game against superior opposition. After the Harvard loss, USD scored 51 the next Saturday against VU and the following week BU scored 56.
If you go to the BU or the USD websites you'll see the big-time promotion attached to these games -- USD has a $10,000 give-away going. BTW at Butler, the tailgate lot opens at 10AM. That made me recall earlier strings about the fact that the Valpo pre-game experience is rather dull, further lessening the appeal of Crusader football for the fans.
Also of note: These are the first games of the season for the Ivies, so the Pioneer teams will have 2 or 3 games under their belts going into the contests. For that reason, look for close first halves.
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 21, 2013, 08:48:22 AM
I was at both the Butler-Dartmouth and USD-Harvard games last year in New england. They both were competitive (staying fairly close ) for 3 quarters and then they eventually ran out of steam (or the Ivy schools found their true high gear) and lost.
Butler lost 7-35 and was behind 7-21 at the half. USD lost 13-28 but was up 13-7 at the end of the 3rd quarter. At the time I believe I posted a comment or two on how just staying close keeps you in a football game against superior opposition. After the Harvard loss, USD scored 51 the next Saturday against VU and the following week BU scored 56.
If you go to the BU or the USD websites you'll see the big-time promotion attached to these games -- USD has a $10,000 give-away going. BTW at Butler, the tailgate lot opens at 10AM. That made me recall earlier strings about the fact that the Valpo pre-game experience is rather dull, further lessening the appeal of Crusader football for the fans.
Also of note: These are the first games of the season for the Ivies, so the Pioneer teams will have 2 or 3 games under their belts going into the contests. For that reason, look for close first halves.
It's kind of amazing that so many other universities can have things like tailgating and a true fan experience, while at Valpo it seems like it would be the end of the world and discouraged.
Since you brought up Butler they even have a shuttle bus running from campus to Broad Ripple (concentrated bar area) from 6pm to 3am on weekends. You can't even get on the campus bus at Valpo for fear of being arrested for PI.
In all fairness Butler is encouraging people to an area where this kind of thing happen.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20130920/NEWS/309200069/Marion-County-grand-jury-indicts-Westfield-man-Broad-Ripple-shootings (http://www.indystar.com/article/20130920/NEWS/309200069/Marion-County-grand-jury-indicts-Westfield-man-Broad-Ripple-shootings)
I'm not condemning Broad Ripple but whenever alcohol mixes with certain elements then this kind of thing can happen.
Quote from: bbtds on September 21, 2013, 01:49:58 PM
In all fairness Butler is encouraging people to an area where this kind of thing happen. I'm not condemning Broad Ripple but...
Seriously? I have been out in Broad Ripple dozens of times at 3am (or later) and never felt unsafe, nor has my wife and any of her friends even when they were out by themselves. Yes, things can happen, but that's the rare exception rather than the rule. Given the large number of people out and about in Broad Ripple having something like that happen to you are minuscule at best. Yes, there are some issues in Broad Ripple, I live here I watch the news, but by and large I consider it a very safe and well patrolled area.
By that logic nobody should go out at IU because Lauren Spier was murdered after leaving a bar in Bloomington.
And for Valpo it could have been worse...
Ohio State 76 Florida A&M 0 - Ohio State had 600+ yards of total offense vs. 80 for Florida A&M...
And not to be left out of the blowout party...
Louisville 70 Florida International 0 - Louisville had 400+ yards of total offense vs. less than 40 for Florida Int.
Quote from: milanmiracle on September 21, 2013, 09:33:59 AMYou can't even get on the campus bus at Valpo for fear of being arrested for PI.
Valpo has a campus bus system? If the bus system runs past the closing time of the library on Friday and Saturday nights, wouldn't the main purpose be to transport people who might have had a drink or two, thereby keeping them out of cars and off the roads? I hope this fear is nowhere close to true. Somehow, I can believe it though.