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I talked to Grayson at the scrimmage on Saturday. He was at camp and playing well. He was excited to have his knee healthy and ready for senior season. Unfortunately during the second week of camp his concussion symptoms came back from the concussion he sustained at last year's Drake game that took him out for the rest of the season. Trainer took him to the neurologist late last week and Dr. told Grayson he should not play football anymore. He was very disappointed. He told me he had spent the summer rehabbing his knee and was 100% healthy. At that time he was still on the roster. Huge loss to the running game.

Not surprising really. It's not unusual for freshman to feel that they are better than they really are at the college level. Reality checks are needed in a lot of cases. Unfortunately from everything I am hearing Brandon Hall is not going to be coming back. I know the coaches are trying desperately to convince him to stay but I think that ship has sailed. As far as Bastin is concerned I hope he can return. This team will need him at RB as well as his senior leadership and maturity.

Recruiting wise, typically Valpo takes what they can get and don't necessarily recruit for specific positions but this HAS to be a defensive recruiting class. QB could be an issue. RB will lose Jake and I'll guess BHall as well since that was the expectation I heard. Hopefully he has a change of heart. Bastin was out for quite a while with concussion issues, I don't think it's the first time and he may be a loss as well. That would leave Legend and Jarrett. Depth needed there...probably. OL should be much better just from a year's experience. Always need OLmen as recruits. WR with Catrine on one side is good. The other side someone needs to step up. They were essentially a zero when Catrine got hurt. Slots should be capably manned with Rene, Shea and Dugan. TE and Hback have two quality players who should only get better. With the right QB, these guys can run rings around a defense. If it's lob it up to Catrine again next year, they won't do anything. They will need defensive players who can play right away. That's the concern. Offense should be ok except for some depth in spots

Seems to me we must add at least one QB (probably two given injuries) and two RBs. If most return we could live without any OL and WR but I assume we will add some which is fine. Agree on defensive especially DL. We lose Guilford, Cotton, White and probably Scoville plus Buchanan seems to have dropped during the season. Only De La Rosa and Sloane return who played a lot and lets be honest he is too small to be a DL. Add to that Green and his annual 100 tackles will graduate.

Let's not forget we had two QB's and two starting RBs suffer concussions this season. The running game was stalled this year because of the OL. Hall suffered a concussion early and missed a couple of games and Bastin missed the last 5 (?) games with his. IMO (and the opinion of many others I have talked to) the OL is the most critical component of fixing the offense next season.

And on a lighter note, Grayson Bastin was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Football Team today.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2015-16/15016/bastin-named-to-cosida-academic-all-district-football-team/

Said nothing about deliberate in trying to lose...no one would do that.

We have 1 win (and that was barely). There seems to be an overt effort to get freshmen in the mix. No matter how they do. Even after mistakes (See 2 of the 3 turnovers this week), no changes are made.

Did we see the RB' s shuffle earlier this year , 3 -4 at a time? Why? The WR's playing? Where is Shea? Morgan? Others? Why are we not 4 wide most of the time? Why were we subbing Bastin?  And yes, there are players on the bench who helped to beat teams last season. This team was set to be a possible 4-4 in league play.

I agree that the coaches would never intentionally try to lose. However, I think the coaches have absolutely given up on this season. That is the consensus among the parents and fans. Everything is "for the future" regardless of the remaining games in this season. This attitude is why they are constantly shuttling freshman in the mix and pulling out the older and, yes, better players, just to give the freshman their playing time "for the future". Players are unable to establish any rhythm or gain momentum because they are shuttled in and out repeatedly and too often we see any type of drive stalled because of that. The RB shuffle you described is a perfect example with 4 running backs (yes, there have been injuries, but the shuffle has been since the very beginning with everyone healthy). There are players on the bench who contributed last year who appear to have been relegated solely to scout team this season. Why aren't they given the same opportunities with PT that all of the freshmen are getting? Do not discount the effects of maturity and experience that these players bring. We are seeing freshmen make the same critical mistakes over and over and it does not appear that they are being corrected or told what they are doing wrong. The freshman players are struggling learning the offense and seem overwhelmed which is understandable. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them burned out after this season and leave, and I am talking about ones that are playing. It is infuriating to see this season written off so early when there was still so much fight and determination left in the upperclassmen. I get the feeling that the attitude and philosophy from the coaches is having a  trickle-down effect and is sucking the life and enthusiasm out of this team that ended last season was so much hope and excitement for this year.

I know the buck stops with the head coach, as it should, but all I heard was Cecchini taking full responsibility for the failings of the offense in order to protect his OC whois calling the plays. . Also heard him spend a lot of time making excuses and coddling the freshman who fumbled and turned the ball over. Maybe it's time for a little tough love for the freshmen if they're going to be out on the field, and hold all players to the same standards and accountability for their mistakes.

Yes, students are on fall break. The campus is practically deserted until tomorrow. Can't really fault the low turnout today on anything other than that.

As far as the offense goes, one of the main problems is that after every game, the OC comes out and says that there was no problem with his scheme, or his play calling, but rather with the effort put forth from the players. Really tired of the coaches not taking any responsibility for the  losses. There are just too many freshman playing on the offensive line and in other blocking positions for this offense to have any success. As I watched the game today, I realized that this offense is missing from last year's team a quarterback, two running backs,  the two best receivers, and the entire offensive line that was very efficient. Combine that with a horrible scheme plus pathetic play calling and this is what you get.

Disappointing all around.

https://twitter.com/brandonvickrey/status/654710829191790592

Bastin is out with a concussion.

VU2624, I could not agree with you more, especially personnel and decision to run it up the middle, playing into the strengths of Drake's D. Running outside and short screen passes were the way to go although, as you mentioned, only one screen pass worked Saturday. And the shuttling in and out of RB's on every play does not allow any kind of rhythm to be established. Twice we saw Bastin and Hutson have success on a great run or pass completion and run, only to be pulled out the next play.  Why kill the momentum? Saw too many missed blocks and mistakes made. The running backs were getting crushed in the backfield. Clarke was sacked how many times? Bastin took a helmet to helmet hit in the backfield before the handoff was even completed that you could hear in the stands.

QB needs to see the field more. He zeroes in on only one option -- needs to be able to make quick decisions to see better options.

I'm worried about the number of injuries this team is sustaining. Personnel and numbers are a huge concern. It seems that many of the younger players are struggling with learning the offense and making obvious mistakes that can prove even more costly for the remainder of the season.

We are just going to see this differently. I did not say the upper-class talent is "so exceptional"; I said in many cases they are better and they are not getting the opportunities this year solely because they are not freshmen. Sub in the best players.

FYI the soph-Jr.-seniors were part of a 4 win season last year (could have been 6 wins). The freshmen are now part of a program that is 0-3 .

Clear case of agree to disagree.

dime life -

The best players should play, but also do not blow off what you have for the future. This program is a work in progress. At this stage, what I would say is that if a freshman gives you a better opportunity for you to be successful in the near and long term than a senior, you better start him. Just because you are senior and been around for awhile does not give you the right to start.

Regarding the 50 frosh and knowing this season is a rebuilding year, you gotta see what they have. Forking out $45K a year is quite alot, and if they do not enjoy the football experience they may quit the sport (which happens often in non-scholarship sports) or go elsewhere.

Which are you saying? That the best players should play? Or that you should not blow off the freshmen for fear they will leave? I think everyone agrees that the best players should play, regardless of their class. The problem is that is not what is happening. There are many freshmen playing ahead of upperclassmen who are not better; but only because they are freshman.

I understand the need to keep young players in the program, but at what cost to the current season do you continue to play freshman just to keep them happy or fulfill promises made? Every program loses freshman; that is expected. And every player on the team is playing paying tuition and I would bet that the financial packages the upperclassmen received are not as lucrative as the current ones offered. Just hate to see this year being thrown away and labeled solely a "rebuilding year" when there are talented upperclassman standing on the sidelines that played a lot more last year than they are this year... and they were a better team last year. In summary, let's not get caught up in the theory that if a freshman doesn't play he will leave, because that is the situation at every PFL school every year.

Thank you 2626 AND UMSB.

You are spot on! The films do not lie and I cannot believe some of the things going on in terms of personnel decisions ...a few points to ponder:

1. the number of packages we put in and subbing patterns will never allow for any type momentum (mostly O but I do see some kids on D getting torched). I cannot help but notice that the teams defending us sub out, NEVER. They could care less who is in our packages.

2. Can we now say it? The freshman experiment is OVER. In the first few games, fine, if you think that makes sense, but now, done. It cost us a league game. Glad you recruited them (mainly from small 2A, 3A or private schools) coaches, but your plan is in disarray.  They seem lost and you cannot blame them. I see MANY of OL and WR's sitting on the bench (I do not count cof game) were at the 1 spot on depth chart coming out of the spring game. Many of whom played vs SD last season also.

3. the OL has freshman playing and when you see who they are up against on the opposing DLine? Size, speed experience? No wonder 3/4 of our QB's have been injured and we have NO running game.

4. Our #1 WR's, according to the Trib article posted (Morgan, Shea, Catrine, Foley) have not been out there as a unit at all. I see mainly freshman at WR and every week it's obvious that they run some poor routes, cannot block downfield and most importantly, cannot get off press coverage (all echoed by the HC in his post game interviews). These 3 issues cause the delay in QB release and penalties. Again, I know it is a tough spot for a freshman, so I understand, but these are glaring concerns. You have to be mentally tough too. I see a few of these players in shock or tears after the game.

5. the D? And the sidelines..."no swag, no mojo" players not holding other players accountable and motivating them?

6. We don't need to work in 4 RB's...Bastin gets the start and plays until HE says he is tired. All the teams that run through and over us have 1 featured back and 1 person to replace him. How can any of our RB's get going when they are subbed in and out constantly?

The body language of many of the returning players on the bench was not good at all as the game progressed, same as the Sacred Heart game.

We have the talent to play so much better. Things cannot get worse, so make the changes and get the right players ready for Davidson. 

       

         

Bravo. I agree 100% with everything you said. Every point. The subbing patterns that do not allow momentum are killing us. Running freshman in at the wide receiver and running back spots continuously ahead of capable experienced players is not working. Did Shea or Foley even get in the game Saturday? I didn't see it if they did.

The 3 returning running backs from last year that we rotated are all back but we feel the need to now rotate 4 in. And you're right, nobody can get any kind of rhythm at RB. Coming in to the game Bastin was, and still is, the leading rusher and has by far the fewest attempts of the 4 backs. I just looked up that he only had 3 carries on Saturday, and the most carries any back got was 5.
And until we can get the returning and experienced OL heathy and back out on the field together, along with some sort of a passing threat, the running game will continuously be challenged.

I just watched Cecchini's press conference. Not holding much hope for change at Davidson.

As an aside, I really didn't get kicking the FG at the end. The team finally gets down near the goalline and we run what was almost assuredly a trick play...looked like Catrine was supposed to throw to Clarke but SD covered him and then kick the FG. Did getting points really matter at that point or would it have maybe been nice to take two shots at the endzone and potentially score a TD. Made no sense to me at all.

Wondered about that as well - especially the tricky play on 3rd down.  Inside the 8 with 4 downs to get a TD.  If there was a spot in the game where we needed to make a statement, it was there. After Choudhry gained 2 on a rush and Clarke hit Choudhry for a 2 yard completion, the trick play lost 3 yards yards and Frank never had a chance to even get rid of the ball.  Had we used a normal goal line play and gained 3 we would have had 4th and 3 instead of 4th and 7.  At that point we would see what our OL was made of.  But, though now 7 yards out, I, too, would have still tried to score.  38-3 or 38-6, eh, about the same.  38-10 not so much.  Comes down to the trick play IMO - bad call.  Should have just played football.

To my point, aside from the ridiculous trick play call, why, in that critical series inside the 8,  aren't we going with our 3 returning RBs from last year and running the football with them? 4 times if necessary. Passing the ball on a trick play from the 3 is embarrassing.

The game was tight in the first half because of the two interceptions. While the coach and fans lament the missed opportunity with the "dropped" pass and the overthrow to the TE early in the game, San Diego suffered two picks and just kept coming. I don't buy the two missed offensive plays put us in a bad spot theory.  San Diego was never stopped other than the INTs.  The ground game not doing anything killed the offense along with what I saw as a pretty poor game by both the QBs and WRs. As a former WR, it appeared to me that the receivers were running poor routes, couldn't get off the line, couldn't get separation, missed blocks and dropped a couple. They're young but there has to be better play from this group. Even on some completions it appeared that the routes were off since there were multiple WRs in the same area which is clearly not the design. There were some missed throws and missed chances to throw as well as too much pressure given up by the OL.

A connection who records the plays mentioned that Valpo ran about 50 plays offensively and SD ran much closer to 100. It is really tough to win a game like that absent the Jim Kelly led Bills K gun attack.

This was a team that Valpo had beaten last season until some mind boggling stupid defensive playcalling at the end of the game allowed SD to score. I agree with those who say that last year's Valpo team would likely have beaten this year's San Diego team however it is a little disconcerting that it was the defense who suffered as well considering that's the side of the ball where the experience is.

As an aside, I really didn't get kicking the FG at the end. The team finally gets down near the goalline and we run what was almost assuredly a trick play...looked like Catrine was supposed to throw to Clarke but SD covered him and then kick the FG. Did getting points really matter at that point or would it have maybe been nice to take two shots at the endzone and potentially score a TD. Made no sense to me at all.

THANK YOU! I agree with you 100%. The final play calling, the personnel on the field, and the decision to kick a field goal left us all shaking our heads. It was mind-boggling not only to me but to everyone sitting around us.

I understand that our team is young, but the constant shuttling in and out of freshman, just to gain them experience, was ridiculous in a game that really meant something.  With all the rotation of the younger players in the game, there seems to be no continuity or flow with the experienced and returning players. There seems to be more concern for getting the freshmen on the field to gain experience for the future, then staying with more seasoned players that can get the job done this year. I can understand doing it in the first three games but not in our first conference game. I am concerned that this is being viewed as a throwaway year because we have so many freshmen. The returning players deserve better than that!

I believe he is not... Still recovering from his injury/surgery?

I believe he is not... Still recovering from his injury/surgery?

Brown and gold jerseys at home I'm guessing. Doubt we will ever see the brown pants. They were never worn last year. My guess is new white pants every game. Really hope they can replace the home uniforms next year.

These are the all-white away unis and to me it looks like the dark trim around the metallic gold striping and numbers is brown along with the crusader lettering.  I could be wrong. Waiting for the home jerseys and thinking they will be brown with the metallic gold striping and numbers.

They are not getting new home jerseys. FYI last year the team always wore all white unis (their old ones) to their away games.

Agreed. Aside from a few snaps it was pretty much all freshmen today. Looked nothing like spring.

Great pictures. Kids look focused and you can see the intensity in their eyes. Thanks for sharing.


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Thanks all and great photos (as always)  Pal!

Yes, thanks. Your photos are always great and the players appreciate seeing them!


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A vert reliable source has the number at 68 returning players (67 was a typo) currently on the roster.


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There are 67 returning players (sophomore, junior, senior) and 50 new recruits.

From the kids' Twitter chatter I see a lot of "I am blested".  We are doing OK.  These kids will work their tails off to contribute.

But man, I'd really like to see a few more 280 lb + guys.

Agree 100%. Need more big linemen. To win a championship you have to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

I thought I'd place this here: the 2015 football schedule has been released: http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/schedule/2015-16/#.VNDkjNLF-yU

God forbid we lose to College of Faith. That must be the Homecoming game. Correct?

San Diego is our Homecoming game.