Summer Stuff 2023 Edition

[valpofb16]

1. Gabe Miller has left head of S&C
2. RB Coach left post spring
3. Matt Symmes appears to be on a monthlong tour of Texas recruiting

[VULB#62]

Very good NFL Draft Diamonds interview with WR Solomon Davis going into the 23 Fall season. The kid has a lot of confidence. Now, if Mikey can just get the ball to him more often........

https://nfldraftdiamonds.com/2023/05/solomon-davis/

[valpotx]

Interesting and good for him!

[soapyjeans]

Read the interview, happy for him.   

[valpofb16]

Former Syracuse DL Curtis Harper coming on board as DT coach. Not sure what means for Vernell Price

[JD24]

Former Syracuse DL Curtis Harper coming on board as DT coach. Not sure what means for Vernell Price

Looks like he just finished playing. Maybe he's more of a grad asst.

[crusader05]

https://twitter.com/CoachHarpDT/status/1666506848353112065

Per his tweet yep it looks like it's a Graduate Position

[valpofb16]

Valpo has scheduled Youngstown in 2023,24,28 with a payout of 125k each game.

[vu72]

Valpo has scheduled Youngstown in 2023,24,28 with a payout of 125k each game.

125k seems a little light. We got a LOT more for playing ND St, but then again, we actually might have a chance to beat YSU!

[FBFan22]

Valpo Director of Football Operations position posted on footballscoop in case any of you are looking for a new gig:

Valparaiso (FCS - IN): Valparaiso University is accepting applications for the position of Director of Football Operations / Recruiting. This is a full-time, 12-month position with benefits. Reporting directly to the Head Coach Football, this position will coordinate the day-to-day logistical processes and recruiting operations for the program. Please send resume, cover letter, and references to Landon Fox at landon.fox@valpo.edu.


I'm assuming this means Coach Offit has moved on.  He had the position in the Spring.

[valpofb16]

Valpo had two guys on the preseason roster last year that were actually out of eligibility and removed.

Keylan Chapman - Fort Hays State
Michael Byrd - Colorado

Bit of mess up there in terms of operations

[crusader05]

Did they not realize they were out of eligibility or was it a situation where they were working to get them granted another year and it didn't work out?

[IndyValpo]

Valpo Director of Football Operations position posted on footballscoop in case any of you are looking for a new gig:

Valparaiso (FCS - IN): Valparaiso University is accepting applications for the position of Director of Football Operations / Recruiting. This is a full-time, 12-month position with benefits. Reporting directly to the Head Coach Football, this position will coordinate the day-to-day logistical processes and recruiting operations for the program. Please send resume, cover letter, and references to Landon Fox at landon.fox@valpo.edu.


I'm assuming this means Coach Offit has moved on.  He had the position in the Spring.

Offit is now the DC at Moravian a D3 in PA

[vu72]

Offit is now the DC at Moravian a D3 in PA

Good gracious!  We must really be paying our assistant coaches terrible wages!

[JD24]

Offit is now the DC at Moravian a D3 in PA

Good gracious!  We must really be paying our assistant coaches terrible wages!

DC is a "higher" position than a director of FO. That may have a lot to do with the move.

[VULB#62]

Offit is now the DC at Moravian a D3 in PA

Good gracious!  We must really be paying our assistant coaches terrible wages!

DC is a "higher" position than a director of FO. That may have a lot to do with the move.

24, you've hit on one of the downsides of a small university playing with the big boys in D-I (except for Wake, maybe). We can pay the head coaches reasonably, but not crazy, yet that leaves the assistant salary pool virtually dry in comparison to bigger unis. The result: constant turnover, little continuity and difficulty in developing solid, winning programs in the bigger sports.  On the other side, the niche sports, it is not that big of a deal cuz reliance on assistants is not as important. Thanks for that observation.

[IndyValpo]

Per their twitter it looks like the 2 new quality control coaches now list RB and DB coach. McConnell and Chandler.

[valpofb16]

Keyon Turner landed at South Dakota, Matt Ross at Indiana State.

Kaplan / Contreras - Illinois State
Merklinger- Western Illinois
Grguric - Bowling Green
Randall - Arizona
Dristiliaris - Butler

That's 8 guys that'll be on other Division 1 rosters at various levels of competition.

Very interested to see how this batch of guys do. If they are successful, could see flood gates, if non successful, need to preach that and show evidence to guys on fence.

[NotBryceDrew]

Merklinger, Grguric, and Randall didn't or barely played at VU they're not going to get on the field at their new schools either but there's lots of other reasons to change schools wish them success.

The others hurt, hate to see Turner leave the most but I'm shocked he didn't leave after that Freshman campaign of his so glad we had him for a few extra years.

Dristiliaris transfer to Bulter is sorta wild from he's the east coast with no ties that I can tell to Butler. DL is probably our most stacked position group so maybe he'll have a lot more PT... idk. Who transfers to Butler out of the program, has to be something else going on here.

[VULB#62]

Re: Distilliaris: Maybe a POed player who wants to stick it to Fox?

OR

No other DI options?

OR

He really likes the Midwest 🙄

No kidding, I came to Valpo from NY 😱. Went back after graduation and lived in the northeast for 40+ years, but where am I living the rest of my life?  Wis freakin  consin. Midwest can get in your blood.

[valpofb16]

FWIW , Merklinger started every game at guard and Grguric played in every game at receiver. Randall played in 7/11.


Merklinger was probably our biggest loss. Turner started losing playing time to Rao once he started getting repeated personal fouls

[VULB#62]

FWIW , Merklinger started every game at guard and Grguric played in every game at receiver. Randall played in 7/11.


Merklinger was probably our biggest loss. Turner started losing playing time to Rao once he started getting repeated personal fouls

Turner's issue was not skill - it appears it was anger management/attitude. 🙄

[NotBryceDrew]

Didn't realize Merklinger started every game, not in bio or 2022 stats, that is a large loss, need all of the OL help we can get. The other two barely had numbers on the stat sheet so can't imagine it's a huge loss, still losing any contributor at this level and our position is not good.

[valpo tundra]

Wasn't Madison Soliday Director of Football Operations last year?

[vu72]

Wasn't Madison Soliday Director of Football Operations last year?

Yes she was.  She is now a Meeting Event Planner for Elevate Management Company in Minnesota.