Don’t read into anything I stated too much. Talked with a a few individuals closer than myself to the program. Situation was not leaked that Appel was starting for many until game day. Sense was there was confusion across the board.
Soreness is a bit of an odd statement considering everyone is usually sore after camp. But I was too hard on Fox those who are saying he’s a 180 turn from Carlson are correct.
Even if it was an odd decision, from what Fox inherited (which was a 2 win senior heavy led team after signing day) and gone through (global pandemic). He deserves a mulligan.
I would love to see Valparaiso be successful consistently under Fox. I think with opponent and QB change frustrations were at an all time peak.
FWIW historically bad coaches are trashed until the end of time or end of memory then people move on. With how he treated players and viewed himself history can continue to throw dirt on Carlson.
For the record to provide a clear picture, Carlson was 3-40 at Valpo. Fox is much better and probably we are fortunate to have him as head coach.
FWIW historically bad coaches are trashed until the end of time or end of memory then people move on. With how he treated players and viewed himself history can continue to throw dirt on Carlson.
I would hope that Valpo would be different and what good does continuing to trash a coach that, yes, did a poor job, yes, needed to be fired before the season ended, but is a human being and has been gone 11 years.
Reminder what O.P. said “We must stand aside from the world’s conspiracy of fear and hate and grasp once more the great monosyllables of life: faith, hope, and love. Men must live by these if they live at all under the crushing weight of history.”
I was in Milwaukee for the weekend following a death in the family.
Condolences on your loss, Paul.
@historyman - you have to learn from your history and never forget. There were ramblings on Fox which are justified. Fox IMO is doing as well a job given the resources and support.
And we remember and discuss the antics of PT. Barnum and Robert Nardelli who were prime time in their professions. We talk about the 62 Mets, 2024 White Sox, 73 Sixers and the 80-81 Northwestern Wildcats. Valpo is D1 football, and with the label comes the critique.
The coaching has allowed Valpo to be competitive in most games under Fox except for the buy games. His resources are limited, if you remember his comments after the Davidson game last year. He does a good job transferring good running backs etc, but having consistent QB play can be the difference in 3 or 4 more wins per season. Don't think Valpo could do much better than Fox, considering the resources of the Brown and Gold.
Way too much delay in releasing the ball. The OL is probably dinged for giving up sacks, but most of those were on the QBs.
To the point on Hoffman having 9,000+ yards if he stayed another year, we could also say that if David Macchi played all 4 of his years at Valpo, instead of 2 prior in the JuCo ranks, he would be over 12,000 yards. He had 7,000 yards in 2 seasons! I've watched every QB since Murrell Shields and David Macchi were QB, and Macchi is/was heads above all others to QB the Crusaders/Beacons. It's not even close. No offense to Hoffman, but that dink and dunk stuff is just not the same as being able to air the ball out accurately.
