Ok. Here we go.
We have a new, experienced HC and a retooled coaching staff that includes holdovers from the previous staff who keep the defensive emphasis alive. Along with that, the new regime brings offensive and defensive systems established and fine-tuned over 8 years.
We have retained some players and especially a few 5th year guys like Mansaray. The cupboard was not left empty.
We have witnessed an intense recruiting full-court press and welcomed a good sized (36), balanced, incoming class of freshmen and some transfers to support the program across all phases of the game.
This is the new program baseline.
What’s not to like about where we stand right now? I, for one, am in a good place right now
Of course, there are so many question marks about things like relative talent comparisons with our PFL opponents and whether the new systems can flourish at the FCS level. But these and others can be addressed as we progress.
So, I woke up this morning thinking we could use a single string that focuses our attention on moving forward with Valpo Football into 2025.
Concur! With two of our top three receivers back and our two top rushers as well, we retained much more than I thought would happen. At this level, I really think education was more of the reason why. Good size of guys like the linebackers. All are like 6'2 215#.
Do we know if Appel landed anywhere as of yet? I wish him well, and his injury was so unfortunate, as he seemed like a 4 year QB for us, up until that point.
no word on Appel. Uneducated guess is he may be done with nothing announced for spring, missing spring in last year of eligibility would be a tough comeback.
Stokes, Seewald, Appel…. Need a good break here
Having a QB, RB and good deal of the OL back, apparently, is going to help but the schedule early looks on paper as being pretty tough so it could be a slow start to the Waddle regime. Lets hope for the best.
but the schedule early looks on paper as being pretty tough s
When was the last time our early schedule wasn't tough? Buy games pretty much start every season.
but the schedule early looks on paper as being pretty tough s
When was the last time our early schedule wasn't tough? Buy games pretty much start every season.
With an additional game on Sept's first weekend, I'd hope for a winable game there making Valpo 2-2 coming into the PFL conference schedule....which is really what I referred to and starting with Drake, Dayton, St. Thomas. While we can't always determine who's going to have a good squad, those are traditionally tough programs and Morehead State follows them. Another program Valpo has had some issues with over time.
That open second game slot, after a VUL warmup, is ideally suited for a decent but not super tough (as in Whitewater, Mount Union) game against a respectable DIII, or a middle-of-the-road NAIA or DII to raise the level of competition one notch without sacrificing confidence.
The more I think about it more I'm convinced the major improvement will come from continuity in coaching. Having the head coach teamed up with the offensive and defensive coaches for several years has got to be a huge advantage to constant losses of offensive coordinators or in last years case, no offensive coordinator at all. If we can keep these guys together it has to be a major plus for our success.
@vu72 BINGO!
BTW, 72, when I was playing for Walt Reiner, that’s what you yelled when you intercepted a pass to get the rest of the defense to switch mind set and start blocking for you. Heh, heh.
The other thing that was ingrained in me back then was when a fumble occurred you yelled BALL! To this day, when I’m watching football on TV, and I see a fumble that involuntarily comes out of my mouth and scares the crap out of my wife every time 🤣
I wonder what communications like that are used today.
