I will say this for the last time that my overall position is one of support for the coaches and that program. I have, in factstated as such in my postings before. That seems to be getting missed some how in all of this. I have stated real numbers based in fact and not loose conjecture. on my part I have known a number of coaches who have been removed for doing more at other institutions, than the current staff has at Augie. I hear what you are saying and respect you for it. This was not ment to bash or shame, but to focus on the facts. I'm thinking of those kids and institution and feel that they should have a more positive experience. Its hard not to listen to other parents, and Alums who watch the games, who communicate their frustrations. So, once again I am looking forward to Augie getting better next season and support the coaching staff 100%.

Two years yes, but after three, the numbers W/L speak for themselves. Don't get me wrong, I am rooting for Augie to turn it around. But lets face some facts! First, Endress, at the time, came from a conference that was pretty weak. It was either Lakeland or Edgewood in WBB and mostly Lakeland looking at the history. She did a good job there, but when that conference added more strength, neither team ros e to the top. Second, If she is as good of a recruiter as people say, then I seriously doubt Augie would be in this position after three years. Seriously, three years to get your own kids in your program seems a bit long. Third, its been very hard to watch the product out there on the floor. Augie even lost to the worst team in the CCIW last season! I find that hard to call that Conference Equity. Three straight 20 loss seasons is not going in the right direction. What if they struggle again next season, do you say that it takes 5-6 years to get a program up and going? Anyway, I disagree with that school of thinking. However, I wish Coach Endress and her program nothing but the very best. I'm sure with the ne additions that this will be really fun to watch.

Sorry! I guess I'm more frustrated with the Eastern situation than I realized; leaving out the question part. I just wanted to know when that institution will make a serious effort in turning that program around? Almost every sport across the board at Eastern is stronger!

I feel that I need to ask this question as I am an Eastern University alum. This ia a great conference and I understand that. However, Eastern University has finished last, even in the PAC, and has fallen along way from being good. In fact, ever since the Coach Huffman era when he took Eastern to back -to -back PAC Final Fours, a Southern Division Championship, a number 2 seed, 3 victories over Cabrini's top teams (aruguably), and made them more respectable than they have ever been? Some Athletic Administration, who shall remain nameless, made a bad call with that whole deal and the program has not been the same since! It's really to bad for the institution, players, and Eastern community alike. No disrespect to the current players or their coaches, but facts and numbers tell the truth. Sorry, I'm just frustrated alumni and I have personnaly heard from othe coaches around the old PAC that say the same thing about Coach Huffman and Eastern!

You are right! You cant build something if your always making changes. However, you need to get the best candidate in there that will do the job. Since it was brought up, what's the deal with UW-Platteville? Will there be achange at Head Coach there anytime soon if they continue like this?

That's a good question about the Gills kid coming all the way to Augie. I hope she can make a difference for them next season. However, one player rarely turns around a program by themselves. Also, lets face facts, if Endress cant turn things around next season, they (Augie) should make a change regardless of the economy. Actually, it kind of bothers me that AD's keep people just to keep them. Sorry, I'm just mad about the way things have gone and I'm rooting for things to get better. What are some other opinions about this? IWU is doing a fantastic job and best of luck to them this coming year.

I just have a question? Why is UW-Superior always struggling? I realize the WIAC is a tremendous conference. However, it seems as if they don't really compete in the conference and have lost a lot of games over the years. I know that they have had some pretty strong candidates apply in years past, yet they cant seem to get it right! I realize that this years roster is very young so maybe, in time, they will turn it around. It's just frustrating!

I'm an Augie Alum, and I'm a little worried about the current state of our WBB program! I just wanted to know how and when things are going to turn around. The current coach has but up some tough numbers in three years; 12-63 Overall & 5-37 in the CCIW...WOW! Coach Black put up better numbers than this and a change was made. Is it time to head in a different direction or will it turn around this coming season?

I understand that Earlham's President came out this week and said that he is considering a move to another conferemce and expects his teams to win at least half of their games. Everyone knows how tough the NCAC Conference is! However, in the case of Earlham WBB, two former coaches set the bar for them; Coach Butcher & Coach Rhu. Coach Butcher had double figure wins in four of her six seasons while coach Rhu had the best record in program history. However, the last five seasons have been tough to say the least; 19-107 & 9-68 in the NCAC? WOW! I guess my point is that the two coaches mentioned above seemed to be good recruiters! I realize that Earlham is a tough academic institution. Maybe they sould look at their recruiting plan as opposed to jumping to another conference first!

Let me first say that I am in no way meaning to be unkind to the current staff or players at Marietta! They are a great bunch of kids & Coaches, who work very hard each and every night. I guess this question is directed at the Athletic Administration or to whomever has an opinion. In addition, I realize how tough the OAC is overall. However, I simply don't understand why the program has gone through a number of coaches and isn't improving very much at all? The Men's program seems to be able to compete? I just don't get it?

Spurrier wrote:

"you are not suggesting that the AD, Runkle will take over the football program are you?"

No, Spurrier, although that might be interesting. The future lies elsewhere, but the answer is already waiting on the sideline. Not hard to guess, actually. It will be an uncomfortable season all around.

Dubuque lost most of its temporary improvement right after the last game last year, and is likely to be fighting to avoid the cellar again.

Prediction: Next year a new head coach, already on the staff, the one responsible for UD's improvement.

So Marietta passes over applicants with much better experience and record in selecting head coach. Strange!

What's with Hiram??

They had a strong candidate or two, and went a different direction. No desire to improve?

Quote from Keith45 on May 1

[Do you have any stats of the low academic acheivement of the FLA football players? I'm not sure if I agree with that, but am open if you have information to back it up. I'm not sure how many administrattions would allow a coach to bring in tons and tons of out of state players who dont succeed academically, for a program that isnt a top performing program.
Also, dont assume that every player from Florida had a home visit..I came from Maryland to UD with no visits from a coach.]

Those stats would surely be closely held. I know only the persistent rumors about papers written for the athletes by female students, sometimes themselves athletes, while the males improve their video game skills (no gender bias intended--that's just what is said).

What is broadly visible and well-known is that a well-publicized football player left a Big Ten school for academic reasons, then was accepted at a D3 school where the athletes are expected to have some skills, especially as seniors. The rumors say he arrived with a GPA well below 2.0, somehow was made eligible, and played while failing his UD courses. If, as rumored, he also drove around Dubuque in an Escalade, the questions are obvious.

I did not mean to suggest that every footbal player from Florida received a home visit, but to point to the huge expense of sending most of the staff to Florida to recruit. Then there was the trip to Germany! How would women's basketball arrange that?

Yes, it is a quick hire for Knoll (Noll?) Whatever is behind that, he looks like a good choice, given the experience and the recruiting connections. No doubt he'll find recruiting for UD more challenging than for UW-Stout, for the reasons I offered earlier, but local/regional connections are a huge advantage. Time will tell.