FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[Husker Four four]

I believe that you are a long time observer of WJ FOOTBALL and all of the PAC for that matter. Just wanted to get Ur thoughts on the topic.

[Pokerplayer]

Bob,
The "helmet" and "arena" references are wearing thin. One doesn't have to have played "the game" to have an opinion. You have a lot of knowledge to impart. Your opinions and observations DO matter.

[Bob.Gregg]

Pokerplayer and Husker Four four, appreciate the notes.
The two items were very thin the first time they came to me. But, from here on, I'll leave them out.

For several years now, I've been saying that W&J has decisions to make, at the Athletics Department and higher levels.
I recognize that many, many colleges would love to be where W&J has been--at or near the top of their conference for the past 36 straight seasons.

Is that enough HERE?
The Football Program is certainly MILES ahead of where it was for many, many years through the '50s, '60s and '70s, but is where it is good enough?
It's always harder to lower your standard of living then it is to raise it.
I guess the standard was raised and I'm not all that comfortable trying to lower it.

In the words of the immortal Paul Harvey, 'here's the rest of the story"....
W&J hasn't been to the NCAA Semifinals, by my count, since 1995, the last of four straight trips (and 5 total) to the NCAA Final Four. 
Mount Union, until its loss last week, had been to the semifinals EVERY year since 1994.

W&J won PAC Championships with nearly annual regularity through the '80s, '90s and into the middle of the first decade of this century (through 2007).
The Presidents won or shared 20 championships and didn't win/share 4 times in the 24-year span of 1984-2007.

In the 12 years since, W&J has won one title outright (2018), shared four others ('12, '13, '14, '17) and not won it seven times ('08, '09, '10, '11, '15, '16, '19).
From my seat, it's hard for me to consider that "good enough."

Things are significantly different on South Lincoln Street than they were in the '80s and '90s, and somewhat different than they were at the beginning of this century.  I recognize that.

So, once again, I'll say that the Athletic Department and the College have to decide if winning the PAC five times and not winning it seven times in the NEXT 12 years is good enough.

And, just so there's no ambiguity about where I stand on the issue:  5-7 is NOT good enough.

[Husker Four four]

Thanks for Ur insight. So how would you suggest the School upgrade? Improve the facilities? Loosen up enrollment?

[Bob.Gregg]

Loosening enrollment is NOT going to happen, certainly NOT as it was back in the day (several specific players).  CMU & CWRU still attract top-flight students who are outstanding athletes.  W&J must decide/commit to getting some of those players, or be accepting of finishing even with or behind them in most years.

One of the biggest challenges W&J faces is the "need" package available to W&J students vs. that offered specifically by the two "research-endowed" universities (CMU & CWRU).  At this point, there's NO WAY for W&J to come close to the package offered there because there just isn't the endowment (or its generated interest) available.

Facilities are not the determining factor in most instances. Financial assistance and what the total outlay afterward is.

IF the College decides that returning to that historic level of success on a regular basis is something it wants to do, ALUMNI are going to have to be challenged to grow the general endowment by a significant amount.

[WashJeff68]

Bob,

I aways appreciate your perspective.  You have been much closer to the athletic program than I, but as someone who has been involved in many ways with W&J for over 50 years, I have some perspective that might be useful.

I agree that W&J has not and will not significantly reduce admissions standards for athletes, but like all schools, recruited athletes may get extra consideration, just like they do at  Ivy League and other highly competitive schools, including, I'm sure, CMU and Case. That is one thing we have learned from the recent college admissions scandals.

Based on the source of all knowledge, Wikipedia,  the endowment per student is:

CMU $170,000
Case $158,000
W&J $100,000

I have no idea how these relate since CMU and Case have extensive graduate programs and research initiatives to fund, but I would guess that W&J's endowment is competitive with peer schools such as Allegheny and others, and their financial packages are competitive as well.

. Is it enough? of course not. Does the college recognize that? Of course. A major shake up in higher education is coming, and W&J recognizes that and will take the steps necessary to be there and able to thrive when it is over.

W&J recently completed a very successful capital campaign under the leadership of my friend, classmate and fraternity brother Richard Clark (retired Chair and CEO of Merck) that focused on raising endowment. Look for more of the same sooner rather than later

Separate fund raising initiatives have focused on athletic/recreational facilities and I would venture to say that ours are among the top in Div III. For example, the NCAA d3 regional Baseball tournament has been held at W&J the last  2 or 3 years and the field house just completed a major renovation. Cameron Stadium continues to be a top D3 facility. Other initiatives are focused on academic and residence facilities. The goal is to do this without impacting tuition and fees. Alumni are clearly stepping up.

So, where does Dr Knapp, W&J's new president, view the role of athletics in a liberal arts education? Early indications are that he respects the role athletics have played and wants that to continue. None pf W&j's coaches have resigned since he took over, the AD is still in place. Those are good signs, and W&J is getting stronger in other sports as well.

I don't know where W&J  ultimately wants to be in football, but I know it won't be to be Mt Union. I don't know how they do it year after year, but I doubt their model is one W&J (or Case or CMU) would follow. I don't think just being "competitive" in the PAC , however, will be enough. I suspect the goal will continue to be to win the conference and compete for a national championship.

On a side note, W&J's comeback vs Ithaca was a huge momentum builder as they move into recruiting season and prepare for next year.

[Bob.Gregg]

WJ68, I'll try to share, in order, my thoughts based on your post.
I have not been as close to the athletic program in the last 12-15 years as I was before that. During the two previous coaching administrations, there were always alumni gatherings/breakfasts, particularly when we traveled any distance for road games or playoffs. We were always invited to those events, usually asked to speak/share thoughts about the team, the opponent and the game. I don't know whether those events still occur or not. We're not invited to participate. That's not "sour grapes" that's just a statement of fact and distance from the program.

I, too, have been involved with W&J for more than 50 years now, in many ways.  And, while neither alum nor employee, I have always had a special bond with the College.

There were times, particularly when Lucky was HC and Howie was President, that admission standards weren't always as strict regarding a player (or two or more).  Sometimes, Lucky needed somebody to play, Howie wanted to be the President of a Stagg Bowl winning institution, and they got in.  It's the way it was done in a different era.  Coach Sirianni doesn't get those admissions, or at least not as many, nor ones as far off the standard as Lucky did.  At least, that's what I'm led to believe. But we'd all be foolish to think that every athlete at W&J meets every single standard that every other student meets.

You've listed the endowment/student.  And, while relevant, misses the point of the TOTAL available.  W&J (1,360 total students), CWRU (5,150) and CMU (13,900) are not in the same ZIP codes in terms of total endowment money available for "need assistance".  All three have similar size rosters, in football and every other sport.  By shear total dollars, both CWRU and CMU (the research universities I referenced in my original post) have significantly more money available to attract and acquire that academically upper level student who is also a great athlete. It's simply a matter of numbers.  Same number of athletes drawing funds from VASTLY different sized pools of money.

I would assume, without Wikipedia sourcing, that W&J's endowment pool is similar in size to those "peer schools" as you call them. Part of the decision-making that I referenced has to do with determining exactly with which schools W&J would like to be a "peer."  At least as far as football goes, I don't think the Gators are the Presidents 'measuring stick,' going 45-75 over the 12 year period that I've used in previous posts on this topic. I will grant that Mount Union isn't the stick W&J is going to use either, but it certainly is going to be closer to Mount than Allegheny.

Dr. Knapp and I have talked about the changing landscape of post-secondary education and how schools like W&J are going to not only survive but thrive in the "brave new world" that is coming.  I'm excited by the vision he brings to the College in this regard.

The facilities, particularly athletic, are well-positioned for the coming decades that will see the end of my time on the planet.  And the on-going upgrading of residence and instructional buildings is being well-funded and well-received, both by students and by the Washington, PA community. Sports other than football have been blossoming with PAC championships, NCAA tournament participations and a trip or two to the highest levels of their sports' championship fields.

I know that Dr. Knapp values the role of athletics in higher education. For me, the question isn't whether athletics are valued, but rather at what level.  This is the crucial question that I've been asking for several years, specifically in regards to football.  Is what's happened over these 12 years "sufficient" return on the value placed?  If it is, so be it.  Fans of W&J athletics, football & basketball in particular, had to adjust to a changing landscape when both sports were de-emphasized (football in the 1930's, basketball some years later). Perhaps fans of W&J football today will have to make a similar adjustment. Perhaps we should have already done so...

I know the model will not be that of Mount Union.  And we've seen the fallout of students leaving Alliance for other institutions--something NO school should really want to have happen.  Attracting, keeping and graduating students is the most efficient model of higher education.  You need to hit 90% or better on that goal or you're throwing lots of money out the window.

I guess, for me, specifically regarding football, it comes down to this:  W&J hasn't truly competed for a national championship since at least 2006, probably longer than that. IF competing for a football national championship is the goal, actions to bring that into the realm of possible must be forthcoming.

Finally, on the recruiting front, W&J has allowed its home garden to be harvested by others while we've been off fishing in other people's ponds. For example, ITHACA sits in the living room of a Thomas Jefferson wide receiver who just finished the Jaguars' state championship playoff run.  If my source is correct, W&J hasn't been in that living room.  WHY?  Thomas Jefferson USED to be a feeder school for great W&J football teams. Today's W&J roster includes TWO TJ players--a transfer defensive back and a freshman tight end who never saw the field.  Again, according to my source, a phone call to a coach is about as hard as W&J recruits TJ nowadays....I don't get it.

It used to be, if you were a capable student (grades, scores) who could play the game at a lower DII level or even I-AA and you were from the WPIAL, you were courted by the Presidents.  Those who chose to go D-II or I-AA were told, firmly, that if where they went didn't work out, remember that you're wanted at W&J.  And many of those players helped win/share 20 conference titles in 24 years. 

Why do we go off fishing the DMV (Delaware/Maryland/Virginia) or Ohio and not aggressively cultivate this garden, here at home?  Why is W&J NOT being made into THE PLACE TO BE for those athletes again?

WJ68, I appreciate your work on behalf of your alma mater.  And, hopefully, I'll not be facing a decision of standards adjusting in the coming couple of years.  We will see.

[Bob.Gregg]

Congratulations to former W&J head coach John Luckhardt for being named to the 2020 California University of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame class.

After leaving W&J as its then winningest head football coach (137-37-2 from 1982-1998--17 years), Luckhardt then became Cal U's winningest football coach with an 88-33 record over 10 years (2002-2011).  As he did at W&J, Lucky raised his team's performance to the top levels of the sport, winning/sharing PSAC West title in each of his final 7 seasons and leading the Vulcans to three consecutive NCAA D-II national semifinals.

All-told, John Luckhardt was the winning head coach 225 times from 1982-2011 and coached his team in two D-III National championship games and eight D-II/D-III national semifinals. Lucky's head coaching record checks in at 225-70-2 (.761 winning percentage).

[WashJeff68]

The COSIDA Academic All America teams were announced today. Of the eight PAC athletes named, 6 are majoring in Business/Finance/ Accounting, including all 5 from Case and CMU and W&J's awardee. The others are a Math major from Grove City and an Education/History major from Theil.

[E.115]

Looks like Case Western Reserve just landed a pretty solid fullback:

Dom Wade - Laurel (New Castle, PA) https://www.hudl.com/profile/10219696/Dom-Wade

Commitment listed here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2019/12/18/WPIAL-recruiting-notebook-McGuffey-CJ-Cole-West-Virginia-Highlands-Johnny-Crise-Penn-State/stories/201912180009

[Bob.Gregg]

According to team-provided stats,

Wade  143 carries, 773 yards, 5.4 yd/carry average.

also was 5-11 passing for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Wade scored 10 touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversions.

Saxton will appreciate his blocking, that's for sure.

[Bob.Gregg]

W&J's Mike Williams named AP Division III All-American

https://gopresidents.com/news/2019/12/19/football-mike-williams-named-to-associated-press-division-iii-all-america-team.aspx?utm_medium=sidearm-email&utm_source=gopresidents.com&utm_campaign=Football%3a+Mike+Williams+named+to+Associated+Press+Division+III+All-America+Team&utm_content=3089a68b-1661-49b4-a535-bc0eb1085858

[ADL70]

Looks like Case Western Reserve just landed a pretty solid fullback:

Dom Wade - Laurel (New Castle, PA) https://www.hudl.com/profile/10219696/Dom-Wade

Commitment listed here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2019/12/18/WPIAL-recruiting-notebook-McGuffey-CJ-Cole-West-Virginia-Highlands-Johnny-Crise-Penn-State/stories/201912180009

Wade looks quite athletic and quick, but he played in a small school division and may have been a man among boys. I've seen listings for him at 6' or 6'1 and from 220 to 240#. He also played LB, which is not a particular need for CWRU. I could see him at DE which is a need with graduation of both Brown and Poltrack. He could then be used in short yardage situations at RB.

Spartans also have commitments from two potential QBs to backup Saxton, nether of them are very big though. Wilhelmy from Lakewood was Div II District HM. The second got honors as a DB however.
 

[DagarmanSpartan]

He looks like a LOAD at Fullback!!!

Perfect for goal line and short yardage; let's hope that he's also a good blocker and receiver out of the backfield; he could be a Division III version of Moose Johnson!

Good to see that he ranks #1 in his class with a 4.33 GPA.  Hopefully, he's taken all Honors and AP classes, and will epitomize the "ideal" CWRU jock; that is to say, a guy that's good at DIII sports while also being a top student/high caliber intellectual.

[Bob.Gregg]

Happy Holidays, All!  Enjoy the people around you each day.  We are not promised tomorrow.