FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[USASOUTH GURU]

I'll be more than happy to let him grammer check it. He just should not do it during business hours. MU admin may frown upon that. 

[musupporter]

USAGURU, slow down babe.  Didn't mean to step on any toes.  Thank you for being a supporter, tried and true.  Let me clear up a couple things.

First, no one has bashed a coach.  No one is calling for their jobs or even thinking of that. I have'nt even said the coaches are doing a poor job.  But, without a doubt, in the EH game, there was some questionable play calling.  Trust me, if you were there you would know that to be the truth.  That is all that was discussed, questionable play calling and a desire to see some fire in this team from the top down.  If that was interpreted as attacking the coaching staff, that was not my intent.

Second, I know what hours those coaches put in and, I am assuming, not for the kind of pay coaches in larger programs are accustomed to.  Those coaches are there for the same reason most of the players who play on non-scholarship teams are there for - Love of the game.

Third, you may some new starters at linebacker but I don't recall mentioning a problem with the linebacking group.  In discussion I merely suggested running a blitz package on obvious passing downs.  That has nothing to do with being freshmen or 5th year seniors.  For the record, I have been impressed with the linebackers to this point. Defensively, all four starters on the line are back as well as the second team line from last year.  Your free safety moved there from linebacker, and you have 4 others with extensive playing time last year.

You cannot deny that with a group as talented as this, something is missing.  I simply wonder what it is.

Trust me, I am not bashing anyone.  Just questioning the current situation.

[KEEPING IT REAL]

That's what I do is question, but I guess that is wrong?

[USASOUTH GURU]

USAGURU, slow down babe.  Didn't mean to step on any toes.  Thank you for being a supporter, tried and true.  Let me clear up a couple things.

First, no one has bashed a coach.  No one is calling for their jobs or even thinking of that. I have'nt even said the coaches are doing a poor job.  But, without a doubt, in the EH game, there was some questionable play calling.  Trust me, if you were there you would know that to be the truth.  That is all that was discussed, questionable play calling and a desire to see some fire in this team from the top down.  If that was interpreted as attacking the coaching staff, that was not my intent.

Second, I know what hours those coaches put in and, I am assuming, not for the kind of pay coaches in larger programs are accustomed to.  Those coaches are there for the same reason most of the players who play on non-scholarship teams are there for - Love of the game.

Third, you may some new starters at linebacker but I don't recall mentioning a problem with the linebacking group.  In discussion I merely suggested running a blitz package on obvious passing downs.  That has nothing to do with being freshmen or 5th year seniors.  For the record, I have been impressed with the linebackers to this point. Defensively, all four starters on the line are back as well as the second team line from last year.  Your free safety moved there from linebacker, and you have 4 others with extensive playing time last year.

You cannot deny that with a group as talented as this, something is missing.  I simply wonder what it is.

Trust me, I am not bashing anyone.  Just questioning the current situation.

What is to question, to come on here and say this stuff is basically saying you don't trust the coaches.

Lets be honest this is not the most talented team in the USA SOUTH. I know you have a son playing for them and that is all the more reason not to be online saying this. This is a program that was 2-8 last year. They have already defeated a team they lost to last year. The one thing you must remember is that you can't do too much. You can say you want blitzing and ends dropping, but what you are not realizing is that its just not that easy. Yes you are playing young kids and they can not handle that much. Plus to do all of these things you have to practice all of it. I have coached at this level for a long time and doing too much will kill you. The one coaching philosophy we must remember is it that its better to be great at a little than average at alot. If you start blitzing can you cover man to man? Yes there are alot of players returning, but we must remember that the kitchen cabinents were not exactly full.

There are strides being made from last season. The running game has improved and sacks are down. Look at the positives. Remember it is not about the X's and O's once the game starts it is about the Johnny's and Joe's. You can sleep well knowing that the Monarchs will be well prepared just like they always are. It just blows my mind that a parent can come on a site like this and question  a program his son is a part of. Especially after all they have done to help your son as much as they have through his college career.

[USASOUTH GURU]

WOW.  Almost 400 yards of total offense and only 3 points.  MU was in the red zone 6 times and couldn't push it in.  It was obvious what EH's game plan was.  QB or #7 was gonna run the ball 90% of the time.  Stevens (#&7) is a special kid.  Too bad he doesn't have D1 size.  Never watched a kid with that much heart.  Alot of players should take note.  So many reasons MU can't get it done.  Dumb penalties, tipped balls, dropped passes, poor play calling, missed tackles, an elementary defensive package, no team unity, lack of hustle.  This team seems to crumble with first sign of adversity.  Something needs to change.  Players?  Coaches?  Who knows.  The biggest chnage would be in attitude.  MU needs a winners attitude.  It appears they have become accustomed to this destructive cycle they are stuck in.  Who are the team leaders.  Not in stats, but on the field, in the locker room, on the side lines?  Are the MU coaches so controlling that they are not allowing the leaders to emerge or are there just not any leaders on this team?  Has Syphult lost control?  Surely he sees what is going on.  In my  degree program I took a class, Methodology of Instruction.  The biggest one thing I took from that class is that if the whole class fails, then the material provided to the class was insuffecient.  Could that be the case here?  It is extremely painful to watch the Monarchs play at this level.

What part of this is not calling out  or bashing the coaches. Read what you wrote.

[narch]

gotta love the mu talk, grammatically correct or not...since guru isn't a methodist grad, i'll let him slide a bit

as a fan, i'm somewhere in the middle of guru and supporter...like any fan, i get frustrated on game day with play calling, clock management, discipline, etc. (especially when things don't go well...winning cures all:)) but i also understand that those coaches and players leave it all on the field and then some - i try to refrain from calling out coaches or players when possible, but isn't that exactly what internet message boards are for?

bottom line...you're both right...the monarchs aren't the most talented team in the conference and it's very frustrating to watch a team that has some talent move up and down the field (1st half @ campbell, entire game vs. ehc,) and fail to win (or win a nail-biter, as they did vs. guilford)

[musupporter]

USA South Guru.  You are correct.  Probably could have held my tongue and let it go.  Competetive nature just won't let me do it.  To anyone I have offended, I apologize.

I fully understand what MU and its coaches do for the players.  They do go out of the way to make sure our sons are succeeding in the classroom first, community second, and athletics last.  Trust me. I appreciate that.  It is the reason we attend MU.  Especially Jim Sypult and Dave Eavenson.

Fact is this.  It was questioning Saturdays game.  It was not intended to question the MU program. Sorry for the confusion.  Along with some of the not so positive things you pointed out, you failed to point out the positives that I included in other posts.  MU has improved in many areas.  You are right about one thing, they were 2-8 last year and have beaten a team they lost to last year.(They also lost to a team they beat last year)  But it is primarily the same team from last year with more experience under their belt.  It is exactly the same offense and at least 6 returning starters on defense.  I think it is fair to expect more than a 1-2 record at this point.

With all that said, guess what I am doing tomorrow.  Packing up and heading to Tennessee to support the MU Monarchs.

Again, i apologize for speaking without considering all angles.

Go Monarchs

[KEEPING IT REAL]

I agree with Narch.  All fans get frustrated with coaches and players in all levels of sports.  NFL, NBA, CFL, MLB.  It happens.  Some people are just thined skinned.  No harm it's just an opinion.  You sit up in stands and listen to fans and they feel the same way you do.  It's frustration more than anything else.

[musupporter]

Narch, thanks for the understanding.  I think I may have been a little harsh and that led to a little mis understanding.  I just want to see the level of play pick up.  Man I love football and football coaches at this level.  Kids playing for the pure love of the game and coaches doing what coaches do for what I assume is pay less glamerous than our friends in the bigger divisions.  I just get a little wound up when I know things can be better.  Mith the exception of the second half at Campbell, (speaking of Campbell, what a huge offensive line) MU has dominated the offensive stats and played respectable defense for the most part.  But according to the stats, MU should be 2-1.  The reason they are not is not one little thing.  Its a combination of all those little things I was so upset about.  

I am pulling for those guys every Saturday.

[USASOUTH GURU]

USA South Guru.  You are correct.  Probably could have held my tongue and let it go.  Competetive nature just won't let me do it.  To anyone I have offended, I apologize.

I fully understand what MU and its coaches do for the players.  They do go out of the way to make sure our sons are succeeding in the classroom first, community second, and athletics last.  Trust me. I appreciate that.  It is the reason we attend MU.  Especially Jim Sypult and Dave Eavenson.

Fact is this.  It was questioning Saturdays game.  It was not intended to question the MU program. Sorry for the confusion.  Along with some of the not so positive things you pointed out, you failed to point out the positives that I included in other posts.  MU has improved in many areas.  You are right about one thing, they were 2-8 last year and have beaten a team they lost to last year.(They also lost to a team they beat last year)  But it is primarily the same team from last year with more experience under their belt.  It is exactly the same offense and at least 6 returning starters on defense.  I think it is fair to expect more than a 1-2 record at this point.

With all that said, guess what I am doing tomorrow.  Packing up and heading to Tennessee to support the MU Monarchs.

Again, i apologize for speaking without considering all angles.

Go Monarchs

Apology accepted! last thing is that you have to remember that Campbell is a 1AA program with a full spring practice in pads. It was no surprise that they got alot better in a year to me. Enyjoy the smokey mountains.

[musupporter]

WaspsOG57, I meant Jennings.  Stevens is #52 on the DL.  His family sat in front of us at the game and I had his name on the brain.

No offense to the O-linemen intended.  I know without the meat up front, nobody's going anywhere .

[USASOUTH GURU]

Narch, thanks for the understanding.  I think I may have been a little harsh and that led to a little mis understanding.  I just want to see the level of play pick up.  Man I love football and football coaches at this level.  Kids playing for the pure love of the game and coaches doing what coaches do for what I assume is pay less glamerous than our friends in the bigger divisions.  I just get a little wound up when I know things can be better.  Mith the exception of the second half at Campbell, (speaking of Campbell, what a huge offensive line) MU has dominated the offensive stats and played respectable defense for the most part.  But according to the stats, MU should be 2-1.  The reason they are not is not one little thing.  Its a combination of all those little things I was so upset about.  

I am pulling for those guys every Saturday.

Coaches at this level don't make much. On average less than an entry level teacher at a high school

[Pat Coleman]

Not head coaches.

[USASOUTH GURU]

Not head coaches.

Head Coaches do make more, but the assistants work for peanuts, believe me I know.

[hasanova]

I've enjoyed reading your comments ... even the non sequiturs.  Message boards do allow fans, foes and drive-by "shouters" to present their views even if, occasionally, they may be worth less than the proverbial "two-cents".   "Bounty" is in the "I" of the "pen holder"!

Grammar?  So little time, so many dangling participles ... or was that doodling principals?  "I criticized the coach writing on this board."  My team's football season will probably be over around 4 pm on November 14, so this fills the void.  Thanks!