FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[cnusfinest54]

WFU34, it baffles me that you read what you want. Never did CNUALUM9 or I ever say that CNU is a national power already, we simply stated that, that's what we expected our team to become 4-5 years after we left.

Simple facts also show that the majority of those losses came from Rowan, Bridgewater, and good Salisbury teams which we are not embarrassed about.  Also, no disrespect to our conference but I would argue that we have gotten much more respect from going 14-21 with our non conference schedule then we have by winning our league a majority of the time.

Also, how are CNU supporters extremely sensitive? Our former players have posted our disappointment that the new teams have not held up their end of the deal and taken our program to the next level.  Our fans pay good money to come see us play at Pomoco and our job was to give them a show and make opposing teams fear coming to Newport News. When I left CNU, Bridgewater dropped us and McDaniel got tired of getting beat as well. Hell, UMHB first visit to Pomoco was an L, not because our team was better that year but because that team fought extra hard to protect our house.   

We simply have expectations of what we want our program to grow into and when our players read this board we want them to know what it TRUELY MEANS TO BE A CAPTAIN. We took the lumps in the beginning in hopes that by now we would be giving them on a consistent basis.  I want players to read this board and get pissed off because when they fell they have arrived we can remind them that they have not done squat for our program.  Want to get the football Alum excited, win a 2nd round playoff game or the South Region. 

[AUPOP]

AUPop - don't disagree about AU's youth in the line and size.  Possibly I should clarify.  In my opinion they need to increase strength and speed on the line.  You can be 280+ lbs. but without the strenght that really doesn't get you much.

If you analyze their games this year, more than once AU has not been able to effectively control the line of scrimmage in obvious running downs.  Again last week, several short yardage plays were stopped short for 1st downs to include a QB sneak on 4th and less that a yard. 

Shutting the offense down and going exclusively to the run in Q4 vs. SU (and AU's inability to gain a 1st down running) enabled them to get back into the game when at the end of Q3 it appeared they had a comfortable 2 TD and game in hand.

All that being said, the line and running game has iimproved from where it was earlier this year and would expect it to continue to improve going forward.

In looking at the personnel losses and potential returnees for next year - if they continue to work hard in the weight room, they should continue to be a contender in the conference next year.  Their skill/speed positions should be outstanding next year.

No we are on the same page as far as the O Line, thats pretty much what I meant by "time to develope". I do believe that there is a very good nucleus there for Coach Stanley to work with. They have progressed and a lot of the freshman have been able to get some substantial playing time. Always a good thing.

[kickerdad]

AUPop - don't disagree about AU's youth in the line and size.  Possibly I should clarify.  In my opinion they need to increase strength and speed on the line.  You can be 280+ lbs. but without the strenght that really doesn't get you much.

If you analyze their games this year, more than once AU has not been able to effectively control the line of scrimmage in obvious running downs.  Again last week, several short yardage plays were stopped short for 1st downs to include a QB sneak on 4th and less that a yard. 

Shutting the offense down and going exclusively to the run in Q4 vs. SU (and AU's inability to gain a 1st down running) enabled them to get back into the game when at the end of Q3 it appeared they had a comfortable 2 TD and game in hand.

All that being said, the line and running game has iimproved from where it was earlier this year and would expect it to continue to improve going forward.

In looking at the personnel losses and potential returnees for next year - if they continue to work hard in the weight room, they should continue to be a contender in the conference next year.  Their skill/speed positions should be outstanding next year.

No we are on the same page as far as the O Line, thats pretty much what I meant by "time to develope". I do believe that there is a very good nucleus there for Coach Stanley to work with. They have progressed and a lot of the freshman have been able to get some substantial playing time. Always a good thing.

Also wasn't one of your best linemen out for several games this year with a bad knee?

[AdmiralPapi]

musupporter...not sure how coaches are doing it now but when I was playing game film was obviously graded and in practice every play was graded by that player's position coach (grading the playing on lining up correctly, running the play/formation correctly and so on).  That's how each player was graded, now as far as figuring out who starts/plays, I would assume it would be some combination of game film and practice performance.

[crazylegs33]

I'm with you 54,

CNU sets goals that exceed some of our conference teams. While some teams would be happy with a winning record. We want and expect more. We don't want to just set the goal of winning the conference. We want and expect to accomplish more. Like contend nationally. What dont you get WFU? Furthermore, Kelchner would have us play #1, #2 and #3 if they were all available.

[AdmiralPapi]

CNU85 - well thought out, reasoned response.

I think 85 might have been being a bit facetious!

[CNUALUM9]

There's no doubt in my mind that the teams CNU has scheduled in nonconference play over its short history has helped put that program on the national map.

Sure, the overall nonconference mark may not be stellar, but there are enough really good wins in there that make that kind of schedule worthwhile. Plus, CNU was brand spankin' new in 2001. Any reasonable person should allow at least 2 or 3 or 4 years for that program to build momentum and a recruitment base. Sure enough, it was around that time when the team became more competitive against the Bridgewaters, Salisburys and, at times, the Rowans out there. All of those opponents were consistent playoff-caliber squads at that time.

And let me not forget the win over UMHB in 2006 -- which to this day ranks among the top 3 football games I have ever seen.

With this kind of history, I'm willing to forgive a CNU team (suffering injuries to its starting quarterback, tailback and fullback) for having a somewhat "down" year. 

WFU34 - You may not want to hear it from us since we are CNU alum, but if you can't respect Ryan Tipps' opinion then maybe there is no reasoning with you.  He follows D3 football as close as anybody and does a great job with a weekly post on the website.  Plus he shouldn't like CNU very much since he is a Ferrum guy.  Maybe you over-looked his post, so here it is again. 

We expect to never have a "down" year even if there are key injuries.  The second-team guys should be excited to step in and show everybody what they have.  Injuries are a part of the game so there are no excuses.

[kickerdad]

The 2006 squad had some big guys up front on both sides of the ball and they were fast as well as strong.  They graduated, however replacements came in. The replacements were good size as well, but apparently they haven't cut the "Mustard"....They either got scared, lazy, didn't make the grades or they didn't work out and do as the coaches instructed them. Maybe they just rather put on a uniform to impress the ladies and stand on the side lines. (That won't get it with Dunlevy). Bottom line WFU and AUPOP are right, Averett needs to get some beast up front on both sides of the ball and find guys who love to hit and knock the Hell out of people.  (Damn, I wish I could go back 40 years and know what I know today) ?? Sounds like I got my brains rattled a few times while playing center and defensive end. HaHa ...Knees gone too.

OK, I've rambled enough, I will get the pickems totalled and up before end of day.

[SaintsFAN]

*Great article by Ryan Tipps today on Ogunde from CNU .. ..

I remember this kid from when he transferred to UC ---- I'm a Cincy native and had a buddy on that Bearcat team.  He looks quite a bit bigger than he was back then... what makes him special at CNU?  Does he run over people like a bulldozer, have sprinters speed or both?

I'm interested to see how he "makes his hay" ---

[SaintsFAN]

You seem like you are up to speed on things so maybe you can answer a question for me.  Since the new way of doing things is walk throughs, helmet only practice, no contact, and basically "preparing for the next game", how is it a coach uses this level of competition to determine one player is suddenly better than another?  Is it really possible to gauge a players ability at this low level of intensity or is it just who the coaches favorite is for the week?  Not being a wise guy, just wondering.

Even as far back as 10 years ago, when I played my senior year at Thomas More, we had Mondays like this.  They were much needed.  It WAS a change from the previous coaching regime ... our previous head coach was there from 1990-1998. 

I think we hosted Methodist that year also, in KY.  My memory is foggy without looking it up because a few of my OL had no business being in the starting lineup and as a result --- concussions were the theme for my junior and senior seasons.

[musupporter]

You seem like you are up to speed on things so maybe you can answer a question for me.  Since the new way of doing things is walk throughs, helmet only practice, no contact, and basically "preparing for the next game", how is it a coach uses this level of competition to determine one player is suddenly better than another?  Is it really possible to gauge a players ability at this low level of intensity or is it just who the coaches favorite is for the week?  Not being a wise guy, just wondering.

Even as far back as 10 years ago, when I played my senior year at Thomas More, we had Mondays like this.  They were much needed.  It WAS a change from the previous coaching regime ... our previous head coach was there from 1990-1998. 

I think we hosted Methodist that year also, in KY.  My memory is foggy without looking it up because a few of my OL had no business being in the starting lineup and as a result --- concussions were the theme for my junior and senior seasons.

Thanks for all the feed back.  I guess the point I was trying to make is that with all the glaring problems MU is trying to overcome, off days just seem like time that could be spent trying to fix things.  I know I heard "their killing us with all this practice"  more times than I can count.  In the beginning of the season, MU was awful on both sides of the ball.  Now the offense is getting things done and the defense can't stop the run.  The skill set required for a successful program is something that has to worked on week in and week out.  MU doesn't have the gas in the tank to finish the race.  There are ways to fix this.  It just has to be done.

[AdmiralPapi]

Saints Fan....you did host MU that year.  I'll always remember that game because it was my first start.  I think you beat us by about a TD.

[SaintsFAN]

Saints Fan....you did host MU that year.  I'll always remember that game because it was my first start.  I think you beat us by about a TD.

I just looked it up... you're right.  Nov 6, 1999  24-13.

[Ryan Tipps]

*Great article by Ryan Tipps today on Ogunde from CNU .. ..

Thanks SaintsFan!

[kickerdad]

You seem like you are up to speed on things so maybe you can answer a question for me.  Since the new way of doing things is walk throughs, helmet only practice, no contact, and basically "preparing for the next game", how is it a coach uses this level of competition to determine one player is suddenly better than another?  Is it really possible to gauge a players ability at this low level of intensity or is it just who the coaches favorite is for the week?  Not being a wise guy, just wondering.

Even as far back as 10 years ago, when I played my senior year at Thomas More, we had Mondays like this.  They were much needed.  It WAS a change from the previous coaching regime ... our previous head coach was there from 1990-1998. 

I think we hosted Methodist that year also, in KY.  My memory is foggy without looking it up because a few of my OL had no business being in the starting lineup and as a result --- concussions were the theme for my junior and senior seasons.

Thanks for all the feed back.  I guess the point I was trying to make is that with all the glaring problems MU is trying to overcome, off days just seem like time that could be spent trying to fix things.  I know I heard "their killing us with all this practice"  more times than I can count.  In the beginning of the season, MU was awful on both sides of the ball.  Now the offense is getting things done and the defense can't stop the run.  The skill set required for a successful program is something that has to worked on week in and week out.  MU doesn't have the gas in the tank to finish the race.  There are ways to fix this.  It just has to be done.

musupporter,

What happened to Jerry McCombs who transferred from Averett to Methodist and coached there a couple of years. I thought I saw him post on here one time this year but don't see his name on the coaches list any more. Do you know where he went or is he still at Methodist.