FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[WFU34]

Sounds like the "Captains" are "abandoning ship".  But CNU should have a "life preserver" thrown to them in their next game with Frostburg (but Vegas has the early line as a "pick 'em").

[CNU85]

I've seen many CNU games since 2001, but none worse than yesterday. When we played Wesley last week I figured we were just out matched. Yesterday we were out played. CNU has talent, lots of talent. The problem is, the talent isn't being shown on the field. We have too many kids on offense playing positions they don't normally play. Why? Because they are so talented you have to get them on the field. But, having said that, this is not the thing to do. I'm not a coach and I don't get to grade film. So, here is just one ignorant man's opinion.

The D is fast and in many positions pretty good. They need help, though. Here's what I do - put Matt Long at Safety where, in my opinion, had he stayed here for 4 years he becomes All-American. However, can he play S with that knee brace? Worth a shot. The D needs him.

CNU has 2 backup QBs playing RB or WR or whatever. Put in #12 to start at QB. Christian Woeful-Monsevais (I know I just hacked that name to pieces, sorry). Let him put his big boy pants on and become a college QB - which is what he was recruited to do.

WILDCAT with #5 and #7. Make them WR. Put the Va Union transfer kid in at RB
along with those 2 HS studs they have on the bench. Again - big boy pants time. Heck the transfer kid is big...I think 6-3 237.

Figure out a blocking scheme for the O-line that works. Whatever they are doing now is not working. Definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. We've been outscored 92-16 this year, let's try something different for game #3.

Oh - and before game starts next week, stay on sidelines and shut the yappers....do the talking on the field when the clock is ticking. That was stupid even if you win. But when you can't back it up to the tune of 58-10.....time to get humble publicly and ticked off inside.

If there is one thing we have in our CNU team is pride! The players, along with me, should be embarrassed. Let's turn that into a motivating factor and turn things around.

And the coaches need to get the team in a position so that the players can be successful. The defensive scheme is just not impressing me. And more importantly, not impressing anybody else on the schedule.

[CNU85]

CNU is 2-4 in away games in which I attend. I'm not going to anymore!!! CNU has gievn up 50+ points 3 times in their history, all road games. I've been to 2 of those games.

From now on, you will only see me at POMOCO stadium! 

If any fans from teams playing CNU at home want to pay my travel expenses to include lodging and all meals........just let me know! 

[wesleydad]

cnu85, i feel your pain.  the team i saw 2 weeks ago was not that good, but they should not get pasted by salisbury.  i believe i told you that the d may have trouble with the o that salisbury runs.  good luck the rest of the year and maybe i see you in salem.

[WFU34]

CNU85 - you've always been a supporter of the coaching staff so I doubt that they forgot everything overnight.  I have no idea but possibly is the talent level really is not there. 

The other key element might be the team chemistry, is it lacking?  We've all seen teams with "talent" no meet expectations because the chemistry may not be there.  At the same time, we've all seen teams with what is perceived as marginal talent, excel as a team.

I will admit - I chuckled at that  comments earlier in the year that the CNU coach wants to build it's roster upwards of 150 players.  For what?  Far too many.  There's no way a squad that large can practice effectively.  If its only the #1's & #2's getting all the reps, the probability of discontent on the team will grow (particularly when its not winning).

If the coach is as good as its believed, the talent is supposedly there and the team doesn't win, then probably the mix on the roster may not be right.  On the other hand, the problem could be as simple as with the success the program experienced earlier, possibly the recruiting hasn't been as aggressive and the talent simply isn't there.  Or possibly a key assistant left.  Regardless, none of our schools are like Alabama or Texas were they "select" talent, not recruit.  Regardless of the true reason(s), it sounds like CNU may have a down year.  It happens.

[Pat Coleman]

Somehow schools such as Mount Union, Mary Hardin-Baylor and St. John's manage to get by with more than 150 players in practice.

[CNU85]

WFU - all good points. Very good. A few years ago Defensive Coordinator David Legg left....for University of Richmond. He's now wearing a National Championship ring! Another former CNU assistant is at USC - the one out in L.A. Not sure how effective the one guy was that is now at USC....but Legg was a HUGE loss!

Your comments on chemistry are interesting. I think it is good now. But as we all know - when the L's start collecting then you really find out what kind of team you have!

I'll keep pulling for the Captains and for Coach Kelchner. I think we, as fans of CNU (and the athletic department and administration) are wnting CNU to take it to the next level in all sports. I think, with those expectations, there will be frustrations along the way. I'm keeping the faith.

[WFU34]

CNU85 - you can never underestimate the loss of good assistants.  Just look at when the decline of Florida State began, it occurred when both Amato left for the head job at NC State and Reicht left for the head position at Georgia.  Both in the same year.  As good an ole' boy Bobby was (and is), the program never recovered has hasn't been elite since they left (they demonstrated that point again this past weekend vs. Oklahoma).

Pat - as for the comment that Mt. Union and a couple of other schools have 150+ players.  That's all well and good, there are always exceptions, plus in traditionally winning programs, kids want to be part of the program (and it really doesn't cost the school much with no athletic scholarships, i.e., just the cost of uniforms, etc) to have them on the team since most of those kids are paying their own way. 

My point is simple- in D-III schools, with limited staffs (most schools have only a couple of paid assistants and a grad assistant or two, plus the Head Coach ususally doubles as a coordinator).  Once the season starts, the primary focus is on the 1's & 2's.  That's 44 kids.  If they have 2 deep scout teams, that's a total of 88 kids really getting any appreciable work.  The rest, they really aren't going to have the opportunity to develop their skills that much.  The resources/time just isn't there.  That's one of the reasons as you know its not uncommon to see a freshman class of 50 - 70 kids but attrition takes its total and most teams have a senior class of about 15 or so.  Having large numbers benefit the coaches, looking for talent, not the players looking for an opportunity to develop and play.

[Pat Coleman]

This is true. I do think the teams with larger rosters have a few more assistants to help with that process (if you're bringing in that many tuition-paying bodies, it would pay for itself) and a handful of JV games.

[Bishop64]

Once again we  had our opportunities, but fell short. However, the offense is growing up. If we can put together a slight running game with that young offensive line, we can be much stronger. Kudos to the freshman QB, Jordan Vann. If he stays with us, he will be awsome as he grows. contrats to our coaching staff, they are bringing in good, athletic,  kids. Now all we have to do is get this town to show the support the kids need and deserve!

[abnrgr]

Freshmen and JV games are the best for the larger teams. But when the larger teams dress on Saturday (and much smaller when traveling) somebody is in the stands. That does tend to create some intersting practices. Nobody is taking a play off. Taking a play off could mean scout team!

[HSC85]

Bishop64,

I was very impressed with the way that NCW played Saturday.  They could have "mailed in" the second half but they fought hard all day and had a chance to send it to overtime at the end.  The freshman quarterback was very poised in the second half.  He took what the defense was giving.  The whole team played hard and represented the school well.  Good luck with the rest of your season.

[hasanova]

the monarchs responded well tonight, getting a 26 - 21 road win vs. guilford - murphy was a stud...17-24, 200 yards, 4 td's through the air and 13 carries for 39 yards - and he made big plays when the monarchs needed them

big ups to the guilford camera crew...the broadcast was outstanding!

To paraphrase Oklahoma basketball when talking about Sooner football, "We want to have a Quaker football team our video crew can be proud of."

[cnusfinest54]

It's simple and plain CNU does not have the talent or overall heart it used too. There are some damn good coaches in that locker room and they will fall on the sword but they don't have the studs anymore. Maybe you got a couple here and there but as a whole it is not there. The Gulls were a below 500 ball club last year and there is no reason why we got beat the way we did if we had talent. It is sad to see but it looks like our best football years are behind us. If you are a CNU fan and you have gone to Pomoco in the past you know exactly what I am talking about. Talent is one thing but you have to have players that want to compete and want to go out and dominate other teams and that dog mentality is not there at all.  I love this program because I help build it and I probably want them to be more successful than they want it for themselves but I have been utterly disappointed in this team for the last few years.

[D-BAT]

It's simple and plain CNU does not have the talent or overall heart it used too. There are some damn good coaches in that locker room and they will fall on the sword but they don't have the studs anymore. Maybe you got a couple here and there but as a whole it is not there. The Gulls were a below 500 ball club last year and there is no reason why we got beat the way we did if we had talent. It is sad to see but it looks like our best football years are behind us. If you are a CNU fan and you have gone to Pomoco in the past you know exactly what I am talking about. Talent is one thing but you have to have players that want to compete and want to go out and dominate other teams and that dog mentality is not there at all.  I love this program because I help build it and I probably want them to be more successful than they want it for themselves but I have been utterly disappointed in this team for the last few years.

WHY would CNU not have the talent?  For the Love of God, CNU has the best of everything and is the most affordable school in the USA-South.

In my opinion, CNU should be contending for the USA-South title year in and year out in every sport.