FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[LeoFan83]

I hope you guys enjoy game up in ST Paul...The Tommies are ready for the Leopards! The game is going to be a cold one for the Leopards in the 20's at game time BRRRR .  The Tommies will not be affected by the weather this is still fall for them.  What did you guys do to the NCAA that made you guys fly half way around the country to play the Tommies in the first round? I don't understand   I hope your boys now how to bundle up?

It's going to be in the low 30's or high 20's. Shouldn't have much affect on La Verne. I am a So. Cal native but my college playing career was in a cold weather area. Low 30's and 20's is quite comfortable to play in once you get warmed up, never affected me once. Unless we're talking Ice Bowl conditions, I've always found the weather issues to be overblown as both teams have to play in it, and once you get your first hit on someone you forget about it anyway.

La Verne is the only team to fly in the first round, as to why? I am still fairly new to the D3 level of play and honestly a lot that is done at this level makes zero sense to me.


That said good luck to your Tommies this weekend, they appear to be an outstanding team, and I am looking forward to my visit to your city. In fact I am leaving for the airport in a few short hours.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Whittier Should drop the program.  Their admin has no clue what it takes to support a successful FB team. Plus, I don't think that Whittier has the finances to do it.
Also, a new coach? A young coach? I think WC has been there done that.  You want a Kheres protégé?  Does the name BJ Hammer ring a bell.  WC had a young coach looking to build his resume.  He came from a reputable program.  NOW- he works for Raeburn (who went to Mount Union and is the nephew of Kheres).  I am 99% sure that Hammer, for the past 5 years has coached one of the top 5 defenses in the country and was nominated for coordinator of the year in 2014.  AND they fired him!!!! LOL, SMH@ Rob Coleman.  I think Coleman actually did Hammer a favor. 
IMO- The Whittier admin needs to get their act together if they want to save FB or just bail on it.

Strong entry into the "Creates account and rips their own program hardcore in their first post" Hall of Fame.

You're not necessarily wrong.  I don't know anything about the Whittier program beyoned what you said here.  But this is always fun, when an account appears with (mascot) as the name and the first post is a paragraph full of venom at the "administration" for doing it wrong.

Have you expressed these concerns to the administration and/or athletic director in writing and/or with a cash donation?  Because if not, I doubt that venting on the message board will do much good, other than maybe letting you feel better.

[wally_wabash]

I don't know anything about the Whittier stuff and I hope they get it sorted out and get some positive traction, but this:

Does the name BJ Hammer ring a bell.  WC had a young coach looking to build his resume.  He came from a reputable program.  NOW- he works for Raeburn (who went to Mount Union and is the nephew of Kheres).  I am 99% sure that Hammer, for the past 5 years has coached one of the top 5 defenses in the country and was nominated for coordinator of the year in 2014. 

All true.  BJ is awesome.  Couldn't be more psyched that he got back to Wabash and he has been CRUSHING it from day 1. 

[RFB]

I hope you guys enjoy game up in ST Paul...The Tommies are ready for the Leopards! The game is going to be a cold one for the Leopards in the 20's at game time BRRRR .  The Tommies will not be affected by the weather this is still fall for them.  What did you guys do to the NCAA that made you guys fly half way around the country to play the Tommies in the first round? I don't understand   I hope your boys now how to bundle up?

It's not the first time the SCIAC has been shipped to Minnesota for a playoff game, nor the last. The SCIAC has issues recruiting size on the OL/DL, by far the biggest problem they face in the playoffs.

[RFB]

Whittier Should drop the program.  Their admin has no clue what it takes to support a successful FB team. Plus, I don't think that Whittier has the finances to do it.
Also, a new coach? A young coach? I think WC has been there done that.  You want a Kheres protégé?  Does the name BJ Hammer ring a bell.  WC had a young coach looking to build his resume.  He came from a reputable program.  NOW- he works for Raeburn (who went to Mount Union and is the nephew of Kheres).  I am 99% sure that Hammer, for the past 5 years has coached one of the top 5 defenses in the country and was nominated for coordinator of the year in 2014.  AND they fired him!!!! LOL, SMH@ Rob Coleman.  I think Coleman actually did Hammer a favor. 
IMO- The Whittier admin needs to get their act together if they want to save FB or just bail on it.

That's right, forgot about BJ Hammer. He was the right coach for Whittier, too bad they pulled the program from under him. I hope they do not fold the program, would hurt the conference.

[RFB]

RFB,

There was a time when UR facilities were some of the better small college facilities in terms of football but overall other teams in the SCIAC have passed them up.

D3 football programs that are pulling away from others have some common themes, besides the school issues of, aid, majors, etc

1) four or five full time coaches, not three
2) Separate lockers, it will be needed more than ever if spring football goes full gear
3) Dedicated meeting rooms/player lounge
4) Separate Weight Room
5) Dedicated practice fields

Lastly I agree on a new head coach at Whittier, find the best assistants who know league and make a run at those guys.

Facilities are important, but your list will not happen, everything gets shared at the DIII level.

[ExPoet]

You are right- I am just venting. But, I was an athlete there and involved for a while with the school there after. I am just sad for the program. I've seen many FB coaches coming and going and it's not good for the student athletes or the program. Until they can get a group to completely back up the program it can't change. I don't like seeing coaches rotating in and out of programs and the Athletics departments not going a little further than that...
I didn't want to sound too harsh. I have been reading the boards for a while and when I saw Stratton is gone- it upset me. That will be the 5th coach for that team since 2000.
That's my 2 cents

[DuffMan]

The Tommies will not be affected by the weather this is still fall for them. 

I don't know.  It's been a warm fall up here, so today's weather has slapped many lifelong Minnesotans in the face!

[ExTartanPlayer]

You are right- I am just venting. But, I was an athlete there and involved for a while with the school there after. I am just sad for the program. I've seen many FB coaches coming and going and it's not good for the student athletes or the program. Until they can get a group to completely back up the program it can't change. I don't like seeing coaches rotating in and out of programs and the Athletics departments not going a little further than that...
I didn't want to sound too harsh. I have been reading the boards for a while and when I saw Stratton is gone- it upset me. That will be the 5th coach for that team since 2000.
That's my 2 cents

Hey, nothing wrong with that.  There are one or two Allegheny posters who have expressed similar sentiments.

The problem comes in when you ask the question "Where do we find a group to back up the program?"  How many D3 schools have deep-pocketed alums ready and willing to donate significant money to the athletic department or a specific sport?  I've been dutifully contributing my 20 bucks a year to the CMU athletic department and should be contributing more than that one day (once I've made my fortune, of course) but absent significant financial support from alums it is very difficult for an athletic department to do much more than "Hire new guys and hope they're better than the old guys" - and as you said, that's not good for the athletes, the coaches, anyone.

Somebody has to finish last in every league, and that's a shame. 

[Purple Heys]

Strong entry into the "Creates account and rips their own program hardcore in their first post" Hall of Fame.

Well played, sir.   

[Fear the Poet]

You are right- I am just venting. But, I was an athlete there and involved for a while with the school there after. I am just sad for the program. I've seen many FB coaches coming and going and it's not good for the student athletes or the program. Until they can get a group to completely back up the program it can't change. I don't like seeing coaches rotating in and out of programs and the Athletics departments not going a little further than that...
I didn't want to sound too harsh. I have been reading the boards for a while and when I saw Stratton is gone- it upset me. That will be the 5th coach for that team since 2000.
That's my 2 cents

I feel your pain, brother. I love the college and want desperately for it to start a move in the right direction. I have no answers on how to do so. It must be so hard to recruit against the other locals at this point.

The afore mentioned BJ Hammer I thought was in a tough situation at Whittier. He is a proven Coach both before and after.

[Purple Heys]

Because it didn't work out with Coach Hammer should not preclude trying that route again.  Maybe Admin staff learned a thing or too from that.

I don't see them dropping football.  It is well documented the positive effect of tuition paying (football) student-athletes having a positive impact on a school's bottom line.  The key would be to get a coach who can build a roster to 75+ and win a few games in the process.

At the moment, the bar is seemingly not that high:  Win some games, be competitive.  Build a roster.  Nice little town in the shadow of L.A. It is a chance that I think would attract a few good candidates.

[Purple Heys]

Because it didn't work out with Coach Hammer should not preclude trying that route again.  Maybe Admin staff learned a thing or too from that.

You might say they (Cue Mr. Peabody), "Swung and missed with Hammer".

[olddog]

I hope you guys enjoy game up in ST Paul...The Tommies are ready for the Leopards! The game is going to be a cold one for the Leopards in the 20's at game time BRRRR .  The Tommies will not be affected by the weather this is still fall for them.  What did you guys do to the NCAA that made you guys fly half way around the country to play the Tommies in the first round? I don't understand   I hope your boys now how to bundle up?

It's not the first time the SCIAC has been shipped to Minnesota for a playoff game, nor the last. The SCIAC has issues recruiting size on the OL/DL, by far the biggest problem they face in the playoffs.

RBF, you are so correct, most of our guys would be lucky to be second or third string. We may have a couple studs, they have a dozen

[olddog]

RFB,

There was a time when UR facilities were some of the better small college facilities in terms of football but overall other teams in the SCIAC have passed them up.

D3 football programs that are pulling away from others have some common themes, besides the school issues of, aid, majors, etc

1) four or five full time coaches, not three
2) Separate lockers, it will be needed more than ever if spring football goes full gear
3) Dedicated meeting rooms/player lounge
4) Separate Weight Room
5) Dedicated practice fields

Lastly I agree on a new head coach at Whittier, find the best assistants who know league and make a run at those guys.

Facilities are important, but your list will not happen, everything gets shared at the DIII level.

RFB, venture to Mary Hardin Baylor, dedicated field house, weight room and three practice fields....in the SCIAC yes, but elsewhere not always the case.
MHB is so nice, if I received some great aid, I might take it over D2 and 1AA schools.