FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

So the line in the press release about IC conducting a national search for a coach has to be a load of nonsense, possibly for the benefit of whatever laws there are regarding employment opportunities, right?

I mean, it's got to be McDonough or Faggiano, doesn't it? Both alums, Faggiano was a successful assistant and recruiter, and has turned Utica into a feisty, competitive program, McDonough's also been an incredibly successful coordinator, and served as the Head Coach when Mike had the health problems in 2012. A friend and I have always wondered if Ithaca was able to hang on to McDonough with one of those "you're the successor" agreements—especially after the defense dragged IC to the playoffs in 2013 and 14. I think he'd be my choice.

Faggiano would be a good choice as well, (were he interested of course, and there's no proof he would be) though I suspect that would cost them McDonough in the not so distant future, so there's that to consider.

I'd probably put it:

McDonough: 90%
Faggiano: 10%
Someone else: <1%

I agree with this assessment for the most part, although I'd put it at 70/10/10, as I think there is a slightly higher chance they hire someone other than Mark or Blaize.

Blaize is also at an age where he just might not want to move.  He has younger kid(s) I believe and has not shown the tendency to bounce around to different jobs just to advance.

I'm trying to think of other coaches that went to IC or had ties there that are currently in other positions around the country. 

Brian Angelicho probably isn't leaving the NFL. 

Bryan Cook ('98) is the QB coach at Georgia Tech, I think he is from upstate NY but not sure.

Glenn Caruso?  It seems like he has found a spot in that region of the country, but you wonder if he has an interest in coaching his alma mater?  I don't think so but I haven't talked to him in a long time.

Ray Laforte and Bill George are both still at Coast Guard.  I don't see either of them coming back but George is from upstate.

Also, what about established guys like Dave Murray or Mark Raymond?  Raymond probably wouldn't leave Williams that soon, and I don't know Murray's situation.

Jerry Boyes was spurnned by IC when Welch got the job initially, not sure about him.

Just throwing some names out there, but I assume they will get some qualified people putting their names in.

Not to pick on ya but where is the other 10?

[Jonny Utah]

So the line in the press release about IC conducting a national search for a coach has to be a load of nonsense, possibly for the benefit of whatever laws there are regarding employment opportunities, right?

I mean, it's got to be McDonough or Faggiano, doesn't it? Both alums, Faggiano was a successful assistant and recruiter, and has turned Utica into a feisty, competitive program, McDonough's also been an incredibly successful coordinator, and served as the Head Coach when Mike had the health problems in 2012. A friend and I have always wondered if Ithaca was able to hang on to McDonough with one of those "you're the successor" agreements—especially after the defense dragged IC to the playoffs in 2013 and 14. I think he'd be my choice.

Faggiano would be a good choice as well, (were he interested of course, and there's no proof he would be) though I suspect that would cost them McDonough in the not so distant future, so there's that to consider.

I'd probably put it:

McDonough: 90%
Faggiano: 10%
Someone else: <1%

I agree with this assessment for the most part, although I'd put it at 70/10/10, as I think there is a slightly higher chance they hire someone other than Mark or Blaize.

Blaize is also at an age where he just might not want to move.  He has younger kid(s) I believe and has not shown the tendency to bounce around to different jobs just to advance.

I'm trying to think of other coaches that went to IC or had ties there that are currently in other positions around the country. 

Brian Angelicho probably isn't leaving the NFL. 

Bryan Cook ('98) is the QB coach at Georgia Tech, I think he is from upstate NY but not sure.

Glenn Caruso?  It seems like he has found a spot in that region of the country, but you wonder if he has an interest in coaching his alma mater?  I don't think so but I haven't talked to him in a long time.

Ray Laforte and Bill George are both still at Coast Guard.  I don't see either of them coming back but George is from upstate.

Also, what about established guys like Dave Murray or Mark Raymond?  Raymond probably wouldn't leave Williams that soon, and I don't know Murray's situation.

Jerry Boyes was spurnned by IC when Welch got the job initially, not sure about him.

Just throwing some names out there, but I assume they will get some qualified people putting their names in.

Not to pick on ya but where is the other 10?

Ha sorry, I meant 70/20/10!!!

[fisheralum91]

I thought it must be the new IC math



Seriously tho- I think that even tho Blaise has young kids-IC would be his dream job ...right?

[Jonny Utah]

I thought it must be the new IC math



Seriously tho- I think that even tho Blaise has young kids-IC would be his dream job ...right?

Yea I really don't know.  I know several college coaches and it is a tough profession for a family.  It seems that at some point, you either keep trying to move up to that next level, or you decide to settle down and simply live life (putting your family first).  Many of them simply find a place where they can earn a modest living with their family, and just enjoy the neighborhood/schools/friends/family that they live near. 

I was talking to someone about Don Brown (Michigan DC) recently and looked him up.  He has really worked his way up the chain, but how much has he sacrificed?  He as moved 13 times since he started coaching in 1982.  He is also making close to 1 million dollars a year for the next 3 years, so his hard work paid off.

So it really depends what he wants, and Ithaca could be his last stop too.  I think he is in his late 40s?

[fisheralum91]

Blaise is 45

remember he has already coached at IC

i think he would go in a heartbeat

[Bombers798891]

I think one thing to consider is that Ithaca tends to keep coaches for a long time.

According to a 2015 article published in the Ithacan:

(http://theithacan.org/sports/blue-and-gold-coaches-maintain-legacy-of-long-term-success/

19 of the varsity coaches had been there for at least 10 years, and 12 of them had been there for 20. Now, most of that did not occur on Susan Bassett's watch, but when Andy Bryne retired after 30+ years as Men's Soccer Coach in 2014, he was replaced by Patrick Ouckama, who was a 2005 grad, and thus probably 32 at the time. The Bassett-hired women's lacrosse coach graduated in 2006. Erin Dinan, who replaced 24-year vet Bill Ware in 2011, graduated from Cortland in 2003.

All these coaches have done excellent jobs with their teams, so don't misunderstand me. But Ithaca clearly likes coaching stability. My guess is that means Jerry Boyes is a non-starter

[Bombers798891]

Final Welch thought for the day: A lot of Ithaca's problems have kind of been traced back to various outside challenges and changes in administrative vision since the 80s.

IC's going to have a new president by this time next year. I wonder if we'll see a wholesale change in the athletic department philosophy

[Jonny Utah]

Final Welch thought for the day: A lot of Ithaca's problems have kind of been traced back to various outside challenges and changes in administrative vision since the 80s.

IC's going to have a new president by this time next year. I wonder if we'll see a wholesale change in the athletic department philosophy

I spoke with someone who had been involved with the program over the last 30 years off and on, and they told me that financial aid simply isn't given out the way it was in the 1980s and 1990s and that was the main problem.  Admissions has also been more of a hurdle as well although this has been common among many northeast private schools as applications have gone up, and admission rates have gone down.

I have no clue what I am going to do when my kids are college age.  I can't imagine having to fork up even 30K in cash a year, let alone 60K per kid. 

[D3viewer]

It's easy to say now since the above posters have already done the heavy lifting in this conversation, but I would have to agree McDonough would be the choice. It's tough to pass up a qualified already on staff assistant. He came to IC from a higher level with the possible expectation that if he was successful as DC he would be the successor to Welch. Despite last season they are still a top tier program. Hats off to Welch as retiring "now" is probably the right timing as they transition to LL play. It is probably the breath of fresh air the program possibly needs at this point. McDonough knows the "Ithaca Way" as both a player and a coach. The only possible downside to his hire would be it doesn't fix the offensive "mess". This is where IC really needs a jumpstart. Obviously he can hire an OC, but this would be the same style of governanace as before, a defensive minded HC  bringing in various outside OCs. Hiring Faggiano wouldn't really correct this either since he a defensive guy. The only really "bold" move than in my opinion would be to go out and get some type of successful offensive minded coach. But I still don't see that as worth the risk with a quality HC candidate like McDonough already on staff.

[D3viewer]

P. S. Can Vosburgh be far behind ?

[Upstate]

Faggiano might be a "defensive guy" but his teams have had one season since 08 where his offense averaged under 28 points a game where Ithaca has had two seasons where they have averaged more than 25 points a game in that same time frame.

He may be a defensive guy but he has hired some good OCs that understand spacing and how to exploit individual match ups that come from the spread offenses.

[fisheralum91]

P. S. Can Vosburgh be far behind ?

Thought that has gone thru many a alum!
I hope not- but he has been coaching a long time

[jdex]

Former SUNY Cortland defensive end Jake Ceresna signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets on Sunday and has joined the team's preseason training camp roster. The camp is held at the Jets' training center in Florham Park, N.J. The Jets, who held their training camp for several years on the Cortland campus, had expressed interest in Ceresna in May, but he ended up instead being invited to a Kansas City Chiefs mini-camp. Most recently, Ceresna was prepared to work as an assistant coach at Cortland assisting with the offensive line before he was signed by the Jets.

[Bombers798891]

Saw something on the OAC board: Make your team's Mount Rushmore of players.

But, to make it a challenge and less obvious, I'll include two twists:

1. No All-Americans* allowed. Pick the guys who were great, but perhaps under-appreciated.
2. One player per position

*Not limited to just this site, obviously.

[sjfcards]

Saw something on the OAC board: Make your team's Mount Rushmore of players.

But, to make it a challenge and less obvious, I'll include two twists:

1. No All-Americans* allowed. Pick the guys who were great, but perhaps under-appreciated.
2. One player per position

*Not limited to just this site, obviously.

For Fisher I would have:

Greg Roland, (1st in pass attempts, 2nd in completions, 2nd in passing yards, and tied for 2nd in passing tds)
James Reile, (4th in total yards, 2nd in rushing tds, and tied for 2nd in yrds/rush and played behind Mark Robinson all but 1 year of his career) 
Mike Fox, (1st in tackles, tied for 4th in interceptions)
Nathan Nigolian, (4th in receptions, 2nd in yards, 2nd in touchdowns)

It is hard to do without selecting all americans. Keeping players like Stepnick, Bailey, and Mark Robinson off any Fisher all time list is difficult.