FB: Liberty League

[Knightstalker]

The Rev Report

In a ridiculous turn of events, The Rev may become the football coach at Korea Maritime University.
The team is one of Korea's best, but that is not saying much. The nation has a 30 team conference and 3 divisions.
KMU does not support the team. The school give about $700 to the club. The boys have some of the roughest looking helmets I've ever seen, and their playing surface is a clay/dirt playground. The Rev will have to take some pictures and show you guys some of this stuff. Unbelievable.

Anyway, The Rev went to the team just looking to see if there was any way I could help out. Now that The Rev offered help, the boys are talking head coach. I was thinking more in lines of equipment manager or something.

Anyway, the freshmen had their first experience of their whole lives touching a football. I think coaching college football in Korea might be a lot like coaching Pop Warner with big kids.

Anyone have any advice? The Rev may have stepped in it this time.

Fundamentals, Fundamentals, Fundamentals.  Block, Tackle, Run and simple Passing Scheme.

Keep it VERY simple and do a few things WELL rather than try to be complex and not be able to do anything average.

I agree.  The Triple option is probably not the best offense to put in.  This offense is only good for guys that have been throwing around footballs their whole lives.  A spread might actuall be a good offense to put in for beginners because they don't know anything different.  Spread blocking is sometimes just stepping with one foot and blocking the first guy that comes back to you.

Single Wing rev, Single Wing.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Rev, remember that the service academies here use 'gimmicks' because by D1 standards they are smart but undersized (I rather doubt they can have 300-pound linemen! ).  Is size an issue for your team?

If not, then fundamental football is probably the way to go.  Though I suspect Pat is correct - IF you could get them doing triple option even barely competently, you might be crushing everyone.

[Knightstalker]

Rev, contact any US military bases there might be in the area and see if there is anybody who has coached before or played and see if they want to help out.  Contact all the colleges and schools you have been associated with and left on good terms and see if they want to help out somehow, maybe donate some equipment, training videos etc.  Can't hurt to try.  You might also reach out to the equipment manufacturers and see if any can help you out.  See if the NFL or NCAA have outreach programs to help establish real football around the world.  Good luck with this Rev, this is a great opportunity for you.

[labart96]

Happy St. Patty's Day to all in the LLPP.

[Knightstalker]

Happy St. Patty's Day to all in the LLPP.

Better yet, Erin go Braless.

[HSCTiger74]

Happy St. Patty's Day to all in the LLPP.

Better yet, Erin go Braless.

HOLY SCHNYKIES!!

[JT]

Rev, remember that the service academies here use 'gimmicks' because by D1 standards they are smart but undersized (I rather doubt they can have 300-pound linemen! ).  Is size an issue for your team?

If not, then fundamental football is probably the way to go.  Though I suspect Pat is correct - IF you could get them doing triple option even barely competently, you might be crushing everyone.

They are also very coachable.  Many an option style coach from other has watched Army/Navy game film and asked "How do you get them to block like that?"

Army/Navy coach:  We tell them to.

If Rev has smart kids I think its possible.  Maybe start with the single wing and work some triple in.  Takes unselfish players, but Rev would crush other teams. 

[labart96]

The Rev is all about crushing people.  Did so regularly during his Hobart days - at least during pledging at Sigma Chi

"You're all worthless and weak!!!"

On a separate note, TGP is off to the Sierras for skiing @ Mammoth Mtn.  Time for some powder!



TGP is a fan of these ^ kinds of decisions

[1536D3]

Your new RPI Leader  - good luck (remaining staff will not be returning)

Tim Landis - Offensive Coordinator San Jose St.

After serving as a head coach at three Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools for the last 17 seasons, Tim Landis joined the San Jose State University  coaching staff in January 2010. In his first season with the Spartans, he will serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the tight ends.

As a head coach, Landis could be termed a turnaround specialist. He had 10 seasons of .500 or better win-loss records. Six times between 2000 and 2006, his teams were ranked nationally in the top-10 for rushing offense in the FCS.

Landis comes to San Jose State from Bucknell University where he was the head coach from 2003 through 2009. His arrival followed the untimely death of his predecessor, Tom Gadd, who went to Bucknell in 1995 after two seasons as San Jose State's defensive coordinator. The Bison finished with a .500 or better three times and compiled a 32-46 win-loss record.

His first head coaching position came at Davidson College starting in 1993 where he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. The 1998 and 1999 seasons were his best. Davidson had never won eight football games in a single season and the Wildcats did it twice, first, in 1998, and again in 1999. In four of his seven seasons, Davidson had .500 or better winning percentages. His coaching record at Davidson was 35-36-1.

At Saint Mary's College, Landis reversed a Gaels program that won just four times in two years. He strung together three win-loss records of .500 or better from 2000 through 2002. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, he was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year. 

His overall major college head coaching record is 85-98-1.

[union89]

Your new RPI Leader  - good luck (remaining staff will not be returning)

Tim Landis - Offensive Coordinator San Jose St.

After serving as a head coach at three Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools for the last 17 seasons, Tim Landis joined the San Jose State University  coaching staff in January 2010. In his first season with the Spartans, he will serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the tight ends.

As a head coach, Landis could be termed a turnaround specialist. He had 10 seasons of .500 or better win-loss records. Six times between 2000 and 2006, his teams were ranked nationally in the top-10 for rushing offense in the FCS.

Landis comes to San Jose State from Bucknell University where he was the head coach from 2003 through 2009. His arrival followed the untimely death of his predecessor, Tom Gadd, who went to Bucknell in 1995 after two seasons as San Jose State's defensive coordinator. The Bison finished with a .500 or better three times and compiled a 32-46 win-loss record.

His first head coaching position came at Davidson College starting in 1993 where he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. The 1998 and 1999 seasons were his best. Davidson had never won eight football games in a single season and the Wildcats did it twice, first, in 1998, and again in 1999. In four of his seven seasons, Davidson had .500 or better winning percentages. His coaching record at Davidson was 35-36-1.

At Saint Mary's College, Landis reversed a Gaels program that won just four times in two years. He strung together three win-loss records of .500 or better from 2000 through 2002. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, he was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year.  

His overall major college head coaching record is 85-98-1.

Hmmmm, looks like a decision made toward moving up in the future to me.

[lewdogg11]

Your new RPI Leader  - good luck (remaining staff will not be returning)

Tim Landis - Offensive Coordinator San Jose St.

After serving as a head coach at three Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools for the last 17 seasons, Tim Landis joined the San Jose State University  coaching staff in January 2010. In his first season with the Spartans, he will serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the tight ends.

As a head coach, Landis could be termed a turnaround specialist. He had 10 seasons of .500 or better win-loss records. Six times between 2000 and 2006, his teams were ranked nationally in the top-10 for rushing offense in the FCS.

Landis comes to San Jose State from Bucknell University where he was the head coach from 2003 through 2009. His arrival followed the untimely death of his predecessor, Tom Gadd, who went to Bucknell in 1995 after two seasons as San Jose State's defensive coordinator. The Bison finished with a .500 or better three times and compiled a 32-46 win-loss record.

His first head coaching position came at Davidson College starting in 1993 where he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. The 1998 and 1999 seasons were his best. Davidson had never won eight football games in a single season and the Wildcats did it twice, first, in 1998, and again in 1999. In four of his seven seasons, Davidson had .500 or better winning percentages. His coaching record at Davidson was 35-36-1.

At Saint Mary's College, Landis reversed a Gaels program that won just four times in two years. He strung together three win-loss records of .500 or better from 2000 through 2002. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, he was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year.  

His overall major college head coaching record is 85-98-1.

Hmmmm, looks like a decision made toward moving up in the future to me.

I don't understand your post U89.  Did you expect them to hire a former Pop-Warner coach looking for a step up in competition?

[dlippiel]

Your new RPI Leader  - good luck (remaining staff will not be returning)

Tim Landis - Offensive Coordinator San Jose St.

After serving as a head coach at three Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools for the last 17 seasons, Tim Landis joined the San Jose State University  coaching staff in January 2010. In his first season with the Spartans, he will serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the tight ends.

As a head coach, Landis could be termed a turnaround specialist. He had 10 seasons of .500 or better win-loss records. Six times between 2000 and 2006, his teams were ranked nationally in the top-10 for rushing offense in the FCS.

Landis comes to San Jose State from Bucknell University where he was the head coach from 2003 through 2009. His arrival followed the untimely death of his predecessor, Tom Gadd, who went to Bucknell in 1995 after two seasons as San Jose State's defensive coordinator. The Bison finished with a .500 or better three times and compiled a 32-46 win-loss record.

His first head coaching position came at Davidson College starting in 1993 where he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. The 1998 and 1999 seasons were his best. Davidson had never won eight football games in a single season and the Wildcats did it twice, first, in 1998, and again in 1999. In four of his seven seasons, Davidson had .500 or better winning percentages. His coaching record at Davidson was 35-36-1.

At Saint Mary's College, Landis reversed a Gaels program that won just four times in two years. He strung together three win-loss records of .500 or better from 2000 through 2002. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, he was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year. 

His overall major college head coaching record is 85-98-1.

An impressive resume...

[Doid23]

Your new RPI Leader  - good luck (remaining staff will not be returning)

Tim Landis - Offensive Coordinator San Jose St.

After serving as a head coach at three Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools for the last 17 seasons, Tim Landis joined the San Jose State University  coaching staff in January 2010. In his first season with the Spartans, he will serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the tight ends.

As a head coach, Landis could be termed a turnaround specialist. He had 10 seasons of .500 or better win-loss records. Six times between 2000 and 2006, his teams were ranked nationally in the top-10 for rushing offense in the FCS.

Landis comes to San Jose State from Bucknell University where he was the head coach from 2003 through 2009. His arrival followed the untimely death of his predecessor, Tom Gadd, who went to Bucknell in 1995 after two seasons as San Jose State's defensive coordinator. The Bison finished with a .500 or better three times and compiled a 32-46 win-loss record.

His first head coaching position came at Davidson College starting in 1993 where he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. The 1998 and 1999 seasons were his best. Davidson had never won eight football games in a single season and the Wildcats did it twice, first, in 1998, and again in 1999. In four of his seven seasons, Davidson had .500 or better winning percentages. His coaching record at Davidson was 35-36-1.

At Saint Mary's College, Landis reversed a Gaels program that won just four times in two years. He strung together three win-loss records of .500 or better from 2000 through 2002. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, he was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year.  

His overall major college head coaching record is 85-98-1.

Hmmmm, looks like a decision made toward moving up in the future to me.

I don't understand your post U89.  Did you expect them to hire a former Pop-Warner coach looking for a step up in competition?

You don't understand the post? Really? They hired a coach who has been a 1-AA head coach for 17 years, and an Offensive Coordinator for a D1 school. Can you recall a similar hiring for a DIII school? Sounds like a great hire for RPI, but not sure why Landis would take the job, unless he saw an opportunity to develop RPI into a 1-AA program.

Or maybe he has always wanted to live in Troy.

[lewdogg11]

Your new RPI Leader  - good luck (remaining staff will not be returning)

Tim Landis - Offensive Coordinator San Jose St.

After serving as a head coach at three Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools for the last 17 seasons, Tim Landis joined the San Jose State University  coaching staff in January 2010. In his first season with the Spartans, he will serve as the offensive coordinator and coach the tight ends.

As a head coach, Landis could be termed a turnaround specialist. He had 10 seasons of .500 or better win-loss records. Six times between 2000 and 2006, his teams were ranked nationally in the top-10 for rushing offense in the FCS.

Landis comes to San Jose State from Bucknell University where he was the head coach from 2003 through 2009. His arrival followed the untimely death of his predecessor, Tom Gadd, who went to Bucknell in 1995 after two seasons as San Jose State's defensive coordinator. The Bison finished with a .500 or better three times and compiled a 32-46 win-loss record.

His first head coaching position came at Davidson College starting in 1993 where he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. The 1998 and 1999 seasons were his best. Davidson had never won eight football games in a single season and the Wildcats did it twice, first, in 1998, and again in 1999. In four of his seven seasons, Davidson had .500 or better winning percentages. His coaching record at Davidson was 35-36-1.

At Saint Mary's College, Landis reversed a Gaels program that won just four times in two years. He strung together three win-loss records of .500 or better from 2000 through 2002. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, he was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year.  

His overall major college head coaching record is 85-98-1.

Hmmmm, looks like a decision made toward moving up in the future to me.

I don't understand your post U89.  Did you expect them to hire a former Pop-Warner coach looking for a step up in competition?

You don't understand the post? Really? They hired a coach who has been a 1-AA head coach for 17 years, and an Offensive Coordinator for a D1 school. Can you recall a similar hiring for a DIII school? Sounds like a great hire for RPI, but not sure why Landis would take the job, unless he saw an opportunity to develop RPI into a 1-AA program.

Or maybe he has always wanted to live in Troy.

I think it could be true, but maybe it is just being interpreted the way some of you want to interpret.  And let's get this right, EVERYONE wants to live in Troy.  Best wings around and it's just over the bridge from Gus's Hot Dogs.

[Frank Rossi]

OK, in case anyone is wondering, the post has some pretty good veracity -- to the degree that it fits everything I had been hearing.  I know looking at the schedule of RPI, students were on Spring Break last week -- and likely just got back yesterday.  Thus, the respectful thing to do, whether or not players were deeply involved in the decision-making process, is wait until the players return to school for the announcement.

Congratulations to Coach Landis, assuming the news is true.  RPI is a school rich in tradition and that has a winning attitude thanks to former head coach Joe King and his staff.  A Division III program needs some coaches that understand Division III's limitations, spirit and landscape, so I would hope that Coach Landis would still review each of the existing assistant coaches at RPI and retain at least some of them.  Rome wasn't built in a day, and it certainly wasn't rebuilt in a day either -- some sound judgments need to be made in the name of keeping the existing players content and paving the future simultaneously.  This will be interesting to watch.

Now for some personal thoughts. 

If RPI's intent is to remain at Division III, it's a definite risk.  You could put 100 Division I-A (FBS) coaches in Division III schools, and I would bet the success rate would be slightly better than 50/50 (the initial "I wanna play for that big-named coach" recruiting advantage would wear off after the first couple years, I would wager).  I think there is a definite stumbling block present when you go from scholarship schools to non-scholarship schools in drawing the same relative levels of talent. 

That brings me to something that stands out in Coach Landis's records.  In scholarship Div. I-AA schools (someone correct me if I'm wrong that Davidson and St. Mary's are scholarship programs), his W/L record is 53-52-1.  In his tenure at non-scholarship (Patriot League) Bucknell, it is 32-46.  For those wondering why he would want to become a head coach at a Div. III school, my thought is that it is his only track to ever get to the Div. I level again since his best season after his stint at Davidson was 7-4 at Bucknell (before a 1-10 mark the next year, followed by a 6-5 record).  In his own mind, he probably needs to prove himself as a capable leader, even at a small school, to get the juices flowing again in his direction.  Thus, it does not mean that a guarantee was made by RPI that he would usher in the program to I-AA (FCS) -- there are valid reasons why Landis would want the job regardless of RPI's aspirations.

As for RPI's intentions, they are not 100% clear here.  From what I understand, there was a large focus on Landis and another coach with a Div. I-AA non-scholarship background.  Where would RPI likely play football if they were to make the jump?  Obviously, in the non-scholarship Patriot League.  So it is possible that this is not just a mere coincidence.  However, as I've stated before, we are looking at a scenario that will take at least five years to complete -- and a lot of money and risk.  I would hope that RPI would speak with the players in Union's near-Div. I debacle in the late 1970s and those involved with the decisions at Siena related to retaining Div. I basketball at the cost of several other sponsored sports in the 1990s since those schools are more similar to RPI than UAlbany based on their category (private schools) and enrollments (in the 2,000 to 5,500 undergraduate range).  My point is that it doesn't take just a Div. I-AA-experienced football coach and a big new facility to make the jump -- and the risks are high, as we have seen from other schools.

Will Coach Landis be successful at a Div. III RPI?  The jury is out.  He doesn't have the "big name" quality that would allow recruiting to be a slam dunk for him.  The current players are going to have to be convinced that he deserves a chance to prove himself if he comes in and decimates the remainder of the coaching staff since those players came to RPI based on the composition of the Joe King staff.  This will not be an overnight sensation, most likely, and he needs to learn quickly that in Div. III, there is no real margin for error on the field (he has never put together a W/L record that would have relatively, in Div. III, earned a Pool C bid, for instance).  However, his background suggests that he can meet the expectations and challenges bestowed onto him -- meaning, he has a recipe for success generally on the football field.  This will have to play itself out for a bit before we can draw a real conclusion.

Hey, Lew, at least they kept the process from spilling over into April, right?  It gives him about one month before students leave for the summer to get to know the team and vice-versa... better a month than nothing at all.