FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[e h dad]

Llamaguy,

You have hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head!!! Great job!!!!

These kids play for one reason the love of the game.

Peace,
E&H Dad

[Outsider14]

i could be wrong, but i think i remember back when arruza was hired at r-mc that he wasn't very popular around the campus and community. i think i remember a lot of players-alumni etc saying it was a bad hire... again, i vaguely remember this. but if so, you think he's still unpopular?

[allsky7]

i could be wrong, but i think i remember back when arruza was hired at r-mc that he wasn't very popular around the campus and community. i think i remember a lot of players-alumni etc saying it was a bad hire... again, i vaguely remember this. but if so, you think he's still unpopular?

     Horrible hire.......HORRIBLE!!  GO TIGERS!! 

[Olinemom]

I also congratulate the Gennies.  They took it to us on both sides of the ball.  It is not only our seniors that need to do some soul searching.  It goes all the way to the coaching staff and the paucity of plays on the offense and the skill levels on both sides of the ball.  WE used to bring good athletes in and coach them to get better, but today it seems they come in and they don't improve like they used to.  That needs improvement.  Oh and I'm sick of off tackle to the left, off tackle to the right , throw on third and punt.  We need to use the talents of the personnel we have --it's a sin to have so much talent and not to improve on it or use it effectively.

In answering a question on his blog in May, Coach Clark said "...the players probably dictated the success more so than the plans." He was talking about the Eagles offense in 2001.

I think that can be said for this 2007 team. I know since Coach Colbert left, fans have been giving the Eagle playcallers (Coach Clark and Soltis) a hard time whenever we have a close game or even lose, but as Clark said about the 2001 team, players (probably) dictate the success more than the plays do.

Again, I think we have a very talented squad. Anyone in the ODAC, other than BC, would be thrilled with an 8-2 record (2006) or to start off 6-2 (2007). But us BC fans were spoiled by the teams we had from 2000 to 2005. We sure enjoyed one heck of a ride, but we can't start pointing fingers at particular players or coaches just because we lose. How about just admitting that the team that beat us was simply better? It doesn't mean they have more talent, or that they have better coaches. It simply means they executed their game plan better than we did, made more of an adjustment than we did, and came out on top.

I don't think we could have done anything different offensively that would have won us this game. W&L kept the pressure coming and tackled well. Kudos to them.

As a BC fan said to me after the game, "someone has to win and someone has to lose." And that holds true even if there are two talented and well prepared teams like there were today.

Yes both teams fought very hard and the Gennies deserved to win.  But
this is what I reacted to.  [Our 35 seniors have some soul searching to do. It's going to be mighty hard to finish the season 8-2,]  It sounded to me like students were being blamed here.  Perhaps that is not what you meant to do.  But you can never gauge how statements hit other people--especially on the kind of day we all experienced.  The soul searching bit just blew me away.  Sorry if I overreacted, but I don't think the buck stops with players, period.  I wanted to spread the soul searching to the professionals who could possibly think of ways to improve the status quo.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I also congratulate the Gennies.  They took it to us on both sides of the ball.  It is not only our seniors that need to do some soul searching.  It goes all the way to the coaching staff and the paucity of plays on the offense and the skill levels on both sides of the ball.  WE used to bring good athletes in and coach them to get better, but today it seems they come in and they don't improve like they used to.  That needs improvement.  Oh and I'm sick of off tackle to the left, off tackle to the right , throw on third and punt.  We need to use the talents of the personnel we have --it's a sin to have so much talent and not to improve on it or use it effectively.

In answering a question on his blog in May, Coach Clark said "...the players probably dictated the success more so than the plans." He was talking about the Eagles offense in 2001.

I think that can be said for this 2007 team. I know since Coach Colbert left, fans have been giving the Eagle playcallers (Coach Clark and Soltis) a hard time whenever we have a close game or even lose, but as Clark said about the 2001 team, players (probably) dictate the success more than the plays do.

Again, I think we have a very talented squad. Anyone in the ODAC, other than BC, would be thrilled with an 8-2 record (2006) or to start off 6-2 (2007). But us BC fans were spoiled by the teams we had from 2000 to 2005. We sure enjoyed one heck of a ride, but we can't start pointing fingers at particular players or coaches just because we lose. How about just admitting that the team that beat us was simply better? It doesn't mean they have more talent, or that they have better coaches. It simply means they executed their game plan better than we did, made more of an adjustment than we did, and came out on top.

I don't think we could have done anything different offensively that would have won us this game. W&L kept the pressure coming and tackled well. Kudos to them.

As a BC fan said to me after the game, "someone has to win and someone has to lose." And that holds true even if there are two talented and well prepared teams like there were today.

Yes both teams fought very hard and the Gennies deserved to win.  But
this is what I reacted to.  [Our 35 seniors have some soul searching to do. It's going to be mighty hard to finish the season 8-2,]  It sounded to me like students were being blamed here.  Perhaps that is not what you meant to do.  But you can never gauge how statements hit other people--especially on the kind of day we all experienced.  The soul searching bit just blew me away.  Sorry if I overreacted, but I don't think the buck stops with players, period.  I wanted to spread the soul searching to the professionals who could possibly think of ways to improve the status quo.

By "soul searching" I really meant get their confidence back. It had nothing to do with the loss(es) being their fault or anything. They had a lot riding on this year with so many seniors, so I'm sure their confidence is shattered after our second loss. That's all I meant. No finger pointing by me.

[K-Mack]

I've seen all three home games thus far and listened to every away game on the internet.  The difference between the team that dominated Ferrum and NNA and beat H-SC in a close one and the team that lost to RMC, BC, and now Catholic, is a lack of intensity.  The program is in place and the players have faith in it, but intensity (as opposed to overconfidence) comes from the top-down.  Excuses about still turning the program around, needing to lose some close games, and inexperience are a bunch of crap. 

It couldn't be that R-MC and CUA are better and BC was never a gimme game anyway?

Could it be that E&H was plenty intense, and just got outplayed on those particular days?

I'm really just asking. Football being a game of inches and all, you can lose games without it being a total indictment of the program in place.

As for Montgomery, how would you prefer he answer the questions he is asked after losses?

[K-Mack]

Congratulations also to Coach Arruza and the Jackets. I never saw this coming and the game between the Jackets and Tigers is looking like an event even for a guy with no connections to either school. 

I'm fairly certain it's going to be off the chain, to borrow a phrase from my days in school.

If anyone off the boards needs a connection/Ashland tour guide, let me know via PM. I don't have connections at the school like I used to since AD, Prez, Coach, et. al. have all turned over, but I can still tell you where to park and how to find the Smokey Peeg.

Seriously, if you plan on staying in town (as opposed to up the road near Kings Dominion or VCC mall), you might want to book now.

(is hype machine)

[K-Mack]

i could be wrong, but i think i remember back when arruza was hired at r-mc that he wasn't very popular around the campus and community. i think i remember a lot of players-alumni etc saying it was a bad hire... again, i vaguely remember this. but if so, you think he's still unpopular?

Really? That's news to me.

The ex-players I know all saw him as a young guy who inherited a program that wasn't left in very good shape and he (or anyone else) would need a few years to get things straight.

I know coming into this season some people, myself included, thought we needed to see them take a step forward to keep the faith in his program, and I think they've done more than enough in that dept.

But with success comes expectations.

I knew he was a good guy with his heart in the right place when he came highly recommended by Wheaton's Mike Swider, when we first met a few years ago. But even that doesn't guarantee success. There are so many outside factors that sometimes even someone with a good plan and a good heart/drive can't get a program turned around or isn't given the time.

Needless to say, R-MC alumni are definitely happy to see a fairly proud program back on its feet.

It would be great if we could sustain it. But everyone else in the ODAC appears built on a solid foundation with solid leadership, so it might become a conference that's a toss-up every year.

[K-Mack]

This isn't my argument, but a couple things here made sense:

You can support a team without looking at them through rose-colored glasses.

Right on.

The coaches and players said that they don't read this board. I highly doubt that that is the case.

Generally speaking, people say they don't and players are advised not to, but some admit they read but never post (coaches, I mean).

So I'd say that's fairly true.

Oh well, time to leave work!

[allsky7]

i could be wrong, but i think i remember back when arruza was hired at r-mc that he wasn't very popular around the campus and community. i think i remember a lot of players-alumni etc saying it was a bad hire... again, i vaguely remember this. but if so, you think he's still unpopular?

Really? That's news to me.

The ex-players I know all saw him as a young guy who inherited a program that wasn't left in very good shape and he (or anyone else) would need a few years to get things straight.

I know coming into this season some people, myself included, thought we needed to see them take a step forward to keep the faith in his program, and I think they've done more than enough in that dept.

But with success comes expectations.

I knew he was a good guy with his heart in the right place when he came highly recommended by Wheaton's Mike Swider, when we first met a few years ago. But even that doesn't guarantee success. There are so many outside factors that sometimes even someone with a good plan and a good heart/drive can't get a program turned around or isn't given the time.
Needless to say, R-MC alumni are definitely happy to see a fairly proud program back on its feet.

It would be great if we could sustain it. But everyone else in the ODAC appears built on a solid foundation with solid leadership, so it might become a conference that's a toss-up every year.

     I can vouch for that personally!! The greatest coach in the world can't do the job unless they have the tools to do the job.  8)
      K-Mack/Jacket......you have no idea how tickled I am and how I look forward to Nov. 10th. Or then again, guess you do know.    The thrill of beating the Jackets is SO much sweeter under circumstances like this. 
     BTW.....due to the fact that I am unable to read a calendar, I WILL be in Ashland on Nov. 10th. My hunting trip is the weekend of Nov. 17th.    Now the game won't have to be cancelled because of my absence. 
     Question....I am very familiar with the accomodations, etc. in the Ashland area. Do you think there is ANY chance of this game selling out? In 30+ years I have never known that to happen but would like to get tickets early if possible.

[Jacketlawyer]

K-Mack/Jacket......you have no idea how tickled I am and how I look forward to Nov. 10th. Or then again, guess you do know.    The thrill of beating the Jackets is SO much sweeter under circumstances like this. 
     BTW.....due to the fact that I am unable to read a calendar, I WILL be in Ashland on Nov. 10th. My hunting trip is the weekend of Nov. 17th.    Now the game won't have to be cancelled because of my absence. 
     Question....I am very familiar with the accomodations, etc. in the Ashland area. Do you think there is ANY chance of this game selling out? In 30+ years I have never known that to happen but would like to get tickets early if possible.

Allsky, I'll be keeping a low profile on the board until after the BC game.  We go to Bridgewater at a dangerous time.  Focus on the Eagles. 8)

After that, though, I'll be hyping it up.  The Game this year is likely to bring out a huge crowd; there could be as many as 10,000 people there as there are lots of alumni from both schools in Richmond.  I've never heard of it selling out, though, so to speak.  There will be people standing 6-7 deep all around the field for this one.

It will be mayhem. 8)

[ehcwasp00]

I have to disagree with ya EHC 52 - INTENSITY comes from being a player - if a coach has to do something or say something to get you to be intense, then you don't need to be playing football.  You need to meet another EHC 52 - Kevin Rogers, All-American OG at 5'11" 230 pounds - he was a football player who never needed a reason to be intense.  This is football - if you aren't intense, you aren't a football player.  And even though we beat BC last year and we beat HSC this year - we still aren't back to the teams of the 80s and 90s.....that is just pure fact.  I do feel like we are getting there though.... 

E&H Dad - I have no doubt that you are a true supporter, and I know that EHC 52 is a supporter as well - I think that wasper68 and I just don't understand why all the criticism directed at the coaching staff.

[allsky7]

K-Mack/Jacket......you have no idea how tickled I am and how I look forward to Nov. 10th. Or then again, guess you do know.    The thrill of beating the Jackets is SO much sweeter under circumstances like this. 
     BTW.....due to the fact that I am unable to read a calendar, I WILL be in Ashland on Nov. 10th. My hunting trip is the weekend of Nov. 17th.    Now the game won't have to be cancelled because of my absence. 
     Question....I am very familiar with the accomodations, etc. in the Ashland area. Do you think there is ANY chance of this game selling out? In 30+ years I have never known that to happen but would like to get tickets early if possible.

Allsky, I'll be keeping a low profile on the board until after the BC game.  We go to Bridgewater at a dangerous time.  Focus on the Eagles. 8)

After that, though, I'll be hyping it up.  The Game this year is likely to bring out a huge crowd; there could be as many as 10,000 people there as there are lots of alumni from both schools in Richmond.  I've never heard of it selling out, though, so to speak.  There will be people standing 6-7 deep all around the field for this one.

It will be mayhem. 8)

     I understand Jacket....first things first. I'm sure the Eagles will be on a mission Saturday 8) With all due respect to my Eagle friends, I am pulling for the Jackets. The BC and Huntingdon games probably don't mean much other than staying lubed. It would be nice if both the Jackets and Tigers can win Saturday to add a little more to the aura of Nov 10th. (as if it needed any  )
     I predict 10k+.  Only problem is, can 10k+ fit inside Day Field? I have seen some huge crowds there over the years but just not sure of the numbers.

[allsky7]

FYI

     Just got off the phone with the R-M athletic dept. They don't  sell any tickets ahead of time. Getting a ticket to the H-S / R-M game should not be a problem but unless you want to park in Caroline County, get there early. 

[BlkJck2486]

I know the hype for THE GAME is fun for everyone, but all R-MC Yellowjackets everywhere need to remember (especially any players reading this) that we must focus and concentrate on a tough Bridgewater team this coming weekend.  Bridgewater has earned the respect of all ODAC fans due to a hard-nosed and championship brand of football.  If Randolph-Macon wants to earn that same measure of respect in the future, it all comes down to beating the Eagles first.  This going to be a very tough game.  I have great confidence in the Yellowjacket football team and expect the Jackets to stay focused and win against Bridgewater, but the Eagles are an incredibly tough and formidable opponent so we must stay focused. 

As far as Coach Arruza goes, he has my utmost respect.  He is not only an exceptional head coach, but he is also an individual with exceptional character and the highest ethics.   I have always liked and admired him for his coaching abilities and overall personality.  I think Randolph-Macon College is fortunate indeed to have Coach Pedro Aruzza as the Head Coach.  (By the way, he was also a heck of a football player at Wheaton).