FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

Very valid point

Thanks.  I don't see a spring being "ruined" just because our QB's and recievers are going through the passing tree instead of running plays.  And even if they don't get a guy in place right away, it's still better than opening up camp with a head coach who has been in place for two weeks.

[jaycee]

DPU 3619.........Hiring promptly was never an issue on this board.  Hiring the baseball coach was. HFC is a good guy but he can't do both. While DPU is throwing routes to receivers running routes on the passing tree, the SCAC (and Bash) are refining technique and their systems. Remember..'the little things'.

From your position of vast experience, could you tell us idiots if you think the the talent pool for coaches is getting better or worse as time goes on? Also, the last head coach was hired two months prior to spring ball which is plenty of time to prepare. Tick..Tick..Tick...Tick...Tick..Tick..Tick...Tick...Tick....

[DPU3619]

Dear know-it-all football coach,

When DePauw goes 0-10 because they can't score, I'll say you were right.  Even if they go 6-4 again, I'll still agree with you. 

In fact, if the offense struggles to score points because of your highfalutin little things this year regardless of the record, I'll say that you throwing a hissy about this was the right thing to do.  How's that sound? 

The thing is, your urge to throw the program under the bus has nothing to do with who the OC is or when he gets hired.  You just don't like the program.  That's fine.  You are entitled to that opinion.  Since that is the case, you need to stop whining about it and go talk nice about Wabash over on the NCAC board.

[DPU3619]

By the way, have you have depauwtigers1 met?  You guys have sooooooo much in common!  Both coaches.  Both hate the administration.  You should call him up and have a brewski or something. 

I don't know, though.  Even he might think you're a little over the top.

[jaycee]

Dear know-it-all student announcer,

Resorting to name calling and whining is typical of you. Once again you are wrong, my dislike is for the administration not the program, coaches or players.  Your alma mater has some bad people running the show (for now) and the football program deserves better.

I'm tired of your blind loyalty. I've had enough of the juvenile rhetoric. I think I'll go in the backyard and throw footballs to my kids as they run the route tree.

[DPU3619]

OK, you're right.  That wasn't a very nice thing to say.  I'm sorry.  I handled that poorly.  I'm sure we can approach this like adults and not result to name-calling.  My apologies.  All I've done is yell at you guys and not explain myself.  Please, if you'll indulge me for 1500 words or so?

I understand your dislike for the administration.  I hate em, too.  All of them.  I don't like Bob Bottoms.  I don't like James Lincoln.  I don't like anybody in that cabinet.  However, I don't have a single bad thing to say about Page Cotton in all my dealings w/ him, but I know lots of folks who do.

I understand why many of the Rogers faithful dislike the administration (duh).  That said, you need to take a number.  Before disgrunted DPU football fans/former coaches/parents get their turn, the following people also have gripes:  Faculty, student body, alumni, staff, parents, greek students, independent students, and minority students. 

I want them gone just as much as you guys do.  I already won't give a single donation dollar to that school until they're gone.   They've made enough poor decisions that affected the student body as a whole to sway my decision long before Rogers-gate.  I'm not here to defend them or show some loyalty to them.  I hate 'em. 

But here's my question, and where a lot of my anger comes from.  How come wins and losses fall on the president and the AD and not on the coaches and players?  That's what I can't wrap my mind around.  You're angry because the HFC is also the baseball coach.  Am I concerned about it?  Yeah a little, but he went 6-4 last year when he got the job two weeks before camp.  His baseball team is above .500 and stocked with tons of great talent in underclassmen.  It's going to be a while before we know whether or not this will hamper both programs severely enough to cause a nose dive.  If we're routinely under .500 in the conference, I'll probably be right in the boat with you guys.  In fact, I might even row it.

Just because I like Coach Walk and those guys on the staff doesn't make me blindly loyal to the football program.   If we suck, I'm going to be pissed.  I want accountability just like you do.  Just like Coach depauwtigers1.  Just like 4thandalong4. 

But, I can't get why you point the finger at the top when we can't run it against the Hard Hat D in the Bell game.  I have a hard team dealing with blaming James Lincoln when we turn it over 5 times in Jackson and get spanked by Millsaps.  That was the purpose for that Denny Green-esque tirade a couple months ago. 

If you want to point the finger at why this team can't beat Trinity and can't get to the playoffs, let's start with who hasn't done the job to get us there.  James Lincoln didn't cause the Harbaugh fumble non-call two years ago.  Bob Bottoms didn't cause the Trinity TD catch with :30 left in '04 that cost us the championship. 

4thandalong4 actually made a great point.  You feel this sudden urge to hire an OC right honkin now.  Let's quit screwing around and get it done, right?  Tick..tick.. right?  Well, I don't want to hire the first sucker that comes across the desk regardless of qualifications.  I'm willing to be patient to get the right guy for the job.

Even if we wait until after spring ball, having a good OC is better than having a crappy one who put his offense in during these 16 practices.  Is it harder to get guys as the calendar moves closer and closer to April?  Is DePauw missing time with the OC in spring ball?  Sure.  Even with all the trouble between Rogers and the DZ thing and everything else, do you think that DePauw is no longer a prestigious football program?  Don't answer that.

I'm sorry I was an ass.  I hate the administration too, Team.  But slamming them is the same as slamming the HC and the rest of the team.  You say you have no problem with the program and no problem with any of the coaching staff of any of the players.  But you guys come on here and say stuff like "Another sign of DePauw screwing the pooch."  or "Boy, DePauw is really failing here.  They destined to run the program into the ground." (Note: not exact quotes)  You are saying that about Walker and his staff and players whether you mean it or not.  You want to blame Walker for it?  Then blame Walker.  Blame his assistants.  They called the plays and coached the players.  Aren't they the ones who determine the outcomes?  Blame the QB's for Millsaps. Same way Rogers coached the players in the Bell game two years ago with a playoff birth on the line.  Wasn't the adminstration's fault then.  Same way DPU couldn't hold a 12 point lead with 5:00 left against TU in '04.  Wasn't the adminstration's fault then. 

Do you see my point, fellas?  Who knows where we'd be if TR was still the head man.  Who knows how he handles the QB situation (other than his staff, obv.)?  The administration made the bed we're in, but now that the bed's made, why do you blame them for the OC leaving?  Why does every little thing that happens with DePauw program make you want to knock it down a level?

[Pat Coleman]

Dear know-it-all student announcer,

Resorting to name calling and whining is typical of you.

Hello pot, meet kettle.

[INQBScout]

Regarding Coach Walker---

I think you'll see he is a very good recruiter. I undersdtand DPU has some really good players in th que...and I mean some really good players...don't be surprised if he takes over the OC job...and they get an OL guy to replace Cartwright.

Also, on the offensive side of the ball----DePauw is going to be VERY good this year.....VERY good.

[jaycee]

DPU-3619

I appreciate your passionate response. You actually are on to something but maybe not realize it. Your last response was professional so I will try to do the same. I tried to read your response objectively, try to do the same to mine.

How does a school with nearly a 1/2 billion dollar endowment, a great academic reputation and great facilities not dominate athletically at the D3 level? I agree with you, IT IS NOT THE PLAYERS!

The last two (yes two) head coaches left saying the program is disfunctional and underachieving. Why?

You need to look no further than an office environment that has dress down Friday-every day! Because the school recruits itself, because they will win 7 games a year just by showing up, people have become complacent.  Why? The administration allows it to happen and even cultivates it.  Why? Because change is not always welcome (Rogers-gate).  Getting better will require a level of discomfort that nobody is willing to endure.  Getting better will require accountability and maybe confrontation. This is not the landscape at DPU, which explains the relationship between AD & VP. When something is wrong it is easier to turn a blind eye than address it. The latter mentioned do not have the knowledge or the backbone to do so.

A couple of coachisms that are applicable-'The only thing that is constant is change', 'If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always had', 'The definition of insanity is to do the same thing twice yet expect different results.'

So to answer your question how can I blame the administration... This is how.

[frank_ezelle]

I'm not being a smartass here--this is a serious question that I think others have been wondering:

Is there a way that a thread could be started for the DePauw guys to have their own little spot to rehash over and over all that is right and wrong with every aspect of the DePauw athletic department and the DePauw administration? 

I respect their right to post but this debate appears to be unending and a thread devoted to DePauw complaining would spare the rest of us from having to wade through the neverending argument.

[DPU3619]

Is there a way that a thread could be started for the DePauw guys to have their own little spot to rehash over and over all that is right and wrong with every aspect of the DePauw athletic department and the DePauw administration? 

Easy on the term "DePauw guys" there, Frank.     Not a lot DePauw about them, other than being former employers.

I think it should just be put to bed, truthfully.  They made their point about the administration.  I made my point, and we (yes.. you guys too) should move on.  Let's call a truce.  You guys have some bitterness for obvious reasons.  However, let's try to put it behind us and talk about on the field stuff, eh?.  Deal?

Let's talk about actual football, huh?

[evacuee]

Good Call, Frank!

[4thANDaLONG4]

So to lighten the mood, One very important question!!!!

Who will have the best looking cheerleaders?

DePauw or Wabash?

Sorry, thought it was funny, 3619 good post, we can all just agree to disagree and move on to more important things (not football) cheerleaders.

[evacuee]

Does anyone know anything about Chris Baer?

[TigerDad]

Yep, sure do 

Chris was injured in the third quarter of Trinity's first game of the season vs. ETBU.  Several ligaments were torn, but his knee surgery in early September was a complete success.  Rehab is going very well as he continues to work with the trainers on flexibility and range of motion.  Off-season weightlifting resulted in some good gains.  Chris is participating in spring football drills at about 80% speed right now.  Looks like he will be able to return to action at RB in the fall ... his spirits are good and he's more concerned about his classes than his knee.  That's a good thing.

Thanks for asking!