I posted this on the Round Table last week after Kansas...didn’t really want to pile on Ash but after witnessing another complete thrashing against Buffalo and zero emotion in the sidelines and 10 K fans in the stands figured I would post it here. I know there’s no one size fits all recipe for Leadership but Ash doesn’t have the makeup of a true Leader and will never succeed here as a HC (and maybe anywhere)
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The past 3 days have been extremely frustrating for all of us. I spent a lot of time in Kansas thinking about my future investment in Rutgers Football (time & money) thanks to Chris Ash. I've had season tickets since I graduated (2011) and have been on the road to 13 venues to see Rutgers face off and I'm seriously questioning what the future will hold for me.
Ash's demeanor on the sidelines Saturday and his presser afterwards may have been the tipping point for me. I couldn't stop thinking about the stark difference between him and Pikiell even though they entered fairly similar situations. I put together a high-level analysis of what they walked into, some of their quotes from day 1 through current day as well as some observations and it's scary how many red flags there are with Ash. Some of this is my own opinion, but most of it is fact and direct quotes (via NJ.com).
Please be warned that this is a very long post but I didn't want to create a blog like kyk and expose my identity haha. This post is not meant to discuss actual play on the field, difficulty of rebuild between football and basketball or even Pat Hobbs line of thinking (though looking back to some of Ash's quotes how in the hell he could have aced that interview). It's really meant to take a step back and look at what we have in Ash (in comparison to Pike) when it comes to core values, approach and personality.
If there's two things you should get out of this it's: 1) Ash does not have the makeup of a Leader or Winner and 2) If you're retiring from Football, you should seriously consider investing your time & money into the basketball program or other olympic sports at Rutgers. Good times are to come.
Background of each Coach
Ash: Hired 12/7/15 to a 5 year deal; Extended through 2022. 45 years old; Played Safety at Drake; From Ottumwa, Iowa
Pikiell: Hired 3/19/16 to a 5 year deal; Extended through 2024; 50 years old; Point guard at Connecticut and 2 year captain; From Bristol Connecticut
State of Program upon Hiring
Football:
- 9 bowl games made from 2005 - 2014
- 2013 to 2015 records (6-7 and 3-5; 8-5 and 3-5; 4-8 and 1-7)
- Took over after Kyle Flood's firing. Inherited probably the worst team in the BIG10 and one of the worst in all of division 1 Football. Also inherited NCAA sanctions for 2017-2018 year which were a reduction in 10 recruiting days; 36 official visits (but only 4 less than the average used the previous 4 years); and 1 week probation on communication with recruits)
Basketball:
- Last NCAA tournament appearance was 1991
- 2013 to 2015 records (12-21 and 5-13; 10-22 and 2-16; 7-22 and 1-17)
-Took over from Eddie Jordan. Inherited arguably one of the worst programs in all of division 1 basketball. Also inherited a program that was 3 years removed from the Mike Rice scandal.
State of Facilities and Fan support upon Hiring:
Football: Decent facilities but needs upgrading to compete with the rest of the BIG10. Upgrades occurred over the previous 15 years but still lagged behind our peers. Small but rabid fan base of 25-30K season ticket holders.
Basketball: Piss-poor facilities. Probably the worst in the BIG10. No major upgrades in years. Deteriorating RAC and shares a practice facility with numerous other teams at Rutgers. Diminishing and almost non-existent fan base of a couple thousand season ticket holders.
View on the "Challenge"
Ash: When hired...."I have a message for fans, supporters, admin, players, basically anybody that loves this program. We need to create some positive energy around this program. This is going to take an extreme amount of work. We need a lot of the right people going in the same direction"
On day 1 he set the tone. The message was we, we, we. Ash constantly talks about the past starting with day 1 and through this weekend post Kansas. Ash uses the past as excuses. He deflect ownership unlike a true Leader.
Pikiell: When hired..."This is a University that has a chance to explode"...."I never look back. I look at the positives. There's so many positives to this job and to this university. We're going to go after these and we're going to celebrate these".
On day 1 he set the tone. The message was I, I, I. Pikiell does not dwell on the past nor use the past as excuses. He takes ownership like a true Leader. He wants to celebrate the positives that Rutgers has and offers, instead of completely gutting everything (Frank Burns award) like Ash did.
View on the "Rebuild"
Ash: Post Kansas game almost 3 years into his tenure "This is a 4, 5, 6 year rebuild...I've seen it at Iowa state where it took 6 years to make a bowl game".
Pikiell: Since day 1 Pikiell has used the term "dancing". This was his goal. Over the past 2-3 years he's consistently talked about dancing with his team, the fans, students and media. I have not seen Pikiell talk about any type of "timeline" for a turnaround in public.
What one can do for Rutgers and "Perception"
Ash: Post Kansas game almost 3 years into his tenure "Nobody said this was going to be easy. This is a tough turnaround. Right now I love our fans but I didn't come here with any False pretenses. I didn't come here with any promises that something was going to happen overnight".
Pikiell: When hired...."Every job I've never let an AD down. I never let a President down and I've never let a student body down. I'm not going to do it here at Rutgers".
Take on Facilities
Ash: Shortly after hiring..."Everyone here thinks that the facility here is outstanding. I'll tell you: It's not. Just look around. This is not on par with what Ohio State, Michigan, State and Penn State have....Ash went on to spend 20 minutes answering a 4 word question of "What needs to change"..
He clearly talks down on the facilities, what's wrong, what they don't have and what they need.
Pikiell: When hired..."We're going to pack the RAC. This is going to be a great place to play. I played in the gym...it was 1,200 seats, the roof leaked sometimes and we won 3 championships at StonyBrook.
Pikiell clearly appreciates and rolls with what he has. He looks forward to the new facilities ahead but never have I heard him talk down on current facilities the way Ash has.
Development and treatment of Players
Ash: Pretty much zero evidence of the ability to develop kids in the program. I can't think of a single player he's noticeably "developed" since he's been here. Ash also indirectly talks about and puts players down that he's inherited from past regimes and even never publicly accepted that the 2016 recruiting class was "his".
Pikiell: Obvious development of players like C.J Getty's (from his time at UNC Wilmington) and Eugene Omoruyi from freshman to sophomore year. I think Issa Thiam will be the next one to take a major leap during his Junior year. All evidence points to Pikiell embracing all of his players from day 1.
Demeanor and Personality
Ash: Pretty even keeled and serious. Doesn't show a ton of excitement. Seems to be Type A and a perfectionist. Can appear awkward and introverted at times but appears to be more comfortable since his arrival.
Pikiell: Oozes with genuine but calm excitement, friendliness and charisma. Appears to be an extravert and has been comfortable since his arrival on day 1.
In Conclusion: Ash has a defeatist attitude. He makes excuses, doesn't take responsibility or ownership and doesn't appreciate or make the most of what he has. I think he's way in over his head and it's turned into a form of arrogance. He does not possess the qualities of a traditional Leader or Winner.
Pike is the man and will take us dancing by 2020.
**************************************************
The past 3 days have been extremely frustrating for all of us. I spent a lot of time in Kansas thinking about my future investment in Rutgers Football (time & money) thanks to Chris Ash. I've had season tickets since I graduated (2011) and have been on the road to 13 venues to see Rutgers face off and I'm seriously questioning what the future will hold for me.
Ash's demeanor on the sidelines Saturday and his presser afterwards may have been the tipping point for me. I couldn't stop thinking about the stark difference between him and Pikiell even though they entered fairly similar situations. I put together a high-level analysis of what they walked into, some of their quotes from day 1 through current day as well as some observations and it's scary how many red flags there are with Ash. Some of this is my own opinion, but most of it is fact and direct quotes (via NJ.com).
Please be warned that this is a very long post but I didn't want to create a blog like kyk and expose my identity haha. This post is not meant to discuss actual play on the field, difficulty of rebuild between football and basketball or even Pat Hobbs line of thinking (though looking back to some of Ash's quotes how in the hell he could have aced that interview). It's really meant to take a step back and look at what we have in Ash (in comparison to Pike) when it comes to core values, approach and personality.
If there's two things you should get out of this it's: 1) Ash does not have the makeup of a Leader or Winner and 2) If you're retiring from Football, you should seriously consider investing your time & money into the basketball program or other olympic sports at Rutgers. Good times are to come.
Background of each Coach
Ash: Hired 12/7/15 to a 5 year deal; Extended through 2022. 45 years old; Played Safety at Drake; From Ottumwa, Iowa
Pikiell: Hired 3/19/16 to a 5 year deal; Extended through 2024; 50 years old; Point guard at Connecticut and 2 year captain; From Bristol Connecticut
State of Program upon Hiring
Football:
- 9 bowl games made from 2005 - 2014
- 2013 to 2015 records (6-7 and 3-5; 8-5 and 3-5; 4-8 and 1-7)
- Took over after Kyle Flood's firing. Inherited probably the worst team in the BIG10 and one of the worst in all of division 1 Football. Also inherited NCAA sanctions for 2017-2018 year which were a reduction in 10 recruiting days; 36 official visits (but only 4 less than the average used the previous 4 years); and 1 week probation on communication with recruits)
Basketball:
- Last NCAA tournament appearance was 1991
- 2013 to 2015 records (12-21 and 5-13; 10-22 and 2-16; 7-22 and 1-17)
-Took over from Eddie Jordan. Inherited arguably one of the worst programs in all of division 1 basketball. Also inherited a program that was 3 years removed from the Mike Rice scandal.
State of Facilities and Fan support upon Hiring:
Football: Decent facilities but needs upgrading to compete with the rest of the BIG10. Upgrades occurred over the previous 15 years but still lagged behind our peers. Small but rabid fan base of 25-30K season ticket holders.
Basketball: Piss-poor facilities. Probably the worst in the BIG10. No major upgrades in years. Deteriorating RAC and shares a practice facility with numerous other teams at Rutgers. Diminishing and almost non-existent fan base of a couple thousand season ticket holders.
View on the "Challenge"
Ash: When hired...."I have a message for fans, supporters, admin, players, basically anybody that loves this program. We need to create some positive energy around this program. This is going to take an extreme amount of work. We need a lot of the right people going in the same direction"
On day 1 he set the tone. The message was we, we, we. Ash constantly talks about the past starting with day 1 and through this weekend post Kansas. Ash uses the past as excuses. He deflect ownership unlike a true Leader.
Pikiell: When hired..."This is a University that has a chance to explode"...."I never look back. I look at the positives. There's so many positives to this job and to this university. We're going to go after these and we're going to celebrate these".
On day 1 he set the tone. The message was I, I, I. Pikiell does not dwell on the past nor use the past as excuses. He takes ownership like a true Leader. He wants to celebrate the positives that Rutgers has and offers, instead of completely gutting everything (Frank Burns award) like Ash did.
View on the "Rebuild"
Ash: Post Kansas game almost 3 years into his tenure "This is a 4, 5, 6 year rebuild...I've seen it at Iowa state where it took 6 years to make a bowl game".
Pikiell: Since day 1 Pikiell has used the term "dancing". This was his goal. Over the past 2-3 years he's consistently talked about dancing with his team, the fans, students and media. I have not seen Pikiell talk about any type of "timeline" for a turnaround in public.
What one can do for Rutgers and "Perception"
Ash: Post Kansas game almost 3 years into his tenure "Nobody said this was going to be easy. This is a tough turnaround. Right now I love our fans but I didn't come here with any False pretenses. I didn't come here with any promises that something was going to happen overnight".
Pikiell: When hired...."Every job I've never let an AD down. I never let a President down and I've never let a student body down. I'm not going to do it here at Rutgers".
Take on Facilities
Ash: Shortly after hiring..."Everyone here thinks that the facility here is outstanding. I'll tell you: It's not. Just look around. This is not on par with what Ohio State, Michigan, State and Penn State have....Ash went on to spend 20 minutes answering a 4 word question of "What needs to change"..
He clearly talks down on the facilities, what's wrong, what they don't have and what they need.
Pikiell: When hired..."We're going to pack the RAC. This is going to be a great place to play. I played in the gym...it was 1,200 seats, the roof leaked sometimes and we won 3 championships at StonyBrook.
Pikiell clearly appreciates and rolls with what he has. He looks forward to the new facilities ahead but never have I heard him talk down on current facilities the way Ash has.
Development and treatment of Players
Ash: Pretty much zero evidence of the ability to develop kids in the program. I can't think of a single player he's noticeably "developed" since he's been here. Ash also indirectly talks about and puts players down that he's inherited from past regimes and even never publicly accepted that the 2016 recruiting class was "his".
Pikiell: Obvious development of players like C.J Getty's (from his time at UNC Wilmington) and Eugene Omoruyi from freshman to sophomore year. I think Issa Thiam will be the next one to take a major leap during his Junior year. All evidence points to Pikiell embracing all of his players from day 1.
Demeanor and Personality
Ash: Pretty even keeled and serious. Doesn't show a ton of excitement. Seems to be Type A and a perfectionist. Can appear awkward and introverted at times but appears to be more comfortable since his arrival.
Pikiell: Oozes with genuine but calm excitement, friendliness and charisma. Appears to be an extravert and has been comfortable since his arrival on day 1.
In Conclusion: Ash has a defeatist attitude. He makes excuses, doesn't take responsibility or ownership and doesn't appreciate or make the most of what he has. I think he's way in over his head and it's turned into a form of arrogance. He does not possess the qualities of a traditional Leader or Winner.
Pike is the man and will take us dancing by 2020.
