First, I do acknowledge issues expressed in a recent post, concerning, among other things, the impacts from the largely negative posting on this and other message boards regarding RU football. I think that players, recruits and parents likely do read the boards and will always do so. Particularly, IMO, posters should avoid negative remarks about individual present players; that’s demoralizing. Cite unit failure, cite coaching deficiencies, but avoid individual names. I also agree that negative posts can scare away recruits. Nevertheless, the team is awful, and we do live in the cyber/social media age, and frustrated fans probably have a strong need to use these boards or go mildly insane.
Now, on to my main points. I am trying to put the present dilemma of the program into some kind of context, to realistically evaluate future prospects. Inevitably, I go back to the transition years from Terry Shea to the Greg Schiano era. The Big East then was a more than respectable football conference, with the likes of Miami, Va. Tech and W. Virginia (all national powers), plus strong teams at BC and Pitt, having been added in the early 1990’s. In 1999, Shea lost to W. Virg. 16-62, Temple 28-56, Navy 7-34, and Miami, 0-56. In 2000, RU lost to Va Tech 0-49, Miami 6-64, Temple, 14-48, BC 13-42, Notre Dame 17-45 and Syracuse 21-49. Then, in 2001, when Schiano came, RU lost to Miami 0-61, Va Tech 0-50, Temple 5-30, W. Virg 7-80 (that legendary massacre), Pitt 0-42 and BC 7-38. In 2002, RU was clobbered by W. Virg. 0-40, Notre Dame 0-42 and BC 14-44. In 2003, RU lost to Mich St. 28-44 and Va Tech 22-48, but slowly improved to 5 and 7 overall and gained two conference victories. In 2004, the team upset Mich St. but also (notoriously) was defeated by New Hampshire, and the overall record regressed to 4-7, but the margin of defeat narrowed considerably in every game, and the team again notched a couple of BE wins. In 2005, the team attained a winning record, respectability and a string of 5 straight bowl appearances and was off and running, but it had been a gradual process over the course of 4 years.
Now, on to the present dilemma. Unfortunately, after following this team closely and unwaveringly for 49 years, I must conclude that although the Shea-to-Schiano transition years were the second lowest time in RU football history, the present mess is considerably worse. Why? First, as decent as the Big East was then, it was nothing close to the B1G, but even more significantly, to the very tough B1G East division. Just look at that murderer’s row in our schedule. Brutal.
Second, we are regressing dramatically. Schiano inched us toward respectability, although admittedly it took a long time. Under Chris Ash, the third season is turning into an unmitigated disaster, IMHO a probable 1-11 season. Third, the team is in worsening turmoil. The QB situation is a mess, with Sitkowski (sorry, no way to avoid using his name) probably less than 100% physically and seeming to lose confidence each game. We have no passing attack, not much of running game, no strength on the O-line. But even more concerning, the defense is decimated with injuries and loss of personnel due to the credit card scandal, particularly in the defensive backfield. What could have been the team’s strength is now a total liability. Fourth, the coaches do not seem to be able to adjust and improve things during the games.
The reality is that the football program does not belong in the B1G. We would not be competitive in most mid-major conferences. Basketball is inching toward a degree of success under Pikiell and company, although I don’t think that will be seen in the coming season, with so many personnel losses and newcomers on the team. Woman’s BB is starting to improve, and we are respectable in most of the so-called olympic and minor sports, with some exceptions. But football is an embarrassment. So what happens with Coach Ash? Those who call for his dismissal in-season are totally wrong. That would be adding nitroglycerine to the conflagration. Does he get canned right after the season? Maybe, maybe not. There is just no money available to attract a strong coach, and what established coach and proven recruiter would come here in the first place and put his career and reputation at risk? It is also not constructive to target Pres. Barchi as the principal barrier to getting a good coach. Yes, a WINNING program, eventually, over a period of years, can attract students, increase resources for the sports program and produce economic benefits. But that doesn’t happen overnight. He is running a huge, complex and renowned academic institution, not a semi-pro football team. It’s likely up to well-heeled alumni to pony up the money, but with a dreadful record, there aren’t many lined up to do that. Roy Hobbes is also not the scapegoat here; he didn’t have a lot of choice but to extend Ash, and he has produced small miracles with new sports facilities.
The reality is that in the context of current circumstances and residing in the B1G East, the football program has hit historic rock bottom and there is no quick and easy way out. I do not know the nature of our athletic agreement with the B1G, but I do remember when Temple was expelled from the Big East in 2004, principally due to poor attendance. RU’s attendance has been dwindling and I believe it’s at the bottom of the conference. In any event, if we go 1-11, which seems likely, there will be pressure to fire the coach and his staff. Either way, if we dismiss OR retain him, fans are in for a very long and embarrassing period in the football program. I’d love for Greg to return, but that’s fantasy in my opinion. He’s not coming back to renew his vows here. People throw out various coaching names, but mostly, that’s wishful thinking; getting them to come here is quite another matter. So, I am sorry to sound so bleak, but that’s the reality of it. After 49 years of perspective, I cannot come to a more optimistic conclusion. Almost makes me long for the old Colonial/Ivy/Patriot league schedule. At least that was fun.
Now, on to my main points. I am trying to put the present dilemma of the program into some kind of context, to realistically evaluate future prospects. Inevitably, I go back to the transition years from Terry Shea to the Greg Schiano era. The Big East then was a more than respectable football conference, with the likes of Miami, Va. Tech and W. Virginia (all national powers), plus strong teams at BC and Pitt, having been added in the early 1990’s. In 1999, Shea lost to W. Virg. 16-62, Temple 28-56, Navy 7-34, and Miami, 0-56. In 2000, RU lost to Va Tech 0-49, Miami 6-64, Temple, 14-48, BC 13-42, Notre Dame 17-45 and Syracuse 21-49. Then, in 2001, when Schiano came, RU lost to Miami 0-61, Va Tech 0-50, Temple 5-30, W. Virg 7-80 (that legendary massacre), Pitt 0-42 and BC 7-38. In 2002, RU was clobbered by W. Virg. 0-40, Notre Dame 0-42 and BC 14-44. In 2003, RU lost to Mich St. 28-44 and Va Tech 22-48, but slowly improved to 5 and 7 overall and gained two conference victories. In 2004, the team upset Mich St. but also (notoriously) was defeated by New Hampshire, and the overall record regressed to 4-7, but the margin of defeat narrowed considerably in every game, and the team again notched a couple of BE wins. In 2005, the team attained a winning record, respectability and a string of 5 straight bowl appearances and was off and running, but it had been a gradual process over the course of 4 years.
Now, on to the present dilemma. Unfortunately, after following this team closely and unwaveringly for 49 years, I must conclude that although the Shea-to-Schiano transition years were the second lowest time in RU football history, the present mess is considerably worse. Why? First, as decent as the Big East was then, it was nothing close to the B1G, but even more significantly, to the very tough B1G East division. Just look at that murderer’s row in our schedule. Brutal.
Second, we are regressing dramatically. Schiano inched us toward respectability, although admittedly it took a long time. Under Chris Ash, the third season is turning into an unmitigated disaster, IMHO a probable 1-11 season. Third, the team is in worsening turmoil. The QB situation is a mess, with Sitkowski (sorry, no way to avoid using his name) probably less than 100% physically and seeming to lose confidence each game. We have no passing attack, not much of running game, no strength on the O-line. But even more concerning, the defense is decimated with injuries and loss of personnel due to the credit card scandal, particularly in the defensive backfield. What could have been the team’s strength is now a total liability. Fourth, the coaches do not seem to be able to adjust and improve things during the games.
The reality is that the football program does not belong in the B1G. We would not be competitive in most mid-major conferences. Basketball is inching toward a degree of success under Pikiell and company, although I don’t think that will be seen in the coming season, with so many personnel losses and newcomers on the team. Woman’s BB is starting to improve, and we are respectable in most of the so-called olympic and minor sports, with some exceptions. But football is an embarrassment. So what happens with Coach Ash? Those who call for his dismissal in-season are totally wrong. That would be adding nitroglycerine to the conflagration. Does he get canned right after the season? Maybe, maybe not. There is just no money available to attract a strong coach, and what established coach and proven recruiter would come here in the first place and put his career and reputation at risk? It is also not constructive to target Pres. Barchi as the principal barrier to getting a good coach. Yes, a WINNING program, eventually, over a period of years, can attract students, increase resources for the sports program and produce economic benefits. But that doesn’t happen overnight. He is running a huge, complex and renowned academic institution, not a semi-pro football team. It’s likely up to well-heeled alumni to pony up the money, but with a dreadful record, there aren’t many lined up to do that. Roy Hobbes is also not the scapegoat here; he didn’t have a lot of choice but to extend Ash, and he has produced small miracles with new sports facilities.
The reality is that in the context of current circumstances and residing in the B1G East, the football program has hit historic rock bottom and there is no quick and easy way out. I do not know the nature of our athletic agreement with the B1G, but I do remember when Temple was expelled from the Big East in 2004, principally due to poor attendance. RU’s attendance has been dwindling and I believe it’s at the bottom of the conference. In any event, if we go 1-11, which seems likely, there will be pressure to fire the coach and his staff. Either way, if we dismiss OR retain him, fans are in for a very long and embarrassing period in the football program. I’d love for Greg to return, but that’s fantasy in my opinion. He’s not coming back to renew his vows here. People throw out various coaching names, but mostly, that’s wishful thinking; getting them to come here is quite another matter. So, I am sorry to sound so bleak, but that’s the reality of it. After 49 years of perspective, I cannot come to a more optimistic conclusion. Almost makes me long for the old Colonial/Ivy/Patriot league schedule. At least that was fun.
