The reverence that Politti is showing to Ash is not an accident. Like an animal that senses a dominant human and shows fear, the people around the program instinctively respect what Ash is all about and know he is the real deal. They know to get on the bandwagon before it takes off. This bodes really well for the future.
Change in tone of the program
- Thread starter Boogs
- Start date
It's like comparing Apples to Oranges. On one hand, you had Coach Flood who was an assistant under Coach Schiano but no other prior Big time program experience as well, he was never a coordinator, was an OL coach. Than you have Coach Ash, who was the coordinator of a Top football program, coached under one of the best in the business, worked with some of the best in the business. Coach Flood had an inept AD in Herman where now Coach Ash has Hobbs. It seemed Coach Flood wanted to be a player's coach with helping with homework, Club Ice?? where Coach Ash has a plan to make them not only the best football players but also have opportunities with life after football.
Don't want to bash Coach Flood, he did what he thought was best and really didn't have the Big Time Football Factory experience and what it would take to get to that level. His experience was Hofstra and than OL coach for RU, look at the difference that 1 year Friedgen was brought on.
Don't want to bash Coach Flood, he did what he thought was best and really didn't have the Big Time Football Factory experience and what it would take to get to that level. His experience was Hofstra and than OL coach for RU, look at the difference that 1 year Friedgen was brought on.
He may very well (Ash) but don't lose sight of new found $$$ by donors and the conference to get the program to new heights. This is a business's whether some believe and investing in it is the fastest way to improve it
All one needs to do is look at the staffs to see the difference. The difference is twofold First look at the resumes of the men Ash has been able to bring in. Part of it is his focus and his charisma (Flood had trouble filling staff because if his lack of experience and inability to sell his vision to potential staff....recruits as well). Secondly Ash has obviously been given a bigger payroll to work with by Hobbs. How else would we have the off the field behind the scenes staff (Quality control quasicoaches...High School Liason...Enlarged Recruiting staff). Did FLOOD also have this money at his disposal but just didn't use...doubt it Julie was always looking to save a buck (Scarlet Knight in shining armor would have been a cardboard cutout if it were up to her). We are very much on our way to the next level with Ash (Having Hobbs helps tremendously but having Barchi on board for what seems like the first time is key. Having the backing of the State...even if only by passing tax cuts is huge also)
It goes way beyond Ash. It seems there is a paradigm shift in the entire hierarchy. Maybe we had to hit bottom both on and off the field to shake the cob webs out of the heads of the decision makers. The entire energy level is different. The bad that happened went way beyond Flood.
I support Ash but I'll wait for the season to start to see improvements, better defense and better execution. Don't build him up like some did with Flood before the results.
Ash has instant credibility coming from (arguably) the best coach in college football, so he will be given max respect and a long leash for a while at least. I think the media consensus on Ash hire was that it was a thoughtful, long-term hire from a top coaching tree. Flood seemed to be the opposite - an impulse hire with no meaningful experience to save a recruiting class. Granted, I'm not "in-the-know" about these things, just my view from the cheap seats.
You are absolutely correct. But I think you have to admit that there is a different feel that goes way beyond the football team itself. Hobbs, Barchi, the board, the fundraising etc all appear to be operating on a different plane. How it translates to on the field execution and results obviously remains to be seen but there is reason for optimism.
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Flood had trouble filling staff - because fundamentally, many of the potential candidates would look at the prospect of joining Flood's staff and then ask themselves
how will this effect my career?
Will it help me to make progress toward my goals?
will it open doors for me?
Will I learn a great deal?
- many potential candidates decided that having a 2-3 seasons with Flood on their resume would not be of value - and may well negatively lable them.
In the end, Flood frequently was forced to select from individuals who were basically looking for a job - individuals who needed a paycheck - or needed to be 'somewhere'.
As I have said for years....
once in a while the horse has to actually drink on its own, without somebody holding the reins.
Really three major differences that stand out:
1. it appears the president, the athletic director, and the football coach are in alignment (this clearly was not the case previously)
2. the coaching staffs are totally different, CA staff for the most part has major program/BIG experience, Flood's staffs were a hodge- podge with little major program/BIG experience. (With the exception of Fridgeon)
3. When you need capital you either cut expense, (which is generally a death spiral) or you figure out a way to get the capital you need to invest in the business. (the previous regime had little vision and even less ability to acquire the necessary resources)
1. it appears the president, the athletic director, and the football coach are in alignment (this clearly was not the case previously)
2. the coaching staffs are totally different, CA staff for the most part has major program/BIG experience, Flood's staffs were a hodge- podge with little major program/BIG experience. (With the exception of Fridgeon)
3. When you need capital you either cut expense, (which is generally a death spiral) or you figure out a way to get the capital you need to invest in the business. (the previous regime had little vision and even less ability to acquire the necessary resources)
All you need to know about Flood's ability as a coach is that since leaving Rutgers, he has not been offered another coaching job.
In his defense, he may not be looking considering the circumstances that led to his dismissal. He received a good severance buyout so he is not desperately in need of money so staying well below the radar may just be his choice. A few years from now I could see an FCS school taking a shot at a coach with BIG TEN experience, just not now.
this is somewhat akin to the quote about planning a battle. Once the bullets start flying, things change. Ash is on the usual honeymoon that just about every new HC gets. Euphoria reigns supreme.
Remember how Flood's HC career started? A string of victories made a lot of people think we had hit the jackpot after GS's sudden departure. Of course, it was pretty much all down hill from there with few bright spots as he ran out of Schiano's players.
I totally agree with a lot of what is said above. Ash is a major upgrade for RU. His pedigree is there for all to see and I have no doubt that his energy will be unstoppable. But, what will happen in the press and on this site if we struggle to win games which is the most likely scenario for the next year or two?
We are back to where GS found us when he showed up. We are in a very tough conference and our team has to deal with a lot to win. Stay tuned.
Remember how Flood's HC career started? A string of victories made a lot of people think we had hit the jackpot after GS's sudden departure. Of course, it was pretty much all down hill from there with few bright spots as he ran out of Schiano's players.
I totally agree with a lot of what is said above. Ash is a major upgrade for RU. His pedigree is there for all to see and I have no doubt that his energy will be unstoppable. But, what will happen in the press and on this site if we struggle to win games which is the most likely scenario for the next year or two?
We are back to where GS found us when he showed up. We are in a very tough conference and our team has to deal with a lot to win. Stay tuned.
Don't build him up like some did with Flood - - - ???
other that wishful imagining, and maybe some optimistic 'coach speak' from Flood himself -
there was really nothing tangible to point to that would support the idea that Flood was going to be bringing something to the program that was missing - what concrete items could anybody point to? - NONE!
Flood had very weak credentials - in a pure 'line of succession' on the Schiano staff - he was many rungs down the ladder - he was not on anybody's short list. His most attractive feature was that he was economical. No desire to grind a heel on Flood - but don't use Flood's story line to withhold belief in Ash's potential.
Ash has more than ample credentials - plenty of reason to believe that he is up to the job - While there are not guarantees, it would be rational to be optimistic.
You said it perfectly but I'll add this: it wasn't just Flood himself who bolstered his own image, with "coach speak" and whatnot, it was these boards, as well, that perpetuated yet another one of the many "myths" it has as such over the years. On the other hand, as you duly note, Ash comes here with great credentials, an absolute ton of support from former bosses, colleagues, and members of the college football media, and has done nothing but improve his status here - in my eyes - from Day 1.
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Flood hired the guys he had access to and were in his coaching circle. It is like going to Harvard. The education is obviously great, but the best thing is the other people you are surrounded by. You only know success and those who achieve it.
Ash is from the Harvard equivalent of coaching- Ohio St. He knows what winning looks like, the coaches he rubs elbows with are already successful or are younger and were recognized to have very high potential or their own, by those who know it. When those are the environments you are from and that is what you know, it translates well. Fool proof success? Nothing is, but it sure beats the odds of not being.
Unfortunately for Flood, he wasn't exposed to these types of people in his coaching life, outside of GS and maybe a few others. It's why he had to hire guys from Delaware and Rhode Island. That is who he knew. It would be like having a community college grad as CEO. Could be successful, but the kid from Harvard with a business degree is the much better bet.
Ash is from the Harvard equivalent of coaching- Ohio St. He knows what winning looks like, the coaches he rubs elbows with are already successful or are younger and were recognized to have very high potential or their own, by those who know it. When those are the environments you are from and that is what you know, it translates well. Fool proof success? Nothing is, but it sure beats the odds of not being.
Unfortunately for Flood, he wasn't exposed to these types of people in his coaching life, outside of GS and maybe a few others. It's why he had to hire guys from Delaware and Rhode Island. That is who he knew. It would be like having a community college grad as CEO. Could be successful, but the kid from Harvard with a business degree is the much better bet.
LOL. People are sure reading a lot into what is essentially a puff piece by Politi. Look, I'm as excited as most about the Ash era, since it was obvious what Flood was doing was not working and a new perspective was needed. But as far as NJ.com and Politi, nothing has changed. It's still about getting clicks. And right now, the best way to do that is to be supportive of the new regime. Plus they need access, and attacking the hot new coach won't accomplish that goal. I have no doubt that the tone will change if there are any controversies, or during the season if the losses start to pile up and we don't look competitive.
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