Men's Soccer Announces 2018 Recruiting Class

[Tango Two]

All in all, we are happy with what these guys can bring to our program on and off the field," said Donigan of the incoming Scarlet Knight class. "We need a workman-like attitude to succeed in this conference and throw talent on top of it all. Success does not happen overnight and we have some ingredients to be very competitive on the field next fall. We are looking forward to bringing these guys into a core of returning players that with the right mindset, drive, passion and beliefs, can do some damage.



More Here:
http://scarletknights.com/news/2018/5/9/mens-soccer-announces-2018--class.aspx

 

[Roy_Faulker]

Is it typical to get so many transfers?

 

[rufeelinit]

Donigan comments seem very measured with regard to the level of enthusiasm about this class. Speaks of being competitive rather than contending for anything. Trying to mix that many transfers who for some reason became disgruntled with their initial school will be a challenge.

 

[snowboarder]

Not the type of class that will even get us back to being competitive .
The best incoming player is a keeper and we already have a good one
Look at what just left
Guzman Captain PDA Academy National champs
Sa Captain NY Redbulls A National champs
Ethan Decker Leading goal scorer NY Redbulls A national champs
Peterson Starter PDA Academy
Brandon Tetro. NY Redbulls Academy starter
Tetro, Decker and Sa were all part of the US National Team program at one time
Dante Perez NY Redbulls
When coaches start talking about work rate and toughness first, look out .

 

[Leonard23]

Oof. Donigan must go.

 

[Caliknight]

Barring making some real noise, I'd be surprised if he was back in 19.

 

[Leonard23]

Barring making some real noise, I'd be surprised if he was back in 19.

So we'll eat 1 year?

 

[RU23]

Snowboarder is spot on

 

[Caliknight]

So we'll eat 1 year?

Don't know his contract details, but I can't see the school putting up with another year like we saw last year and not doing something about it.

 

[Leonard23]

Don't know his contract details, but I can't see the school putting up with another year like we saw last year and not doing something about it.

Hope you're right.

 

[richthedentist]

Yes he definitely has to go what a shame with the right coach there is no reason we cant be a top program again and be competing for a national championship

 

[Ironhead23]

The whole situation is frustrating, and it’s too bad for the players. I’m surprised that more players haven’t transferred out. Clearly Donigan has lost the ability to win, and now it seems that recruiting is really suffering. Hobbs? Hobbs? Anyone home? You in there dude? We got a program beyond on the ropes in a sport that is a real NJ strength. Hello? Hobbs? Come in please . . .

 

[Lattner]

Class has potential.

 

[CERU00]

The whole situation is frustrating, and it’s too bad for the players. I’m surprised that more players haven’t transferred out. Clearly Donigan has lost the ability to win, and now it seems that recruiting is really suffering. Hobbs? Hobbs? Anyone home? You in there dude? We got a program beyond on the ropes in a sport that is a real NJ strength. Hello? Hobbs? Come in please . . .

Most concerning is that Donigan has lost the ability to coach. Last season there were games where the team looked like a random collection of players thrown together without any direction or strategy. It was alarming...

 

[Ironhead23]

Most concerning is that Donigan has lost the ability to coach. Last season there were games where the team looked like a random collection of players thrown together without any direction or strategy. It was alarming...

Yep. So while the recruit class may have some potential, how will it be realized under these coaching conditions? Maybe the new assistant is some coaching wizard who will right the ship . . . I know nothing about him other than what the announcement says though.

 

[Ironhead23]

Also, I’m wondering why Hobbs found it more pressing to let the softball coach go than Donigan. If anyone wants to offer the argument that the new facility needs to be built so that they can properly lure the best coaching candidate, it seems that the fact that those plans are funded and in the works would be enough of a lure to have done the search this year.

 

[Lattner]

It is flat out bizarre.

 

[snowboarder]

Most concerning is that Donigan has lost the ability to coach. Last season there were games where the team looked like a random collection of players thrown together without any direction or strategy. It was alarming...

Absolutely on target. There has never been a consistent attempt at a defined style of play in the years that Donigan has been here He intellectually has not evolved beyond his own experience as a college soccer player in the 1980s.
He cannot see that the modern college player is much more developed and sophisticated now. He semi expects to compete on a national level by using the tactics he learned 30 years ago.
The kids don’t respect him as a coach anymore. The top kids know more about the modern game then he does

 

[AreYouNUTS]

[smoke]

The whole situation is frustrating, and it’s too bad for the players. I’m surprised that more players haven’t transferred out. Clearly Donigan has lost the ability to win, and now it seems that recruiting is really suffering. Hobbs? Hobbs? Anyone home? You in there dude? We got a program beyond on the ropes in a sport that is a real NJ strength. Hello? Hobbs? Come in please . . .

You just refuse to pay attention to what a few of us, Cali, myself and others included , have continued to say (throughout multiple threads) about how Hobbs is handling Olympic Sport coaching decisions. It’s stunning lol [cheers]

 

[richthedentist]

Its stunning that he extended him to have this problem and that we cannot come up with what is probably no more than $100,000 to move on from him and just watch what was probably our best sports program continue to go down the tubes!! And for you Nuts I will throw in the same thing with womens lacrosse in that he has a poor coach and program that is going nowhere. Again with the proper hires both programs can be top tier within 2 years

 

[Ironhead23]

[smoke]

You just refuse to pay attention to what a few of us, Cali, myself and others included , have continued to say (throughout multiple threads) about how Hobbs is handling Olympic Sport coaching decisions. It’s stunning lol [cheers]

Refusal to see what exactly? Nothing? No action or even recent commentary on the Soccer situation from our AD? You have your thought about what you think Hobbs may be up to and that’s fine. But you have no proof, no statements, nothing to back up your friendly assertions. So your opinions are just that, opinions. Like we all have. But you claim that they are facts. That’s stunning,

 

[Leonard23]

Class has potential.

Potential for what?

 

[nukem]

While Rutgers athletics teams are competing in the B1G, the Athletic Department and Administration don't run the department like a B1G department. Evidently, the only way to let a coach go now is for the contract for that coach to run out. The number one reason Rutgers sports programs have under performed for years is the administration of this school. We bury programs to the point that it takes a humongous effort to try to dig out from.

Pay the damn guy his one year that you owe him and get him out of here and start the rebuilding process now. He's an abject failure here. I looked at the schedule and the out of conference portion is abysmal compared to what it used to be. It's mind numbing that we can't fork over the $150,000 or so to get rid of him yet we have $500,000 to get out of the UCLA football series.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Refusal to see what exactly? Nothing? No action or even recent commentary on the Soccer situation from our AD? You have your thought about what you think Hobbs may be up to and that’s fine. But you have no proof, no statements, nothing to back up your friendly assertions. So your opinions are just that, opinions. Like we all have. But you claim that they are facts. That’s stunning,

Why does there need to be "commentary"? What AD's around the nation do you see "commentary" from about their Olympic Sport coaches (unless they're winning national titles) unless specifically asked a question as such by a beat reporter? You NEVER do lol!

Listen...we don't know one another...but I don't make shit up - EVER - regarding Rutgers Athletics. I've been fortunate enough over the years to have a father with very good connections inside the department, to have WORKED inside the athletic department, to have had some great connections since then and now, to this day, have a couple of very good ones both within the department AND among major, MAJOR boosters of a couple sports.... and, due to that, my "opinions" are fact-based (whether YOU want to think so, or not, plenty of others here will vouch for me). @Caliknight is in a similar place as me as not only has he played a varsity sport at RU (men's lax) BUT he too has spoken with AD Hobbs (many more times than myself) and is VERY familiar with what Pat wants to do (for every Olympic sport) and how he wants to get things done (the right way...both letting go and hiring) from here on out. There IS a plan in place my friend, I promise (see: softball, gymnastics, swimming, etc...), just because you and/or the general public aren't completely familiar doesn't mean it isn't there or that we're wrong.

We're on the same team, remember that, and I have ZERO reason to lie to you. I am, always have been, and continue to be, very open about my relationship with DD...HOWEVER, at the same time, I have continually said I'd have no issue with Hobbs letting Danny go at the proper time as he, since the 2015 tourney team, has simply NOT gotten it done OTB.

BTW - I promise you'll know when I'm speaking from nothing but an "opinion" standpoint LOL! That being said you and a few others are much more "in tune" with the local soccer scene these days which is why you don't hear me doubting people regarding their statements as "fact" when discussing the topic. Also you ever get a chance to speak with Hobbs, as many have, Ask away! Well he’s done a better job at keeping certain things closer to the vest, then his predecessors, which is a good thing, talking about his plans for the athletic department in general he enjoys greatly!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

While Rutgers athletics teams are competing in the B1G, the Athletic Department and Administration don't run the department like a B1G department.

You couldn't be more wrong.

 

[nukem]

You couldn't be more wrong.

When it comes to what we are talking about, there isn't another B1G athletic department that wouldn't fire Donigan. That's what we are talking about and I'm not wrong. Donigan has been here long enough for us to know he's not the right fit and we need to get rid of him. Hobbs has done a lot of good things. That doesn't mean he doesn't or can't make mistakes.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

When it comes to what we are talking about, there isn't another B1G athletic department that wouldn't fire Donigan. That's what we are talking about and I'm not wrong. Donigan has been here long enough for us to know he's not the right fit and we need to get rid of him. Hobbs has done a lot of good things. That doesn't mean he doesn't or can't make mistakes.

Your comment that I resounded to, and I quote, was:

"the Athletic Department and Administration don't run the department like a B1G department."

...to that my response stands (and others will back it up...).


** not arguing with you just disagree wholeheartedly with THIS comment.

 

[nukem]

Your comment that I resounded to, and I quote, was:

"the Athletic Department and Administration don't run the department like a B1G department."

...to that my response stands (and others will back it up...).


** not arguing with you just disagree wholeheartedly with THIS comment.

Ok, I see what you are saying. My statement was too broad. I should've have been a little more specific. Hobbs has done a very good job overall. He is helping to bring us up to speed. But when it comes to coaches, we are to slow to react. I'm sure it's a money situation. There are a few coaches left to change. This situation is crying out to make a move. I personally think we make things so much more difficult on ourselves with kicking the can down the road.

And I'm not arguing either. It's these situations that leave me scratching my head and piss me off. I know how good we can/should be in soccer. Just a lost opportunity for a small dollar amount when it comes to big time athletics. When I see what tiny schools with no where near the tradition that we have pass us by, it's just not right. But it is what it is. And these are the reasons why there is such apathy with RU sports.

 

[Ironhead23]

Why does there need to be "commentary"? What AD's around the nation do you see "commentary" from about their Olympic Sport coaches (unless they're winning national titles) unless specifically asked a question as such by a beat reporter? You NEVER do lol!

Listen...we don't know one another...but I don't make shit up - EVER - regarding Rutgers Athletics. I've been fortunate enough over the years to have a father with very good connections inside the department, to have WORKED inside the athletic department, to have had some great connections since then and now, to this day, have a couple of very good ones both within the department AND among major, MAJOR boosters of a couple sports.... and, due to that, my "opinions" are fact-based (whether YOU want to think so, or not, plenty of others here will vouch for me). @Caliknight is in a similar place as me as not only has he played a varsity sport at RU (men's lax) BUT he too has spoken with AD Hobbs (many more times than myself) and is VERY familiar with what Pat wants to do (for every Olympic sport) and how he wants to get things done (the right way...both letting go and hiring) from here on out. There IS a plan in place my friend, I promise (see: softball, gymnastics, swimming, etc...), just because you and/or the general public aren't completely familiar doesn't mean it isn't there or that we're wrong.

We're on the same team, remember that, and I have ZERO reason to lie to you. I am, always have been, and continue to be, very open about my relationship with DD...HOWEVER, at the same time, I have continually said I'd have no issue with Hobbs letting Danny go at the proper time as he, since the 2015 tourney team, has simply NOT gotten it done OTB.

BTW - I promise you'll know when I'm speaking from nothing but an "opinion" standpoint LOL! That being said you and a few others are much more "in tune" with the local soccer scene these days which is why you don't hear me doubting people regarding their statements as "fact" when discussing the topic. Also you ever get a chance to speak with Hobbs, as many have, Ask away! Well he’s done a better job at keeping certain things closer to the vest, then his predecessors, which is a good thing, talking about his plans for the athletic department in general he enjoys greatly!

All I’m saying is that there is a comment board here with many fervent Soccer followers/supporters who have opinions on the current situation, and while I understand that you have connections and more information than many of us, it’s kind of hard to accept your perspective that we should just pipe down and wait for Hobbs’s plan to come into effect-when there is no real move to address a really dire situation. But that’s just a point that we will have to disagree on. I don’t have any problems with Hobbs as AD. He seems to be engaged and is certainly making moves to better RU athletics. It’s just remains striking that with the level of failure the program has had in the past several years, there has been nothing done administratively about it. Like you say, he does have many issues to deal with, however, this seems like one that would have greater priority than it appears to be getting. I can say from an NJ youth soccer perspective that over these years, RU has now become irrelevant outside of PDA and matchfit. There is talent throughout NJ that Donigan has no in with because his profile has gotten so bad. It’s like his recruiting has been reduced to his closest connections in central NJ. He has little to no name pull of his own (or based on the program rep) outside of these inner circles—other than with a random out of state player or transfer in need of a place to play. I respect your input and hope you can see why many of us remain puzzled and frustrated—which it seems like you can!