Suck it up. Next year is the year Flood will be judged.

[RMSko]

Flood is young. I do believe he has shown that he can learn from mistakes.

One of Flood's most significant mistakes is his "stubbornness" and IMO he hasn't learned anything. I mean how many coaches would allow a QB that is clearly struggling to continue struggling when there is another QB on the bench who, even by Flood's own account, was neck and neck in the competition heading into the season. Flood even admitted in his press conference that he kept Laviano in longer so that he could get some better game experience, which was a de facto admission that he wasn't trying to win the game. At this point, it's actually in Laviano's interest to take a seat, if for nothing else to watch the game from a more relaxed perspective. So sorry, Flood has not learned from his mistakes and even though I was a Flood supporter, my support is gone and Flood needs to be replaced as our coach.

 

[slyker]

Very astute evaluation and the same way I've been justifying things in my mind....after taking our lumps this yr i'm thinking DB and QB/RB rill be strengths soon as i mentioned here before . I'm not as sure about the OL....lets see how that pans out...I remember when we all wanted to bench Nova...

And honestly... where have we been getting torched most in the blowouts the past few years. The passing game. You cant just say coach em' up about these young DB's and expect them to play at a RSJR or RSSR level that is the norm for this position. It's a lot more than just athletic ability. A lot of experiential learning goes into recognizing formations and live play action. These young guys are probably out there thinking and processing information about whats happening, before reacting, while a RS JR or RS SR is going to just react. And yes the DL has not been young and should not be used as an excuse for their inability to pressure qbs this season, but a strong secondary, that has tight coverage on the receivers sure gives the DL more time to shed blocks and accumulate sacks. Only as strong as your weakest link. The D Line and LB's seem to be doing pretty well in stopping the run...

 

[Caliknight]

And honestly... where have we been getting torched most in the blowouts the past few years. The passing game. You cant just say coach em' up about these young DB's and expect them to play at a RSJR or RSSR level that is the norm for this position. It's a lot more than just athletic ability. A lot of experiential learning goes into recognizing formations and live play action. These young guys are probably out there thinking and processing information about whats happening, before reacting, while a RS JR or RS SR is going to just react. And yes the DL has not been young and should not be used as an excuse for their inability to pressure qbs this season, but a strong secondary, that has tight coverage on the receivers sure gives the DL more time to shed blocks and accumulate sacks. Only as strong as your weakest link. The D Line and LB's seem to be doing pretty well in stopping the run...

Flood was getting blown out with upper classmen in the backfield. You also might want to check those rushing yards in those games too.

You don't get beat by 40 points without breakdowns at all levels.

 

[suggakane]

Perhaps we need an intervention? When the NY Giants had feuding owners and kept making bad hires, the NFL recognizing the importance of a strong franchise in New York intervened in the daily operations of the Mara family and mediated the situation. Eventually Pete Rozelle hired George Young who drafted Phil Sims, Lawrence Taylor, hired Ray Perkins which led to Bill Parcels and the rest is history.

The situation is not the same here but it is in the sense that the State, the BOG, the President and the Athletic Department all seem to be on different pages.

Jim Delany took a major gamble by inviting Rutgers into the Big Ten and expand its footprint to the lucrative east coast market. Rutgers as a perennial Big Ten doormat does not bode well for either the Big Ten or Delany. If I was the AD, I would be enlisting the Commissioner to have a little chat with Barchi as to the symbiotic relationship between successful football and basketball programs and the value (both monetary and prestige) to its university.

I would then work with Julie Herman to come with the best person available for the job.

I see no gamble on Delany's part, it was a no brainer, regardless of whether Rutgers becomes a door mat or not. The cable contracts are done. The Network contract will follow. Neither depends on the popularity of Rutgers. It's the totality of Big Alumni in our area and the tv sets. If the Big could put up with their perennial door mats for decades, they will put up with Rutgers, especially since we generate more income for the conference than they ever did. I also don't see Delany getting involved here.

 

[Raritan83]

I get it that people criticize the that you cannot use the "team is young excuse" multiple years in a row. However you need to be realistic and look a little deeper some times. In RU's case, in regard to the defensive backfield, due to very unusual circumstances, this unit has truly been very young for three years in a row now. Ever since the class of Cooper, Ryan and Harmon.. all NFL players, we have had a succession of player defections, off the field issues and injuries that has truly left us for three straight years with a defensive backfield with an inordinate amount of true freshman, red shirt freshman having to play major minutes each of these three years, well before they were ready for this level. Every time we seemed to have a freshman get experience at those positions, the next year he was unavailable for one reason or another, and we had to go through the same thing again. From starters who quit the team, to dismissals, to significant injuries, to offensive players having to be switched to defense. It is really amazing and unusual how these issues have hit this unit for three years in a row And I don't think anyone can argue the youth issue this year on offense. We are most definitely young at the positions that really make the offense click... OL and QB.

In the real world, when a boss makes consecutive bad hires they are ultimately let go. Why should Flood not follow the same thing? He made poor choices in recruiting. He brought bad character people in to the program and now it cost him.

What's the excuse on the OL? Even if we are young there, he was an OL coach so they should be able to be coached up.

Let's face it, it isn't the extraordinary circumstances that doomed us it is the recruiting. Each of the last couple years, we are always down in Florida offering kids at the last moment at the DB position. For the OL we are missing out on the Hatton's, Mahons, Nelsons, Beattys, etc etc. Same can actually be said for DBs as well. Peppers, Ali, Apple.

 

[newell138]

I differ in opinion with some here. I don't think Flood being here another 1-2 years is going to destroy this program. he is able to recruit at a level where a good coach should be able to pick up the pieces and then build something. I don't think we will reach Terry Shea level like some are claiming.

Are you sure about that? Do you remember the stadium being mostly empty when Shea was here? Have you been to the RAC for a mens basketball game in the last 10 years? No one wants to go see a bad team. If we lose the next 2, which is a very high possibility, watch how many turn out to see Maryland on a Thanksgiving Saturday. If its a cold rainy day, expect about 18,000

 

[RUJohnny99]

Flood is young. I do believe he has shown that he can learn from mistakes. So, no, I have not seen enough of a sample.

Since the beginning of the 2012 season, 87 of 127 schools have changed coaches.

42 of 65 P5 jobs
7 of 13 in the Big Ten
4 of 6 in the B1G East

Flood is not "young" from a CFB, P5, conference OR division perspective.

 

[REB92]

lol he is young, he can learn from his mistakes....THIS IS FREAKIN BIG TEN FOOTBALL....you mom and pop line is something that can be used at Fordham or CW Post. How many more years do the shills use this blind support line?

He has not shown any growth. His stubbornness with the QB situation is a prime example

 

[lighty]

Flood is young. I do believe he has shown that he can learn from mistakes. So, no, I have not seen enough of a sample.

Can you point out any examples of where you think Flood has learned from his mistakes?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

We could actually do worse next season. Actually, under Flood, we WILL do as bad, or worse, next season. There is no doubt in my mind. Tougher schedule and just not much talent on this roster. Bottom line.

 

[brookdale-soda]

I differ in opinion with some here. I don't think Flood being here another 1-2 years is going to destroy this program. he is able to recruit at a level where a good coach should be able to pick up the pieces and then build something. I don't think we will reach Terry Shea level like some are claiming.

Are you sure about that? Do you remember the stadium being mostly empty when Shea was here? Have you been to the RAC for a mens basketball game in the last 10 years? No one wants to go see a bad team. If we lose the next 2, which is a very high possibility, watch how many turn out to see Maryland on a Thanksgiving Saturday. If its a cold rainy day, expect about 18,000

We may very well lose part of the season tix fanbase this year and they may not come back quickly. I agree. Ticket sales are related to re-sale value at this point. How does the casual (home or away) fan value a one-sided blowout? I know the answer to that question from my perspective.

I'm not speaking about the fans being present when i compare with Shea. I'm speaking about the lack of a good strength program, the lack of athletes, and the lack of infrastructure such as academic support. I think that the athletes will be there to build from a middle of the pack B1G talent perspective and the program has the necessary infrastructure to compete. None of this existed when Shea was here.

 

[derleider]

I differ in opinion with some here. I don't think Flood being here another 1-2 years is going to destroy this program. he is able to recruit at a level where a good coach should be able to pick up the pieces and then build something. I don't think we will reach Terry Shea level like some are claiming.

Are you sure about that? Do you remember the stadium being mostly empty when Shea was here? Have you been to the RAC for a mens basketball game in the last 10 years? No one wants to go see a bad team. If we lose the next 2, which is a very high possibility, watch how many turn out to see Maryland on a Thanksgiving Saturday. If its a cold rainy day, expect about 18,000

Reality is that no coach is going to destroy the program. When the next coach comes in we will still have a 54,000 seat stadium. WE will still be in a hot bed of recruiting. WE will still be in a top conference, playing name opposition with a chance for a BCS bowl if we do well. The investments that got made under Schiano and Bob M arent going anywhere. Our underlying geographic reality isnt going to change.

So when we decide to spend the money that it takes to bring in a good coach, we will be fine if Flood is here a year or two or five.

Thats not to say we should wait. Its easier to rebuild from a higher base. But destroy the program. Not really. I mean duh - we were able to rebuild FROM Shea in teh Big East with a first time HC who was like our 5th choice.

Sure we will lose fans - losing teams lose fans. Some wont come back - but then again - some will and others will join then if and when we win again.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Slyker - take a look at our stats in B1G games this year. Then, take a look at them throwing out the 1st and final drives of the game. They're pathetic. 40% of our yards, against Wisconsin, came on the final drive with about 30% coming on a single play. On the other hand, all of our offensive accomplishments, this season, have come against 4 God-awful D's (Wazzou, IU, KU, NFSU) and 1 awful secondary (MSU). Your posts are so far off base I really don't know what to say anymore.

We are a BAD team, period, stop trying to defend this fact.

 

[brgossRU90]

I just don't understand a "fan" that isn't sick to death of complete blowouts at this point. THREE IN A ROW, with a possible fourth on the way...three YEARS in a row...who looks at that and says anything other than "this coach is terrible?"

 

[mildone]

Since the beginning of the 2012 season, 87 of 127 schools have changed coaches.

42 of 65 P5 jobs
7 of 13 in the Big Ten
4 of 6 in the B1G East

Flood is not "young" from a CFB, P5, conference OR division perspective.

If I'm in the RU administration, I'd be looking at those numbers and wondering what the ROI has been on the investment.

 

[Scarlet16E]

I just don't understand a "fan" that isn't sick to death of complete blowouts at this point. THREE IN A ROW, with a possible fourth on the way...three YEARS in a row...who looks at that and says anything other than "this coach is terrible?"

Understand this. I'm a "fan" who has missed only 1 home game in 33 years. I don't need your approval sonny boy.
I feel physically ill when we get dominated by other teams. But I've seen a lot worse than this season, and I can see some bright areas amongst the darkness.

 

[bac2therac]

Reality is that no coach is going to destroy the program. When the next coach comes in we will still have a 54,000 seat stadium. WE will still be in a hot bed of recruiting. WE will still be in a top conference, playing name opposition with a chance for a BCS bowl if we do well. The investments that got made under Schiano and Bob M arent going anywhere. Our underlying geographic reality isnt going to change.

So when we decide to spend the money that it takes to bring in a good coach, we will be fine if Flood is here a year or two or five.

Thats not to say we should wait. Its easier to rebuild from a higher base. But destroy the program. Not really. I mean duh - we were able to rebuild FROM Shea in teh Big East with a first time HC who was like our 5th choice.

Sure we will lose fans - losing teams lose fans. Some wont come back - but then again - some will and others will join then if and when we win again.

yeah how has that worked for basketball....Fred Hill and Mike Rice

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Understand this. I'm a "fan" who has missed only 1 home game in 33 years. I don't need your approval sonny boy.
I feel physically ill when we get dominated by other teams. But I've seen a lot worse than this season, and I can see some bright areas amongst the darkness.

You know I completely respect you, and your opinion, but I gotta ask, WHAT "bright" areas?

QB - nope
WR - after LC, meh, still no "impressed"
RB - okay
TE - absolutely not
OL - not really
DL - maybe
LB - no depth here whatsoever; next couple years are going to be a beatdown for this group
DB - lol
ST's - other than Grant, nope

 

[mildone]

I just don't understand a "fan" that isn't sick to death of complete blowouts at this point. THREE IN A ROW, with a possible fourth on the way...three YEARS in a row...who looks at that and says anything other than "this coach is terrible?"

You want we should run around stomping our feet and crying out "not fair" too? The overwhelming majority of people here agree that the coach ain't great. What I don't understand is a "fan" that repeats the same over-wrought negatives over and over and over ad nauseam. That horse isn't just dead; the corpse has been beaten to a pulp, ground into dust and then further beaten into nano-particles.

Some people have lives outside RU football. When a game or even a season is going poorly, I have a dozen other things in my life to focus on. At any given time, at least three-quarters of those things are going great. Not to mention that RU home games are not just about the game for me. It's a chance to spend time having great fun with friends.

A little balance and perspective in life makes things like bad RU football seasons and bad coaching seem pretty insignificant. You should try it.

 

[mildone]

You know I completely respect you, and your opinion, but I gotta ask, WHAT "bright" areas?

QB - nope
WR - after LC, meh, still no "impressed"
RB - okay
TE - absolutely not
OL - not really
DL - maybe
LB - no depth here whatsoever; next couple years are going to be a beatdown for this group
DB - lol
ST's - other than Grant, nope

Isn't Russo still committed? And Rettig does show great potential. That seems like a bright side at QB (at the moment at least).

On OL, Miller looks like a bright spot. But yeah, we need more.

I actually think several of our DBs are bright spots (Austin, Wharton, Hester). Given better coaching and a couple years of experience, I think they will turn out to be pretty good.

As for ST's, there's no doubt it's way off, particularly in terms of both coverage and blocking kicks. But you can't just single out Grant. He doesn't score all those TD's without people executing blocks.

 

[Scarlet16E]

You know I completely respect you, and your opinion, but I gotta ask, WHAT "bright" areas?

QB - nope
WR - after LC, meh, still no "impressed"
RB - okay
TE - absolutely not
OL - not really
DL - maybe
LB - no depth here whatsoever; next couple years are going to be a beatdown for this group
DB - lol
ST's - other than Grant, nope

Come on. It's really not that bad going forward.
QB - We've certainly seen QB's struggle in their early years before, only to complete their career's as our all-time best. We have a decent backup by all accounts as well (this is something we have not had in years). And then we have A Russo coming in next year too.

OL - Is getting better. Michigan's D is #1 against the run and we did better than most. Pass protection is a work in progress.

DB - These guys are running the gauntlet now but several of them will be NFL bound when they leave.

 

[j10oreo]

Um... what national perception?

last year = one of the feel good stories within the Big10.

this year = lowly Rutgers can't do anything right because Rutgers.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Come on. It's really not that bad going forward.
QB - We've certainly seen QB's struggle in their early years before, only to complete their career's as our all-time best. We have a decent backup by all accounts as well (this is something we have not had in years). And then we have A Russo coming in next year too.

OL - Is getting better. Michigan's D is #1 against the run and we did better than most. Pass protection is a work in progress.

DB - These guys are running the gauntlet now but several of them will be NFL bound when they leave.

- We did "better than most" thanks to a single broken play. We had 128 on 32, however, take that single run out (and its 58 yards) and we're at 31 for 70. That's pathetic. Period.

- "several" of them? No. Maybe - MAYBE - 2 of them, but they're still going to struggle in a big way next season. Seasons 3 and 4, on the field, there's hope. Unfortunately not much help for Hester and Austen.

 

[RU2055]

You guys keep bringing up Anthony Russo as the savior of the QB position for Rutgers football. Maybe he will, I don't know. But understand that Hayden Rettig was a more decorated HS QB than Russo and he is currently sitting on the bench.

 

[keav8447]

If Flood is back next year and the embarrassing beatings continue, anonymous posters on a message board is not who we should be worried about. Tailgaters on grassy knoll is not who we should be worried about. Most of these fans you see here, especially the ones who are complaining, they've been here a long time. If they can sit through beatings from VT and Miami in empty stadiums during the 90s, they will seat through beatings in empty stadiums against the Michigans of the world.

You are correct, many of us have been here a long time. I sat through the whippings from Miami and VT. I also parked in the yellow lot and my tickets cost (I think) 25 bucks each. Today I park in the Purple lot and pay 55 bucks a ticket, plus $150 each for privilege of buying the ticket. It was a lot easier to eat tickets (and I ate an awful lot of them) back in the day than it is now at $55. At some point, for some people, there is a cost/benefit analysis that goes on. I will be interested to see what the net effect is to season tickets if there is no change made.

 

[ru8081]

I don't understand this next year stuff. If they don't can him this year he will finish his entire contract. What is so special about next year?

 

[Raritan83]

Come on. It's really not that bad going forward.
QB - We've certainly seen QB's struggle in their early years before, only to complete their career's as our all-time best. We have a decent backup by all accounts as well (this is something we have not had in years). And then we have A Russo coming in next year too.

OL - Is getting better. Michigan's D is #1 against the run and we did better than most. Pass protection is a work in progress.

DB - These guys are running the gauntlet now but several of them will be NFL bound when they leave.

If we have a decent backup why hasn't he seen the field in meaningful minutes as our starter hasn't led a TD drive in 3 games? To me coaches need to try something to win? To me, even if we have talent if the coaches don't know what to do with it or are afraid to try something new to win, the future is dark until there is a new regime.

 

[rufullerton]

Why limit to next year? Might as well suck it up till his contract is up. After all, what possibly can go more wrong? It's not like we sucking is foreign to us. In that regard, Flood is perfect for RU because he sucks. So what if our games are unwatchable. We can't afford a top tier coach so let's just get blown out and beat the snot out of the likes of Kansas and Norfork State and consider ourselves the "sleeping giant" in the biggest media capital of the world, in the most prestigious conference in the US of A, while pounding our chest as THE birthplace of college freakin' Football yo!.

 

[suggakane]

We could actually do worse next season. Actually, under Flood, we WILL do as bad, or worse, next season. There is no doubt in my mind. Tougher schedule and just not much talent on this roster. Bottom line.

You are probably right, we will do as bad or worse. When we got in the Big all the experts said it would take us 5 - 10 yrs to get up to speed in facilities, coaching, recruiting, fund raising. Might even take longer, after all we will be catching up to schools that have had decades of a head start on us. My advice... tighten your chin strap and prepare to take your medicine... we are going to suck for a while..doesn't mean you can't still have a good time at the tailgate, just means we're not going to win any titles real soon..If your expectations are way higher than this you are not going to be a happy camper.

 

[cRURah]

Flood supporters and reality are so far apart it's not even funny.

BTW, for comparison, TCU lost half their defense to injuries before the season even started. They were forced to play freshmen - NOT JUST THE SECONDARY BUT EVERYWHERE. How are they doing?

There's always a dam excuse when it comes to Flood.

And 3 or 4 of Wisconsin's starting OL are RS frosh. But our guys need 5 years to develop. No excuses just results!

 

[rutgersdave]

You want we should run around stomping our feet and crying out "not fair" too? The overwhelming majority of people here agree that the coach ain't great. What I don't understand is a "fan" that repeats the same over-wrought negatives over and over and over ad nauseam. That horse isn't just dead; the corpse has been beaten to a pulp, ground into dust and then further beaten into nano-particles.

Some people have lives outside RU football. When a game or even a season is going poorly, I have a dozen other things in my life to focus on. At any given time, at least three-quarters of those things are going great. Not to mention that RU home games are not just about the game for me. It's a chance to spend time having great fun with friends.

A little balance and perspective in life makes things like bad RU football seasons and bad coaching seem pretty insignificant. You should try it.

I agree with your post. I pretty much don't watch Rutgers football anymore especially against any of the good teams. I watch a rerun if we play close. I can not take the excessive crying about the same thing over and over. However, I stopped being a season ticket holder after 10 years. I understand paying for season tickets and feeling ripped off, I guess I would be pissed off and post again and again.

I know Flood might not be fired at the end of the season but he will definitely be fired next season. 5,000 less tickets in 2016 and 15,000 less in 2017. There was a reason Schiano was paid well and the AD listened to him, 15,000 tickets sold equals about 12 million in revenue.

 

[RU31trap]

First let me say that Flood will be here until 2017. At that point in time it will
be up to the new RU President to sit down with the new AD to decide whether or not Flood stays or goes.

I do have a hypothetical question. If Mr. Delany approached Mr. Swoffard (sp) and wanted to switch BC to B10 for Rutgers to the ACC and they both agreed do the schools have a say?

 

[ru8081]

There are alot of people that donate and invest alot more money to this program than I do. If Flood is retained they should hire attorneys and sue for consumer fraud.

 

[suggakane]

First let me say that Flood will be here until 2017. At that point in time it will
be up to the new RU President to sit down with the new AD to decide whether or not Flood stays or goes.

I do have a hypothetical question. If Mr. Delany approached Mr. Swoffard (sp) and wanted to switch BC to B10 for Rutgers to the ACC and they both agreed do the schools have a say?

say that again?

 

[S.B. Crumb]

First let me say that Flood will be here until 2017.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

You are probably right, we will do as bad or worse. When we got in the Big all the experts said it would take us 5 - 10 yrs to get up to speed in facilities, coaching, recruiting, fund raising. Might even take longer, after all we will be catching up to schools that have had decades of a head start on us. My advice... tighten your chin strap and prepare to take your medicine... we are going to suck for a while..doesn't mean you can't still have a good time at the tailgate, just means we're not going to win any titles real soon..If your expectations are way higher than this you are not going to be a happy camper.

My "expectations" were as follows:

- recruiting not GET WORSE with the words "Big Ten" in our recruiting repetoire (it has)

- off field incidents not GET WORSE (they have)

- our coach not be an stubborn IDIOT (he is)

- our coach LISTEN when people tell him not to do things (he doesn't)

- our team to be competetive, despite graduation, academic, transfer, and "other" losses, that EVERY other team faces. Maryland got riddled by graduation, et al, but you don't see them looking completely lost out on the field of play. Actually, they've been much more competitive than we have, vs the big boys on the block (they aren't)

We shouldn't be THIS bad, however, our moron of a HC - a guy who can't recruit his own state to save his life - is leading us down the wrong path and some of us have been saying it for 2 years now. Glad most have finally come to see the light.

 

[mildone]

You guys keep bringing up Anthony Russo as the savior of the QB position for Rutgers football. Maybe he will, I don't know. But understand that Hayden Rettig was a more decorated HS QB than Russo and he is currently sitting on the bench.

Who said he would be the savior? Don't put words into people's mouths. A potential bright spot is what I said and I don't think the other guy said much more than that. Savior is what you said.

 

[mildone]

last year = one of the feel good stories within the Big10.

this year = lowly Rutgers can't do anything right because Rutgers.

The rest of the country didn't form any kind positive perspective on the RU football program last season. Was more like surprise that we didn't have the kind of season they expected us to have, like the one we're having this year.

Until we start regularly beating some elite teams, national perception of RU is going to mostly be "who"?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Who said he would be the savior? Don't put words into people's mouths. A potential bright spot is what I said and I don't think the other guy said much more than that. Savior is what you said.

Mildone - no doubt some here pretty much have more-or-less said as much due to his showing at the Elite 11.

 

[suggakane]

Nuts, As reasonable as your expectations were, things didn't pan out that way and you don't sound like a happy camper. I don't disagree with you. My advice is only meant to make it easier to deal with the reality. And I do think progress will be long term and slow. Why? I've been watching since 68 and that's what it's been.