I really like the way Ash talks about changing the culture and how the culture will be more important than anything else that happens here at Rutgers. I compare that with another franchise like Carolina Panthers. They were a mess a few years ago, but then they established and strong culture. Now they are 15-1. I am not sure if we can replicate that degree of success, but I think we have close to that success, I think we will all be extremely happy.
The talk about culture
- Thread starter rurahrah000
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Ash gets it. Anyone who has played team sports understands what he is talking about and would agree.
The best teams all share that in common. Strong, positive culture. It comes before anything.
The best teams all share that in common. Strong, positive culture. It comes before anything.
I'll take a shot, team above personal goals. I don't think our players have put their own success above the team. Not recently anyway.
But, I believe there is another level to this. In team sports, you play for the guy next to you, you do your job to the absolute best of your ability, or someone gets stuck trying to cover your job. I am hopeful that the current players buy into the passion and optimism that I see coming from this staff.
In 1980, Herb Brooks put together a team of hockey players. To a man, they were not the most skilled players in college hockey (though they were each talented.) What Brooks wanted was players of character; pieces to a puzzle and guys that he could push harder than all the others.
If we can replicate that, I think we will be happy with the results on the field.
I don't think for one second that last year's distractions did not show on the field; time to move forward and change our culture. Oh, and as fans, we have to do our part too. I will try to be more positive, but I also recognize dealing with frustration is not my strongest suit. LOL.
It's the corrosive negativity and inferiority complex that informs and defines the fan base, media and NJ that leaches into the football program. It will take strong leadership by Ash to row ( sorry PJ Fleck) against those currents. He also needs better football players, lots of them.
Not the point. How can we define that? We're not on the team, in the locker room, in the film room, in the weight room. If HCCA has a vision for a winning culture at RU, it should be welcomed and supported by all. Anyone who has heard him speak, or his former players speak about him, or Urban speak about him, should be excited about positive change and accountability.
I agree 100%. I know it's not all that popular, but the nj.com site had an article about the new staff, and I have to say the more I hear about Kenny Parker, the more I LOVE this hire.
Quick synopsis, he's not just a strength and conditioning coach, he wants to get kids ready for LIFE; being judge on who they are 10 years down the road. He also said, about workouts, I'm going to back them into a corner to see where they are going to go; more "fight or flight". Pushing players is easy, getting them to respond is the tricky part, and I think this staff will develop those that want to get better. We can't ask for more than that right now.
I've competed in individual sports at very high levels. In individual sports the things that matter most is talent, experience, confidence, tenacity and finances. Yes, in team sports culture is important but it's not taught or mandated it earned and cultivated from success. I believe that Chris Ash is sincere about changing the culture here at Rutgers, but to do so he will need to start winning football games.
Rutgers Culture?
It is disenfranchise from the student body to Alums
case in point look at Rutgers endowments lowest for a school 250 years old.
The same can be said of our alum support only in this century has it even registered a blip off of dead zero.
We have close to 1/2 million alums and we can not get 10% to a FB game.
When we hired JH I really thought we would bootstrap some of the Olympic sports that in turn boost the power sports into being a destination rather then a safety school.
Last century we were a safety school for all Ivy aspiring students, so when they did not get in they came here in despair. In athletics you could say the same thing ND, USC,UCLA, Miami, OSU all name school would cherry pick this state, if you did not get picked you ended up at ole RU, or some other school in the north east.
The Rutgers culture is self defecating. Ash is lucky that he only has to deal with about 100 people. Our university culture hopefully will follow Ash's lead. Which will only happen in he wins, and his vision/culture permeates the rest of the student body.
The table is set with being in the B1G, new AD, new HC, new century, all we need is a new world order belief it can change and we may just do it.
It is disenfranchise from the student body to Alums
case in point look at Rutgers endowments lowest for a school 250 years old.
The same can be said of our alum support only in this century has it even registered a blip off of dead zero.
We have close to 1/2 million alums and we can not get 10% to a FB game.
When we hired JH I really thought we would bootstrap some of the Olympic sports that in turn boost the power sports into being a destination rather then a safety school.
Last century we were a safety school for all Ivy aspiring students, so when they did not get in they came here in despair. In athletics you could say the same thing ND, USC,UCLA, Miami, OSU all name school would cherry pick this state, if you did not get picked you ended up at ole RU, or some other school in the north east.
The Rutgers culture is self defecating. Ash is lucky that he only has to deal with about 100 people. Our university culture hopefully will follow Ash's lead. Which will only happen in he wins, and his vision/culture permeates the rest of the student body.
The table is set with being in the B1G, new AD, new HC, new century, all we need is a new world order belief it can change and we may just do it.
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Well said. The culture change must extend beyond the football team. It must permeate the state and have an effect on the perception of RU as held by both elite students and athletes around the state. I taught for40 years in a very good high school in Monmouth county and our elite students were expecting the ivy league and those who did not get there rarely considered RU an alternative. It was a rare occasion to even see an RU sweatshirt.
Let's be realistic: Coach Ash is focusing on the culture of his program, on football. To expect him to tackle the bigger cultural issue of RU and the shadow it casts across the state of NJ is kind of absurd. That said, his program's success can bring some much needed positive energy to the school. But first things first. Please.
I do not believe either of us were suggesting he can consciously address this particular issue. All he can do is address the football team and possibly the HS football, via the coaches, in NJ. However, I do believe that the overall impression of RU across the state must also change in order for this program to truly "fence e garden". Part of that Chang can in a small way start with us, the alumni, who can be more visibly proud of our state school and let people know it. I am starting to see more block R's on cars and RU flags outside homes but a lot has to change to really change the culture. IMHO
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