Post by fmrhoya on Nov 7, 2004 13:37:55 GMT -5
This is getting absolutely rediculous. I still get annoyed about the student body's complaints that the team isn't any good, but its gotten to the point where you cant blame them anymore.
3 years ago, we played Lehigh in our first PL game, and despite the lopsided score, the game was just a few big plays away from being somewhat respectable. But more imporantly, there was also a feeling in the team room that we had a decent shot to beat them if everything went right. The year before that we should have beaten Fordham and Holy Cross and had a real shot to beat Bucknell, and the future looked very promising for GU football. The thing about it was that no one was satisfied with a close loss against a PL team. Our attitudes were totally different. Prior to that beating HC was expected.
My how times have changed. Having played for Benson, I think that he is a good guy and means well, and I can certainly sympathize with what hes gone through, and cannot imagine what that has been like.
However, the current methods of the staff are not working. The students who claim that they've seen better players in high school simply dont know what they're talking about. Unless we have an undergrad student body of 6600 kids from De La Salle, this simply isnt the case. There are 100 damn good football players on this roster and the same thing is happening this year as it has for the past 4. Freshman and Sophomores are playing before they are ready, and when they are Juniors and Seniors and are ready to produce, they will be benched in favor of younger talent. This leads to having older kids who should be assuming leadership roles, who are Editeded off because they are getting screwed.
In the recent past, politics has played a role in alot of decisions, who plays, who doesnt, etc. And with that there is not the sense of loyalty from the players towards the program that there was in the late 90's. The thing that is most bothersome, is how everyone in the program except for about 5 people, get treated like crap. I did not quit, but there was a sense of relief with me and most of my class when the last game was over with. That is not the way it should be. When you talk to people who played at other PL or Ivy League schools, their stories are much different than those of recent GU fball alums.
There are 100 people busting their ass 30 hours a week to win football games and build the program up, get on them on the field, but make it enjoyable also. I'm all for working hard and getting after it in the weight room and on the field, but you dont have to mess with your players heads either.
The effects of this type of atmosphere is showing itself on Saturdays. There is no way that the players we have can't compete with the upper eschelon PL teams. GU has the name, location, and resources to get top quality kids. In the MAAC days, we had good players who enjoyed football and would run through walls to win. Now we have very good players, but something is missing.
I have to blame the coaching staff, they are not getting what they need to out of them. Something has to change, and I like Coach as a person. He is also a great recruiter and a very very good defensive coordinator. However, I think the motivation tactics have to change drastically. To the people who now are like 29, 30, it isnt the same program it was when you were there, I understand your loyalty, but whats going on in the teamroom in McDonough doesn't resemble what brought us success in the first place. Either we need to change our ways or our leadership.
3 years ago, we played Lehigh in our first PL game, and despite the lopsided score, the game was just a few big plays away from being somewhat respectable. But more imporantly, there was also a feeling in the team room that we had a decent shot to beat them if everything went right. The year before that we should have beaten Fordham and Holy Cross and had a real shot to beat Bucknell, and the future looked very promising for GU football. The thing about it was that no one was satisfied with a close loss against a PL team. Our attitudes were totally different. Prior to that beating HC was expected.
My how times have changed. Having played for Benson, I think that he is a good guy and means well, and I can certainly sympathize with what hes gone through, and cannot imagine what that has been like.
However, the current methods of the staff are not working. The students who claim that they've seen better players in high school simply dont know what they're talking about. Unless we have an undergrad student body of 6600 kids from De La Salle, this simply isnt the case. There are 100 damn good football players on this roster and the same thing is happening this year as it has for the past 4. Freshman and Sophomores are playing before they are ready, and when they are Juniors and Seniors and are ready to produce, they will be benched in favor of younger talent. This leads to having older kids who should be assuming leadership roles, who are Editeded off because they are getting screwed.
In the recent past, politics has played a role in alot of decisions, who plays, who doesnt, etc. And with that there is not the sense of loyalty from the players towards the program that there was in the late 90's. The thing that is most bothersome, is how everyone in the program except for about 5 people, get treated like crap. I did not quit, but there was a sense of relief with me and most of my class when the last game was over with. That is not the way it should be. When you talk to people who played at other PL or Ivy League schools, their stories are much different than those of recent GU fball alums.
There are 100 people busting their ass 30 hours a week to win football games and build the program up, get on them on the field, but make it enjoyable also. I'm all for working hard and getting after it in the weight room and on the field, but you dont have to mess with your players heads either.
The effects of this type of atmosphere is showing itself on Saturdays. There is no way that the players we have can't compete with the upper eschelon PL teams. GU has the name, location, and resources to get top quality kids. In the MAAC days, we had good players who enjoyed football and would run through walls to win. Now we have very good players, but something is missing.
I have to blame the coaching staff, they are not getting what they need to out of them. Something has to change, and I like Coach as a person. He is also a great recruiter and a very very good defensive coordinator. However, I think the motivation tactics have to change drastically. To the people who now are like 29, 30, it isnt the same program it was when you were there, I understand your loyalty, but whats going on in the teamroom in McDonough doesn't resemble what brought us success in the first place. Either we need to change our ways or our leadership.
