+- CSNbbs (https://csnbbs.com)
+-- Forum: Active Boards (/forum-769.html)
+--- Forum: SunBeltbbs (/forum-317.html)
+---- Forum: Sun Belt East Team Talk (/forum-289.html)
+----- Forum: James Madison (/forum-685.html)
+----- Thread: Coaching progression for football (/thread-837808.html)
Coaching progression for football - Duke Dawg - 12-20-2017 11:11 AM
I've got to say, Bourne/King, et al, get ripped often on here.
but IMO, they have made 3 straight near perfect hires and each coach brought something to this program that contributed massively to where it is today.
Matthews - he took a strong regional program and made us nationally relevant by refusing to confirm to the Valley norms and instead hold firm in his beliefs as to what JMU could do and how to get there. Us old-timers remember his first press conference where he said you can win national titles at JMU. He was right. He got us the first and the program was forever changed. Many on here owe their purple and gold fandom to those early to mid 2000's. His success created JMU Nation.
Withers - for as much as he gets ripped, he brought us to the modern era. The program had gone stale the previous few years and he was the shot in the arm we needed. He added the "juice". not just in style of play, the way he recruited using social media but also by creating the Alpha Dogs. His contributions are going unnoticed by some. But for all his faults, he has helped us tremendously.
Houston - goes without saying, he is the hire to bring all the pieces laid out by the previous regimes and put them together and truly make us the sustained national power we've always known we can and should be. One title in the books, close to a second, and i'm sure NO ONE here thinks this is the end. We will be back again. And again. And again.....
IMO, we've gone 3 for 3 with the last 3 hires. The right guys at the right time and just what the program needed.
RE: Coaching progression for football - JMad03 - 12-20-2017 12:24 PM
I believe Bourne really thought he was getting a strong defensive minded coach in Withers and was sold fools gold. Things were only going to get worse for Withers and I truly think he knew it, which is why he bailed when he did. The defense was only getting worse, but more importantly he was burning bridges in recruiting. Thankfully, Houston was able to mend those bridges.
The things that Withers did was bring excitement back to JMU football and the swagger. Withers talked a lot about "juice".
One thing that Houston said at Monday's presser which I think was a slight jab at the previous staff was regarding buying into what people were saying about the team and he said "Don't drink the juice".
Bourne dodged a bullet, but seems to have learned from his mistake by appreciating how special Houston is as a coach and not trying to be cute about it.
RE: Coaching progression for football - 2Buck - 12-20-2017 02:03 PM
I've never complained about King, I think the guy is extremely capable and accomplished. He just works within the parameters set for him. I think Bourne has his strengths and his heart is in the right place, but in my opinion as an "FCS mid-major AD" he's reached his ceiling. From an athletics perspective, my issue is the guy that has set the limited regional vision and scope in which they can work. JMU has made very little progress towards a national university (athletically and academically) since I left over 2 decades ago. Facilities, great. Enrollment size, great. Undergrad programs, great. But we need an Uncle Ron Jr (or Uncle Ronette Jr) visionary to fulfill our potential. King for sure, and Bourne in a supporting role (maybe leading alumni engagement/donations), could have sufficed in such a journey.
As far as football though, I don't think the influence of the Alpha Dogs (and their precursor, whatever that was) can be understated. Look at just about every other men's sport without that outside influence, and the coaching hires have been far less inspired and successful.
Hopefully this lesson in the importance of investing in the right head coach carries forward in the future for all sports, but especially revenue sports.
RE: Coaching progression for football - JMUNation - 12-24-2017 10:21 AM
(12-20-2017 11:11 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote: I've got to say, Bourne/King, et al, get ripped often on here.
but IMO, they have made 3 straight near perfect hires and each coach brought something to this program that contributed massively to where it is today.
Matthews - he took a strong regional program and made us nationally relevant by refusing to confirm to the Valley norms and instead hold firm in his beliefs as to what JMU could do and how to get there. Us old-timers remember his first press conference where he said you can win national titles at JMU. He was right. He got us the first and the program was forever changed. Many on here owe their purple and gold fandom to those early to mid 2000's. His success created JMU Nation.
Withers - for as much as he gets ripped, he brought us to the modern era. The program had gone stale the previous few years and he was the shot in the arm we needed. He added the "juice". not just in style of play, the way he recruited using social media but also by creating the Alpha Dogs. His contributions are going unnoticed by some. But for all his faults, he has helped us tremendously.
Houston - goes without saying, he is the hire to bring all the pieces laid out by the previous regimes and put them together and truly make us the sustained national power we've always known we can and should be. One title in the books, close to a second, and i'm sure NO ONE here thinks this is the end. We will be back again. And again. And again.....
IMO, we've gone 3 for 3 with the last 3 hires. The right guys at the right time and just what the program needed.
Well said and spot on.
