My only point is that if Tony is not on the hot seat, and if the AD is not looking for greener pastures, this tweet has caused / is causing / will cause needless angst, especially within the department.

Seriously, this season ranks right up there with Tony's greatest coaching jobs. While this weekend's road trip resulted in two losses, geez, they were close. They have a winning season, have a bye, and can still finish as high as 3, and no worse than 5. They can beat anyone in the CAA tourney. This has all happened frequently during Tony's tenure. This wasn't happening before him, except on rare once in a decade exceptions.

As for this no ticket to the Dance thing, we're going to hang on Tony the miss on the front end of a one and one up 6, or the Hofstra OT semi-final win the year after that left the gas tank empty against NU?

I'd like to think that we're brighter than that.

I was actually extremely encouraged by this tweet. The way I see it, Huge has made her objective about progressing the program made in wide enough circles that it got to whoever runs that Twitter. They probably jumped to the conclusion that included firing Tony because they aren't very familiar with the program. I really doubt Tony is gonna put a lot of stock in internet rumors and if he's worried I'm sure Huge would be more than willing to talk to him.

For me the major takeaway is that Huge's ambitions are becoming known to the college sports world.

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(02-18-2018 06:54 PM)nj alum Wrote:  My only point is that if Tony is not on the hot seat, and if the AD is not looking for greener pastures, this tweet has caused / is causing / will cause needless angst, especially within the department.

It's a non story. It shouldn't cause angst at all. It's a opinion post by someone, I'm guessing, has no tangible impact on the program.

It sounds like it was written by a person looking for "click bait". If that's how you make your money (click throughs), then you say stuff that will arouse controversy.

Otherwise, it sounds like BS...

If we’re “moving up” what conference would we go to?

Hate to say it, but it's hard to imagine anything about William & Mary sports will ever be "click bait" outside a 100 meter radius of the campus. Or inside, for that matter.

(02-18-2018 09:49 PM)Blow Gym rat Wrote:  Hate to say it, but it's hard to imagine anything about William & Mary sports will ever be "click bait" outside a 100 meter radius of the campus. Or inside, for that matter.

I was just thinking the same thing. Tribeathletics tweets are lucky to reach 50 likes and 10 retweets.

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Apparently, our tweeter is not a "knowledgeable" person.

Going back to the original tiers, Mihalich has had a good couple of weeks. Skerry not so much but it seems to me he signed an extension just before the season started.

Elon may have a decision to make barring a tourney run.

(02-18-2018 10:14 PM)billymac Wrote:  Apparently, our tweeter is not a "knowledgeable" person.

Speculation or do you know something here? The Sergeant Schultz avatar did not inspire confidence.

(02-18-2018 06:14 PM)Tribe32 Wrote:  I've talked to Huge twice and have seen her speak several times. She says the same thing over an over again. She starts by saying that we will provide a great academic and athletic experience for our athletes, but she closes by saying "and we will win championships". I think she means it, and she's Laycock's boss too. I think everyone is fair game.

With all due respect, I'm confident Laycock has enough donors and support behind him that he is not going anywhere before he is ready. Especially not at the whim of an AD who will be moved on to another job within the next five years.

This seems like a random baseless tweet, but anyone looking to fire Shaver, who's done an incredible job with no resources, is out of their damn minds. With the resources we give to the program, he has given WM 10x what it deserved over the last decade. The chances we got a successor who could match Shaver, let alone outperform him, at our level of funding are extremely slim. And he's an outstanding person and top-notch ambassador to our school who runs a high-character program on top of it.

Seriously if the football program is allowed to continue to languish, I don't think anyone is going after Shaver...

This discussion is overtly fixated on a totally spurious tweet by some unknown "expert". Tony Shaver is solid in his position at W&M and has at least three years to go on his current contract if it hasn't been extended since signing the current one two years ago.

I am not suggesting that anyone should be fired, but it is were up to me, Laycock would go before Tony.

Neither should be gone. Let's face it, if Laycock doesn't get the football team turned around in the next couple of years, he will probably retire.

The Tribe will not get a better coach then Tony if they fire him, unless they just get really lucky. I'd rather stick with the guy who has us on the cusp of where we want to go. We are consistently recruiting better players. With a little more athleticism on the wings, we will be better defensively.

I am really encouraged with where the program is now. I just hope we win our next two and keep it going at the tournament.

Go Tribe!

(02-18-2018 10:47 PM)zablenoise Wrote:  

(02-18-2018 10:14 PM)billymac Wrote:  Apparently, our tweeter is not a "knowledgeable" person.

Speculation or do you know something here? The Sergeant Schultz avatar did not inspire confidence.

No, not at all. This is the type thing that is generally tweeted, or leaked, to try to stir things up, usually by someone with an axe to grind.

I'm all for Ms Huge putting more pressure on the Athletic Department folks to upgrade their performances, but as for firing Tony, I'm not sure where that is coming from.

So, no insider knowledge, just sitting back watching, with interest, to see what the new AD has on her list of improvements.

We have hovered around being one of the better offenses in the country the last few years. This is due, a great bit, to Shaver's offensive system and recruiting knock down shooters almost exclusively. You can teach defense until you are blue in the face. The reality is you need to recruit athletic, willing defenders that are capable of matching up man v man. This may come at the expense of losing some perimeter shooting. You either have that dog or you don't. You can teach defensive techniques, but you can't teach someone to be a dog. Currently, we are forced to rely on zones & team defense. Team defense is great when all 5 parts are working. Any piece fails and the defense fails. Shaver isn't dumb. Shaver came from the Dean Smith tree where defense is stressed. Coaches know that their influx of offense has come at the expense of the defense. I think recent recruits are attempting a more balanced team. Loewe, Williams, Audige, & Blair strike me as more effective willing defenders. We just need my defensive bruiser inside.

I am not sure that any tweet even deserves any oxygen at all. The reality of things right now are that the CAA is a one possession league this year. Many, many of the games have gone into overtime and a significant number of others are decided by 5 points or less. Now that Delaware got Daly back, there isn't a weak team in the league. Every year for the last 10+, there have been at least 5-6 legitimate contenders to the tournament crown. Unless the P5 schools change the criteria to let more mid majors into the dance as an at large candidate, the NCAA comes down to 3-4 days in March. Shaver has won more conference tournament games any other program in the last 10 years. No one, other than UNCW(the last 2 years), has won more than 1 tournament title. It is a very balanced tough league. Also, the team has not finished in the bottom of the league since McDowell's senior year. The last 5 years we have been a contender and have been to the semifinals 4 years in a row. No other school has done that either. So, ultimately then, this comes down to not winning the tournament. 4 trips to the finals was 4 more than we had in the 20+ years prior. It sounds like someone would rather we were JMU(1 tourney win and multiple years of awful or Delaware(same). It is not how things work. Each year is its own entity and we have had consistent success.

I wish that we would win a few more games too. But, if you told me we would be 9-7 and have 16 wins back in October after losing Daniel, Omar, Jack, Michael and Greg, I would have asked you to be drug tested. Charleston is the favorite and they have done nothing to lose that spot. We have as much chance really as any of the other 9 teams. Charleston has exactly zero championships since they joined the league too. Hofstra has zero, Towson has zero, and Northeastern has 1(2015). These are the other top 5 teams this year. Be positive, give the team great energy this week and in Charleston and see what happens. Plus, next year looks bright too, especially if we get another inside player to go with Nathan. But, Connor, David, Oliver and Cole all still have a real shot this year to go out as winners. Even if we don't win, they had 4 straight years of over .500, top half finishes in the conference every year. How many times did that happen in Tribe history? Once (2014-2017). Again essentially the same run we are on now.

Maybe some of you would rather be Auburn(success but with a coach who is a known rule violater). I personally would not. There will be no greater moment in Tribe sports as a fan for me than when we win that first title. But, it totally pales to what it will mean for the players and the coaches. They totally deserve it for all the work they put in. And as long as Coach Shaver is our coach, it will mean something to all the guys that played for him when it happens.

Sorry, one correction. VCU and ODU both won 2 championships each before they left the conference 6 years ago. UNCW represents the only current conference member with multiple titles.

(02-19-2018 11:53 AM)TribePride91 Wrote:  I am not sure that any tweet even deserves any oxygen at all. The reality of things right now are that the CAA is a one possession league this year. Many, many of the games have gone into overtime and a significant number of others are decided by 5 points or less. Now that Delaware got Daly back, there isn't a weak team in the league. Every year for the last 10+, there have been at least 5-6 legitimate contenders to the tournament crown. Unless the P5 schools change the criteria to let more mid majors into the dance as an at large candidate, the NCAA comes down to 3-4 days in March. Shaver has won more conference tournament games any other program in the last 10 years. No one, other than UNCW(the last 2 years), has won more than 1 tournament title. It is a very balanced tough league. Also, the team has not finished in the bottom of the league since McDowell's senior year. The last 5 years we have been a contender and have been to the semifinals 4 years in a row. No other school has done that either. So, ultimately then, this comes down to not winning the tournament. 4 trips to the finals was 4 more than we had in the 20+ years prior. It sounds like someone would rather we were JMU(1 tourney win and multiple years of awful or Delaware(same). It is not how things work. Each year is its own entity and we have had consistent success.

I wish that we would win a few more games too. But, if you told me we would be 9-7 and have 16 wins back in October after losing Daniel, Omar, Jack, Michael and Greg, I would have asked you to be drug tested. Charleston is the favorite and they have done nothing to lose that spot. We have as much chance really as any of the other 9 teams. Charleston has exactly zero championships since they joined the league too. Hofstra has zero, Towson has zero, and Northeastern has 1(2015). These are the other top 5 teams this year. Be positive, give the team great energy this week and in Charleston and see what happens. Plus, next year looks bright too, especially if we get another inside player to go with Nathan. But, Connor, David, Oliver and Cole all still have a real shot this year to go out as winners. Even if we don't win, they had 4 straight years of over .500, top half finishes in the conference every year. How many times did that happen in Tribe history? Once (2014-2017). Again essentially the same run we are on now.

Maybe some of you would rather be Auburn(success but with a coach who is a known rule violater). I personally would not. There will be no greater moment in Tribe sports as a fan for me than when we win that first title. But, it totally pales to what it will mean for the players and the coaches. They totally deserve it for all the work they put in. And as long as Coach Shaver is our coach, it will mean something to all the guys that played for him when it happens.

Absolutely wonderful post, 91. After reading your comments, I am ready to start packing for Charleston now. Everyone posts, and perhaps rightfully so, about what a daunting task it will be for us to win 3 straight in Charleston. I choose to look at it as our needing 3 one game winning streaks. The one thing that none of us ever seem to count on is that maybe Lady Luck will finally smile on us a little bit on our journey towards cutting down the nets. Not once during our 4 trips to the championship game in the last decade have we ever benefitted from another team's upset loss greasing our path. All 13 games in those 4 tourney runs have had us pitted against the team that we were bracketed to play. The closest thing that we have had go in our favor in any of those 4 years was during the second run in 2010 when, on the last Saturday of the regular season, some miraculous games occurred that allowed us to wind up a 3 seed and in the opposite bracket from odu, vcu, and mason.

If ever there is a year where a 1 or 2 seed can be knocked off in the quarterfinals by a Saturday winner, I think that it is this year. Maybe the Tribe benefits from this. And for all who think that we will be doomed the first time that we have to play a team that whipped up on us in the regular season, look no further back than championship run number 3; a quarterfinal win over a Charleston team that beat us by about 40 in our previous matchup, a semifinal win over a Towson team that beat up on us twice, and the excruciating championship game loss to a Delaware team that had also beat us twice. And while I still allow losses to bother me for too long, I am heartened by how close we came to winning our road games at Towson, Charleston, Hofstra, and Northeastern, games that we did not come close to playing as good as we can.

Already got my poster ready for Charleston. "4 no more". Dreaming is good for the soul.

Let's face it, if any of us were expecting a sure thing, we wouldn't be Tribe fans, at least not for very long.

Being a Tribe fan is all about cheering against the odds and always expecting the unexpected.

I agree that tournaments should be taken one game at a time.

Now that we know we don't play until Sunday, I just want to make it to Monday. Only then will I think about making it to Tuesday.

I want a championship for Glover, too. I apologize for omitting him. I wish I could come out this weekend to honor the seniors, but I am 4 hours away with other commitments this weekend. But, I will be in Charleston with several others. Consider going if you are on the fence. I do recognize the inconvenience of a Sunday through Wednesday(Travel) tournament. But, it is fun rooting with a large contingent of Tribe fans. We definitely had the 3rd most fans last year(after Charleston and UNCW). I expect nearly all the games to be massively entertaining and both Charleston and N. Charleston have lots of great places to see, dine and drink. My group has not bought the tournament package because we plan not to see every game. Would love to buy individual session tickets through the Tribe office, but I guess that is not possible. Don't blame anyone for the way they do it, and we will be purchasing as soon as we know if we are the last Sunday game or the 230 Sunday game.

Next year, I'll probably buy the tournament book because I will have less people coming with me.

I know our history(for pretty much all Tribe Athletics since 1987). Tony and the staff have given us hope as fans. We never had that when I attended. All the guys tried, but we just didn't have a real chance.