(11-10-2019 12:57 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(11-10-2019 07:24 AM)Potomac Wrote:  How many games does ECU have to lose before the five fans still following Houston religiously stop bumping this thread to remind us of that?

How many times will people indicate they have no interest in Houston continue to open the thread and comment on it.

Well played State Farm, well played

I think it's interesting to see how he does at ECU. Don't really see a problem with the thread. I think this year is a mulligan for him TBH. They do not have a lot of talent at key positions. Bob Trott didn't just forget how to coach defense all of the sudden.

Speaking of obsessions with former head coaches. Did anyone realize Alex Wood has been an assistant coach at Delaware the past two seasons? Their QB/WR coach. That explains it all. haha

He was also the Head Coach at Florida A&M from 2015-2017 and probably contributed to the current APR postseason ban that FAMU is experiencing. Not 100% sure there.

ECU defeated UConn.

(11-27-2019 07:28 PM)Jeremyboz Wrote:  ECU defeated UConn.

Thats like saying JMU defeated Coppin State ... oh wait

(11-27-2019 11:05 AM)Potomac Wrote:  Speaking of obsessions with former head coaches. Did anyone realize Alex Wood has been an assistant coach at Delaware the past two seasons? Their QB/WR coach. That explains it all. haha

He was also the Head Coach at Florida A&M from 2015-2017 and probably contributed to the current APR postseason ban that FAMU is experiencing. Not 100% sure there.

Alex Wood the best coach of all time. I hear Ron Prince is coming to coach the o-line at Delaware after enlightening the Howard team. It's a reunion of the two worst coaches of all time at JMU. 78 what say you?

ECU is really sad. Looks like they will finish 4-8/1-7. I just don't think Mikey is going to get it done down there.

(11-27-2019 09:05 PM)Purple Wrote:  ECU is really sad. Looks like they will finish 4-8/1-7. I just don't think Mikey is going to get it done down there.

I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

(11-27-2019 09:22 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:05 PM)Purple Wrote:  ECU is really sad. Looks like they will finish 4-8/1-7. I just don't think Mikey is going to get it done down there.

I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

(11-27-2019 09:35 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:22 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:05 PM)Purple Wrote:  ECU is really sad. Looks like they will finish 4-8/1-7. I just don't think Mikey is going to get it done down there.

I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

(11-27-2019 10:44 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:35 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:22 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:05 PM)Purple Wrote:  ECU is really sad. Looks like they will finish 4-8/1-7. I just don't think Mikey is going to get it done down there.

I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

A lot of people underestimate the amount of support the Pirates have especially east of I-95 from the VA border down to the SC border. This is their team. I've lived and worked in the area, that's not Tarheel, Wolfpack, or any other school's territory, that's Pirate land. I'm not saying there's tons of cash there, it's not, but they are passionate about ECU football. Comparing this situation to UConn, ODU, or TX State is simply not accurate. UConn has never had support for their football. ODU is way too young and only has support from within the 757. TX State has way too much competition for support of their program and will always be a below.500 team. ECU will come back to life with or without MH and company.

(11-27-2019 11:05 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 10:44 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:35 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:22 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:05 PM)Purple Wrote:  ECU is really sad. Looks like they will finish 4-8/1-7. I just don't think Mikey is going to get it done down there.

I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

A lot of people underestimate the amount of support the Pirates have especially east of I-95 from the VA border down to the SC border. This is their team. I've lived and worked in the area, that's not Tarheel, Wolfpack, or any other school's territory, that's Pirate land. I'm not saying there's tons of cash there, it's not, but they are passionate about ECU football. Comparing this situation to UConn, ODU, or TX State is simply not accurate. UConn has never had support for their football. ODU is way too young and only has support from within the 757. TX State has way too much competition for support of their program and will always be a below.500 team. ECU will come back to life with or without MH and company.

Perhaps. I thought MH would have them above .500 this year and in a minor bowl. Their attendance has suffered big time from what it once was. I *think* things will improve for them next year, but if it doesn’t show up in the W/L column, eventually you start to lose your fanbase and enter a death spiral.

Two prime death spiral examples: JMU basketball and the Redskins. JMU basketball was a real force under Lefty, now not so much. The Redskins were at the very top under Joe Gibbs, and the wait list for season tickets was years deep. Now Redskins tickets can be had for $4 and they still don’t sell.

Once you’ve entered the death spiral, recovery can be very very hard. I’m not sure how close the pirates are to this, or if they are already there. Next year will be an indicator to me.

(11-28-2019 05:48 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 11:05 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 10:44 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:35 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:22 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

A lot of people underestimate the amount of support the Pirates have especially east of I-95 from the VA border down to the SC border. This is their team. I've lived and worked in the area, that's not Tarheel, Wolfpack, or any other school's territory, that's Pirate land. I'm not saying there's tons of cash there, it's not, but they are passionate about ECU football. Comparing this situation to UConn, ODU, or TX State is simply not accurate. UConn has never had support for their football. ODU is way too young and only has support from within the 757. TX State has way too much competition for support of their program and will always be a below.500 team. ECU will come back to life with or without MH and company.

Perhaps. I thought MH would have them above .500 this year and in a minor bowl. Their attendance has suffered big time from what it once was. I *think* things will improve for them next year, but if it doesn’t show up in the W/L column, eventually you start to lose your fanbase and enter a death spiral.

Two prime death spiral examples: JMU basketball and the Redskins. JMU basketball was a real force under Lefty, now not so much. The Redskins were at the very top under Joe Gibbs, and the wait list for season tickets was years deep. Now Redskins tickets can be had for $4 and they still don’t sell.

Once you’ve entered the death spiral, recovery can be very very hard. I’m not sure how close the pirates are to this, or if they are already there. Next year will be an indicator to me.

Thinking MH would bring ECU back from the dead and get the program into a minor bowl in his first season illustrates that you must think MH is a miracle worker. ECU showed it’s responding (in a positive way) to MH and his staff this season, but a HC has to have the players. Look to further improvement (and bowl invites) for ECU in the next two years. ECU FB is far from being in a death spiral ala JMU MBB. The resources are there for one, and MH has won everywhere he’s been.

(11-27-2019 08:58 PM)#20fromalongtimeago Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 11:05 AM)Potomac Wrote:  Speaking of obsessions with former head coaches. Did anyone realize Alex Wood has been an assistant coach at Delaware the past two seasons? Their QB/WR coach. That explains it all. haha

He was also the Head Coach at Florida A&M from 2015-2017 and probably contributed to the current APR postseason ban that FAMU is experiencing. Not 100% sure there.

Alex Wood the best coach of all time. I hear Ron Prince is coming to coach the o-line at Delaware after enlightening the Howard team. It's a reunion of the two worst coaches of all time at JMU. 78 what say you?

Yep, turrible. Wood and Schoolfield more than Prince set the program back 5 years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(11-28-2019 05:48 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 11:05 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 10:44 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:35 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:22 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  I'll try to remember it was you who said this after he has turned them into a winner. And, I will guarantee you he will. He inherited a mess. He will right that ship. Pun intended.

And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

A lot of people underestimate the amount of support the Pirates have especially east of I-95 from the VA border down to the SC border. This is their team. I've lived and worked in the area, that's not Tarheel, Wolfpack, or any other school's territory, that's Pirate land. I'm not saying there's tons of cash there, it's not, but they are passionate about ECU football. Comparing this situation to UConn, ODU, or TX State is simply not accurate. UConn has never had support for their football. ODU is way too young and only has support from within the 757. TX State has way too much competition for support of their program and will always be a below.500 team. ECU will come back to life with or without MH and company.

Perhaps. I thought MH would have them above .500 this year and in a minor bowl. Their attendance has suffered big time from what it once was. I *think* things will improve for them next year, but if it doesn’t show up in the W/L column, eventually you start to lose your fanbase and enter a death spiral.

Two prime death spiral examples: JMU basketball and the Redskins. JMU basketball was a real force under Lefty, now not so much. The Redskins were at the very top under Joe Gibbs, and the wait list for season tickets was years deep. Now Redskins tickets can be had for $4 and they still don’t sell.

Once you’ve entered the death spiral, recovery can be very very hard. I’m not sure how close the pirates are to this, or if they are already there. Next year will be an indicator to me.

I thought they were there the past few years. In 2017, average attendance (actual tickets scanned) was 17,876, about a third of their stadium capacity. I believe it was worse last year. I recall the suicidal atmosphere on their board after they lost to us. They didn't just lose to what they considered an inferior team from the kiddie pool, they were embarrassed, clobbered by three touchdowns.

As you say, it is very much like our basketball program. A losing history takes time to overcome, makes it hard to generate fan support and kills recruiting.

(11-28-2019 06:06 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-28-2019 05:48 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 11:05 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 10:44 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 09:35 PM)Purple Wrote:  And, I will remember your guarantee when ECU is still struggling to reach .500 in four years.... or did Mikey sign a 10-year contract like he did at JMU?

To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

A lot of people underestimate the amount of support the Pirates have especially east of I-95 from the VA border down to the SC border. This is their team. I've lived and worked in the area, that's not Tarheel, Wolfpack, or any other school's territory, that's Pirate land. I'm not saying there's tons of cash there, it's not, but they are passionate about ECU football. Comparing this situation to UConn, ODU, or TX State is simply not accurate. UConn has never had support for their football. ODU is way too young and only has support from within the 757. TX State has way too much competition for support of their program and will always be a below.500 team. ECU will come back to life with or without MH and company.

Perhaps. I thought MH would have them above .500 this year and in a minor bowl. Their attendance has suffered big time from what it once was. I *think* things will improve for them next year, but if it doesn’t show up in the W/L column, eventually you start to lose your fanbase and enter a death spiral.

Two prime death spiral examples: JMU basketball and the Redskins. JMU basketball was a real force under Lefty, now not so much. The Redskins were at the very top under Joe Gibbs, and the wait list for season tickets was years deep. Now Redskins tickets can be had for $4 and they still don’t sell.

Once you’ve entered the death spiral, recovery can be very very hard. I’m not sure how close the pirates are to this, or if they are already there. Next year will be an indicator to me.

Thinking MH would bring ECU back from the dead and get the program into a minor bowl in his first season illustrates that you must think MH is a miracle worker. ECU showed it’s responding (in a positive way) to MH and his staff this season, but a HC has to have the players. Look to further improvement (and bowl invites) for ECU in the next two years. ECU FB is far from being in a death spiral ala JMU MBB. The resources are there for one, and MH has won everywhere he’s been.

No, MH is not a miracle worker. But, a good head coach should come in and make some kind of progress Year One (Cig and Klieman at Kansas St. would be good examples), if nothing more than improve the culture to a winning attitude. Hasn't happened at ECU, apparently. 2019 vs. the past two years, is, at best, no better, and arguably worse.

Houston has enjoyed a very favorable schedule compared to the past two years. He has won four games, two against FCS teams Gardner-Webb and W&M, the other two (close wins) against ODU and UConn. THAT is not a good resume!

However, they played two Top 25 teams, Cincy and SMU tough in close losses. Still, last year, ECU ran both UConn and North Carolina off the field.

Thus, I see no improvement, although the jury is still out.

ECU plays fellow basement-dweller Tulsa at ECU for the season finale on Saturday. Should ECU win, and I hope they do, Houston can claim at least some improvement, even though he was blessed with a favorable schedule. Should ECU lose to Tulsa, it is going to be hard for Houston to convince anyone that the team is headed in a positive direction.

Look at the improvement in our offensive line. Same players, basically. Just a night and day difference. Coaching! I see no signs of such improvement at ECU. My opinion.

(11-28-2019 01:02 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(11-28-2019 06:06 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-28-2019 05:48 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 11:05 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 10:44 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  To be fair, a number of teams that blew their doors off last year were close losses this year. They have shown some improvement in play, interestingly more on offense than defense. Passing game looked good, though their line play and running game did not. Pass protection was ok. They need more talent though, and it could be tough to recruit to a school that has been in the gutter at least 3 or 4 years now.

Next year will be more telling if they can fix it, or will turn into the next UConn/ODU/Texas St type program that stays broken for decades.

A lot of people underestimate the amount of support the Pirates have especially east of I-95 from the VA border down to the SC border. This is their team. I've lived and worked in the area, that's not Tarheel, Wolfpack, or any other school's territory, that's Pirate land. I'm not saying there's tons of cash there, it's not, but they are passionate about ECU football. Comparing this situation to UConn, ODU, or TX State is simply not accurate. UConn has never had support for their football. ODU is way too young and only has support from within the 757. TX State has way too much competition for support of their program and will always be a below.500 team. ECU will come back to life with or without MH and company.

Perhaps. I thought MH would have them above .500 this year and in a minor bowl. Their attendance has suffered big time from what it once was. I *think* things will improve for them next year, but if it doesn’t show up in the W/L column, eventually you start to lose your fanbase and enter a death spiral.

Two prime death spiral examples: JMU basketball and the Redskins. JMU basketball was a real force under Lefty, now not so much. The Redskins were at the very top under Joe Gibbs, and the wait list for season tickets was years deep. Now Redskins tickets can be had for $4 and they still don’t sell.

Once you’ve entered the death spiral, recovery can be very very hard. I’m not sure how close the pirates are to this, or if they are already there. Next year will be an indicator to me.

Thinking MH would bring ECU back from the dead and get the program into a minor bowl in his first season illustrates that you must think MH is a miracle worker. ECU showed it’s responding (in a positive way) to MH and his staff this season, but a HC has to have the players. Look to further improvement (and bowl invites) for ECU in the next two years. ECU FB is far from being in a death spiral ala JMU MBB. The resources are there for one, and MH has won everywhere he’s been.

No, MH is not a miracle worker. But, a good head coach should come in and make some kind of progress Year One, if nothing more than improve the culture to a winning attitude. Hasn't happened at ECU, apparently. 2019 vs. the past two years, is, at best, no better, and arguably worse.

Houston has enjoyed a very favorable schedule compared to the past two years. He has won four games, two against FCS teams Gardner-Webb and W&M, the other two (close wins) against ODU and UConn. THAT is not a good resume!

However, they played two Top 25 teams, Cincy and SMU tough in close losses. Still, last year, ECU ran both UConn and North Carolina off the field.

Thus, I see no improvement, although the jury is still out.

ECU plays fellow basement-dweller Tulsa at ECU for the season finale on Saturday. Should ECU win, and I hope they do, Houston can claim at least some improvement, even though he was blessed with a favorable schedule. Should ECU lose to Tulsa, it is going to be hard for Houston to convince anyone that the team is headed in a positive direction. My opinion.

There's absolutely no way I can compare the handful of seasons since they were fairly good under McNeill which was only four seasons ago. Even our beloved Dukes had a winning record after four seasons of Sherman, 59 - 53, and two of the four were winning records, with the 3rd season accounting for 20 of the W's. In my book I would not consider the downward spiral of MBB to have begun until that fourth season and we could have pulled out of it had Keener not been Sherman's replacement. With all that said, give me three seasons of MH leading ECU, if that third season they aren't at 7 wins and Bowl bound, then they will be considered spiraling down. Right now, they simply made a stupid decision to let RM go.

I think it is a bit too early to say MH will fail at ECU. I think the next year or two will be a much better indication. When he came to JMU, it was in a much better position and easier to fix some of the issues which is why he had immediate success here. At ECU that just isn't the case. They are still a mess, but I did think his coaching would be able to make them a better team than they have been. They beat teams they were supposed to beat but I did think they would have more success than they have.
I don't think MH has any regrets (aside from the Charlotte debacle), but I wonder if that would change if he has a few more years like he had this season. It's certainly not impossible, but I do think MH is a good coach that will turn it around.

The feeling of the fans I encounter in Raleigh are night and day different from this point last year. I engage a fair amount of ECU supporters due to my knowledge of Houston's tenure at JMU. They have actually had chances to win against a couple of ranked teams in the last month. That was not the case last year.

The recruiting has upgraded in comparison to other AAC schools as well. Houston has spoken of the challenge of fending off big name P5 schools before signing day. Trust me, in the last few years, the P5s were not interested in poaching ECU recruits.

The fans are realistic and realize the cupboard was extremely bare for a incoming coach. The recruiting was very poor and their attrition rate was abysmal- thus they have little experienced depth. They are playing young guys (even true freshman) to cycle out the older, complacent players. I would categorize the Pirate fanbase to be much closer to Bleeding Purple's description than the people expecting an immediate turnaround and a bowl.. They are seeing the progress. Comparing their victory margins against crap teams is a far less important indicator of potential than their performance against quality teams.

(11-29-2019 10:07 AM)olddawg Wrote:  The feeling of the fans I encounter in Raleigh are night and day different from this point last year. I engage a fair amount of ECU supporters due to my knowledge of Houston's tenure at JMU. They have actually had chances to win against a couple of ranked teams in the last month. That was not the case last year.

The recruiting has upgraded in comparison to other AAC schools as well. Houston has spoken of the challenge of fending off big name P5 schools before signing day. Trust me, in the last few years, the P5s were not interested in poaching ECU recruits.

The fans are realistic and realize the cupboard was extremely bare for a incoming coach. The recruiting was very poor and their attrition rate was abysmal- thus they have little experienced depth. They are playing young guys (even true freshman) to cycle out the older, complacent players. I would categorize the Pirate fanbase to be much closer to Bleeding Purple's description than the people expecting an immediate turnaround and a bowl.. They are seeing the progress. Comparing their victory margins against crap teams is a far less important indicator of potential than their performance against quality teams.

Thats interesting given quite a few ECU fans previously felt Montgomery was a very good recruiter, and were scared of losing his recruits even though they knew he couldn't coach and wasn't getting it done on the field. Hmmm ... sounds familiar.