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Random thought.

Care. Compete. Character. Those are the 3 pillars or core values that RR's new crew has established. Every coach has their own flavor. At what point does a program create or establish their own core values that transcend coaches? Does ODU already have that to some extent that the AD has outlined or is the AD's general value system focused on good grades, graduating, and do the best you can?

When comparing to an organization and OKR's (objectives and key results) one would imagine each sport and coach has their own freedom to do what they want in that regard as long as it aligns with the overall objectives of the AD.

Reason I ask is because at our level it's been said many times we have ups and downs based on the hire. What could be done to reduce the valley's of a bad hire? What if what RR and his crew setup sky rockets us? Does the AD adopt some of that core culture and make it our own so a new coach that comes in if RR is poached by a P5? That way the transition from one regime to another isn't as drastic? Does an AD have that kind of sway or would it push away a top coach that wants it their way or the highway?

I'll wait to see what kind of results RR brings in. Seems to be doing the right things on paper, but let's see what happens and if he gets poached. That would be a good problem to have.

(12-16-2020 11:56 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  I'll wait to see what kind of results RR brings in. Seems to be doing the right things on paper, but let's see what happens and if he gets poached. That would be a good problem to have.

Agreed. But the question really isn't about RR specifically. Bobby had a culture. Aim High. All that fun stuff. Is there any mark left on the program culturally after he left or does the program do a full reset with each new head coach?

I mean, the men's basketball team seems to have a flavor of that. For the past two decades ODU has been known for rugged defense and a blue-collar work ethic. I wouldn't be surprised if the next ODU basketball coach shares the same values.

I'd say that RR's "Care. Compete. Character." reflects BW's "Be a great person, a great student, and a great athlete, in that order" mentality. Other than that I'm not sure what cultural changes are happening behind the scenes in ODU Football

Ya, good point. Probably a lot easier for a team of <15 people than a football squad to have some continuity in culture.

(12-16-2020 12:21 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I mean, the men's basketball team seems to have a flavor of that. For the past two decades ODU has been known for rugged defense and a blue-collar work ethic. I wouldn't be surprised if the next ODU basketball coach shares the same values.

I'd say that RR's "Care. Compete. Character." reflects BW's "Be a great person, a great student, and a great athlete, in that order" mentality. Other than that I'm not sure what cultural changes are happening behind the scenes in ODU Football

Indeed that is the case
At our level as a mid major in today's reality, that may well be what will allow us to be most competitive.

However, those of us who are old enough to remember Paul Webb's offenses may wish for a faster, more exciting system. Those teams were so much fun to watch.

(12-16-2020 01:58 PM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 12:21 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I mean, the men's basketball team seems to have a flavor of that. For the past two decades ODU has been known for rugged defense and a blue-collar work ethic. I wouldn't be surprised if the next ODU basketball coach shares the same values.

I'd say that RR's "Care. Compete. Character." reflects BW's "Be a great person, a great student, and a great athlete, in that order" mentality. Other than that I'm not sure what cultural changes are happening behind the scenes in ODU Football

Indeed that is the case
At our level as a mid major in today's reality, that may well be what will allow us to be most competitive.

However, those of us who are old enough to remember Paul Webb's offenses may wish for a faster, more exciting system. Those teams were so much fun to watch.

I remember the Sonny Allen fast breaks and the Blaine Taylor rock fights. While I may prefer one style over another the bottom line is winning. That is what sends me home a satisfied customer.

(12-16-2020 01:58 PM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 12:21 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I mean, the men's basketball team seems to have a flavor of that. For the past two decades ODU has been known for rugged defense and a blue-collar work ethic. I wouldn't be surprised if the next ODU basketball coach shares the same values.

I'd say that RR's "Care. Compete. Character." reflects BW's "Be a great person, a great student, and a great athlete, in that order" mentality. Other than that I'm not sure what cultural changes are happening behind the scenes in ODU Football

Indeed that is the case
At our level as a mid major in today's reality, that may well be what will allow us to be most competitive.

However, those of us who are old enough to remember Paul Webb's offenses may wish for a faster, more exciting system. Those teams were so much fun to watch.

I did not mean to besmirch the legacy of the Runnin' Monarchs! My point was that 2 decades is a pretty good time to build a culture, and it's one that folks outside the program seem to recognize. And when the question was have ODU teams built a specific culture, I thought that was relevant.

The next coach could run 5 point guards on the floor and a 4-1 zone defense, but if they win then I'm a happy camper.

I don't know that what we see with basketball and low scoring, low possession, good defense, and good rebounding is so much of a culture as it is a brand. I would argue that the culture within the program under BT and the culture under JJ are vastly different.

Agree that brand and culture are slightly different, but they do influence each other. It wasn't always this way, but this point, ODU now has a rep for low scoring, slow, ugly, rock fight, defense first, crash the boards basketball. Problem is, that is a boring style to watch. Fans will tolerate that if you are beating good teams that way (like VT, Clemson, Georgetown, Xavier, DePaul etc). And I think our fans do appreciate good D more than most as a result. But when you lose with that type of team, it just looks terrible.

(12-16-2020 02:48 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 01:58 PM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  

(12-16-2020 12:21 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I mean, the men's basketball team seems to have a flavor of that. For the past two decades ODU has been known for rugged defense and a blue-collar work ethic. I wouldn't be surprised if the next ODU basketball coach shares the same values.

I'd say that RR's "Care. Compete. Character." reflects BW's "Be a great person, a great student, and a great athlete, in that order" mentality. Other than that I'm not sure what cultural changes are happening behind the scenes in ODU Football

Indeed that is the case
At our level as a mid major in today's reality, that may well be what will allow us to be most competitive.

However, those of us who are old enough to remember Paul Webb's offenses may wish for a faster, more exciting system. Those teams were so much fun to watch.

I did not mean to besmirch the legacy of the Runnin' Monarchs! My point was that 2 decades is a pretty good time to build a culture, and it's one that folks outside the program seem to recognize. And when the question was have ODU teams built a specific culture, I thought that was relevant.

The next coach could run 5 point guards on the floor and a 4-1 zone defense, but if they win then I'm a happy camper.

Agree. I don't care what style we play as long as it's winning basketball. Scoring 90 a game may sound exciting, but if we're giving up 100 I'm not a happy camper.

Wouldn't you think it would be easier for a basketball coach to recruit players on a low scoring, slow, ugly, rock fight, defense first, crash the boards style of basketball that doesn't need HS all americans to fit the bill? I mean hell I could recruit athletic football players and get the job done with this approach. There is a method to JJ's philosophy!

Shouldn't it be competition? Care Competition Character? Compete doesn't sound right

(12-19-2020 10:32 AM)EverydayInVA Wrote:  Shouldn't it be competition? Care Competition Character? Compete doesn't sound right

It does as a verb. You compete you don't competition.

(12-19-2020 10:58 AM)bit_9 Wrote:  

(12-19-2020 10:32 AM)EverydayInVA Wrote:  Shouldn't it be competition? Care Competition Character? Compete doesn't sound right

It does as a verb. You compete you don't competition.

But you don’t then character. I think they were meant to be nouns.

Grammar nerds....

But how is the kerning?