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Post by thebigdawg on Mar 30, 2020 10:16:24 GMT -5
With everything going on in the world just thought id throw some stress free questions out there...
1. What sport at GWU has the highest chance of winning a Big South Regular Season or Tournament Title?
2. What sport at GWU is in the worst shape?
3. Who has the most job security among GWU coaches?
4. Who is on the hotseat for GWU Coaches?
5. Do you think Downs has provided a positive or negative overall effect on the athletic program?
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Post by notsofast on Mar 30, 2020 11:18:18 GMT -5
I like it! Lots of interesting questions here....
1. I think it still has to be Men's Basketball. Coach Craft has demonstrated that, no matter what talent he loses or gains, he's always going to have his guys in the hunt.
*Bonus, niche answer because I'm a nerd this way: Men's Swimming was close to a CCSA (swim team's conference since Big South doesn't sponsor it) title this year and their new coach Mike Blum killed it in recruiting this year. I would put them in the mix here too.
2. Track and Field/Cross Country. No doubt.
3. Tim Craft. Think about the monumental task of replacing Chris Holtmann. So many programs out there wouldn't recover from that kind of loss for a decade at least, but Tim's tenure at GWU has been so strong that I rarely think about the fact that we had Ohio State's (very successful) Head Coach.
4. I'll preface this by saying I hate talking about people getting fired. It's a family's livelihood and a devastating thing to go through as a professional, but a Division I athletics department has to have high standards. With that in mind, it absolutely should be Coach Baker from Track and Field/Cross Country. From numerous friends on the Track and Field/CC teams during my time at GWU, he doesn't really recruit. I can't imagine that has changed much in the years since. His teams routinely finish at the bottom of the Big South and he has been the coach for 20 years now. It's simply not good enough.
5. I think it's too early to tell, particularly since the entire spring season was cut off. He clearly cares deeply about athletics and plans to be a visible and vocal supporter of GWU's teams, which I love. He has a youthful energy that I think the students and student/athletes will respond to as well. He hasn't had much time to make decisions that will affect the department in a big way (aside from the football hire, which I respect him for finally making a move on), such as his handling of the AD position, which will also be a strong reflection on how he views the professionalism and promise of the various administrative departments under the AD's leadership (marketing, sports information, compliance, strength, athletic training, etc.).
I am interested to see that side of things, as there is a huge limit to the effect a new president can have on the field/court/mat/pool/etc. in his first year. His impact will be evident in 2-3 years at the earliest. That said, I am encouraged and optimistic.
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Post by thebigdawg on Mar 30, 2020 12:11:07 GMT -5
good stuff notsofast!
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Post by gwebb1994 on Mar 30, 2020 20:03:22 GMT -5
Excellent topic.
1. Men's Basketball. Easy answer. Even with losing Johnson, Perez, etc. the influx of talent, top 100 level talent, shows the program is on solid footing. We've been to the dance before, so that monkey is also off the back of the program. It means even in what could be a "down/rebuild" year next season, come March in Charlotte, no BSC team will want to be on our side of the bracket.
2. Men's Soccer. I'll preface this by saying I love Tony Setzer, and he is a standup guy. That being said, he was also head soccer coach when I was a student, and has been for 32 years, the only named coach in the history of the program. Only 12 winning seasons in that span. With the facility upgrades and the trend and popularity of soccer increasing, it's time for a change.
3. Obviously Craft. Simmons and the newbies Lamb and Chester don't have anything to worry about either.
4. Setzer and Baker.
5. Yes. The right choice. I think Burch may get to hang around another year due to the virus, which is unfortunate. That's the next move, getting someone in that athletic department itself to raise the standard to championship level. On field, funding, academics, all three, not just one at best. One of the great what if questions for GW is what if Chris White had put his massive ego in park just one time, once, and hired Bill Curry in the spring of 1997 instead of Burch. Curry would have brought instant name recognition and fund raising ability to the department, which would have made the move up to D-1 a lot easier with less headache, and definitely no NCAA probation. Once Downs sends Burch into retirement and hires his replacement, then we can really gauge if Downs is serious about the credibility of the athletic programs or not, but not before. With what Downs has done so far everywhere on campus, shaking up things and dealing with this shutdown for all practical purposes, it is encouraging. Can you imagine the idiot Bonner handling this crisis of the past month or so? No, neither can I.
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Post by dawgdad on Mar 31, 2020 14:42:04 GMT -5
Yeh this is a nice break! I'm not as in-the-loop as some, so I'll be brief, based on observation only:
1. Women's Soccer - right there last fall, why not another run?
2. Volleyball. It was allowed to fall off a cliff, and sadly there were no survivors.
3. Craft.
4. Setzer. Seems time, but they have had pretty decent teams at times.
5. Positive effect. Got McCray out the door exactly the day we had hoped ( excluding Jake of course ), hired a baseball coach with a winning track record a high priority. Now retiring Burch must be coming, tho I agree that it might take another year considering the National Emergency we are all facing.
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