Patton out at Gard-Webb?

[JCole62]

Now hearing that we have received over 100 applications for the HC job. I would love to see the complete list.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

Elcid - that would make two of us. GWU has the potential to be a great college football atomsphere on Saturdays. I hope they hire someone full of fire that will ignite a fire in the assistant coaches and players. It would also be nice to see the offensive and defensive units interact with each other during the game. It bothers me to see players (especially the OL) sitting on the bench. With all the 3 and outs - they could not be that tired.

[EagleDawg]

JCole62 - Glad to see you on the board. We are hoping that we'll see more and more posters to discuss GWU Football. As for the O-line sitting on the bench while on the sideline may I offer what I believe to be a reasonable explanation. If you look closely, the O-line is the only position where all the players wear protective knee braces and to stand up without moving very much, you tend to tighten up a lot especially as these guys are supporting the most beef, check out the roster for weights. This comes from a reliable source (i.e. player) who has spent the better parts of entire games on his feet on the sideline while wearing the knee braces and who was very tight by games ends. I have seen the O-line on their feet at times and for those who come off the field I would suggest that taking a seat is not from fatigue but to be spoken to as a unit by the O -line coach and then to keep from tightening up. You might also notice that they generally are sitting only on 1st and 2nd downs and generally get up to be in position to quickly take the field after change in possession. It's generally that way at most programs from my observation and with 90 guys dressed out, 5 O-line starters on the bench means that less the 11 defenders on the field that 74 or so players are on their feet.

Go Running Bulldogs!

[Bulldogdad]

JCole62 - Glad to see you on the board. We are hoping that we'll see more and more posters to discuss GWU Football. As for the O-line sitting on the bench while on the sideline may I offer what I believe to be a reasonable explanation. If you look closely, the O-line is the only position where all the players wear protective knee braces and to stand up without moving very much, you tend to tighten up a lot especially as these guys are supporting the most beef, check out the roster for weights. This comes from a reliable source (i.e. player) who has spent the better parts of entire games on his feet on the sideline while wearing the knee braces and who was very tight by games ends. I have seen the O-line on their feet at times and for those who come off the field I would suggest that taking a seat is not from fatigue but to be spoken to as a unit by the O -line coach and then to keep from tightening up. You might also notice that they generally are sitting only on 1st and 2nd downs and generally get up to be in position to quickly take the field after change in possession. It's generally that way at most programs from my observation and with 90 guys dressed out, 5 O-line starters on the bench means that less the 11 defenders on the field that 74 or so players are on their feet.

Go Running Bulldogs!

Excellent post EagleDawg. Some people dont understand the situation unless their involved in that position. Most of the time they will sit as they are positioned on the field,with the 2nd string behind them, so that the O-Line coach can teach them. Hopefully we can be stronger on defense and get some three and outs so they wont have 4 or 5 minute spans on the sideline.

[JCole62]

EagleDawg/Bulldogdad
I played OL and DL and coached both positions. I meant no harm to the beefy guys. The OL has potential to be a nasty unit that can take control of the game. I just noticed a couple times (I should have explained myself better) when you go 3 and out; after you get your little speech - get back up and get the defense motivated to get a 3 and out. Again, no harm to the big boys upfront - just merely my opinion.

[EagleDawg]

No offense taken JCole62, like I said, glad to have you here. We might just in time work our way up to a dozen or so regular posters who support GWU. Getting back to the HC hiring process, just looked at the NCAA recruiting calendar and the "Dead Period" runs from December 20 thru January 3. With the first Official Visit weekend probably set for January 8 and followed by Jan 15th, Jan 22nd and wrapping up if necessary with Jan 29, I'm curious absent of having a HC in place prior to the first Official Weekend do any of the current assistants have the authority to put out offers? It's hard to see how you get a kid to come down to G-Dubb without an offer letter in hand. I'm also curious would the new HC honor offers made by his predecessor. I really think that while getting the right guy is job #1, getting him hired ASAP is a close 2nd priority wise, especially as it relates to recruiting.

[elcid83]

Good post Eagle. It appears that FU has now completed their search and found their new guy although he has not yet been named. With all of the apps we have received, there is no reason for GW to not have a short list finalized this weekend and interviews next week unless a candidate is still coaching in the playoffs. Given the successful hiring of our new BB coach, I am confident AD Burch is cognizant of the schedule we are up against. There really is good reason to wait until January to make a decision as has been previously reported. Given the high level of interest in the vacancy, I am encouraged that our new HC is going to be a good one.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs

[JCole62]

The interest in this job has me excited about the future of GWU football. It will be interesting to see what the new hire does as far as assistant coaches - who goes, who stays and who comes in? On another note, I did hear the winter workout program is an intense one.

[OL FU]

Good post Eagle. It appears that FU has now completed their search and found their new guy although he has not yet been named. With all of the apps we have received, there is no reason for GW to not have a short list finalized this weekend and interviews next week unless a candidate is still coaching in the playoffs. Given the successful hiring of our new BB coach, I am confident AD Burch is cognizant of the schedule we are up against. There really is good reason to wait until January to make a decision as has been previously reported. Given the high level of interest in the vacancy, I am encouraged that our new HC is going to be a good one.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs

Not confirmed but the consensus is Bruce Fowler.

[g-webb1994]

Fowler will be a good one for FU.

[g-webb1994]

http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/new-52 ... ocess.html

Alan Ford wrote this article for Saturday's edition of The Shelby Star. Burch is quoted as the process might take until mid or late January???!!!

[EagleDawg]

If the Shelby Star article is accurate in Burch's representations that they might be interviewing by the 2nd or 3rd week of January, then the incoming recruiting class will suffer greatly I fear. I don't understand how you release the current HC and not have a expeditious action plan in place to get the new guy in by the start of Official Visits unless the current assistants have the authority and support of the administration to offer kids now and that prior offers by the former HC are honored. If interviews don't commence say until the 3rd week of January then one can see how it takes a bit of time to negotiate a contract after identifying your top pick. The new HC might not be hired until right before Signing Day or even afterwards. I wonder, is there one of the current assistants who have been tasked with the oversight of all recruiting regarding offers because there has to be coordination between individual recruiters even if they can make offers. Anyone have any insight into this. I'm not sure I get it.

[elcid83]

http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/new-52 ... ocess.html

Alan Ford wrote this article for Saturday's edition of The Shelby Star. Burch is quoted as the process might take until mid or late January???!!!

While it's disappointing that there is no hurry up approach to this decision, it is important that the decision be made correctly. While I am confident that our staff is busting their humps to make sure GW signs the best available class, it will still be difficult for them to make their pitch to the families in a way that will convince the families that
GW is the best fit for their son. While this one year of recruiting will suffer, the decision on the new head coach is a decision that will impact multiple years. We do have a solid group of players on campus and I recall that this was going to be a small class anyway. It will be tough playing the waiting game. Perhaps one of the more solid candidates will let the Ad know how critical it is to get moving so that he can be more successful sooner. Oh well.

[EagleDawg]

The lastest bit from Football Scoop

http://www.footballscoop.com/the-scoop" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

indicates that the search committee hasn't even started contacting candidates yet. This appears to be consistent with AD Burch's comment to the Shelby Star that they might interview candidates around mid-January. What this tells me is that a coaching change wasn't decided until the end of or after the season or that the decision makers don't have a clue, because one would assume the following:

If the decision had been made prior to the end of the season, a search committee would have been in place, a candidates list developed and a selection schedule put in place such that the new HC would be in place prior to the Dead Period or at least by the 1st weekend of Official Visits.

If the decision was made as announced 2 weeks after season's end then the former coach had a shot of hanging on to his job the last couple weeks of the season and none of the stuff mentioned above had yet been put in place. With the decision as announced, the time table should be short and focused to get the new guy in place. Although we have two years of reasonably deep recruiting classes and many of these young men have already seen the field with significant playing time we do have some major needs to fill. LB's, DT's, OL, WR, CB to name a few if not to come in and contribute right away at least to develop some semblance of depth.

Another thought although a bit farfetched for GWU is that a stealth candidate has already been identified and was possibly unavailable to be vetted because he was coaching a playoff or bowl team.

I gotta a bit of apprehension and concern that things are exactly as being reported and the new HC will not be named until the very end of recruiting if not after Signing Day. Either the current assistants are being given quite a bit of leeway or the internal thinking very well may be that one of the current assistants is the new HC and he has his finger on the pulse of recruiting.

That's 4 scenarios, what say my Running Bulldog Friends?

[elcid83]

Here's my thought Eagle. While the article is talking about a mid-January decision, I am hearing from a couple of assistant coaches that it is more likely that a new HC will be in place when the boys get back from Christmas break. This makes a lot of sense and should have nominal impact on recruiting. As I have previously mentioned, the assistants are out and about making the necessary contacts and they are continuing as if they are planning to be coaching at GW next year. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case as I do believe we have a good staff on board. Given the salary I suspect we will be paying, the new HC may not be given the opportunity to replace a lot of the staff with his own group, but, who knows.

[99SourceCode]

All I am hearing from my guy on campus is that the search is in great hands. They hit a home run with their basketball hire and will be going with a similar process. It might take longer than is usual, but they'll get the right person in place.

PM me if any of you guys have heard names. I'm curious. Source for me is great, but he's not mentioning names.

As for recruiting, I don't have a huge issue with taking the time to get the right person in place even if it costs a chance at a great recruiting haul. If I'm remembering right, this was going to be a pretty small class in terms of numbers anyway.

[EagleDawg]

Source - Good to hear from another new poster and welcome aboard. I'm all for getting the right guy and taking the time needed to do it and I understand that this recruiting class will be a smaller one than year's past. However, given the penchant at G-Dubb for so many injuries, lacking the full compliment of 63 scholarship equivalents and the fact that we do have some critical needs, I am still hoping for someone to shed light on the following:

1) Do the current assistants out on the recruiting trail have the authority to make offers?

2) Will the university honor offers made by the previous head coach?

3) Can we get the right guy and hold current commitments from recruits if the answers to the first two questions are yes meaning will the right guy not come because of lack of control over the incoming recruiting class and will current commitments if there are any stay committed if a head coach is not named by signing day?

[elcid83]

Welcome aboard 99! It's nice to have some more Runnin' Bulldogs on the board.

Have not heard anything from the Webb today. I know I'm not supposed to expect anything before January, but, that doesn't make the waiting any easier.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[99SourceCode]

Eagle,

From what I understand, the current assistants are recruiting full speed. From my personal experience with the people in charge of athletics at Gardner-Webb, I would think all of the offers extended and commitments made would be honored.

This is a key hire. Trust this: You as fans/parents have good leadership in place on the administrative side. Just my two cents from personal experience. I think they are aware that expediting the process is important, but they're going to take their time and make the right hire. GWU is a unique, special place to a number of people, myself included.

If they can get interviews knocked out right after the new year, say the first week or week and a half in January, I would imagine having someone in place by the first day of classes is doable. That would give the new coach another few days to assemble a staff and give that staff two full weekends to get prospects on campus for visits. That should be enough to get things sewn up by signing day.

Unless it's changed, only three of those weekends in January or normally utilized anyway for visits at Gardner-Webb due to the class calendar, so it's really not a huge deficit.

[EagleDawg]

Source - Thanks for sharing your views. I do believe we'll get a good coach and GWU's track record with coaches is one where they don't make changes often so it is important to get it right. I'm hopeful that not only will the new HC be in place for many years but also whether he maintains some of the current assistants or brings in an entire new team that we can get some longevity out of the position coaches as well. My favorite Running Bulldog since the start of his recruitment in December 2009 is now potentially looking at his 4th position coach in two years at O-line and there's been turnover along the D-line as well. We want to see improvement across all fronts especially strength and conditioning. We need to get stronger, we need to get bigger and we need to develop an attitude in the trenches.

Maybe the new HC will generate enough buzz and excitement to cause more giving to the school so they can endow additional scholarships for football and work their way up to the 63 limit. I believe we are currently at 59 schollie equivalents. If you're the first to hear some news please share it.

[JCole62]

We need to get stronger, we need to get bigger and we need to develop an attitude in the trenches.

Eagle - Amen to that statement. I think G-Dub has the players to take control of the game on both the OL and DL. They need some focused aggression and take the field with authority. I know this was their offensive mindset - change of possession; OL goes to the LOS and play is called on the sideline with the skill guys then they take the field. Daggum this got on my nerves. Maybe I'm an old school guy trapped in a young guys' body but take the field with a play called as an offensive unit or take the field and call the play in the huddle. Then when the ball is snapped hit somebody in the mouth! I would love to see the offense go to a Pro I offense. Set up the pass with an aggressive running game.

I sure am glad I found this board - now I have some guys to talk intelligently to about college football; mainly our Runnin' Bulldogs.

[Sly Fox]

When Chuck was at Liberty, he didn't have a great deal of authority in hiring his staff. But I get the indication that he is running the show in this search. Is that accurate?

In all fairness to Coach Patton, he did a great job of finding & developing talent. I would have to think any commits that the new coach can hang onto would be a near certainty. And as long as the hire comes regionally, wherever that person is now he has a good idea of available talent to snatch by signing day.

[elcid83]

When Chuck was at Liberty, he didn't have a great deal of authority in hiring his staff. But I get the indication that he is running the show in this search. Is that accurate?

In all fairness to Coach Patton, he did a great job of finding & developing talent. I would have to think any commits that the new coach can hang onto would be a near certainty. And as long as the hire comes regionally, wherever that person is now he has a good idea of available talent to snatch by signing day.

Sly,

I expect our President to also be involved in the HC search, but Chuck Burch seems to be the guy in charge of the final decision. While he is taking his time making this decision, rumors are flying around but it appears that quite a few talented candidates have put their name in the ring for our job.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[g-webb1994]

When Chuck was at Liberty, he didn't have a great deal of authority in hiring his staff. But I get the indication that he is running the show in this search. Is that accurate?

In all fairness to Coach Patton, he did a great job of finding & developing talent. I would have to think any commits that the new coach can hang onto would be a near certainty. And as long as the hire comes regionally, wherever that person is now he has a good idea of available talent to snatch by signing day.

Dr. Bonner is an active President and will have the final say on who gets the job, although Burch of course will do all the leg work.

[elcid83]

Gardner-Webb finally made the news on footballscoop.com this morning when it was reported that Chuck Amato and Mike Minter were interested in the head coaching job. Frankly, it sounded like the sources were Mike Minter and Chuck Amato. We all remember Amato's days at NC State and from what I have been hearing, he would be a little older than the guy we are looking for.

Minter is interesting if he truly lives his life the way he advertises on his website. Chuck Burch has declared the importance of hiring a coach that has a strong religious background. The problem with Minter is the lack of coaching experience. On his Wikipedia site, he declares a strong desire to be the Charlotte 49ers first HC. However, one has to wonder why he doesn't get his feet wet coaching in college at some level so that he can show that he has the experience and the ability to be a HC. There aren't many D I-AA schools that are just going to give a sharp guy a chance with no coaching experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Minter
http://www.mikeminter.com/index2.html

In any event, it is nice to see a little interest in our position. I hope others will come forward publicly with an expression of interest in the near future since it seems GWU will not be expressing any news until after the Holidays.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[snakeeyes]

I'm a bit confused on Chuck Burch's statement stressing a strong religious background and character for the new coach - seems to be quite the opposite from Coach Patton. I understand the religious affiliation of the University and we would all hope the new coach would be of such moral character to be a great ambassador for the University and role model for the student/athlete.