Patton out at Gard-Webb?

[kdinva]

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

[g-webb1994]

Haven't heard anything yet officially....

[BigDawgPop]

Entire staff is out....team meeting at 5:30

[g-webb1994]

Entire staff is out....team meeting at 5:30

Yep, just heard the same thing....now it will be interesting to see where G-W goes for a new coach. Regardless, they have to make a move quickly since recruiting season is upon us, the admin won't have the time they had when they replaced the mens hoops coach in the spring....

[EagleDawg]

You would think that the athletic department (Burch) and university administration had their minds made up on this either late in the season or immediately thereafter and have a very short list if not a candidate locked up in the wings because the timing of this becomes very bad if we go thru the next few weeks with no staff and hit the dead period at the end of December recruiting wise. With regard to the coaching staff at G-Dubb just dismissed you would hope that those who made the decision to dismiss made it on the body of work and not just this season. I know of no team who was hit with as many total and key injuries as our Running Bulldogs were this year.

On a personal note, I want to thank Coach Patton for giving my son an opportunity to play for G-Dubb, for Coach Cooper who recruited him and for past and current OL coaches Doolittle and King for helping him improve as a player. These and the other coaches are all very good men who work in tough jobs and wear many hats that many may not realize. I wish them and their families all the best on what has to be a sad day.

I hope that the future will be a successful one for the new staff. We need more size and depth along the lines, need LB's, need DB's, need a better overall strength and conditioning program and most of all, the entire program needs to work in unison to better the W-L. Nothing breeds success like success.

[BigDawgPop]

I too want to thank Coach Patton for giving my kid the opportunity. I wish him and all the Coaches the best.

[elcid83]

I am hearing only Coach Patton is out. Replacement is not yet determined and there will be a lengthy search for the new head coach. Don't know how that will pan out, but we do have quite a few assistants that would be an asset to the new guy.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[SumItUp]

Most head coaches want to work with "their" guys. It is rare that more than a couple coaches stick around after a head coaching change. Something had to change. It seemed as if each of the last few years, the team was going to make some noise in the Big South, but it never materialized. Good luck to GW.

[elcid83]

All assistants were at the team meeting this afternoon with the AD where it was announced to the team regarding Coach Patton. While a new head coach will likely be given some hiring and firing authority over the staff, I think he will be pretty pleased with what he sees when he gets to GW. We do have some great coaches on staff.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[Bulldogdad]

Glad to hear that all the coaches are not gone. I didn't think they would fire the whole staff. I'm with you elcid some of our coaches are keepers and will be well liked by the new head coach. Hope the search for a new coach will be quick.

[SumItUp]

Saw link to the official announcement from gwusports.com on Twitter

http://www.gwusports.com//ViewArticle.d ... um=twitter

Any idea who a candidate might be?

[EagleDawg]

Pure speculation on my part but here's a short list of who could be available. These guys all bring different things to the table and have different levels of experience: Just a list for discussion purposes. Other suggestions welcomed.

Bobby Lamb - Ex-Furman Coach
Scott Satterfield - Current Toledo Assistant, past App. State Assistant
Frankie Debusk - Tusculum DII Head Coach
Tommy West - Former Clemson, Memphis State HC
Coach Cunningham - Current GWU LB's Coach
Coach Pizzo - Current GWU OC
Rich Skroskie - Elon OL & Running Game Coach
John Bunting - Former North Carolina Coach

[elcid83]

Pure speculation on my part but here's a short list of who could be available. These guys all bring different things to the table and have different levels of experience: Just a list for discussion purposes. Other suggestions welcomed.

Bobby Lamb - Ex-Furman Coach
Scott Satterfield - Current Toledo Assistant, past App. State Assistant
Frankie Debusk - Tusculum DII Head Coach
Tommy West - Former Clemson, Memphis State HC
Coach Cunningham - Current GWU LB's Coach
Coach Pizzo - Current GWU OC
Rich Skroskie - Elon OL & Running Game Coach
John Bunting - Former North Carolina Coach

Eagle,

I suspect Coach P's replacement will be tasked with restoring noticeable discipline to the GW football program. I don't think our boys have that far to go, but, I think this has been a major concern.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[g-webb1994]

Lamb and DeBusk would be my frontrunners. Regardless, any new HC will pretty much let go most of the staff, maybe an assistant or two hang around at most.

I've never had any problem with Patton on a personal level, anyone who has ever talked with him at all would have a good impression. Thanks to the General for 14 seasons....that is an impressive feat alone these days to coach that long in one spot, on any level.

[SuperHornet]

They're incredibly dumb if they just arbitrarily blew EVERYONE out. A few assistants should be retained until the new HC is selected and has had a chance to choose a staff (which might well include a few holdovers). These assistants would do what they always do in the offseason: supervise player off-season workouts, review the season's game film, recruit, etc. so that the ball isn't dropped between HCs. The last thing you need is out of control players.

[elcid83]

What Coaches are a necessity to keep at GW? What do you guys think?

Dog, welcome to this board! I hope there is lots of exciting news to report about GWU Football over the next couple of months. You pose an interesting question and the only person who can answer is our next head coach. I believe our program needs a firm tweaking and not a complete overhaul. Even with all of our first string injuries and breaking in two new QBs, we were very close to a 7 win season. Our current staff is a really good crew and I hope our new HC will thoroughly interview each of them and ask each for their thoughts about moving our program forward. This should be a very interesting conversation and I think it will lead our staff to really look hard at where we are and where we should be able to go. Should be a lot of fun.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[elcid83]

On another note. I have heard of many loyal GWU alumni and former players who have been withholding their personal donations until Coach Patton was fired. Now that that has happened, I would strongly urge you folks to get out your checkbook and send it in. It takes a lot of money to be competitive in the Big South and our new coach will be a better coach if he understands that our followers are going to financially support the program. Be sure to let the Bulldog Club know that you want your donation earmarked formthe football program.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[g-webb1994]

On another note. I have heard of many loyal GWU alumni and former players who have been withholding their personal donations until Coach Patton was fired. Now that that has happened, I would strongly urge you folks to get out your checkbook and send it in. It takes a lot of money to be competitive in the Big South and our new coach will be a better coach if he understands that our followers are going to financially support the program. Be sure to let the Bulldog Club know that you want your donation earmarked formthe football program.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

Very true elcid. They did a splendid job getting Holtmann to run the mens hoops program, which has brought many back in the fold, now if they handle this coaching change just as well it will bring many more back. When I give, I just let the Bulldog Club use it where they want, but not a bad idea for parents of players, former players, etc. to be specific with their giving. Remember, whenever our football and hoops teams play 'money' games on the road, all of that money goes directly into the general fund of the school, so being specific with giving, even if it is say only $50 or $100 a year, makes an impact.

As far as your tweaking/overhaul analogy, it pretty much on the surface is going to look and feel like an overhaul being this is the first coaching change in 14 years. Whatever steps the new coach and his staff take, even if they are minimal, they will be perceived as large.

Two more names for your list of possibles....Joe Reich from Wingate, a solid D-2 program, and Paul Hamilton from Brevard, who started that program from scratch and has had HC job at ETSU and Elon, along with being a top assistant at Air Force, on his coaching resume.

[OL FU]

As mentioned on the uffp, a tough year for coaches with Furman connections

[EagleDawg]

What's the consensus if any, do the Running Bulldogs go with a former BCS ousted coach, a lateral moving or ousted FCS coach, a top notch FCS or BCS assistant or a proven D2 guy who has established a consistent winning record? I'm hoping for a guy who can fulfill all the outside duties of a HC these days along with someone who has a ton of fire in the belly and who can motivate the players to play up to their abilities every play, every week and believe consistently that no matter the situation that G-Dubb can win, should win and will win, someone who can sell the program, the school and the football family at G-Dubb.

As ElCid has stated a firm tweak is what is needed as the Running Bulldogs have shown flashes of excellence even in the face of devastating injuries, lack of depth and a be damned we're gonna throw it even if our guy is gonna throw it to the other team approach. The latter ticked me off more than a little bit this season, as the Western Carolina and Stony Brook games come to mind along with the Coastal Carolina Game. Incidentally, the pick 6 by CCU against GWU at the start of the 4th qtr with GWU leading 17-10 and having a strong wind in their favor for the final qtr sent CCU on it's way to a remarkable finish and playoff berth. For those who don't think single plays can turn a season around or alternatively destroy one, there's your sign.

[g-webb1994]

I'm of the thinking an up and coming D-2 coach would be the avenue to go. You would probably get a real fired up go-getter, as opposed to a coach that either is burned out or just got released for one reason or another.

I'm sure there are a few names we all have completely looked over as well. According to what I have heard, the fax machine in the athletics department was already getting boatloads of resumes yesterday before the announcement was even official......

I wonder a bit about the timing, if Patton was going to be let go, why wait nearly two weeks after the season finale to do the deed?

One thing to you have to take into consideration is our AD's love affair with former Liberty coaches, even though he just terminated the volleyball coach , who had previously coached at LU. Maybe some of the LU posters can throw us a name or two that might be considered by Burch.

[elcid83]

What's the consensus if any, do the Running Bulldogs go with a former BCS ousted coach, a lateral moving or ousted FCS coach, a top notch FCS or BCS assistant or a proven D2 guy who has established a consistent winning record? I'm hoping for a guy who can fulfill all the outside duties of a HC these days along with someone who has a ton of fire in the belly and who can motivate the players to play up to their abilities every play, every week and believe consistently that no matter the situation that G-Dubb can win, should win and will win, someone who can sell the program, the school and the football family at G-Dubb.

As ElCid has stated a firm tweak is what is needed as the Running Bulldogs have shown flashes of excellence even in the face of devastating injuries, lack of depth and a be damned we're gonna throw it even if our guy is gonna throw it to the other team approach. The latter ticked me off more than a little bit this season, as the Western Carolina and Stony Brook games come to mind along with the Coastal Carolina Game. Incidentally, the pick 6 by CCU against GWU at the start of the 4th qtr with GWU leading 17-10 and having a strong wind in their favor for the final qtr sent CCU on it's way to a remarkable finish and playoff berth. For those who don't think single plays can turn a season around or alternatively destroy one, there's your sign.

That's a tough way to ask the question Eagle, but not a bad way. Certainly, there are former BCS coaches that can still coach. For what we will pay, I don't think we get what I consider a top notch FCS coach. It's difficult to predict that an up and coming DII guy will work at the FCS level. My choice would be required to define his personal football calendar and then describe how he would improve on GW's current calendar. I would expect a good coach's personal calendar to be different from mine, but it would be something like this:

The Recruiting Season
The Non-conference football season
The Conference football season
The Conditioning Season
The Summer Workout Season

I want to know how the candidate approaches each of these seasons [and I recognize there is overlap]. I also want o know about the candidate's willingness [and proven success] with fundraising for his program. I have not witnessed GWU getting terribly excited about fundraising for our football program. Other Big South programs spend significantly more on football than we do and it is painfully obvious. This gap will only continue to widen and we will get further and further behind.

I will also want to hear about the candidate's approach to creating an interesting game day atmosphere. I understand that the coach needs to focus on just getting the team ready for gameday. I also understand that our game day atmosphere stinks. For some unknown reason, GW wastes a lot of time and effort to put monster speakers all around the field and then we don't bother to use the speakers for any productive reason during a game. Every team I have watched plays some kind of motivational music during kickoffs and at other points during the game. GW has the music because I have heard them play it during pre-game warmups. We have one of the worst home game atmospheres of any team in the Big South [Charleston Southern's may be worse]. My ideal candidate would have some very clear ideas about what our gameday atmosphere should look like.

That's a long answer to a good question. I don't care where our next coach comes from so long as he has a clear grasp on his big picture.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[g-webb1994]

That's a tough way to ask the question Eagle, but not a bad way. Certainly, there are former BCS coaches that can still coach. For what we will pay, I don't think we get what I consider a top notch FCS coach. It's difficult to predict that an up and coming DII guy will work at the FCS level. My choice would be required to define his personal football calendar and then describe how he would improve on GW's current calendar. I would expect a good coach's personal calendar to be different from mine, but it would be something like this:

The Recruiting Season
The Non-conference football season
The Conference football season
The Conditioning Season
The Summer Workout Season

I want to know how the candidate approaches each of these seasons [and I recognize there is overlap]. I also want o know about the candidate's willingness [and proven success] with fundraising for his program. I have not witnessed GWU getting terribly excited about fundraising for our football program. Other Big South programs spend significantly more on football than we do and it is painfully obvious. This gap will only continue to widen and we will get further and further behind.

I will also want to hear about the candidate's approach to creating an interesting game day atmosphere. I understand that the coach needs to focus on just getting the team ready for gameday. I also understand that our game day atmosphere stinks. For some unknown reason, GW wastes a lot of time and effort to put monster speakers all around the field and then we don't bother to use the speakers for any productive reason during a game. Every team I have watched plays some kind of motivational music during kickoffs and at other points during the game. GW has the music because I have heard them play it during pre-game warmups. We have one of the worst home game atmospheres of any team in the Big South [Charleston Southern's may be worse]. My ideal candidate would have some very clear ideas about what our gameday atmosphere should look like.

That's a long answer to a good question. I don't care where our next coach comes from so long as he has a clear grasp on his big picture.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

Solid post elcid. One thing that hurts the G-W cause is the lack of local interest in our athletic programs, and that is dating back to my days there and beyond. We have a basketball arena that doesn't seat even 3,000 (count the seats sometime, no way it is 4,000-4,500 as listed) and we have the Lady Tar Heels coming in to play on New Years Eve and it won't be full. We had Appy at our place a couple of years ago and we couldn't even get 10,000 to that game. Until the G-W powers that be realize that the gameday experience is what draws people, and any school our size needs local involvement in the worst way, nothing will change. Also, having our sports info. people list attendance figures at sporting events and blatantly lie about them and inflate them isn't really cool either. I've seen attendance at hoops games before listed at 1,800 or so, and actually was there and counted all the people in attendance while sitting there, not even 800 in the building. You can't tell me that there were almost 4,000 people at that last home game against VMI, even if you count in all the players on both sides.

[elcid83]

One other thing on my list. I'd like the new coach to show his understanding and appreciation of the ability of the fanbase to communicate with each other effectively and get us a team message board that we can use.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[Sly Fox]

Someone joked on FlameFans about Morgan Hout being a candidate ... he was head coach who we had during our transition from DII to I-AA before he was shown the door when Sam Rutigliano expressed an interest in coming to Lynchburg. But Hout was just a joke.

I'm not sure what names immediately come to mind from Burch's stint as LU AD. But it is true that he has had a penchant for going back to his LU roots for hires.