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Post by Stevev on Oct 15, 2005 5:19:35 GMT -5
Right now it looks like the only fall sport worthy of recognition for LU this year is Cross Country. The other sports seem to have either fallen on hard times or content with mediocrity. Some of it might have to do with youth but I think that most of it might have to do with coaching (mens soccer, football, and volleyball for example with there current coaching staffs. I can't remember it ever being this bad overall not in a long time. Loosing is one thing but loosing in the Big South, hard to explain that. What is going on? Are we loosing it or are we at the bottom part of a cycle or something. Is coaching or administration to blame for this or not?
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Post by Sly Fox on Oct 15, 2005 6:27:02 GMT -5
There's no question we are having a tough fall right now. Part of that is due to some aggressive non-conference scheduling. The other part is poor execution.
The good news is that it can all turn around in an instant the further we get into Big South play.
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Post by PAmedic on Oct 15, 2005 9:13:21 GMT -5
To be fair, other than the football team, and- on occasion, the very young volleyball team, none of the other sports teams are getting BLOWN OUT on a regular basis. Then Men's soccer team is actually playing pretty well, and the Ladies team has beaten a quality team or two.
As far as tennis and golf, I don't recall them ever being powerhouses, though I've been out of touch for a while. (as many people will testify!)
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Post by ATrain on Oct 15, 2005 13:25:26 GMT -5
Sorry, but I must disagree with your perspective on volleyball coaching...Coach Pinder is only in his 2nd season as Head Coach, and while we're certainly not at the level we were two years ago, we've lost some pretty good talent the past two years: Erin McKeon, Jennifer Belk, etc. etc. etc...
Basically with volleyball what we've seen this year are the results of having a young team...losing/winning some tough matches, and allowing lesser teams (Davidson, Radford) push us...but I have faith in the girls and the coach, and our team definitely does have the potential to win the conference tourney...its only a question of whether they can clean up their game enough to overcome the mistakes that seem to plague them (missed serves, kills going out, non/mis-communication, etc...) in order to live up to that potential.
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Post by Stevev on Oct 15, 2005 13:40:32 GMT -5
I am a little worried about mens soccer. The non conference part of their schedule has been downgraded a bit from previous years and we still manage to loose games to teams like Campbell and App State. The women's team did beat Arkansas but got killed by JMU and ODU. They are improved but not exactly setting the world on fire right now. ATrain your assessments concerning volleyball seems accurate with a young team, and difficult schedule, and only time will tell if they can get things together for a late conference run. Don't get me started right now on football. I think that I don't need to keep repeating myself on that subject.
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Post by PAmedic on Oct 17, 2005 12:27:05 GMT -5
Right now it looks like the only fall sport worthy of recognition for LU this year is Cross Country. The other sports seem to have either fallen on hard times or content with mediocrity...I can't remember it ever being this bad overall not in a long time. Loosing is one thing but loosing in the Big South, hard to explain that. What is going on? ...are we at the bottom part of a cycle or something. Ok- here's the current BSOUTH standings for all fall sports . I still don't think the sky is falling, chicken little. ok- after 20 min I can't get it to format. Here's the deal, Football: LAST place
Mens Soccer: 3rd place out of 8
Womens' Soccer: 5th place out of 9
Volleyball: 5th place out of 8 not great, I know. But not basement dwellers in EVERY sport either. |
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fsn32
Full Member
www.FlamesSports.com
Posts: 122
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Post by fsn32 on Oct 18, 2005 1:29:15 GMT -5
Let me stand up for my soccer brethren...both teams are young and the men's team is battling through injuries. The women have ran into a bad two weeks but before that they had picked up a couple good wins. They also have a great recruiting class on the way. Considering our soccer facilities, they both do very well. I was glad to hear earlier this year that Dr. Park has upgrading facilities very high on his priority list. If we are going to compete with the state schools we have to step that area up for soccer, softball, etc.
Radford for example, just built a great soccer stadium. Va Tech also spent a huge chunk on soccer. I understand we are not in the ACC but we have to keep pace with the Radfords of the world.
As for the other sports... Volleyball is rebuilding and golf is representing us well. They are leading our t-ney and showed well at JMU.
Not a great Fall... but not the end times either.
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Post by guest on Oct 18, 2005 11:17:07 GMT -5
The youth argument doesnt seem to hold much water though, because the cross country team is the youngest on campus. This past week their top 5 scoring runners were all sophs or frosh, there are no juniors on the team, and only one senior.
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fsn32
Full Member
www.FlamesSports.com
Posts: 122
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Post by fsn32 on Oct 18, 2005 12:14:11 GMT -5
The youth argument doesnt seem to hold much water though, because the cross country team is the youngest on campus. This past week their top 5 scoring runners were all sophs or frosh, there are no juniors on the team, and only one senior. One major difference... Cross Country is by and large an individual sport where athletes efforts are grouped together for a "team" result. Our Cross Country team is also an exception in that, regardless of age, the McDougals are WORLD class. Making no excuses, but in V-ball and soccer there is a much larger "team" chemistry issue and youth can certainly affect that. |
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Post by PAmedic on Oct 18, 2005 12:25:31 GMT -5
Agree w/ FSN, and forgot to add that over on the Winthrop board, they have high expectations for their Men's Soccer team- apparently feel they should contend for the BSOUTH championship.
My point being- I was down at homecoming and we played them tough in the 'burg; winning 1-0. I take that to mean we can hang w/ most in our conf, and beat many as well, so I remain optimistic.
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Post by bigsmooth on Oct 18, 2005 12:57:37 GMT -5
mens soccer will be fine. they have some key players that are injured and will be back soon. jeff has the boys in a good position. pricey has the girls going well, they have good talent, but are clearly struggling. there was an silent donor ready to give the money to install bleachers with some chairbacks that would seat around 1,000 people, but that has been delayed, but it will happen. the mens program is constantly in the final 2 or 3 for recruits against bigger DI schools, so when we get some stands built, we will have a quality soccer stadium. the field itself is wonderful. i feel good about our fall programs...much better than the football team.
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Post by PAmedic on Oct 18, 2005 13:53:27 GMT -5
We were pacing it off when down there- given that the field comes right up to the track- where would they put stands? Across the track on the hillside?
(frankly, I don't even know how they take corner kicks- at 5'5" I had less than a stride from the flag before I hit that metal rim on the track)
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