S p e n c e

Mike, I am not claiming that I am all knowing when it comes to running a football team, but even I know this hire was a horrible decision. Almost everyone on this board would agree with that. Most are willing to give CJL the benefit of the doubt, but still however agree it is a horrible decision. So what does this say about CJL's ability to run a college football team? I dont know only the future can will tell us. And just for the record, maybe I wasnt totally clear. I wasnt meaning for everyone to demand refunds tomorrow for this coming seasons season tickets based on the hiring of Smith. I am looking more towards next season. I just have a bad feeling that this is going to be Mike Hobbie all over again. Smith will come in, run the offense terribly and CJL will refuse to get rid of him just as he did with Hobbie and it will set back our program a couple of more years. So if this scenario played out, and once again this offseason it is painfully obvious that Smith should be fired (should never had been hired in the first place) and CJL refuses to get rid of him, that is more along the lines of what I was referring to. And if that is the case, then I will consider not renewing my season tickets, and purchase a couple of single game tickets and watch them on TV and support the team that way. And maybe that only makes me a "fan" unworthy receiving your label of "real fan" but somehow I think I will get by without your approval.

Since when did Kevin James start catching for the Mets?

And that "situation" you speak of would be High School football.

Bien, that is why I said "I can certainly understand why Franks would turn down the position". What I dont understand is why wouldnt CJL make Smith the interum OC, and after the season we could look for a very good replacement. He obviously isnt CJL's first choice.

This team is at a crossroads, we have a couple of seasons to turn this team into a competitive force in the Big East or possibly become the next Temple of the Big East, and decisions like this looks like we are headed more in the direction of Temple. So I am concerned, like everyone else. As Jim said, what other recourse as fans do we really have to show our displeasure that the atheltic department would actually listen? You tell me. When Hobbie left the program a lot of members on this board were excited with the idea that we can finally take a step foward, the possibilities were great. But with this hire it seems we are taking a step back instead of foward and it is very discouraging, and I have a feeling that this decision will begin to chip away at all the progress that the program has achieved thus far. And so I guess according to Mike's logic as a real fan I should just sit on my ass and look through my rose colored glasses and hope for the best instead of taking any kind of action to try and right the ship, because that is what a "real fan" would do. You are a "real fan" and those who speak out are traitors? Give me a F***ing break. Get off of your high horse. It is a good thing you are graduating because all of those studies are starting to cloud your brain.

Thanks for the info, not like we had a chance of him transferring here lol

I think his career is pretty much over. His chances of returning this year a dwindling fast. He cannot even begin to rehab until this staph infection clears up, and estimates say that could be anywhere from 2-6 weeks. And once he starts rehab it will take him in my estimate at the very least a month, between rehab and playing a few minor league games. That would put his return at the earliest late July to Early August. And missing nearly an entire season at his age, without steroids it will be extremely difficult for him to get his swing back. However his ego will force him to come back just long enough to pass Ruth and Aaron on the HR list, I am sure of that.

Any word on who will take over the QB coaching position? Barnhardt?

- The Declaration of Independance It may be a bit of a stretch, but I think these same principles apply in this case. If the football program is going become self-destructive is it not our duty as fans to take action? And the best way to take action it to hit them where it hurts...MONEY. Writing letters or sending emails may sound good, but how many of those emails are deleted, and how many of those letters go unopened? But I gurantee you that if we have a very bad season, and the season ticket sales go from 16,000 to say 10,000 that will send a clear message to the athletic department that we are tired of these bush league coaching moves. We are in a BCS conference we need to act like it. And staging this sort of protest if it were to come to it doesnt mean you are any less of a fan. You are just trying to make a point. A point that they cannot overlook.

I can certainly understand why Franks would turn down the position. But why not just make Smith the interum OC, and search for an adequate replacement this coming off-season. I could live with that due to the late resignation of Hobbie, but this sounds like CJL is making smith the permanent OC and he is clearly not qualifed to be a division 1A Offensive Coordinator in a BCS conference. Why did we move to the Big East if we are going to continue to promote High school calibur coaching within the system?

Not buying it...it is still a horrible decision. I cannot see the future maybe everything will be alright, who knows. But you cannot convince me that this was the right decision when you look at the other more qualified candidates up for the job. Every other candidate was faaaar more qualified than this guy, but CJL chooses the guy who's in his back pocket. Bad decision. No matter what kind of spin you try to put on it.

I am truly, truly disappointed with this hire. I certainly hope the reasoning was not about money, because if it was then what the hell did we accept an invitation to the Big East for? If you want to roll with the big boys you have to put up or shut up, and that includes putting up money to bring in good coaching. Money should NOT have been a major factor in this. However I do believe a factor could have been the timing of Hobbie's resignation. CJL may have felt that the candidates that were applying for the position were not what he was looking for, and if that was the case then he should have named someone the interum OC for the coming season. Then during the off season we could have our pick of the litter. But seeing as this is not the case I think CJL (short of having a cinderella year) could have signed his own pink slip.

Now Bonds has a staph infection and in on an IV 24/7. Maybe Karma is catching up to him, or maybe the curse of the bambino has shifted from the BoSox to Bonds?

Spence May 12th

I wish all pro sports would adopt this policy. All players get a minimum base salary (most sports minimums are a couple hundred thousand) and you dont get paid anything else unless you win, or produce very well in the game ie, triple double...homerun/GS...hat trick and so on. It would certainly make the games much more interesting.

You dont play the cards you play the player...Happy B-Day Gary

If the hold up is because CJL doesnt think Franks is the best choice for the job, and we are having a difficult time finding a qualified candidate during the interview process, wouldnt we be better suited to just name Franks the interum OC and conduct a real search this coming off season. There are always coaching moves during the offseason look at this past year all of the potential candidates we could have interviewed between the the coaching moves at ND, Florida, Utah, SC, just to name a few. Unfortunately for whatever reason Hobbie didnt "resign" until after the spring game, so we were a few months behind the ball and a lot of the good candidates were scooped up by other teams, but this coming year i'm sure will be no exception. There will be coaching moves and a lot of great candidates that we could look to fill our OC position. So maybe going the interum OC may be the best way to go?

Lacrosse

Try calling 1-800-Go-Bulls if you can. I ordered my tickets through them over the phone, they have always been very accomidating to me when I call. They will be able to answer any questions you have. And to quote E.T. "remember, you can pay your athetic contributions quarterly."

Thanks Bien...

Is there a deadline for a decision to be made?

Can he send a release to any school HE is interested in, or does that school have to show interest as well? There are a lot of schools on that list, if they are all showing serious interest we could be in trouble of losing him again.

In the time it took you to write your 1300th post out, smazza posted 38 times. You are going to have to pick it up LOB.

Is there any word on wheather or not thier band will be traveling with the team, and if they will take the field at half-time? I am really hoping to see them in person.

But is Miami even interested in him? Last year in recruiting was a fluke for them with the QB situation, they can land a top ranked QB practically every year. They are not in the same situation us, they dont need to gamble on a transfer with a history of problems. They can just sign a top 10 nationally ranked prospect and build around him, we don't have that luxury. I don't see him going to Miami.