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Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 7:56 pm
by Bos8
Glad that Thorr came out and put those rumors to bed. Go Rhody!
http://www.providencejournal.com/sports ... ll-program

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 9:10 pm
by ramster
Thanks for sharing. Great to put a rest to the speculation.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 10:16 pm
by TruePoint
Shouldn't even need to be addressed, but OK.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:42 am
by Uncle Ed
I found this article a bit of a disjointed... if I understand Thorr's reasoning, a dark cloud regarding the football progam's ongoing viability is a key factor in the program's lack of success... and that talk of replacing football with "other" sports only feeds the dark cloud. But then statements like "there are no plans to drop football in the foreseeable future" and there are no plans to truly upgrade Meade stadium as every other CAA program has, don't fill this fan with bright rays of optimism! Neither does Fleming's lamenting about getting no credit for beating Brown or being in position to win 5 games. I give the team great credit for beating Brown - but quite frankly Brown was not very good. As as far as wanting credit for being in position to win games - that is the mentality of a losing program seeking justification for a job not done well enough. I was at every one of the winnable games and I never saw a team that rose to the occasion, but instead found a way to lose.

If Thorr wants to lift the dark cloud then he needs to do more than just identify its existence. The cloud arrived and sits over Kingston because football was just something that URI did, the few good teams were more statistical abstractions then the result of a well run program. The programs that Thorr wants to emulate - UNH and Maine treat football as an extension of and in many ways the face of their schools, and that means only a real commitment to winning is acceptable. There is a price to pay for lifting a 30 year old cloud of ineptitude and neglect and that means big investment in the stadium and coaching staff, etc. We need to jump to the top level of the CAA with regards to these "physical" things because the player's we need to attract understand action is needed to back up the words. Of course, we all know that won't happen. It is clear that the administration has adopted a policy of win first and then "maybe" we will do something. So Thorr, calls to replace football with other sports are easy to understand and indeed quite logical. If the university cannot commit to doing what it takes to be successful in football, why not try something else! Wouldn't thinking otherwise demonstrate the classical definition of insanity? Long term forecast: Dark and Cloudy!

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:24 am
by rambone 78
Ed, good post....Thorr thinks the win first, then invest in the program strategy will work.....how can it?

Potential recruits see our facilities [other than the weight rooms] and why would they want to come here? Especially since they have now stated that no improvements to Meade, other than possibly lights and field turf, will be made for at least another 5 years?

That, and we have a staff on the cheap, the coach makes assistant money, and he doesn't even have a full staff? No OC.....

Ridiculous, and small time at it's best.......

All they can expect, is a small improvement in the W-L record due to slightly better talent....reaching the top half of the CAA is a total pipe dream...that's what the powers that be want at URI......Think Small...that's their motto......

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:30 am
by Rhody15
Fleming came off as kind of whining in his quotes..."oh jeez why didn't we get credit for beating Brown, oh but we had the least in the 4th quarter in 5 games..."

Can you imagine if Dan says "oh but we've had the lead in the last 3 minutes of alotta games"

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:37 am
by rambone 78
15, the end result is the same......at least when it comes to basketball URI is making an investment to win.....

But, you have to WIN....there is NO pressure to win at URI when it comes to football.......they get their 5-6000 for 5 games every season, and they're happy.....

The CAA should boot their ass out of the league......unless improvements are made.......and soon.

Hell, URI is finding out that even with a lot of improvements to the BB program, winning is not a given......

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:58 am
by ramster
How do the Salaries paid at Maine, UNH and URI compare? Sounds like you are saying URI underpants compared to similar programs? Are we way lower or just slightly lower?

For head coach
For assistant coaches?

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 12:03 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
ramster wrote:How do the Salaries paid at Maine, UNH and URI compare? Sounds like you are saying URI underpants compared to similar programs? Are we way lower or just slightly lower?

For head coach
For assistant coaches?
Awesome auto-correct....I would say URI's underpants are likely significantly lower :lol: :lol:

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 12:05 pm
by rambone 78
ramster , idk what they make at those 2 programs, but Fleming is getting 225K here.....that has to be at or very near the bottom of the CAA, and the assistants obviously are less, probably much less......and no OC as we know......

Maybe there are performance bonuses....but I doubt Fleming has fulfilled any of them......

208, you're a riot.......saw that too.....

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 1:03 pm
by rhodywins
Is Thorr only talking and playing politics here. He is the President of the administrators of the football (d2) level Rhody is in. How would it look if we dropped football. When he hopes to move up that administrative postiion will be near the top of his resume. Is this article only thinking of himself, not what is good for the total athletic program .

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 1:55 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
rhodywins wrote:Is Thorr only talking and playing politics here. He is the President of the administrators of the football (d2) level Rhody is in. How would it look if we dropped football. When he hopes to move up that administrative postiion will be near the top of his resume. Is this article only thinking of himself, not what is good for the total athletic program .
Interesting...I couldn't figure out what he was saying either...It seemed as non-committal of a commitment as possible...like nothing of any real substance - like, we're going to stay the course and keep hoping. Kinda makes sense now in light of your post. Like...."Ah, I see", said the blind man as he pi$$ed into the wind, "it all comes back to me now."

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 2:00 pm
by susie
we will never know if the talent on the offensive side is good with out a OC !!!!! It might be ? How about a QB coach also

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:14 pm
by ramster
rambone 78 wrote:ramster , idk what they make at those 2 programs, but Fleming is getting 225K here.....that has to be at or very near the bottom of the CAA, and the assistants obviously are less, probably much less......and no OC as we know......

Maybe there are performance bonuses....but I doubt Fleming has fulfilled any of them......

208, you're a riot.......saw that too.....
But that is the reason for my question.
What do the others make at Maine and UNH
Because you say it is because we don't pay our coaches well
But If we pay the same, or higher, and again that is my question......then I would think we can expect a product on the field at least as good as UNH and Maine.

If I'm a recruit I think I would pick URI over Maine and UNH all things being equal.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:22 pm
by rambone 78
Maybe not, ramster......we don't even have a full staff......either it's because the school's too cheap to even pay a full staff, or Fleming thinks he doesn't need them.....either way is bullshit......

I think Thorr wants Fleming to have an OC.....and I guess they don't even have a QB coach?

Anyway, he's another coach that blows late game leads.......status quo here......

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:28 pm
by ramster
Yeah, I'm just trying to validate the salary discrepancy issue.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:51 pm
by rambone 78
ramster, did a little research and from the latest I could get [2015] looks like Fleming's salary is competitive with most of the head coaches in the CAA.....UNH at 224K, UM at 150K!....JMU's at 300K.....however JMU's staff of 10 [not including the HC] made a total of $715K with the DC making the most at 130K.....

I doubt URI can compete with that staff's salaries......maybe that's why they could pay Fleming 225K, by not having a full staff.....

So the coach's pay is OK, but they have to fill the staff, or it's no good.......

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 4:35 pm
by ramster
NYGFan_Section208 wrote:
ramster wrote:How do the Salaries paid at Maine, UNH and URI compare? Sounds like you are saying URI underpants compared to similar programs? Are we way lower or just slightly lower?

For head coach
For assistant coaches?
Awesome auto-correct....I would say URI's underpants are likely significantly lower :lol: :lol:
:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 4:46 pm
by Uncle Ed
UCONN just fired their 3rd year head coach. 9 - 26 record.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:13 pm
by rambone 78
They have expectations....Diaco could talk a good game, but he couldn't recruit......

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:20 pm
by Seawrightspostgame
rambone 78 wrote:They have expectations....Diaco could talk a good game, but he couldn't recruit......

Hopes and dreams.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:43 pm
by Uncle Ed
Coyne from Portsmouth HS - a leading Gatorade Player of the Year candidate - has committed to UNH as a preferred walk-on. Apparently turned down URI scholarship offer. My guess is that it was not the dark cloud over Kingston but rather a belief that he will be on a perennial playoff contender that swayed his decision. Can't blame him!

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:31 pm
by Rhody15
We offer full rides to kids who can't even get full scholarships from other CAA schools. And people wonder why we suck...

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:39 pm
by rambone 78
15, Ed, and others.....BINGO!

You get what you pay for......over and over again.

We pay for nothing...as in staff and facilities...and we get nothing in return...why should it be any different?

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:58 pm
by adam914
Count me in as having no clue what Thorr is getting at here. To me it sounds like "we don't get why there is a black cloud over the program, but we aren't going to do shit to try and fix it."

And I can't stand this talking about getting lights at the field as some feat equal to building the pyramids. I've said it before, but my local little league field got lights put in within a month and probably paid for it with a bake sale or something.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:18 pm
by rambone 78
I think the cost of lights and field turf was in the 1.5-2 mil range.........big bucks for URI.......Dooley said it was a done deal 2 years ago......still waiting......

Thorr, for being a football guy, doesn't seem to get it about "his" sport.......it's just not a priority for some reason......if they were counting on NCAA money from the BB program...they might be waiting quite a while longer......

I know I will never set foot on those East stands again until they are replaced......could get seasick walking on them......

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:47 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
I think he 'gets it' just fine...realizes that in order to have winning teams...will need to invest.
Appears he thinks (knows?) that, even if they 'do' compete...may not be much ROI anyway?

They have to get a lot better to have a winning record and a LOT better to get 'a' (1) playoff game.
Seems the investment to get from here to there would be substantial...
Are tey going to profit/make money if they do? Is it even worth it financially? Looks like they think not.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:03 pm
by Uncle Ed
I hope Thorr and company (i.e., Dooley) read these posts and realize the BS they are peddling is not selling because it has all been said before and it has proven to be empty. Sports can be a marketing and fund raising force for a university - but if you are a constant loser it becomes a negative. URI does not exist for its sports, but it's sports represent URI. And the football program represents ineptitude and it is embarrassing. And an administration that thinks things are going to change without requisite commitment is inept as well. Think Big!

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:22 pm
by Hal Kopp
Thought it was self effacing (somewhat) for Fleming to admit in game failures,-3rd down ineptitude,turnover ratio,blown leads,etc..
That is problem right there. Coyne turning down a schollie from any school to walk on somewhere else,is nuts,regardless of institutions involved.
With amount of exposure he got and way he played,it is insulting as hell.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:25 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
Not sure them reading these posts would do anything. The BS they are peddling and will continue to peddle, will continue to sell (enough for them). Let's say they just came right out and said, we're going to keep the football team, but not invest in making it better because the ROI isn't there to make it better (which is what they are "doing"). What would change? You'd still get x-thousand every weekend for 5 weekends...seems to be all that matter$....? Pretty sure they recognize (and know that we recognize) it will require investment to get better. But, if they don't have aspirations of the team being better and aren't willing to invest...I don't see how it 'can' get any better...

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:33 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
Hal Kopp wrote:Thought it was self effacing (somewhat) for Fleming to admit in game failures,-3rd down ineptitude,turnover ratio,blown leads,etc..
That is problem right there. Coyne turning down a schollie from any school to walk on somewhere else,is nuts,regardless of institutions involved.
With amount of exposure he got and way he played,it is insulting as hell.
Insulting? Really? I think it is more "telling" than insulting...
Be curious if anyone could get from the guy why he made that choice.
Then I wonder if anyone would be surprised at the answer...

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:43 pm
by 860_rhody
Get rid of the program.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:50 am
by BleedBlue87
We certainly need capital improvements but that's on the Athletics Department to mobilize alumni and get them to donate. That takes more than sending out letters. They need to physically call up potential donors and make the ask. I read somewhere once that student-athlete alumni are more apt to give if a current student from the same sport they played makes the solicitation.

Putting the capital investments aside, the athletic budget itself is in the middle of the CAA pack. Maine and New Hampshire have similar budgets. No excuses that we can't be in the top half of the CAA with this budget.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:06 am
by RhowdyRam02
rambone 78 wrote:But, you have to WIN....there is NO pressure to win at URI when it comes to football.......they get their 5-6000 for 5 games every season, and they're happy.....

The CAA should boot their ass out of the league......unless improvements are made.......and soon.
The team can't even say that anymore. After averaging 5317 in 2014 it dropped to 4753 in 2015 and to 3968 last year. The average attendance has fallen a little more than 25% in two years.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:14 am
by RhowdyRam02
NYGFan_Section208 wrote:I think he 'gets it' just fine...realizes that in order to have winning teams...will need to invest.
Appears he thinks (knows?) that, even if they 'do' compete...may not be much ROI anyway?

They have to get a lot better to have a winning record and a LOT better to get 'a' (1) playoff game.
Seems the investment to get from here to there would be substantial...
Are tey going to profit/make money if they do? Is it even worth it financially? Looks like they think not.
Thorr comes from UMass, so he knows the finances of a successful program at this level. When they would make the playoffs they would lose money every extra week they'd play. There is no return on a FCS investment.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:52 am
by Hal Kopp
NYG Fan-its insulting to Coynes ablities. Hows his effort worth less than anyone elses at UNH?
Walk ons don't stand a chance 99% of time anywhere. Somebody BS'ed him at UNH. Guarantee you UNHS success has nothing to do with out of state walk ons.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:56 am
by RhowdyRam02
This article got me riled up. I'm not sure it's Koch's fault because you don't know what questions were dodged, but there's really almost no new ground covered compared to this article (http://ripr.org/post/after-disastrous-s ... -maybe-not) where Thorr was interviewed before last year. Really the only two new things I can easily see is the talk of turf and lights and the absence of any kind of accountability. At least in the first article Thorr says the program will be judged on wins and losses, that line has been scrapped from the standard football sales pitch. Other issues I had:

"You talk about an in-state student that may consider not coming here because of that fear of the program being dropped - that kills us," URI athletic director Thorr Bjorn said. "And it's been talked about for 30-plus years." This is such a horrible excuse. Even assuming in state athletes don't come here because of the state of the program, when has RI ever produced enough talent to consistently win at this level? Never. And Thorr will have been here ten years in July, so about of a third of the time the black cloud has existed. What's he done to make things better?

The Rams have no immediate plans for a significant upgrade to their facilities, including Meade Stadium. "Are there set plans to build a new stadium right now? No," Bjorn said. "But what are smaller-time things that we can do - turf and lights. We've got some creative concepts that we're talking about on campus that I really can't go into now, but we're making progress on getting turf and lights at the stadium." This is absolute garbage. The east side stands of Meade Stadium aren't safe. It's not even just about investing in the program at this point, those stands need to be fixed for the safety of the fans going to the games. And adding turf and lights to Meade in its current state is galactically stupid. A. the East stands are a more urgent need, so any multi-million dollar investment that doesn't address that is a poor allocation of limited resources B. it doesn't tell recruits football is here to stay because turf and lights can be used for other sports and C. it won't actually increase attendance appreciably. In the early season when people would be ok with being outside at night you're already getting your better attendance for the season and with Meade's smaller size there's only so much the attendance can rise. And people already don't want to come later in the year as the weather gets worse, what makes the administration think that playing those games at night when it's 20 degrees colder will bring out fans?

Moving to another league and out of the CAA hasn't been and is unlikely to be discussed. "My comparisons that I do are related to Maine and New Hampshire," Bjorn said. "Those are New England schools that have been competitive and that we've competed with for 100 years. Our budgets are similar. Our salaries are similar. Our staffing is similar." So budgets, salaries and staffing is similar, what's missing? FACILITIES! You know, like having more than half of your stands condemned back in 2009. But there are no immediate plans to upgrade Meade. Great.

Fleming feels he and his staff have adequate resources to win now and are aggressively pursuing more through fundraising. "The character of the football team is focused on winning in spite of not having the best - to embrace that," Fleming said. "So we can get James Madison up here and remember 84-7 and beat their ass on our field next year, which is the opportunity ahead of us." I'm sorry, maybe it's me but this drives me nuts. We can get James Madison up here and beat their ass next year? This sounds like Rex Ryan's garbage act with none of the charisma. They whooped us, purposefully didn't score at the end of the game, and we're going to give them bulletin board material? Garbage.

"We're not in position to build it like a Michigan would be or a Nebraska would be," Bjorn said. "But we are in position to lay the framework, the groundwork, to go out and raise dollars and hope that some other creative funding source will help us fulfill our plans." Such a strawman argument. No one is asking us to behave like Michigan or Nebraska. We can't keep up with Maine and New Hampshire. Maine's old stadium was condemned, they built a new one. New Hampshire gave you the guide of how to fund a stadium at this level with almost no state support. But there are again, no immediate plans to upgrade Meade.

Bjorn said eliminating football would also have a negative impact on the university's overall diversity. Fifty percent of URI's student-athletes are minorities, with a considerable number of African-American players listed on the Rams' football roster. According to a 2016 Forbes.com college piece, more than 69 percent of the school's general student body is white. "Five Saturdays out of the year, to be able to bring future students, to be able to bring alums back, to be able to showcase the entire university at what I think is probably the nicest time of the year, is important," Bjorn said. "The fact that 50 percent of our student-athletes are minorities, of which is a big part of our overall university mission, that aren't coming here if we don't have football - incredibly important." They have about 85 players listed on their roster, so even if all 85 were minorities, you're talking about .58% of the undergraduate population. To say we need to keep football to support diversity at URI is such an insulting argument. And are you really "showcasing" the university when you lose at the rate we do?

"There is no recognition of the Governor's Cup victory," Fleming said. "There is no recognition of the fact that we were in a number of football games and we were unable to close. If you're in a position to win five games and you don't do it, you don't sit there and look at not supporting this program. You're looking at how we can correct the minus-16 turnover ratio. "How can we manage field position better? How can we manage the clock better? How can we do better on third down on offense and defense?" Ok, you want to talk about those things? Why aren't you better? You're supposedly increasing the talent level on the squad, why aren't we winning more?

There would be no immediate replacement for football in the form of men's and women's hockey or men's lacrosse. "The expenses are going to be similar," Bjorn said. "The revenue opportunities aren't even close, which means there's going to have to be an incremental distribution from the university to participate. That's significant." This is just outright false. Here are numbers I previously calculated:

Football has 58 scholarships at $2.3 million or $39,655.17 per scholarship. NCAA D1 hockey has a maximum of 18 scholarships you can give, so using the same per scholarship funding as football, that means it would cost $713,793.06 to award maximum scholarships in hockey, for a savings of $1,586,206.94. But of course, it's not just expenditures you have to look at, but also revenue. This year football is estimated to bring in $200,000 in donations, $150,000 in ticket sales and $400,000 from the Syracuse game for a total of $750,000. So even if hockey couldn't sell tickets, couldn't do buy games and brought in no donations we would still save $836,209.94 by having a D1 hockey team over our current football program. And of course we know hockey will bring in revenue. By playing in a conference we would receive revenue from said conference. I don't know the exact mechanisms for funding now with it a club sport, but the club sport website says "The Club Sports program is partially funded through student activity fees. Additional funding is derived from membership dues, fund-raising events and activities, as well as alumni gifts and corporate contributions." So that means revenues currently captured by ticket sales would now be going to the athletic department instead of staying in the club sport domain. And we know hockey people contribute a lot of money. Much of the money for Mackal Field House was actually donated for a new on campus arena, but when Mackal died that money was diverted to the field house project. Brad Boss donated money for our current arena. The club team already survives on donations, again that's revenue that would move from club sports to the athletic department.

Again, there is so much to dislike in that article.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:39 am
by ramster
RR2,
We have not always agreed when it comes to football, but you make some excellent points.
Questions and follow up questions need to be tougher
I see lights as far down the list of priorities, if ever even on the list at all. Sounds like just throwing the dog a bone to keep him happy - just don't see the need at all for lights and like you said it will be cold anyway - and much colder at night.
Don't get the minority comments
Don't get the frustration for lack of recognition for Governors Cup - seriously?

I'm one of the biggest supporters of football on this board, and you know that from our past discussions, but I honestly find this to be on the insulting side. With all that has transpired, or not transpired, now was not the time for a soft writing. I especially would have gone strongly after the improvements that we can't talk about now - really?

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:59 am
by RhowdyRam02
I understand why people view my opinion on football the way they do, I understand I've been very negative towards football over the last few years, but my preference has always been to fix the football program. It's just become obvious to me that while they hope to improve things there are no real plans to fix football, I think that's been pretty clear since the conference affiliation fiasco. This would have been a perfect platform to articulate a clear, strong vision of the path going forward with definite plans to positively change things. We didn't get that. I believe this fan base is dying for any kind of hope that things will get better, and I believe the attendance trends show a fan base that's lost its hope. If people want to cling to Thorr saying there are no plans to drop football, fine, but that's been the stated message all along. I didn't see anything in that article for fans to hang their hats on and say "this shows how and when things will get better".

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 12:44 pm
by Uncle Ed
"The character of the football team is focused on winning in spite of not having the best - to embrace that," Fleming said. "So we can get James Madison up here and remember 84-7 and beat their ass on our field next year, which is the opportunity ahead of us."

When JMU comes to Meade next year - the only ass that gets kicked will be the same one that got kicked this year. I guess it wouldn't have been appropriate for Fleming to say that "we have an opportunity to hold them to less than 50 next year", but that is the reality. I was at that game - it was over in the first 5 minutes and it was quite evident that URI did not want to be on that field.

The one thing I liked about the Fleming hire is that I think he was sincere in wanting to be here - he knew that being a CAA head coach can be a really good gig - and I assume he honeslty believed he could be successful here. But from what I have seen, he is over his head. I guess Thorr was enamored by his being from an FBS team. At the time I was hoping he would hire Chesney from Salve Regina - young and offensive minded and did nothing but win at Salve. Assumption hired him and he has led them to the playoffs 2 years in a row - the 2 best years in school history. I would expect that Bryant is seriously looking at him to replace Fine - but I wouldn't doubt he is thinking bigger. Our benchmarks UNH and Maine have long term winning cultures - with long term successful coaches - that is what has to be built here. I think Thorr needs to find a young lower level head coach that has proven he knows how to win. But Thorr needs to realize that he is going to have to overpay to get the right coach - why else would they come here?

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 1:31 pm
by rhodywins
Adding to RhowdyRam's excellent comments. A comparison of the coaches salary would have the amount for the whole Hockey staff be near equal to what just Fleming gets. This would also be a big savings when you add the rest of the football salary.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 1:43 pm
by STC
Headline should have read:

AD Thorr Bjorn: No Plans to drop woeful URI football program.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:10 pm
by susie
before we judge the talent on the team , we need to address the coaching situation . lets start with a OC!!

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:26 pm
by OBRAM
Looks like nothing will happened unless some big donor comes along like the FieldTurf for "Baseball. However , I did not read in detail, but it seems like the gist of this, is that we really don't have a Plan for facilities. I have a 13 year old architectural drawing of revamped Meade, but 13 years later there is nothing. Actually, stadium needs to move, get away from White Horn Creek, and away from Ryan Center.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:32 pm
by RhowdyRam02
It's actually about 15 years old now, it came out at the end or just after the 2001 season. Also, I don't see them moving the stadium. Having it next to the Ryan Center was a selling point for the luxury boxes and the stands on the west side. Moving it from its current location means you have a set of bleachers with no purpose and the project would cost significantly more then the $20-30 million that's currently estimated.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 3:40 pm
by Uncle Ed
I thought those architectural drawings were great - a terrific little stadium that would make URI stand out.

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 5:27 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
STC wrote:Headline should have read:

AD Thorr Bjorn: No Plans to drop woeful URI football program.
Absolutely perfect....no plans at all...that article and comments about it are just wasted keystrokes...

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 9:54 pm
by Uncle Ed
This news is a bit old but just learned that Delaware fired 4th year coach Brock back in October after going 19-22. He has been replaced by Rocco from U Richmond - who has taken the Spiders to the playoffs 3 consecutive years. URI crosses its fingers and hopes its 4-30 coach can win 4-5 games in a season. Think mediocrity - we do!

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:12 pm
by NYGFan_Section208
Randy Edsall back to UConn...dang, it was not at all a pretty departure...surprised they're taking him back...oh well, could do worse, I guess (and apparently, so do they)

Re: Koch Article "No Plans on Dropping Football"

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:46 am
by Uncle Ed
Any word on the new coach for Bryant? Getting a bit late with regards to recruiting. I heard Fine's resignation (read firing) was due to some off field activities and not their mediocre record.