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12/16/2013 2:57 pm  #1


Why I am struggling right now

First of all, I haven't been around to experience a lot of the Duquesne pain.  I started school at Duquesne during Danny Nee's third year of coaching (I think) and I remember being shocked at how little people cared about the basketball team.  Needless to say, I have done my best to remove the Danny Nee experience from my mind.
 
In Nee' last season I sent a letter to Amodio (who had just been hired) stating what I felt were the problems with the program. I discussed the apathy of the student body and how I felt that the school pride/spirit needed to be rejuvenated.  Greg reached out to me, invited me to his office, and informed me that he was hiring someone (that person being Mark Geller) to help improve school spirit.  That was really my only meeting with Greg (I met with Geller after that) but I have to say that he was geniunly nice to me and seemed willing to help me out.  Geller honestly provided little guidance and I have to admit that most of the school spirit that our R&B crew displayed during my school years was attributed to my desire (along with others like Rogabee, Face, and my friends) to force students to games.  In addition, Ron went out of his way to help us out.  He always attended meetings, he gave me his cell phone number, and flat out told me that he would do whatever it took to help our student section succeed.  My favorite moment of athletics was the first game of Everharts career (against Youngstown State) when we won an extremely close game.  Everhart walked by our section and pointed to us.  It was awesome.  

At any rate, the reason I am having such a difficult time right now is because I don't see the same progress happening under Ferry that I did under Everhart.  In Ron's first year, I saw an improvement in the talent and effort on the court.  Had the shootings not occured, who knows how well the team would have played?  In years two and three the team brought me joy to watch. In fact, during the second season (and third) I felt very excited about the future of the program.  Granted, We lost some games we should have won, but I always had hope.  Ron did make some mistakes, and as 81 mentioned, the 1040 plan was an idiotic idea with James and Achara.  Losing the one game to Pitt when we lead by about 20 at half still haunts me too.

With Ferry, I haven't had anything to be excited about besides the West Virginia game in season one.  Watkins and Robinson got me pumped up, but I haven't been able to see what they can do.  The point guard situation looks desperate, and we haven't signed anyone for this season despite the fact that Ferry is working with a bigger budget (I believe).  Ferry is supposed to have these excellent assistant coaches, but I haven't seen anything to make me believe that our game day coaching has really improved much.  All our team tries to do is run, run, run.  Just once I want to have a coach like Bo Ryan who slows down the game and runs half court sets.  

With all that said here are some thoughts from my less passionate side:

1.  It is still really early.  A coach gets 4 years.  Ferry deserves as much patience as the rest.  I just wish I saw more to get excited about.  Our schedule is so crappy that it's even hard to judge our team.  Of course, we lost to some of those crappy teams (New Hampshire anyone?) so that doesn't make me feel too gear.

2.  Recruiting is still early, and Eric James looks like a player.  Hopefully we land a nice PG in the spring to complement our team.  Perhaps someone who can run and offense and shoot?  

3.  Ferry has been just as supportive with the fanbase and students.  I actually saw him do a similar point to the student section during one of the games.  He also tweets to them to offer his thanks for showing up to games.


 


"You have to be realistic about these things."  - Logen Ninefingers
 

12/16/2013 2:58 pm  #2


Re: Why I am struggling right now

/rant off


Sorry for the wall of text guys.  I just love Duquesne basketball more than any sport (including the Pirates, and that's saying something) so I get pretty fired up!


"You have to be realistic about these things."  - Logen Ninefingers
     Thread Starter
 

12/16/2013 3:26 pm  #3


Re: Why I am struggling right now

No apologies necessary. You're a good fan and a good guy.

 

 

12/16/2013 3:35 pm  #4


Re: Why I am struggling right now

It is just a depressing situation all around.   It is the cumulative errors of the school's mishandling over decades, and it is a shame that Ferry has to be the brunt of it.   But it is, what it is.  

I actually think we are at a lower point than the Nee years, because at least then they could say, we have a renewed commitment.  If these are the results after 7 odd years of a renewal committment, we are in deep crap.

 

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