COACHES CORNER: DC Billy Crocker's Weekly Media Session

[UConnNick]

Wait, I've figured out Crocker's entire long term coaching strategy. Due to the new NCAA redshirt rules, he's going to play the freshmen one more time, they get pounded at Syrexcuse, and then he's gonna redshirt the lot of them and play upperclassmen for the rest of this season. He knew three of these first four games were a lost cause anyway, so why destroy the confidence of the players who play the last eight games? Plus the freshmen got some real time game experience. Brilliant!

 

[Scrutineer]

Put yourself in his place. Sure he's wound up and probably feeling a lot of pressure from himself as well as all the others that want to blame him for everything gone wrong.

He was very successful at Villanova for many years with a great track record. He's not like a certain one hit wonder who was a "safe" hire for Manuel, in spite of how bad NDU looked against Alabama, because of that award for Coordinator of the Year.

Crocker's hiring looked like a home run and unless he's suddenly gotten stupid he might well look good next year and like a genius in two years. I'm glad I'm retired and don't have to make hiring decisions anymore as that was always the toughest part of management.

 

[Bubba1957]

In my opinion, when coaches speak in public they should alway be speaking to their players. So, it bothers me to hear how they are freshman who have few skills and no ability to learn more complex stuff. I'm not sure how I would feel if I was a player. It wasn't a real slam but I would prefer a more positive message that still make the point about their inexperience. Maybe more emphasis about progress being made, great attitudes, etc...

 

[freescooter]

Look. We are bad. Edsall basically skipped over Diaco’s recruits and decided to use frosh. Which means either Edsall just wanted his own guys, but he didn’t do this on offense, or that these guys were just not good. O think it was the latter. Having said that, I think there is no excuse for being this bad

 

[freescooter]

He is now the AD at Michigan!

Heard a rumor from a Michigan friend that Warde is not allowed to make any head coach hires. If one leaves they have a group set up to hire.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Personally I think Crocker's defense, as of right now, still isn't the problem. To me it's the fact that we've played veteran teams so pur young team is getting manhandled. Yes there are some things I believe Crocker can fix (tackling, communication, etc...), but I personally am not ready to jump on the fire Crocker train yet. He was literally the only defense that was able to stop the nation champions at Villanova.

 

[Carl Spackler]

In my opinion, when coaches speak in public they should alway be speaking to their players. So, it bothers me to hear how they are freshman who have few skills and no ability to learn more complex stuff. I'm not sure how I would feel if I was a player. It wasn't a real slam but I would prefer a more positive message that still make the point about their inexperience. Maybe more emphasis about progress being made, great attitudes, etc...

Agreed 100% on the first part. Coaches should absolutely be talking in public as if they are talking to not just their players, but also their fellow coaches, and the school administration.

That noted, I counter your second part with my opinion that it's highly counterproductive and really not good to be telling football players that they are something they aren't. I don't get the message from anything I've seen or heard from anybody, that these players don't have the potential to grow as individuals and a team and improve and become a very good team. But they all got to put the work in to get there - coaches and players.

We - as the fans, the few and far between, have all the luxury in the world to question whether or not Edsall's program has recruited players that will be able to compete, and question and dissect their decision making in game plans and game situations - and if the convo from fans on a message board or public dialogue from a coach is disrupting players, ccoaches or both - then everybody needs to get some thicker skin.