AtlantaTiger

Had a little down time today and listened to Coach Satterfield’s Big 12 media day comments about UC football. He mentioned that they’re bringing back all 5 OL starters from last season. That prompted me to revisit what our roster looks like at DL and who we will be throwing up against them. Listen, I have very practical expectations for what that game is going to be but I was particularly concerned about just how smallish our DL is after reviewing the roster. Looks like we maybe average 6’1 along the DL….have a few 6’3 dudes but they appear to be on the younger, less experienced side. I feel like we’re “size appropriate” at just about every other position other than d-line. We need to find some bigger dudes! In addition, UC returns their leading rusher. Guessing we can possibly expect a massive ground offensive from the Bearcats. On the bright side, UC is picked to be a bottom feeder in the Big 12 this year….maybe we’ll have a puncher’s chance.

Just a quick observation that UNH is picked two spots ahead of us when last year’s starting QB left for Minnesota. They must think highly of the kid who’s replacing him. They were also a fairly mediocre team last season. I wonder what’s changed to make them the projected #7 team. I don’t put a ton of stock into any of this really.

These updates on the team’s progress and performance are terrific and very much appreciated. I’m sure the guys are busting their tails this offseason to be in great shape and form for the upcoming season. What I’d REALLY love to know is what Coach Skerry and his staff have been doing to improve at their craft. As I’ve pondered in offseasons in the past, what does Pat do in the summer to get better as a coach? Does he attend coaching clinics? Does he visit other programs and meet with other coaches to compare ideas, concepts and strategies? How much film of OTHER teams does he watch to possibly “borrow” set play designs or better understand clock management? If Pat is convinced that his system and style of play is untouchable and is in no need of adjustment, we’re doomed. Won’t matter who starts at the 5, how many minutes so-n-so gets, how many free throws they practice, etc. I think it’s been pretty well established that a lot of our failures as a program have been less about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s and more about the X’s & O’s. What is PAT doing this summer to be a better coach?

So there was the Instagram post a couple of days ago from the men’s basketball team announcing the jersey numbers for the incoming players this fall. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw “Skerry #22”. What recruiting news did I apparently miss over the last few months? Does Skerry’s son play for us now? I’m really confused. Someone please explain.

Someone please explain to me how on earth Towson baseball has been this bad for so long. I’m assuming it starts with the head coach? Is there any hope of getting this program to respectability anytime in the foreseeable future??

I realize it’s highly unlikely to happen but if Towson was going to hit the eject-button on CAA football (or maybe all sports) perhaps a good potential landing spot would be the SoCon. - SoCon currently has 9 member schools, by adding Towson they get to a nice even 10. - SoCon has some solid programs with histories of football success. - I think there’s something to be said for the benefit of its geographic footprint with regard to football. There’s definitely a deeper appreciation and distinct culture for college football in the south, even for smaller FCS programs. I think there could be a beneficial “halo effect” for Towson being associated with that culture. -Maybe most importantly, it would expand Towson’s brand visibility within some extremely fertile recruiting areas throughout the south. It would be much nicer to be playing late November games in Macon, Georgia than Orono, Maine.

Make no mistake, the Richmond move is an indictment of the inept CAA leadership. As evidenced by what happened at the FBS level where the SEC and B1G leapfrogged all the other conferences by being assertive, aggressive and forward-thinking, you can see the same thing happening at the FCS level among programs with historically strong leadership, success and AMBITION. Delaware, Richmond, Stephen F. Austin, JMU, Missouri State….even upstart Kennesaw State. Making bold decisions that are in their best interests. Meanwhile, the CAA is managed by reactive, small-minded, milquetoast-weenies, who broker god-awful media deals and “poach” random, marginal, snooze-worthy programs to simply fill the void when marquee schools walk out the front door.

What would be our realistic options? We’re not going up to FBS and no current FCS has any real “juice” outside of MVC which we’re not a geographic fit for. Unless we drop to Patriot League ourselves for the academic-prestige-by-association factor, I don’t think there are many good options on the table.

Will any of that money be going to secretive contract extensions for any of our coaches?

Completely agree. Furthermore this is a kid from Virginia. I understand that Towson is not a national brand but shouldn’t we at least be a pretty familiar name and brand in neighboring Virginia at this point in our almost 160 years of institutional existence?

“…..you can’t teach size.” Add that to the long list of things Skerry is unable to do. (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)

I’m getting stoked for football season. Trying to not drink my own kool-aid but can’t help but feel like Towson football is going to take a major step forward this season (regardless of what happens in Cincinnati).

Impossible to watch Oakland take down Kentucky and not realize why some of us so desperately want new leadership for Towson’s program to possibly improve our chances for a similar shot at glory. But hey, I should just be grateful we get our coveted 20 wins a year. 😉

Is Towson having a pro day? If so, when?

If you were a betting man, which is more likely to happen first?…. Pat Skerry takes Towson to the NCAA Tournament or Pete Shinnick gets Towson back to the FCS National Championship Game?

Not an apples to apples comparison because it’s football but even Nick Saban eventually relented and changed his offensive philosophy years ago to be more uptempo because he knew his offensive system was falling behind and becoming passe. The game had changed and evolved. Pat Skerry is a relic from yesteryear but he’s so enamored with his own philosophy and approach he’s willing to sabotage his own program’s success to try to prove it still works in today’s game. Tony Bennett got the wake up call last night…..meanwhile, Skerry is still asleep at the wheel.

Believe me, I ask myself that very question often.

My tournament allegiances are as follows Dayton (wife) Creighton (mom & dad) St. Peter’s (dad undergrad)

How about the top 4 seeds in the A10 all taking a nose dive in their tournament? Wild stuff….March Madness!

What’s even more disheartening is that there’s not much chance that help is coming through that door in the form of recruitment. What’s the old Bill Parcels quote? “If you want me to cook the dinner, let me buy the groceries.” Well, the groceries that Pat Skerry has been “buying” tend to be the leftovers and scraps from other programs and lately the groceries have been rotten. How often is Towson a player’s first choice? Pat only recruits the players that he considers to be good fits for HIS preferred style of offense, which I think we all agree is a dreadful style of offense. So to think we’re going to magically get a slashing guard or high-flying explosive 3 or 4, probably not going to happen. I feel like we’re too often everyone’s “backup” school or fallback option. If I’m a decent recruit and Pat is pitching me and my parents in my living room one of the first questions I would ask (after “how much will I make from NIL at Towson?”) would be, “hey Coach how many times have you taken Towson to the NCAA tournament?” In the ruthless world of recruiting beggars can’t be choosers and right now I think Pat is more beggar than a chooser.

After giving it some more thought, this whole Pat Skerry contract extension could really come back to bite Steve and impact the trajectory of his own career. How will potential future employers view Steve’s decision to extend a coach who is just north of .500 with ZERO NCAA Tournament appearances over the course of 13(?) seasons? ”So Steve, in your opinion it made sense to extend Pat Skerry, based on what exactly? Would you use those same standards/criteria here at University X when evaluating our coaches?” Steve has hitched his wagon to Skerry with no clear or practical contract exit strategy. No one will be able to bail Steve out of this other than Skerry and that’s highly unlikely. What if the Tigers take a massive step backwards next season and only win 10-12 games? These two are married to one another….for better or for worse.

Meanwhile, #7 Stony Brook about to advance to the final.

I honestly don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer, but to be speculating on who comes back, who leaves, who starts, etc. is a bit like rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. Have we not learned that the players that come into our program make little or no difference?? As long as the captain of the ship remains Skerry, this ship will ultimately sink.

I thought Jon Rothstein’s post-game analysis was great. Telling the audience Pat Skerry needs to go without explicitly saying Pat Skerry needs to go. Far too many golden opportunities over the years to capitalize on either superior talent (Benimon) or circumstances and never able to get it done, adding tonight’s game to that list.