Loyola, other than football

[sparky1]

While without a doubt Loyola is down in football, though this year was better than last. The Dons were able to bring home their third A conference championship tonight with a Soccer championship to hang beside the Cross Country and Volleyball. Not sure what the winter and spring holds but for sure there is some athletic life in the school. The true test will be to see how the undersquads have been doing.

[mop]

While without a doubt Loyola is down in football, though this year was better than last. The Dons were able to bring home their third A conference championship tonight with a Soccer championship to hang beside the Cross Country and Volleyball. Not sure what the winter and spring holds but for sure there is some athletic life in the school. The true test will be to see how the undersquads have been doing.

Loyola does well at the "Olympic", non-revenue, no fan sports. I'll grant you that. We know how they did in football this year with a senior laden team. How do you think they'll do in basketball and lacrosse over the next two seasons? I see a lot of holes but maybe you have a different perspective?

[sparky1]

I think basketball will be a struggle. It always will, until the school can get two or three impact players. The thing is basketball is a sport that it only takes two or three boys to make a difference. Loyola will be competitive, because of a terrific coach, but will not win it all because of the lack of athletes.

Lacrosse is another story. They have lots of good players in the school,and very good coaches. They will be in the hunt again this year.

Loyola seems to depend on a core of multi sport athletes across the board. There are good boys, dependable, coachable kids who can, on occasion catch the brass ring. But no where is there the one sport stud who is an all everything.

I can not say that is a bad thing, but i do know that it will keep them from winning in Football, and Basketball, where you have to have a D1 prospect or three in the MIAA A to hope to win.

[LoveGoodBeer]

Loyola does well at the "Olympic", non-revenue, no fan sports. I'll grant you that. We know how they did in football this year with a senior laden team. How do you think they'll do in basketball and lacrosse over the next two seasons? I see a lot of holes but maybe you have a different perspective?

Actually if you looked at the roster, you would that about 2/3 of team are underclassmen, with many getting significant playing time. What has hurt them this year are turnovers. If a few turnovers did not happen they would have a different record.

[mop]

Given the turnovers, a great running QB, and the senior laden O line, maybe they should have run a triple option thus past season? When you don't have the studs improvise with your scheme....

[mop]

With the pace of recruiting aka talent acquisition at their A Conference competitors, IMHO Loyola will struggle to finish in the top half of their Conference in basketball and football going forward. I see them anywhere between 3rd and 5th in lacrosse this spring. Coaching in the A Conference is now more weighted towards talent acquisition rather than Xs and Os (see Biff Poggi)

[GREYHOUND ALUM]

With the pace of recruiting aka talent acquisition at their A Conference competitors, IMHO Loyola will struggle to finish in the top half of their Conference in basketball and football going forward. I see them anywhere between 3rd and 5th in lacrosse this spring. Coaching in the A Conference is now more weighted towards talent acquisition rather than Xs and Os (see Biff Poggi)

Poggi isn't a great offensive coach but he's is not only a great recruiter but Gilman is great at player development. Poggi and his staff develops the young talent IMO better than any team in the state.

As far as football goes, if Loyola doesn't change things soon they will be the doormat of the MIAA for years to come. The cupboard is pretty bare there. I hear great things about Hall but he needs to get out there and make it happen. The Alums have to be upset with the way CHC has owned them the last few years.

[somedumbguy]

Loyola has never been a school that has consistantly produced Division I football talent. It has always relied on Division 1 lacrosse talent to fill out its football team and usually it is enough to be competitive in the MIAA. If the MIAA continues to be a league where teams have to have 5 or six players with Division 1 offers to win a championship, then you can probably count Loyola out because it has never been that and probably won't. While the alumni may not be happy about losing a Turkey Bowl or 4, Loyola could get blown out every year for the next decade and still be leading the series. There have been other dry spells before. In the late 70's and early 80's Calvert Hall won 9 or 10 in a row I think. The Don's have had some good win streaks as well.

As far as those championships in those "non-revenue" sports, congratulations to those who won the championships. High School is the top competitive level a lot of athletes will play at and winning a championship in any sport is something to be applauded. I have no idea about mens volleyball, but some of the atheletes on the soccer and cross country teams will probably put themselves in a position to get scholarships at some level and hopefully use their athletic ability to further their education. In the end, helping these kids develop their talents (whatever they may be) and get ahead in life is what these schools are about.

[mop]

If Loyola is destined to finish in the basement of the A Conference in football, shouldn't drop down the B Conference. Where are these so called laxers in the pipeline that are going to make the team competitive with CHC? That was two decades ago..... CHC gets those kids now......

[GREYHOUND ALUM]

If Loyola is destined to finish in the basement of the A Conference in football, shouldn't drop down the B Conference. Where are these so called laxers in the pipeline that are going to make the team competitive with CHC? That was two decades ago..... CHC gets those kids now......

I agree with you. If Loyola is fine with being a doormat in the conference, I believe it is tim to move down. You have to do what you have to do to stay at the very least, competitive. I heard Donald Davis after winning the semifinal game and watching the Gilman-McD game last wek, was at a night youth league game. That's some serious dedication!

No one in the league is going to be able to go dollar for dollar with Gilman and McD, that's just the facts. But you don't have to. All the other schools in the A have advantages over getting kids into their schools over Gian and McD. I'm tired of hearing the BS about the money. These schools can only bring I'm so much. CHC is getting a super stud next year and CHC wasn't his first choice! All you need is a humble, hard working dedicated coach. I would say that Loyola's endowment is probably higher than CHC's. They can get the kids to make them relevant in the future. But they need to start like yesterday.

[TheGuru]

I agree with you. If Loyola is fine with being a doormat in the conference, I believe it is tim to move down. You have to do what you have to do to stay at the very least, competitive. I heard Donald Davis after winning the semifinal game and watching the Gilman-McD game last wek, was at a night youth league game. That's some serious dedication!

No one in the league is going to be able to go dollar for dollar with Gilman and McD, that's just the facts. But you don't have to. All the other schools in the A have advantages over getting kids into their schools over Gian and McD. I'm tired of hearing the BS about the money. These schools can only bring I'm so much. CHC is getting a super stud next year and CHC wasn't his first choice! All you need is a humble, hard working dedicated coach. I would say that Loyola's endowment is probably higher than CHC's. They can get the kids to make them relevant in the future. But they need to start like yesterday.

Don't you know it's bad form to worry about another man's wallet. You make assumptions about endowments and have no basis of fact. Just stick with pimpin' Gilman & McDonogh.

[GREYHOUND ALUM]

Don't you know it's bad form to worry about another man's wallet. You make assumptions about endowments and have no basis of fact. Just stick with pimpin' Gilman & McDonogh.

It's definitely just an assumption. But I'm sure their endowments are very close one way or the other. And right now their football programs are not.

[watchfuleye]

LoveGoodBeer says that the Loyola football roster is 2/3 underclassmen. That is true as 28 of 43 are 10th or 11th graders. However, sitting on the bench doesn't make them experienced for next year. Counting the 22 offensive/defensive spots, 14 of them are seniors and 5 of those seniors are playing both ways. So, the returners are really just Cameron,Covey,Janoskie,& Meurer. No one else has any tested game experience. If they are going to beat Calvert Hall, their best chance is this year.

[GREYHOUND ALUM]

LoveGoodBeer says that the Loyola football roster is 2/3 underclassmen. That is true as 28 of 43 are 10th or 11th graders. However, sitting on the bench doesn't make them experienced for next year. Counting the 22 offensive/defensive spots, 14 of them are seniors and 5 of those seniors are playing both ways. So, the returners are really just Cameron,Covey,Janoskie,& Meurer. No one else has any tested game experience. If they are going to beat Calvert Hall, their best chance is this year.

I agree. Loyola's best chance to beat CHC is this year. But they have to have their QB to be healthy.

[mop]

LoveGoodBeer says that the Loyola football roster is 2/3 underclassmen. That is true as 28 of 43 are 10th or 11th graders. However, sitting on the bench doesn't make them experienced for next year. Counting the 22 offensive/defensive spots, 14 of them are seniors and 5 of those seniors are playing both ways. So, the returners are really just Cameron,Covey,Janoskie,& Meurer. No one else has any tested game experience. If they are going to beat Calvert Hall, their best chance is this year.

Is Loyola rebuilding by recruiting or is it business as usual (walk up traffic only please). The talent acquisition landscape has changed: Has Loyola adapted? If not, will it? IMHO, the current Don AD is an impediment to any philisophical change in talent acquisition, but maybe he reflects the true views of the Blakefield Board and alumni base. Given the low number of returning starters, we'll know next fall if Loyola is serious about rebuilding the Program based on the number of highly touted freshman recruits on their varsity roster. If they don't recruit, finish in the basement and lose to CHC again, the new President may get an earful from the Blakefield faithful. Then again, if he's like Pesci, he may not care......

[mop]

LoveGoodBeer says that the Loyola football roster is 2/3 underclassmen. That is true as 28 of 43 are 10th or 11th graders. However, sitting on the bench doesn't make them experienced for next year. Counting the 22 offensive/defensive spots, 14 of them are seniors and 5 of those seniors are playing both ways. So, the returners are really just Cameron,Covey,Janoskie,& Meurer. No one else has any tested game experience. If they are going to beat Calvert Hall, their best chance is this year.

Is Loyola rebuilding by recruiting or is it business as usual (walk up traffic only please). The talent acquisition landscape has changed: Has Loyola adapted? If not, will it? IMHO, the current Don AD is an impediment to any philisophical change in talent acquisition, but maybe he reflects the true views of the Blakefield Board and alumni base. Given the low number of returning starters, we'll know next fall if Loyola is serious about rebuilding the Program based on the number of highly touted freshman recruits on their varsity roster. If they don't recruit, finish in the basement and lose to CHC again, the new President may get an earful from the Blakefield faithful. Then again, if he's like Pesci, he may not care......

[somedumbguy]

If they don't recruit, finish in the basement and lose to CHC again, the new President may get an earful from the Blakefield faithful. Then again, if he's like Pesci, he may not care......

I think a lot of what you say may be true. But nobody is getting fired with an interim president and 3 MIAA championships in other fall sports. One clarification. Loyola did not finish in the basement of the MIAA this year. They beat Mt. St. Joe, Mcdonogh and were within 4 points of Spalding. They were uncompetitive against Gilman and Dematha this year. Loyola could lose to those schools for the next 50 years and the Loyola alumni would not care. What drives the alumni is Calvert Hall. Calvert Hall has clearly stepped up its game and Loyola must eventually competitive against them. It may be this year, in 5 years or in a decade, but if Calvert Hall has upped its game (which it has), Loyola will eventually figure out a way to match it.

[mop]

I think a lot of what you say may be true. But nobody is getting fired with an interim president and 3 MIAA championships in other fall sports. One clarification. Loyola did not finish in the basement of the MIAA this year. They beat Mt. St. Joe, Mcdonogh and were within 4 points of Spalding. They were uncompetitive against Gilman and Dematha this year. Loyola could lose to those schools for the next 50 years and the Loyola alumni would not care. What drives the alumni is Calvert Hall. Calvert Hall has clearly stepped up its game and Loyola must eventually competitive against them. It may be this year, in 5 years or in a decade, but if Calvert Hall has upped its game (which it has), Loyola will eventually figure out a way to match it.

If Loyola loses by more than 3 touchdowns this year and by 5 TDs next year, is that enough to warrant a change?

[somedumbguy]

If Loyola loses by more than 3 touchdowns this year and by 5 TDs next year, is that enough to warrant a change?

I think it is too early to tell. There are a lot of moving pieces and the first thing is the new President.

[prepfan]

If Loyola loses by more than 3 touchdowns this year and by 5 TDs next year, is that enough to warrant a change?

As noted, the alumni is concerned with the Turkey bowl, the traditional rivalry. I don't think there is any even remotely comparable to posters who support [and HYPE] other programs.

All of the community are not pleased with the current (three year trend) but all have been through similar 'phases' in the long tradition. Actually this current trend comes on the heels of a long twenty year run favoring the Dons.

But that run had been preceded by a decade heavily favoring the Cards.

And so it goes.