Roster/Staff Updates

[AppWyo]

“Bad hire” is a maybe one year into what he inherited. This time next year would be a better time to assess that in the current environment.

Exactly. 2026 is make or break for him for sure.

Not sure I agree with "make or break" year if that means in the hunt for conference championship. Maybe we will be. However, I personally believe that is a year ahead of schedule as I look at coaching hires.
I do believe we need to have a winning record. I am just not sure how good all these freshmen will be. I guess it could be a "break" year if we have another losing record.
If the freshmen are good and the transfers are good..and we hold onto most of them for 27 that have eligibility., my expectations will be high and that we should be back to where we want to be..in the running for conference championship.
I get that college landscape has changed. So, maybe I am old school in the thought process. I just have typically seen it takes time for freshmen to be great.

I think we should be in the hunt for a conference championship next season. In the current environment, with all the player and coach turnover, there should not be one dominant team in the Sun Belt as every team is basically getting a fresh start every 1 or 2 years. ODU lost their all-star QB. Coastal has the 3rd lowest ranked recruiting/transfer class in the Sun Belt, JMU has 2nd coaching change in two years. Most of Huff's Marshall players are gone and Southern Miss's recruiting class is second to last in the Sun Belt. All but three Sun Belt teams will have at least 40 new players next season. We have the resources to compete with South Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas State, Troy, and Georgia State. If DLo doesn't get it done in year 2, what will change in year 3 or 4? I do think it's a make or break year, but I also think he's gonna make it. I think we go undefeated this coming season, 16-0, baby!

We would have to go 17-0.

[AppWyo]

“Bad hire” is a maybe one year into what he inherited. This time next year would be a better time to assess that in the current environment.

Exactly. 2026 is make or break for him for sure.

Not sure I agree with "make or break" year if that means in the hunt for conference championship. Maybe we will be. However, I personally believe that is a year ahead of schedule as I look at coaching hires.
I do believe we need to have a winning record. I am just not sure how good all these freshmen will be. I guess it could be a "break" year if we have another losing record.
If the freshmen are good and the transfers are good..and we hold onto most of them for 27 that have eligibility., my expectations will be high and that we should be back to where we want to be..in the running for conference championship.
I get that college landscape has changed. So, maybe I am old school in the thought process. I just have typically seen it takes time for freshmen to be great.

I think we should be in the hunt for a conference championship next season. In the current environment, with all the player and coach turnover, there should not be one dominant team in the Sun Belt as every team is basically getting a fresh start every 1 or 2 years. ODU lost their all-star QB. Coastal has the 3rd lowest ranked recruiting/transfer class in the Sun Belt, JMU has 2nd coaching change in two years. Most of Huff's Marshall players are gone and Southern Miss's recruiting class is second to last in the Sun Belt. All but three Sun Belt teams will have at least 40 new players next season. We have the resources to compete with South Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas State, Troy, and Georgia State. If DLo doesn't get it done in year 2, what will change in year 3 or 4? I do think it's a make or break year, but I also think he's gonna make it. I think we go undefeated this coming season, 16-0, baby!

We would have to go 17-0.

If we go 17-0, do we need to hire a new coach?

[AppinVA]

Exactly. 2026 is make or break for him for sure.

Not sure I agree with "make or break" year if that means in the hunt for conference championship. Maybe we will be. However, I personally believe that is a year ahead of schedule as I look at coaching hires.
I do believe we need to have a winning record. I am just not sure how good all these freshmen will be. I guess it could be a "break" year if we have another losing record.
If the freshmen are good and the transfers are good..and we hold onto most of them for 27 that have eligibility., my expectations will be high and that we should be back to where we want to be..in the running for conference championship.
I get that college landscape has changed. So, maybe I am old school in the thought process. I just have typically seen it takes time for freshmen to be great.

I think we should be in the hunt for a conference championship next season. In the current environment, with all the player and coach turnover, there should not be one dominant team in the Sun Belt as every team is basically getting a fresh start every 1 or 2 years. ODU lost their all-star QB. Coastal has the 3rd lowest ranked recruiting/transfer class in the Sun Belt, JMU has 2nd coaching change in two years. Most of Huff's Marshall players are gone and Southern Miss's recruiting class is second to last in the Sun Belt. All but three Sun Belt teams will have at least 40 new players next season. We have the resources to compete with South Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas State, Troy, and Georgia State. If DLo doesn't get it done in year 2, what will change in year 3 or 4? I do think it's a make or break year, but I also think he's gonna make it. I think we go undefeated this coming season, 16-0, baby!

We would have to go 17-0.

If we go 17-0, do we need to hire a new coach?

Yes. Because Clark would’ve gone 18-0 with the same group.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

“Bad hire” is a maybe one year into what he inherited. This time next year would be a better time to assess that in the current environment.

Exactly. 2026 is make or break for him for sure.

Not sure I agree with "make or break" year if that means in the hunt for conference championship. Maybe we will be. However, I personally believe that is a year ahead of schedule as I look at coaching hires.
I do believe we need to have a winning record. I am just not sure how good all these freshmen will be. I guess it could be a "break" year if we have another losing record.
If the freshmen are good and the transfers are good..and we hold onto most of them for 27 that have eligibility., my expectations will be high and that we should be back to where we want to be..in the running for conference championship.
I get that college landscape has changed. So, maybe I am old school in the thought process. I just have typically seen it takes time for freshmen to be great.

I think we should be in the hunt for a conference championship next season. In the current environment, with all the player and coach turnover, there should not be one dominant team in the Sun Belt as every team is basically getting a fresh start every 1 or 2 years. ODU lost their all-star QB. Coastal has the 3rd lowest ranked recruiting/transfer class in the Sun Belt, JMU has 2nd coaching change in two years. Most of Huff's Marshall players are gone and Southern Miss's recruiting class is second to last in the Sun Belt. All but three Sun Belt teams will have at least 40 new players next season. We have the resources to compete with South Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas State, Troy, and Georgia State. If DLo doesn't get it done in year 2, what will change in year 3 or 4? I do think it's a make or break year, but I also think he's gonna make it. I think we go undefeated this coming season, 16-0, baby!

We would have to go 17-0.

Not if we have a bye

[t4pizza]

Great post AppOrange.

Another area for me that I’m pleased with is staff reconfiguration. Due to the timing of his hiring, DLo was really scrambling last year in hiring assistants. This resulted in Watkins coaching WRs and Larkins coaching RBs - two positions they had no experience coaching. We also hired an OL coach who had been out the fold for a season. This year, Dlo hired a true WR coach, a true RB coach, an OL coach with coordinator experience, a DL coach with coordinator experience plus an additional safeties coach.

The coaching staff is better today than it was 12 months ago and that gives me additional hope to see some on field progress.

I do agree that the coaching staff appears better than last year. But I don't agree on the point about being pressed last year because of the time of hire, most every college coach that replaces a fired coach gets hired in the exact same time period. He just didn't do a good job rounding out the staff is all, this year appears much better. Hope it translates on the field.

[Oldlknapp]

I think Justin Harper is a “good ole Catawba County boy” that played at Bandys.

As a Bear I am not sure I approve of this hire.

He played at Bandys around 1997-2000. They represented the SD-7 well going all the way to the state finals.
I can’t remember… did BH field a football team back then?

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think Justin Harper is a “good ole Catawba County boy” that played at Bandys.

As a Bear I am not sure I approve of this hire.

He played at Bandys around 1997-2000. They represented the SD-7 well going all the way to the state finals.
I can’t remember… did BH field a football team back then?

That was after I was. At BH but I assume so on paper, though on the field maybe not.

[AppDub]

I think Justin Harper is a “good ole Catawba County boy” that played at Bandys.

As a Bear I am not sure I approve of this hire.

He played at Bandys around 1997-2000. They represented the SD-7 well going all the way to the state finals.
I can’t remember… did BH field a football team back then?

That was after I was. At BH but I assume so on paper, though on the field maybe not.

Ahh, the old SD7. I played in that conference 89-93. Pretty sure BH had a football team 97-2000.

[AppStFan1]

Good grief people, give the man a year or two . . . so many variables to what happend last year, this will be the first true test of what he and this coaching staff can do. DLo is not Cig. As much as some of you have a one year turn it completely around mentality, that is just not realistic for us with our $ shortfalls (and Cig seems to be an anomoly). I will be fine with a 2 win improvemnt this upcoming year and continued progress until we are back in discussions for the conf champ every year. If we win 4 or 5 this year, then I will start to seriously doubt if this staff has the chops in modern semi-pro football.

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

[AppDawg]

Good grief people, give the man a year or two . . . so many variables to what happend last year, this will be the first true test of what he and this coaching staff can do. DLo is not Cig. As much as some of you have a one year turn it completely around mentality, that is just not realistic for us with our $ shortfalls (and Cig seems to be an anomoly). I will be fine with a 2 win improvemnt this upcoming year and continued progress until we are back in discussions for the conf champ every year. If we win 4 or 5 this year, then I will start to seriously doubt if this staff has the chops in modern semi-pro football.

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

Not directed to either of you specifically. More of a general comment that all of the cig talk irks me. Didn’t he take something like 13 players from JMU with him to indy that had been in his system for multiple seasons? He took a “ready made” foundation with him.

We are having to try to rebuild some form of a foundation.

[Seattleapp]

Good grief people, give the man a year or two . . . so many variables to what happend last year, this will be the first true test of what he and this coaching staff can do. DLo is not Cig. As much as some of you have a one year turn it completely around mentality, that is just not realistic for us with our $ shortfalls (and Cig seems to be an anomoly). I will be fine with a 2 win improvemnt this upcoming year and continued progress until we are back in discussions for the conf champ every year. If we win 4 or 5 this year, then I will start to seriously doubt if this staff has the chops in modern semi-pro football.

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

Not directed to either of you specifically. More of a general comment that all of the cig talk irks me. Didn’t he take something like 13 players from JMU with him to indy that had been in his system for multiple seasons? He took a “ready made” foundation with him.

We are having to try to rebuild some form of a foundation.

the 13 dudes he took from jmu isnt why he made the playoffs then won it all the next season. Hes a phenomenal coach. Hes a weirdo but he’s a great coach

[BambooRdApp]

Good grief people, give the man a year or two . . . so many variables to what happend last year, this will be the first true test of what he and this coaching staff can do. DLo is not Cig. As much as some of you have a one year turn it completely around mentality, that is just not realistic for us with our $ shortfalls (and Cig seems to be an anomoly). I will be fine with a 2 win improvemnt this upcoming year and continued progress until we are back in discussions for the conf champ every year. If we win 4 or 5 this year, then I will start to seriously doubt if this staff has the chops in modern semi-pro football.

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

Not directed to either of you specifically. More of a general comment that all of the cig talk irks me. Didn’t he take something like 13 players from JMU with him to indy that had been in his system for multiple seasons? He took a “ready made” foundation with him.

We are having to try to rebuild some form of a foundation.

the 13 dudes he took from jmu isnt why he made the playoffs then won it all the next season. Hes a phenomenal coach. Hes a weirdo but he’s a great coach

I think it can be both. Several of those dudes were strong contributors in the natty game. He is also a damn good coach. Could other dudes besides jmu players filled the void of contributions those guys did. Maybe. That is impossible to project. With that said, Cig is a great coach. Maybe the best in CFB at the moment.

[hapapp]

Good grief people, give the man a year or two . . . so many variables to what happend last year, this will be the first true test of what he and this coaching staff can do. DLo is not Cig. As much as some of you have a one year turn it completely around mentality, that is just not realistic for us with our $ shortfalls (and Cig seems to be an anomoly). I will be fine with a 2 win improvemnt this upcoming year and continued progress until we are back in discussions for the conf champ every year. If we win 4 or 5 this year, then I will start to seriously doubt if this staff has the chops in modern semi-pro football.

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

Not directed to either of you specifically. More of a general comment that all of the cig talk irks me. Didn’t he take something like 13 players from JMU with him to indy that had been in his system for multiple seasons? He took a “ready made” foundation with him.

We are having to try to rebuild some form of a foundation.

the 13 dudes he took from jmu isnt why he made the playoffs then won it all the next season. Hes a phenomenal coach. Hes a weirdo but he’s a great coach

I think it can be both. Several of those dudes were strong contributors in the natty game. He is also a damn good coach. Could other dudes besides jmu players filled the void of contributions those guys did. Maybe. That is impossible to project. With that said, Cig is a great coach. Maybe the best in CFB at the moment.

Not to mention that he took several members of his JMU staff with him to IU. Though, none of it detracts from his ability as a coach. He's done it everywhere he's been.

[AppSt94]

Winners win! Google him.

[AppState89]

Good grief people, give the man a year or two . . . so many variables to what happend last year, this will be the first true test of what he and this coaching staff can do. DLo is not Cig. As much as some of you have a one year turn it completely around mentality, that is just not realistic for us with our $ shortfalls (and Cig seems to be an anomoly). I will be fine with a 2 win improvemnt this upcoming year and continued progress until we are back in discussions for the conf champ every year. If we win 4 or 5 this year, then I will start to seriously doubt if this staff has the chops in modern semi-pro football.

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

Not directed to either of you specifically. More of a general comment that all of the cig talk irks me. Didn’t he take something like 13 players from JMU with him to indy that had been in his system for multiple seasons? He took a “ready made” foundation with him.

We are having to try to rebuild some form of a foundation.

the 13 dudes he took from jmu isnt why he made the playoffs then won it all the next season. Hes a phenomenal coach. Hes a weirdo but he’s a great coach

I think it can be both. Several of those dudes were strong contributors in the natty game. He is also a damn good coach. Could other dudes besides jmu players filled the void of contributions those guys did. Maybe. That is impossible to project. With that said, Cig is a great coach. Maybe the best in CFB at the moment.

The blocked punt for a TD by a JMU player was the play that won the game for Indy, I'm my opinion.

[mike87]

Cignetti has nothing to do with my opinion that he needs to perform this year or get gone. I like the recruiting and the staffing, and I really hope he is getting it done. I don't like the optics; from the way he handles himself on the sideline to his media presence. He's the highest paid employee at the school. Needs to act like it. Perhaps winning will kick him into gear. I hope so.

[AppSt94]

I understand that folks point to win/loss records are their KPI for forming their opinion on who stays and who goes but there are a great many factors that carry as much weight as on field performance.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

That has been my worry is that we have folks who see what Cig is doing and think that it should be done with App State. Could it? We don't know because it has not been done but I am not going to hold him to that standard. I just want to see him make a bowl game this coming season.

Not directed to either of you specifically. More of a general comment that all of the cig talk irks me. Didn’t he take something like 13 players from JMU with him to indy that had been in his system for multiple seasons? He took a “ready made” foundation with him.

We are having to try to rebuild some form of a foundation.

the 13 dudes he took from jmu isnt why he made the playoffs then won it all the next season. Hes a phenomenal coach. Hes a weirdo but he’s a great coach

I think it can be both. Several of those dudes were strong contributors in the natty game. He is also a damn good coach. Could other dudes besides jmu players filled the void of contributions those guys did. Maybe. That is impossible to project. With that said, Cig is a great coach. Maybe the best in CFB at the moment.

The blocked punt for a TD by a JMU player was the play that won the game for Indy, I'm my opinion.

The game against Oregon, 5 TD’s came from JMU transfers

[Saint3333]

I understand that folks point to win/loss records are their KPI for forming their opinion on who stays and who goes but there are a great many factors that carry as much weight as on field performance.

Doing the things off the field are values that should be a baseline (think Safety as a value at a company).

Results on the field compared to our peers are how coaches are measured.

[AppSt94]

I understand that folks point to win/loss records are their KPI for forming their opinion on who stays and who goes but there are a great many factors that carry as much weight as on field performance.

Doing the things off the field are values that should be a baseline (think Safety as a value at a company).

Results on the field compared to our peers are how coaches are measured.

By fans. Not by employers. See John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin.