Messages

31

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 27, 2024, 02:06:37 PM »

Although things have improved YSU is one of the all-time worst mens programs in D1 the last 30+ years.  The players the last two years came here for a pay day.  How sustainable is that moving forward?

That is the correct question and YSU and the 350 other D1 schools are dealing with the same problem but obviously an OSU has different issues than a low mid major like the Horizon league teams.

The sustainability factor is how much can you afford to pay.  Unless the NCAA has any power anymore then it's going to get ugly and shady and like mud said we'll be cheering for the shirt since the body in the shirt is going to be different every season.  Looks like the days of a Kendrick Perry or a Cameron Morse playing 4 years at YSU are history.
I think the coaches see it and are adjusting but not sure the fan bases are.  Some of the old time coaches like Nick Saban don't want to deal with the madness.  Then again old Nick Had no problem jumping several times to the highest bidder himself.
Not sure I can be mad when another team pulls a guy like DJ Burns who we ourselves pulled from a previous team.

Yes it's tough to get accustomed for fans, coaches, etc., but unfortunately I don't see anything changing because as you said the NCAA seems to have lost its power.

I just saw this interesting tweet that Scott Nagy from Wright St may be in line for the SIU job https://x.com/CbbCoachRumors/status/1773019237428117582?s=20

That would be... interesting. Why leave Wright State for SIU? Granted, I'm kind of saying the same about Calhoun. Why leave YSU for SIU? Both cases are strange to me.

Very strange and even more puzzling is Scott Nagy is making a base salary of $500,000 a year, which is even more than the president of Wright St. and well more than any coach in the HL.

32

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 27, 2024, 12:22:44 PM »

Although things have improved YSU is one of the all-time worst mens programs in D1 the last 30+ years.  The players the last two years came here for a pay day.  How sustainable is that moving forward?

That is the correct question and YSU and the 350 other D1 schools are dealing with the same problem but obviously an OSU has different issues than a low mid major like the Horizon league teams.

The sustainability factor is how much can you afford to pay.  Unless the NCAA has any power anymore then it's going to get ugly and shady and like mud said we'll be cheering for the shirt since the body in the shirt is going to be different every season.  Looks like the days of a Kendrick Perry or a Cameron Morse playing 4 years at YSU are history.
I think the coaches see it and are adjusting but not sure the fan bases are.  Some of the old time coaches like Nick Saban don't want to deal with the madness.  Then again old Nick Had no problem jumping several times to the highest bidder himself.
Not sure I can be mad when another team pulls a guy like DJ Burns who we ourselves pulled from a previous team.

Yes it's tough to get accustomed for fans, coaches, etc., but unfortunately I don't see anything changing because as you said the NCAA seems to have lost its power.

I just saw this interesting tweet that Scott Nagy from Wright St may be in line for the SIU job https://x.com/CbbCoachRumors/status/1773019237428117582?s=20

33

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 27, 2024, 08:42:37 AM »

Although things have improved YSU is one of the all-time worst mens programs in D1 the last 30+ years.  The players the last two years came here for a pay day.  How sustainable is that moving forward?

Very good question. I think that the answer is: nobody really knows! 

Supposedly, we formed an organized NIL, the Penguin Collective, before any other school in the league. From comments scattered across the internet, we offer the most NIL money. The big question: is that true? If so, will we remain the Horizon League leader?

Maybe we will. Think about this. The vast majority of the schools in the Horizon League are afterthoughts in the large cities in which they are located. Outside of alumni, few sports fans care about Robert Morris in Pittsburgh, or Oakland/Detroit in the Motor City. IUPUI has no fans at all. Northern Kentucky must compete with Cincinnati right across the river, and UK is 90 miles to the south. Wright State is the perpetual little brother to Dayton. And Cleveland State is irrelevant within metro Cleveland.

Conversely, we are the central attraction in the Mahoning Valley. Our wealthy individuals and corporations sell out the football loges and, I assume, fill the coffers of the Penguin Collective. As long as we can pay out more than our Horizon League rivals, maybe we can "buy" more talent every year. But all bets are off if Calhoun leaves.

Excellent post!  Agree 100%.  That fact you're seeing all these stars such as Reynolds, Warrick, Freeman, Burns etc probably tells you they are seeking more NIL money. 

Coach Calhoun has done a good job navigating this the last 2 years, but things can change so much year to year.  And if and when he leaves all bets are off.

I just wish there was a 1 time or 2 time transfer rule or add if the 2nd or 3rd time transfer they would have to sit out a year...wishful thinking, but I've heard even the Duquesne coach mention this.

34

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Coach too Duquesne??

« on: March 26, 2024, 09:04:29 AM »

It doesn't make much sense to me either for the reasons I stated above.

Have to wonder if this was another reason why YSU wasn't interested in a post season tourney, and possibly why Lovelace & Burns are in the portal. 

PFW is in the CIT championship game on Wednesday night.  They started their season impressively and are now finishing it strong.  It would have been nice to see YSU keep playing and have success like that.  It was important not long ago, but apparently it wasn't this year.

35

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Coach too Duquesne??

« on: March 25, 2024, 01:56:04 PM »

How much more is that than what coach makes now?  just wondering!  I still think he gets another oppotunity with a major program!

He makes $300,000 base salary through  the 2027-2028 season, but there are a lot of bonuses in there.  Here's the contract https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.vindy.com/images/2023/03/31094720/J.-Calhoun-Contract.pdf

36

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Coach too Duquesne??

« on: March 25, 2024, 11:27:11 AM »

Calhoun hax done a good job here let’s say great job.  But what hurts him is not getting us to the dance yet which hurts him for the power 5 jobs.  SIU might be a stepping stone for that.

I agree with the first part, but is SIU really that much different than YSU?  They did make the tourney 3 straight years in 1993-1995 then 6 straight years from 2002-2007 and made the NIT the following year; however, they haven't been in either since.  Their coach is coming off of 3 straight winning seasons and I said above was making $475,000 a year. 

37

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Coach too Duquesne??

« on: March 25, 2024, 08:27:47 AM »

I had saw Coach Calhoun mentioned somewhere about the Duquesne job, but it appears their assistant is in line for it.

I see WVU named Drake's coach Darian DeVries as their new coach.  I really thought all along Calhoun would have a shot there, but I'm sure how Huggins ending turned out changed that trajectory.

Looks like Southern Illinois' coach was making $475,000 a year

38

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 22, 2024, 11:18:42 AM »

So happy for Oakland and the Horizon League!  YSU lost two close games to Oakland, shows how good we were.

I still have nightmares from that home loss at YSU. The last play, when we were up 2 with 3 seconds left, the guy came around the high pick screen at the top of the key. Our big guy didn’t step to contest the 3 point shot……we lost by 1.
Kentucky should have watched the Oakland game at YSU.where they shot over 80% from the 3…

I watched the game last night between Oakland and Kentucky and That was a good win for Oakland in the conference. I felt like the announcers didn’t say a lot about the league though which is understandable but as I watch the game, how was coached I felt that the Oakland coach had a great feel for the game and made this coaching decisions accordingly. sometimes I feel Calhoun hasn’t required that at times specially when we have leads when to pull the ball back, etc. but if we had a player like Oakland had that could’ve been us. it was obvious this year’s team, which was good didn’t have that go to Guy. And yes, we do get a part of the money if Oakland keeps winning plus whatever to swim is so let’s root them on.

100% agree with this.  I really like Catalon and Lappas, but they really didn't talk about Oakland's season, the Horizon League, etc. 

I do agree that Coach Calhoun gets outcoached at times as he did in both of those Oakland games.  Oakland knows how to win and wins the close games, that's something YSU struggled with.  They also have a lot of team chemistry with returning players and I think that hurt YSU

39

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 21, 2024, 08:25:27 AM »

Nothing could have preserved the tradition of college sports. The insatiable greed of the power conference schools has destroyed the experience for 90% of NCAA institutions. They want all the money and exposure. They want all the spots in post-season tournaments, even the NIT which used to be a worthy prize for mid-majors.

Historically, the NCAA did try to shield the majority of the membership from the greed of the bigs. From the early 1950s until the early 1980s, the NCAA retained a monopoly over the telecasting of football. To protect the gates of all member institutions, the NCAA restricted any school...Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, etc... from appearing on national television more than 3 times in a two year period. The NCAA also distributed the proceeds of the tv contract that it controlled widely among the membership.

That all changed as cable tv injected millions, then billions, into college sports. The University of Georgia sued the NCAA and won back control of its athletic television rights. Soon big time conferences then made deals with the networks with no restrictions on the number of appearances. Notre Dame struck their own deal with NBC. And for 90% of NCAA institutions, no distribution of proceeds and big time games saturating the tv dial on Saturdays, snuffing out attendance.

For the last four decades the NCAA could at least control academic standards and player movement. Now that is also gone. The NCAA no longer has any real authority, as it loses in court every time it tries to interfere with the greedy aspirations of the bigs. It could not even stop Tennessee from using NIL money to lure recruits.

For YSU fans, and those of 90% of the nation's colleges, you now have a choice. As Mudclods noted, just cheer for the YSU shirt and don't worry about the individual who happens to be wearing it (however briefly.) Or just walk away from this corrupt system. For me I will just support the YSU shirt and intensify my hatred for each and all big time greed machines.

Excellent post. 

I do believe Coach Calhoun has embraced the changes and done a good job at fielding winning teams, but is that as far as it goes with post-season tourneys now becoming unlikely unless YSU can somehow win the tourney?  And I do wonder how much longer he'll be at YSU.  The WVU job is open and the Duquesne job will be too.  I feel like the Beeghly renovations and a spot in the NCAA tourney are things he wants to accomplish at YSU, but money talks.

40

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 20, 2024, 12:38:56 PM »

The cat is out of the bag now and basically all of the power is with the players.  I can't imagine how difficult this is for the coaches.  It's no wonder Nick Saban got out.

It's basically turning into pickup teams every year and you're just cheering for the shirt.  Hard to get attachments to players when they are basically one and done.  If you get 2 years out of a player now that's a lot.

41

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 19, 2024, 03:18:59 PM »

I guess that even if he is in the portal he can always stay if he changes his mind. Either way I wish him the best

True, that is what Garrett Covington did for his 6th year, but he was a YSU lifer.

42

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 19, 2024, 02:47:00 PM »

I didn't think DJ had another year of eligibility, at least that's what we were made to believe.  Looking back at his career stats, he only played in 6 games (started 4) during the 2020-2021 COVID season.  Not sure if he was injured or what.  So maybe it was a deal like Garrett Covington getting a 6th year.  It's just odd it was assumed and basically talked about that this was it for him. 

We're basically to the point where if a school gets 2 years out of a player that's a lot. 

43

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 19, 2024, 12:32:40 PM »

So DJ Burns has another year of eligibility!? https://twitter.com/underratedd__/status/1770104649544012062

44

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 18, 2024, 07:58:10 PM »

John Lovelace has entered the portal.  Disappointed, but can't say I'm 100%.  Seemed like his mins and production dipped the second half of the season

Yes. I am disappointed in him leaving also.The entire season, I was pushing for a 6’7” Lovelace over the 5’9” Langdon at guard to compliment Thompson. However, coach preferred Langdon.

He brought lots of energy to the game. With the success of UWM, he might be heading back to his hometown.

I agree.  I was a big fan of Lovelace and was really excited about him going into this season and was hoping he'd stick around.  It just felt like we didn't get enough out of him.  I liked his energy, his defensive ability, and I thought his shooting improved.  Coach always talked highly of him as well.  He was averaging 10 points a game & scored in double figures 4 times through the first 11 games, but only got in double figures 2 times in the final 21 games and his ppg dropped to 6.6.  He only scored a total of 4 points combined in the final 3 games.

Langdon brought leadership, but his size was an issue and struggled shooting the ball.  I don't know if the year off from basketball hurt him or not.  I honestly would have rather had Shermar stay, but I think his size and injury last year cut his playing time down.   

45

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 18, 2024, 02:05:19 PM »

John Lovelace has entered the portal.  Disappointed, but can't say I'm 100%.  Seemed like his mins and production dipped the second half of the season