Fears Confirmed..

[HENJOHN]

Don't forget "Recruiting" today includes recruiting and retention of CURRENT players as well that you want to keep on the roster, something this staff has excelled at so far. One lost starter in this environment is nothing short of amazing. Last year was a minimal impact as well. They didn't accomplish this by sitting on their hands

[frmrbluehen]

Don't forget "Recruiting" today includes recruiting and retention of CURRENT players as well that you want to keep on the roster, something this staff has excelled at so far. One lost starter in this environment is nothing short of amazing. Last year was a minimal impact as well. They didn't accomplish this by sitting on their hands

Nice additional comment. Coaches not only have to attack the portal (constantly scouring the database) waiting for a name to pop up. From there obtaining film to watch, breaking down the film, then making the decision to actively pursue that player. Which then takes multiple conversations to gauge interest, get the player on board for a visit, etc. All of which take time and effort. On top of of what HENJOHN stated, actively recruiting their own players to ensure they keep as many as possible from hitting the portal. Then continuing to recruit high school players to build out a full roster.

I think a lot of people who think it's super easy to just get an athlete to transfer to UD would benefit from a view into the day and the life of a coach during the portal period. There are many reasons other than money why a player doesn't transfer to certain school even though we like to think it always comes down to the highest bidder, i.e. our current QB. To say the recruiting was "lazy" is wild to me.

[Udforever1]

Really well said 79, HJ and FrmrBlueHen.

Breeze, I echo what Info Hound said. It’s awesome that we are attracting new fans and that you are passionate about UD football. This board is filled with passionate fans, former players (some legends in this program post and/or look at the board), boosters, people who have had season tickets for over 50 years. It’s an awesome spot and your opinions and insight are certainly welcome. You do seem to certainly know what you’re talking about, so I hope you are not like a lot of other posters over the years who had family members on the team who disappeared as soon as their son graduated.

The only thing I guess I’m confused about is that in your first post on here, you told us all to be positive and that player’s read the board. So I’m not sure I understand all the portal negativity, including calling the recruiting “lazy.” I do wonder, if we had shown interest in the guys you represent, would you be saying differently? And like 79 said, people are always free to post what they want, that’s what makes message boards fun. But I do know the administration reads the board, so I’d just never want things to get back to the staff and create some awkwardness. Not that there should be, coaches are grown men and pressure and criticism come with the job. But just never know.

I do too wish we had a few more transfers by now, but we still have time before the spring semester starts. As mentioned, we did a great job in retention and in my opinion have a really nice recruiting class. Staff has done a terrific job. Let’s finish this off season strong and get a few more transfers in here that can propel us to contend for a CUSA title next year. Hopefully your family member plays a big role in our success!

[topstraight]

Unreal Retention by UD.

Has to be the best job of that in All of G6!

[UD '01 grad]

I do know the administration reads the board

Dear Administration,

Can we talk about the in-game stadium experience?

Signed,

East Stands Snowflake

[Gannonfan]

I do know the administration reads the board

Dear Administration,

Can we talk about the in-game stadium experience?

Signed,

East Stands Snowflake

When the time is right we need to really have a good thread devoted to that. So much that can improve. But for another day.

[Gannonfan]

Unreal Retention by UD.

Has to be the best job of that in All of G6!

Good pickup. I think this has been under realized through all this - UD actually did a really good job of holding on to a lot of players. It's really very different to the way that many schools at this level have been operating. Maybe there's something here, maybe UD can be more than just another stop on the way to bigger and better things that many other schools position themselves as. Maybe it's just an errant data point and we'll see massive turnover next year. Either way, I like that we held on to so many top contributors and that there seems to be contentment staying in Newark. Certainly looking forward to next year.

[CaliHen98]

Unreal Retention by UD.

Has to be the best job of that in All of G6!

Good pickup. I think this has been under realized through all this - UD actually did a really good job of holding on to a lot of players. It's really very different to the way that many schools at this level have been operating. Maybe there's something here, maybe UD can be more than just another stop on the way to bigger and better things that many other schools position themselves as. Maybe it's just an errant data point and we'll see massive turnover next year. Either way, I like that we held on to so many top contributors and that there seems to be contentment staying in Newark. Certainly looking forward to next year.

+1

[Caribbean Hen]

Unreal Retention by UD.

Has to be the best job of that in All of G6!

Good pickup. I think this has been under realized through all this - UD actually did a really good job of holding on to a lot of players. It's really very different to the way that many schools at this level have been operating. Maybe there's something here, maybe UD can be more than just another stop on the way to bigger and better things that many other schools position themselves as. Maybe it's just an errant data point and we'll see massive turnover next year. Either way, I like that we held on to so many top contributors and that there seems to be contentment staying in Newark. Certainly looking forward to next year.

Well, maybe unrecognized by a few loud and breezy posters but overall, I’ve seen a lot of people mention how important it was and recognize what a great job the staff has done in keeping our Hens in Newark

By keeping so many though, we’re gonna be expecting to be challenging for that CUSA title next year, and that’s a good thing

[BigBlueRooster]

Unreal Retention by UD.

Has to be the best job of that in All of G6!

Good pickup. I think this has been under realized through all this - UD actually did a really good job of holding on to a lot of players. It's really very different to the way that many schools at this level have been operating. Maybe there's something here, maybe UD can be more than just another stop on the way to bigger and better things that many other schools position themselves as. Maybe it's just an errant data point and we'll see massive turnover next year. Either way, I like that we held on to so many top contributors and that there seems to be contentment staying in Newark. Certainly looking forward to next year.

Well, maybe unrecognized by a few loud and breezy posters but overall, I’ve seen a lot of people mention how important it was and recognize what a great job the staff has done in keeping our Hens in Newark

By keeping so many though, we’re gonna be expecting to be challenging for that CUSA title next year, and that’s a good thing

Yeah kinda a consistent theme most of us are very impressed by the ability of the Hens to Retain its key players. Overall I love what I have seen in the transfers so far. And we aren't done.

I don't really see a position group on paper that will experience a significant drop off from 2025 to 2026 (outside of Kicker Reed was an all time great for the Hens) .

[UD '01 grad]

I do know the administration reads the board

Dear Administration,

Can we talk about the in-game stadium experience?

Signed,

East Stands Snowflake

For what it's worth, I did promptly return the fan survey I received on email yesterday. Suggest others do the same.

Do I expect anything huge to happen? No, but they can't say they haven't been told what can be improved (from one fan's perspective).

[A$$KickinChicken]

What were your ideas for improving game day experience?

[VIKING '87]

What were your ideas for improving game day experience?

"Chicks & Guns & Firetrucks."

Name the movie where that line is from. Hint: Tom Hanks

[Info Hound]

Winning all 6 home games would do it for me. All the rest is window dressing!

[PBreezeHen]

'Lazy Recruiting '.......if you wanna be unhappy with some players ok, but unless someone is familiar with how the Staff has actually been working, handling the Portal from within, and a coach or a qualified evaluator of talent, comments like that just seem like someone with an axe to grind with the Coaches or a Coach. We've ve picked up what appears to be 5-6 probable starters so far. Still time left to bring more players in.

So. I have 5 kids. 2 of my own- the other 3 from My wife(a division 1 volleyball). In the household, 4 of them this year will play Division 1 football. The youngest who is a 2027 just got his first offer from Jax State yesterday lol. My wifes oldest son just signed with SHSU(yep that Sam Houston) via a teammate he played HS with.

My wifes 2 oldest was D2 player and he in trying to decide weather to go play at Mercer or Walk on at Georgia State.

Navigating that with my the one at UD is interesting scenario.

I also myself being somewhat involved, LOVE the portal. I work in HR as a director so I love team building lol! I also coach at my the high school local to me where my son played. The fun thing about the portal is you can to see in real time MOST of the time of time. When the oldest kid got the offer from Sam Houston- it was the day after the portal opened. As he started getting more offers, I started to watch who else those schools offered and how they compared with UD. But also watched how soon they the other schools were getting commitments and that troubled me a little.

My wifes' 2nd kid who is a cornerback did not get his first offer until the Thursday after the portal opened. He watched his high school teammate who got offered by UD go to another school and commit fairly soon.

I just saw in comparison HOW slow things were happening here and I ¯\\(ツ)/¯ 'd .... Again- I give the coaches grace of the coaching changes . Its hard to prepare for that.

But I stand on what I think was a little bit of lazy recruiting because at the end of it- we got a bunch of kids from the same area and picked up some Coastal guys who had the same agent. We picked up a kid who was local and didn't play and maybe he did want to come home.

Maybe we REALLY like Florida guys. Maybe we like the agent with the Coastal guys. Maybe Coastal is the Minor leagues for UD football. Kyre was not used properly at Coastal and he thrived here. Maybe those new guys will too and we think we can catch lightning in a bottle twice. This is alllllll speculative, my personal thoughts mixed in with my experience.

But a symptom can be a indication of the sickness. But like a sickness, you can get better and get completely healthy again.

Im not the GM...Is it the budget? Is it talent evaluation? Who took over the recruiting role?

Who is the closer for our Recruiting the department? When we have that guy about 4 hours before he gets on the flight to get back home and they sit him down and they say " What can we do to get him to be a Blue Hen before he leaves this building"- who is our Mariano Rivera? Thats a big part of these visits...

Udforever1 and others mentioned a great point. We did a great job of retaining talent. Nobody was asking for a roster make over, but the consistent them on this board is that we did not have enough FBS talent on the team. I just think we didnt do enough to get the best players we could REALISTICALLY(key word) grab and I don't think we did enough early on.

And yes- Udforever1- they do read the board. They SHOULD lol. If they do what they are supposed to be doing then I am just a quack voicing his opinion who doesn't know what hes talking about. But if it creates awkwardness this maybe I'm not the one with the issue.

I don't have an AXE to grind. But I'm allowed to be critical (respectfully) based on my. Difference of opinions makes the collective stronger. And I would gladly tell admin to their face the same things.

Hopefully none of this will matter at the end of the year - we go 9-3,we make the C-USA Championship and were looking for a new head coach .