Lunch And Learn Returns

[DanScott]

The Lunch & Learn series is back! Hear from special guests every Tuesday including coaches, student-athletes, alumni and more. Kicking off the series will be Athletic Director, Jason Donnelly.
Tuesdays at Noon, starting Sept. 8 at: https://furman.zoom.us/j/94121872673
Sponsored by: Ingles Markets

[Flagman]

Looking forward to these. Thanks, Dan.

[apaladin]

I assume most of us heard the L&L today but those that might have missed it, here are some highlights:
1. JD tried to explain the reasons behind shutting down baseball and lacrosse. Still don’t understand but that could just be me. He did say they would have loved to have kept baseball but if that is the case why were efforts to do so shot down? Anyway he left the door open for its return “someday”.
2. As we thought, FU could have played some interesting games with some good paydays but chose not to.
2A. We got nothing for the UT game. There was a pandemic clause. If the UT game had not been cancelled they may have played this fall, but as stated there were other opportunities so why not?
3. The conference was divided about playing in the fall, FU was for playing.
4. The plan is to play all fall sports in the spring. I think JD thinks this will happen.
5. We have a great basketball schedule but he offered no info on it or when/if it will be released.
6. Some upgrades to Paladin Stadium including removing every other row in the purple section for more leg room and the section is now larger. Some landscaping to provide tailgating for students. I think this is inside PS but not sure. He did not address how to keep students there. The seats on the visitors side have been painted purple as Flagman previously reported.
7. Still trying to get Timmons renovated. There is a plan but no mention of what or when.
8. Should know more about moving forward the middle of the month with plans etc.
That’s about it. Anyone that can add, please do.

[gofurman]

I assume most of us heard the L&L today but those that might have missed it, here are some highlights:
1. JD tried to explain the reasons behind shutting down baseball and lacrosse. Still don’t understand but that could just be me. He did say they would have loved to have kept baseball but if that is the case why were efforts to do so shot down? Anyway he left the door open for its return “someday”.
2. As we thought, FU could have played some interesting games with some good paydays but chose not to.
2A. We got nothing for the UT game. There was a pandemic clause. If the UT game had not been cancelled they may have played this fall, but as stated there were other opportunities so why not?
3. The conference was divided about playing in the fall, FU was for playing.
4. The plan is to play all fall sports in the spring. I think JD thinks this will happen.
5. We have a great basketball schedule but he offered no info on it or when/if it will be released.
6. Some upgrades to Paladin Stadium including removing every other row in the purple section for more leg room and the section is now larger. Some landscaping to provide tailgating for students. I think this is inside PS but not sure. He did not address how to keep students there. The seats on the visitors side have been painted purple as Flagman previously reported.
7. Still trying to get Timmons renovated. There is a plan but no mention of what or when.
8. Should know more about moving forward the middle of the month with plans etc.
That’s about it. Anyone that can add, please do.

THank you for this update!

[The Jackal]

I assume most of us heard the L&L today but those that might have missed it, here are some highlights:
1. JD tried to explain the reasons behind shutting down baseball and lacrosse. Still don’t understand but that could just be me. He did say they would have loved to have kept baseball but if that is the case why were efforts to do so shot down? Anyway he left the door open for its return “someday”.
2. As we thought, FU could have played some interesting games with some good paydays but chose not to.
2A. We got nothing for the UT game. There was a pandemic clause. If the UT game had not been cancelled they may have played this fall, but as stated there were other opportunities so why not?
3. The conference was divided about playing in the fall, FU was for playing.
4. The plan is to play all fall sports in the spring. I think JD thinks this will happen.
5. We have a great basketball schedule but he offered no info on it or when/if it will be released.
6. Some upgrades to Paladin Stadium including removing every other row in the purple section for more leg room and the section is now larger. Some landscaping to provide tailgating for students. I think this is inside PS but not sure. He did not address how to keep students there. The seats on the visitors side have been painted purple as Flagman previously reported.
7. Still trying to get Timmons renovated. There is a plan but no mention of what or when.
8. Should know more about moving forward the middle of the month with plans etc.
That’s about it. Anyone that can add, please do.

Re 1. I had a colleague once that would often quip, "I've never met a problem cash can't solve." I believe that applies to baseball and lacrosse as well.

Re 2A. If there was a sure enough "pandemic clause" in the contract, someone at UT owes some attorney a bottle of something.

Re 6. Paladin Stadium could use some TLC. I'd love to see some landscaping, new field house, rebuilt the visitors stands, etc. Again, see response to point 1.

Students will stay at football games when the football game is more entertaining than whatever else they could be doing. Furman also has to contend with the fact that they let 10 or 15 years go by with "disengaged" recent grads whose time spent at Furman was replete with football that was either bad or rebuilding.

To that point, I would be curious to know how many posters/lurkers on this forum are "recent" grads between, say, 2010 and 2019. I think this group is probably among the more invested emotionally in Furman football.

Re 7. See response to point 1.

[AstroDin]

My take on some of Apaladin's points.

I felt JD was very confident - we will be playing Spring Football.
Sept. 16 appears to be a date that we will know more from the NCAA.

JD made a big point on the differences between Furman and the Citadel.
The CItadel the campus and I assume control of the Bellhops puts them in a different situation of controlling COVID - put the CItadel in the same bucket as Army.
Mercer - not his exact words but basically Mercer has a different viewpoint than Furman on safety protocols. Sounded more positive about the Citadel ( good things to say) not so much about Mercer's decision.
JD hinted at coaching retention is a priority - based on the news today - Richey got a contract extension.

[Furmanoid]

I assume most of us heard the L&L today but those that might have missed it, here are some highlights:
1. JD tried to explain the reasons behind shutting down baseball and lacrosse. Still don’t understand but that could just be me. He did say they would have loved to have kept baseball but if that is the case why were efforts to do so shot down? Anyway he left the door open for its return “someday”.
2. As we thought, FU could have played some interesting games with some good paydays but chose not to.
2A. We got nothing for the UT game. There was a pandemic clause. If the UT game had not been cancelled they may have played this fall, but as stated there were other opportunities so why not?
3. The conference was divided about playing in the fall, FU was for playing.
4. The plan is to play all fall sports in the spring. I think JD thinks this will happen.
5. We have a great basketball schedule but he offered no info on it or when/if it will be released.
6. Some upgrades to Paladin Stadium including removing every other row in the purple section for more leg room and the section is now larger. Some landscaping to provide tailgating for students. I think this is inside PS but not sure. He did not address how to keep students there. The seats on the visitors side have been painted purple as Flagman previously reported.
7. Still trying to get Timmons renovated. There is a plan but no mention of what or when.
8. Should know more about moving forward the middle of the month with plans etc.
That’s about it. Anyone that can add, please do.

Re 1. I had a colleague once that would often quip, "I've never met a problem cash can't solve." I believe that applies to baseball and lacrosse as well.

Re 2A. If there was a sure enough "pandemic clause" in the contract, someone at UT owes some attorney a bottle of something.

Re 6. Paladin Stadium could use some TLC. I'd love to see some landscaping, new field house, rebuilt the visitors stands, etc. Again, see response to point 1.

Students will stay at football games when the football game is more entertaining than whatever else they could be doing. Furman also has to contend with the fact that they let 10 or 15 years go by with "disengaged" recent grads whose time spent at Furman was replete with football that was either bad or rebuilding.

To that point, I would be curious to know how many posters/lurkers on this forum are "recent" grads between, say, 2010 and 2019. I think this group is probably among the more invested emotionally in Furman football.

Re 7. See response to point 1.

I hope playing well gets students interested, but I’m not sure it will. Fewer and fewer HS kids give a rip unless their team is super good. Even then, the smart kids will usually tell you they just “aren’t into sports”. They don’t play anything, and they don’t watch. Well, OK, some play Madden. These are the kids who go to places like FU. It’s just the way it is. If you’re good at school, you obviously aren’t an athlete. If you’re an athlete you shouldn’t be a “try hard” in school. That’s the culture.

To get their minds right, I can think of a couple of options. The simple one is to make football games CLP’s. Another option that might appeal more to them would be to get a retired coach to teach a mandatory in-depth fb course getting into evolution of offensive and defensive schemes, coverages, blocking schemes, clock management, NCAA rules etc. - all the complex geeky stuff that might appeal to our students and show them FB is an intellectual endeavor. This will also make them seem less Furmanish when they’re out in the workforce.

[fufanatic]

I assume most of us heard the L&L today but those that might have missed it, here are some highlights:
1. JD tried to explain the reasons behind shutting down baseball and lacrosse. Still don’t understand but that could just be me. He did say they would have loved to have kept baseball but if that is the case why were efforts to do so shot down? Anyway he left the door open for its return “someday”.
2. As we thought, FU could have played some interesting games with some good paydays but chose not to.
2A. We got nothing for the UT game. There was a pandemic clause. If the UT game had not been cancelled they may have played this fall, but as stated there were other opportunities so why not?
3. The conference was divided about playing in the fall, FU was for playing.
4. The plan is to play all fall sports in the spring. I think JD thinks this will happen.
5. We have a great basketball schedule but he offered no info on it or when/if it will be released.
6. Some upgrades to Paladin Stadium including removing every other row in the purple section for more leg room and the section is now larger. Some landscaping to provide tailgating for students. I think this is inside PS but not sure. He did not address how to keep students there. The seats on the visitors side have been painted purple as Flagman previously reported.
7. Still trying to get Timmons renovated. There is a plan but no mention of what or when.
8. Should know more about moving forward the middle of the month with plans etc.
That’s about it. Anyone that can add, please do.

Re 1. I had a colleague once that would often quip, "I've never met a problem cash can't solve." I believe that applies to baseball and lacrosse as well.

Re 2A. If there was a sure enough "pandemic clause" in the contract, someone at UT owes some attorney a bottle of something.

Re 6. Paladin Stadium could use some TLC. I'd love to see some landscaping, new field house, rebuilt the visitors stands, etc. Again, see response to point 1.

Students will stay at football games when the football game is more entertaining than whatever else they could be doing. Furman also has to contend with the fact that they let 10 or 15 years go by with "disengaged" recent grads whose time spent at Furman was replete with football that was either bad or rebuilding.

To that point, I would be curious to know how many posters/lurkers on this forum are "recent" grads between, say, 2010 and 2019. I think this group is probably among the more invested emotionally in Furman football.

Re 7. See response to point 1.

I hope playing well gets students interested, but I’m not sure it will. Fewer and fewer HS kids give a rip unless their team is super good. Even then, the smart kids will usually tell you they just “aren’t into sports”. They don’t play anything, and they don’t watch. Well, OK, some play Madden. These are the kids who go to places like FU. It’s just the way it is. If you’re good at school, you obviously aren’t an athlete. If you’re an athlete you shouldn’t be a “try hard” in school. That’s the culture.

To get their minds right, I can think of a couple of options. The simple one is to make football games CLP’s. Another option that might appeal more to them would be to get a retired coach to teach a mandatory in-depth fb course getting into evolution of offensive and defensive schemes, coverages, blocking schemes, clock management, NCAA rules etc. - all the complex geeky stuff that might appeal to our students and show them FB is an intellectual endeavor. This will also make them seem less Furmanish when they’re out in the workforce.

We agree on something! Have always thought making Furman athletics CLP events was a no-brainer. If I can learn something about culture and society from a mandatory theatre performance or concert, someone who knows very little about sports and it's cultural appeal could certainly learn something from attending a football game or sold out MBB game at Timmons. Would love to know if this has ever been discussed.

[Fred Garvin]

Our student body has become a bunch of carpetbaggers. Come South for a "Furman Advantage" education and then leave......

[FUBeAR]

I assume most of us heard the L&L today but those that might have missed it, here are some highlights:
1. JD tried to explain the reasons behind shutting down baseball and lacrosse. Still don’t understand but that could just be me. He did say they would have loved to have kept baseball but if that is the case why were efforts to do so shot down? Anyway he left the door open for its return “someday”.
2. As we thought, FU could have played some interesting games with some good paydays but chose not to.
2A. We got nothing for the UT game. There was a pandemic clause. If the UT game had not been cancelled they may have played this fall, but as stated there were other opportunities so why not?
3. The conference was divided about playing in the fall, FU was for playing.
4. The plan is to play all fall sports in the spring. I think JD thinks this will happen.
5. We have a great basketball schedule but he offered no info on it or when/if it will be released.
6. Some upgrades to Paladin Stadium including removing every other row in the purple section for more leg room and the section is now larger. Some landscaping to provide tailgating for students. I think this is inside PS but not sure. He did not address how to keep students there. The seats on the visitors side have been painted purple as Flagman previously reported.
7. Still trying to get Timmons renovated. There is a plan but no mention of what or when.
8. Should know more about moving forward the middle of the month with plans etc.
That’s about it. Anyone that can add, please do.

Re 1. I had a colleague once that would often quip, "I've never met a problem cash can't solve." I believe that applies to baseball and lacrosse as well.

Re 2A. If there was a sure enough "pandemic clause" in the contract, someone at UT owes some attorney a bottle of something.

Re 6. Paladin Stadium could use some TLC. I'd love to see some landscaping, new field house, rebuilt the visitors stands, etc. Again, see response to point 1.

Students will stay at football games when the football game is more entertaining than whatever else they could be doing. Furman also has to contend with the fact that they let 10 or 15 years go by with "disengaged" recent grads whose time spent at Furman was replete with football that was either bad or rebuilding.

To that point, I would be curious to know how many posters/lurkers on this forum are "recent" grads between, say, 2010 and 2019. I think this group is probably among the more invested emotionally in Furman football.

Re 7. See response to point 1.

I hope playing well gets students interested, but I’m not sure it will. Fewer and fewer HS kids give a rip unless their team is super good. Even then, the smart kids will usually tell you they just “aren’t into sports”. They don’t play anything, and they don’t watch. Well, OK, some play Madden. These are the kids who go to places like FU. It’s just the way it is. If you’re good at school, you obviously aren’t an athlete. If you’re an athlete you shouldn’t be a “try hard” in school. That’s the culture.

To get their minds right, I can think of a couple of options. The simple one is to make football games CLP’s. Another option that might appeal more to them would be to get a retired coach to teach a mandatory in-depth fb course getting into evolution of offensive and defensive schemes, coverages, blocking schemes, clock management, NCAA rules etc. - all the complex geeky stuff that might appeal to our students and show them FB is an intellectual endeavor. This will also make them seem less Furmanish when they’re out in the workforce.

1) Love the CLP idea - have always said that
2) If someone will endow the recommended Professorial Chair, FUBeAR’s application for the job will be forwarded forthwith!

[FUBeAR]

Mercer - not his exact words but basically Mercer has a different viewpoint than Furman on safety protocols. Sounded more positive about the Citadel ( good things to say) not so much about Mercer's decision.

Just listened to JD’s comments about Mercer’s “philosophy” regarding Health & Wellness of their Student Body & Student Athletes. Placing his comments in context with the preceding comments about concern over the Heath & Safety of FU Student Athletes, it’s hard to say he did anything but toss the Bears under the wheels of an oncoming Greyhound.

Can only speak from my 8 years of involvement with Mercer, Mercer’s President, Mercer’s AD, other Sr. Level Administrators of Mercer U., other Sr. Level Administrators in Mercer’s Athletics Department, and members of the former (and a few of the current) Football Coaching Staff. Have seen nothing but love & great concern & compassion for Mercer’s Students & Student Athletes from each & every one of these individuals.

If I had a son who played Football, I would have zero hesitation about entrusting his Health & Wellness to Mercer University & Mercer Football, just as I would have no hesitation doing the same with Clay Hendrix and Furman Football. Actually, FUBeAR has already done both of those in a kinda sorta kinda way.

Maybe, I’m wrong. Maybe, that’s not how JD meant what he said or maybe Mercer has just pulled the Bear fur over FUBeAR’s eyes for 8 years.

[apaladin]

In a general summary there was a lot of talk and very little information given. Apparently questions were not allowed as they never addressed any. I thought in a zoom meeting it was 2 way but I guess not. We have to remember JD’s hands are pretty much tied. I appreciate the effort from FU but overall it was underwhelming. Hoping CCH and CBR will be much better.

[The Jackal]

Mercer - not his exact words but basically Mercer has a different viewpoint than Furman on safety protocols. Sounded more positive about the Citadel ( good things to say) not so much about Mercer's decision.

Just listened to JD’s comments about Mercer’s “philosophy” regarding Health & Wellness of their Student Body & Student Athletes. Placing his comments in context with the preceding comments about concern over the Heath & Safety of FU Student Athletes, it’s hard to say he did anything but toss the Bears under the wheels of an oncoming Greyhound.

Can only speak from my 8 years of involvement with Mercer, Mercer’s President, Mercer’s AD, other Sr. Level Administrators of Mercer U., other Sr. Level Administrators in Mercer’s Athletics Department, and members of the former (and a few of the current) Football Coaching Staff. Have seen nothing but love & great concern & compassion for Mercer’s Students & Student Athletes from each & every one of these individuals.

If I had a son who played Football, I would have zero hesitation about entrusting his Health & Wellness to Mercer University & Mercer Football, just as I would have no hesitation doing the same with Clay Hendrix and Furman Football. Actually, FUBeAR has already done both of those in a kinda sorta kinda way.

Maybe, I’m wrong. Maybe, that’s not how JD meant what he said or maybe Mercer has just pulled the Bear fur over FUBeAR’s eyes for 8 years.

Furman and Mercer share similarities, but they are different schools in many respects. Specifically in their approach to athletics, I have long found Mercer's vision to deviate from Furman's.

That is not to say one path is correct and the other one wrong, but they are certainly different.

[AstroDin]

Actually - I didn't mind at all how the Lunch and Learn was handled. Rules for ZOOMs are for the organizers to decide. I've led ZOOMs from less than 100 to over 1000 - letting questions roll in the chat function requires a lot of hands and is pure chaos. Dan Scott took some questions and shared them live with JD - I thought it worked well and kept the ZOOM from being dragged down into the murk.

I found JD to be engaged, thoughtful, and passionate - I didn't come into the ZOOM with a certain expectation. I left feeling good if not better about where athletics sit int he Furman ecosystem.

[purplehorse]

I thought Zoom format with 185 participants went well. They answered some of the chat questions. I mean really, how often do you get any great information from these things. . I thought it was positive and somewhat informative.