Season Ending Thoughts

[The Jackal]

Lots of piling on today in reading these posts, and understandable. No one wants to see us go out this way. I suppose its healthy that we have as many folks as we do who care. I don't know. Can't really put my finger on what happened with this team that started out so promising. You don't see many teams that go this way, peaking around the Samford game and downhill from there. I'm sure CCH and the staff are also wondering. Good season, made the playoffs, lots of young players, recruiting looks good, all good, BUT, we've got to get better in so many areas to compete with physical teams. And we've got to find a way to build some fire and take that to the field.

I think we need to keep some of that in perspective.

We won 8 games against a challenging schedule. I think that's a positive. Making the playoffs was a big thing. I hate that we laid an egg. You play poorly against a good team, and they'll punish you for it.

The team is still young. I don't think we can use that excuse forever, but I do think it applies here. I'm not sure how we ended up with what seemed like freshmen at every key position, but that's what we have.

I think the coaching staff has a plan. These games are concerning. Good teams lose games from time to time. Good teams don't get physically whipped, and we've seen that a few times this year.

There's a lot riding on next year.

[sluggo]

Great season!
Keep the coaches and all the players.

Amazing how quick people forget the 3-8 seasons.

[tya1]

Great season!
Keep the coaches and all the players.

Amazing how quick people forget the 3-8 seasons.

Overreacting to a single bad game isn't just a Furman fan thing but it sure is popular. I expect our young guys to learn and improve. This was a fine season with a lot of highlights and reasons to be optimistic about next year.

Austin Peay had a bunch of small, really quick backs and for whatever reason out defense didn't respond well to that challenge today.

Rain and weather delays have not been to our benefit. We had some poor rain games this year as noted. I remember last year when we were rolling against ETSU before a long delay and the team came back out flat after the break and lost. Same thing today. No idea what the reason for that is.

[youwouldno]

The record is a reflection of the weakness of those opponents. The Paladins defeated zero quality teams and were brutally crushed in their most important games.

I've seen this show before. Talent deficits can be fixed . . . but lack of desire can't. Hendrix doesn't know how to fix it and his teams are never going to compete at the national level.

There are always excuses and justifications, and I get why fans don't want to face up to the reality. How can this keep happening? Hendrix was the one who was going to right the ship and get back to the days of old.

Maybe no one can.

[DeepPurple]

You would no, I don't think you have a clue about what CCH knows or does not know. I wish you would share how to fix it. Seems the past 3 years have seen a lot of fixing going on with still a long way to go. We got our butts beat today.

[youwouldno]

You would no, I don't think you have a clue about what CCH knows or does not know. I wish you would share how to fix it. Seems the past 3 years have seen a lot of fixing going on with still a long way to go. We got our butts beat today.

I don't know how to fix it. As I said, maybe it can't be fixed, maybe the players Furman used to win with aren't available anymore. I don't know.

I do know that if a team isn't motivated for their 2 biggest rivalry games or the first round of the playoffs, it means they just aren't motivated. If Hendrix doesn't know how to do that by now, he's not going to learn before next season.

[DeepPurple]

How do you know they are not heading in the right direction. If you recall, 3 years ago, before he came, we were awful. It is so easy to sit in the stands or from behind a computer and coach and criticize. We got our butts beat today and played poorly. Most of those guys out there today will be back next year. CCH has been a winner his entire life, I really don't think he has forgotten all that. I do believe we are heading in the right direction. We had a heck of a long way to go and we are still not there.

[Paladin91]

The record is a reflection of the weakness of those opponents. The Paladins defeated zero quality teams and were brutally crushed in their most important games.

I've seen this show before. Talent deficits can be fixed . . . but lack of desire can't. Hendrix doesn't know how to fix it and his teams are never going to compete at the national level.

There are always excuses and justifications, and I get why fans don't want to face up to the reality. How can this keep happening? Hendrix was the one who was going to right the ship and get back to the days of old.

Maybe no one can.

The loss of GA Southern and App State from the conference really damaged any meaningful fan base that FU had. Those two were great rivals for so many years . I hate to say it, but FU took a fall when it started losing consistently to former DIv 2 Wofford College - that was a new low in the history of the program. We still haven't recovered from it, IMO. Today, the SOCON is a weak football conference - schools like GA Southern, App State, Coastal Carolina, and GA State (former FCS schools gone FBS) have stolen talent that once would have been seen in the SOCON/at Furman. Add in newer FCS schools like Mercer and Kennesaw State, which formerly didn't have football, and the recruiting pot of talented FCS players shrinks even more.

I'm in ATL and try to make it up to a couple of games per year, but honestly, it's quite sad to see the empty stands. I know CCH is trying hard to rebuild the team to its former glory days, but it's gotta be tough averaging 5-8,000 per game. Perhaps the availability of FU football on TV has reduced that number some.

The reality is that most alum could not care less about FU football. I'd say less than 10% of alumni friends even share FB posts on Furman football. Reality is that FCS football will always be regarded as second rate or minor league compared to FBS schools. It's a shame that more alums aren't supportive of their school because it's not prime time football.

[tya1]

Clay Hendrick's first season saw the team overcome an 0-3 start by winning 7 games in a row and earning a playoff bid with a victory over Elon, which was one of the losses at the start of the year. That seems to indicate some very good motivational ability to me.

In his second year the team again overcame a 0-3 start to win 6 of 7 games to earn a co-championship and dominate co-champ Wofford by 20. Again seems they were well motivated.

This season fell just short of another SoCon championship but had a solid 8-4 regular season record with a very young group, especially at QB. With all the returning players, including two QBs who will have some valuable experience, next year should be another strong season. With all the younger players a year older I think we will be pre-season favorites and even better.

I really don't understand the hand-wringing and defeatism.

[FUPlayer74]

The record is a reflection of the weakness of those opponents. The Paladins defeated zero quality teams and were brutally crushed in their most important games.

I've seen this show before. Talent deficits can be fixed . . . but lack of desire can't. Hendrix doesn't know how to fix it and his teams are never going to compete at the national level.

There are always excuses and justifications, and I get why fans don't want to face up to the reality. How can this keep happening? Hendrix was the one who was going to right the ship and get back to the days of old.

Maybe no one can.

The loss of GA Southern and App State from the conference really damaged any meaningful fan base that FU had. Those two were great rivals for so many years . I hate to say it, but FU took a fall when it started losing consistently to former DIv 2 Wofford College - that was a new low in the history of the program. We still haven't recovered from it, IMO. Today, the SOCON is a weak football conference - schools like GA Southern, App State, Coastal Carolina, and GA State (former FCS schools gone FBS) have stolen talent that once would have been seen in the SOCON/at Furman. Add in newer FCS schools like Mercer and Kennesaw State, which formerly didn't have football, and the recruiting pot of talented FCS players shrinks even more.

I'm in ATL and try to make it up to a couple of games per year, but honestly, it's quite sad to see the empty stands. I know CCH is trying hard to rebuild the team to its former glory days, but it's gotta be tough averaging 5-8,000 per game. Perhaps the availability of FU football on TV has reduced that number some.

The reality is that most alum could not care less about FU football. I'd say less than 10% of alumni friends even share FB posts on Furman football. Reality is that FCS football will always be regarded as second rate or minor league compared to FBS schools. It's a shame that more alums aren't supportive of their school because it's not prime time football.

You are misinformed when you say most alumni don't care about FU football. FU football exists today because it is important to alumni. I wouldn't say your FB alumni friends is a good barometer of relevance. Check sometime with the administration, or someone who knows.

[furmandad]

FUPlayer74, you are on point. Peaked early with what we thought was a team that would build over the course of the season with young players. We were exposed, as we really only beat the teams we should have beaten in a weak SoCon. Lost (badly) games against decent teams that we needed to beat. Lots of issues that have been mentioned on multiple threads. My biggest disappointment was we had no energy, inspiration or leadership in the big games that we lost. Including today. From beginning to end. Coaching staff needs to be held accountable for this as well - too easy to pass it off as young team. Lots of high flying chest bumps when you're beating Point ........ I get needing athletic upgrade @ many positions; I don't understand lack of inspiration & fight against Citadel/Wofford/AP.

[youwouldno]

Clay Hendrick's first season saw the team overcome an 0-3 start by winning 7 games in a row and earning a playoff bid with a victory over Elon, which was one of the losses at the start of the year. That seems to indicate some very good motivational ability to me.

In his second year the team again overcame a 0-3 start to win 6 of 7 games to earn a co-championship and dominate co-champ Wofford by 20. Again seems they were well motivated.

This season fell just short of another SoCon championship but had a solid 8-4 regular season record with a very young group, especially at QB. With all the returning players, including two QBs who will have some valuable experience, next year should be another strong season. With all the younger players a year older I think we will be pre-season favorites and even better.

I really don't understand the hand-wringing and defeatism.

In the past 2 seasons, Furman has a grand total of ONE win against a team in the top 50 in FCS. Top 50. Hendrix's record is built on wins over horrible opponents.

The 2019 team went 7-5 against D-I opponents and proved it didn't belong in the top 25. That's not a "solid season."

It's certainly possible the Paladins could do something similar next year, except the voters won't be fooled this time and Furman won't be handed a high ranking (and playoff bid) for beating nobodies.

[fufanatic]

Clay Hendrick's first season saw the team overcome an 0-3 start by winning 7 games in a row and earning a playoff bid with a victory over Elon, which was one of the losses at the start of the year. That seems to indicate some very good motivational ability to me.

In his second year the team again overcame a 0-3 start to win 6 of 7 games to earn a co-championship and dominate co-champ Wofford by 20. Again seems they were well motivated.

This season fell just short of another SoCon championship but had a solid 8-4 regular season record with a very young group, especially at QB. With all the returning players, including two QBs who will have some valuable experience, next year should be another strong season. With all the younger players a year older I think we will be pre-season favorites and even better.

I really don't understand the hand-wringing and defeatism.

I agree with all of this. I think we will be a very good SoCon team for the foreseeable future. My big concern is what does that mean nationally. Going one and done in the playoffs is supposed to be a Patriot/Pioneer/MEAC move. But here we are tonight with the SoCon done before the round of 16 at 0-2, and the Big South (Big South!!!) is 2-0. And the Southland has 3 teams left! I would lose a lot of sleep tonight if I’m the SoCon commissioner. This is a huge issue.

[Paladin91]

The record is a reflection of the weakness of those opponents. The Paladins defeated zero quality teams and were brutally crushed in their most important games.

I've seen this show before. Talent deficits can be fixed . . . but lack of desire can't. Hendrix doesn't know how to fix it and his teams are never going to compete at the national level.

There are always excuses and justifications, and I get why fans don't want to face up to the reality. How can this keep happening? Hendrix was the one who was going to right the ship and get back to the days of old.

Maybe no one can.

The loss of GA Southern and App State from the conference really damaged any meaningful fan base that FU had. Those two were great rivals for so many years . I hate to say it, but FU took a fall when it started losing consistently to former DIv 2 Wofford College - that was a new low in the history of the program. We still haven't recovered from it, IMO. Today, the SOCON is a weak football conference - schools like GA Southern, App State, Coastal Carolina, and GA State (former FCS schools gone FBS) have stolen talent that once would have been seen in the SOCON/at Furman. Add in newer FCS schools like Mercer and Kennesaw State, which formerly didn't have football, and the recruiting pot of talented FCS players shrinks even more.

I'm in ATL and try to make it up to a couple of games per year, but honestly, it's quite sad to see the empty stands. I know CCH is trying hard to rebuild the team to its former glory days, but it's gotta be tough averaging 5-8,000 per game. Perhaps the availability of FU football on TV has reduced that number some.

The reality is that most alum could not care less about FU football. I'd say less than 10% of alumni friends even share FB posts on Furman football. Reality is that FCS football will always be regarded as second rate or minor league compared to FBS schools. It's a shame that more alums aren't supportive of their school because it's not prime time football.

You are misinformed when you say most alumni don't care about FU football. FU football exists today because it is important to alumni. I wouldn't say your FB alumni friends is a good barometer of relevance. Check sometime with the administration, or someone who knows.

FUPlayer74,
A former football player who resides in my n'hood that played in the 90s is a good example. He flies the GA Bulldogs flag and nicely told me it was great to play there but he hardly follows FU football anymore. He's not been to a game in years.
There are certainly alumni that have an interest in FU's football program, but attendance is telling. In the late 80's & 90's, FU average. 12-14 K per game. Today, we are at about half that - does that suggest a strong alumni base?

[The Jackal]

The record is a reflection of the weakness of those opponents. The Paladins defeated zero quality teams and were brutally crushed in their most important games.

I've seen this show before. Talent deficits can be fixed . . . but lack of desire can't. Hendrix doesn't know how to fix it and his teams are never going to compete at the national level.

There are always excuses and justifications, and I get why fans don't want to face up to the reality. How can this keep happening? Hendrix was the one who was going to right the ship and get back to the days of old.

Maybe no one can.

The loss of GA Southern and App State from the conference really damaged any meaningful fan base that FU had. Those two were great rivals for so many years . I hate to say it, but FU took a fall when it started losing consistently to former DIv 2 Wofford College - that was a new low in the history of the program. We still haven't recovered from it, IMO. Today, the SOCON is a weak football conference - schools like GA Southern, App State, Coastal Carolina, and GA State (former FCS schools gone FBS) have stolen talent that once would have been seen in the SOCON/at Furman. Add in newer FCS schools like Mercer and Kennesaw State, which formerly didn't have football, and the recruiting pot of talented FCS players shrinks even more.

I'm in ATL and try to make it up to a couple of games per year, but honestly, it's quite sad to see the empty stands. I know CCH is trying hard to rebuild the team to its former glory days, but it's gotta be tough averaging 5-8,000 per game. Perhaps the availability of FU football on TV has reduced that number some.

The reality is that most alum could not care less about FU football. I'd say less than 10% of alumni friends even share FB posts on Furman football. Reality is that FCS football will always be regarded as second rate or minor league compared to FBS schools. It's a shame that more alums aren't supportive of their school because it's not prime time football.

You are misinformed when you say most alumni don't care about FU football. FU football exists today because it is important to alumni. I wouldn't say your FB alumni friends is a good barometer of relevance. Check sometime with the administration, or someone who knows.

FUPlayer74,
A former football player who resides in my n'hood that played in the 90s is a good example. He flies the GA Bulldogs flag and nicely told me it was great to play there but he hardly follows FU football anymore. He's not been to a game in years.
There are certainly alumni that have an interest in FU's football program, but attendance is telling. In the late 80's & 90's, FU average. 12-14 K per game. Today, we are at about half that - does that suggest a strong alumni base?

It couldn't possibly have anything to do with losing multiple major football schools with large traveling fan bases could it?

If you'd go back and look, the attendance at most of the non-GSU/App games the last 20 years are largely in line with Furman's current attendance. There are spikes here and there, but you have to rebuild the fanbase that the last 10 years did major damage to.

Our biggest home game of this season - homecoming against the Citadel - was essentially a washout weather wise.