ADVERTISEMENT

Landons article - back to the main problem with the department

Evidently more players are speaking out via private messages on Facebook and texts.
I am sure MU meant well but man, they messed this up. Jmo


All one has to do is go back & read Chuck's Article....About 50 + replies and all of them speak negative comments about Mike Hamrick. I hate if for Mike. I don't reside in Huntington, therefore, I do not know why his reputation with the fans is all of a sudden----negative. I strongly support that Mike loves Marshall. Why? It is hard for him to speak his words during our Memorial Fountain Celebration because he loves Marshall...a Son of Marshall...and it's an emotional time for him to deliver his annual address. I hurt for him as he tries to remain strong in front of the crowd. A difficult job for anyone.

He has worked hard (in my opinion) to build a stronger football program (his baby, if you will)....with little attention to our other sports teams (again, my opinion)...basketball, baseball, women's sports & our non-revenue producing sports. Point in proof...try finding something in our campus bookstore or at Huntington retail outlets that say anything about HERD basketball.

Some have said to me..."Mike does not want other sports to succeed because it will take away what limited funding from our fans...that are currently directed at football." I do not know if this is true on his part...but you know what they say about PERCEPTION.

HerdZilla22 (G. Sweeney in Charlotte)
 
Last edited:
As for assessing any "blame" for this incident or the other woes in MU athletics currently, I think that currently President Gilbert needs to be given a "pass". As Zilla has pointed out, MU is in a drastic financial situation, perhaps the worse in its existence since becoming a University.

Continuing budget cuts and declining state support have become a "norm". School is probably raising more private monies than any time in its history, but unfortunately because of aforementioned cuts, is having to use such funds more for CURRENT EXPENSES instead of building up its endowment, funding ongoing and increased numbers of scholarships, increasing funding for ongoing research, and, perhaps, significantly ramping up funding for STUDENT RECRUITMENT!!!

With these kinds of problems in the University as a whole, the President has plenty on his plate to deal with, instead of "issues" in the athletic department that RIGHTLY need to be forcefully dealt with and RESOLVED by the Athletics Director, WHO IS PAID TO DO SO!!!

Thank You oldeherd.
President Gilbert does deserve a lot of praise for what he is doing to promote MARSHALL in the Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky areas. Last May, I played in a $100 per man Golf Fund Raiser created by our Cinn Alumni Chapter to promote Marshall University. The Chapter has raised enough money (year-to-date) to fund about fifty $8,000 annual scholarships for high school students (Ohio & Ky) that will be granted WV residence status for tuition & fees to come to Huintington. It was Dr. Gilbert's idea to grow our student body enrollment by taking these measures. I paid to play golf because 20 of the scholarships have been designated for the Page Pitt School of JRN & Mass Communications...of which I am a proud graduate. At one time, the School of JRN recived about $20,000 from the state of West Virginia. That ended years ago.

Think about it. If you want more quick $$$$...grow your enrollment. My old high school (Mt Hope, now consolidated with Oak Hill) has about eight annual scholarships [$3,000 +] solely for Fayette Country kids to attend Marshall. This is thinking "outside the box."

Our state is in dire straights. Educational leaders will have to be creative to help students not become so debt ridden to attend college. Education can be "their escape from poverty"---as it was for me back in the late 1960's at Marshall. I was lucky too. I saved enough money from my year in Vietnam (1970-71) and some extra money because of being assigned to promorte the Modern Volunteer ARMY (1972--73) while working with the WV Recruiting Command making high school & college speaking engagements. The day I got my exit papers (June, 1973) at Ft Lee, Va....I drove to my Mt Hope Bank and asked..."How much do I owe you?" Their reply...$2500. That was a lot of money in 1973. I wrote them a check for $2500 on the spot (even though I had about 15 years to pay off my Student Loans). I was debt FREE and had about $7,000 in my pocket to spare.

Going forward...our WV future rests with the graduates of tomorrow. If we are to continue to MAKE MARSHALL GREAT...it will take some creative measures to Fund the School. I doubt Marshall will be reciving any special favors from Charleston.

HerdZilla22 In Charlotte
 
  • Like
Reactions: herdfam
This season with the losing and what is going on behind the scenes with players and now this is just an absolute PR nightmare for Marshall. It couldn't get any worse. What has happened in such a short period of time?
 
This season with the losing and what is going on behind the scenes with players and now this is just an absolute PR nightmare for Marshall. It couldn't get any worse. What has happened in such a short period of time?


I agree Herdon2.
It is still a mystery to me and a lot of others too how a solid football program, winners of 5 consecitive Bowl games, winning 9-10 contests annually, a strong home winning %--- could become so bad....in 365 days! It started with the Akron loss and got worse each week. I think the team played OK against a talented Louisville team that filled The Joan. It was electric that night. Chase Litton is a mystery to me. How could a player that broke many HERD QB records as a Freshman...."go from the Penthouse to the Outhouse" in 365 days? He seemed to not have the support of the TEAM and it appeared they did not care about his human welfare.

Doc had to scamble to get back-up QB's in town since all the others transferred to other schools. A mass exit of players are no longer on the team? What does this say about the structural well-being of Marshall football? Were we feed a lot of Green Cool-aid? Was recruiting at an all time low?

Marshall has passonate fans, a bit spoiled because of the success achieved over the years. WE deserve to have answers. We got none...except from AD Mike Hamrick from his press release Monday, Dec. 5. "I leave late at night and Doc's lights are still on...he is working hard to make sure 2016 does not repeat itself."

I am willing to continue my support to help MAKE MARSHALL FOOTBALL GREAT---AGAIN. But we, do deserve some answers. Closing, Chase Litton was no where to be seen during the Western Kentucky debacle. Doc claimed he had a shoulder injury. For the life of me--- I have never known a player that has a shoulder injury not be on the sidelines cheering for his teammates? Something smells here....It smells of Poop!

HerdZilla22 (Sweeney in Charlotte)
 
I went to an Auburn game one time and Cam Newton and Bo Jackson were on the sideline. And, some other of their players. Auburn was taking care of them. Marshall should do that with our legends as well

As I said, there are former Marshall players on the sidelines at every game.

No matter what your contribution was or is to the University, connection to that University is a two way street.

You and many others need to temper your Fan "Love" for many of our former players, because unfortunately the feelings aren't mutual.

For every Doug, Vinny, & Chad, there are 25+ others that couldn't give a rip about Marshall.

I will say this though......To the Big Green's credit, they have done a great job reconnecting with many former players. Many of those players felt good enough to donate towards the Football Locker Program which is nearly sold out.

I'll reiterate.....The Reunion Event could have been handled better, Mike has said as much but I lost some respect for those guys that went to Landon.
 
Reunion event could have been handled better.

Importance of this in the Grand Scheme of Things: 0.00000001

Just provided something for the dark, hate-filled, bitter small man that Chuckie is to write about.

Chuckie never will have anything good to say about the current, or any future, MU administration or coaching staff. It is part of his dark, brooding personality. The consequences of a life wasted.

Time to move on to the next thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CockyHerd
if you are going to do something less than half assed don't fvcking do it. that's 90% of Marshall's problem top to bottom...

Well stated Andy! My dad always told me "if you're going to do something invest the extra effort to do it right".
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Elkview
This season with the losing and what is going on behind the scenes with players and now this is just an absolute PR nightmare for Marshall. It couldn't get any worse. What has happened in such a short period of time?

Sometimes you've got to hit the bottom before you can begin to bounce back up...
 
my guess is most of those players are like most fans....bitch and talk shit about what is deserved or to be expected....give little.

go look for their names in game programs or on vision bricks. good luck.
 
Some of this has been going on for a while. Many players have felt this way and refuse to go back. I have never witnessed such a cluster of treatment. This was not handled properly from the beginning which was in the planning stages. The AD's response, if true, is deplorable. He can say what he wants to say but I believe BJ and John anyday.
 
Chris you say a lot of truth. The answer goes back to the original treatment again. You think if they felt disrespected they are going to donate? Leftwich, Mercer, plenty of others were disrespected
 
I didn't suggest he "add" a position, I suggested he hire someone for a specific job. There are probably folks there now doing the job, but apparently not well enough. My suggestion was that he hire someone with specific skills and abilities as a planner and event specialist. They're all over the place. It's not the same as asking a BG funds development person to gratify visitors. It takes a desire and a talent. And I still think we need it; yes, 100% of their time planning and executing "experiences" at both football and basketball games. The experience, other than the game itself, at basketball is somewhere close to uneasy to handle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Elkview
I like Doug Chapman a lot, spoke to him twice, the evening before and the day of, the celebration. I had hoped to see his parents at the M Club pavilion for a bit, but they were very busy with others when I went by. (We'd had the pleasure of speaking with them for a good bit during time in Detroit years ago.)

However, I think this may be the most unwise thing I've seen Doug do. Holding back funds is easily done; continuing to contribute while issues are worked out it much harder. One helps deepen the hole we're temporarily in; the other helps climb out of it. I am sorry to see Doug even mention that holding back funds is a good thing to drive change. While that may be the eventual result, the condition needed correcting at the time that money will drive change is so much worse than we're in now.

Doug, if you're reading, please consider altering your comments as quite frankly they don't sound like you at all. And I truly believe you can have a great influence on how this is resolved.I may be wrong, but I don't think you really want more pain injected into solving the issues at Marshall right now. I;m betting your more prone to want to see them resolved with as much continued fan support as we can hold on to. Just my opinion from our previous conversations, and the high regard I have for you, and I know you have for our university.
 
What took place or did not take place is just another example of a problem that has been ongoing for many many years.

We do not have people in place that have any idea how to plan , just like the absence of top flight marketing , the absence of having a good traditional design with regards to the stadium the basketball arena and on and on inclusive of a legible design for the school name as well as the nickname should that be utilized as well. Does anyone ever look at the uniforms of top flight conference schools , how much tradition is involved , how the lack of trying to look trendy goes a long long way?

This is somewhat of another subject but the point is when you do not know what to do or what looks good to begin with you have situations like this particular incident arise. Just because a guy is the AD or an asst AD or Marketing person does not mean they actually know what to do when it comes to the presentation aspect.

Deal is , it does not take an Einstein to handle any of it , just a person or people that have been around major programs , have enough sense to open their eyes , understand what goes on at other universities , come up with the solutions and then maintain tradition vs changing looks and colors every 5 min.

Proper and correct planning goes along way and as the saying goes lack of proper planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
 
Sam I often disagree with you but being an Army vet (1966-1969) and served overseas on this I agree with you.
 
Ban this guy. Making fun of veterans is beyond the pale.

And , BTW, a**hole, Agent Orange, causes cancer and skin disorders, and may cause some nerve and respiratory disorders. It does not cause cognative issues.

Zilla:

Thank you for your service.


Thanks Sam...I, along with a lot of Marshall grads and folks from WV, proudly served our GREAT Country when "it was not sexy to fight for our country." I will never forget (only 24 years old) walking through the terminal in San Francisco when returning from SE Asia (1971).....being called a "baby killer", FU%King asshole, Murderer.....and I was even spit on. I just kept walking, not uttering a rebutal...I was focused on getting back to West Virginia & my loved ones as quickly as possible. Time will record the Vietnam Conflict as a wasted time with way too many young men & women killed. I am not one to determine it's importance...I survived to live a good life. I can only say, I love America and I made the right decison (when I was drafted out of graduate school at Marshall--1970) to serve the US like many BEFORE and Going Forward will serve. I am no hero...just a proud West Virginian that LOVES MARSHALL.

GO ARMY....Please finally beat Navy...Dec. 10 starting @ 3:00 PM.....


HerdZilla22 (G. Sweeney in Charlotte)
 
Thanks Sam...I, along with a lot of Marshall grads and folks from WV, proudly served our GREAT Country when "it was not sexy to fight for our country." I will never forget (only 24 years old) walking through the terminal in San Francisco when returning from SE Asia (1971).....being called a "baby killer", FU%King asshole, Murderer.....and I was even spit on. I just kept walking, not uttering a rebutal...I was focused on getting back to West Virginia & my loved ones as quickly as possible. Time will record the Vietnam Conflict as a wasted time with way too many young men & women killed. I am not one to determine it's importance...I survived to live a good life. I can only say, I love America and I made the right decison (when I was drafted out of graduate school at Marshall--1970) to serve the US like many BEFORE and Going Forward will serve. I am no hero...just a proud West Virginian that LOVES MARSHALL.

GO ARMY....Please finally beat Navy...Dec. 10 starting @ 3:00 PM.....


HerdZilla22 (G. Sweeney in Charlotte)

Top notch post.

Thank you for your service.
 
Thanks Sam...I, along with a lot of Marshall grads and folks from WV, proudly served our GREAT Country when "it was not sexy to fight for our country." I will never forget (only 24 years old) walking through the terminal in San Francisco when returning from SE Asia (1971).....being called a "baby killer", FU%King asshole, Murderer.....and I was even spit on. I just kept walking, not uttering a rebutal...I was focused on getting back to West Virginia & my loved ones as quickly as possible. Time will record the Vietnam Conflict as a wasted time with way too many young men & women killed. I am not one to determine it's importance...I survived to live a good life. I can only say, I love America and I made the right decison (when I was drafted out of graduate school at Marshall--1970) to serve the US like many BEFORE and Going Forward will serve. I am no hero...just a proud West Virginian that LOVES MARSHALL.

GO ARMY....Please finally beat Navy...Dec. 10 starting @ 3:00 PM.....


HerdZilla22 (G. Sweeney in Charlotte)
Thank you for your service Zilla! :)
 
Doug is entitled to his opinion and frankly, IMO, he is right. Stop wearing the green glasses and drinking the KoolAid folks. Doug has been a strong advocate for the University but he doesn't have to turn his head away from real issues and lack of great leadership.
 
The players "quit" on us this year. National announcers thruout the season mentioned this as did opposing players. That indicates a diseased program. Without medication (in the form of massive coaching/AD changes), it will not get better.
Holiday was never a decent coach; now he has lost control and had no outstanding players to bail him out -- thus showing him up for the inept coach that he is.
 
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT