Darraugh OUT at BU

[iupgroundhog]

This is the right move. Bart,

Right move or not won't be known for quite some time.

[BlueJay]

I don't have much to say, as I have mixed emotions about all of this. First off, I haven't been enthused about much of anything with respect to Bloomsburg athletics in recent years. I don't see how replacing Darragh at this point in time will change much. Whatever happens, it has to be done post haste; as recruiting will be affected if there is a long term selection process. Maybe the other decision that might have been made was to consider replacing the AD, as under his reign success has been scant and of rare occurrence.

[Bart]

I don't have much to say, as I have mixed emotions about all of this. First off, I haven't been enthused about much of anything with respect to Bloomsburg athletics in recent years. I don't see how replacing Darragh at this point in time will change much. Whatever happens, it has to be done post haste; as recruiting will be affected if there is a long term selection process. Maybe the other decision that might have been made was to consider replacing the AD, as under his reign success has been scant and of rare occurrence.

I totally agree. Unless they keep some assistant coaches, this year's recruiting class will be lost. I would expect some current player defections as well. If a new coach wants to go pass happy, there is no need for the fullbacks and several good tailbacks to stay. Gooden and Quiteh both got medical redshirts for this year. I hope we don't go on the coaches carousal like some other PSAC schools have.

Who may apply for the job? Frank Sheptock? Tom Pajic? A high school coach? Steve Devlin? The salary is going to prevent Temple's assistant Bobby James, unless he want to be a HC. Let's bring Arizona Cardinals DL coach Chris Achuff home. LOL

[IUPNation]

Bloomsburg is where IUP was in after years of mediocrity under The Lou Tepper.

It's probably more than just a new coach that needs to change as it did for IUP.

[BlueJay]

Thanks, Bart! Things looking up a bit with BU wrestling, but we will see to what extent as the season progresses. Have a great Thanksgiving. Will be at the Bloom--Bucknell match in early December.

[ShoNuff]

Or perhaps neither. People have expected this program to continue to win with 9 scholarships. If he would have won 2 more games this year, this may not have been an issue.

As for Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs being escorted off campus in October, there is no relationship to this story. By the way, the VP was a finalist for the Boro President job.

I think its VERY HARD to be consistently successful with a year amount of 9 equivalent scholarships. The coaching and scheme must be VERY excellent, and unless you are REALLY paying your assistant coaches/coordinators, this this hard to achieve. But good luck to the Huskies.

[iupgroundhog]

I understand there has been a gradual slide downward for Bloom over the last 5 years and at least part of the Bloom constituency thinks this is a necessary move. But it is just one losing season, a 5-6 season. Bloom started out 1-5 and the alarms started going off; however, their last 5 games they went 4-1 They played 3 playoff teams and lost to all 3 by a cumulative 25 points. Just sayin'.

[IUP412]

Long time coming, well overdue.

Good luck finding somebody better. Coach is a solid man on and off the field...
just sayin

[Bart]

Good luck finding somebody better. Coach is a solid man on and off the field...
just sayin

No question about it. Former players and others are saying it.

Stefan Adams? Former HC at West Chester HendersonPat Spadaro? TE Coach at WCUScott Eddy? Director of Athletic Communications at St, Bonaventure
Sad to see this news. Paul Darragh is a class act. I am grateful that my first big gig as an SID was working with Paul and his staff with a great football program at Bloom. All best to Coach Darragh and his staff, someone will be getting a great coach and better man.

[WarriorVoice]

I feel bad that people are calling him Paul Darraugh...There's NEVER been a U in his last name...How about a TAD of respect?!

[shipfbfan12]

My first thought is the administration had this move in mind for a while just needed a bad season to justify pulling the plug. My second thought is they want to revamp the Bloom program, inject new life and a new direction which probably means they'll go with a young innovative coach probably a coordinator from the FCS rankings or maybe a seasoned OC already in the PSAC since their pay would pretty much double. Look for completely new offensive identity with whomever they bring in and this coach will know he has 4 years to right the ship or he'll be canned. Reminds me when Coach Reese retired from Ship and they announced Mac as the next HC and he threw away the offensive playbook, brought in a new OC and took the program to a new level until this years backslide lol.

[RockNation]

so what is Bloom thinking right now, who do they go get?

[Chuck Bitner]

The Bloomsburg job has its shortcomings, but it is a good job and its been proven that you can win there. Even with very modest scholarship numbers, the program can be regionally and even nationally relevant. It should draw a very good candidate pool and probably even some proven head coaches. Kutztown was able to draw a winner in Jim Clements from D3 Delaware Valley. Even Lock Haven was attractive to head coaches and they landed Taynor, who was winning at Urbana. Bloom will get interest from D1 as well, but I'm leery of that. D1 assistants make more money than D2 head coaches so you have to REALLY want it. Some guys think they do but then realize how challenging it is. They run their own program but work harder and longer, deal with more frustration and get paid less. Going back to D1 is awfully tempting. See Justin Lustig at Edinboro.

[Ship69]

Hiring a D1 guy is certainly no guarantee of raising the tide. I recall Millersville hiring Greg Colby from Northwestern a couple of years back (I went to NU after Ship and follow them, so I'm having a lousy football season). Colby's defenses at Northwestern were so porous that some called them the Colby "Swiss cheese" defenses because of all the holes in them. I guess Millersville thought his D1 experience would translate to more success at D2, but it certainly didn't work out that way.

[BlueJay]

Good points, Chuck! Bloom was in most of their games this year--even with the playoff bound teams WCU and Shepherd. Nor did they get blown away by also playoff destined Kutztown (27--12). They got off to a rocky start, but came on, and not to be forgotten was the loss of their two top running backs for the season. In any case, I'll be up there next year cheering away as I always have. Once a Husky, always a Husky.