GVSU vs. Ferris

[Irish1916]

They've finished in the top 2 in the Director's Cup standings the last 18 years, including 13 wins. Every time they finished second in those 18 years, it was second to UC Davis twice (while they were gearing up to go D1), to Grand Canyon twice (while they were gearing up to go D1), and to Cal Baptist once (in their last year of D2 before going D1).

I understand everyone here wants football to be great, and men's basketball and baseball to be great. But again, that's not what makes a well-rounded athletic program. If you want to say that football and men's basketball and baseball have underperformed, fine, do that. But don't say that the GV athletic program is "no longer considered a leader" when the GV athletic program is by far the leader in Division II, despite what football and men's basketball and baseball do. Maybe you can give some credit to how GV has by far the best women's athletics program in the country among all divisions, not just D-II. Maybe you just don't want to give that credit as a male. I don't know. Go after football, not the athletic program as a whole that remains incredible.

I just want the President of the University and the Athletic Director to hold the coaches of the men's programs to the same high standard of the coaches of the women's teams, who have performed with distinction over the past two decades; why do they allow for the men's programs to under perform?

[KleShreen]

Based on what??

They've finished in the top 2 in the Director's Cup standings the last 18 years, including 13 wins. Every time they finished second in those 18 years, it was second to UC Davis twice (while they were gearing up to go D1), to Grand Canyon twice (while they were gearing up to go D1), and to Cal Baptist once (in their last year of D2 before going D1).

I understand everyone here wants football to be great, and men's basketball and baseball to be great. But again, that's not what makes a well-rounded athletic program. If you want to say that football and men's basketball and baseball have underperformed, fine, do that. But don't say that the GV athletic program is "no longer considered a leader" when the GV athletic program is by far the leader in Division II, despite what football and men's basketball and baseball do. Maybe you can give some credit to how GV has by far the best women's athletics program in the country among all divisions, not just D-II. Maybe you just don't want to give that credit as a male. I don't know. Go after football, not the athletic program as a whole that remains incredible.

[Irish1916]

Klesheen, GV has had recent successes in our athletic teams playing for national championships in men and women cross country, women's soccer, basketball, golf, softball and volley ball that have allowed GV to win numerous D2 Director Cups. What is missing from this list of GV teams not contributing to this success? Men's baseball, basketball and football. I also do not see major donors pushing money to complete the updates at Lubbers Stadium or the building of a much needed basketball arena. As a graduate of Grand Valley State College, yes I said College, I wish my observations about the leadership of the school and athletic program was wrong. I really would like them to not be willing to accept mediocrity.

[Irish1916]

[QUOTEOriginally posted by Irish1916 View Post
Congratulations to Ferris as they outplayed Grand Valley and outcoached Matt Mitchel and his staff. The Grand Valley faithful should consider these factors going forward;

1. Matt's wife has family in Grand Rapids area and does not want to relocate out of the area.
2. Over the past 6-7 years Matt's performance has diminished his marketability
3. Current President of GV is not really concerned with the performance of the Football program and in fact embraces it as a model of long term success as she focusses on the continued wokeness of the university.
4. The current AD at GV has no leadership skills and has no idea the damage being done to the athletic program and the GLIAC conference where GV is no longer considered a leader.
5. We are saddled with Matt Mitchell until he retires or the football program has multiple consecutive years with a losing record. Mediocrity is beautiful.

GV is still the best athletics program in the conference and the country. Football is not the be-all-end-all of the athletic program.

[Mk63NuclearBomb]

Based on what??

You've won the last 20* D2 director's cups?

*I don't know or care what the actual number is, I just know it's a lot

[IH8SVSU]

GV is still the best athletics program in the conference and the country.

Based on what??

[KleShreen]

Congratulations to Ferris as they outplayed Grand Valley and outcoached Matt Mitchel and his staff. The Grand Valley faithful should consider these factors going forward;

1. Matt's wife has family in Grand Rapids area and does not want to relocate out of the area.
2. Over the past 6-7 years Matt's performance has diminished his marketability
3. Current President of GV is not really concerned with the performance of the Football program and in fact embraces it as a model of long term success as she focusses on the continued wokeness of the university.
4. The current AD at GV has no leadership skills and has no idea the damage being done to the athletic program and the GLIAC conference where GV is no longer considered a leader.
5. We are saddled with Matt Mitchell until he retires or the football program has multiple consecutive years with a losing record. Mediocrity is beautiful.

GV is still the best athletics program in the conference and the country. Football is not the be-all-end-all of the athletic program.

[KleShreen]

I see an incident where he lost his temper, shook a player and punched two others on their pads. The most egregious thing was that it seems he didn't understand what he did wrong. You didn't say anything but from hanging around the GLIAC Forum it seems that some believe that he runs a sort of last chance program for the highly talented. If there are these kinds of issues, then maybe the price of that kind of success is too high.

He's mostly stayed out of the spotlight since going to Ferris.

[Irish1916]

Congratulations to Ferris as they outplayed Grand Valley and outcoached Matt Mitchel and his staff. The Grand Valley faithful should consider these factors going forward;

1. Matt's wife has family in Grand Rapids area and does not want to relocate out of the area.
2. Over the past 6-7 years Matt's performance has diminished his marketability
3. Current President of GV is not really concerned with the performance of the Football program and in fact embraces it as a model of long term success as she focusses on the continued wokeness of the university.
4. The current AD at GV has no leadership skills and has no idea the damage being done to the athletic program and the GLIAC conference where GV is no longer considered a leader.
5. We are saddled with Matt Mitchell until he retires or the football program has multiple consecutive years with a losing record. Mediocrity is beautiful.

[DawgUp]

If you can't beat them maybe you should take their coach. I'm sure you can pay him more, have you guys considered hiring Annese?

LMAO, if you can't beat em, try and take their coach...that would be classic GV (I think they actually did that with Wayne St O line coach). Actually TA/MM salary is pretty much the same. They would love to have TA, but he wouldn't fit in there. He's not the kind of guy that consumes spritzers and cheese cubes when watching a football game.

[GreenwoodBearcat]

Thinking long term, I see Ferris and VSU in a rematch at McKinney.

Maybe maybe not.

[boyblue]

Let's just say, GV won't ever hire TA. Period. And think about it. TA is a dang good HC as it pertains to the actual game. And if so, why is he still at FSU after all these seasons? I won't bag him on a board, but one might want to check some closets. Could be a skeleton or more.. and even some newer ones in there.

I see an incident where he lost his temper, shook a player and punched two others on their pads. The most egregious thing was that it seems he didn't understand what he did wrong. You didn't say anything but from hanging around the GLIAC Forum it seems that some believe that he runs a sort of last chance program for the highly talented. If there are these kinds of issues, then maybe the price of that kind of success is too high.

[dvaara]

Mitchell is exactly what you need if your goal is underachieving and mediocrity

He's dominated northwood and wayne state though so we should endure another decade.

[Redwing]

If you can't beat them maybe you should take their coach. I'm sure you can pay him more, have you guys considered hiring Annese?

Let's just say, GV won't ever hire TA. Period. And think about it. TA is a dang good HC as it pertains to the actual game. And if so, why is he still at FSU after all these seasons? I won't bag him on a board, but one might want to check some closets. Could be a skeleton or more.. and even some newer ones in there.

[Brandon]

Agreed, he does a great job running things here.

Thank you.