Confirmed from within the program Valparaiso has hired Dayton defensive coordinator Landon Fox announcement coming later today
If true, I like that we hired a D guy, but now I wonder what the O will be. Will we just be Dayton-West or will he bring in a different concept (flexbone? Veer? Read pass option? Wing T? Notre dame Box? Single wing?).
Based on how this played out, it seems like JD24s speculation that the #1 choice could not agree to terms might be accurate.
Just to add a personal thought. I'm all for giving assistants who are ready a shot at being a HC. If it is Fox, so be it. Let's hope he is indeed ready, has his coaching act together, and will not have learn on-the-job. But I voiced earlier that we went that route already with DC and at this point in the program's progression we needed a guy who was an experienced HC with a strong winning record to take us to the next level. I'm a little disappointed that we were not able to get Raeburn on board and hope a few K in salary was not the obstacle.
A move to defensive minded HC, even without HC experience, could work out well for the Crusaders. Let's face it, our opponent's averaged 35.6 ppg in 2018. That number is even higher if we just took at the 9 losses. With injuries at the QB position, a lack of WRs on the roster, and more depth at RB than any other off skill group... we could be looking at needing to run the ball more and playing better defense.
Quote from: NWIGuy on March 01, 2019, 10:37:02 AM
A move to defensive minded HC, even without HC experience, could work out well for the Crusaders. Let's face it, our opponent's averaged 35.6 ppg in 2018. That number is even higher if we just took at the 9 losses. With injuries at the QB position, a lack of WRs on the roster, and more depth at RB than any other off skill group... we could be looking at needing to run the ball more and playing better defense.
I concur given our current circumstances. It was nice having a vibrant passing attack the last 9 years, but also so darned frustrating and so one-guy-dependent - the QB, whether it be Jimmy or going back to Eric Hoffman. As our QBs went so did we. In 2017, when Jimmy was healthy, we looked pretty good. In DC's first season he was left with Ben Lehman after Hoffman did not return for a 5th year. And Ben actually wound up being the perfect QB because he was not so heavily depended upon and we spread the responsibility for generating offense to include the running game and Ben contributed to that as well. Of course it sure helped Ben to have Tanner out there to catch passes when he did throw. We won four games that first season and were within striking distance of three more wins.
I am going to stereotype defensive minded head coaches - probably unfairly. They, by nature, are hard-nosed, physical people, because that's what you have to be to play D. That spills over, I believe, into how they approach the O side of the ball. In that respect, without anything to base this on, I expect (actually hope) the VU offense to be a more basic, lunchbox-type of a game that is less finesse than we are used to and more grind and ball control. I just want to win games and I don't care how pretty the wins are.
Quote from: valpofb16 on March 01, 2019, 08:26:28 AM
Confirmed from within the program Valparaiso has hired Dayton defensive coordinator Landon Fox announcement coming later today
Great Hire.
Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk
It's official now. Welcome Coach Fox!
Dear Faculty and Staff,
I am pleased to announce that Landon Fox has been selected as the next head coach of the Valparaiso University football program.
Coach Fox will be formally introduced at a welcome reception on Tuesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. in the Athletics-Recreation Center media room. He spent the last 11 years as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Dayton.
Coach Fox understands what it takes to be successful in the Pioneer Football League and what it takes to be a successful student at an institution like Valparaiso University. During his time at Dayton, he helped make defense the hallmark of a program that posted an 86-38 record, won three PFL championships and participated in the 2015 FCS playoffs.
Dayton's defenses consistently ranked among the national leaders in a variety of statistical categories during Coach Fox's tenure. Prior to joining the staff at Dayton, Coach Fox served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Wayne State University in Detroit from 2005-2007. His resume also includes stints as a defensive graduate assistant at Ball State University (2004), Dayton (2002-2003) and Lakeland College (2001). He began his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach at Preble Shawnee High School in Camden, Ohio during the 2000 season.
I invite you to join me in extending a warm welcome to Coach Fox at Tuesday's reception.
Sincerely,
Mark LaBarbera
Director of Athletics
Also this from Paul:
https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/1101574887141986310
First....Fox is not a bad choice but....
....in these types of negotiations there often is only one offer because the preliminary negotiations attempt to put together the entire deal prior to making the offer. That way the hirer (school, team, etc) can simply say "it was our only offer". I said earlier in the other thread that whoever the choice was whether it was the first or fifth choice would be said to have been the first choice. This has all the markings of a deal which could not be reached for whatever reason (which could be the potential hiree's issue as well as the school's) and thus delayed a week. The timing is way too coincidental.
However it could work out to the betterment of Valpo. Fox is experienced in the conference and I'm in an agreement that maybe a defensive guy is what the program needs. I've certainly expressed enough frustration with the defense under Coach Cecchini.
As to VULB's pertinent point about experience HC vs. coordinator to HC promotions, it can be tough for a program such as Valpo to find those experienced HC candidates as many available options are from lesser programs and the jump can be tough to make...see Raeburn and Karras. Fox seems like he's got enough experience moving up. What Valpo needs is a staff that is mature enough to handle the positions which, in some cases under DC, I wasn't sure was there but, again, the program is likely geared to younger coaches looking to build a resume.
He'll obviously need to hit the ground at an absolute sprint and get ready for Spring Ball.
[tweet]1101584715285520386[/tweet]
Coach Fox needs to correct his twitter account. Any social media giants on the board wish to assist him?
Twitter fixed.
My first thought is with assistants particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Naturally the first staff to mine is Dayton's. First, I am struck by how much older Dayton's staff is which goes back to my maturity comment. Older doesn't necessarily mean mature but it certainly helps. Their RB coach has been around a while and has coached both RBs and WRs to good success. He might be someone to keep in mind. QB coach Kevin Hoying was the OC at Wittenberg for a few years before returning to Dayton where he was a very good QB and assistant coach.
I hope Coach Fox was hired with a fairly deep plan for a staff (which goes beyond a book) as it could take some time to put together a staff if he's just now beginning that process.
Was wondering when you'd chime in 24. Thanks for the added perspective. If the twitter pic of him showing players a PLAN is accurate, then I am on board. That shows preparation and a strategy. I like that. And, as I mentioned a million times before, I also like to build the foundation on a strong defense.
Yesterday, as a football alum, I received this email from Landon Fox. He's off to a good start.
Dear Football Alumnus,
Today, I was entrusted with leading the Valparaiso University Football program. I had an initial meeting with our student-athletes and handed each a link that is a part of a chain. I also gave each player the poem below, which I hope you will take the time to read. It represents the culture that our program will build. I look forward to meeting our Football alumni and making each of you a link in our chain.
Go Valpo!
Coach Landon Fox
The Link
I carry this link in my pocket
As a simple Reminder to Me
Of the fact that I am a team player
No matter where I may be.
This little link is not magic
Nor is it a good luck charm
It isn't meant to protect me
From any physical harm
It's simply an understanding
Between my teammates and me.
When I put my hand in my pocket
To bring out a coin or a key
The link is there to remind me
Of what a team member should be.
It links me to the team
It links me to the school
It's a constant reminder
That there is no place for a fool.
So I carry this link in my pocket
To remind me many a time
That a person without conviction
Isn't worth a simple dime.
-Norm Parker
Here is the url for the official release: http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2018-19/18897/landon-fox-hired-to-lead-valpo-football-program/
To back up his determination to recruit scholarship caliber athletes who seek academic excellence, I went back to the PFL web site to check on the 2018 PFL Academic Honor Roll. Just as in previous years, Dayton led the league in honorees: 79. In comparison, while setting a school record this past year in the number of honorees, Valpo came in 4th with 60. So, there are no empty words there.
It sounds like the new coach is definitely putting in the intensity and effort to win the trust and respect to lead this program.
We will see what happens in the next few months with recruits, new hires and current players but I'm feeling hopeful at this point.
It will be interestting to see how he assembles his staff as well.
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 02, 2019, 11:18:55 AM
It will be interesting to see how he assembles his staff as well.
I thought Coach Fox might bring his assistant coaches, Luther and Dauber. Oh, wait, wrong Coach Fox! :-[
I like the plan
I like he's defensive minded
The link stuff is corny
Less fake motivation crap and more recruiting and development
Excited to see the changes
Quote from: Valpo2013 on March 03, 2019, 10:09:55 AM
I like the plan
I like he's defensive minded
The link stuff is corny
Less fake motivation crap and more recruiting and development
Excited to see the changes
I'm glad you are excited. So am I for the same reasons you identify. But I have to comment on your statements in bold. In that one "corny" thing in his first team meeting on the very day he was officially hired he communicated his standard for team cohesiveness and symbolically set the bar. You were not there. You did not listen to everything he expects of this team going forward. He also simultaneously communicated the same concepts to us football alums in a separate email. All of this is entirely appropriate at this point and I am glad he set that standard and appreciate the way that he did iit, because he just completed his first, and possibly most important, recruiting visit — he first needed to re-recruit the players who DC left behind. Judging from the expressions on the faces of the players who managed to make that first meeting, it looked like he scored. BTW, as I read the release (and kind of read between the lines) recruiting is one of his fortes.
My goals, right now, are:
1 - to find out ASAP who will comprise his staff, and
2 - to find a way to get my hands on a copy of that plan he was holding up to the players. :)
Very true
Guess I just remember hearing that kind of stuff from Carlson and other coaches on other teams
Kinda Hollywood..imho
If he was a Carlson clone he wouldn't have lasted 11 years at Dayton I'm thinking 🤔
Couple of things on the "props" element of coaching. Typically that type of stuff works with some and not with others. So introducing it really means not much.
As far as hearing the same from other coaches, that is true. They all have their "motivation" lines. Carlson, hated though he may be, was actually pretty successful at both Trine and Ohio Dominican prior to moving to Valpo. So I'm not sure anything can be based on what a guy says at the opening meeting with the team who are all headed out the door for two weeks.
VULB62's comments regarding let's see the staff next along with maybe some words about what type of offense and what type of player he's interested in.
Sorry, that's great he was successful at ham and egger rebuild schools, but Carlson was a clown. The Shields Up and Osteen quotes were insulting to our intelligence.
I am really hoping this guys works well and I hope Valpo supports his efforts.
Quote from: usc4valpo on March 03, 2019, 04:53:05 PMSorry, that's great he was successful at ham and egger rebuild schools, but Carlson was a clown. The Shields Up and Osteen quotes were insulting to our intelligence. I am really hoping this guys works well and I hope Valpo supports his efforts.
I hope Coach Fox works out well as well. Point being we already know the results put forth by Carlson which were preceded by success. We have no idea of the results of the new leader. I can find plenty of people who think props such as the links and a book are just as ineffective nonsense as any quote, saying or prop used by any previous regime.
Quote from: JD24 on March 03, 2019, 05:06:08 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on March 03, 2019, 04:53:05 PMSorry, that's great he was successful at ham and egger rebuild schools, but Carlson was a clown. The Shields Up and Osteen quotes were insulting to our intelligence. I am really hoping this guys works well and I hope Valpo supports his efforts.
I hope Coach Fox works out well as well. Point being we already know the results put forth by Carlson which were preceded by success. We have no idea of the results of the new leader. I can find plenty of people who think props such as the links and a book are just as ineffective nonsense as any quote, saying or prop used by any previous regime.
"Row the boat"
I wish I knew how extensive the hiring "dance" was.
I know MLB well enough to know that he talked to a lot of people about each of the candidates. He went into the hiring/offer process with all the info he needed.
What I don't know is how much leverage RFox had in doing his due diligence about the Valpo program. Did he get to talk with the current staff and some current players prior to making his decision to come aboard? Was he able to get a straight answer that defined the true level of commitment and support VU FB would receive going forward before he said yes? ....Things like that. My concern is that, as an assistant, the very bright attraction of being an FCS HC might cause some temporary blindness that could, in short order, produce some "buyer's remorse." If he's the kind of guy that I saw in the pics and video, I think my concerns are minor.
I just hope he has the contacts in FB to assemble a great staff - FAST. And that he has the recruiting knowledge necessary to fill out the incoming class with some quality players. I wonder if he will mine the JC universe to at least get a year-one leg up on the recruiting handicap he has walked into by the late hiring thing.
Did we look at Malone at all for potential players. A D2 program that dropped football for 2019. Looking at their roster at a minimum they had a kicker and kicker/punter who were redshirt freshman. Lots of wide receivers as
well.
Good point Indy. They are in Columbus, Ohio, which is Fox's wheelhouse. But they were 2-8 last year and gave up a ton of points (no defenders there, maybe), but they did manage to score some points.
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 03, 2019, 07:55:58 PMGood point Indy. They are in Columbus, Ohio, which is Fox's wheelhouse. But they were 2-8 last year and gave up a ton of points (no defenders there, maybe), but they did manage to score some points.
They have a player participating in this years NFL combine so there must be some talent there.
Cool. Does he have a younger brother?
Dayton's roster is full of players from Ohio, Mich, PA, IL and doesn't wander too far west, south or muc h into the northeast. I wonder if Fox will change his focus or simply attempt to have the same recruits come to Valpo?
Malone has a much more diverse, in terms of geographic origination, roster and does have a couple of underclassmen kickers. Whether the roster can be mined for players would likely lie very heavily on whether they can qualify academically.
Quote from: JD24 on March 03, 2019, 10:51:46 PM
Dayton's roster is full of players from Ohio, Mich, PA, IL and doesn't wander too far west, south or muc h into the northeast. I wonder if Fox will change his focus or simply attempt to have the same recruits come to Valpo?
Malone has a much more diverse, in terms of geographic origination, roster and does have a couple of underclassmen kickers. Whether the roster can be mined for players would likely lie very heavily on whether they can qualify academically.
And if the financial package can equal what they were getting as D-II (possibly) scholarship players. Worth a shot. I think they would be immediately eligible as the program was dropped by Malone.
Quote from: VULB#62 on March 04, 2019, 09:58:39 AMQuote from: JD24 on March 03, 2019, 10:51:46 PMDayton's roster is full of players from Ohio, Mich, PA, IL and doesn't wander too far west, south or muc h into the northeast. I wonder if Fox will change his focus or simply attempt to have the same recruits come to Valpo? Malone has a much more diverse, in terms of geographic origination, roster and does have a couple of underclassmen kickers. Whether the roster can be mined for players would likely lie very heavily on whether they can qualify academically.
And if the financial package can equal what they were getting as D-II (possibly) scholarship players. Worth a shot. I think they would be immediately eligible as the program was dropped by Malone.
Malone did provide scholarships as a Div II entity which likely means most were receiving partial athletic deals. Whether they can combine with need based or academic I think is up to the conference they are in and I'm not up on my GMAC financial Aid packages rules. Malone did say they were honoring the scholarships so the kids can stay and not play football if they wish.
"Valparaiso (FCS – IN): Valparaiso University, who participates in the Pioneer Football League, is seeking three unpaid intern positions. These positions are available to those aspiring to get into the coaching profession. We are looking for interns on both sides of the ball and special teams. The offensive and defensive interns will coach their own position group (position to be determined). The interns will begin immediately. Please send cover letter, resume, and references to landonfoxvalpofootball@gmail.com." -http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/ (http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/)
Unpaid interns coaching a position is a little scary... wondering if OC/DC/S&C will take up more of the assistant pool? Or... are these interns IN ADDITION the standard paid positions?
Anxious to see the first confirm asst. hire!
What's interesting is that the intern positions are not posted on the school job openings site which has, in the past, carried assistant coach positions when they were open.
As to what it means, who knows? Could mean that Fox wants to present the program as a program which can help launch coaching careers to Valpo's going to have 3 coordinators and 6 interns on the staff.
Since Malone came up, their staff was quite large and included 3 or 4 interns in addition to a staff which was at least as large as Valpo's last year.
Quote from: usc4valpo on March 03, 2019, 04:53:05 PM
Sorry, that's great he was successful at ham and egger rebuild schools, but Carlson was a clown. The Shields Up and Osteen quotes were insulting to our intelligence.
I am really hoping this guys works well and I hope Valpo supports his efforts.
This is my favorite Osteen quote.
Slapping a rattlesnake across the face with the back of your hand is safer than trying to fool Henry Aaron.
Claude Osteen
I'm wondering if the unpaid intern positions approach might be to attract local HS teachers who are getting paid to coach HS FB, but might forego their added school district stipend to enter the wonderful world of college football? I gotta believe, though, that Fox will still have his core of 3 coordinators and 4-5 position coaches. Interns and student assistant coaches would be extra and give him greater flexibility in assigning more mundane tasks, freeing up the F/T guys for recruiting, and giving greater individual attention to players.
Quote from: valpopal on March 02, 2019, 12:02:09 PMI thought Coach Fox might bring his assistant coaches, Luther and Dauber. Oh, wait, wrong Coach Fox!
They were Minnesota State before there was a Minnesota State in Mankato.
Quote from: vu72 on March 03, 2019, 05:23:17 PM
Quote from: JD24 on March 03, 2019, 05:06:08 PM
Quote from: usc4valpo on March 03, 2019, 04:53:05 PMSorry, that's great he was successful at ham and egger rebuild schools, but Carlson was a clown. The Shields Up and Osteen quotes were insulting to our intelligence. I am really hoping this guys works well and I hope Valpo supports his efforts.
I hope Coach Fox works out well as well. Point being we already know the results put forth by Carlson which were preceded by success. We have no idea of the results of the new leader. I can find plenty of people who think props such as the links and a book are just as ineffective nonsense as any quote, saying or prop used by any previous regime.
"Row the boat"
Gritty!
Well, ok, maybe not a good example.
Tweets from the introductory presser:
[tweet]1103007607315447808[/tweet]
[tweet]1103008128583507968[/tweet]
[tweet]1103009556148506624[/tweet]
[tweet]1103009865373495302[/tweet]
[tweet]1103010500932177920[/tweet]
[tweet]1103011610178793474[/tweet]
[tweet]1103013299870937090[/tweet]
[tweet]1103013873442086912[/tweet]
Tanner Kuramata has a response to this from California ;D
Dang, Pal, you beat me to it. He says all the right things and seems very approachable and down to earth. He said that simplicity produces confidence. I liked that. He also diagnosed some of why we nose dived in 2018 pretty accurately. He contacted DC before he accepted the job and asked him if DC's best friend were applying for the Valpo job would he tell him to take it -- and DC said he would. This is a good video.
Like the outward intensity. A bit of a change for the HC at Valpo.
Yeah. He wasn't snarling or hyper, but there was a noticable difference from DC's measured style. And if it is noticable in this context, I'll bet it is even more intense (when appropriate I'm sure) in a team setting. One indicator of that intensity is that his measuring standard for improvement is a daily one, not weekly or at the end of a season.
More on Fox from the Valpo Athletics web site.
Rise and Grind: Landon Fox Brings Fourth-and-Goal Mentality to Valpo Football
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019
In order to understand what newly-anointed Valparaiso University football coach Landon Fox will bring to the program, you have to understand where it all began.
Not the beginning of his preparation for the Valpo job or the beginning of his time at Dayton or even the beginning of his life in football. We're talking about the very beginning for the Defiance, Ohio native.
"I grew up on a horse farm," Fox said at Tuesday's introductory press conference. "I had to get up in the morning and do chores on the farm before I got on the bus to go to school. That's where the work ethic came from. I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but I'm a grinder. One thing that I'll always do is work. I want to help young men grow. That's going to be important to me as we teach the game of football. We need to take on our commitment and responsibility to teach more than just a game. That's very important to me."
Part of that work ethic is a fourth-and-goal mentality that will define the approach of Fox, his staff and his players on a daily basis. And if there's one play in recent Valpo football memory that exemplifies a fourth-and-goal mentality, it's one that Fox witnessed in person from the opposite sideline. If you're a Valpo fan, you know the story of Jarrett Morgan throwing a two-point conversion pass to Ryan Clarke to beat Dayton 8-7 and clinch the program's first winning season in 15 years in 2017.
"It's funny how it has come full circle," Fox said. "I knew I wanted to be a head coach, and you're always molded by your experiences. When I talk about the fourth-and-goal mentality, the Valparaiso football team had it that day. On a play like that, you've got to do everything right. It's all about your attention to detail, your stance, your communication and your first step. That's how I want to approach everything we do."
When Fox interviewed with Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera and President Mark Heckler, he presented a comprehensive and specific plan for leading the Valparaiso University football program.
"While the quality of the Dayton football program was notable, what really stood out to me during the search process was Landon's knowledge," LaBarbera said. "He has drawn his knowledge from serving under some outstanding coaches. I was impressed by the depth of his understanding of the Pioneer Football League, his passion, his genuine excitement to assume a leadership role and his enthusiasm for Valparaiso University and our football program."
That enthusiasm was evident from the moment Fox walked into the room for Tuesday's introduction.
"I wish somebody could come up and feel my heart," he said. "This is so exciting; it's so fun. To be able to do something I have such a passion for and know this is my purpose gives me goosebumps. This is about way more than just one person. It's not about me. It's about our players, our University and our community."
During the interview process, it didn't take Fox long to realize that Valparaiso University was the right place for his passion to meet his purpose.
"When I had the opportunity to meet with President Heckler, I could see and feel the value he placed on football at this University," Fox said. "I'm a teacher at heart, and our staff will represent that. I could tell he wanted this football program to continue to develop young men through the game of football. Mark LaBarbera and I had a shared vision. Part of the mission of this University is to develop leaders, and we'll do that within the football team. We want to serve each other, serve the University and serve our teammates. We are going to help these young men develop into good fathers, good husbands and good people."
http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2018-19/18918/rise-and-grind-landon-fox-brings-fourth-and-goal-mentality-to-valpo-football/
I thought Mark kinda threw our defensive coordinator under the bus when he said that our new coach found a way to adapt to the changing nature of college football and specifically, defending the Davidson offense. We gave up 40 and lost by 5, Dayton gave up 21 and won by 21. Not sure it is a fair comparison as to coaching ability but the facts are the facts.
Quote from: vu72 on March 06, 2019, 10:20:03 AM
I thought Mark kinda threw our defensive coordinator under the bus when he said that our new coach found a way to adapt to the changing nature of college football and specifically, defending the Davidson offense. We gave up 40 and lost by 5, Dayton gave up 21 and won by 21. Not sure it is a fair comparison as to coaching ability but the facts are the facts.
Maybe, a little bit. But I keep coming back to the apparent DC approach to competition: outscore them. If D was given a higher priority, maybe DC would have apportioned more resources and done more to support Moore. Regardless, I hope Ernest is retained in some capacity. Good young man.
Good hire it seems.
1- Comes from a winning PFL program with good academics
2- Believes in simplicity to build excellence
3- Believes in simplicity in terms of recruiting focus. Dayton did that well. - I have been screaming to do that for years. There is a deep pool of smart players in metro Chicago who are able to afford Valpo and build pipelines to a deep group of feeder high schools. For too many years we found random kids from far flung states (sometimes on basis of Pell grants) just doesn't build that network.
Quote from: crusadermoe on March 06, 2019, 11:35:23 AM
Good hire it seems.
1- Comes from a winning PFL program with good academics
2- Believes in simplicity to build excellence
3- Believes in simplicity in terms of recruiting focus. Dayton did that well. - I have been screaming to do that for years. There is a deep pool of smart players in metro Chicago who are able to afford Valpo and build pipelines to a deep group of feeder high schools. For too many years we found random kids from far flung states (sometimes on basis of Pell grants) just doesn't build that network.
This appraoch also builds another network that would help the program: the Football alunni network. The more FB alums we have within a 2-4 hour drive of campus, the more involved they can be.
Quote from: crusadermoe on March 06, 2019, 11:35:23 AMGood hire it seems. 1- Comes from a winning PFL program with good academics 2- Believes in simplicity to build excellence 3- Believes in simplicity in terms of recruiting focus. Dayton did that well. - I have been screaming to do that for years. There is a deep pool of smart players in metro Chicago who are able to afford Valpo and build pipelines to a deep group of feeder high schools. For too many years we found random kids from far flung states (sometimes on basis of Pell grants) just doesn't build that network.
I'm sure a college football roster can be filled using kids within a 6 hour radius however Valpo's roster has been filled with multiple skill position players in particular from Florida and California which I think would be a mistake to simply give up on.
In his press conference he mentioned both Florida and California as places we have had success recruiting from and that those spots will remain as targets as well since there is already good ground broken there so hopefully that stays true.
Quote from: crusader05 on March 06, 2019, 02:48:18 PM
In his press conference he mentioned both Florida and California as places we have had success recruiting from and that those spots will remain as targets as well since there is already good ground broken there so hopefully that stays true.
The current roster lists players from 15 different state. 19 come from Florida and California combined. 40 players from states other than Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.
Fox's experience at Wayne State would be helpful in MI as well, I would hope.
How is success defined at a school like Valpo competing at the FCS Non-Scholarship level? Is it solely by wins and losses or is there something more which is not as measurable?
One of the things that struck me about the new coach's press conference was the emphasis on developing young men to be great husbands and fathers by using football as a teaching tool. I am 15 years removed from my playing days. With very few exceptions, my teammates all fit the great husband/father mold. Busting their picks in a profession suited for them and providing for their family both monetarily and with their presence. Very rarely do we talk about how many wins we had in one season or another.
If you put 80-100 family-minded guys together who are decent at football and who are persistently pursuing greatness, I have to figure at some point you're going to win on the field.
I hope the hire works out for Valpo.
Hey, OR63, good to see you chiming in. Haven't heard from you since our meeting in Missoula. Good comments on that side of why we play fooball at Valpo. I don't think the wins side is keeping score between years --I think generally n the PFL it is "did we compete?" and "did we win more games in the conference than we lost?" I hope, however, that some of our teams can walk away from their 4 years at Valpo with a PFL title cuz that's why you play each game and never mail it in ;D