Time for Changes

[OldHornet]

I know this has been mentioned in a number of threads but I thought we should have a consolidated dialogue.
I agree with a number of posts, it's time for a change at AD as well as Football HC.

Athletic Director - I will give Dr. Wanless credit for the track program, the soccer program and for assisting in upgrades to the baseball field and new field house. But after that I'm not sure we have much to hang our hats on, especially when we look at the major sports.

1. Number of NCAA appearances for Men's basketball - 0!
2. Number of NCAA appearances for Women's basketball - 0!
3. Number of NCAA appearances for Baseball - 0!
4. Number of NCAA appearances for Football - 0!
5. Number of NCAA appearances for Volleyball since Colberg left - 0!
6. Major facilities upgrade for basketball - NONE (not even a plan!)

I'm sure I could go on, but what else needs to be said?

Head Football Coach - We just wrapped up week four and it's clear the season is over. We don't have a realistic chance at a playoff berth, the best we can hope for is 6-6. I will give coach Sperbeck credit for cleaning up the mess left by Moosh - definite improvements in all areas. But there comes a time when you need to stand on your accomplishments rather than the failures of those before you, that time is now. Has anyone else noticed that the new Hornetsports website no long published records from previous seasons? Would you hide that if you were proud of what you've done?

1. 31-39 record
2. Only two winning seasons, both 6-5 (2010 and 2012)
3. Number of times in playoffs - 0!
4. Never more than 6 wins in a season
5. Never back to back winning seasons

At this point, other than saying things are better now than they were before, can anyone state why he SHOULD stay?

 

[SDHornet]

I agree changes are needed, but here are a couple of things OH:

Wanless
A lot of programs have had success and there was a great run of success within the conference spanning from 2007-2011/12ish. Per the Wanless bio on Hornetsports:

“His vision of broad success in the department has come to fruition over the last seven years where the Hornets have earned 43 conference titles. That includes an unprecedented eight conference titles during the 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2010-11 academic years. In addition, the program won the Big Sky Conference’s all-sports points championship in 2010-11 and finished second among the 11 league institutions in 2012-13.”

Bio: http://www.hornetsports.com/informa...erry?tmpl=/information/directory/bio-template

Here is the complete list of championships: http://www.hornetsports.com/information/facts/nat_championships

Give Wanless credit where credit is due, our Oly sports have been largely successful under his tenure. Could it be better on a national stage? Yes. Biggest accomplishments missing under Wanless are sustained football success and men’s hoops success/relevance. Even then he can claim some of the success seen under the Jenkins era for mens hoops (I don’t recall if Jenkins was a Wanless hire).

The biggest issue will be how he handles things going forward. We already seen that he likes to take the easy way out with coaching hires (some have worked, some have not) so his decisions will be very telling about his vigor/dedication to the job.

Hoops Facility
As we all recall the students passed a new events center in 2004. I think it gets built if the economy doesn’t tank in 2007. IMO Spanos’ failure to live up to his $10M pledge played a huge role in the whole bait and switch fiasco with the fieldhouse/events center funding. All of which was out of Wanless’/Gonzo’s control. An events center is attached to a “Well and Student Union” expansion which is going to be voted on by the students this semester. You can read more about it here: http://www.bigskyfans.com/hornets/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1907

Planning
Here is the 5 year strategic plan that was released last winter, I haven’t had time to “audit” the progress but the athletic department has followed up on a lot if their plans/goals:
http://www.hornetsports.com/information/facts/Sacramento_State_Athletics_Plan_2012.pdf

Also note that the campus wide facilities masterplan is currently being upgraded and is to be released in fall 2014. The strategic plan indicates that there will be some athletic facility upgrades included. I’m not expecting anything major but I think/hope it will address some of the basic needs.

Head Football Coach
What is Sperbeck’s contract situation? He isn’t gone until it expires; unfortunately I think it is a simple as that.

 

[GoldenEagleHornet]

I believe Dan Hawkins might be looking for a job. At this point, he may seriously consider any low ball offer made by Sac St- ala John L. Smith and Ft. Lewis College. JLS went from a P5 HC gig to DII HC gig.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Sperbeck is the highest paid HC in the Big Sky Conf. The football budget is either 1-2 highest in the conference.

Any HC worth his salt would be willing to coach an FCS program with adequate facilities and pull $207,000/year! The EWU HC, Baldwin, makes $107,000 per year. Sure it costs more in Cali, but $100K more?

The Hornet's football program is not going to low-ball anybody. They have the resources to recruit, secure and pay any HC on a national level at the FCS level.

Sperbeck is in place because of his father's tie to the program, that simple. It was an easy hire and placated some of the boosters, now we have done that and should hire a HC who can get us out of mediocrity.

I've thrown the towel in for the season and with only 5,600 showing up for the game it shows others are boycotting the crap also.

TIRED OF IT!

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

As for Winless, he threatened to leave a few years ago saying his family lived back in MINN/ND and he wanted to be closer to them. Understandable.

Wish we would have let him go. He has done a good job with the sports nobody cares about. But under his watch the VB team is the worst in program history, baseball still plays in an unlighted field with porta potties, both BB programs call the double-wide Hornet gym home and football is languishing at .500 and he is fine with that.

The marketing plan put into place has no teeth. How will football average 11K/game when only 5K show up? Will he fire the HC, doubt it. So essentially that document is wasted eye candy.

Some poster said the Hornets athletic program is run like a Union, well it is. Until a private sector mentality of results is in place, no overall movement will be made in the overall success of the program.

 

[SDHornet]

I believe Dan Hawkins might be looking for a job. At this point, he may seriously consider any low ball offer made by Sac St- ala John L. Smith and Ft. Lewis College. JLS went from a P5 HC gig to DII HC gig.

Both would be terrible hires imo. Not sure how any D1 AD takes a serious look at JLS after what he did to Weber last season. Hawkins couldn’t get it done at a program with a budget 4 times larger than what Sac State has to work with, not sure how giving him less money would result differently.

 

[SDHornet]

Regarding GCM’s posts, I think the rain had a major play in the awful attendance number. I would love to know how many tickets were distributed/sold. There would not have been more than 8k but even that would have looked better than the 5.6k that showed up.

Also the marketing has no teeth because there is no reason to get behind this program with performances seen so far this season. There was finally a coherent marketing plan this season (billboards, radio ads, increased outreach at community events and local businesses) and it will end up being a total waste because of the sh!tty start to the season and now the epic collapse against a beatable opponent. I doubt we see a similar marketing effort ever again.

 

[BuckeyeHornetFan]

I'm going to throw out a wildcard candidate for either the head coaching or o-coordinator position with the Hornets, and that's Troy Taylor - co-head coach at Folsom High School. He played QB briefly with the New York Jets, starred at Cal Berkley and Cordova High Schools. I believe he was affiliated with the Cal program for a while before being coaxed over to Folsom. The guy has developed the latest pipeline of QB's to go through the Folsom system and even privately coaches many of the top QB's in the Sacramento area. The offensive system he's developed over at Folsom has put them on the State and National map. I'd like to see what he could do with collegiate talent. I know most would prefer a proven head coach with experience, but there's been a recent trend of success with guys like Chip Kelly that didn't have much, if any, head coaching experience at the college level.

The Hornets need a coaching mind that thinks a bit outside of the box. Those in charge of making decisions of the direction of the football program, in turn, need to start thinking a bit outside of the box. The status quo hasn't been working.

 

[ChiCity]

I, for one, like the Troy Taylor suggestion. I've watched enough Folsom High football recently to see he has a creative mind and knows how to help a quarterback grow. A little creativity would be a pleasant change...

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Regarding GCM’s posts, I think the rain had a major play in the awful attendance number. I would love to know how many tickets were distributed/sold. There would not have been more than 8k but even that would have looked better than the 5.6k that showed up.

If that is the case what a piss poor excuse. So, if there is ever a cloud on the horizon just drop the program because only a few hundred will show up? Why don't we build a dome so there wont be any excuses? Maybe we can get a bucket for people to piss in at their seat so they wont have to get up and walk to the porta potties? Sheesh.

If that little sprinkle kept people away the program really does have bigger issues than W/L records.

 

[OldHornet]

Regarding GCM’s posts, I think the rain had a major play in the awful attendance number. I would love to know how many tickets were distributed/sold. There would not have been more than 8k but even that would have looked better than the 5.6k that showed up.

If that is the case what a piss poor excuse. So, if there is ever a cloud on the horizon just drop the program because only a few hundred will show up? Why don't we build a dome so there wont be any excuses? Maybe we can get a bucket for people to piss in at their seat so they wont have to get up and walk to the porta potties? Sheesh.

If that little sprinkle kept people away the program really does have bigger issues than W/L records.

Mediocrity breads apathy - people don't show because the program is stagnant, the rain is just an excuse!! Add attendance to laundry list of reasons we need a new coach.

 

[SDHornet]

Regarding GCM’s posts, I think the rain had a major play in the awful attendance number. I would love to know how many tickets were distributed/sold. There would not have been more than 8k but even that would have looked better than the 5.6k that showed up.

If that is the case what a piss poor excuse. So, if there is ever a cloud on the horizon just drop the program because only a few hundred will show up? Why don't we build a dome so there wont be any excuses? Maybe we can get a bucket for people to piss in at their seat so they wont have to get up and walk to the porta potties? Sheesh.

If that little sprinkle kept people away the program really does have bigger issues than W/L records.

It rained in a steady downpour for about 5-6 hours and didn’t let up until about an hour before kickoff. That type of weather is going to chase away most students, fans with kids, and casual fans. I agree that is no excuse for piss poor attendance but that is the way it is. Until this program wins with consistency and puts out a better product I don’t expect that to change.

 

[GoldenEagleHornet]

Head Football Coach
What is Sperbeck’s contract situation? He isn’t gone until it expires; unfortunately I think it is a simple as that.

Not necessarily. He can be removed w/out being fire. Reassigned w/in the athletic department. There's a precedent for that. SDSU removed Chuck Long from HC duties after three miserable seasons of football and gave him an athletic "analyst" position. Since he wasn't fired by SDSU, the university didn't have to pay him the buyout- which I believe was $1million.

I think Wanless and Gonzalez can take a similar approach.

 

[GoldenEagleHornet]

I believe Dan Hawkins might be looking for a job. At this point, he may seriously consider any low ball offer made by Sac St- ala John L. Smith and Ft. Lewis College. JLS went from a P5 HC gig to DII HC gig.

Both would be terrible hires imo. Not sure how any D1 AD takes a serious look at JLS after what he did to Weber last season. Hawkins couldn’t get it done at a program with a budget 4 times larger than what Sac State has to work with, not sure how giving him less money would result differently.

Lately, you've suffered from lack of reading comprehension. I used the JLS situation as an example. Hawkins inherited a disastrous situation in Boulder. They were going thru NCAA and internal investigations for recruiting violations right before Hawkins got there.

 

[SDHornet]

Head Football Coach
What is Sperbeck’s contract situation? He isn’t gone until it expires; unfortunately I think it is a simple as that.

Not necessarily. He can be removed w/out being fire. Reassigned w/in the athletic department. There's a precedent for that. SDSU removed Chuck Long from HC duties after three miserable seasons of football and gave him an athletic "analyst" position. Since he wasn't fired by SDSU, the university didn't have to pay him the buyout- which I believe was $1million.

I think Wanless and Gonzalez can take a similar approach.

It's possible but I doubt we have the money to pay 2 HC's; one of whom would be doing absolutely nothing. I think SDSU boosters ponied up the money to take Long out of the picture so Hoke could be hired.

 

[SDHornet]

I believe Dan Hawkins might be looking for a job. At this point, he may seriously consider any low ball offer made by Sac St- ala John L. Smith and Ft. Lewis College. JLS went from a P5 HC gig to DII HC gig.

Both would be terrible hires imo. Not sure how any D1 AD takes a serious look at JLS after what he did to Weber last season. Hawkins couldn’t get it done at a program with a budget 4 times larger than what Sac State has to work with, not sure how giving him less money would result differently.

Lately, you've suffered from reading comprehension. I used the JLS situation as an example. Hawkins inherited a disastrous situation in Boulder. They were going thru NCAA and internal investigations for recruiting violations right before Hawkins got there.

Then it’s a terrible example. JLS is still coaching because he went broke due to poor real-estate investments; he probably never leaves Weber if he didn’t need the quick and easy money at Arkansas.

Hawkins made his big money at CU and then onto a cush analyst job at ESPN. He had 5 years to turn CU around and he failed miserably (19-39 overall, 10-27 B12). His Boise State body of work is much more impressive (53-11 overall, 37-3 WAC).

 

[GoldenEagleHornet]

I believe Dan Hawkins might be looking for a job. At this point, he may seriously consider any low ball offer made by Sac St- ala John L. Smith and Ft. Lewis College. JLS went from a P5 HC gig to DII HC gig.

Both would be terrible hires imo. Not sure how any D1 AD takes a serious look at JLS after what he did to Weber last season. Hawkins couldn’t get it done at a program with a budget 4 times larger than what Sac State has to work with, not sure how giving him less money would result differently.

Lately, you've suffered from reading comprehension. I used the JLS situation as an example. Hawkins inherited a disastrous situation in Boulder. They were going thru NCAA and internal investigations for recruiting violations right before Hawkins got there.

Then it’s a terrible example. JLS is still coaching because he went broke due to poor real-estate investments; he probably never leaves Weber if he didn’t need the quick and easy money at Arkansas.

Hawkins made his big money at CU and then onto a cush analyst job at ESPN. He had 5 years to turn CU around and he failed miserably (19-39 overall, 10-27 B12). His Boise State body of work is much more impressive (53-11 overall, 37-3 WAC).

You missed the point, completely. Hawkins may not be broke, but he really wants to be on the sidelines instead of the booth. That's why he took the CFL gig, but has been fired. That's why if Sac St made him a low off, but respectable offer, he might accept.

When you inherit bad situations they take time to rebuild e.g. Paul Wulff at Wazzu, Bobby Hauck at UNLV, Charlie Weiss at Kansas etc. He did fine at Boise St. I'm not advocating for Hawkins to be the next hornet HC, but he should be considered.

 

[SDHornet]

No I got your point. He only considers the job if he misses coaching really bad. And 5 years is more than enough time to turn a program around. Look what Hoke did at SDSU and Mac at SJSU; both horrid programs before they took over and both now regressing after they left. If Wanless is serious about finding a new HC, I have no problem with him considering Hawkins or plenty of other coaches. Hawkins has had a bad run at HC in his last couple stints and that is where my concern is with him.

 

[StungAlum2]

DONE!

That's what I am with the footbal program, I'm FRIGGIN DONE!

I've been a season ticket holder for years, but after this season, I won't be. I will not support a program that fails year after year after year to put out a DECENT product. The season is over, the coaching is deplorable, the players lack discipline, the atmosphere at the games has reverted back to the Moosh era, etc etc etc.

When will things change? Apparently NEVER!

There is always some damn excuse as to why this program continues to fail, it's old. No more excuses. The fans deserve results and they deserve them now, period. Sperbeck has had plenty of time to get a good team on the field, HE HAS FAILED!

Serious changes need to be made with the program, otherwise, what's the damn point of keeping it around? The students don't give a crap, the City doesnt give a crap, the faculty doesnt give a crap, and the local media avoids the damn program as if it was the plague. And do you know why? Because the football program is an embarrassment that never gets better. There is never anything to look forward to, it's the same year after year.

We can all complain all we want, Wanless doent care, Sperbeck doesnt care, and neither does anyone else.

issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed:

 

[GoldenEagleHornet]

DONE!

That's what I am with the footbal program, I'm FRIGGIN DONE!

I've been a season ticket holder for years, but after this season, I won't be. I will not support a program that fails year after year after year to put out a DECENT product. The season is over, the coaching is deplorable, the players lack discipline, the atmosphere at the games has reverted back to the Moosh era, etc etc etc.

When will things change? Apparently NEVER!

There is always some d@mn excuse as to why this program continues to fail, it's old. No more excuses. The fans deserve results and they deserve them now, period. Sperbeck has had plenty of time to get a good team on the field, HE HAS FAILED!

Serious changes need to be made with the program, otherwise, what's the d@mn point of keeping it around? The students don't give a crap, the City doesnt give a crap, the faculty doesnt give a crap, and the local media avoids the d@mn program as if it was the plague. And do you know why? Because the football program is an embarrassment that never gets better. There is never anything to look forward to, it's the same year after year.

We can all complain all we want, Wanless doent care, Sperbeck doesnt care, and neither does anyone else.

issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed: issed:

Send an e-mail to the athletic department (public/guest/alumni relations officer) expressing this. They need use any e-mail you and other season ticket holders and fans send to gauge the dissatisfaction with low quality of the football product being delivered.