How about Mark Duffner? This guy won big at the DIAA level. In six years at Holy Cross (not the easiest place to win), he compiled a 60-5-1 record for an astonishing .917 winning percentage. That included two perfect seasons. So what happened to this rising star when he took his scheme and program to DIA and specifically the ACC? He bombed. In five seasons at Maryland he went 20-35 with a .364 winning percentage.
Let’s look at another New England DIAA product whose success included a stop in the Ivy League. Buddy Teevens only spent two seasons in Maine but he improved the team each year finishing with a 13-9 record and a .591 winning percentage. He then moved onto Dartmouth where he only had one losing season and finished with a 26-22 record and a .541 winning percentage. (He has since returned to Dartmouth.) So what happened when he got his shot at DIA? He stunk up the joint at Tulane going 11-35. Even his second chance at Stanford was a disastrous 10-23.
So again, Mark Whipple may have succeeded at BC. But he was far from a sure thing.
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12 comments:
Those are very bad examples. Holy Cross was a power before Duffner took over, and when he went to Maryland it was very much a basketball school in a basketball conference at a time newcomer Florida State was running roughshod over everyone. As for Teevens, Stanford has always been at the bottom of the Pac 10, and Tulane has always sucked with the exception of when Tommy Bowden was there. Whip turned around some moribund programs, and would have been coming to a highly successful program in a good conference with a recruiting monopoly. C'mon. Don't give me that. Apples and Oranges.
Angry, go look at Holy Cross. Duffner performed much better than anyone ever had. You're wrong on Stanford. Teevens was well below Willingham and Walsh. And Tommy Bowden was able to win right away at Tulane. Your a Whipple guy. So be it. But he is far from a sure thing.
Agree w/ the Angry one. The examples also don't account for the geographic factor of Whip having success all over New England and the 2 coaches you cited moving from the Northeast to the South and Mid-Atlantic. The BC job was perfect for Whip. The guy won in the Ivies and 1-aa. He also mentored the youngest QB to ever win a superbowl, and as we all see now, Big Ben blows. While Jags may turn out to be okay, the opportunity of not taking Whip now will haunt BC for years to come.
If the rumor re: Steve Logan as OC is true, that is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL and immediately assuages any concerns about whether Jags can handle game management! Things are looking better by the moment.
No, you're the one who's wrong Atlanta. Duffner's predecessor at Holy Cross, Rich Carter, was the one who turned that program around in the 80s. Hell he was National Coach of the Year in 1983 before committing suicide the next season over personal issues. Duffner inherited Carter's loaded team (Gordie Lockbaum, Gil Fennerty), and took advantage of a very very unique situation, when the Patriot League was converting to a non-scholarship conference, and HC was the last holdout. Walsh and Willingham? They were 78-60 in 12 seasons combined. As Derrick Coleman used to say, "whoop-de-damn do." Whipple's situation is completely different, a total winner who made bad teams great, not just good. So put your pom poms down for a minute and admit this was the wrong hire. Blog space is for analysis, not cheerleading.
Angry Eagle, get over yourself and get over this Whipple shit. Jags is our coach now. If you don't like what I have to say, stop reading.
Wow, you're sounding more and more like the BC Sports Information Department every day. Ok, I'll let it go. It just pisses me off when people (see Vega, Mike) give BC a free pass.
Settle down Angry. Whipple also had a three win season at UMass, won his championship with his predecessor's players, and had two back-to-back 5-5 seasons at Brown. Sure, there were positives, but he was no sure thing at BC. Have some school pride, accept the current situation, and root like hell for an exciting young coach and a great school.
Gil Fennerty was the greatest kick returner in video game history...
I don't like the prospect of having an NFL assistant coming back to take the lead at a major program. I like Jags and I think he will bring back a little bit of passion and discipline. But being away from the college game for 8 years... I don't know. Between recruiting, NCAA compliance, dealing with the alumni, admin, fans, media, he has very little on his resume to prove he is ready to handle it at a BCS-level exposure.
Obviously I hope he succeeds, though.
Hold it now, no more posts critical of Jags, Mr. Sensitive won't stand for it. From now on, we will not track Whipple, we will not extoll his considerable accomplishments, we will not pine away for the acc championships he would have led BC to in the years to come. From now on, we will only talk about Jags and his 16 years worth of zone blocking and tight end expertise. And we will not be critical of GDF and Father Leahy. They are our leaders, and therefore beyond reproach.
I'm new to this blog, so the history is rather foggy. I really enjoy BC sports, but at a level quite a bit less paasionate than most of the commentors here. I enjoy the insights and can understand the disagreements, but the "angry Eagle" really goes over the top. I can't help but think that he is just playing a little game. The general philosophy of education at the Heights used to be based on "Ratio Studiorum". Angry must have signed up for some other curriculum of "nonratio studiorum".
Chill Angry. You just might get to like your kids and wife a tad more.
Hey Angry:
Good Point!
Bill: You do a nice job here, but, frankly, your graduation date deminishes any chance of total credibility. As I have written before, my family has had season tickets since 1958. I was born and raised on B.C. sports. B.C has had chances to step up to the bigs on a couple of occasions but has always been tripped up by something or someone. We were a baby step away when Coughlin left. Gladchuck went the wrong way
because of ego. They took a crazy turn when Yucika left. Look at Yikica's overall record. B.C was prety much at the same level they are now. There were only 10 bowls back then. This has gone on in almost every sport.
While this may work out, the many who have involved in BC for many years just look at this as being another wrong step. Call it Red Sox syndrome.
While many continue to hope for the best, they too are going to swallow hard when these seat licenses come up this year and weigh the increased (and rediculous cost) and (maybe) another questionable coaching hiring and lose total interest and dedication in the program. Many of the bloggers are here in Boston and go to the games. It has been hard enough to continue to go to all the games with the increase prices and expect groundhog day every year and also have to sit through Maine, Buffalo and Duke. This was a hiring that should have excited the fans and alumni and brought confidence to the team. It should not have been a hiring that has the fans questioning and thinking ground hog day all over again. Gene has to run a dog and pony show of bringing in ex players to rave about this guy.
It's just disapointing.
By the way- have you been to a basketball game with the new license seating. The big muckers have bought the season tickets to go to the Duke and UNC game. They have not been to any of the other games yet.
SAMMIE
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