Barnacle

10 minutes ago, cole256 said:

Yeah they go thru so much 🙄. But I just know you would be a fair guy that's all and it certainly couldn't hurt to have as many as possible. But I'm not trying to volunteer you, just saying You're a good guy and I would believe in you. 

Did you try any of the spots I told you yet? I have an Italian spot for you if you go to Florence as well.

Haven't been in Florence since we talked, but I'm definitely checking them out when I do. Only Italian I've ever eaten there is Ricatoni's.

1 hour ago, cole256 said:

I've always been a fan of your demeanor, you're not just agreeing with everything and it's seems to be class even when you really telling a guy to shut the hell up. 

I imagine you count probably get two opposing sides to chill without mocking either. 

That's a big part of leadership, I admire that 

This is a really thoughtful compliment, Cole. I appreciate it.

But, @augolf1716 just messaged me and warned that as long as @bigbird is around, I should stay where I am, or in the least request hazard pay. 

28 minutes ago, cbo said:

Thanks, Barnacle. I knew you could provide a thoughtful analysis. There's a lot of room in between "he watched a kid die" and "why are we talking about this, kids are too soft these days." Anyone who cares about the team and the players should be interested in the facts here. 

 

100%

20 minutes ago, cole256 said:

I'm a nobody (on here) but if he ever wanted to do it barnacle would be a great mod

Not sure if this is a compliment or an insult! 🤣

1 minute ago, NWALA Tiger said:

I sure wish we could have a discussion about Durkins x's and o's style. 

Got this from @bigbird

https://mgoblog.com/diaries/dj-durkin's-defensive-scheme-part-1
 

https://www.goodbullhunting.com/2022/9/5/23336953/film-room-durkins-defense-dominant-in-texas-a-m-aggies-season-opener-college-football-video-review
 

https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/crash-course-d-j-durkin/

3 hours ago, Swamp Eagle said:

That would include a lot of people who don’t know all of the facts.  That’s usually the criteria where, personally, I move on. No amount of speculation on my part will change anything pertaining to those events or the hiring of Durkin.  

And, honestly, I just don’t understand concerning one’s self or spending time worrying about things not in one’s control…that’s all I’m saying.

If you don’t find value in the conversation, I wouldn’t blame you for moving on. 

Just now, Swamp Eagle said:

It's a tragic story, I just dont see how talking about it ad nauseum will change the outcome. 

It’s worth talking about the facts of what happened, in my opinion. There are a lot of people who have accepted the narrative that Durkin was directly involved in what happened. 

5 minutes ago, Swamp Eagle said:

I understand that, but a football coach being eviscerated for being a meany is just too ridiculous to even fathom. 

I don’t think being eviscerated for being an a**, is my point. He’s being eviscerated because of the claim that a culture of degrading players for not pushing hard enough led to a player dying. Like I said, if no one died, Durkin wouldn’t be under scrutiny. 

Just now, Swamp Eagle said:

That's what this was about?!? 

🤣😂🤣

 

It came about because a player died, and I don’t think Durkin is under scrutiny otherwise. 

The S&C coach was a clown, however. 

49 minutes ago, cbo said:

Cliffs notes? Only if you feel like it, Barnacle. 

There is a lot in there, but most of the complaints center around the strength and conditioning coach, Rick Court. Court was Durkin's first hire, and they were apparently close. Court was a hard-ass who, in addition to placing high expectations on his players, relied upon humiliation and questioning player's "manhood" in order to motivate. Almost universally, players reported that he would regularly use homophobic epithets against platers. F'ing p***y and f'ing fa***t were the two phrases most commonly used in the report. When he got heated he would throw or break things. Many players felt he regularly crossed the line, while some defended him. 

The personal complaints against Durkin himself were more benign, and the internal investigation doesn't touch on the death or the circumstances surrounding it at all. However, it does mention that prior to the tragedy, Durkin had requested that a licensed physician be present for all practices, which was never fulfilled. I don't think it's fair at all to directly attribute what happened to Durkin based on the limited information I have read. Importantly, the investigation that was conducted cleared him as I understand it. The report concludes that the medical staff also bears responsibility for the death.

The athletic department was in disarray at the time and the report concluded that Durkin and the program did not receive the support or oversight that it needed, particularly in light of Durkin being a first year head coach with a boat load of novel responsibilities. Moreover, at least one prior complaint about Court was circulated between the AD's office, the President's office, and the Compliance office. It was never attended to. It "slipped through the cracks." 

Maryland conducted player surveys prior to and after the tragedy. Unsurprisingly, player sentiment shifted negatively toward the program, Court, and Durkin after McNair passed. There are a lot of quotes from disgruntled players, but there were many players, coaches, and player's family members who supported Durkin. 

I think Durkin is an intense guy and hired some intense people to go and turn a program around, and one of them in particular went overboard. Durkin was a first year head coach, trying to establish a culture, and I think he wanted hard lines to be drawn in the sand. I think he drew them too far.  Durkin says that it wasn't his responsibility to oversee the S&C coach, that it was someone in the AD's office (this had been the case under the prior coach). He said he was unaware of the majority of the specific complaints levied against Court, but I think those denials lack credibility. I find it hard to believe he wasn't aware of how things were being handled.

I'm sure everyone can make up their own mind about Durkin, but the problem with the court of public opinion is that it generally operates without all the facts. I have questions, but I'm sure Auburn did too, as well as Ole Miss, TAMU, and hell, even Alabama. I guess those questions were answered to Auburn's satisfaction. 

The Maryland report is pretty enlightening, btw: 

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13335075/maryland_report.0.pdf

Just now, bigbird said:

CRR did a great job as far as X&O's go.  There were personality conflicts.  That happens on staffs. It's no biggie. 

Thanks - so this was not an instance of Roberts being too "hard-nosed"? Glad we can put that rumor to rest. 

1 minute ago, DAG said:

I am glad you asked. That has been my biggest beef. Unpopular opinion but I did not think Roberts did a bad job considering what he had. It is what it is though. I hope the best for Durkin because it would mean Auburn is successful. 

I don't think he did a bad job either, or at least not one that warranted being let go. That, and the fact that McGriff essentially left the program, support the narrative that there was something sour about Roberts, whether it was his treatment of players or his treatment of his assistant coaches. 

@bigbird is it true that Roberts was let go primarily because of his personality and fit within the culture Freeze is trying to establish at Auburn? It's impossible to tell what is true and what is message board gossip. But, accepting the message board narrative that Roberts was too hard-nosed with his players to be a good fit here, it seems to me that Durkin, if we accept the reporting about him, is a nonsensical hire. 

Logically, at least one of the narratives - either that Robert's personality was toxic, or that Durkin's personality is toxic, must be a departure from reality.

13 hours ago, TeamZero77 said:

With all the negative publicity surrounding Alabama's football program since Saban retired, I'm sure they felt like they had to win this RW recruitment over Auburn. They probably overspent (no source but just a hunch) and felt it was well worth overspending on RW then to have him sign with us and take another huge hit to their programs image. 

I think this is probably the case, and I think Auburn fans need to understand that Ryan Williams also genuinely appears to love Alabama. Although he may not have strong relationships with the current staff, he has strong relationships within their 2024 class, and it was always going to be a tough pull. The thing about RW's recruitment, as well as many others, is that it's clear that our staff will not simply lay down and move on from kids they want. They are going to fight to the end. It nearly paid off here, but we will reap the rewards of that strategy more and more often moving forward. 

It will never not make me angry that basketball allows a team up 3 to foul in order to prevent their opponent from shooting a 3 and tying the game. I know there isn’t a way around it, but it’s a flaw in the game and I hate it. 

KD, brotha. Not it.

7 minutes ago, CCTAU said:

He’s being contested every dribble. It’s different when you aren’t the fastest kid on the court. This is a learning game for him. Harsh lesson. 

He’s getting bullied and it’s affecting him. Body language is awful. 

Holloway is playing with zero confidence 

End of an era. Dude will retire as the greatest to ever do it, IMO. Bama fans are going to lose their minds. Feel bad for whoever they hire next. 

God I hate Michigan

3 minutes ago, ellitor said:

@Barnacle On your computer you to click on See my Activity to see your older posts. See  my activity is to the right just below where the cover photo should be. Here's mine

After clicking see my activity this comes up

On mobile, I can’t find it. Thanks, @ellitor

@RunInRed

Do we have the ability to search our old posts anymore? Seems you used to have to scroll to the bottom of your “profile” page and there would be a link to see all of your content. Don’t see it. Can only view my posts back to December. 
 

Second - when I went to my profile a few minutes ago I had a cover photo, which I never put there. Never had a cover photo before, and it was the same a another user’s avatar photo. I did not put it there. 

At least we will have the wind behind us this quarter