CH, I'm obviously giving an opinion. I personally have us at #4 in the ACC. Penn State with the additions of Penelope Hocking, Cassie Hiatt and Olivia Smith have got to have top 5 quality. There have to be some other teams from other conferences that deserve top 10. Heck even with out natty team last year, we had to fight to beat Pepperdine, Rutgers, Michigan and BYU. I'm hoping Pensky's offensive tendencies will kick start us, but as in most sports Defense wins nattys IMO. BYU was an offensive juggernaut last year. but against UVA, Santa Clara and FSU, they scored 1 goal in the run of play. They did demolish USCe in the quarters. Point being, the offense is the glitz, but the defense is the grind that wins the nattys IMO.
I'd frankly like to see a bit more offense. Problem is, it's hard to score in soccer--and if you've got a team with some good athletes and you are well-organized defensively, you can make it hard for even good offensive teams to score. FSU did not give up a goal in its last four NCAA games--4th round through final. Wow--but also rather blah. I've got huge respect for Krikorian and his achievements--but I don't think his style of play did the game any real favors. Some pretty dull attacking soccer--mostly because his Noles wanted to keep the ball---bring it in, take it back out, bring it in, take it back out--more than attack. Winning strategy/tactic? Absolutely. Nice to watch? There are better styles to watch. Frankly, over the last few years, I've enjoyed watching BYU, Santa Clara and Pepperdine play more than any other teams--and I have no allegiance to any of them. They play a /very/ attractive style of soccer--some good athletes, can control the ball, can play very good defense--but their style of play is attacking soccer. And it's not just direct, Arkansas-style kick-the-ball down the field and everybody charge after it and let's try to overwhelm the defense attacking soccer. No, it's smart, well-conceived, fast-paced, clever runs, players who can put the ball in the net. Games should be somewhat entertaining.
Frankly I think Mark's lack of aggression on the offensive side cost him at least 2 more titles. I remember the elite 8 game we lost, forget the opponent, years ago where we were down and in the last 10 minutes it was like Mark finally let them attack. Must of had at least 12 shots and 2 hit the post, but they lost.
Could argue his defensive posture won them titles as well. Other teams may have thrived vs FSU in a more end to end transitional game. We will never know.
Emily is my favorite player of all time and this only makes me pull for her more. Way to speak up! Everything she said has been known amoung most Tally folk already. The new AD is awful.
Jessica Price and Tiffany McCarty were pacified in my opinion. That team also had Huster, Pressly and Casey Short. Zero titles.
No mention of the new coach! Did she spend a week with Pensky and Then make this decision? It kinda looks that way and how about "good luck to my teammates and you'll do great things with Coach Pensky" Any insights about whether she will sign with a European team about to start their season or wait to be drafted? Aren't there some players that have done both? I assume we all agree she's going to be a player that can start at a high professional level.
It’s really hard to argue with his run of final fours. That style of play and or his coaching clearly worked well in the post season and then a bit of a crapshoot when you get to a final four. Taking away three titles from 11 final 4 appearances suggests he performed slightly better than even odds after getting there. Quite impressive.
Did you not read her first paragraph? "I wish only the best for the soccer program this fall and in the following seasons."
The wording I think makes it a little different. It's a reading in between the lines thing and there is something to her not mentioning him or even referring to the position. One of the things I'm reading in various places online is how upset people are that the players didn't have input in deciding a head coach and I have to say I'm a little surprised by this. Players hardly ever have that kind of input on who their coach will be anywhere at any level. This to me is only an issue if FSU admins *told* the players that their input will be recieved and valued before hand, but then were ignored.
For me, the talk on Pensky is interesting. He hasn't really done anything at Tennessee, has he? Arkansas might be one of the toughest places in the P5 to win and they have won 3 or 4 SEC Championships. I don't think Tennessee has won any. Maybe 1 conference tournament. Hale has been more successful than Pensky in every way at a much more difficult place to do it. Pensky does have Maryland so that helps him. But apples to apples in the SEC, it isn't close. Tennessee was as successful if not more so before Pensky got there with a not super respected Coach Kelly. Arkansas had numerous respected coaches who got fired with no success before Hale. I am wait and see with Pensky.
Madrid sounds like an entitled brat. No administration is going to give a player(s) with limited eligibility the right to pick their coach. And asking to have the assistant on the committee is absurd. Either he would be leaving anyway, or he would be allowed to choose his future boss. He must be cringing that she dragged him into her embarrassing and naive tweet. And, oh boy, the AD didn’t tell her his travel schedule. FFS grow up.
Of course it's wait and see--that's true of every new coach. Hale has recruited and done well at Arkansas--more so recently-- despite a pretty unattractive style of soccer. The hogs had the SEC's best regular season record last year, got thumped by UT in the SEC Tourney final, did well in the NCAA. Hey, he could have thrown his hat in the ring for FSU. Kelly started well at Tennessee but left the program in /terrible/ shape--bereft of talent. Pensky slowly built the talent base, definitely took a while, but the Vols reached the NCAA Quarters 3 years ago with Bunny Shaw (who didn't even make the Semifinal list for Mac Hermann--what a joke) and were very good last year. You've got to have guts to want to follow Krikorian, and Pensky walked into a mess with many of the returning players unhappy with the AD and the coach's departure.
If they were promised input and weren't allowed to provide it then she has a point. A spot on the hiring committee (if there was one) shouldn't be expected but it isn't too much to ask to be allowed to provide feedback. Even if it was only done to placate them just let them say what they want and then hire who you want to.
There is no reason to believe they were not allowed to give input. But to expect a seat with the AD is absurd. Send him a letter with your desired qualifications. This is the university’s program, and it was before she arrived and it will continue to be after she leaves. They had no obligation to placate them. I would argue that the vast majority of programs do not involve players in hiring decisions (in some part too to protect the confidentiality of coaches who interviewed). Like I said, she seems entitled and thinks this is her program.
I wouldn't consider someone who spent 5 or 6 years busting her butt at FSU as entitled. These sports are year-round. The season may only last 3 and 1/2 months, but the preparation, training etc., goes on all year long. Was she maybe naive? Yes, probably. Unrealistic? Probably. The administration took credit falsely for taking into account their thoughts and feelings, while basically ignoring them during the process. A smart and compassionate admin would have met with them and explained the process and why they couldn't give in to their requests. Occasional updates at least generally speaking would have been greatly appreciated I'm sure. Entitled is the guy or girl who is on Daddy or Mommy's dime. Has a car they provided and an off-campus apartment provided by them and doesn't think the rules apply to them.
well put. I’ll add that if the administration told the players they have an open door policy while communicating to them about this obviously sensitive topic and failed to mention he wouldn’t be available the next week, that is horrible management / leadership. That type of behavior absolutely contributes to relationships souring to the point that HOF coaches walk away at their peak and elite players leaving on bad terms. I have plenty of criticism for the men getting paid huge salaries to manage these situations more so than the young women who feel burned by not being treated with respect.
You seem to take everything she said at face value though and added your own perceptions to it. I doubt the AD led the search. The person who did lead it may or may not have offered them a platform to share their opinions. We really do not know that. You honestly think calling out the AD for not allowing an assistant coach on the committee (an absolutely absurd request) or not giving her his travel schedule is not the attitude of an entitled person? She is one of many players who will pass through their program. She chose to air her grievances, while the AD will take a more professional approach and handle his privately. SA's got their NIL, they got their free transfers, now they want to pick their coach. She should listen to this: Damian Lillard had a lot to say today regarding the current culture around young basketball players and yes men.He says his Formula Zero Camp is about teaching kids how to have the characteristics beyond talent in order to survive and stick in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/8WfiacLqwg— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) August 5, 2022
Me team is USC and they may have the most different style to Arkansas than anyone. I am biased but I think the Smith's have done the best job in the SEC. They had a down year and went to the Elite 8 this year...followed only by Hale. Arkansas was a job no-one thought possible to win. Tennessee had a strong history of success. You have pretty strong Orange colored glasses on. I am going off of the internet so feel free to correct me where I am wrong. "Kelly started well at Tennessee but left the program in /terrible/ shape--bereft of talent" The team Penske inherited went 15-7 the year before he got there, beating both Florida and A&M that year who were the top teams in the league. "Hale has recruited and done well at Arkansas--more so recently" Hale went to a sweet 16 in year 2. The team he inherited went 4-14. Pensky went to 1 NCAA in his first 5 years. He inherited a team that went to the NCAA. He either didn't go to , or lost in the 1st round 8 of his 10 years at Tennessee. I have no ill will, and it does take guts to follow Coach Krikorian. It also paid iwell. Penskly did a very good job at Maryland, but the job he did at Tennessee was average at best.
Thats a good post right there about Pensky. Facts are brutal. The team he inherited at Tenn was an NCAA team but he was lucky to get his contract renewed. I think they were 8th or worse in the SEC for 3 years straight. BUT also true he is an opportunist and has some guts. Left MD after a good year, leaving UT after a good year, FSU is another big time challenge but I made this point before- he's making crazy money so if it doesn't work out, he can go be a d3, club or HS coach and has some great memories. Honestly, I hope he can be the husband and father he wants to be under such stress. About the hiring - agree Madril sounds a bit sour and spoiled but it is true there are ways to involve the players and keep them invested in the process. Starting with the AD telling some truth. -players can and have served on hiring committees, -players are often given a forum to meet with candidates during the process, either live or via Zoom, -I have even seen candidates run sessions if it happens to be during the semester when they visit. It's not rocket science to keep players involved, or at least feeling listened to, in a hiring process. I'd say lets move on and look forward... Good luck to FSU and as I've said before, I'm rooting for Pensky as I think his career path is to be admired. He has been a grinder. But I'm not betting on FSU just yet...
You seem salty that Pensky got the FSU job and not Hale or Smith. Hey, you gotta reach high or else you get stuck in Fayetteville or Columbia.