Let'sGoZips94

Good read, and this stuff is great in theory. We'll see if the execution is there. Lots wrong in that community and I don't have a whole lot of faith in LeBum to be genuine with selfless intentions.

Excuses? Different traits, affiliations, qualities, etc., are important to different people. His appeal to the masses has been on a downward trend for over a decade. All you cited are excuses for the school's failure, despite the billionaire athlete having unlimited resources to fix the issue. Again, the school is ignoring the actual problems of the community and giving a handout, rather than truly fixing the issues. Teacher burnout/shortages/etc.? Go find the best teachers in the country, offer them a contract with a moving and benefits package, and increased pay to teach at the school for X amount of year. Is this a problem because it's affiliated with the public school system? Go fully private, take the taxpayer money out of it, and he should find it himself. You can say the goal is a noble one all you want. Talk is cheap, and quite frankly, the billionaire athlete that has been accused of being cheap before (i.e. doesn't tip - ask Ken Stewart's), again went the cheap route to mooch off the taxpayers. This school is simply a failing public school with lower standards, handouts, and LeBum's name associated with it. I respect the wrap around services you mentioned, although I'm skeptical of the execution of said services. My problem is not with the idea of the school and building up those kids and that community. My problem is with the half-assed execution and taxpayers getting duped into funding it. My lack of respect for LeBum doesn't cloud my ability to judge the I Promise School. My wife is a social worker, and a damn good one. That community needs way more than what the I Promise School delivers.

What wrap-around services are provided? I've only been able to find at-home tutoring mentioned as a specific. Have there been stats that show how the scholarship recipients are performing in college and in the work force? The school has had 5(?) principals since its inception, large amounts of staffing problems, etc. It's on a state watchlist for its poor performance thus far (I believe some of this has to do with testing, which I agree is a poor metric, but its tax payer funded so it should be on a similar grading scale as public schools). That sounds like just another version of their likely home life - inconsistent presence from people in their lives, etc. I'm struggling to see where this school truly improves the community which is the actual challenge these kids face. You also left out his ego, leaving Cleveland how he did the first time, his crying on the court, plethora of off days he takes in the NBA, Chinese affiliation, etc. He's unlikeable to many.

You're taking this way too literally. First of all, the Duquesne AD is already questionable after committing $1M+ per year to Dambrot, and $25M to arena renovations for a middling A10 program. It's not about LeBum making decisions. It's about situations like "We want to recruit Northeast Ohio better. LeBum, can we work with SVSM to use their gym for a game to showcase our program?" LeBum: "Sure, it's taken care of and paid for." "Hey ESPN - we have LeBum's high school teammate as our coach. Want to air some of our games to be able to showcase that easy storyline?" ESPN: "Sure!" Ohio State was one of Bronny's scholarships offers, but ok.

If it's not to be judged vs a standard school, it shouldn't be taxpayer funded (I think standardized testing is stupid anyways, but I digress). The flaw of the school is it goes against everything LeBum preaches - "Nothing is given - everything is earned." At I Promise, it's "Everything is given. Nothing is earned." How does giving scholarships to failing students set them up for success in life? Giving them 8 hours a day in a positive environment is solid, but sending them home to genuinely 💩 situations undoes most, if not all the positive influence they experienced during the day. There are other ways to positively affect and truly change these kids and their communities, but LeBum just wanted to put his name on something and they created the most cliche crap of all time.

There are benefits the basketball program receives from LeBum. He's not funding the whole program, but as an AD, the idea of being attached to his wealth and influence is attractive. The I Promise School is a corrupt disaster. That has nothing to do with LeBum's money; that has to do with his principles and values, which he has proven to be morally bankrupt for a long time. I guess I'm confused as to why Duquesne wouldn't be an option for Dru. They are a lesser program that you referenced. He has A10 assistant experience, which is a top mid major conference as you mentioned. And again, he has LeBum in his back pocket. Dru is going to go somewhere, and Duquesne is a viable option.

This is a very narrow focus and completely ignores the financial benefit of having LeBum attached to your program. Akron is taken care of for life with gear, and LeBum wears the Akron Nikes during NBA games. Any program that has KD, Rome, or Dru will have the same types of benefits, if not more. That "high school gym game" was likely fully funded by LeBum that allowed a Pittsburgh program to showcase itself to the Northeast Ohio recruiting base. I loathe LeBum; hate him. But to ignore his influential power, especially financially, with decisions like this is simply unintelligent. Dru will absolutely get a shot as a HC at the DI level sooner rather than later, whether it be at Duquesne or not, and LeBum will be right by his side in many ways.

I was curious about the Merrimack OL. Nick is 6'6" 310 lbs. Cole is 6'4" 310 lbs (lists himself as 6'6" 315 lbs on his Twitter). Buffalo, PCCC, and UMASS are the other DI FBS schools that have offered Nick according to his Twitter. Cole also holds offers from UMASS and Buffalo. Merrimack was 5-6 on the season.

Is this the greatest FCS OL of all time? Wtf...

Going to be a demoralized private liberal arts school on Thursday...

Ignore the quote (stupid phone). https://bvmsports.com/2023/12/19/robby-ashford-enters-transfer-portal-5-landing-spots-for-qb/?fbclid=IwAR1XI7EEbO_aXGrlJhQNBeks8St5uiO5JlEHpw_EAsrqd6vV6Tox3Xh9lps I'll take one Robby Ashford, please.

FSU and Clemson wants more of the cake in the ACC because they baked more of the cake. Ohio State, Michigan, and PSU are the Big Ten. Bama and Georgia are the SEC. In its current state, the Vandy's, Rutgers, Boston Colleges of the world are going to get axed so that Ohio State, Bama, Florida State, etc., can make more money. I just watched Chip Kelly on the Pat McAfee Show explain his idea. I thought it was more of a P5 divide, but it's actually a protection for all 130+ FBS DI programs. He talks about adopting a NFL-style format with multiple divisions of 8+ teams across the country. The divisions would rotate schedules like the NFL does, and TV rights would be sold for College Football, with branding for divisions such as Amazon, Nike, etc., for more revenue generation.

FIFY. If Labas can make accurate throws with decent arm strength, I'm in. We have nobody right now as far as I'm concerned, unless Wasel develops well.

I feel like that's been said about St. Bonnie every year for the past 5-10 years. This game will give us an idea of what the Mountain West portion of our schedule could've been with Ali Ali.

@catdaddyp This explains why Gilbertson wasn't in that one photo.

Stony Brook loves MAC coaches, eh? Boals was there before he went to OU. This annual SVSM game for Duquesne is not a great look for them. "Why are they playing in Akron but not Akron" is a valid question.

I'd be excited to watch the upper echelon P5 decide who the fat is among the P5s and trim it off. The Vandys, Boston Colleges, etc., of the world are gonna be joining us when the inevitable split occurs.

Have we seen Prather or Lyles much?

We have some serious size coming into the WR room.

Did he start off at Balls? Edit: Found his Jones College page. He did. Spent 2 years at Balls and did not see any action. Do you know what his interest is other than Akron?

Nightmare Before Christmas morning...

11-win MAC Champs on their 3rd string QB*

This is what I expect the game to be like.

Ignore the quote. Stupid phone.