Game thread - @URI 2PM SAT Feb. 7th. ESPN+

We tied for 13th in the A-10 last year, and are tied for 10th this year. No chance 10+ teams in the A-10 are paying more in NIL than we are. Not even close. I doubt it is even 5.
heard we were probably top third a couple years ago when it was donor based.
may or may not have changed now that schools can contribute. but like you, I doubt it changed much.
this sounds like an excuse.

we were also very slow to embrace the NIL thing, with just PQ and a handful of donors contributing early. I know some recent grad Dayton fans who have been contributing from the start.
 
No surprise there. Sure seems like my theory on the situation has merit.

Second, it is going to take more than just money and if there ever is more money then one has to assume that means more pressure and expectations too.
Maybe but then again I'm not going to jump to that conclusion. It could be replacement money or could be additional money. Either way, mo money + same coach = same expectations & results.
 
We all just need to give more. Queally has identified that the problem is that we're being outspent.

Screenshot-2026-02-05-at-12-02-08-PM.jpg
So we’re getting outspent by Charleston southern, furman, and Elon? Doubtful.

What about by st joes, GW and Rhody?

I’ll buy that VCU pays more, and maybe even SLU, but if this was just about buying better players then the thesis doesn’t really stand up.
 
So we’re getting outspent by Charleston southern, furman, and Elon? Doubtful.

What about by st joes, GW and Rhody?

I’ll buy that VCU pays more, and maybe even SLU, but if this was just about buying better players then the thesis doesn’t really stand up.
Outcoached, yes. Outspent, no.
 
Who wants to buy a losing program? Of course merchandise, concessions, ticket sales have gone down. When the same products produces the same result what can you expect?
 
There can't be another program in the country that talks itself in circles this ridiculously. My god. We made back to back NCAAs, then we needed to pay a fortune to keep the coach. Then in order to recruit better, we need to upgrade the arena. Then that wasn't good enough, we had to build a practice facility to keep up. Did that, but it didn't matter because we couldn't get the same type of recruits as others because of our academic standards.

Evened that out, allegedly, but then other teams offered a higher cost of attendance stipend when that became a thing. Then our private NIL wasn't enough. Then we couldn't schedule any good teams because... why again? Now schools can pay NIL directly, but we don't have enough money to outspend St. Joe's and LaSalle? Ok, Paul, ok.
 
There can't be another program in the country that talks itself in circles this ridiculously. My god. We made back to back NCAAs, then we needed to pay a fortune to keep the coach. Then in order to recruit better, we need to upgrade the arena. Then that wasn't good enough, we had to build a practice facility to keep up. Did that, but it didn't matter because we couldn't get the same type of recruits as others because of our academic standards.

Evened that out, allegedly, but then other teams offered a higher cost of attendance stipend when that became a thing. Then our private NIL wasn't enough. Then we couldn't schedule any good teams because... why again? Now schools can pay NIL directly, but we don't have enough money to outspend St. Joe's and LaSalle? Ok, Paul, ok.
We like to test and iterate on everything but the most likely problem. Very thorough.
 
Who wants to buy a losing program? Of course merchandise, concessions, ticket sales have gone down. When the same products produces the same result what can you expect?
I fear it’s going to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We’re going to continue to lose and then there’s going to be a lack of donations/attendance because of that. PQ and our AD will then blame lack of money as reasons why we aren’t winning and keep the status quo and the cycle continues.
 
It is a vicious cycle. Mooney is part of the cycle. He doesn't believe. He is scared to schedule. He makes excuses. He doesn't have an public goals or expectations. All things people have defended in the past on this board. BUT, they all add up to the downward spiral.
 
Think about this. We are currently 3-7 tied with compatible brethren Fordham & La Salle. Only St Bon & Loy Chi are below us.

In order the next 4 games are RI, GM, VCU, & Davidson. All 4 are better teams than us. I hope we sweep all of them. However the practicality of that is slim, and the there's a greater chance we get swept. If that scenario happens, we will have lost 9 in a row.
 
He could just get a gig in radio or tv I'm sure that would cover his expenses. He should have so much invested - if he just invested in spy or Dow tracker funds he has a huge nest egg - that he really doesn't need to worry about much more. His boys will probably get scholarships or go to Richmond for free. Or he could take that D3 job - but as much as we get annoyed by his seeming lack of motivation - he didn't stay at the lower level gigs or even AF very long. Service academies is a relative low pressure D1 gig.
 
I am not liking my prediction of beating Rhody handily, with AA out. At least we will have another excuse. And if we win we can tout Mooney as great. So look forward to that Prime. So either way Mooney wins.
 
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