David Archer new head football coach

Per the report on Footballscoop.com and now official.

Wow.

That's this David Archer, not this David Archer, in case your first move was to go to Wikipedia and then wonder why our new head coach was a guy who has never coached before.

It's not this one, either.

It is official: cornell athletics announcement Press conference tomorrow at 2.

Not clear to me what all this "turnaround" hype is. The team won two Ivy games this year. As for his "recruiting success," I'd say he's attracted undersized linemen who can neither block nor tackle. I'm not blown away by this selection, I regret to say. Seems more driven by convenience than anything. Not sure why a blue-chip Ivy recruit would flock to him rather than Murphy at Harvard or Bagnoli at Penn. Sorry...that's my take.

Surprised that's for sure. I hope he brings new experienced coordinators to run the offense and defense.

maybe andy noel thought better of conducting a big-ass talent search a la kent austin in favor of keeping expectations nice and low (reasonable). sports are full of coaches saying they want to turn programs around, change teams' cultures (remember coach knowles's gimmickry?), but it's all grasping at straws in a zero sum game, because for every program that "turns around" for the better, another turns for the worst. as many people have mentioned, kent austin wasn't able to recruit the best players for his system. the team should have had much more success this year than they did given their offensive talent, and the pileup of injuries (which has to be in some way related to the coaching) didn't help.maybe he found the ivy league recruiting process to be too demanding of him. i don't really know.

There's obviously a lot that we don't know.I haven't heard about next year's class. One possibility is that there is a great class coming in and Andy felt it was important to keep those players attached to CU. However that doesn't mean he's head coach material.

Jim Hyla
There's obviously a lot that we don't know.I haven't heard about next year's class. One possibility is that there is a great class coming in and Andy felt it was important to keep those players attached to CU. However that doesn't mean he's head coach material.

Was reading a WWII novel about a unassuming looking new lieutenant. The dialog: "There's more to him than meets the eye." "That wouldn't be hard." Andy Noel's hires have been pretty good. Let's see how it pans out.

I'm thinking he maybe Cornell will get lucky again promoting from within like they did with the lacrosse program. My only concern is any lack of experience as a coordinator. Given Condell and Austin left, I would expect he would at least bring in an experienced offensive coordinator. And given our last place in the Ivy League defense, I hope he replaces Dameron as well with an experienced defensive coordinator.

billhoward
Andy Noel's hires have been pretty good. Let's see how it pans out.

True enough.

We are not really in a position to hire an experienced and successful coach and then expect, if he succeeds, that he will stay. Maybe this is an attempt to end the Coaching Churn. If nothing else a Cornellian isn't going to exhaust himself in a losing effort butting up against academic requirements for recruits.

And look on the bright side. The longer we suck at football, the more alumni support will realign behind hockey.

Nothing wrong with youth if it's the right coach. Look at the Ned Harkness successors: Richie Moran arrived at 32, had an unbeaten lacrosse season at 33 (no tourney), NCAA title at 34, and three titles total by 40. Dick Bertrand arrived as hockey coach at 29 and had 2 NCAA title shots by age 33. An alumnus head coach is always good. Okay, so that was a while ago.

I really bought into the idea that Kent Austin was tired of big time football and the machinations of keeping players eligible and wanted to do something decent in the next act of his career, maybe be the Pete Caril of Ivy football.

Look at how quickly Princeton reloaded. They were in the same boat as Cornell 3-4 years ago.

I just hope he brings in some new strong coordinators. On offense, how about developing something of a running game for a change. On defense, having the linemen and linebackers be the leading tacklers in post-game stats, instead of the defensive backs. Lastly, although Archer is being praised as great recruiter, they really need to focus on recruiting better size linemen in future recruiting classes. Harvard recruits a 6'7" 310lb OT, and Cornell recruits a 6'4" 260 lb OT.

Ken711
I just hope he brings in some new strong coordinators. On offense, how about developing something of a running game for a change. On defense, having the linemen and linebackers be the leading tacklers in post-game stats, instead of the defensive backs. Lastly, although Archer is being praised as great recruiter, they really need to focus on recruiting better size linemen in future recruiting classes. Harvard recruits a 6'7" 310lb OT, and Cornell recruits a 6'4" 260 lb OT.

Harvard linemen so big they *all* had to wear knee braces on the outside.

Ken711
Harvard recruits a 6'7" 310lb OT

You can put on a lot of weight when you're spoon-fed and idle all your life.

billhoward
Andy Noel's hires have been pretty good. Let's see how it pans out.

Not so much his football hires up to this point, though. Since he inherited Mangurian from Moore, he's hired Pendergast, Knowles, and Austin, none of whom have been what you'd call overwhelming successes. It'll be fun to root for one of our own guys to do well, at the very least.

Trotsky

Ken711
Harvard recruits a 6'7" 310lb OT

You can put on a lot of weight when you're spoon-fed and idle all your life.

You ever stop to think how hurtful this forum must be Harvard players and families?

Josh '99

billhoward
Andy Noel's hires have been pretty good. Let's see how it pans out.

Not so much his football hires up to this point, though. Since he inherited Mangurian from Moore, he's hired Pendergast, Knowles, and Austin, none of whom have been what you'd call overwhelming successes. It'll be fun to root for one of our own guys to do well, at the very least.

Knowles and Hofher were "our own guys." The latter was the ass who voted his team #1 in Division I-AA after a 6-0 start and then lost his last four games. After Cornell he was head coach at Buffalo where his teams went 8-49.

Another trend happening in the Ivy League, transfers. Columbia is getting a transfer QB from Stanford, Brett Nottingham who was the 12th rated QB in the nation coming out of HS. Today I read that Yale is getting a transfer QB from Clemson. Penn and Harvard have had great success with some BCS school transfers. Even Cornell had a transfer from Maryland, DT Tom McHale who was a great player here back in the 1980's who went onto a pro career in the NFL as an OL. Now if we could just find an impact running back who wants to transfer to the Big Red...

Ken711
Another trend happening in the Ivy League, transfers. Columbia is getting a transfer QB from Stanford, Brett Nottingham who was the 12th rated QB in the nation coming out of HS. Today I read that Yale is getting a transfer QB from Clemson. Penn and Harvard have had great success with some BCS school transfers. Even Cornell had a transfer from Maryland, DT Tom McHale who was a great player here back in the 1980's who went onto a pro career in the NFL as an OL. Now if we could just find an impact running back who wants to transfer to the Big Red...

Princeton picked up a transfer QB from Purdue a few years ago. Made him start freshman year all over to protect their nose-in-the-air "no transfers" policy.

Al DeFlorio

Josh '99

billhoward
Andy Noel's hires have been pretty good. Let's see how it pans out.

Not so much his football hires up to this point, though. Since he inherited Mangurian from Moore, he's hired Pendergast, Knowles, and Austin, none of whom have been what you'd call overwhelming successes. It'll be fun to root for one of our own guys to do well, at the very least.

Knowles and Hofher were "our own guys." The latter was the ass who voted his team #1 in Division I-AA after a 6-0 start and then lost his last four games. After Cornell he was head coach at Buffalo where his teams went 8-49.

I had forgotten that Knowles was a Cornell alum. Doesn't really speak to the broader point that Noel's football hires haven't panned out so far.

Ken711
Another trend happening in the Ivy League, transfers. Columbia is getting a transfer QB from Stanford, Brett Nottingham who was the 12th rated QB in the nation coming out of HS. Today I read that Yale is getting a transfer QB from Clemson. Penn and Harvard have had great success with some BCS school transfers. Even Cornell had a transfer from Maryland, DT Tom McHale who was a great player here back in the 1980's who went onto a pro career in the NFL as an OL. Now if we could just find an impact running back who wants to transfer to the Big Red...

If we accept the (not-terribly-controversial) premise that Cornell's offensive line play wasn't great this past season, I would be inclined to speculate that Luke Hagy (528 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry and 513 receiving yards as a freshman) coud develop into an impact running back if Harvard and Penn defenders don't break all his bones before he has a chance.

Josh '99

Al DeFlorio

Josh '99

billhoward
Andy Noel's hires have been pretty good. Let's see how it pans out.

Not so much his football hires up to this point, though. Since he inherited Mangurian from Moore, he's hired Pendergast, Knowles, and Austin, none of whom have been what you'd call overwhelming successes. It'll be fun to root for one of our own guys to do well, at the very least.

Knowles and Hofher were "our own guys." The latter was the ass who voted his team #1 in Division I-AA after a 6-0 start and then lost his last four games. After Cornell he was head coach at Buffalo where his teams went 8-49.

I had forgotten that Knowles was a Cornell alum. Doesn't really speak to the broader point that Noel's football hires haven't panned out so far.

You'll get no argument from me on that.

So it's finally happened... Cornell's new football coach graduated after I did. I'm officially old. Does this mean I have to stop being optimistic at the start of each season, and just assume we'll lose every game by 40? I've heard such good things about being a curmudgeon.

CornellChris
So it's finally happened... Cornell's new football coach graduated after I did. I'm officially old. Does this mean I have to stop being optimistic at the start of each season, and just assume we'll lose every game by 40? I've heard such good things about being a curmudgeon.

Just wait until the players are too young to date your daughter.

Trotsky

CornellChris
So it's finally happened... Cornell's new football coach graduated after I did. I'm officially old. Does this mean I have to stop being optimistic at the start of each season, and just assume we'll lose every game by 40? I've heard such good things about being a curmudgeon.

Just wait until the players are too young to date your daughter.

or granddaughter? Actually my daughter is old enough to date the players, but then I'm an anomaly.It keeps me thinking young, though.

For those who don't know, I'm a 67yo with an 18yo daughter.

Jim Hyla
For those who don't know, I'm a 67yo with an 18yo daughter.

You are either brave or crazy. Even the idea of having a 1-year old right now is exhausting.

Trotsky

Jim Hyla
For those who don't know, I'm a 67yo with an 18yo daughter.

You are either brave or crazy. Even the idea of having a 1-year old right now is exhausting.

I'm not brave.

Jim Hyla

For those who don't know, I'm a 67yo with an 18yo daughter.

MY father was the same age when he became a dad. When we were moving into Sage Hall as a January sophomore transfer student we ran into a guy who was moving in his daughter. He looked at my dad and said "Man, I'd hate to be 50 and doing this, right?" My very-young-looking dad smiled and agreed.

Interested to see what assistants David Archer keeps. I hope he at the very least brings in new coordinators for the offense and defense.

Ken711
Interested to see what assistants David Archer keeps. I hope he at the very least brings in new coordinators for the offense and defense.

I'm guessing it's easier, professionally, to clean house if you're coming in as an outsider. Politics, loyalties, and personal relationships could conceivably tie his hands a little...or at least make him feel as if that's the case.

imafrshmn

Ken711
Interested to see what assistants David Archer keeps. I hope he at the very least brings in new coordinators for the offense and defense.

I'm guessing it's easier, professionally, to clean house if you're coming in as an outsider. Politics, loyalties, and personal relationships could conceivably tie his hands a little...or at least make him feel as if that's the case.

I agree, that's why I'd have preferred an outside hire. I can see a few assistants staying on Burkett, Fenton, Hanna and perhaps DeStefano staying. But I wasn't impressed at all with the defensive play calling by Dameron, and of course the pass-happy offense needs a fresh "balanced" approach from a new coordinator.

CornellChris
So it's finally happened... Cornell's new football coach graduated after I did. I'm officially old. Does this mean I have to stop being optimistic at the start of each season, and just assume we'll lose every game by 40? I've heard such good things about being a curmudgeon.

Another sad sign is seeing the first Playmate of the Month born after you were graduated. As is you had a chance with one of them before the age difference cropped up.

imafrshmn

Ken711
Interested to see what assistants David Archer keeps. I hope he at the very least brings in new coordinators for the offense and defense.

I'm guessing it's easier, professionally, to clean house if you're coming in as an outsider. Politics, loyalties, and personal relationships could conceivably tie his hands a little...or at least make him feel as if that's the case.

From Footballscoop:

Cornell: New head coach David Archer will not be retaining offensive coordinator Jeff Fela, defensive coordinator Kim Dameron or safeties coach Ron McCrone according to sources. We are also told there is a chance defensive line coach Pete DeStefano could move into an off the field role.

Ken711

imafrshmn

Ken711
Interested to see what assistants David Archer keeps. I hope he at the very least brings in new coordinators for the offense and defense.

I'm guessing it's easier, professionally, to clean house if you're coming in as an outsider. Politics, loyalties, and personal relationships could conceivably tie his hands a little...or at least make him feel as if that's the case.

From Footballscoop:

Cornell: New head coach David Archer will not be retaining offensive coordinator Jeff Fela, defensive coordinator Kim Dameron or safeties coach Ron McCrone according to sources. We are also told there is a chance defensive line coach Pete DeStefano could move into an off the field role.

The Ithaca Jounal reports that Shane Hurd, head coach at Union-Endicott High School since 2005, will join the Archer staff in an unspecified capacity.

Hurd was elevated from offensive coordinator to U-E head coach in 2005, and proceeded to guide the Tigers to Section 4 championships five times. In his final season at U-E, the Tigers finished 9-2 and advanced to the Class A state semifinals.

WBNG says their source on Hurd's staff claims Hurd will be quarterbacks coach at Cornell.

Archer is a 2000 U-E alumnus. According to FindTheData, Hurd started working there in September 1999, so they overlapped one season.

The word is Jared Backus the Princeton DC will be the new Associate HC at Cornell in addition his DC role. The OC is going to be Jason Houghtaling the OC at Wagner.

Ken711
The word is Jared Backus the Princeton DC will be the new Associate HC at Cornell in addition his DC role. The OC is going to be Jason Houghtaling the OC at Wagner.

EXTREMELY cursory analysis: under Backus, Princeton allowed by far the most points in Ivy play in 2010, the second-most in 2011, and the second-fewest in 2012.

Josh '99

Ken711
The word is Jared Backus the Princeton DC will be the new Associate HC at Cornell in addition his DC role. The OC is going to be Jason Houghtaling the OC at Wagner.

EXTREMELY cursory analysis: under Backus, Princeton allowed by far the most points in Ivy play in 2010, the second-most in 2011, and the second-fewest in 2012.

I think Backus is a great hire for Cornell. Princeton's defense certainly improved as they learned their new defensive system. Conversely, Cornell's defense was worse in Austin's 3rd year, dead last in the Ivy's. I really like the staff Dave Archer is putting together so far.

Michael Neuberger who was the WR coach at Georgetown University will be joining the Cornell staff, I would assume he will again be coaching the WRs.

Al DeFlorio
Not clear to me what all this "turnaround" hype is. The team won two Ivy games this year. As for his "recruiting success," I'd say he's attracted undersized linemen who can neither block nor tackle. I'm not blown away by this selection, I regret to say. Seems more driven by convenience than anything. Not sure why a blue-chip Ivy recruit would flock to him rather than Murphy at Harvard or Bagnoli at Penn. Sorry...that's my take.

Turns out no one flocked to him.