How are you feeling right now about the team and program?

No one will ever come close to my level of crazy. Lol
If the Zonies still existed I’d give you one for that. Maybe we have to start the Rammies or something.

RN: And the winner of the crazy VCU fan who occasionally go green is. DUNCANLAMB!!!

DL: This was so unexpected! I’d like to think MasonNation errr I mean RamNation for this. 🤪
 
DL, I would like to say publicly that your thoughts and opinions are important here at Ram Nation. There are no such thing as crazy thoughts and your feelings will always be valued. Your post will receive the utmost attention and respect as we strive to make sure this forum is a welcoming environment to everyone regardless of the sensibility of your comments. Your feeling are our top priority.
You are the most interesting man alive.
 
He'd be better in today's NFL game, where mobility, escapability, running ability and play making on broken plays are becoming the prototype (see Mahomes, Jackson...). His skill set was not yet appreciated in the NFL.
No he wouldn’t, his struggles in the NFL had nothing to do with ability or style…..pay close attention the bar tab reference. He would have thrived in the Stabler/Jurgenson era, not today’s.
 
No he wouldn’t, his struggles in the NFL had nothing to do with ability or style…..pay close attention the bar tab reference. He would have thrived in the Stabler/Jurgenson era, not today’s.
He had trouble working in modern NFL systems. His college career was spent in the shotgun for the most part. His style is run, and gun, and yes he probably would have fared better back in the day.
 
2023-24 Scholarships:
#1-5)
4 holdovers (Jax, Fermin, Fats, Lawal) + recruit (Belle)

Portal Grades:
#6)
Sr Shulga = A (you can dance w/ Max as a starter; lone bright spot)
#7) Sr Bairstow = B-/C+ (limited upside; marginally productive per minute played; disappointing for a 5th yr kid)
-----------------------------
#8)
Sr Bamisile = C (waiver requirement; limited yrs remaining; red flags everywhere; should've passed)
#9) Sr Kuany = D (good kid; many better options out there we missed out on; staff aimed way too low)
#10) So Nelson = D (too small/pedestrian; much better suited at a lower level - Radford/Longwood/Towson)
#11) Jr Wheeler = F
-----------------------------
#12)
Vacancy = F
#13)
Vacancy = F (not counting the Okafor gift)

Overall portal effort: D+

We lost this thing in the portal (particularly w/ Schollies #8-13).

The immediate additions of the Utah St kids coupled with the Richmond HS Connection "debacle" effectively ended a (remarkable 20-yr) era (and unique brand/culture/identity). Frankly, the staff took some shortcuts and got burned. Only a miracle in Brooklyn next weekend can save them.

Ryan Odom and his staff, IMO, had a very sloppy, lazy, uninspiring, mistake-filled portal effort in Year 1. They clearly undersold the VCU program (a Top 50 program nationally and a Top 3 non-P6 program).

Effective portal recruiting (which, for 2024-25, should require anywhere from 5-12 additions) will require:
1) Casting a wide net nationally and understanding the entire recruiting landscape (HS, D-1, D-2, etc)
2) Identifying realistic targets, performing meaningful research/analysis/talent evaluation, setting higher standards (caliber of player), etc.
3) Salesmanship - convincing the right kids to join the program (having a vision/style/brand/culture to sell)

Ryan, at age 50, and his staffs haven't (over the years) really demonstrated an ability to consistently (or even ever) recruit at a high (P6-ish) level, which is where our program currently resides (Top 50-ish). VCU's NCAA-caliber teams have typically had some P6-level talent/size/athleticism/etc (Graham, Hyland, Maynor, Baldwin, Burgess, Skeen, Sanders, V. Williams, Tillman, Weber, Daniels, Reddic, Watkins, Alie-Cox, Nunn, etc). We should be (and typically are) competing annually w/ programs like St Mary's, Dayton, Memphis, Cincinnati, San Diego St, Wichita St, BYU, Seton Hall, Providence, Ga Tech, etc (high-end non-P6 and lower-end P6 programs) for recruits and NCAA bids.

2024-25 Roster:
1)
Kuany/Bairstow - two (2 kids); gone
2) Wheeler/Nelson/Okafor - three (3) kids; find a lower level program for them
3) Jax/Bam/Max/Belle/Billups/Lawal/Fermin - seven (7) kids; this is your potential base (have conversations w/ each of them)
4) Jennings - one new HS addition (12 remaining spots)
5) Remaining schollies - portal (approx 5-12 additions depending on retention)

Notes:
1) Recruit "alphas" first; toughest players to land so sell them a relatively wide-open roster/starting spot/big minutes/most NIL (if any available/needed)
2) Take only "proven/productive/value-added" A-10/P6 quality players (avoid statistically inefficient guys w/ minor to no roles from bad teams looking for a "fresh start" or looking to "come home;" avoid kids that their previous team is looking to "offload"); aim for the Brandon Johns, Zeb Jackson, Korey Billbury types.
3) Build a 13-man roster that looks and acts like a P6 roster (bigger, stronger, tougher, athletic, talented kids w/ a pedigree and a proven track record). VCU's best (NCAA) teams had that look/feel. The staff needs to aim for, and act like, a P6-level staff (in everything they do). That's how, as a program, you "punch up" in weight class.
4) Get the kids in the weight room (24/7)
 
Last edited:
 
Time for the staff to work the portal

Feel great about the program’s direction. Might be one step back for every two forward but VCU is on the right path under Odom.
Agree and feeling so positive about the excellent staff RO has assembled. I feel like we took a step side-ways, rather than backwards, while also positioning ourselves for a better future. I have a lot of confidence this staff will continue to leverage the VCU bb brand an even better future. Go Rams! Keep the positive momentum by use of the portal.
 
We had to take a step side-ways to avoid the UR mush. I hope they enjoy their coach as much as we do, Not really.
 
Back
Top