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re: Kara Kopcso (Swimming) breaks two 17 year old Natatorium records.
Posted on 2/2/15 at 8:32 pm to RUKidding
Posted on 2/2/15 at 8:32 pm to RUKidding
Missed RUKidding's post, so I'll address that as well.
When Geyer took over, the program was in absolute shambles. Adam Schmitt didn't have a clue what he was doing running the program -- and this is coming from someone who had less of a problem with Adam than almost any other person on or affiliated with the team at the time. Geyer has consistently brought in PHENOMENAL assistants and is a solid coach in his own regard. The problem with looking to NCAA results to weigh the overall improvements/non-improvements of a team is that for all but the best 10 or so teams, having 1 superstar will get you further than having 20 good, solid swimmers. A much better metric for gauging success is SEC finish, and LSU has been the same or better than when Schmitt left in just about every year under Geyer. Granted, this year is a down year, but LSU is far stronger as a program than it was a few years ago. In 2013, LSU would've been 4th at SECs if not for Alleva/Segar's crap (can get into it if you really want, but don't feel like explaining the story at length. Suffice to say that a guy who would've easily scored enough points to put us in 4th got kicked off the team when he 100% shouldn't have been). I don't feel like looking up results, but it has been a LONG time since the top 4 finishers at SECs weren't Auburn/Florida/Georgia/Tennessee, in some order.
Furthermore, you note a list of teams that LSU has lost meets to this year. To that point, there are 2 major counterpoints. (1) UF/UGA/AUB/TEN are all top programs in the NCAA. (2) Swimming is worlds different than football or basketball or other team sports where a solid team that plays well can overcome a team that is decidedly "better." That DOESN'T happen in swimming -- not unless the team rests down or suits up, and LSU doesn't do those things for dual meets because they tend to hurt end-of-season performance.
The sole reason LSU is where it is in the SEC pecking-order is recruiting. And the reason LSU is behind the schools it is behind in this aspect is its facility. I am nearly 100% confident that if we built a new pool, you'd see a significant upswing in the level of talent the staff could bring in.
When Geyer took over, the program was in absolute shambles. Adam Schmitt didn't have a clue what he was doing running the program -- and this is coming from someone who had less of a problem with Adam than almost any other person on or affiliated with the team at the time. Geyer has consistently brought in PHENOMENAL assistants and is a solid coach in his own regard. The problem with looking to NCAA results to weigh the overall improvements/non-improvements of a team is that for all but the best 10 or so teams, having 1 superstar will get you further than having 20 good, solid swimmers. A much better metric for gauging success is SEC finish, and LSU has been the same or better than when Schmitt left in just about every year under Geyer. Granted, this year is a down year, but LSU is far stronger as a program than it was a few years ago. In 2013, LSU would've been 4th at SECs if not for Alleva/Segar's crap (can get into it if you really want, but don't feel like explaining the story at length. Suffice to say that a guy who would've easily scored enough points to put us in 4th got kicked off the team when he 100% shouldn't have been). I don't feel like looking up results, but it has been a LONG time since the top 4 finishers at SECs weren't Auburn/Florida/Georgia/Tennessee, in some order.
Furthermore, you note a list of teams that LSU has lost meets to this year. To that point, there are 2 major counterpoints. (1) UF/UGA/AUB/TEN are all top programs in the NCAA. (2) Swimming is worlds different than football or basketball or other team sports where a solid team that plays well can overcome a team that is decidedly "better." That DOESN'T happen in swimming -- not unless the team rests down or suits up, and LSU doesn't do those things for dual meets because they tend to hurt end-of-season performance.
The sole reason LSU is where it is in the SEC pecking-order is recruiting. And the reason LSU is behind the schools it is behind in this aspect is its facility. I am nearly 100% confident that if we built a new pool, you'd see a significant upswing in the level of talent the staff could bring in.
2
Posted on 2/2/15 at 8:34 pm to tigerbait2010
There are exactly 0 SEC schools with a men's soccer team, so this is a silly idea. And I have little doubt that with a new natatorium LSU could and would be a top 15 team.
Edit - didn't know SC had a soccer team.
Edit - didn't know SC had a soccer team.
This post was edited on 2/2/15 at 9:43 pm
Posted on 2/2/15 at 8:42 pm to tigerswimmer859
south carolina has a men's soccer team. lots of SEC schools have programs that not everyone in the SEC has
Lacrosse and soccer just cater so much better for LSU, geographically speaking. Lacrosse and soccer are huge in Texas, and Louisiana has great soccer talent that goes OOS.
Have you heard anything regarding LSU getting a new natatorium? Last I heard, LSU wanted to partner with someone to build a facility potentially off-campus-like the Uclub for golf. It just seems like LSU has so many mid-major upgrades it needs, and you rarely hear about the natatorium. With respect to your time as an LSU swimmer, I really want them to renovate Bernie Moore for the next mid-major project
Lacrosse and soccer just cater so much better for LSU, geographically speaking. Lacrosse and soccer are huge in Texas, and Louisiana has great soccer talent that goes OOS.
Have you heard anything regarding LSU getting a new natatorium? Last I heard, LSU wanted to partner with someone to build a facility potentially off-campus-like the Uclub for golf. It just seems like LSU has so many mid-major upgrades it needs, and you rarely hear about the natatorium. With respect to your time as an LSU swimmer, I really want them to renovate Bernie Moore for the next mid-major project
Posted on 2/3/15 at 8:53 am to tigerswimmer859
quote:
In 2013, LSU would've been 4th at SECs if not for Alleva/Segar's
Always someone else's fault with the current bunch. The fact is the best all around team (men's and women's) Geyer has ever fielded was his first year as head coach. The year he took the team Adam Schmitt built to 14th and 24th in the Nation, and 5th and 5th in the SEC. Probably the first and only time the LSU Men and Women's Swim Team were ever both Ranked in the same year, in LSU History. And "the program was in shambles" under Schmidt?
Geyer was never a team player at LSU. As an assistant coach he divided himself and rallied swimmers against their head coach to his own gain. Character. Love Purple, Live Gold?
Geyer is not building the program. There has been a revolving door of assistant coaches since he has been at the helm. New assistant coaches every single year. Recruits are looking for consistency and stability in a Swim Program, not facility. No one was complaining about the facility when the LSU Men and Women Swim Teams were 24th and 14th in the nation. Great recruits are interested in great coaches.
Why is Texas A&M so dominating? Here is a quote from one of our own assistant LSU Swim Coaches from the LSU Swimming website on the subject, "They are a really good coached team from top to bottom".
What do recruits want? Really good coaches, stability, and consistency.
This post was edited on 2/3/15 at 11:46 am
Posted on 2/3/15 at 9:47 am to tigerswimmer859
quote:
There are exactly 0 SEC schools with a men's soccer team
We could be ranked 1st in the SEC at something. The sunshine pumpers would love it.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 11:19 am to tigerswimmer859
quote:
Geaux Kara.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 12:56 pm to RUKidding
Can't really compare the men's 2011 ranking to any other year. It was an off year in college swimming. In 2011 LSU took 2 swimmers to NCAA and both scored. Heyl 7th and Hamilton 15th. In 2013 LSU qualifed 3 swimmers individually and took 4 others for relays. All 3 swimmers scored. Greff 15th, Hamilton 7th and Tuomola 12th and 15th. If this is not progression on the men's side I don't know what is. 2013 was one of the best years in recent history for the swim team all while the team was targeted by administration. Geyer is the reason for that.
The school record book has been rewritten since Geyer took the helm.
The school record book has been rewritten since Geyer took the helm.
This post was edited on 2/3/15 at 12:57 pm
Posted on 2/3/15 at 1:05 pm to RUKidding
quote:
The big picture is that almost every school has swimmers that break pool records every year. Something that our current group of no name swim coaches have parlayed for years to give the illusion that our swim program is moving forward. The fact is, under Coach Geyer, our Tigers have gone down in the National Rankings every year since he took over as head coach 5 years ago. 38th in the NCAA and second to last in the SEC. This year the LSU Swimming Tigers have lost to Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M in head to head duel meets. Geyer is leading us to no where. If this were the football or baseball rankings he would have been run out of town a long time ago. Mr Alleva, the Swim Program needs your help.
LSU Swimming is lucky to have Kara grace our pool deck, she has given the swim program the DESPERATE shot in the arm it has needed for years.
Honestly I'm glad you are into swimming and that's great. But who really cares who LSU's swim coach is as long as he isn't doing anything illegal? We're a football school that funds these other sports because we have to.
This post was edited on 2/3/15 at 1:06 pm
Posted on 2/3/15 at 1:11 pm to AngryBeavers
quote:
But who really cares who LSU's swim coach is as long as he isn't doing anything illegal?
Is unethical the same as illegal?
Posted on 2/3/15 at 1:33 pm to tigerbait2010
When the National Sports Festival (name changed to Olympic Sports Festival the following year) was held in Baton Rouge (1985), the Natatorium was brand new and quite a site. The campus was filed with 1984 Olympians and the building was a modern facility.
Unfortunately we've seen the football stadium expanded several times, a new baseball park, new tennis facility, upgrades to the PMAC, a new softball park, a new basketball training facility, upgrades to Bernie Moore, an academic center for athletes, a new habitat for Mike the Tiger, a new athletic HQ office, as well as many other sports-related improvements...yet the Natatorium is 30 years old and has been surpassed by almost everybody.
If we want a program, we need to replace the facility.
Unfortunately we've seen the football stadium expanded several times, a new baseball park, new tennis facility, upgrades to the PMAC, a new softball park, a new basketball training facility, upgrades to Bernie Moore, an academic center for athletes, a new habitat for Mike the Tiger, a new athletic HQ office, as well as many other sports-related improvements...yet the Natatorium is 30 years old and has been surpassed by almost everybody.
If we want a program, we need to replace the facility.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 1:50 pm to Earn Your Keep
A program starts with recruitment and RETENTION of good coaches. You can have the best natatorium in America, if you don't have the coaches the great recruits will not come. We let Coach Chris Ip slip through our fingers. Check out his credentials and ask yourself, how in the Sam Hill did we let him leave LSU. Our swimmers loved that guy. But then again, the revolving door at LSU Swimming spins on.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 2:53 pm to RUKidding
quote:
But then again, the revolving door at LSU Swimming spins on.
And then again nobody gives a shite it's just swimming.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 3:01 pm to AngryBeavers
In that case, we just spent $2 million dollars on natatorium renovations on a sport that nobody gives a shite about.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 6:19 pm to RUKidding
Yes you are correct. Coach Chris was well loved by all the swimmers but he was not an assistant coach. As you stated yourself look at his credentials. He was the head coach of Clemson for many years and when that program was cut he was out of a job. That was when he took a step down and became LSUs assistant coach. He left his home and his wife in Clemson to come work at LSU because he wanted to work with high level athletes and coaches. The only reason he left is because a head coaching job opened up at Brown university.
There is also nothing wrong with LSUs recruiting. LSU has some of the best age group swimmers in the country in the incoming freshman class (Geyer and his staffs work). And have frequently brought in world class international talent (Tuomola, Hamilton, Greeff, Sepp, Stirrat, Ackland to name a few).
There is also nothing wrong with LSUs recruiting. LSU has some of the best age group swimmers in the country in the incoming freshman class (Geyer and his staffs work). And have frequently brought in world class international talent (Tuomola, Hamilton, Greeff, Sepp, Stirrat, Ackland to name a few).
Posted on 2/3/15 at 6:33 pm to swimswamswum
9th place in men's standings at SEC's and women who still can't compete with UF, UGA, TAMU, Auburn, Tenn, Yep that's progression and a phenomenal coaching
Posted on 2/3/15 at 6:47 pm to tigerswimmer859
quote:
The sole reason LSU is where it is in the SEC pecking-order is recruiting. And the reason LSU is behind the schools it is behind in this aspect is its facility. I am nearly 100% confident that if we built a new pool, you'd see a significant upswing in the level of talent the staff could bring in.
The men's and women's track and field teams have consistently been top 10 teams in the country with sub par facilities.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 7:31 pm to Dennis ODell
That's because they don't fool aroung with Jackleg coaches with a few years of graduate assistant experience who know someone. They don't cry about sub par facilities. They bring in real credentialed coaches. They don't bullshite the administration about their success. They get the job done. They fight their way to the top and stay on top. No excuses.
This post was edited on 2/3/15 at 7:36 pm
Posted on 2/3/15 at 7:48 pm to RUKidding
she's got one hell of a mouth on her.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 9:08 pm to RUKidding
You have some serious pent up anger against the swim team and its current staff.
Posted on 2/3/15 at 10:23 pm to swimswamswum
The Nat was a dump when I was there. But we were 4th in SEC & 12th in the nation back then. The Nat still is a dump, even after the lipstick on a pig projects.
I'm sure it isn't helping recruiting either. There's alot of factors. I don't know ebough about the staff to comment there. But the main factor that sticks out in my mind is that Louisiana Swimming in general is just really weak. As is Mississippi. So we can't even get the easiest recruits, because we have so few local prospects.
I do think that some improved facilities would help recruiting both swimmers and divers. We had pretty strong diving when I was there and that made a big difference in our finish at NCAAs.
Combine 1 or 2 good divers with 3 or 4 relays and 2 or 3 guys getting back at night in individual events and you've got a top 15 or better team. At least that's how it was when I was at NCAAs in 96, 97, & 98.
I'm sure it isn't helping recruiting either. There's alot of factors. I don't know ebough about the staff to comment there. But the main factor that sticks out in my mind is that Louisiana Swimming in general is just really weak. As is Mississippi. So we can't even get the easiest recruits, because we have so few local prospects.
I do think that some improved facilities would help recruiting both swimmers and divers. We had pretty strong diving when I was there and that made a big difference in our finish at NCAAs.
Combine 1 or 2 good divers with 3 or 4 relays and 2 or 3 guys getting back at night in individual events and you've got a top 15 or better team. At least that's how it was when I was at NCAAs in 96, 97, & 98.
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