Dorman’s New Coach

[Rebel-Fan-74]

Honest opinion.. Felt a lot better about it after year 2, going into year 3. However I feel like we have underperformed ever since losing to Gaffney at home in the playoffs in 2019. I don’t know what the ceiling is for this coaching staff because this years team should not have been 6-6 and I feel like we don’t really have an identity and we never seem to show up for big games since 2018. If you would have asked me going into the 2019 season, when the next title in Duncan will come, I would have said in the next 3-4 years for sure. Now, unfortunately, I don’t feel that way. The talent is there in bunches, but we lack the mental side. We do not have that killer instinct anymore that we once did. We used to go into games, big games knowing we were gonna win, it was only a matter of by how much. Now, we take a very conservative game plan, playing not to lose, knowing we have to been perfect to even be in the ball game. Example, see last three playoff loses. That’s my honest opinion and unless the team goes and find what they lack this offseason, I’m not sure this coach will be here a lot longer.

I'm not a fan of the play calling. I think we run and pass to the short side of the field too much and sometimes there are just too many people in the way to be able to make a play. I also thought the defense this year was filled with way too many mental mistakes, especially at corner and safety. LB corps was very good at times and the DL was up and down. It was not like the defense of the past few years as there wasn't a lot of strong "on field" leadership. Offense was hindered with a tremendous amount of injuries at RB so depth was an issue. I felt the QB wasn't going through the progressions consistently and to be honest, I liked Coach Shaw's son at QB much better. Usually, people get upset because a coach plays his son too much.... but I felt like he may have been the better QB!

I'm very interested to see how the new Dorman coach puts his staff together, keeping those currently on staff or bringing in new folks. There are some good assistants left from Coach Gutshall's staff and you wonder how they feel about the situation. And by situation, I am referring to the fact that according to some Dorman fans that I spoke to this weekend, they felt like Coach Gutshall was pushed to make the move now even though he really wanted to coach one more season. That is why this hire confused me. I felt like if they were pushing him out the door, they must have had someone they were very excited about ready to step in. I'm not saying it is a bad hire, just that I've heard so little about him and the comments here so far seem to back that story up as well. Instead of a BIG TIME HIRE, we got a "Who is that?" hire.

[DHSCavsFan]

Honest opinion.. Felt a lot better about it after year 2, going into year 3. However I feel like we have underperformed ever since losing to Gaffney at home in the playoffs in 2019. I don’t know what the ceiling is for this coaching staff because this years team should not have been 6-6 and I feel like we don’t really have an identity and we never seem to show up for big games since 2018. If you would have asked me going into the 2019 season, when the next title in Duncan will come, I would have said in the next 3-4 years for sure. Now, unfortunately, I don’t feel that way. The talent is there in bunches, but we lack the mental side. We do not have that killer instinct anymore that we once did. We used to go into games, big games knowing we were gonna win, it was only a matter of by how much. Now, we take a very conservative game plan, playing not to lose, knowing we have to been perfect to even be in the ball game. Example, see last three playoff loses. That’s my honest opinion and unless the team goes and find what they lack this offseason, I’m not sure this coach will be here a lot longer.

I'm not a fan of the play calling. I think we run and pass to the short side of the field too much and sometimes there are just too many people in the way to be able to make a play. I also thought the defense this year was filled with way too many mental mistakes, especially at corner and safety. LB corps was very good at times and the DL was up and down. It was not like the defense of the past few years as there wasn't a lot of strong "on field" leadership. Offense was hindered with a tremendous amount of injuries at RB so depth was an issue. I felt the QB wasn't going through the progressions consistently and to be honest, I liked Coach Shaw's son at QB much better. Usually, people get upset because a coach plays his son too much.... but I felt like he may have been the better QB!

I'm very interested to see how the new Dorman coach puts his staff together, keeping those currently on staff or bringing in new folks. There are some good assistants left from Coach Gutshall's staff and you wonder how they feel about the situation. And by situation, I am referring to the fact that according to some Dorman fans that I spoke to this weekend, they felt like Coach Gutshall was pushed to make the move now even though he really wanted to coach one more season. That is why this hire confused me. I felt like if they were pushing him out the door, they must have had someone they were very excited about ready to step in. I'm not saying it is a bad hire, just that I've heard so little about him and the comments here so far seem to back that story up as well. Instead of a BIG TIME HIRE, we got a "Who is that?" hire.

So a couple of things, Gutshall wanted another year, district said no. Everything was lining up for Richardson from Clemson, but was promised an on field job at CU. We will see how the new coach does. His connection is with Thomas Ryan, both went to Lexington high. He can fill up to 8 spots on the coaching staff. One more thing, for us Gamecock fans, he is one of us.

[ByrnesRebels05]

Honest opinion.. Felt a lot better about it after year 2, going into year 3. However I feel like we have underperformed ever since losing to Gaffney at home in the playoffs in 2019. I don’t know what the ceiling is for this coaching staff because this years team should not have been 6-6 and I feel like we don’t really have an identity and we never seem to show up for big games since 2018. If you would have asked me going into the 2019 season, when the next title in Duncan will come, I would have said in the next 3-4 years for sure. Now, unfortunately, I don’t feel that way. The talent is there in bunches, but we lack the mental side. We do not have that killer instinct anymore that we once did. We used to go into games, big games knowing we were gonna win, it was only a matter of by how much. Now, we take a very conservative game plan, playing not to lose, knowing we have to been perfect to even be in the ball game. Example, see last three playoff loses. That’s my honest opinion and unless the team goes and find what they lack this offseason, I’m not sure this coach will be here a lot longer.

I'm not a fan of the play calling. I think we run and pass to the short side of the field too much and sometimes there are just too many people in the way to be able to make a play. I also thought the defense this year was filled with way too many mental mistakes, especially at corner and safety. LB corps was very good at times and the DL was up and down. It was not like the defense of the past few years as there wasn't a lot of strong "on field" leadership. Offense was hindered with a tremendous amount of injuries at RB so depth was an issue. I felt the QB wasn't going through the progressions consistently and to be honest, I liked Coach Shaw's son at QB much better. Usually, people get upset because a coach plays his son too much.... but I felt like he may have been the better QB!

I'm very interested to see how the new Dorman coach puts his staff together, keeping those currently on staff or bringing in new folks. There are some good assistants left from Coach Gutshall's staff and you wonder how they feel about the situation. And by situation, I am referring to the fact that according to some Dorman fans that I spoke to this weekend, they felt like Coach Gutshall was pushed to make the move now even though he really wanted to coach one more season. That is why this hire confused me. I felt like if they were pushing him out the door, they must have had someone they were very excited about ready to step in. I'm not saying it is a bad hire, just that I've heard so little about him and the comments here so far seem to back that story up as well. Instead of a BIG TIME HIRE, we got a "Who is that?" hire.

So as far as Byrnes’ coach, how much longer is he giving the chance to get the Rebs back to the top??

[Rebel-Fan-74]

So as far as Byrnes’ coach, how much longer is he giving the chance to get the Rebs back to the top??

I believe he will be given one more year for each year he does the following:

at least one Home Playoff Game (which means at least 2nd in the Region)
or
wins at least one Playoff Game

If we finish 3rd or lower and don't win a playoff game, he better have beaten at least one of these: Gaffney, Dorman, Spartanburg during the regular season.

OR:
If the crowd turns on him and stops coming (which looks like it has already begun!)

It's not anything personal for me, I don't know him, and may not recognize him at Ingles if I saw him. But we all realize that COACHING is like most any job, results are expected. What the administration, School Board, and AD outline as acceptable results are what count, not my opinion!

From the previous post, "Everything was lining up for Richardson from Clemson" seems to imply that Dorman didn't get the #1 choice so this coach will not only have to keep his focus on Dorman football, but keep up with what is happening at Clemson as well. Knowing that they really wanted him and not me is not an ideal situation to step into in my opinion. We all know that the Dorman job is a great situation as far as facilities, etc but we all are aware that Dorman is sometimes referred to as the "Wine and Cheese" crowd. There are some who get excited and really get into the game (not quite as much as the student section, but still excited) but if that excitement could somehow multiply and spread all the way to the Blue Seats and up to the press box, imagine playing for that crowd!!! If this guy could somehow get the excitement moving like that... talk about HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!

[ByrnesRebels05]

So as far as Byrnes’ coach, how much longer is he giving the chance to get the Rebs back to the top??

I believe he will be given one more year for each year he does the following:

at least one Home Playoff Game (which means at least 2nd in the Region)
or
wins at least one Playoff Game

If we finish 3rd or lower and don't win a playoff game, he better have beaten at least one of these: Gaffney, Dorman, Spartanburg during the regular season.

OR:
If the crowd turns on him and stops coming (which looks like it has already begun!)

It's not anything personal for me, I don't know him, and may not recognize him at Ingles if I saw him. But we all realize that COACHING is like most any job, results are expected. What the administration, School Board, and AD outline as acceptable results are what count, not my opinion!

From the previous post, "Everything was lining up for Richardson from Clemson" seems to imply that Dorman didn't get the #1 choice so this coach will not only have to keep his focus on Dorman football, but keep up with what is happening at Clemson as well. Knowing that they really wanted him and not me is not an ideal situation to step into in my opinion. We all know that the Dorman job is a great situation as far as facilities, etc but we all are aware that Dorman is sometimes referred to as the "Wine and Cheese" crowd. There are some who get excited and really get into the game (not quite as much as the student section, but still excited) but if that excitement could somehow multiply and spread all the way to the Blue Seats and up to the press box, imagine playing for that crowd!!! If this guy could somehow get the excitement moving like that... talk about HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!

He’s a great guy, good coach, just not sure he’s the one to get us over the hump. With the two classes coming through next, if he doesn’t win it all, that may be it. These two classes are as loaded as the class of Lattimore’s and the ones before them. Byrnes will be the most talented team on the field next year, the question is will they be the best.

If it doesn’t work out, Richardson to Byrnes would be okay too.

[DHSCavsFan]

So yes Richardson was first choice, but he is now making 150,000 more than the Dorman job. Being second is not a bad place to be at Dorman, remember many coaches wanted the job.

[dacoach]

$150,000 more?

Clemson is paying him half a million. Ain't no way in the world that Dorman was offering $350K.

[DHSCavsFan]

$150,000 more?

Clemson is paying him half a million. Ain't no way in the world that Dorman was offering $350K.

I was told Richardson was going to make 250,000 to 300,000 at Clemson

[Cover Three]

I'm telling you, the Dorman folks aren't going to be happy with their new coach. Because they are a magnet school, Flora has suddenly been flooded with a Ron of talent over the last 5 years. Curtis merely inherited what his predecessor built. As long as he has a huge talent advantage, they will be fine. But he isn't going to out coach anybody.

[racincowboy02]

I wonder how the new dormsn head coach is feeling knowing that the reigning and defending state champs will be in his region for his first and 2nd year as a 5a coach. I would bet he is having nightmares lol all jokes aside with the talent at Dorman I believe he will do pretty good