Stitt- No fence riding (for or against)-Pre 2017

[MiningCityGrizFan]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and often times ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.

The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.

Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.

Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self-imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.

Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.

That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.

Stitt was brought in to change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.

In hind sight, though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.

That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...

But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs anytime soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.

Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular at the moment. It's about doing what needs to be done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.

I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.

The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self-imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits have been high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.

If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.

Seriously -- Look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those scholarships. Yeti, Akem, Toure, Gesch, and the list goes on and on.

Look how much depth we have in 2017.

And best of all, look at how young the roster is.

Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?

Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.

Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresch's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.

And we'll be back to praying that our head coach hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a contract promising life-changing money in front of him.

I think we'll be lucky to keep Stitt here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So, for now, I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AZDoc]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:clap:

 

[grizd]

I hope he and the team succeed, after all I am a Griz fan. I have no doubt in the talent he's been able to accumulate but I would be lying if I said I didn't have any doubt in the system he is running. I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[dirtysoup]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great post! :clap: :thumb:

 

[Yukon]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:clap: :clap: :clap: Perfect!

 

[ari gold]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:clap: I'm not sure you could have said it any better. Excellent post.

 

[1972]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:clap: :clap: :clap:

One thing that Stitt has done very well is red shirt all incoming freshman. He's building a program for the future, not today, but tomorrow. In time we will be very happy he's doing it this way. Patience!!!

 

[grizaremoregooder]

I am "for" coach Stitt and this staff. I still think this program is a year away from where it wants to be. My expectations are pretty low this year but that won't keep me from screaming my guys out on Saturday.

How low are your expectations? What does that mean exactly?

They have the same problems as last season. The offensive line is not there yet and it is tough to win games without much of a running game. The backfield looks pretty young to me as well. Justin Calhoun has had concussion problems.....pretty thin behind him right now. My expectations are a 5 or 6 win season which is pretty low.

 

[AZGrizFan]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.

......

I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.

Seriously. POTY right there. Couldn't have said it better myself.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[grizcountry420]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



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Very good post! That made a lot of sense..

 

[AZDoc]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



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I just want to know...honestly...how long that bad boy has been brewing inside ya? It's like you picked up the forum, kicked everybody's ass in it, and spit it out. I've been thinking a lot of these things, and agree with what you've posted here. I know we all want the Griz to do well, we've been spoiled, are acting like spoiled brats, and you just sat us down and educated everyone. Thank you!

 

[Grizrule16]

This thread is a tough one to read because it illustrates the well-deserved reputation of entitlement and arrogance (and oftentimes ignorance) that is associated Griz Nation.
The Griz were dominant for so long that their fans (me included) took success for granted. The coaches we had, the players they had, they made winning look easy. That's the problem.
Look back at what Phlugrad went through when he took over in 2010. Remember his first season? And that was a team coming off two consecutive national championship appearances.
Then the Jordan Johnson fiasco ended with him being fired and the program being thrown into limbo. Mick did a great job steadying the ship, but the damage was done. A losing season for the first time in forever. And a self imposed scholarship reduction that only just ended.
Mick did yeomen's work with the hand he was dealt, but his best teams were only pretty good compared to his four most recent predecessors.
That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties. And whose fans were still struggling to accept that their beloved team had been an overachieving above-average team since Phlu was unceremoniously and unfairly shown the door in 2011.
Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program. He also had to install his unique system with a roster recruited to run a pro-style offense. He did his best to build around the defense and 2015 was a pretty good year all things considered, though I'm extremely thankful that Ben Roberts decided to show up that season.
In hind sight though I believe his first year was Stitt kicking the tires. He had a full year to evaluate the team and the program. Only then did he really began to do the job he was hired to do -- Completely rebuild the program from the inside out.
That is exactly what he's been doing. He started by sending Gregorak packing and then proceeded to cut players from the roster who didn't fit and/or didn't buy into what he was trying to do. Some good players also left. Jansen, Nacaratto, etc. This is a normal part of organizational dynamics when new leadership is brought it and org changes are implemented. But many in Griz Nation are loyal and hated to see some of those players and coaches leave. Especially to Bozeman...
But the painful truth was that the program needed far more than superficial tweaks to the roster if it was going to compete against NDSU in the playoffs any time soon. That outside perspective is why Stitt was brought in. To his credit, I believe Stitt understood the scope of the changes he would have to make before he returned from Fargo.
Those changes weren't necessarily popular, but true leadership isn't about doing what's popular in the moment. It's about doing what needs to done in order to help your organization achieve its ultimate goal. He didn't just do it with players and hold over coaches. He sent Swett packing after last season too. It's not fun, but it's part of the business that is D-1 College Football.
I think we'll look back on the extreme roster makeover of 2016 like Cowboys fans do now when Jimmy Johnson sent Hershel Walker to Minnesota and used the draft picks he got in return to build the foundation of a championship team. Not popular at the time, but pivotal point in the turnaround process.
The beauty of what Stitt did was that he effectively negated the final year of the self imposed scholarship reductions. Even with the reduced scholarships, he brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in the history of the school. The vast majority of his recruits being high school kids, but with select JC and drop downs coming in to fill the immediate gaps and add depth at the top of the roster.
If you stop and think about what he did, it's g-damn brilliant considering the circumstances.
Seriously--look at the talent Stitt and his staff have brought in with those picks. Yeti, Akem, Toure. Look how much depth we have in 2017. And best of all, look at how young the roster is.
Stitt is playing 4-D chess and guys who barely understand checkers are on the discussion boards saying he doesn't deserve a contract extension?
Just like I wouldn't walk over to the Champions Center in its current unfinished state and start bad mouthing the ability of the contractors, I will not look at the unfinished state of the rebuilding process and start bad mouthing Stitt. I can see how awesome that building is going to be when the construction is fully completed and I can see how awesome this program is going to be when the rebuilding is fully completed.
Realistically I believe this team will be better than last season, but I don't expect a conference championship just yet. I think we're still a year or two away. By Gresh's junior year though I think the Griz are back atop the Big Sky and are legitimately competing for the national championships.
And we'll be back to praying Stitt hasn't grown tired of Griz Nation's vocal naysayers when a big-time program eventually knocks on his door and puts a life-changing contract in front of him.
I think we'll be lucky to keep him here beyond five years once his younger boy finishes high school. So for now I'm just going to enjoy the journey we'll be taking back to the top of the mountain and try not to worry about who will pick up the torch once the Stitt chapter of Griz football comes to an end.



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If I could I would shake your hand. This is a very well thought out post.

 

[PlayerRep]

Close but no cigar, Mining. I don't agree with the following:

"Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program."

I don't agree that he was brought in to do that. The culture was still pretty darn good when he arrived, and the program did not and does not have to be rebuilt. Some would argue that one of the mistakes Stitt has made is that he did not embrace the program and tradition enough. Kem or others, you may want to weigh in.

Coaches, particularly at schools like UM, aren't hired to come in and "kick the tires" for a year. Coaches at schools like UM are expected to hit the ground running.

"That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties."

The Griz were 9-5 before Stitt arrived. Second round of playoffs. Losses to Wyo. (close game), no. 6 EWU (twice), no. 1 NDSU, and Cal Poly (7-5). Griz beat no. 11 MSU. Griz ended up ranked 12th in Stats poll, and 11th in coaches poll. Sorry, but that was not a "mess" of a season.

While the loss of schollies has some impact, that is not close to being the biggest factor in the slight decline in the program.

Feel free to explain how the poor season last year, and the collapse at the end of the season, was caused by what was indicated in Mining's post. Sorry, but I don't see the connection.

At the start of Stitt's 3d year, UM is not ranked to the pre-season top 25 for the first time since 1991. How do you explain that?

It remains to be seen whether Stitt has done anything that is "g-damn brilliant". Hope you are right.

I am positive for the season and for Stitt, but I am not going to predict a great season nor am I going to tell any of the non-crazy neggies and doubters that they are wrong.

 

[PlayerRep]

Oops, put edits in wrong place.

 

[SoldierGriz]

Close but no cigar, Mining. I don't agree with the following:

"Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program."

I don't agree that he was brought in to do that. The culture was still pretty darn good when he arrived, and the program did not and does not have to be rebuilt. Some would argue that one of the mistakes Stitt has made is that he did not embrace the program and tradition enough. Kem or others, you may want to weigh in.

Coaches, particularly at schools like UM, aren't hired to come in and "kick the tires" for a year. Coaches at schools like UM are expected to hit the ground running.

"That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties."

The Griz were 9-5 before Stitt arrived. Second round of playoffs. Losses to Wyo. (close game), no. 6 EWU (twice), no. 1 NDSU, and Cal Poly (7-5). Griz beat no. 11 MSU. Griz ended up ranked 12th in Stats poll, and 11th in coaches poll. Sorry, but that was not a "mess" of a season.

While the loss of schollies has some impact, that is not close to being the biggest factor in the slight decline in the program.

Feel free to explain how the poor season last year, and the collapse at the end of the season, was caused by what was indicated in Mining's post. Sorry, but I don't see the connection.

At the start of Stitt's 3d year, UM is not ranked to the pre-season top 25 for the first time since 1991. How do you explain that?

It remains to be seen whether Stitt has done anything that is "g-damn brilliant". Hope you are right.

I am positive for the season and for Stitt, but I am not going to predict a great season nor am I going to tell any of the non-crazy neggies and doubters that they are wrong.

Mining and PR's posts represent the conundrum for many of us...both make good points. This year's team appears to have the potential to get the Program back on the rails. We'll see.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Close but no cigar, Mining. I don't agree with the following:

"Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program."

I don't agree that he was brought in to do that. The culture was still pretty darn good when he arrived, and the program did not and does not have to be rebuilt. Some would argue that one of the mistakes Stitt has made is that he did not embrace the program and tradition enough. Kem or others, you may want to weigh in.

Coaches, particularly at schools like UM, aren't hired to come in and "kick the tires" for a year. Coaches at schools like UM are expected to hit the ground running.

"That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties."

The Griz were 9-5 before Stitt arrived. Second round of playoffs. Losses to Wyo. (close game), no. 6 EWU (twice), no. 1 NDSU, and Cal Poly (7-5). Griz beat no. 11 MSU. Griz ended up ranked 12th in Stats poll, and 11th in coaches poll. Sorry, but that was not a "mess" of a season.

While the loss of schollies has some impact, that is not close to being the biggest factor in the slight decline in the program.

Feel free to explain how the poor season last year, and the collapse at the end of the season, was caused by what was indicated in Mining's post. Sorry, but I don't see the connection.

At the start of Stitt's 3d year, UM is not ranked to the pre-season top 25 for the first time since 1991. How do you explain that?

It remains to be seen whether Stitt has done anything that is "g-damn brilliant". Hope you are right.

I am positive for the season and for Stitt, but I am not going to predict a great season nor am I going to tell any of the non-crazy neggies and doubters that they are wrong.

:lol: Leave it to you, PR. Every SINGLE poster so far (numerous) have agreed with Mining's post, and you come along being the contrarian. If you can't understand how four missing scholarships over the past three years can impact FUTURE years' performance, well then there's no helping you. Of COURSE it's not going to affect the immediate years...those years have upperclassmen that were already here starting. It affects FUTURE years, because those future classes are by the nature of the punishment smaller and/or devoid of talent that otherwise could have been attracted with four additional scholarships to hand out. THAT is what played out last year, IMHO. THAT's why we were 6-5 (among a host of other things that have been beaten to death on this board)...and honestly, the return of those four schollies isn't going to pay immediate dividends for the very same reasons--unless he hands them out to four four-star drop downs who can come in and be impact players immediately.

 

[PlayerRep]

Close but no cigar, Mining. I don't agree with the following:

"Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program."

I don't agree that he was brought in to do that. The culture was still pretty darn good when he arrived, and the program did not and does not have to be rebuilt. Some would argue that one of the mistakes Stitt has made is that he did not embrace the program and tradition enough. Kem or others, you may want to weigh in.

Coaches, particularly at schools like UM, aren't hired to come in and "kick the tires" for a year. Coaches at schools like UM are expected to hit the ground running.

"That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties."

The Griz were 9-5 before Stitt arrived. Second round of playoffs. Losses to Wyo. (close game), no. 6 EWU (twice), no. 1 NDSU, and Cal Poly (7-5). Griz beat no. 11 MSU. Griz ended up ranked 12th in Stats poll, and 11th in coaches poll. Sorry, but that was not a "mess" of a season.

While the loss of schollies has some impact, that is not close to being the biggest factor in the slight decline in the program.

Feel free to explain how the poor season last year, and the collapse at the end of the season, was caused by what was indicated in Mining's post. Sorry, but I don't see the connection.

At the start of Stitt's 3d year, UM is not ranked to the pre-season top 25 for the first time since 1991. How do you explain that?

It remains to be seen whether Stitt has done anything that is "g-damn brilliant". Hope you are right.

I am positive for the season and for Stitt, but I am not going to predict a great season nor am I going to tell any of the non-crazy neggies and doubters that they are wrong.

:lol: Leave it to you, PR. Every SINGLE poster so far (numerous) have agreed with Mining's post, and you come along being the contrarian. If you can't understand how four missing scholarships over the past three years can impact FUTURE years' performance, well then there's no helping you. Of COURSE it's not going to affect the immediate years...those years have upperclassmen that were already here starting. It affects FUTURE years, because those future classes are by the nature of the punishment smaller and/or devoid of talent that otherwise could have been attracted with four additional scholarships to hand out. THAT is what played out last year, IMHO. THAT's why we were 6-5 (among a host of other things that have been beaten to death on this board)...and honestly, the return of those four schollies isn't going to pay immediate dividends for the very same reasons--unless he hands them out to four four-star drop downs who can come in and be impact players immediately.

Not one poster that I considerable knowledgeable supported Mining, so their support meant nothing to me (other than re-confirming my views of them)

People like you who don't live in Missoula, don't follow the program closely, don't know people close to the program--and never played the game--are not going to change my views. The UM program did not and does not need to "rebuilt", and Stitt was not hired to rebuild it. There were and are multiple other things that influenced the program more than a few achollies.

While the program was not on top like it was under Hauck and Pflu's last year, Delaney's last 2 years were fine or better than fine, and considerably better than Stitt's first 2 years. I would fine with getting the program can get back to where it was under Delaney's last 2 years.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

Close but no cigar, Mining. I don't agree with the following:

"Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program."

I don't agree that he was brought in to do that. The culture was still pretty darn good when he arrived, and the program did not and does not have to be rebuilt. Some would argue that one of the mistakes Stitt has made is that he did not embrace the program and tradition enough. Kem or others, you may want to weigh in.

Coaches, particularly at schools like UM, aren't hired to come in and "kick the tires" for a year. Coaches at schools like UM are expected to hit the ground running.

"That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties."

The Griz were 9-5 before Stitt arrived. Second round of playoffs. Losses to Wyo. (close game), no. 6 EWU (twice), no. 1 NDSU, and Cal Poly (7-5). Griz beat no. 11 MSU. Griz ended up ranked 12th in Stats poll, and 11th in coaches poll. Sorry, but that was not a "mess" of a season.

While the loss of schollies has some impact, that is not close to being the biggest factor in the slight decline in the program.

Feel free to explain how the poor season last year, and the collapse at the end of the season, was caused by what was indicated in Mining's post. Sorry, but I don't see the connection.

At the start of Stitt's 3d year, UM is not ranked to the pre-season top 25 for the first time since 1991. How do you explain that?

It remains to be seen whether Stitt has done anything that is "g-damn brilliant". Hope you are right.

I am positive for the season and for Stitt, but I am not going to predict a great season nor am I going to tell any of the non-crazy neggies and doubters that they are wrong.

:lol: Leave it to you, PR. Every SINGLE poster so far (numerous) have agreed with Mining's post, and you come along being the contrarian. If you can't understand how four missing scholarships over the past three years can impact FUTURE years' performance, well then there's no helping you. Of COURSE it's not going to affect the immediate years...those years have upperclassmen that were already here starting. It affects FUTURE years, because those future classes are by the nature of the punishment smaller and/or devoid of talent that otherwise could have been attracted with four additional scholarships to hand out. THAT is what played out last year, IMHO. THAT's why we were 6-5 (among a host of other things that have been beaten to death on this board)...and honestly, the return of those four schollies isn't going to pay immediate dividends for the very same reasons--unless he hands them out to four four-star drop downs who can come in and be impact players immediately.

Not one poster that I considerable knowledgeable supported Mining, so their support meant nothing to me (other than re-confirming my views of them)

People like you who don't live in Missoula, don't follow the program closely, don't know people close to the program--and never played the game--are not going to change my views. The UM program did not and does not need to "rebuilt", and Stitt was not hired to rebuild it. There were and are multiple other things that influenced the program more than a few achollies.

While the program was not on top like it was under Hauck and Pflu's last year, Delaney's last 2 years were fine or better than fine, and considerably better than Stitt's first 2 years. I would fine with getting the program can get back to where it was under Delaney's last 2 years.

It would seem that no one AZ deems knowledgeable disagreed with Mining

 

[fanofzoo]

Close but no cigar, Mining. I don't agree with the following:

"Stitt was brought into change the culture and rebuild the program."

I don't agree that he was brought in to do that. The culture was still pretty darn good when he arrived, and the program did not and does not have to be rebuilt. Some would argue that one of the mistakes Stitt has made is that he did not embrace the program and tradition enough. Kem or others, you may want to weigh in.

Coaches, particularly at schools like UM, aren't hired to come in and "kick the tires" for a year. Coaches at schools like UM are expected to hit the ground running.

"That's the mess that Stitt inherited. Not a team coming off of a national championship appearance, but a team struggling to work through its self-imposed penalties."

The Griz were 9-5 before Stitt arrived. Second round of playoffs. Losses to Wyo. (close game), no. 6 EWU (twice), no. 1 NDSU, and Cal Poly (7-5). Griz beat no. 11 MSU. Griz ended up ranked 12th in Stats poll, and 11th in coaches poll. Sorry, but that was not a "mess" of a season.

While the loss of schollies has some impact, that is not close to being the biggest factor in the slight decline in the program.

Feel free to explain how the poor season last year, and the collapse at the end of the season, was caused by what was indicated in Mining's post. Sorry, but I don't see the connection.

At the start of Stitt's 3d year, UM is not ranked to the pre-season top 25 for the first time since 1991. How do you explain that?

It remains to be seen whether Stitt has done anything that is "g-damn brilliant". Hope you are right.

I am positive for the season and for Stitt, but I am not going to predict a great season nor am I going to tell any of the non-crazy neggies and doubters that they are wrong.

Mining and PR's posts represent the conundrum for many of us...both make good points. This year's team appears to have the potential to get the Program back on the rails. We'll see.

Well said.

 

[NEMonte]

Some of the highs of Stitt's tenure are higher than expected but the lows are also lower. Still think he's the man. There aren't any sure bets waiting to be called. We need a solid year and we'll be on our way.


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