Am I correct?

[UMGriz75]

This phenomenon of uneasiness is seen all the time in business when new management comes in and the workers and low level managers are now held accountable for things they weren't in the past.

Quite an assumption.

Like what?

 

[SoldierGriz]

Jesus, anyone not behind this guy can just take Gregorak's lead and buy some blue and gold.

He piss-pounds EWU and MSU, goes 2-1 against the MV including one of the most thrilling wins in Washington grizzly. Is currently pulling together the best recruiting class in the nation, and everyone is still more than happy to put on their pseudo-tin foil hat and try to find a reason to not root for Stitt.

This is the best head coach we've had in 10+ years. I'm willing to give this some time, if you're not....go log on to wombatnation and cream your pants over their new coaching staff.

THIS ......

but, then again the only thing I feel entitled to as a booster.....
Is posting kitty pic's

And, you sir are the best booster kitty-pic poster. In. The. World. Period.

 

[UMGriz75]

Is currently pulling together the best recruiting class in the nation,

I've never heard of a university coach ever making this claim before. Certainly, never a "booster" of any program. Ever.

I enjoy cheerleaders too, but sometimes there's just too much going on ...

 

[kemajic]

Personally, I'm pretty neutral (mixed) on Stitt so far, I saw some good and some not so good. I want to see more good in the future. After all, he is the first Griz HC to win a playoff game in their first year since Joe Glenn.

The booster criticism I hear is more focused on his arrogance (My offense can beat any defense), refusal to adjust to what the defense is giving, and low priority on a running game. He has a lot of "I" rather than "we" that can be a turnoff as well. They see him as all about Stitt. They are also upset that he didn't work better with TG and keep him happy here. Some are really pissed and calling Haslam. It's clear he has polarized Griz Nation; I'm with others in that success on the field will cover up a lot of warts; it worked for BH.

The folks who didn't want Stitt are sounding off at anything they don't like about his style of coaching and ownership of the job. They'd be saying they don't like his cockiness, arrogance, confidence etc. even if we were in the Chipper this year. (And we would be in the Chipper this year if we had NDSU's O and D lines' size, strength and speed). I have one criticism of Stitt, which showed in his frustrations on the field, is that he didn't anticipate the difficulty and resistance he ultimately faced in bringing a new system to entrenched players and entrenched holdover coaches. Stitt had the favor of coaching a team full of bright minds whose aptitudes at learning, not skills of playing, earned them their spots on the team. It's one thing to be beat on a play by an opponent that is bigger, faster and stronger than you. It's another thing to be beat because you don't understand what you see, or don't run the proper route or make the proper throw, or don't call the proper run or throw in a game that you showed you could do in practice. And boosters who don't understand that offensive adjustments are made at the line on each play don't get what Stitt is trying to do, and why the roster QB's who weren't recruited to run his offense, are struggling. These QB were all freshmen in his system this year. Its surprising they did as well as they did.

This offense is complex only related to what Delaney ran. There is little unique about it; any good D1 defense has seen it before and does not have a problem figuring it out. Top FCS defenses are a different animal than DII. While size and strength of the OL is important, so is priority on a running game. There is no innovation in the UM running game and anyone watching practices can agree that an inadequate amount of time was spent on it.

 

[get'em_griz]

Personally, I'm pretty neutral (mixed) on Stitt so far, I saw some good and some not so good. I want to see more good in the future. After all, he is the first Griz HC to win a playoff game in their first year since Joe Glenn.

The booster criticism I hear is more focused on his arrogance (My offense can beat any defense), refusal to adjust to what the defense is giving, and low priority on a running game. He has a lot of "I" rather than "we" that can be a turnoff as well. They see him as all about Stitt. They are also upset that he didn't work better with TG and keep him happy here. Some are really pissed and calling Haslam. It's clear he has polarized Griz Nation; I'm with others in that success on the field will cover up a lot of warts; it worked for BH.

The folks who didn't want Stitt are sounding off at anything they don't like about his style of coaching and ownership of the job. They'd be saying they don't like his cockiness, arrogance, confidence etc. even if we were in the Chipper this year. (And we would be in the Chipper this year if we had NDSU's O and D lines' size, strength and speed). I have one criticism of Stitt, which showed in his frustrations on the field, is that he didn't anticipate the difficulty and resistance he ultimately faced in bringing a new system to entrenched players and entrenched holdover coaches. Stitt had the favor of coaching a team full of bright minds whose aptitudes at learning, not skills of playing, earned them their spots on the team. It's one thing to be beat on a play by an opponent that is bigger, faster and stronger than you. It's another thing to be beat because you don't understand what you see, or don't run the proper route or make the proper throw, or don't call the proper run or throw in a game that you showed you could do in practice. And boosters who don't understand that offensive adjustments are made at the line on each play don't get what Stitt is trying to do, and why the roster QB's who weren't recruited to run his offense, are struggling. These QB were all freshmen in his system this year. Its surprising they did as well as they did.

This offense is complex only related to what Delaney ran. There is little unique about it; any good D1 defense has seen it before and does not have a problem figuring it out. Top FCS defenses are a different animal than DII. While size and strength of the OL is important, so is priority on a running game. There is no innovation in the UM running game and anyone watching practices can agree that an inadequate amount of time was spent on it.

Stitt understands and has said he realizes the importance of having a running game, but you can have only so much success when the big hogs on the line aren't as good as they need to be. I'm thinking we'll see a stronger running game in the next few years as we begin to develop the current and future players.

 

[Griz 'n]

There is a lot of talk on here about Stitt being "unqualified" since he has "only" been a D2 coach. I'm a little surprised that the Jacksonville State coach has not been mentioned on here (at least not that I've seen) as a success story. I did not watch the semi-final game and know little about him but heard at the very beginning of the game that he is in his second year as coach of the university after having been "only" a high school coach for the previous 17 years - and he's in the national championship game this year. If that was our coach, I'm sure that accomplishment would have been declared impossible prior to it happening. Patience, people!

 

[Umista]

Fellas? Some of you are getting close to sounding like msu fans. Cry, bitch, piss and moan before you actually head into the operation room with no idea if you are getting cut on for an unknown disorder or are simply heading in for a routine colonoscopy.

Do we have enough solid evidence about this coach? He won some great games and lost some games we should have won. Does any of this make a "fire", "hire", "give a raise/praise" the absolute final word? I agree this past season was a frustating period with super highs and bottom feeding lows but I sure as hell would not fire the guy or give him a rise just yet!

Stitt is not running for political office. He has made it very clear from day one he is the kid's coach and not the kid's friend. He has told the players they will have fun playing but they must work hard before they can play. Again he does NOT want the kids to be his buddy because their is much time for that later on. His style is tough but not a great deal different than many others.

Can he coach? That will be the ultimate rub on this man. I will know my opinion after next season and the following year. I will know as will most of Montana. So far I see plenty of upside and I am one critical SOB and I suggest you relax, smoke em if you have em....

 

[Spanky]

I think Stitt is going to be a good coach at UM, maybe not great....we will see. My concern is not so much the coaching staff, but the clouds that are rapidly gathering around Main Hall that could impact our athletic programs for years to come.

 

[UMGriz75]

There is a lot of talk on here about Stitt being "unqualified" since he has "only" been a D2 coach. I'm a little surprised that the Jacksonville State coach has not been mentioned on here (at least not that I've seen) as a success story.

Well, nobody said that either. It is a matter of "managing expectations" and reality checks. Do all high school coaches that elevate to major college programs succeed? I'd bet the odds are small; and finding one here or there isn't any kind of proof that they do succeed upon some theory that they "should," "do" or that it makes sense.

It's a risk. Measuring Stitt's record at Mines isn't denigrating him, it is measuring him against his own claims, as well as the hyperventilated claims of his cheerleaders.

It's just puzzling, when everyone speaks of getting "his own recruits" and getting "his kind of players" and getting QBs with "enough intelligence," that when Stitt had "all of the above," he was losing to essentially high school quality programs such as Chadron State and Western New Mexico, just two years before he was hired at UM. It's not "anti-Stitt," it's just actual fact.

Those who point to Ty Gregorak's actual "record" as being worse than his "hype" do so from the odd perspective, a somewhat hypocrisy, of the "Mines" record, which varied all over the place, from awful seasons to very good seasons ... but against opponents that were never anything more than glorified high school teams.

Gene Carlson was arguably the best coach ever brought up from high school ranks, he brought Sonny Holland into the coaching profession, his record for the Bison was record-setting; never as variable as Stitt's at "Mines." As a UM coach .... not much. Same with Lou Rocheleau in basketball; very successful, innovative, popular, filled with energy, records set at Sentinel. Expectations were very high, probably as hyped as any in UM history, but as a UM coach, a dismal result.

 

[NativeGriz]

If anyone thinks that Haslam's job is on the line based solely on Stitt's results, they're less intelligent than a person who believes football games affect the state's economy.

Haslam's job security is rock solid even if Stitt loses the next 99 straight games. As it should be. The guy's successes as AD are staggering. Unfortunately, we won't be able to hang onto him long.

Educate me on the staggering successes or at least the parts that weren't already in place by previous AD. I am sure they are there, but I am not close enough to the program to know what you are referring to besides the BB and SB coach hires. As for an AD losing his job due to a coach's performance, it wouldn't be the first time, but is rare. Heck I know an AD that lost his job simply for not firing a coach that was doing a great job.
One thing you are 100% wrong on, Haslam's job would have 0 security if he kept a coach around long enough for him to lose 99 straight.
I agree with what Kemejic posted above. Stitt didn't seem to be inflexible about certain aspects of his offense and I can see how that would rub some people the wrong way.

 

[GrizzGriz]

There is a lot of talk on here about Stitt being "unqualified" since he has "only" been a D2 coach. I'm a little surprised that the Jacksonville State coach has not been mentioned on here (at least not that I've seen) as a success story.

Well, nobody said that either. It is a matter of "managing expectations" and reality checks. Do all high school coaches that elevate to major college programs succeed? I'd bet the odds are small; and finding one here or there isn't any kind of proof that they do succeed upon some theory that they "should," "do" or that it makes sense.

It's a risk. Measuring Stitt's record at Mines isn't denigrating him, it is measuring him against his own claims, as well as the hyperventilated claims of his cheerleaders.

It's just puzzling, when everyone speaks of getting "his own recruits" and getting "his kind of players" and getting QBs with "enough intelligence," that when Stitt had "all of the above," he was losing to essentially high school quality programs such as Chadron State and Western New Mexico, just two years before he was hired at UM. It's not "anti-Stitt," it's just actual fact.

Those who point to Ty Gregorak's actual "record" as being worse than his "hype" do so from the odd perspective, a somewhat hypocrisy, of the "Mines" record, which varied all over the place, from awful seasons to very good seasons ... but against opponents that were never anything more than glorified high school teams.

Gene Carlson was arguably the best coach ever brought up from high school ranks, he brought Sonny Holland into the coaching profession, his record for the Bison was record-setting; never as variable as Stitt's at "Mines." As a UM coach .... not much. Same with Lou Rocheleau in basketball; very successful, innovative, popular, filled with energy, records set at Sentinel. Expectations were very high, probably as hyped as any in UM history, but as a UM coach, a dismal result.

Staying with your two examples, did both Carlson and Rocheleau get "their guys" to run what they wanted or did they have to settle ? I don't know, just asking.

 

[UMGriz75]

There is a lot of talk on here about Stitt being "unqualified" since he has "only" been a D2 coach. I'm a little surprised that the Jacksonville State coach has not been mentioned on here (at least not that I've seen) as a success story.

John Grass is actually a very good story. He's back at Jacksonville State, after graduating from there in 1990. He's a "homeboy" who coached high school for 17 years, compiling a 122-61 record. He came back to Jacksonville two years ago as offensive coordinator.

His 2013 season as JSU’s offensive coordinator exceeded all expectations. His offensive unit was the most prolific in JSU history, breaking school records en route to helping the Gamecocks post an 11-4 record and advance to the Quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. JSU rolled over No. 16 Samford, 55-14, in the first round before a convincing 31-10 win at No. 6 McNeese State in the second round. After a loss at No. 3 Eastern Washington in the Quarterfinals, the Gamecocks were ranked No. 10 in The Sports Network FCS Top 25, the highest in the program’s Division I history.

He did all that with "somebody else's" recruits, in his first year.

See how that "coaching thing" works?

He symbolizes the difference between an "offensive genius" who proves it on the field in college, and one who claims it from his high school record.

Notably, JSU has a season rushing yardage of 4,364, and passing at 3,045, as they enter to finals against NDSU.

 

[brewskis]

Is currently pulling together the best recruiting class in the nation,

I've never heard of a university coach ever making this claim before. Certainly, never a "booster" of any program. Ever.

I enjoy cheerleaders too, but sometimes there's just too much going on ...

You haven't heard that because they legally cannot make ANY claim or statement on their current recruits.

This claim is made by an OUTSIDE and NEUTRAL college football news agency.

 

[UMGriz75]

Staying with your two examples, did both Carlson and Rocheleau get "their guys" to run what they wanted or did they have to settle ? I don't know, just asking.

Well Carlson was here for four years and losing seasons. UM had a 1-9 season in 1966, Bob Pantzer hired Jack "Rabbit" Swarthout (who hired Jack Elway) and turned the first season around to a 7-3 record.

Swarthout was head coach at Olympia High School, but had also spent time as an assistant coach to Texas coaching legend Darrell Royal.

Coach Royal was famous for the inspirational Royalisms he deployed as motivational tools. These sayings include:
"God gives talent, size, speed. But a guy can control how hard he tries."
"I want to be remembered as a winning coach, but I also want to be remembered as an honest and ethical coach."
"You've got to think lucky. If you fall into a mud hole, check your back pocket—you might have caught a fish."
"Punt returns will kill you quicker than a minnow can swim a dipper."
"Don't matter what they throw at us. Only angry people win football games."

Lou Rocheleau only lasted one season, a 9-15 record. He was replaced by Jud Heathcote. Heathcote had been a successful high school coach in Spokane, and when he went to WSU under Marv Harshman, coached their freshman team to a 99-9 record. At UM, he immediately turned around the team to a 14-12 record the first year.

 

[UMGriz75]

You haven't heard that because they legally cannot make ANY claim or statement on their current recruits.

This claim is made by an OUTSIDE and NEUTRAL college football news agency.

Of course it is.

 

[brewskis]

You haven't heard that because they legally cannot make ANY claim or statement on their current recruits.

This claim is made by an OUTSIDE and NEUTRAL college football news agency.

Of course it is.

Glad I could clear that up for you.

 

[UMGriz75]

You haven't heard that because they legally cannot make ANY claim or statement on their current recruits.

This claim is made by an OUTSIDE and NEUTRAL college football news agency.

Of course it is.

Glad I could clear that up for you.

Is this how they are doing that?

 

[EverettGriz]

75, please tell me you're aware that there are any number of services who rank recruiting classes.

And yes, one such organization ranked the Griz commits number one in the FCS this year. There was an entire thread devoted to it.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

75, please tell me you're aware that there are any number of services who rank recruiting classes.

And yes, one such organization ranked the Griz commits number one in the FCS this year. There was an entire thread devoted to it.

75 doesn't recognize any organization, person, group, etc. that does not further his agenda.

 

[UMGriz75]

75, please tell me you're aware that there are any number of services who rank recruiting classes.

And yes, one such organization ranked the Griz commits number one in the FCS this year. There was an entire thread devoted to it.

I read the thread.

I wonder how they ranked Willy Pflug?

Not that it matters, obviously ...