Mick Delaney is returning to coach the Griz in 2013

[rivercitygrizz]

I'd like to throw my 2 cents in here and pardon me if I repeat any past comments etc…

I’ve heard several griz fans express their alarm that Coach Mick didn’t resign? FYI, this season’s record is not a result of the Griz coaching staff. Coach Mick is a class act hired to help clean up a mess that started after Don Read left. Every coach after Don Read left had their opportunities to set the standards but failed (check the blotter reports). What's sad is that a darn monkey could have coached the griz in those days and been just as successful as Coach Glenn or Hauk. Over the years poor mentorship and leadership has slowly corroded the foundation of the Griz FB program on and off the field. Coach Pflu was handed a time bomb with potential NCAA sanctions that blew up in his face! Now Coach Mick is doing his best to help rebuild a foundation and tradition that is built not only on winning games but through mentoring young coaches and athletes to work hard and make the right choices on or off the field.

 

[granitegriz]

I agree about mentoring part, but how about improvement of players aspect...especially those on offense?

 

[NLGrizFan]

We are going to be a mediocre team with a half empty stadium in 5 years

:lol: :lol: :lol: No way Jose...we return everyone on our starting defense besides Josh Harris who will likely be replaced by Tyrone Holmes (true freshman this year) who had the most sacks in a game by anyone in the Big Sky Conference with 4. The secondary will be better next year (they can't get much worse than this year). As bad as people think our offense was this year, we were only 30 yards shy from leading the conference in total offensive yards. Griz football hit 20+ year low this season but we will see bluer skies next year with this very talented team.

:clap: :clap: :thumb: x10

 

[grizfan7.8]

I am sorry, you all need to settle your horses down. Keep in mind that a each coach has a different coaching style. Each coach has players to suit his offense/defense. MD should have altered his offense, but really, with a week to do so in the offseason what can you do? You play your freshman who best fits the needs of that offense. And when his inexperience shows, you try someone else who doesn't fit that offense, but really gives you the best option to win. Trent MicKennie would not have won us the cat/griz game. We all know that. He would have cracked under pressure, probably worse than out kicker did.

Remember Pflu, how everyone wanted him gone? He had inherented a group of guys who didn't fit his style of offense. Once he had his group of guys though, we took off. It is all a matter of building your team. And if we can win at 5-6 with this group, imagine what we can do when MD gets a chance to make this HIS team. We had a mess of a program this year, and maybe it will get worse. But for the time being lets ride this out. Let's see if MD can put together a winning year, even if it is 8-4.

NEXT, we were young this year. With youth comes inexperience, and I feel like that inexperience led to a lot of our losses. Inexperience brings mistakes, and we all know mistakes can cost us. We did not get trounced in any of our games, we lost always to close and narrow margins. It is one thing to go 5-6 and get our @$$es kicked, or go 5-6 and be competitive. Shoot, even when we allowed 700 yards passing one game we still had a chance to win. That is saying something. Yes coaching is a part, but so is inexperience. We will be better next year.

If we are not better next year, then start posting death threats and remarks questioning our coaching.

Last thing I want to say is, look at the final score of the griz/cat game...16-7...Is that an a$$ kicking? NO, we held the #2 team IN THE NATION to 16 points...With a team that powerful, that is impressive. We are losing what, 10 seniors? That means we had 12 boys out on that field who were either freshman, juniors, or sophomores. Give this program a chance.

True griz fans will understand.

 

[mikegriz]

Any of you who are really, really disappointed and giving up - can I have your season tickets? I'll pay face value!

 

[justanotherfan]

I'd like to throw my 2 cents in here and pardon me if I repeat any past comments etc…

I’ve heard several griz fans express their alarm that Coach Mick didn’t resign? FYI, this season’s record is not a result of the Griz coaching staff. Coach Mick is a class act hired to help clean up a mess that started after Don Read left. Every coach after Don Read left had their opportunities to set the standards but failed (check the blotter reports). What's sad is that a darn monkey could have coached the griz in those days and been just as successful as Coach Glenn or Hauk. Over the years poor mentorship and leadership has slowly corroded the foundation of the Griz FB program on and off the field. Coach Pflu was handed a time bomb with potential NCAA sanctions that blew up in his face! Now Coach Mick is doing his best to help rebuild a foundation and tradition that is built not only on winning games but through mentoring young coaches and athletes to work hard and make the right choices on or off the field.

Let's recall...how many bad coaching decisions cost games this year. The Griz were in postion and could have won almost all of their games this year...except for bad clock management, no half time adjustments, a defense where the cornerbacks played as deep as safeties, a QB that threw for 600 yards because there were no adjusments, continuing to run the spread offense with a quarterback that cannot run ...and oh yeh...a punt defense team that drops back 7 yards from the line of scrimmage on 4th and 2 with the game tied and 3 minutes left.

I felt terrible for the players because of the mistakes of their coaches and the buck stops with the head coach. And you write that this season is NOT a result of the Griz coaching staff...I respectfully disagree.

 

[Bear Pause]

Our schedule is very challenging next season. We have lots of talent returning. But no knowledgeable football fan can deny that our coaches were awful this season, and their ineptitude cost us some games. They were routinely out-coached during games. No adjustments, poor play calling, not utilizing the proper QB whose strengths were the right fit for the defense they were playing (try the Bobcat game for instance).

Since Delaney did not do the proper thing and resign, I think we will have another season much like this one. He should have been encouraged to resign by our AD. I do not buy the fact that we could not have found a great coach due to the possibility of NCAA sanctions. Any sanctions we get will be minor.

I will withhold any further monetary contributions to Grizzly athletic programs in protest until Delaney leaves. I would also like to notify Engstrom of this fact via email. Does anyone have his email address?

 

['68griz]

I'd like to throw my 2 cents in here and pardon me if I repeat any past comments etc…

I’ve heard several griz fans express their alarm that Coach Mick didn’t resign? FYI, this season’s record is not a result of the Griz coaching staff. Coach Mick is a class act hired to help clean up a mess that started after Don Read left. Every coach after Don Read left had their opportunities to set the standards but failed (check the blotter reports). What's sad is that a darn monkey could have coached the griz in those days and been just as successful as Coach Glenn or Hauk. Over the years poor mentorship and leadership has slowly corroded the foundation of the Griz FB program on and off the field. Coach Pflu was handed a time bomb with potential NCAA sanctions that blew up in his face! Now Coach Mick is doing his best to help rebuild a foundation and tradition that is built not only on winning games but through mentoring young coaches and athletes to work hard and make the right choices on or off the field.

Let's recall...how many bad coaching decisions cost games this year. The Griz were in postion and could have won almost all of their games this year...except for bad clock management, no half time adjustments, a defense where the cornerbacks played as deep as safeties, a QB that threw for 600 yards because there were no adjusments, continuing to run the spread offense with a quarterback that cannot run ...and oh yeh...a punt defense team that drops back 7 yards from the line of scrimmage on 4th and 2 with the game tied and 3 minutes left.

I felt terrible for the players because of the mistakes of their coaches and the buck stops with the head coach. And you write that this season is NOT a result of the Griz coaching staff...I respectfully disagree.

Me too.

 

[OrgonGriz]

I am not happy about this news at all but expected it. I do not see how this decision is good for the Griz program. So we will struggle through another season next year and hurt recruiting more most likely and frustrate the fans base even more. Kent H could have at least stated MD wil be our head coach for 2013 while we conduct a national search and get a feel for the interst level in our program. At least this way we might have been contacted now by those interested. If a great candidate was found then MD could simply decide to retire. My guess is MD will be coach for 2013 and them Rosey promoted to head coach. Blah blah hire. But can see it happening easily.

 

[Bear Pause]

I am not happy about this news at all but expected it. I do not see how this decision is good for the Griz program. So we will struggle through another season next year and hurt recruiting more most likely and frustrate the fans base even more. Kent H could have at least stated MD wil be our head coach for 2013 while we conduct a national search and get a feel for the interst level in our program. At least this way we might have been contacted now by those interested. If a great candidate was found then MD could simply decide to retire. My guess is MD will be coach for 2013 and them Rosey promoted to head coach. Blah blah hire. But can see it happening easily.

The only way to get rid of this head coach is to have the money donated to the program dry up. Money talks, bullsh*t walks! If the big doaners ban together and threaten to withhold donations unless this coach is terminated, he will be terminated.

Just need someone to organize the muckity-mucks who fund the booster program.

Still waiting for Engstrom's email address to express my concerns. Anyone have it?

 

[PTGrizzly]

Lets not forget that almost all of these people trashing Delaney were saying he was a great hire at the time. Bunch of idiots on here.

 

[bigsky33]

This does not bode well for your recruiting. You would be much better off with a new coach now. It is going to be a tough sell to any kid not knowing what will happen to him the next year when Delaney does go!

 

[Uncle Si]

Any of you who are really, really disappointed and giving up - can I have your season tickets? I'll pay face value!

There will be plenty available. I don't think there is a line anymore. I know many that aren't going to renew after the announcement that Delaney is coming back.

 

[Uncle Si]

Lets not forget that almost all of these people trashing Delaney were saying he was a great hire at the time. Bunch of idiots on here.

Sorry sir, I wasn't one of them. But they didn't have much choice. The extended contract was the big mistake.

 

[CV Griz Fan]

Lets not forget that almost all of these people trashing Delaney were saying he was a great hire at the time. Bunch of idiots on here.

There is nothing like jumping the gun by calling a new HC a "great hire" before he coached his first game. Especially one with a dubious track record. Next time, don't let hope block out your good judgement.

 

[Hammer]

Any of you who are really, really disappointed and giving up - can I have your season tickets? I'll pay face value!

bGrizzled is a known quitter so you may want to contact him about his tickets.

 

[HighLineGRIZ]

BS. This is the right move for the program moving forward. Having Delaney here another year will allow us to conduct a nationwide search and make better long term descisons for the program. If he decided to suddenly resign or was fired, we would have to make a quicker hire or have another interim coach for several months, which is a very difficult position. We are rebuilding and you can't just fire and hire people every year and expect to build a long term winning program. Coaching changes are hard on programs. Our fans have been so damned spoiled and want instant results, which we've been lucky enough to experience with our past changes, but is just not realistic.

Crap. Like we haven't heard this all before whenever we fall short on expectations...

You guys can keep complaining and build up animosity towards a guy you don't know and make negative statements on crap you don't understand. What our program needs is support and positive support. That makes a difference in the attitude of the program, recruiting, and overall success. The man deserves your respect and needs your support.

Sorry to disagree Highlinegriz,
You are wrong on all (almost) counts. This is not BS. This is the perfect time to conduct a national search. Adding a year does nothing to the timing of the search, now is the time. There is no need to make a quick hire, there is plenty of time to find a quality person who can and will lead this program. You are right, however, that coaching changes are difficult in terms of maintaining a winning program for a number of perfectly valid reasons. We are not spoiled, we do not want instant results. I want, and I'm sure plenty of other members of Griz Nation agree, I want a coach that will inspire young men to become successful in life's endeavors, that will teach the game of football while teaching the game of life, that will beat the hell out of the cats year in year out. There are plenty of coaches out there that would give their left nut to take the keys to the Cadillac and be a leader on and off the field. I'm not making negative statements about crap I dont understand, I've been a Griz faithful since my freshman year 30 years ago. I shit and piss and bleed maroon and silver - I remember pissing the old Griz colors - so dont try to sell me that load of malarky.

Here is your second correct call - The attitude of the program is intact, the recruiting is intact, the overall success is intact. There are others arguing that the cupboard is empty or full when it comes to the next generation of Griz. Its full. This team was young, that was understood by any Griz faithful before fall camp even opened. Now is the time to make the change while those key elements are intact. MD has my respect for stepping into a crappy situation and working his ass off when he should have been fishing and enjoying life's rewards, I berated fans in the NEZ speaking on MD's behalf this year. But now is the time for egos to step aside and its time for MD to look to the future of the program. I'm not calling for a wholesale change in coaching, I've said this before and will say it again. Back to your statement about recruiting, which I agree with, Scott and Justin are the absolute best recruiters we could hope for. Other teams are dealing with playoffs and now Scott and Justin can go sit in living rooms and work their magic. Its been a real problem for us in the past and now is the time to strike hard. The same is true with the coaching search. Now is the time.

Sorry, can't agree with you. Having 3 head coaches in 3 years doesn't work and a resignation by Delaney now would hurt regardless of how his staff performed this year. I still see the best situation is to get through the investigation, clear up all the question marks, and give our AD plenty of time to solicit interest for the head position. You can't just open up the job tomorrow and expect to get the best candidates. Our program is desirable but we don't pay enough money to attract immediate elite attention in the HC position with a short window. It takes a great deal of time and resources to hire a HC and the best scenario for doing that is having the time to get the right person that is going to bring long term sucess rather than scrambling to replace somebody with whoever is available at the time.

 

[statler & waldorf]

I think Delaney's ego is getting in the way of his ability of rationally think.

Quote from "Top Gun":
"Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash."

I doubt anyone in the athletic department is telling him the truth. All assistant coaches rely on him for their jobs. Even the Missoulian is on him. Cat fans want him to stay! That alone should be enough. Sock puppet Haslam mouths the words, Engstrom does the voice. BOR writes the script.

There has to be someone, whom he will listen to, able to look him in the eye and tell him, "RETIRE!"
That person needs to step up, now.

 

[George Ferguson]

Totally agree Hi-Line, I think two firings/dismissals, or whatever you want to call them in less than a calender year would be a huge mistake and an even bigger detriment to the overall health of the program. IF Montana is building from the ground up again, then that's what has to be done. It's been done before and it can be done again.

I'm not any more a fan of some of the coaching moves Mick made this season than anyone else is, but I just don't think the UM could afford the perception, confusion and utter chaos of firing two head coaches in less than a year, and probably couldn't afford the monetary compensation aspect of it either.

 

[kurtismichael]

Any of you who are really, really disappointed and giving up - can I have your season tickets? I'll pay face value!

bGrizzled is a known quitter so you may want to contact him about his tickets.

Yes, with Mick coming back he will probably bail as soon as the Griz lose their first game.