Pflu: "...team knows the president made a mistake"

[mtgrizrule]

I have always felt Royce Engrstom wanted Jordan Johnson to be found guilty of the charges he was facing. If Jordan was found guilty, it would validate/bolster Engstrom's decision to fire Coach Pfulgrad and Jim O'Day.
I don't know if I am right, but what a terrible thought; that a President of a University would WANT a player to be found guilty. I think the case was pushed by the University Administration because of their own agenda. It appears in hindsight that the case should not have been brought to trial, but the momentum created by the University Administration would not allow that to happen. In my mind, Jordan, the football team, the young lady involved, Coach Pflugrad and Jim O'Day were all violated by the University Administration. Just my thoughts.

In time, we will know more as to what more the U of M powers to be did and to whom. I am sure JJ was not the only player they attempted to drag through the mud. The truth will be out in due time. When everything is said and done, we will see who looks bad, and wishing they played their cards differently. :thumb:

 

[signedbewildered]

"In time, we will know more as to what more the U of M powers to be did and to whom..."

I'm not so certain you will.

 

[mtgrizrule]

"In time, we will know more as to what more the U of M powers to be did and to whom..."

I'm not so certain you will.

My, we have a smart ass on board. :thumb: If you think the O'day/Pflu dismissals are going to stay in a closet, you will see different. Also, you will see either NCAA or U of M jacked around with one player's eligibility. This is not over by any means.

 

[George Ferguson]

mtgrizrule, are you talking about a current player's eligibilty? I don't think, with everything Montana has gone through, they would even let a player sniff the field with any eligibility concerns.

 

[signedbewildered]

"In time, we will know more as to what more the U of M powers to be did and to whom..."

I'm not so certain you will.

My, we have a smart ass on board. :thumb: If you think the O'day/Pflu dismissals are going to stay in a closet, you will see different. Also, you will see either NCAA or U of M jacked around with one player's eligibility. This is not over by any means.

"Over?" Didn't mean to imply that. "Over for the most part?" Very certainly. Mark my word(s)

 

[Potomac Griz]

It sounds more and more like the bottom line truth is..Pflu and O'Day were fired because they refused to kick JJ off the team for good, and not just for the comment Pflu made about JJ to the media. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both those guys for that. Standing by what you believe in isn't an easy thing to do. It sounds like Pflu sure stood up for what he believed.

Royce also wanted tru and kemp kicked off. He asked o'day several times if they would be removed from the team. Of course Jim and Pflu told him they can't just kick kids off the team for a misdemeanor crime or an accusation of a crime that had yet to even be charged. Of course every program has multiple kids get misdemeanors every year and it is not common to remove them from the team unless their are unusual circumstances or repeat offenders. Royce doesn't get it, simple as that.

So basically Royce is like one of the knee-jerk reactionary posters on eGriz where the first hint of any trouble (even for something very minor) they want players booted off the team before facts come out. Except unlike eGriz posters he has the power to try to force a coach to do that...

That's really messed up

 

[mtgrizrule]

It sounds more and more like the bottom line truth is..Pflu and O'Day were fired because they refused to kick JJ off the team for good, and not just for the comment Pflu made about JJ to the media. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both those guys for that. Standing by what you believe in isn't an easy thing to do. It sounds like Pflu sure stood up for what he believed.

Royce also wanted tru and kemp kicked off. He asked o'day several times if they would be removed from the team. Of course Jim and Pflu told him they can't just kick kids off the team for a misdemeanor crime or an accusation of a crime that had yet to even be charged. Of course every program has multiple kids get misdemeanors every year and it is not common to remove them from the team unless their are unusual circumstances or repeat offenders. Royce doesn't get it, simple as that.

So basically Royce is like one of the knee-jerk reactionary posters on eGriz where the first hint of any trouble (even for something very minor) they want players booted off the team before facts come out. Except unlike eGriz posters he has the power to try to force a coach to do that...

That's really messed up

:lol: how ironic? Queue up, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[griz5700]

BOOM. Awesome read.

But man, what a frustrating situation. The guy got absolutely screwed.

I remember seeing he and his wife at my gym only a couple days after he was fired and you could just see the love they had for eachother. Laughing, flirting, but obviously going through a tough time. Just blew me away. That showed a lot of character. Was sort of surreal since there was hardly anyone else there.. Always think "huh, so that guy wasn't the right leader for this team? No way."
Such a shame.

 

[Mr. Greenjeans]

It sounds more and more like the bottom line truth is..Pflu and O'Day were fired because they refused to kick JJ off the team for good, and not just for the comment Pflu made about JJ to the media. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both those guys for that. Standing by what you believe in isn't an easy thing to do. It sounds like Pflu sure stood up for what he believed.

Absolutely. And that's what a "coach" does. He stands up for his kids.

Engstrom wanted Pflu to be the hit man for Engstrom's already egregious bungling up to that point: he wanted Pflu to take the fall for what Engstrom thought would distract attention from the bungled "outside" investigation and the thoroughly bungled "Saudi" incident -- the only "violent" multiple assault situation that happened, alleged or otherwise.

Engstrom looked for a "patsy" and found someone, instead, who had the principles that Engstrom lacked. And for someone like Engstrom, that was the firing offense.

Engstrom has since sold out the students and the faculty multiple times. The DOJ agreement is simply shameful. The NCAA sanctions, PROPOSED BY ENGSTROM, are a disgrace.

Students and parents "voted," and Engstrom lost. He took UM down with him.

Yep

 

[ranco]

Given all that has occurred, I wonder if RE thinks he made a mistake? My hunch is that he probably is not smart enough to realize it.

 

[grizfan95]

Given all that has occurred, I wonder if RE thinks he made a mistake? My hunch is that he probably is not smart enough to realize it.

Instead of being a true leader, he sold part of his team out (Pflu and O'Day). If his intelligence carried him this far, I'm sure he doesn't see any error in his ways.

 

[MrTitleist]

This article is great.. basically rolled ol' Royce right under the bus.

 

[wbtfg]

Good article, with very honest quotes by pflugrad. Thanks for posting.

Somewhat off topic question....is there a President's sky box at Wa/Griz? If yes, is Engstrom generally at the games hosting potential donors and distinguished alumni?

 

[get'em_griz]

Pflu loves the Montana program and planned to retire here as head coach. Imagine where our program would be at right now if he were still here. IMO, we owe it to Pflugrad to at least give him a second chance.

 

[PlayerRep]

Good article, with very honest quotes by pflugrad. Thanks for posting.

Somewhat off topic question....is there a President's sky box at Wa/Griz? If yes, is Engstrom generally at the games hosting potential donors and distinguished alumni?

Yes, there's a presidential box. On the west side near midfield. Assume Engstrom attends most games and entertains, but haven't been there since the Dennison days, so don't know who is invited. Dennison still attends games. Is very knowledgeable about football.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

Good article, with very honest quotes by pflugrad. Thanks for posting.

Somewhat off topic question....is there a President's sky box at Wa/Griz? If yes, is Engstrom generally at the games hosting potential donors and distinguished alumni?

Yes, there's a presidential box. On the west side near midfield. Assume Engstrom attends most games and entertains, but haven't been there since the Dennison days, so don't know who is invited. Dennison still attends games. Is very knowledgeable about football.

Dennison's son was good football player in his day.

Rick Dennison Houston Texans
Offensive coordinator
Personal information
Date of birth: (1958-06-22) June 22, 1958 (age 55)
Place of birth: Kalispell, Montana, U.S.
Career information
College: Colorado State University
Undrafted in 1982 Debuted in 1982 for the Denver Broncos
Last played in 1990 for the Denver Broncos
Career history
As player: Denver Broncos (1982–1990)

As coach:
Denver Broncos
(1995-1996) (Offensive Assistant)
(1997-2000) (Special Teams Coach)
(2001-2005) (Offensive Line Coach)
(2006-2008) (Offensive Coordinator)
(2009) (Offensive Line Coach)
Houston Texans (2010-present)
(Offensive Coordinator)

Career NFL statistics as of 1984
Games played 128
Sacks 6.5
Interceptions 4

I didn't previously know that the grandson Steven is a promising lefty pitcher.

Born in Kalispell, Mont., Dennison attended Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colo., where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. His father, George, was president of the University of Montana before retiring in July 2010. Rick and his wife, Shannon, have five children: sons Joseph, Steven and Trey, and twin daughters, Abrynn and Allie.

Joseph graduated from Yale, where he played football, and now works in Seattle. He was married to his wife, Hayley, in February 2011. Steven, a left-handed pitcher, was drafted in the 34th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins out of Wheaton (Ill.) College and signed a free agent contract with the Houston Astros in June 2011.

 

[nzone]

My hats off the the players for showing character and resolve. They are better men for it and will have long lasting life's lessons. I said it many times that Engstrom does not know how to administrate in hard times. He has time and time again shown what not to do and at least it can be used as an example in the future.

 

[Grisly Fan]

"OVER? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? I don't think so."

The sad reality is that there are a lot of injustices that persist. The guilty work really hard to put them in the rearview mirror and get down the road as far as possible. The only way more information comes out that makes any difference is if it is in a court of law. Otherwise the turds will remain buried -- but reek nonetheless.

 

[NzoneGriz]

I expect RE's days at UofM are numbered and that number is shrinking quickly. With his apparent knee jerk reactions and inability to manage touchy situations I find it hard to believe that the board of regents (as inept they seem to be, see thug recruitment comment) isn't taking a serious look at what he is doing to the U. Not only are enrollment numbers falling, due to this public fiasco that he created, but he is creating a very top heavy system. The number of professors and educators are decreasing while numbers of administrators are increasing. Research money is falling as well as the number of programs for students to gain hands on experience. I can't see how someone looking in from an outside situation can't see that RE is running this University into the ground. Especially when you compare what MSU's president has been able to accomplish in a few short years. It amazes me that he is still in his office.

Pflu should still be our head coach. He will ALWAYS be a part of griz nation in my book

 

[Griz90]

Good article, with very honest quotes by pflugrad. Thanks for posting.

Somewhat off topic question....is there a President's sky box at Wa/Griz? If yes, is Engstrom generally at the games hosting potential donors and distinguished alumni?

President Engstrom attends every home game and hosts a variety of guests in the President's box on the west side above the 50 yard line. Guests include members of the Board of Regents, University administrators and deans, distinguished alumni and that week's recipient of the Community Service Award that he, the Athletic Director and Alumni President, present in the north endzone between the first and second quarters. Fine food and drinks, including beer and wine, are served.