• Hi Guest,

    We've updated the site to combine all the forums that were part of the Big Sky Fans Network into one location. This will make it easier to navigate and participate in all the discussions for each school without having to have multiple accounts, etc. We are still working out some tweaks but please let us know if you notice anything.

    With the migration, in some circumstances, your username could have been merged with one of your other usernames from the other forums. If this is the case, you can request to change your username in your account details page of your profile.
  • Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your eGriz.com experience today!
  • Guest, do want an ad free experience on BigSkyFans.com among other benefits? Upgrade your account today!

    Simply click your profile name > account upgrades > BigSky Club > choose between the year long subscription (two free months) or month to month

    Thanks for the continued support. Cheers!

It's time to move on

Here's my take on this Bear's team. It seems to me that we're always starting off in a hole. The defense gives up one or two scores right away and before you know it were playing catch up. I don't believe we've had the lead in the first quarter in more than one or two games. Other teams seem to be able to defend against both the pass and the run while we seem to try to stop one or the other and end up getting burned.
I think the offense is capable of moving the ball and scoring against any of the BS teams except perhaps Montana. As has been discussed on this board, we have too many turnovers at crucial times that have stopped our momentum and given points to the opponent. If you saw or listened to the Sac. State game, they stretched our defense right away. Why is it that we don't try to stretch the defense right away? Waggener has the arm strength and we have the receivers to go deep. Even if the passes are incomplete it opens up the running game.
I don't profess to be an offensive or defensive expert but I think we've got the talent on this team to beat many of our opponents it's just not being used as effectively as it could be.
I'm sure that ball security is preached over and over in practice but during a game our guys don't seem to place enough emphasis on protecting the ball. Fumbles, interceptions, etc. have killed our opportunities too many times this season.
 
It's nice that the practices look good, but you don't win or lose games in practice. Downing's 3-30 record on gameday is completely unacceptable, and what happens on Saturday is all that matters when you get right down to it, and Downing and his staff have failed miserable. It's time for them to go.
 
jayhawker said:
I happen to know some people inside the athletic dept and, yes, the coaching staff will be returning. As for the success of the other programs (ie Basketball), no program has as many roster spots to fill as a football program. It may not appear to be a big deal but each of those players requires equipment, uniforms, work out equipment, etc. A roster of 95 is a little more difficult to support than a roster of 12. The current weight room (broom closet) suffices for a basketball team but does not function for a football program at any level. Yes, there are plans in the works to have a new weight room facility created as well as locker rooms (both of which improve morale, strength, and recruiting). Do improvements need to be made to the staff? Absolutely. But until they can pay for such improvements, you are stuck with the beligerant Dennis Darnell (probably the source of much of the problems on offense). The players have expressed that they do not want to get rid of Downing because A. They do like the man B. It would set the program back and C. They feel that much of the blame rests on their shoulders and not his. Show up to practice sometime and see the dramatic changes this program has taken in the past few years and it will show that another year is warranted.
Click to expand...

A. I like my cat, but she still shits all over my house.
B. Oh shucks, if we get a new coach, we won't look so good in practice.
C. You know what? You're right. The HEAD COACH has nothing to do with how his team performs on game day. :evil:
 
I disagree with everyone who thinks the players like Downing. Maybe the older players like him but I know hearing the younger guys at school and parties they say a lot of negative things. And if the players do like him then we need some new players. We need players that are custom to winning, players that show some more emotion. I dont know how you can like a coach that gives up on you and your teammates in games. Such as kicking field goals down by 14 with 8 minutes to go.
 
Downing doesn't call plays, OK, who is the one that calls for all the 2 point conversion attempts that fail? That person should be fired yesterday, moron, whoever that is. :(
 
I am now officially off the fence. For the first 5 games of the season I was almost ready to give Downing another chance. But getting scorched by sac has changed my mind. Downing needs a 'dont let the door hit you on the way out'.

I dont give a shit if Downing is a nice guy and the players like him, they need a coach not a cheerleader.

If Jay keeps Downing he should get the same treatment by Kay and the board.

They need to engrave the quote by Boyle above the door to BH, and Nottingham. "Moral victories are for chups"
 
Glad to see some activity again. A few random thoughts reading the thread:
1. If Jay extended Scott secretly and did not make it known I won't give another dime to the school until they are both gone.
2. It is more than obvious a change is needed. To argue any other way is a waste of time.
3. 18 - 23 year olds are not a good barometer to use to decide who their coach should be - that is why there is an AD in place.
4. Downing hired the coaches and is therefore responsible for their play calling - that is how it works if you want to sit in the big chair.
5. If we're not careful next year their will be the band, ten students, 75 parents 50 alums and 10 fans at the game and then we'll have to start worrying about them dropping the program all together - and blaming it on poor support.
 
GoBears said:
I am now officially off the fence. For the first 5 games of the season I was almost ready to give Downing another chance. But getting scorched by sac has changed my mind. Downing needs a 'dont let the door hit you on the way out'.

I dont give a shit if Downing is a nice guy and the players like him, they need a coach not a cheerleader.

If Jay keeps Downing he should get the same treatment by Kay and the board.

They need to engrave the quote by Boyle above the door to BH, and Nottingham. "Moral victories are for chups"
Click to expand...

Here's my idea: Let the Sugar Bears coach next season. They could only win one less game and attendance among male students would likely triple! :lol: :lol:
 
They might have a handshake agreement to extend him but it would be illegal to have any secret contract. Luckily with a state instituion this stuff is public record.

But having said that I fully expect him to be back it's just the easy way out. And who's to say it could be a benefit to not go back to square one again but I think it's a HUGE red flag that the team has gotten worse as the season has progressed. After the first 5 or so games I was getting a little optimistic but after watching us lethargically sleepwalk through the last 4 or so games it's obvious the team just doesn't have the onions to get over the hump and that is on the coaches. :x
 
uncfootballrules said:
Glad to see some activity again. A few random thoughts reading the thread:
1. If Jay extended Scott secretly and did not make it known I won't give another dime to the school until they are both gone.
2. It is more than obvious a change is needed. To argue any other way is a waste of time.
3. 18 - 23 year olds are not a good barometer to use to decide who their coach should be - that is why there is an AD in place.
4. Downing hired the coaches and is therefore responsible for their play calling - that is how it works if you want to sit in the big chair.
5. If we're not careful next year their will be the band, ten students, 75 parents 50 alums and 10 fans at the game and then we'll have to start worrying about them dropping the program all together - and blaming it on poor support.
Click to expand...


I agree completely. If UNC decides to keep Downing for whatever reason, them and the football program is going to be in a world of hurt. It's almost scary to think what could happen.
 
I agree with the above posts that if this shit keeps up the football program is in danger of being dropped. Downing has the chance to not only be the worst coach in UNC history, but to be responsible for its disappearance
 
The program won't be dropped unless the entire athletic department dropped to Divison 2 and then no reason to drop it because we'd probably be a middle of the pack RMAC team as it stands now and only need about 20 scholarships to be on par with those guys.
 
This program has become so bad that few students actually care. Wait to see what happens with Joe Glenn and his staff at Wyoming, and then make a move. By bringing in Glenn or one of his assistants with UNC ties, we'd get people talking about this program again.......Jayhawker-----I've been hearing that Downing was told during the first part of this month that he had to win out (four games) to keep his job.......

FYI-Rumor has it Wyoming AD Tom Burman has contacted potential Glenn replacements already, even though nothing formal will happen there until after their game with CSU on Saturday.
 
Maybe Downing will realize he's in over his head and walk away. It's always nice when sub par employees are perceptive enough to know it's not working and leave on their own volition. It can't be fun for him getting pounded all the time. I'm sure he longs for the nice safe days of being an anonymous assistant. Although if the witness protection program wanted to hide someone being the UNC head coach is a good place to not get much notice. :lol: A little gallows humor...
 
BearCub said:
The notion that the football program will be dropped if Downing is retained is ignorant!
Click to expand...

That's not exactly what we're saying, we're saying that the program is going to be hurting more than it already is if they kept Downing. I realize that it would take A LOT for our program to get dropped to even a D2 level again. Just the overall thought of UNC keeping Downing makes me cringe.
 
Bearsfan24 said:
BearCub said:
The notion that the football program will be dropped if Downing is retained is ignorant!
Click to expand...

That's not exactly what we're saying, we're saying that the program is going to be hurting more than it already is if they kept Downing. I realize that it would take A LOT for our program to get dropped to even a D2 level again. Just the overall thought of UNC keeping Downing makes me cringe.
Click to expand...
Bearsfan24 - I tend to exaggerate things a bit. The point is I think another year of this could be really damaging to the program and would rather cut bait now.
 
uncfootballrules said:
Bearsfan24 said:
BearCub said:
The notion that the football program will be dropped if Downing is retained is ignorant!
Click to expand...

That's not exactly what we're saying, we're saying that the program is going to be hurting more than it already is if they kept Downing. I realize that it would take A LOT for our program to get dropped to even a D2 level again. Just the overall thought of UNC keeping Downing makes me cringe.
Click to expand...
Bearsfan24 - I tend to exaggerate things a bit. The point is I think another year of this could be really damaging to the program and would rather cut bait now.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
Blofeld said:
They might have a handshake agreement to extend him but it would be illegal to have any secret contract. Luckily with a state instituion this stuff is public record.

But having said that I fully expect him to be back it's just the easy way out. And who's to say it could be a benefit to not go back to square one again but I think it's a HUGE red flag that the team has gotten worse as the season has progressed. After the first 5 or so games I was getting a little optimistic but after watching us lethargically sleepwalk through the last 4 or so games it's obvious the team just doesn't have the onions to get over the hump and that is on the coaches. :x
Click to expand...

Sorry, I've been away for a bit studying for a few tests before break.

Blofeld, you are probably right that he had to win out. I am not their, I just go by what is being said on campus.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top