Learn from Montana State

[Chex]

Just want to point out the year Montana State made the semifinals (along with Weber State), they struggled offensively and changed the OC midway into the season.

This year, they changed QBs for the playoffs, and now they have a good shot at the championship game.

Taking it to a championship level requires tough decisions. Failure to make those decisions leads to regression.

Weber State’s OC and QB are clearly not National Title level…will Hill do anything? Progress or Regress? Time will tell.

Weber State had ample opportunity to win the Montana State game, but 2 TDs were drastically under throws and 1 was dropped. Play calling on offense was horrible. The talent is mostly there…definitely need some improvements on the lines. The difference is making the tough decisions when needed.

 

[the dan]

Honestly, I’m not sure the talent is there right now.

 

[Chex]

Honestly, I’m not sure the talent is there right now.

I see what you are saying, but I honestly felt like the Montana State game was a win that Weber State worked it’s way out of. The Bobcats are in the semifinals against South Dakota State. I like their chances of beating a dome team in Bozeman in December weather.

Weber State could improve on talent, but they played 2 of the 4 teams left, and if not for the 96 yard fumble return debacle, I feel they could have been right with JMU (who is off to FBS next year)…so while the talent needs improvement (lines and QB in particular) they can compete with what they had this year.

I guess the question is what will the Wildcats have next year? The transfer portal is already hurting. That is another result of not making tough decisions. Talented players who don’t see the necessary moves made will leave instead of struggling under the current weaknesses that aren’t being fixed.

 

[oldrunner]

Honestly, I’m not sure the talent is there right now.

the current weaknesses that aren’t being fixed.

None of us has any clue as to what is or is not being done to correct weaknesses of this past season. Certainly, if us knuckleheads can identify weaknesses, so can our coaches. I'm fairly sure that they are thinking of ways to get these things corrected. I'm sure that appropriate changes will be made. The fact that we have not seen mass firings is reasuring. It's good to know that we have level headed, thoughtful people in charge here. Knee jerk action is absolutely not required.

 

[Chex]

Honestly, I’m not sure the talent is there right now.

the current weaknesses that aren’t being fixed.

None of us has any clue as to what is or is not being done to correct weaknesses of this past season. Certainly, if us knuckleheads can identify weaknesses, so can our coaches. I'm fairly sure that they are thinking of ways to get these things corrected. I'm sure that appropriate changes will be made. The fact that we have not seen mass firings is reasuring. It's good to know that we have level headed, thoughtful people in charge here. Knee jerk action is absolutely not required.

I hope you are right. I definitely am not calling for mass firings or burning the program down (no one needs to follow the Chicago Cubs in doing that—my summers are going to suck sports-wise). I think the difference in teams, especially top level FCS is razor thin, so the teams that make the necessary moves win the 2-3 extra games and advance in the playoffs.

Hey, at least we are having this conversation instead of talking about the 1-10 year and basically hoping the program survives. Hill has done amazing things and brought this program oh so close to being an FCS title team. It’s great!

Sometimes you can be a victim of success. I think the fans now believe Weber State can win a National Championship and want to maintain those expectations. I don’t think Coach Hill would be against this, and I think he wants his team to believe it.

My only critique is that Hill hasn’t made some moves that could have improved the team in the past, and I worry that if those few moves aren’t made now, that the team will regress to 4-7 to 6-5 years.

The breaks swung the Wildcats way in the spring, but the luck leveled out in the fall. A few plays were the difference in a 6-5 year to an 8-3 year and playoffs.

I hope you are right that moves are being made behind the scenes, but I think Hill can be nice to a fault at times. Every knucklehead is a mastermind because they never get to test out their ideas . Honestly, I like your optimism. I guess I am one who wants to see the ship moving before I feel safe that we won’t hit the iceberg so to speak. I want to believe! Hell, if the Cubs can win a World Series, the Wildcats can win a National Title. Have a nice day!

 

[talhadfoursteals]

Personally, I feel university administrators should be blamed for some of the heartache the program is experiencing. The program has become a powerhouse, but no one would know that on campus or at home games. I love catching a game at Stewart Stadium, but it is usually empty. We are talking about 5-8 home games each year (playoffs included). What is wrong with athletic marketing? You are advertising a winner! The week of games there should be a full out assault on campus getting students out. It should be the place to be on Saturday for the university's students. When I was a student, over 20 years ago, I remember students advertising games at the bell tower. Granted it was for basketball and it was during the winter, but it worked. Students showed up. I've heard from a nephew that there is nothing on campus. You can tell that either university or department administrators don't feel it is important and so, there isn't any push to improve. My nephew is a Weber guy, but is thinking of transferring because he said its boring on campus. He likes going to Hockey games because it is the closest thing to a college atmosphere on campus. D'uh, it isn't connected to athletics.

Next, what was with the band? There wasn't one and there hasn't been anything at basketball games this season. Also, is there even a student fan group? There better be a pep band at the basketball game tomorrow. If I wanted a "professional" atmosphere I would waste a lot of money and go to Jazz games. I don't want that. I want a college experience. That means college students in the stands, with a band, being obnoxious as hell. It is like our administration doesn't want students to show off their talents and abilities or be students. One of my favorite things growing up was going to the games and watching the band, cheerleaders and student section. I came to Weber because of what I saw. It is fun and it is what is needed at the school right now.

Finally, our administration uses football to pay for failing programs. Coach Hill needs help. He can't pay an OC 45K. I hate it as much as the next person. There are a lot of people on the campus who should make more money, but unfortunately, you have to pay coaches better or you lose them quickly. Coach has lost a lot of really good coaches over the past few years. He tries his best to recruit and retain talented guys who can develop, but gets what he can, with what he has. That is hurting the development of the program. At the end of the day, the university administration is not doing enough to hold those employees accountable for generating revenue. Football could become a huge cash cow for athletics and really help fix some of the "traditional" college issues that is causing students to leave Weber in mass.

To me, university administration should have their feet held to the fire a little more often. They make the decisions and frankly, their recent ones have hurt the school more than helped it.

 

[Chex]

The Montana State QB looks like the same style as Cantwell, and he is a freshman. Looks like the Bobcats are going to be primed for title runs of their own. The MSU QB doesn’t need “grooming” and his coach isn’t saying everyone needs to be patient.

The coach saw the potential of putting him in, and now they will be in Frisco. Many teams would have hesitated to make a move that late and put in a Freshman at the start of the playoffs. Good on them.

Hope the Bobcats beat NDSU. Weber State needs a huge offseason if they want to hang with them.

Staying put will probably mean middle of Big Sky finishes for quite a while.

Teams that make the necessary decisions and moves get rewarded. Will the Wildcats do what is necessary? Time will tell.

 

[the dan]

With Sam Houston and James Madison leaving the FCS, there’s no reason Weber can’t be consistent semi-finalist… but man I don’t know what would have to happen for the Bison dynasty to end. It’s like having a Big 10 team in the FCS. Montana State got their doors blown off today.

 

[AlumniWSU]

At least the Bobcats HC, etc. had the good & brave sense of making the right changes to be successful in reaching the finals...good on them, & they have some young players with the taste & experience of playoff success for next year.
There's always a North Dakota State type FCS team looming in the playoffs, as well as a Alabama type in the CFPs, so the challenge is to build a coaching staff/team that can reach that level & provide them that chance to compete for the top prize!!

With the 2021 version of Weber State football now history...the current status should offer concern to Wildcat fans that the team can even make the playoffs, let alone win a game! It's doubtful without some debatable changes & there are plenty of reasons for not even thinking semi-finals! Chex is right, Wildcats will need a huge offseason to even hang with those type of teams...Big Sky or FCS Playoffs. :twocents:

 

[the dan]

So far there hasn’t been any announcements regarding coaching changes… Does that mean Coach Hill has retained the entire coaching staff? Obviously coaches can still accept positions at other schools, but it seems as if Coach Hill isn’t making any changes ??

 

[oldrunner]

So far there hasn’t been any announcements regarding coaching changes… Does that mean Coach Hill has retained the entire coaching staff? Obviously coaches can still accept positions at other schools, but it seems as if Coach Hill isn’t making any changes ??

Around the country, nobody is anouncing coaching changes, with the exception of those programs who fired their coaches and the new hires are putting staffs together. Even then, you don't hear about it for several weeks. There are many reasons that staff changes are not flooding the news. I think we all know the majority of those reasons. I don't expect to hear much about any staffing changes until about the time spring ball starts up and maybe a bit after that.

I believe, fully, that coach Hill is and will do everything needed to get our program headed higher.

This whole thread reminds me of an article I saw on the web about how monkeys peal their bananas. The piece suggested that humans should learn from the monkeys. I thought it funny, and I keep on peeling the same way. Seems like I eat the bananas just as efficiently as the monkeys do and I'm happy with the results. I'm happy for the monkeys as well. :lol:

 

[Chex]

At least the Bobcats HC, etc. had the good & brave sense of making the right changes to be successful in reaching the finals...good on them, & they have some young players with the taste & experience of playoff success for next year.
There's always a North Dakota State type FCS team looming in the playoffs, as well as a Alabama type in the CFPs, so the challenge is to build a coaching staff/team that can reach that level & provide them that chance to compete for the top prize!!

With the 2021 version of Weber State football now history...the current status should offer concern to Wildcat fans that the team can even make the playoffs, let alone win a game! It's doubtful without some debatable changes & there are plenty of reasons for not even thinking semi-finals! Chex is right, Wildcats will need a huge offseason to even hang with those type of teams...Big Sky or FCS Playoffs. :twocents:

Honestly, I felt bad for Montana State. They lost their starting QB on opening drive and it deflated them big time. Injuries happen, but in a championship game as an underdog is difficult. Oh well stopped watching at halftime.

I look at next season’s schedule, and it looks awfully tough. If improvements aren’t made, I think the ceiling is 6-5 with a possible worst case scenario of 3-8. At this rate, let’s just hope there is a season how things are going with the pandemic. Stay safe out there!