New Coaching Candidates

[Beardown]

It's time again. There's no way in hell UNC under Collins 3rd year in the program should be losing to an RMAC team. NEVER. No excuses. He was even going so far as to say we beat ourselves. NO, we didn't beat ourselves. You let yourself be out-coached. Downing lost to Chadron in only his 2nd year and we were clearly still building a D1 program. Collins has absolutely ZERO excuses. UNC has what, 30 or more scholarships than CSU P? You watch the players reactions on the sidelines and listen to coaches interview after the game and it's the same old BS. If they're not going to care, why should fans?

I want to name at least one person who I think should get the job next and that's John Wristen, the man who beat our asses on Saturday. The guy can coach and recruit and his players believe in him. Wristen was a candidate after Downing was fired and hopefully we can land him after this season.

The new A.D. cannot accept this kind of failure. Bring in someone who will command respect from players, can recruit and game plan. All of which are not evident from our current staff.

 

[ThunderwolvesFan]

With fewer than 10 players on the roster that are seniors (some of who don't see significant playing time), I don't see Wristen leaving after this season. CSU-P should also be at the RMAC max scholarships (28) next season for the first time since bringing football back. Not sure what UNC could offer to lure him away, but I selfishly hope not enough. It is unfortunate that it seems your talent is being held back by a lack of preparation and game planning and I hope that situation gets solved for both the fans and players of UNC football.

 

[mountainbear]

I apologize for reappearing out of the blue......but i've been reading, and watching for myself whenever I get back in Greeley. I also posted a "what are we thinking" message re scheduling the CSU P game. As I have posted previously, I have real concerns regarding this staff, their character (top down), and the manner in which they treat players. I was a Wristen fan the last go around. One of my favorite ways to look at things is to examine the cost decisions. It has continued to cost this University.......MY University untold sums of real and potential support. Loosing a game is no big deal in the big picture......I fear we lose much, much more with Collins at the helm.

 

[jjjj]

I'm another who hasn't posted in a while but I've got to say maybe the CSUP debacle was a blessing in disguise because Collins will be shown the door. I agree that John Wristen should be targeted and do whatever it takes to bring him here--kind of like how they got Tad Boyle. Right now, CSUP seems better for him because it is a better team than UNC with better fan support but it is about as good as it gets for him there right now. His fan support is maxed out and they are a top D2 team which doesn't pay much or offer much direct opportunity for advancement. If he wants to move up to the big time, he needs to turn around a program like UNC for his next step then he will be able to make millions at an FBS school--similar to Tad Boyle's career path.

Does anybody know how much he makes at CSUP? I think Collins makes $120,000 or so. It doesn't seem like CSUP could pay that much but I could be wrong. It seems that with an offer of $140,000 or so, he could be lured away but that's all speculation.

 

[jars]

I'm another who hasn't posted in a while but I've got to say maybe the CSUP debacle was a blessing in disguise because Collins will be shown the door. I agree that John Wristen should be targeted and do whatever it takes to bring him here--kind of like how they got Tad Boyle. Right now, CSUP seems better for him because it is a better team than UNC with better fan support but it is about as good as it gets for him there right now. His fan support is maxed out and they are a top D2 team which doesn't pay much or offer much direct opportunity for advancement. If he wants to move up to the big time, he needs to turn around a program like UNC for his next step then he will be able to make millions at an FBS school--similar to Tad Boyle's career path.

Does anybody know how much he makes at CSUP? I think Collins makes $120,000 or so. It doesn't seem like CSUP could pay that much but I could be wrong. It seems that with an offer of $140,000 or so, he could be lured away but that's all speculation.

Wristen was one of the first candidates to pull his application once he found out what the appointed committee was looking to do, if you will remember, having roots at UNC was a real biggie for the committee then. Also, we must remember the amount of time it took to get the last coaching change done with regards to Downing, seems suffering one embarrassing loss after another is just not enough to trigger a coaching change at UNC.

I am betting the powers that be are simply too invested in Coach Collins at this point to even consider pulling the plug anytime soon just because the program is in a free fall right now.

 

[ThunderwolvesFan]

Fan support maxed out? After only a few years of having the program...are you kidding me? Not close to being maxed out and the facilities aren't close to being where they will be. Wristen makes between $90k-$100k and I don't think slightly more money to go to a school with seemingly very little fan or AD support would be worth it to him. He hasn't accomplished what he wants to here yet.

 

[jjjj]

Is that 90-100k base pay? Or is that after he does all the camps etc? Where did you get your info? The fact that Wristen applied to UNC last time showed that he must have thought it was some sort of move up. And yes you are maxed out. Your stadium seats 6,500 and no you don't have plans to expand to 15,000 or even 10. Very few D2 schools outdraw CSUP in crowd attendance so to think you are going to increase fan support more than a hair is not realistic. Additionally, very few D-2 coaches are hired by FBS schools but lots of successful FCS coaches are hired by FBS schools--even major schools like Ohio State hire directly from FCS. I don't know much about Wristen other than he's a good coach but I'm guessing he isn't the type of guy who is lackadaisical and wants to stay a D-2 coach the rest of his life.

I know you guys think you will have Wristen forever due to family ties, he's an alumni, he's content where he is, etc. Us UNC fans used to use the same arguments as to why we would never lose Joe Glenn. CSUP might be in better shape right now but the reality for you guys is that D-I is looked at as a step up from D-2. You keep saying your attendance is better but if we started winning marginally more than lose, our attendance would surpass yours instantly. I have no idea what your attendance is but I'm betting it's not even as good as UNC's back in the D-2 days when we had a good team. CSUP has a good little program but like I said, it's maxed out.

 

[ThunderwolvesFan]

I don't think we will have Wristen forever, in fact I would love for him to move on to a bigger/better school. That is base pay and you can find the information as it is public. You do not know much about what is going on at CSU-P that is one very obvious thing. I could see him leaving after next year, maybe after this one if an offer he can't refuse comes up....but do you think that offer right now would be UNC? A place where your radio broadcasters said "well at least UNC will know what a road game feels like as CSU-P has more fans here." Wristen had reasons for withdrawing his application and I don't think those reasons have changed.

I can easily see the attendance at CSU-P games being closer to what West Texas gets if the recent success continues. CSU-P was 12th in D2 attendance at 7,878 per game whereas West Texas was just over 10k. As far as you winning and getting the attendance numbers to jump up by 3-4k, well all I see on here are fans that state they are no longer going to UNC games after losing to a RMAC school. The lack of student support was what really surprised me, I think more CSU-P students made the trip...it's Greeley, what else is there to do besides go to a football game (yes Pueblo is boring too, don't get all offended).

 

[Brian]

I don't think we will have Wristen forever, in fact I would love for him to move on to a bigger/better school. That is base pay and you can find the information as it is public. You do not know much about what is going on at CSU-P that is one very obvious thing. I could see him leaving after next year, maybe after this one if an offer he can't refuse comes up....but do you think that offer right now would be UNC? A place where your radio broadcasters said "well at least UNC will know what a road game feels like as CSU-P has more fans here." Wristen had reasons for withdrawing his application and I don't think those reasons have changed.

I can easily see the attendance at CSU-P games being closer to what West Texas gets if the recent success continues. CSU-P was 12th in D2 attendance at 7,878 per game whereas West Texas was just over 10k. As far as you winning and getting the attendance numbers to jump up by 3-4k, well all I see on here are fans that state they are no longer going to UNC games after losing to a RMAC school. The lack of student support was what really surprised me, I think more CSU-P students made the trip...it's Greeley, what else is there to do besides go to a football game (yes Pueblo is boring too, don't get all offended).

Damn good question. The football games are free so I don't know why more don't attend. Granted, in the 90's when I went to school, a bunch of students went home to the Denver area over the weekend, leaving the Campus a virtual ghost town.

 

[beardevil39]

I don't think we will have Wristen forever, in fact I would love for him to move on to a bigger/better school. That is base pay and you can find the information as it is public. You do not know much about what is going on at CSU-P that is one very obvious thing. I could see him leaving after next year, maybe after this one if an offer he can't refuse comes up....but do you think that offer right now would be UNC? A place where your radio broadcasters said "well at least UNC will know what a road game feels like as CSU-P has more fans here." Wristen had reasons for withdrawing his application and I don't think those reasons have changed.

I can easily see the attendance at CSU-P games being closer to what West Texas gets if the recent success continues. CSU-P was 12th in D2 attendance at 7,878 per game whereas West Texas was just over 10k. As far as you winning and getting the attendance numbers to jump up by 3-4k, well all I see on here are fans that state they are no longer going to UNC games after losing to a RMAC school. The lack of student support was what really surprised me, I think more CSU-P students made the trip...it's Greeley, what else is there to do besides go to a football game (yes Pueblo is boring too, don't get all offended).

Damn good question. The football games are free so I don't know why more don't attend. Granted, in the 90's when I went to school, a bunch of students went home to the Denver area over the weekend, leaving the Campus a virtual ghost town.

This is not rocket science. Its called 10 years of losing ! But I am not giving up !

 

[jjjj]

I am not dogging CSUP, all I'm saying is it is D2 and when was the last time a D2 coach was hired by a FBS program? If your fan support is so great, why are you on UNC's message board? oh ya, because CSUP doesn't even have one. That doesn't sound like the dream job to a coach to me. As far as your assertion that there is nothing to do in Greeley, I am not the biggest fan of Greeley either but it is less than an hour drive from mountains, climbing, biking, rafting, kayaking, whatever you want. Anything is better than watching our team and players embarrass the University week in and week out; getting humiliated at home by D-2's and NAIA's. Ya, of course there is no fan support but your response that winning wouldn't cure that is more of an attempt to pretend that CSUP is in some sore of unique position with its fan support and that there is some sort of undying community loyalty to it. I'm guessing there was a reason that your football team got cut in the first place, because they sucked and had no fan support. Which is the exact same place UNC is in and if something doesn't change our program will get cut too. As far as CSUP fans outnumbering UNC fans at the game, that could easily be accomplished by each players parents showing up.

For us, all it would take is one good coach to turn this whole thing around. Wristen did it in Pueblo and he could do it in Greeley.

And I guess I must be stupid so please edumacate me, where did you find the information about Wristen's salary? It seems weird that the public records would have said "90-100k", it seems like they are usually more precise than that. I find that people who respond with the ol' condescending and dismissive "it is public information so it is easy to find yourself" quip have actually never seen the information for themselves and actually have no clue where to find it.

 

[ThunderwolvesFan]

I am not dogging CSUP, all I'm saying is it is D2 and when was the last time a D2 coach was hired by a FBS program? If your fan support is so great, why are you on UNC's message board? oh ya, because CSUP doesn't even have one. That doesn't sound like the dream job to a coach to me. As far as your assertion that there is nothing to do in Greeley, I am not the biggest fan of Greeley either but it is less than an hour drive from mountains, climbing, biking, rafting, kayaking, whatever you want. Anything is better than watching our team and players embarrass the University week in and week out; getting humiliated at home by D-2's and NAIA's. Ya, of course there is no fan support but your response that winning wouldn't cure that is more of an attempt to pretend that CSUP is in some sore of unique position with its fan support and that there is some sort of undying community loyalty to it. I'm guessing there was a reason that your football team got cut in the first place, because they sucked and had no fan support. Which is the exact same place UNC is in and if something doesn't change our program will get cut too. As far as CSUP fans outnumbering UNC fans at the game, that could easily be accomplished by each players parents showing up.

For us, all it would take is one good coach to turn this whole thing around. Wristen did it in Pueblo and he could do it in Greeley.

And I guess I must be stupid so please edumacate me, where did you find the information about Wristen's salary? It seems weird that the public records would have said "90-100k", it seems like they are usually more precise than that. I find that people who respond with the ol' condescending and dismissive "it is public information so it is easy to find yourself" quip have actually never seen the information for themselves and actually have no clue where to find it.

I don't feel I need to directly state his salary, if you wish to look it up then go for it. It's not my business to talk specifically. All state employees salaries are public information, professors, athletic directors, everything. So yes, apparently I did need to edumacate you if you were not aware of that. You can look up what your coaches there at UNC are making to lose to CSU-P. I have seen the entire salary breakdown for all staff at CSU-P and can pull it up again...you could simply call and ask for it if you so desired.

CSU-P has more activity on our D2 forum which is broken down by conference rather than specific team actually. There is also a UNC fan on the RMAC forum so is he there because there is no UNC forum? Obviously not. Do you have fans that make weekly highlights of each game? A Facebook fan page? Anything besides 5 members on a forum posting once a day? Once again, you need to be edumacated.

It is going to take much more than as good coach at UNC at this point, what it is missing is why good coaches withdraw their applications to begin with actually.

Our football team was cut, along with wrestling (which was a great program so how good they were had nothing to do with it) due to Title IX. They are both back now with wrestling having a national champion this last year and football, well beating teams with 40 more scholarships. Several new sports are also being brought back or added within the next couple of years. Are you trying to see how many times you can be edumacated in one post because you're getting close to the record here.

I didn't say winning wouldn't cure the lack of support, I just don't see you winning any time in the near future to be honest :wink: .

 

[ThunderwolvesFan]

Oh, and here you go - Salary information for UNC employees is available in print for in library use only from the year 2003- at the Reference Desk of Michener Library under title "Staffing Patterns" LD4011 N269 A3 or from Archival Services at Michener Library from the year 1926-. Call the Reference Desk at 970-351-2562 for more information.

I'm sure it is online as well, as the CSU-Pueblo salaries are, but didn't bother looking.

 

[KlondikeBear]

If there is going to be any change then anybody who's anybody will be in the president of the universities ear everyday until a new athletic director is hired. There will be no coaching change until this happens and as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better! UNC can be a powerhouse in FCS football, just need to right people in the right positions. No more cheapest bidder approach, new AD who can bring in dollars and thus a quality coach like Wristen or Stitt who both have turned down the gig prior to Collins.

Side note: Bob Stitt was going to be the Offensive Coordinator at CU following up the 2012 season if Embree were to remain.

 

[Beardown]

If there is going to be any change then anybody who's anybody will be in the president of the universities ear everyday until a new athletic director is hired. There will be no coaching change until this happens and as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better! UNC can be a powerhouse in FCS football, just need to right people in the right positions. No more cheapest bidder approach, new AD who can bring in dollars and thus a quality coach like Wristen or Stitt who both have turned down the gig prior to Collins.

Side note: Bob Stitt was going to be the Offensive Coordinator at CU following up the 2012 season if Embree were to remain.

Agree 100%. It always starts on top.

 

[5minmajor]

I apologize for reappearing out of the blue......but i've been reading, and watching for myself whenever I get back in Greeley. I also posted a "what are we thinking" message re scheduling the CSU P game. As I have posted previously, I have real concerns regarding this staff, their character (top down), and the manner in which they treat players. I was a Wristen fan the last go around. One of my favorite ways to look at things is to examine the cost decisions. It has continued to cost this University.......MY University untold sums of real and potential support. Loosing a game is no big deal in the big picture......I fear we lose much, much more with Collins at the helm.

I've been reading this board for sometime and I finally had to chime in. I couldn't agree more with your thoughts concerning the character (and integrity) of this coaching staff...they have none. If that wasn't enough, sit back and watch how this staff conducts themselves (on the job and off the job). They have a "better than thou" attitude towards most anyone they come into contact that they do not already know. Much different than Coach White and Coach Oates, who are always out promoting their teams and the university in a very positive, personable manner.

Much like you mountainbear, I agree that this university is losing a lot more than just football games with Collins leading the program.

 

[Miguel]

 

[beardevil39]

Now thats forward thinking ! :rofl:

 

[PlayerParent]

Now thats forward thinking ! :rofl:

As it relates to the title of this thread; this coaching staff has not proven they can win even if the program was at the DII level. It's not like the talent isn't there to be more competitive; so the real question is why throw out the baby with the dirty bath water? :roll:

 

[UNCBroadcaster]

Are we seriously discussing this right now? Collins and staff has taken this team from 0-11 to 5-6 last season. Man, how easily forgotten is that? Yeah, these losses were ugly. There's no denying that. But take a second and look at this objectively...

Langston was an easy win. It was supposed to be, and it was.
CSU-Pueblo is a top-tier RMAC team, and a threat to contend for a national title each of the past few seasons, including this one.
Wyoming, clearly, is a potent offense. The defense played well, but was plagued by mental mistakes, and just plainly better players.
Northern Iowa did what every good team does - they took advantage of UNC's mistakes on offense and defense and used a great running attack.

This is not the fault of Collins, et al. This is a problem of talented playmakers on the field not stepping up and doing what we all know they're capable of doing. If the defensive unit can get all 11 guys to play together, they can still have a special year. It's just getting them to play together at the same time. On offense, there's simply no cohesion at any position. You give the QBs a bit of a pass because of Seth's injury combined with Tim's inexperience, though I can't understate how hard he works, how well he knows the system, and how well he did (for the most part) against Wyoming and Northern Iowa. This is a kid who last season, was scout team offensive MVP. The coaches don't just hand that out to anyone. The WRs and TEs absolutely have to stop dropping passes thrown to them between the numbers. The OL has got to give Tim and Seth more time to see a play develop or else the whole offense is screwed from the very start. As much credit as I give Tim, he looks like Geno Smith in the backfield when a play breaks down. Very scattered, very random, very "Man I hope this works." But again, to his credit, he's doesn't have that kind of experience so we have to give him a pass on this.

Missed opportunities have plagued this team all season, and will continue until they decide to play all their snaps TOGETHER as a team.

Maybe this thread should become more of a "Why aren't our players playing like we know they can?" instead of one that talks about what new hotshot coach (who, given a few years, would be in the same position as Collins is now because of this board) UNC should bring in next. Collins is trying to build a franchise. Everyone needs to start looking at the REAL cause of why this very talented squad is 1-3, when it should be 3-1.