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Rumor- Collins is staying
- Thread starter 303Bear
- Start date
As a fan of Big Sky Football in general, I have to say this announcement makes NO SENSE. I feel bad for the UNC faithful that were hoping to get rid of this loser of a Head Coach.
There is nothing I would like to see more than having ALL Big Sky football teams improve and one day all be on the same level as the Montana schools. With the retention of Collins I am afraid this will set your program once again.
When UNC came to Ogden last week I paid close attention to Collins and his interaction with the players during warmups and throughout the game. Let's just say I DID NOT get the vibe that the players give a crap about Collins, nor did Collins seem to care much about his players.
Just my :twocents:
Best of luck in the future to the Loyal Bears fans and have a cold one and a Calzone at Roma's for me.
There is nothing I would like to see more than having ALL Big Sky football teams improve and one day all be on the same level as the Montana schools. With the retention of Collins I am afraid this will set your program once again.
When UNC came to Ogden last week I paid close attention to Collins and his interaction with the players during warmups and throughout the game. Let's just say I DID NOT get the vibe that the players give a crap about Collins, nor did Collins seem to care much about his players.
Just my :twocents:
Best of luck in the future to the Loyal Bears fans and have a cold one and a Calzone at Roma's for me.
There is an article in the Tribune regarding the players dismissal. Coach Collins basically stated that the player left the team because he didn't want to be there anymore and wanted to try and go elsewhere. He made it sound like the player did it voluntarily. If someone has factual information to the contrary, they should forwarded to the reporter.
BigBearFan76
Active member
Bear Fan said:
That is absolute BS... The Tribune is lying through their teeth. Collins is lying through their teeth. Collins kicked him off the team. The player did not quit, I'm not naming names but I'm sure everyone can find out who with the Tribune is naming. Collins is trying to make himself look good and not bad. Collins is an absolute ass
Footballfan15
Active member
BigBearFan76 said:
I can second this, this is not what happened, confirmed by two current players as well. This kid ans his family should be ashamed for Collins giving a false story to the paper. Unreal
larryteeling
Active member
New article in Tribune Friday Nov 21 giving both sides of the story (the player Anthony Ochiato) and I wonder did Collins ever talk to the kid? It takes a big man to do that. Enough said
Footballfan15
Active member
larryteeling said:
Wait that made little sense, who is the big man?
I liked how Collins declined comments after the true story came out... :clap:
UNCBearsSports
Active member
It looks like now article is behind the Greeley Trib paywall. Got to make a buck off of this.
Have to give some credit to the Tribune for pulling the original story and reposting it with Ochiato's side of the story. I'm fairly impressed because I usually feel the articles in the Tribune are written to spin the stories so that Collins and Dunn come out smelling like a rose.
As much as I can't stand Kiszla from the Denver Post, the Greeley Tribune really needs a guy like him. Somebody who is not scared to call out the coaches or admin at the school.
As much as I can't stand Kiszla from the Denver Post, the Greeley Tribune really needs a guy like him. Somebody who is not scared to call out the coaches or admin at the school.
One thing’s for certain — Anthony Ochiato is no longer on the University of Northern Colorado football team.
How and why the redshirt offensive lineman exited the team depends on who you talk to.
UNC head coach Earnest Collins Jr. said after Thursday’s practice, “yes, we had one player leave. He didn’t want to be here anymore and wanted to see if he can go play somewhere else.”
Collins opted not to identify the player.
A UNC athletic department official verified who the player was, but there is some question whether Ochiato quit the team or was dismissed.
In a phone conversation with Ochiato late Thursday night, he said he did not quit, adding “I don’t want to be a player that starts a problem for the program. That’s not the direction this program wants to go.”
Collins was contacted by The Tribune late Thursday night but chose not to comment.
However, Ochiato said he was approached by UNC offensive line coach Trevor Wikre after Wednesday’s practice and asked if he had a problem with the coaching staff.
“I told him I did not,” said Ochiato, a 6-foot-6, 309-pounder from Standley Lake High School, where he was an All-State selection.
Ochaiato then explained that as he approached the Bank of Colorado Arena, he was approached by Collins.
“I never attempted to have a conversation with Coach Collins,” Ochiato said. “He walked toward me and said ‘Turn your stuff in.’
When asking why, Ochiato said Collins told him that “If I wanted to run around badmouthing the coaching staff and (him), that was my own problem ... all of the players and coaches are talking about it. It was the only thing that about UNC football that was being talked about.”
Ochiato explained that he turned around and didn’t respond.
“He (Collins) then said ‘You don’t want me to be your coach anymore, you’ve got it buddy. Turn your stuff in.’”
Ochiato has spent most of the last two seasons as a member of the Bears’ scout team, which emulates the upcoming opponent each week.
All of UNC’s starting offensive linemen are underclassmen. Only one senior — right guard Conner Pawlak — is on the two-deep depth chart.
Three of UNC’s starting offensive linemen are sophomores — left tackle Marcus Piechowski, left guard Sean McGill and center Austin Hendrickson. The other two starters — right guard Filipo Mose and right tackle Sean Palinckx — are juniors.
Ochoato said he never expressed to Wikre that he had a problem with Collins.
When asked if he had a problem with Collins, Ochiato flatly said “I’m not going to answer that question either,” adding “I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. An athletic scholarship is the only way I had to pay for college.”
Ochiato also said he never had any intentions of quitting.
“That’s all I have to say,” Ochiato added. “I never want to start any problems. I love my teammates like my brothers and I would do anything for them.
“I (had) talked (to teammates) in confidence, it got back to the coach about what I was talking about and this is what happened.”
The offensive line has come under some scrutiny this season as the Bears average just 116.6 rushing yards per week, and UNC quarterbacks have been sacked 45 times for a loss of 234 yards.
The Bears will close out their season at noon Saturday when they play host to North Dakota (2-5, 4-7) at Nottingham Field.
Amidst some rumblings in the UNC football community, Dunn called a meeting Wednesday afternoon with the team to confirm that Collins would return next season and to explain that he’s under contract through the 2016 season with an annual salary of $117,000.
The Bears enter the final week in a five-way tie for eighth place in the BSC, just one game ahead of last-place UC Davis, whom the Bears beat two weeks ago.
written by Sam the Sham
How and why the redshirt offensive lineman exited the team depends on who you talk to.
UNC head coach Earnest Collins Jr. said after Thursday’s practice, “yes, we had one player leave. He didn’t want to be here anymore and wanted to see if he can go play somewhere else.”
Collins opted not to identify the player.
A UNC athletic department official verified who the player was, but there is some question whether Ochiato quit the team or was dismissed.
In a phone conversation with Ochiato late Thursday night, he said he did not quit, adding “I don’t want to be a player that starts a problem for the program. That’s not the direction this program wants to go.”
Collins was contacted by The Tribune late Thursday night but chose not to comment.
However, Ochiato said he was approached by UNC offensive line coach Trevor Wikre after Wednesday’s practice and asked if he had a problem with the coaching staff.
“I told him I did not,” said Ochiato, a 6-foot-6, 309-pounder from Standley Lake High School, where he was an All-State selection.
Ochaiato then explained that as he approached the Bank of Colorado Arena, he was approached by Collins.
“I never attempted to have a conversation with Coach Collins,” Ochiato said. “He walked toward me and said ‘Turn your stuff in.’
When asking why, Ochiato said Collins told him that “If I wanted to run around badmouthing the coaching staff and (him), that was my own problem ... all of the players and coaches are talking about it. It was the only thing that about UNC football that was being talked about.”
Ochiato explained that he turned around and didn’t respond.
“He (Collins) then said ‘You don’t want me to be your coach anymore, you’ve got it buddy. Turn your stuff in.’”
Ochiato has spent most of the last two seasons as a member of the Bears’ scout team, which emulates the upcoming opponent each week.
All of UNC’s starting offensive linemen are underclassmen. Only one senior — right guard Conner Pawlak — is on the two-deep depth chart.
Three of UNC’s starting offensive linemen are sophomores — left tackle Marcus Piechowski, left guard Sean McGill and center Austin Hendrickson. The other two starters — right guard Filipo Mose and right tackle Sean Palinckx — are juniors.
Ochoato said he never expressed to Wikre that he had a problem with Collins.
When asked if he had a problem with Collins, Ochiato flatly said “I’m not going to answer that question either,” adding “I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. An athletic scholarship is the only way I had to pay for college.”
Ochiato also said he never had any intentions of quitting.
“That’s all I have to say,” Ochiato added. “I never want to start any problems. I love my teammates like my brothers and I would do anything for them.
“I (had) talked (to teammates) in confidence, it got back to the coach about what I was talking about and this is what happened.”
The offensive line has come under some scrutiny this season as the Bears average just 116.6 rushing yards per week, and UNC quarterbacks have been sacked 45 times for a loss of 234 yards.
The Bears will close out their season at noon Saturday when they play host to North Dakota (2-5, 4-7) at Nottingham Field.
Amidst some rumblings in the UNC football community, Dunn called a meeting Wednesday afternoon with the team to confirm that Collins would return next season and to explain that he’s under contract through the 2016 season with an annual salary of $117,000.
The Bears enter the final week in a five-way tie for eighth place in the BSC, just one game ahead of last-place UC Davis, whom the Bears beat two weeks ago.
written by Sam the Sham
Blofeld
Active member
I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle. The kid probably bad mouthed the coaches (which makes perfect sense considering how terrible they have been) and it got back to them and they were pissed.
But to approach a kid leaving the practice field without so much as a conversation and dismiss him from the team is so completely unprofessional it makes me shudder...
This program is an embarrassment to the university regardless of what the spineless AD might think.
But to approach a kid leaving the practice field without so much as a conversation and dismiss him from the team is so completely unprofessional it makes me shudder...
This program is an embarrassment to the university regardless of what the spineless AD might think.
BigBearFan76
Active member
I love how Collins declined comment, it's BS.. He is a liar and a fraud..
That line from the article actually made me laugh. I'm not sure calling that an understatement even fits here. A perfect example of Mustari not having the balls to call it the way it really is. I think you would be hard pressed to find many people in the "UNC football community" who believe that Collins should be retained for another season. It's not just rumbling, it's booming.
After reading both articles, there is probably a little more to this story. with that said, I don't care what this young man said, Coach Collins response shows a compete lack of character, integrity, and leadership. This is an embarrassment to the entire school and community. During yesterday's meeting Darren Dunn said that he completely supports Coach Collins. Coach Collins made Darren Dunn looked like a fool and a complete idiot, because Dunn empowered Collins' action. The administration should conduct a complete review of this incident. Failure to do so and take corrective action indicates that they Condone this type activity. That would be a huge blow to UNC. The ramifications are endless. How will this effect the football team's recruiting efforts, or the Basketball team, or any other sport.
UNC needs to make this right and act swiftly. Darren Dunn and Coach Collins need to be fired immediately. Next, The President herself needs apologize to Anthony Ochiato and his family, and then reinstate his scholarship. this incident doesn't effect me in any way, but I am ashamed and embarrassed by it.
UNC needs to make this right and act swiftly. Darren Dunn and Coach Collins need to be fired immediately. Next, The President herself needs apologize to Anthony Ochiato and his family, and then reinstate his scholarship. this incident doesn't effect me in any way, but I am ashamed and embarrassed by it.
Bear Fiend
Active member
Nice, so he's not just a shitty coach, but also a shitty person. No wonder so many of these guys don't like playing for him.
