Viking Tales: Barnum talks 1st week at helm

[ScottHood]

I spoke at length with Barnum earlier today. Here is the 1st article from that conversation

http://psuvikingtales.com/barnum-dives-into-demands-of-new-job/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for reading!

Scott Hood
Viking Tales
E-Mail: [email protected]

 

[martymoose]

So I guess I read into this that Barnum had a trust issue with Jaime Hill and Garrett Wolfe?

 

[VikNut]

Somehow I feel better after reading Barnum`s comments. I got the feeling he was speaking from the heart, not all clichés and trying to say what people want to hear. My prediction is he turns out to be a succes and gets the job full time. I am excited to see the staff he puts together and the type of recruiting class he brings. With so much pressure to win and the youth of the team I wouldn`t be surprised to see more JC transfers than usual.

 

[pdxfan]

You're right, Marty, he does emphasize "trust". Makes you wonder about the teamwork of the past coaches? Or?

 

[VikThunder]

All I have to say is "Good Luck" coach. He has to own up to the fact that he was part of the failure the last 5 years. His offenses typically shuts down in the second half putting all the pressure on the defense. His offensive play calling can be atrocious. He has no idea how to develop a quarterback. He's made a mess of McDonaugh and has thrown him under the bus. He'd have to do spectacularly well to warrant even being considered a candidate for permanent head coach.

 

[forestgreen]

I've talked to several people who have either played for Barnum or know of him through football and all have positive comments about him. Barnum could be a "diamond in the rough." Portland State football needs another Mouse Davis or Pokey Allen quality Head Coach to get this program back on track. I really liked his comments in the article, he seems to be very down to earth. I wish him the best of luck. My main concern is how does a interim HC recruit effectively? I would also expect the class to have an unusually high number of JC and fbs transfers.

 

[faithinviks]

Loved the article. Hoping we can do whatever we can to support the new coach. This combined with the message coming thru the AD candidates that the Administration is fully committed to football makes this a nice turning point...

 

[psublog]

All I have to say is "Good Luck" coach. He has to own up to the fact that he was part of the failure the last 5 years. His offenses typically shuts down in the second half putting all the pressure on the defense. His offensive play calling can be atrocious. He has no idea how to develop a quarterback. He's made a mess of McDonaugh and has thrown him under the bus. He'd have to do spectacularly well to warrant even being considered a candidate for permanent head coach.

I didn't sense Barnum was not owning up to being a part of the failure, but to lay much of it as his feet seems questionable. McDonagh's slide has been disappointing and Barnum definitely is responsible for some of the blame there, but other than that, the numbers say he has done a good job.

Over the last five years PSU has finished 3rd (2013), 15th (2011), 16th (2012), 23rd (2013) and 41st (2014) in total offense. Even with the dysfunctional 2014 included, that averages out to a top 20 offense in the FCS. For the record, the defensive finishes average out to around 86th (44, 83, 91, 98, 115).

There are a lot of programs that would love to have a coach with such a highly ranked offense. What can you do as an offensive coach if you finish with the nation's 3rd best offense and you end up 6-6?

 

[VikThunder]

All I have to say is "Good Luck" coach. He has to own up to the fact that he was part of the failure the last 5 years. His offenses typically shuts down in the second half putting all the pressure on the defense. His offensive play calling can be atrocious. He has no idea how to develop a quarterback. He's made a mess of McDonaugh and has thrown him under the bus. He'd have to do spectacularly well to warrant even being considered a candidate for permanent head coach.

I didn't sense Barnum was not owning up to being a part of the failure, but to lay much of it as his feet seems questionable. McDonagh's slide has been disappointing and Barnum definitely is responsible for some of the blame there, but other than that, the numbers say he has done a good job.

Over the last five years PSU has finished 3rd (2013), 15th (2011), 16th (2012), 23rd (2013) and 41st (2014) in total offense. Even with the dysfunctional 2014 included, that averages out to a top 20 offense in the FCS. For the record, the defensive finishes average out to around 86th (44, 83, 91, 98, 115).

There are a lot of programs that would love to have a coach with such a highly ranked offense. What can you do as an offensive coach if you finish with the nation's 3rd best offense and you end up 6-6?

For the sake of argument, (this after all is a fan board) statistics are great but I find misleading especially over the last 5 years. I think the other statistics that should be telling are offensive turnovers, penalties and time of possession. It seems to me that I was coming unglued watching/listening to games over the last 5 years as the Vikings blew lead after lead in the second half. Much of the blown leads were 3 downs and out by the offense. Barnum's offense simply cannot play with a lead. Don't see that accounted for in the statistics.

I am obviously a skeptic of Barnum and don't think he's capable. That said, I will be rooting for the Viks next year. I hope he proves me wrong and wins the Big Sky.

 

[bigskyconf]

All I have to say is "Good Luck" coach. He has to own up to the fact that he was part of the failure the last 5 years. His offenses typically shuts down in the second half putting all the pressure on the defense. His offensive play calling can be atrocious. He has no idea how to develop a quarterback. He's made a mess of McDonaugh and has thrown him under the bus. He'd have to do spectacularly well to warrant even being considered a candidate for permanent head coach.

I didn't sense Barnum was not owning up to being a part of the failure, but to lay much of it as his feet seems questionable. McDonagh's slide has been disappointing and Barnum definitely is responsible for some of the blame there, but other than that, the numbers say he has done a good job.

Over the last five years PSU has finished 3rd (2013), 15th (2011), 16th (2012), 23rd (2013) and 41st (2014) in total offense. Even with the dysfunctional 2014 included, that averages out to a top 20 offense in the FCS. For the record, the defensive finishes average out to around 86th (44, 83, 91, 98, 115).

There are a lot of programs that would love to have a coach with such a highly ranked offense. What can you do as an offensive coach if you finish with the nation's 3rd best offense and you end up 6-6?

The rankings are pretty typical across the conference. The Big Sky nationally has been known for the offenses to be at or near the top offensively and at or near the bottom defensively. The fact that our offensive ranking, both in conference and nationally, has gone down has to mean something. Myself, I had felt some animosity between Barnum and Burton, starting from day 1 when Burton said we were going to run the pistol, a primarily running offense when operated correctly, yet Barnum insisted we were still going to pass the ball. As a result, we had some sort of hybrid pistol that got us nowhere.

Also, the fact that kids would have a great game then disappear completely (as in not even playing) makes e skeptical of Barnum. McDonagh would look good then not play. Richard would have a good game, then we would not even see him in the next two or three games. Long had the big rushing game against NAU, then only carried the ball twice against EWU. Penn disappeared completely, even after recovering from his injury. Barnum went with the freshman QB, then totally abandoned him in the EWU game. We had nothing to lose in that game, he could have just went with the future, exactly what he did against both Idaho State and Montana State. I guess it comes down to who was making the personnel changes, whether it was Burton or Barnum. I don't know for sure, but I've got some ideas, just like any of us here.

 

[pdxfan]

I dunno. Barnum in his interview with Scott sounded a little like bluster. But then, he's running scared. I'll withhold judgement.

 

[boisebengal]

I've known Bruce for quite some time and am a friend of his, as I've gotten to know him when he was at ISU. First of all, he got his start at ISU as an offensive line coach under former Oakland Raiders o-coordinator Tom Walsh, and I've always thought of him as an excellent o-line coach. But I too felt that some of his play calling was questionable. I honestly don't know how he'll do as a head coach because he's never been a head coach anywhere. But I'm real glad that he's getting a chance at this as he's always wanted to be a head coach for quite some time. Maybe he'll do a fine job for PSU.

About 10 years or so ago he was actually ISU's d-coordinator under Larry Lewis, but our D was one big disaster under Barnum, and the next year Lewis switched him to o-coordinator; Lewis never did believe in letting any of his assistants go because he felt that they all had families to support. And if he let them go then this could be detrimental for any possible coaching opportunities in the future. Barnum performed much better as ISU's o-coordinator than he did as our o-coordinator, even though he played at the LB position while at EWU.

My wife and I will probably be moving to the Portland area in about a year or so, and I definitely will plan to attend some PSU games. There's been some talk here about the possibilities of the Vikings not being able to field a program sometime in the future because of financial concerns. But I really do hope you're able to keep your program as you're a very important part of the Big Sky Conference.

 

[Guychamp]

So I guess I read into this that Barnum had a trust issue with Jaime Hill and Garrett Wolfe?

actually I think he's referring to some trust issue that players had or may have had with NB and maybe some others on the defensive staff. Just my take.