Week 11 - Sac State at #2 Montana State

[HornetFootballFan]

I usually agree with you on most things Hornets, but I think you’re way off here. They are trying to build a new facility and make the jump, status quo here is the absolute wrong call.

Now, if they are thinking of keeping this staff around because they think Troy Taylor might get canned after next year at Stanford and might be open to coming back? I can get down with that.

This is honestly one of the worst Hornet teams I’ve seen in a decade

Agree 100% if we can get the band back together!!!

 

[GreenArmySwarm]

This program, not even that long ago, was the second ranked team at the FCS level with one of the toughest conference schedule.

Shameful. Considering the fact that a bunch of talent is still here. We literally have a guy who’s projecting to be a NFL draft pick for crying out loud. Just played with zero heart. And that’s on the cocaching staff. AT has made really poor hires. Hiring coaches who have not done anything in the business.

 

[Kadeezy]

Nothing in this game surprised me. All I can say is, thank god for the new stadium.

 

[SDHornet]

If I heard the coaches giving press conference then I might have more patience and optimism.

All I have seen is a declining program.

If HC addressed the fans maybe we would feel he needs another season?

Example: What would be different with extending this staff another season?

Changing roles for some people? Adding extra coaches?

Our Strength & Conditioning might be an urgent change, all I’ve heard in 2 seasons is how everybody is injured?

Coincidence? I have no idea but it seems to be a glaring issue?

I'd love to see coaching press conferences, unfortunately the local press doesn't care enough about this program to garner one. That will change when we get an FBS invite.

Regarding what changes Coach Thompson makes, my speculation is an assistant coach or two are sacrificed at the angry fanbase altar but the main coaches will, and should, remain in place for at least one more season. I agree with the idea of Coach Thompson bringing on a DC (or promote Coach Paulson to that role).

I walked everyone through the likely roster fallout in another thread and won't spell it out again. If folks can't understand what free agency does to a roster when a coaching staff is ousted then I don't know what else to say.

 

[SDHornet]

I usually agree with you on most things Hornets, but I think you’re way off here. They are trying to build a new facility and make the jump, status quo here is the absolute wrong call.

Now, if they are thinking of keeping this staff around because they think Troy Taylor might get canned after next year at Stanford and might be open to coming back? I can get down with that.

This is honestly one of the worst Hornet teams I’ve seen in a decade

The new facility isn't contingent on our on the field success. The wheels are in motion, it's in Dr. Wood's hands to drive it home now. Same goes with our FBS aspirations. Markets and TV deal monies are the driver there. If a TV exec tells the Pac or MW to add us to get more TV dollars, we are getting added. It's that simple, and always has been. Our recent success certainly helped get us on the radar, but both of those conferences are going to need markets to add value. We're the only FCS program seeking FBS status that delivers that criterion.

One of the worst teams in the past decade? That only carries weight because we've been blessed with 6 winning seasons over that time frame. This team is far better than any of the 2 win seasons under Jody Sears, and it ain't even close.

 

[SDHornet]

You talk about “calming down”? No, it is you that needs to take things more seriously.

There’s no valid excuse for the fall off to be this hard, this fast. NONE. They haven’t even been competitive the past 2 weeks. That’s unacceptable.

I’m not one that follows the “instant gratification” path. If I was, I wouldn’t have been a Hornets fan for all these decades.

But a winning program was built up and set in place and this new HC has allowed it to fall completely off the map inside of 18 months.

Nobody should be taking that lightly.

Furthermore, if this program is really going to go FBS in the next few years — they’ll need a much better HC and OC than the ones they’ve got now. IDK how anybody can argue otherwise with a straight face.

As I said before, the only coach I can give some leeway to is Kris Richardson. But Andy Thompson is not HC material and never was. Bobby Fresques has proven to be an epic fail as OC.

There simply aren’t enough “positives” to point to in order to justify another season. The only reason I can come up with is to buy time until the promotion to FBS (if it actually happens). But this staff cannot be in charge when the promotion happens. They can’t even compete now at FCS.

8 conference losses (and counting) in less than 2 full seasons after coming off a 23-1 conference record under Taylor should be more than enough to wake up even the most patient of fans.

No, sportsball isn't that serious. I want to see us win and it's a good distraction but it's really not that big of a deal. Maybe I have that mentality because it's been all house money since 2019, but everyone just needs to relax. The world isn't ending because Hornet football is having a down year.

This year's fall off is largely in part due to our starting quarterback quitting on this team. Our offensive swagger and philosophy was completely different with him at the helm. The offense had to recalibrate with a redshirt freshman and change its philosophy and approach on the fly all while a young quarterback was finding his footing. Then there is the litany of injuries compounded with some bad play coupled with coaching not having this team fully prepared every week. Our heavy front loaded road schedule with 2 FBS games didn't do us any favors either. All of that has given us the situation we are in now.

That said, yes, this coaching staff is accountable for this season. I just fail to see how replacing them all helps the situation. There needs to be some changes, but I don't see how removing Coach Thompson or Coach Fresques puts this program in a better position for next season. I'd love for someone to walk me through how wholesale changes play out for the better in the near term.

The changes required with an FBS move are more than a coaching staff. I won't elaborate on it now as I'm sure that discussion will occur when the time comes.

Not enough positives? IMO Having a young quarterback to build around for the future is a big enough one to keep Coach Fresques and stay positive for next season. There are other freshman talents (Borders, Scudero) developing alongside Conkling that are positive as well. Up front freshman May and Gretlein are getting reps due to injuries (BTW we only have 1 projected preseason starter on OL currently in the starting lineup). I'm not really understanding how or why people expected inexperienced freshmen to step in and dominate from day 1, especially at quarterback when the initial plan was to roll with a seasoned senior that unfortunately quit on this team.

There are certainly concerns moving forward, but I don't see them as unfixable to the point of dooming over it.

 

[SDHornet]

Absolutely no excuse.

Completely clean house, can’t go any lower. Whoever says just one more year is clueless.

Please explain how firing the coaching staff puts Hornet football in a better position for next season. Explain it to me like I haven't just become a Hornet fan in the last 5 years.

 

[SDHornet]

I think the worse thing that happened to this team thinking success would be easy after last year, they didn’t accelerate. You know the rest of season will suck when not even seeing any true freshman redshirt emerging now. It’s just saying “we’re injured”

Disagree about freshmen emerging. We have one emerging at the most important position on the field. Agree that it's not all on injuries though, KB quitting had a bigger impact than any of them.

 

[OldSchoolHornet]

SD when you attempt to explain the situation using common sense there a few dudes on this site who you will never reach.
I appreciate your efforts, though.

 

[Hornet99]

There is no love/heart in this program anymore. huge disconnect players to coaches. I think they let too many bad seeds into the locker room this season. Recruiting is a lot more than a player being a 3 star, fit in locker room is huge. most of these fbs transfers have been busts. Our top underclassmen could get poached to FBS unless NIL money comes soon.

 

[HeavyistheClown]

Please explain how firing the coaching staff puts Hornet football in a better position for next season. Explain it to me like I haven't just become a Hornet fan in the last 5 years.

Uh, TT took over for Sears and first year went 9-4? FUCD HC in his first year is 8-1. Why is this so hard for you to understand?

 

[SDHornet]

Uh, TT took over for Sears and first year went 9-4? FUCD HC in his first year is 8-1. Why is this so hard for you to understand?

Neither of those teams had/have a redshirt freshman QB and are irrelevant to our current situation. Now answer my question:

Please explain how firing the coaching staff puts Hornet football in a better position for next season. Explain it to me like I haven't just become a Hornet fan in the last 5 years.

 

[SDHornet]

Game Highlights:

 

[HeavyistheClown]

Neither of those teams had/have a redshirt freshman QB and are irrelevant to our current situation. Now answer my question:

Please explain how firing the coaching staff puts Hornet football in a better position for next season. Explain it to me like I haven't just become a Hornet fan in the last 5 years.

NAU is doing ok with a first year QB/HC, so is ISU. O’Hara and Dunniway were new to the program. Not like they were in the program as a redshirt, both played with heart. Modern college football doesn’t support a pocket passer. Need dual threat.

Look it’s not just loser KB quit, the defense hasn’t been able to stop or slow down anybody either. Special teams is in the crapper, except Shriner. Team is not focused, out of position on just about every play, this is more than injuries.

If you want the community to go back to 8,000 a game, fine by me. If this program had ten years of consistent competitive exhibition its ok to have a bad year, Florida State, but this program just found it’s legs and now it is back to Sears, Moose and other crappy coaches

 

[HornetFootballFan]

I'd love to see coaching press conferences, unfortunately the local press doesn't care enough about this program to garner one. That will change when we get an FBS invite.

Regarding what changes Coach Thompson makes, my speculation is an assistant coach or two are sacrificed at the angry fanbase altar but the main coaches will, and should, remain in place for at least one more season. I agree with the idea of Coach Thompson bringing on a DC (or promote Coach Paulson to that role).

I walked everyone through the likely roster fallout in another thread and won't spell it out again. If folks can't understand what free agency does to a roster when a coaching staff is ousted then I don't know what else to say.

F UCDAVIS & IDAHO when they brought in Eck did fine.

 

[HornetFootballFan]

No, sportsball isn't that serious. I want to see us win and it's a good distraction but it's really not that big of a deal. Maybe I have that mentality because it's been all house money since 2019, but everyone just needs to relax. The world isn't ending because Hornet football is having a down year.

This year's fall off is largely in part due to our starting quarterback quitting on this team. Our offensive swagger and philosophy was completely different with him at the helm. The offense had to recalibrate with a redshirt freshman and change its philosophy and approach on the fly all while a young quarterback was finding his footing. Then there is the litany of injuries compounded with some bad play coupled with coaching not having this team fully prepared every week. Our heavy front loaded road schedule with 2 FBS games didn't do us any favors either. All of that has given us the situation we are in now.

That said, yes, this coaching staff is accountable for this season. I just fail to see how replacing them all helps the situation. There needs to be some changes, but I don't see how removing Coach Thompson or Coach Fresques puts this program in a better position for next season. I'd love for someone to walk me through how wholesale changes play out for the better in the near term.

The changes required with an FBS move are more than a coaching staff. I won't elaborate on it now as I'm sure that discussion will occur when the time comes.

Not enough positives? IMO Having a young quarterback to build around for the future is a big enough one to keep Coach Fresques and stay positive for next season. There are other freshman talents (Borders, Scudero) developing alongside Conkling that are positive as well. Up front freshman May and Gretlein are getting reps due to injuries (BTW we only have 1 projected preseason starter on OL currently in the starting lineup). I'm not really understanding how or why people expected inexperienced freshmen to step in and dominate from day 1, especially at quarterback when the initial plan was to roll with a seasoned senior that unfortunately quit on this team.

There are certainly concerns moving forward, but I don't see them as unfixable to the point of dooming over it.

 

[HornetFootballFan]

SDH - You make this sound as if a coaching staff put their careers and an entire team into the hands of a single player? (KB)

That single player was able to take down an entire program and season.

Our program should never be in the hands of a single player to be a successful program.

That lack of preparation, and poor decision making would be 100% enough to fire an entire staff if I were to hear a coach make that lame excuse.

The only person in that scenario that I would have spared with a LAME EXCUSE like that would be coach Richardson because he is doing a solid job.

Poor judgement / lame excuses / irresponsibility

 

[HornetFootballFan]

NAU is doing ok with a first year QB/HC, so is ISU. O’Hara and Dunniway were new to the program. Not like they were in the program as a redshirt, both played with heart. Modern college football doesn’t support a pocket passer. Need dual threat.

Look it’s not just loser KB quit, the defense hasn’t been able to stop or slow down anybody either. Special teams is in the crapper, except Shriner. Team is not focused, out of position on just about every play, this is more than injuries.

If you want the community to go back to 8,000 a game, fine by me. If this program had ten years of consistent competitive exhibition its ok to have a bad year, Florida State, but this program just found it’s legs and now it is back to Sears, Moose and other crappy coaches

This BS is not acceptable.

 

[SDHornet]

NAU is doing ok with a first year QB/HC, so is ISU. O’Hara and Dunniway were new to the program. Not like they were in the program as a redshirt, both played with heart. Modern college football doesn’t support a pocket passer. Need dual threat.

Look it’s not just loser KB quit, the defense hasn’t been able to stop or slow down anybody either. Special teams is in the crapper, except Shriner. Team is not focused, out of position on just about every play, this is more than injuries.

If you want the community to go back to 8,000 a game, fine by me. If this program had ten years of consistent competitive exhibition its ok to have a bad year, Florida State, but this program just found it’s legs and now it is back to Sears, Moose and other crappy coaches

*Schreiner

The NAU HC brought his QB/WR duo with him from Pittsburg State. Hawkins is in his 2nd year at ISU. O'Hara was a running back that could only throw go routes and Dunniway was a pocket passer. Neither of whom were ideal for Coach Taylor's offense, hence the use of the dual quarterback system.

The fact you missed those basic facts and offered nothing with relevance to my question means you (and HFF) are just wanting emotional knee jerk staffing moves in hopes of it resulting in immediate success and not thinking of long term impacts to the program. If a new coach doesn't win in year 1 do we just keep cycling through coaches until we catch lightning in a bottle? This approach is not sustainable.

 

[SDHornet]

SDH - You make this sound as if a coaching staff put their careers and an entire team into the hands of a single player? (KB)

That single player was able to take down an entire program and season.

Our program should never be in the hands of a single player to be a successful program.

That lack of preparation, and poor decision making would be 100% enough to fire an entire staff if I were to hear a coach make that lame excuse.

The only person in that scenario that I would have spared with a LAME EXCUSE like that would be coach Richardson because he is doing a solid job.

Poor judgement / lame excuses / irresponsibility

Career? No, very unlikely that these coaches get fired after this season. Season? Yeah. Not many programs, FCS or otherwise, can survive their starting senior quarterback quitting in the first month of the season. That's not the sole reason for this season's failure but having the team leader quit is a pretty impactful event.

We've had other seasons completely derailed by injuries, but I agree that the coaching staff needs to do a much better job at preparing the players.