Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... index.html

"I'm used to people disagreeing with me about various things I write. Let's face it: Nobody agrees about anything in college football, so the more debate, the merrier.

I do get a tad bit alarmed, however, on the rare occasions when something I write elicits a near-universal, negative backlash, as was the case with item No. 5 in last Sunday's Five Things We Learned This Weekend.

I wrote: "That the mid-majors are getting greedy." Just looking at it now, out of context, makes even me cringe. I sound like the Grinch that Stole Bowl Season.

Just to be clear, I've got absolutely no beef with Utah, Boise State, Ball State, et. al., whose coaches and players have done nothing whatsoever to elicit my criticism. This item was a direct reaction to two events from the weekend (which I'm going to list in reverse order, for convenience sake):

1. Bowling Green firing a coach, Gregg Brandon, whose program was the winningest in the MAC during his six years there. Now that BCS berths have become a more realistic goal for mid-major programs, we're starting to see their standards for success get redefined to the point where Auburn and Tennessee now show more loyalty to their coaches than Bowling Green.

(It has since been pointed out to me that, beyond the on-field record, Brandon's program had endured a rash of off-field problems, including a low APR score that cost the program scholarships. That certainly adds context to the decision, but let's be realistic -- if BG went 9-3 instead of 6-6 this year, he'd still be the coach.)"

He may be a douche, but he is right. We go 9-3, win the MAC, Brandon is still coach, period.

Impossible.
I already had him pegged for about as big of a douchebag as there is.

If we beat Buffalo and we are 7-5 he would still be the coach.

I called 1470 Monday on my way home from work and I actually had a long conversation with Norm about the firing. Obviously, he was defending Brandon, and like Mandel he continued hanging his hat on his overall record at BG and how it was the best in the MAC in that timeframe.

To me it's about trends, and the trend at BG was not a good one. Specifically, we were around .500 for the last 4 years of his tenure. Those would be the 4 years where he had his guys in place and had built the program in his image. Those are the 4 years where it's very easy to grade/judge a coach. It's always difficult to gauge a guy's overall ability based on his first 2 years. Most coaches can succeed for a couple years when handed a program that is running well. As Brandon's recruits filled the halls, it became apparent that this program was not going well. The team wasn't winning consistently, the off the field issues filled the blotter, and then we find out that we weren't getting it done in the classroom either.

The ONLY argument I've seen anyone give in support of him at this point is his career record, and how it's the best in the MAC over the past 6 years. That sounds really good to these guys that don't take the time to break it down. As I told Norm on Monday, it's very difficult to explain, but just sit down and watch BG play every game, and you will come away thinking that the team is poorly coached. Whether it be the lack of fundamentals, the poor on field discipline, odd playcalling, etc. That stuff all compounds to make the whole just look like a poorly coached team. As a Browns fan if there's anything I've become an expert on it's poorly coached football.

For some reason, I was unable to pull up the story. Did he receive e-mails from AZZ members? Or did someone point out AZZ to him?

I agree. He is clueless on mid majors and BG.

tiznow wrote:For some reason, I was unable to pull up the story. Did he receive e-mails from AZZ members? Or did someone point out AZZ to him?

I agree. He is clueless on mid majors and BG.

I sent him an e-mail.

I could not find an e-mail address so I posted a comment to the story, but it was down the list quite a ways so I doubt he saw it...assuming he even reads them!

Redwingtom wrote:I could not find an e-mail address so I posted a comment to the story, but it was down the list quite a ways so I doubt he saw it...assuming he even reads them!

Apparently he read my e-mail because he commented on all the points I made except my bashing of the BCS schools.

BGorDeath wrote:

Redwingtom wrote:I could not find an e-mail address so I posted a comment to the story, but it was down the list quite a ways so I doubt he saw it...assuming he even reads them!

Apparently he read my e-mail because he commented on all the points I made except my bashing of the BCS schools.

I coulnd't find a direct e-mail address either, so I just submitted my comments where it asks for question to be included in a future mailbag.

hammb wrote:The ONLY argument I've seen anyone give in support of him at this point is his career record, and how it's the best in the MAC over the past 6 years. That sounds really good to these guys that don't take the time to break it down.

And that is probably my biggest contention with Mandel. He is just reading the press release and making conclusions about what he thinks is going on. No real research going on.

BUT, even if he wants to defend himself, that's fine. But explain to me why it is bad for us to want more from our football program. We won ZERO league championships under Brandon and only played in one championship game. Why should we be happy with that?

orangeandbrown wrote:If we beat Buffalo and we are 7-5 he would still be the coach.

Really? Did you listen to the GC press conference? He all but directly said that Brandon would have been gone even if we did beat Buffalo. Christopher realized what was going on and he was done with it.

Now if we would have only lost to Minny and Boise, probably a different story.

Warthog wrote:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... index.html

"I'm used to people disagreeing with me about various things I write. Let's face it: Nobody agrees about anything in college football, so the more debate, the merrier.

I do get a tad bit alarmed, however, on the rare occasions when something I write elicits a near-universal, negative backlash, as was the case with item No. 5 in last Sunday's Five Things We Learned This Weekend.

I wrote: "That the mid-majors are getting greedy." Just looking at it now, out of context, makes even me cringe. I sound like the Grinch that Stole Bowl Season.

Just to be clear, I've got absolutely no beef with Utah, Boise State, Ball State, et. al., whose coaches and players have done nothing whatsoever to elicit my criticism. This item was a direct reaction to two events from the weekend (which I'm going to list in reverse order, for convenience sake):

1. Bowling Green firing a coach, Gregg Brandon, whose program was the winningest in the MAC during his six years there. Now that BCS berths have become a more realistic goal for mid-major programs, we're starting to see their standards for success get redefined to the point where Auburn and Tennessee now show more loyalty to their coaches than Bowling Green.

(It has since been pointed out to me that, beyond the on-field record, Brandon's program had endured a rash of off-field problems, including a low APR score that cost the program scholarships. That certainly adds context to the decision, but let's be realistic -- if BG went 9-3 instead of 6-6 this year, he'd still be the coach.)"

Maybe it's just me, but when he wrote his rebuttal hadn't Tennessee already fired Phillip Fulmer? And then today Tommy Tuberville is released by Auburn. Definitely not the correct schools to use in trying to justify his view.

BgWaRrIoR wrote:

orangeandbrown wrote:If we beat Buffalo and we are 7-5 he would still be the coach.

Really? Did you listen to the GC press conference? He all but directly said that Brandon would have been gone even if we did beat Buffalo.

I'm thinking orangeandbrown did listen to the press conference.

The night Brandon was introduced as HC at the BG basketball game it felt weird. The following year of watching opponents make half time adjustments, and BG squander second half leads felt weird. Hearing about the coach throwing a new player under the bus after a loss felt weird.

I was hoping the program would continue to grow, but like I said, things felt weird from that night in Anderson Arena when he addressed the crowd. I felt like it was a matter of time before the wheels came off the bus.

I felt like Brandon was a good natured guy who was very nice and all, but I felt like he was missing the "it" that makes good coaches good.