Another de-commitment

[BGSU33]

Remember all the talk about despite how poor things have gone under Jinks that he is at least recruiting well? Well, we have another high profile de-commitment, this time from Raveion Hargrove. That’s yet another big blow as he was one of the top guys on board. Yes, it happens every year at most every school. But these are headliners of a potential game-changing class that keep jumping off board. And we can’t afford this whatsoever if we hope to correct the implosion of BG football since Jinks’ arrival. More very disappointing news and it’s not going to be the last of guys turning us down at the rate we continue to free fall.

[Falcon Commander]

John Wagner, The Blade...





BOWLING GREEN — I will never forget the one-liner a struggling Kent State football coach once told me.

This coach, who will remain unnamed (although I promise you have heard of him), went to a fans luncheon and spent the better part of an hour getting skewered for his team’s failures. When it was finished, he sidled up to me and said, “You know what ‘fan’ means, right?”

I figured it was the traditional answer of “fanatic,” but he said, “No, it’s actually short for ‘fantasy.’ Fans live in a fantasy world, and football coaches have to deal with reality.”

Pretty clever, eh?

Truth be told, I’ve seen some coaches who live in a fantasy world of their own creation. But there’s a kernel of truth in that old saw.

To wit: In Thursday’s post, I noted that the struggles of this year’s Bowling Green State University football team may negatively affect recruiting. The response was predictable: Many fans want to fire coach Mike Jinks on the spot.

Let’s set aside for the moment that financial considerations make it impossible to fire Jinks. Those fans may be forgetting that it was Jinks and his staff that recruited those players in the first place, so they must be doing something right. For those who think this team should be at least matching the success of recent BG teams, I would point out that Chris Jones and Matt Johnson and Travis Greene and Roger Lewis no longer stroll into the Sebo Center for practice every day.

And for those “fans” decrying the so-called dumpster fire that BG football has become, I would ask if those cries of “fire Jinks” on Twitter and message boards and elsewhere create that perception? Or perhaps inflate it?

Do not misunderstand: Fans are welcome to question problems and have negative feelings for coaches and players. That passion for a team is what makes fans special. But does airing dirty laundry in public help the program you root for?

If you think it does, I believe that former Kent State coach is right: The world you live in is fantasy.

[guest44]

Haha. John the cheerleader is at it again. John is going from athletic department cheerleader, to athletic department stuffed teddy bear.

[CrazyFan]

John Wagner, The Blade...





BOWLING GREEN — I will never forget the one-liner a struggling Kent State football coach once told me.

This coach, who will remain unnamed (although I promise you have heard of him), went to a fans luncheon and spent the better part of an hour getting skewered for his team’s failures. When it was finished, he sidled up to me and said, “You know what ‘fan’ means, right?”

I figured it was the traditional answer of “fanatic,” but he said, “No, it’s actually short for ‘fantasy.’ Fans live in a fantasy world, and football coaches have to deal with reality.”

Pretty clever, eh?

Truth be told, I’ve seen some coaches who live in a fantasy world of their own creation. But there’s a kernel of truth in that old saw.

To wit: In Thursday’s post, I noted that the struggles of this year’s Bowling Green State University football team may negatively affect recruiting. The response was predictable: Many fans want to fire coach Mike Jinks on the spot.

Let’s set aside for the moment that financial considerations make it impossible to fire Jinks. Those fans may be forgetting that it was Jinks and his staff that recruited those players in the first place, so they must be doing something right. For those who think this team should be at least matching the success of recent BG teams, I would point out that Chris Jones and Matt Johnson and Travis Greene and Roger Lewis no longer stroll into the Sebo Center for practice every day.

And for those “fans” decrying the so-called dumpster fire that BG football has become, I would ask if those cries of “fire Jinks” on Twitter and message boards and elsewhere create that perception? Or perhaps inflate it?

Do not misunderstand: Fans are welcome to question problems and have negative feelings for coaches and players. That passion for a team is what makes fans special. But does airing dirty laundry in public help the program you root for?

If you think it does, I believe that former Kent State coach is right: The world you live in is fantasy.

The power of free Fricker's courtesy of the athletic department. Time for John to retire, because he's obviously lost touch with reality.

[MarkL]

This right here is why I keep my criticism on the board as constructive criticism. Recruits and their families read these boards. I'd rather not pour fuel on a fire.

[guest44]

What's next John, you gonna pull a Gregg Brandon and blame the fans for losing individual games? This is the same guy who sat in the rafters/court side watching Louis Orr, and defended him to the end. Stick to the Mud Hens, where nobody cares who wins.

[CrazyFan]

John Wagner, The Blade...





BOWLING GREEN — I will never forget the one-liner a struggling Kent State football coach once told me.

This coach, who will remain unnamed (although I promise you have heard of him), went to a fans luncheon and spent the better part of an hour getting skewered for his team’s failures. When it was finished, he sidled up to me and said, “You know what ‘fan’ means, right?”

I figured it was the traditional answer of “fanatic,” but he said, “No, it’s actually short for ‘fantasy.’ Fans live in a fantasy world, and football coaches have to deal with reality.”

Pretty clever, eh?

Truth be told, I’ve seen some coaches who live in a fantasy world of their own creation. But there’s a kernel of truth in that old saw.

To wit: In Thursday’s post, I noted that the struggles of this year’s Bowling Green State University football team may negatively affect recruiting. The response was predictable: Many fans want to fire coach Mike Jinks on the spot.

Let’s set aside for the moment that financial considerations make it impossible to fire Jinks. Those fans may be forgetting that it was Jinks and his staff that recruited those players in the first place, so they must be doing something right. For those who think this team should be at least matching the success of recent BG teams, I would point out that Chris Jones and Matt Johnson and Travis Greene and Roger Lewis no longer stroll into the Sebo Center for practice every day.

And for those “fans” decrying the so-called dumpster fire that BG football has become, I would ask if those cries of “fire Jinks” on Twitter and message boards and elsewhere create that perception? Or perhaps inflate it?

Do not misunderstand: Fans are welcome to question problems and have negative feelings for coaches and players. That passion for a team is what makes fans special. But does airing dirty laundry in public help the program you root for?

If you think it does, I believe that former Kent State coach is right: The world you live in is fantasy.

After this amount of azz kissing, maybe Jinx will finally let little John join his poker night. John thought he was in after writing his azz kissing article after they got embarrassed at home by South Dakota, but apparently not. Keep trying John! Maybe offer to bring some Frickers with you??

[kdog27]

Players de-comitting is not doing something right. The goal is to get them to sign and actually play period.

[Class of 61]

If we need to get onto another RB, I'd suggest checking out the RB from Euclid HS. Saw him play vs Strongsville a few wks ago, and he chalked up 347 yds last week. He's not super big, but bigger than the kid who just decommited.
Not sure about numbers from this week, but definitely worth a strong look.
This being said, I'm hoping most of these kids will stay, but the losing has GOT to be a downer for kids looking to tell friends about BGSU.

[guest44]

Wagner's lecture to fans is even more ridiculous after his co-worker gave out his mid season grades and gave Jinks a D-. Obviously, too soft as it should have been an F. I sure hope he gave him a stern lecture in the newsroom about that being the reason Jinks is losing recruits. Not that the team stinks. Meanwhile, John is working on his morning article about how Bowing Green can still make a bowl game, for roughly another 10 hours. Positive thoughts only from the local papers. I'd argue Wagner is part of problem.

[gmartin]

BG can make any bowl game they want. Just have BG send a message to Coach Harbaugh asking if he would pay for BG to attend a bowl game. I'm sure we could use that as a learning expense.

[Critical Thinker]

It's fantasy to expect more than 4 wins in 1 1/2 seasons after winning a conference championship?

[jpfalcon09]

Wagner is so out of touch with reality. These kids today don't want to go to a program where it's going to take 3-4 years to rebuild. The longer Jinks loses, the further that success gets pushed out. So he can peddle whatever nonsense he wants to but the fact is that every loss makes these kids reconsider their options for where they want to play football.

[MarkL]

By far Jinks' best recruitment pitch is Clair, Wilcox, Doege, and all the other true freshmen that are playing and making plays. Come to BG and instantly become an integral part of the team.

[Flipper]

Wagner actually tweeted that the coaches were mad at him for writing about recruits decommiting....if true our staff is even dumber than I thought