Official AD Christopher Letter Thread

jpfalcon09 · Post by **jpfalcon09** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:30 am

Hey gang,

I figured it'd be fun, for those of you who made your feelings known to AD Christopher, to have your thoughts cemented on the board in hopes that we not only show how passionate we are towards BGSU, but to also show other people just how bad we want some sort of change here.

I'll get the ball rolling:

Hello Mr. Christopher,

As a paying student of my hard earned dollars to this wonderful university, it pains me to write you this message, but I feel that my thoughts would be best summed up in an e-mail to the person who will best listen. My name is Jeremy Pellek, and I have been a BGSU supporter since I was basically 9 years old. My brother went here from 1995-2000 and played hockey, and my family and I were and still are avid supporters of BGSU athletics. We have always given the student-athletes and coaches the benefit of the doubt when things go wrong, only because we love this school so much, which leads me to what I want to get at.

Being from the Toledo area, we look at the BG/UT game as a chance to gloat about Bowling Green for at least one week, longer if the Falcons pull out a victory. We also feel that with a national audience being able to watch these two teams, it's a chance for both schools to not only represent the MAC, but also themselves.

As a family, we have never been more embarrassed to have attended a Falcon football game as the one that was displayed about 6 hours ago. The fault we have does not fall on the players, but the coaches for starting off the game with what was possibly the most lackluster effort not seen here in many years. Coaches are responsible for game preparation and to fire up the troops, for a rivalry game nonetheless.

For a rivalry game, we feel that it is none too hard to get yourself motivated to play, regardless of your record or talent level. What was displayed on the field was purely unacceptable, and for those people who only get to see our university on a national stage only once a year, certainly walked away with a negative impression.

Expectations are understandably hard to meet at a university with students coming and going, but BGSU has had a winning tradition for many years and it is something many people are very passionate about. With losses this year to an 0-7 Temple, a 1-9 Miami of Ohio team and a third straight loss to Toledo, it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth now that the season is over.

I myself, who attended every home game, and braved the elements at the Miami game, feel ashamed about how this football season ended up. From numerous blocked punts, missed field goals, predictable playcalling and just overall lack of execution, I feel that our coaching staff has failed at their duties and have failed to address them and chose to make excuses and not own up to mistakes when they were blatantly obvious.

We understand your job is very difficult, but I at least feel that criticism should be laid on ears who will listen and take action. I thank you for your time and your gracious efforts to our fine university, and hope to hear back from you soon.

- Jeremy Pellek
BGSU Sophomore

Dr. Reality · Post by **Dr. Reality** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:57 am

Mr. Christopher has a lot more to be concerned about that just football. The men's program this year is off to a miserable start -- football, soccer, cross country, hockey -- all with losing records to date, and that pattern will probably continue through basketball.

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:18 am

Paul Krebs stabalized the department financially, upgraded most of the non-revenue sports, got the Sebo Center built and made two phenomenal hires in Urban Meyer and Curt Miller. For that we should be extremely thankful.

As we now see, he also left the three so-called "major" sports in hideous shape and it'll be up to Christopher to clean them up.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:02 am

JoeFalcon wrote:Paul Krebs stabalized the department financially, upgraded most of the non-revenue sports, got the Sebo Center built and made two phenomenal hires in Urban Meyer and Curt Miller. For that we should be extremely thankful.

As we now see, he also left the three so-called "major" sports in hideous shape and it'll be up to Christopher to clean them up.

\

Yeah, I've been thinking this same thing.

ZuluWarrior · Post by **ZuluWarrior** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:35 pm

I'm glad to see more folks joining my point of view which I made last year and many people voiced opinions that I was way off base. Unfortunately I wasn't. Timing is everything and Krebs timing to leave was perfect. And as stated earlier, he left with the major sports in what is now very apparent disarray. And that's putting it kindly.
At least when Urban left, he left at team still reaching for its summit. Krebs left on the downside, although many on this board failed to acknowledge that.
We're a mess folks and Christopher needs our support morally and financially if we have any hopes of regaining our legacy of a leader in the MAC. The two most impressive pieces to our athletic program today, our Women's Basketball and this website. And not necessarily in that order. I'm not kidding. The Sebo will count when it's built.
Our mens programs, especially the three majors, are on the verge of embarrassment.

93SbMACChamps · Post by **93SbMACChamps** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:26 pm

It's hard to take a season like this fall for both Football and M Soccer. Very dissapointing to say the least. We lost a good and productive coach w/ Mahler a couple of years ago...

Greg Christopher has joined BGSU at a great time. I have spoken with him this fall and feel he is the right person to move BGSU athletics to a new and better place. His personality alone will be a win-win for BGSU.

I wasn't sad to hear Krebs was leaving...

I was rather relieved. Give credit to Krebs for his finacial doings of the Atheletic department.

It's the Journey... · Post by **It's the Journey...** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:15 am

I hope this thread evolves into one discussing expectations of Greg Christopher and not one slamming Paul Krebs. I am a Krebs supporter and will continue to do so. When he came in almost EVERY aspect of the department was a mess. I don't believe some people realize how much work it took to balance the budget AND equalize the funding while maintaining funding to the big sports. We had some sports on campus that hadn't received any major financial attention in their general budget or coaches salaries in close to a decade. I am sure softball would love to have flat screen TV's hanging in their locker room, but first they would need an improved locker room! Not every AD is goin to bat 1000 with their hires, but Paul kept looking to improve things. He changed women's basketball coaches twice. He hired Urban, then honored the PLAYERS request to hire Greg Brandon. You all know my feelings on his decisions with men's basketball so I won't go into that. Paul did what he could do, and more importantly, what HAD to be done 99% of the time. The department is in a position to be moved forward because of the decisions Paul Krebs made. If those decisions had not been made then Greg Christopher would have to be making then now and things like facilities would still be on the back burner. These are just some things I think we should keep in mind.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:06 am

I don't think anyone thinks that the Krebs era did not have its accomplishments. On the credit/debit scale though, you have to concede that when he left three of the four most high visibility sports we struggling.

And taking the PLAYER'S advice on who should coach the team is no excuse. He was supposed to pick the best guy--he works for the University, not the players. And I'm not saying he didn't pick the best guy.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:15 am

It's the Journey... wrote:I hope this thread evolves into one discussing expectations of Greg Christopher and not one slamming Paul Krebs. I am a Krebs supporter and will continue to do so. When he came in almost EVERY aspect of the department was a mess. I don't believe some people realize how much work it took to balance the budget AND equalize the funding while maintaining funding to the big sports. We had some sports on campus that hadn't received any major financial attention in their general budget or coaches salaries in close to a decade. I am sure softball would love to have flat screen TV's hanging in their locker room, but first they would need an improved locker room! Not every AD is goin to bat 1000 with their hires, but Paul kept looking to improve things. He changed women's basketball coaches twice. He hired Urban, then honored the PLAYERS request to hire Greg Brandon. You all know my feelings on his decisions with men's basketball so I won't go into that. Paul did what he could do, and more importantly, what HAD to be done 99% of the time. The department is in a position to be moved forward because of the decisions Paul Krebs made. If those decisions had not been made then Greg Christopher would have to be making then now and things like facilities would still be on the back burner. These are just some things I think we should keep in mind.

Fine post. I agree with it. I am also confident Christopher is going to get the job done in the areas that need attention...the men's programs. We are struggling to keep our head above water in football, hoops, hockey and soccer. That's unacceptable at BGSU. Krebs did what he had to do to get the athletic dept back on track. Christopher is the man to get to the next level.

It's the Journey... · Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:32 am

orangeandbrown wrote:I don't think anyone thinks that the Krebs era did not have its accomplishments. On the credit/debit scale though, you have to concede that when he left three of the four most high visibility sports we struggling.

And taking the PLAYER'S advice on who should coach the team is no excuse. He was supposed to pick the best guy--he works for the University, not the players. And I'm not saying he didn't pick the best guy.

He does work for the players, and every other student who pays for his salary with their general fee. We needed a coach, and overwhelming support for Brandon from the players was a big plus. These are the guys who would have to deal with him day in and day out. We took a chance on one rising star, why not another. As far as men's basketball is concerned, they stink under the post-WVU fiasco. Bringing him back is the one black mark I put squarely on Paul's shoulders. It should not have been done. That door should have hit DD in the azz before he had the chance to make it all the way through. In hockey, Pooch was a great choice at the time. He hearkened back to the days or Jerry York. For me, the jury is still out on that decision. So if you only look at the major sports, I have him at 1-1 with 1 pending. But he so much more than that. Greg Christopher has a balanced budget with our sports being funded at acceptable levels. Not where they should be, but acceptable. Because of his MANY other accomplishments, he left the department better than he found it. And that should be the requirement of every employee at BGSU.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:36 am

There were plenty of good reasons to pick Brandon, I agree. But if it doesn't work out, you can't go back and say I did it because the players wanted me to.

I'm not sure we're really disagreeing.

factman · Post by **factman** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:33 pm

No one can do their job including Christopher or the coaches, until the Board of Trustees steps up with money for the Athletic Department. For example, Kent State contributes $3,000,000 more each year to athletics than BGSU does, and they do not have hockey! Bowling Green is 11 out of twelve in "funding" in the MAC from the university for athletics.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:53 pm

This thread is the largest exercise in futility that I've ever seen.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:52 am

We aim for the top.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:03 am

As we used to say at Bill Knapp's, "we aim to sleaze".

I'm going to email Christopher to see if he thinks Emmitt smith or AC Slater should have won "Dancing with the Stars". I personally have no opinion because I'm straight.......that could be fun...email people within the BGSU athletic department to ask them random questions completely unrelated to BGSU athletics.

I think the technical term for it is "harrassment"