Brandon gets some press

Zom · Post by **Zom** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:01 am

Coach Brandon ought to be a little easier about the kind of write ups he gets in The Blade these days.

ffejfalcon · Post by **ffejfalcon** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:13 am

If BG wins this game against toledo on Friday I would support an extension for Brandon.....

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:15 am

Hard to argue with the results...I am real happy for Coach B and to see him turn it around. Coaching is a tough job...he knew what was on the line and has delivered a quality team. Now, I know there is still work to do but man has this been a fun season...Way to bounce back, Coach.

Now, there is unfinished bidnezz that needs attention Friday. 1 loss in a row to TSUN is too many. 3 in a row in unacceptable. Break the door down Friday and we'll be bowling over the holidays.

GO FALCONS!!! ROLL THE ROCKETTES!

KeyWestParrot · Post by **KeyWestParrot** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:19 am

Brandon may get an extension......I could use a few more years of blood pressure fluctuations.[/quote]

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:23 am

Whatever happens, he should either get a 2-year extension after this year, or be given his walking papers. A year of uncertainty would be very bad for the program. It's crazy how important the Toledo game is to how we will look back upon this season. If we lose, we probably don't go to a bowl game, not to mention losing to Toledo...AGAIN. We'll then look back upon the season as one of missed opportunities, not beating a single good team, and floundering in a terrible conference.

OTOH, if we put a beatdown on UT Friday, we'll go to a bowl game, we'll remember how this team bounced back and finished strong after a terrible home loss to Ohio, and even threw in a BCS win over Minny. We'll remember the offense regaining some form instead of the defense being porous, and we'll look back on Sheehan's shoulder injury as the big thing that kept us from winning the East.

It's crazy how much one game matters. But it does.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:37 am

This UT game is the single biggest game in coach Brandon's career.

If he wins we will get a bowl berth and he'll likely get an extension. Personally, I'd only give him a one or two year extension, but he'll likely get something. I would bring him back with the knowledge that next year (when we return a TON of talent) we have MAC title expectations and anything less than a berth in the title game is unacceptable.

He's done a pretty good job for the most part this year. I'm still upset that we laid two eggs in two big division games, but the way the team has turned around is quite admirable. After the OU game I certainly didn't think there was a chance we'd be playing for a bowl berth in November.

However, a loss on Friday pretty much nullifies that turnaround, and in my mind, sends Brandon packing. I just hope to freaking god that we come out ready to play. This is a UT team that we should be able to beat on our home turf.

thewebboy · Post by **thewebboy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:13 pm

I agree Brandon is at a crossroad right now.

Beat Toledo and things are looking great. Bowl bid for sure, tons of talent back next year, sky is the limit.

Lose to Toledo and he's looking at a 1-4 record against our biggest rival and no important MAC win in the last 2-3 years.

It would almost be similar to the Carr situation up north. Started out with a bang and just sort of fizzled out towards the end. Not being able to win big games or beat big rivals. Not meeting fan expectations.

It really comes down to one simple thing: BEAT TOLEDO!

jpfalcon09 · Post by **jpfalcon09** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:31 pm

He wins Friday, give him another year to 2009. He loses, you roll the dice will him next year, hope the talent coming back is enough to sustain a successful season and weigh your options from there.

Regardless, if the team had played like this all year, we would have beaten either Ohio or Miami, if not both. That's the only black eye to this season.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:33 pm

If we're making predictions, its my opinion that he will get a 1-year extension no matter what happens, and two years with a win.

Columbus_Zak · Post by **Columbus_Zak** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:40 pm

I've been reasonably critical the past two season; but I have to give Coach B his due...There has been enough improvement, regardless of what happens agains UT, to at least see him through the end of his contract.

One item that I think is important to remember, if Brandon goes who do we get to replace him? Would said replacement jump right in and really do that much better? Honestly, I don't think the past two or three seasons have been bad enough for us to commit to an overhaul. I complain as much as the next guy in the heat of the moment, but if you step back and look at the evidence, Brandon really hasn't performed that badly.

tiznow · Post by **tiznow** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:50 pm

jpfalcon09 wrote:He wins Friday, give him another year to 2009. He loses, you roll the dice will him next year, hope the talent coming back is enough to sustain a successful season and weigh your options from there.

Regardless, if the team had played like this all year, we would have beaten either Ohio or Miami, if not both. That's the only black eye to this season.

If you bring him back for his last year without any type of extension, it would greatly hinder recruiting. He either comes back with an extension or BG moves on. A lame duck approach for next year is the worst thing BG can do.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:09 pm

I think he gets at least a year tacked onto his deal regardless of the UT outcome. Beat Toledo and get a bowl game and he probably gets 2-3 years tacked on.

I have a feeling it will be more expensive to keep him around following next year than it will be this year. Next year's talent level wil possibly exceed what we had on hand in 2003

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:14 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:Whatever happens, he should either get a 2-year extension after this year, or be given his walking papers. A year of uncertainty would be very bad for the program. It's crazy how important the Toledo game is to how we will look back upon this season. If we lose, we probably don't go to a bowl game, not to mention losing to Toledo...AGAIN. We'll then look back upon the season as one of missed opportunities, not beating a single good team, and floundering in a terrible conference.

OTOH, if we put a beatdown on UT Friday, we'll go to a bowl game, we'll remember how this team bounced back and finished strong after a terrible home loss to Ohio, and even threw in a BCS win over Minny. We'll remember the offense regaining some form instead of the defense being porous, and we'll look back on Sheehan's shoulder injury as the big thing that kept us from winning the East.

It's crazy how much one game matters. But it does.

Jacobs, this is kinda how I felt about the Akron game. We were 4-4 at the time coming off a brutal loss to Ohio at home. A 3rd loss in a row to the Zips would've meant falling to 4-5 and be almost completely out of the bowl picture, not to mention the MAC Championship contention that we were still a part of at the time. The season could've gone completely south at EMU and BUF after that, but because we won that one, I think that gave us the confidence and determination to push through a rough performance at EMU the next week.

So far, the Akron game has been the biggest. But J4H, you're right, this game might be even bigger in the end, rivalry aside.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:51 pm

As long as we're talking about Brandon, this quote is reason numero uno why I don't like him as a coach:

On a personal level, how gratifying has this season been for you after coming off the 4-8 season?
"I knew what happened last year was temporary. Everything that had happened last year was a result of things we didn't control. We didn't have control of that brutal schedule, we didn't have control over having to play 27 freshmen and we just need to control the things we can control.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:59 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:As long as we're talking about Brandon, this quote is reason numero uno why I don't like him as a coach:

On a personal level, how gratifying has this season been for you after coming off the 4-8 season?
"I knew what happened last year was temporary. Everything that had happened last year was a result of things we didn't control. We didn't have control of that brutal schedule, we didn't have control over having to play 27 freshmen and we just need to control the things we can control.

Yawn.

I doubt very seriously if they had "no control" over the schedule. Sure the MAC offices had something to do with it, but that's a little bit overboard, IMO.

As to no control over playing 27 freshmen? Umm, yes you did. Build consistently solid recruiting classes and you don't get forced into playing so many freshmen. Build depth throughout the roster. That's absolutely in the hands of the coaching staff.

I'm no fan, because
A) He always has an excuse why things aren't his fault, this quote is further proof of that.
B) He has yet to find a defensive coaching staff able of teaching their team how to tackle. Poor fundamental football. It took 4 years for him to realize he needed a real STs coach.
C) Every year we piss down our leg in one or two key matchups that cost us a chance at winning a title.

Those three things make me VERY scared of giving him a contract extension. I'm quite happy with the way things turned around since the OU game, but at the same time, with a better quality of coaching staff the OU game (and Miami?) might never have happened.

If we beat UT and get a bowl game I'd give him a single solidary year extension, with the understanding that next season is a MAC Championship or he's gone. If we lose to UT for the 4th year in a row, I would tell him to polish the resume now.

The fact is I'm tired of it taking a demoralizing loss that knocks us out of contention for the division before we get our head out of our butts and start playing. That doesn't fly in college football. Consistently losing to your rival is not acceptable either.