My email to Coach Brandon

[CiContention]

I just feel like this would not be such a big deal if he did not open his post game press conference with this after the biggest loss possibly in a few years.

Gregg Brandon is entitled to feel as he does about the support of the fans, but after losing the game in the manner that he did, I do not think it's a head football coaches responsibility (or privilege) to make those sorts of comments immediately after the game.

[bringbackblackney]

Some suggestions for Coach Brandon and AD Christopher in terms of how to get people in the seats (since this has been a consistent problem for many, many years).

1. Games should be played Saturday's at 7pm. Every game but Homecoming. No more 4:00 games, no more noon games, no more Friday night games. 99 percent of all students come to BGSU either apathetic regarding college football or big fans of Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame or some other team from a BCS conference.

2. Athletics has attempted to restrict the pre-game atmosphere. Allow groups to bring in outside food and alcohol to the tailgate area, even for the student groups. Make it an environment people want to come, not forced to come.

3. Don't force football down people's throats. Students will only come to resent it which will ultimately impact larger support for the University. For example, shutting down every dining facility at 3:00pm yesterday for the game and forcing students to go out to the stadium to eat was unbelievable.

4. Keep the football players out of the police blotter.

5. Have the student athletes show up for class (on-time), not fall asleep during class, not have their feet on the chairs and act somewhat engaged. Most students who have ever been in a group project with a football player will tell you what an awful experience that has been. Most students who have been in a group with a "non revenue" student athlete will tell you what a positive experience that has been. Big difference.

6. Football players should dress like the other students...not consistently wear football sweats. Very annoying and gives the appearance the football players really believe they are better than everyone else.

7. Football players should actively support other student groups. And if football players are going to come to student groups asking for the groups to support the football team, at least they could be enthusiastic and personable. Rather, I've seen this time and time again...the football player mumbles while looking at the floor and nobody knows what is said. The one thing people do know is it is not enthusiastic.

And the larger thing is this...if BGSU wins, what does it really matter. BG could run the table like Ball State and probably play in the Motor City Bowl. There are too many bowls now for a bowl bid to be that big of a deal. If BG were division 2 for football and could compete for a national championship, I bet the fan support would be different.

Instead of investing more money in football, BGSU should invest money in basketball, soccer, and hockey...sports where we can compete and where we could possibly go on a magical run and wind up in the national semifinals.

[cbjhack]

1. Games should be played Saturday's at 7pm. Every game but Homecoming. No more 4:00 games, no more noon games, no more Friday night games. 99 percent of all students come to BGSU either apathetic regarding college football or big fans of Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame or some other team from a BCS conference.

This is the kicker. Having a regular schedule of games makes sense. The loan exception should be the rare National TV appearance. Friday at 6 doesn't make sense. Another exception would be if a major game was being held at the same time that might draw fans away (i.e. OSU-Mich night game if both are ranked 1-2, like two years ago). Of course, we could be Miami with their weird schedule of weekday games.

Sure the weather doesn't help things, but we all saw 70,000 show up in Buffalo on Monday night for the Browns-Bills game in 36 degree weather, and 105,000 show up in Columbus today. We all know that NWO weather isn't the best, especially come November.

However, one thing that was missed was that BG needs to win, and win at home, and win often at home. People show up if you win and you put an exciting brand of football on the field. That is something that BG has been lacking, or at least seems to be lacking.

[FMBfan07]

3. Don't force football down people's throats. Students will only come to resent it which will ultimately impact larger support for the University. For example, shutting down every dining facility at 3:00pm yesterday for the game and forcing students to go out to the stadium to eat was unbelievable.

i agree on that. I know they were thinking of ways to get students to the game, but shutting down dining halls just to me says go to the game or starve (i'm sure the ones who didn't go found ways to eat and really didn't starve)

[bgtrip]

i would like to take a moment to say a few things as a fairly new fan of BGSU and a committed fan at that. i am from the warren ohio area and have driven the over 3 hour trip to see bg football 4 games this year. granted gas is coming down but the first couple games werent cheap. i then had to pay to park and get in but i never regretted paying and "supporting" the team. i've always had great friends and have made new ones coming to the games as my first game was last year and loved it. it seems like every game ive been to this year has a strong start all the way through half time and fizzles at the end with really blatant mistakes in judgement im not sure if its from the coaching staff or what but something tells me it is. i understand i am new to this and to BG football but it saddens me when i am what i would consider a "true fan" . those that couldnt make it or werent there still had there heart on BG and were there in spirit. and those of us that were there sat there at kickoff in the crazy snow and sat through the entire game enduring the low temperatures all the way through the double overtime cheering on to the last minute were true fans. its not our fault that the failed coaching in the last 4 mins of the game and into the over time ruined me seeing a win for the first time in my BG history. i think GB needs ... hmmm some one needs to donate there money to buy him out. or after this past comment grounds for termination. sigh, for all of the fans out there i want to say thanks for making me an even more BGSU fan and dont let the comments of a person that has little respect for their fan base get you down as they are the words of a person that has a lack of gratitude for those who paid attention through out the season. thank you again for your time and roll along! as for being a commited fan i will still be true to the orange and brown.

i also want to take a moment to thank the band for being troopers throughout last night. i havent seen many compliments or regards for the band so i thought i would give them props for 1. enduring the weather like all the rest, 2. playing a great sounding batch of music like you always do, and the biggest of them all number 3. thank you for playing the alma mater. i know the team stood you up after the game but know you kept on going and played the true sounds of the alma mater for the people that cared and for that i have high respects for you band members and best wishes to you all. BGSU band has to be one of the best sounding bands ive ever heard keep up the good work.

till next time, keep strong you awesome BG fans. ~bgtrip~

[Rightupinthere]

till next time, keep strong you awesome BG fans. ~bgtrip~

Welcome to the board and roll along.

[Schadenfreude]

And the larger thing is this...if BGSU wins, what does it really matter. BG could run the table like Ball State and probably play in the Motor City Bowl. There are too many bowls now for a bowl bid to be that big of a deal. If BG were division 2 for football and could compete for a national championship, I bet the fan support would be different.

Yeah. Our crowds would be about the size of Ashland's.

Welcome to the board. Congratulations on your first post. Wish I could say I agree with it. I don't. Especially the part I quoted above.

[Lord_Byron]

"I will never apologize for calling out the fans. People need to understand SUPPORT. Support isn’t running a message board that is demeaning and insulting not only to me, but my coaches and players as well."

I read this last night, and had to sleep on it before I posted. I'll echo the sentiments of others and thank Grant for setting up the site and reconnecting me to BG sports and fans. To that end, Grant, a check is in the mail. Feel free to use it for the site or donate it to one of your special charities. I would urge others to do the same.

As far as GB goes, I think it's time to find a coach that's part of the BG family. I hate to be insular, but I think that people who understand the University, community and fans would work out better and understand well the issues regarding fan support. I have to believe that somewhere out there is a BG grad who is hungry to coach with the capabilities to do so and for whom coaching the Falcons would be a plum assignment.

As far as donating to the Falcon Club and BG athletics -- I have no intention of stopping. It's important to continue to show support for our student athletes and I won't penalize them for some misguided comments by the football coach.

[JoeFalcon]

Putting aside the issue of whether he should have publicly called out the fan base at that particular moment, where else in Division I-A football can fans have legitimate email dialogue with a head football coach hours after a critical loss and just days before a game against their biggest rival?

I've been to many-a-website, and most either withold the contact information or send it to the football secretary or director of operations.

I don't know whether to be stunned at the access we have or concerned that it is diverting his attention from where it needs to be most immeidately focused right now.

(One more point: the attendence issue has been simmering for a while now and obviousely frustrates him enough to be the #1 thing on his mind after a loss, and you have to wonder if airing this dirty laundry out in the open is some type of play to get bought out and move on to a coordinator or assistant head coach-type of position out in New Mexico or Florida)

[Ineedbotox]

Brandon is a complete tool. Sorry Grant! You don't deserve that. The AD has some serious issues to address with Football and Hockey. Let's just hope that happens.

And maybe GB should get busy watching some film, rather than answering e-mails. Just a thought...

[Ineedbotox]

5. Have the student athletes show up for class (on-time), not fall asleep during class, not have their feet on the chairs and act somewhat engaged. Most students who have ever been in a group project with a football player will tell you what an awful experience that has been. Most students who have been in a group with a "non revenue" student athlete will tell you what a positive experience that has been. Big difference.

6. Football players should dress like the other students...not consistently wear football sweats. Very annoying and gives the appearance the football players really believe they are better than everyone else.

7. Football players should actively support other student groups. And if football players are going to come to student groups asking for the groups to support the football team, at least they could be enthusiastic and personable. Rather, I've seen this time and time again...the football player mumbles while looking at the floor and nobody knows what is said. The one thing people do know is it is not enthusiastic.

Just wondering whether you actually know any of the football players personally? It sounds like you are making a lot of ridiculous generalizations. Maybe I am biased because I married a football player, but there are a bunch of non-athlete students who suck to work on projects with.

And players wear sweats because they get them from the athletic department. They also have to spend hours out of their day working out. I don't know who the mumbler is you are describing, but I am certain that all the players on the team don't act like that.

[FortWayneFalcon]

The reason I went to Mobile in Jan. was because I starting reading this board. It's also the reason I went to the Pitt game, and the reason I bought season tickets for the first time ever. I'm certain, absolutely positive, that none of those things would have happened if I would have never found this board. It's a good thing that season ticket renewals are not being requested for a few months.

Thank you Grant.

Dear Mr. Brandon,
You better change your tune, or not even Freak's optimism will be able to turn around the meltdown of your popularity around this board. And ,as far as I'm concerned, that would mean 4 less butts in the stands next year.

Joe S. '91

[cw08]

Just wondering whether you actually know any of the football players personally? It sounds like you are making a lot of ridiculous generalizations. Maybe I am biased because I married a football player, but there are a bunch of non-athlete students who suck to work on projects with.

I was the worst person to work on group projects with in the history of BG, I think. I was also always late for class and frequently wore sweats.

[Schadenfreude]

Okay, I've taken a day to chill out and reflect on it.

I'm still annoyed with Coach Brandon's post game comments.

Really annoyed.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Okay, I've taken a day to chill out and reflect on it.

I'm still annoyed with Coach Brandon's post game comments.

Really annoyed.

I'm still annoyed as well, but not surprised. He's blamed almost all of his players, from stars like Omar and Corey, to freshman kickers in the past, while almost never turning his keen sense of who's at fault inward. He ran out of players to blame, so now he calls out the fans, many of which supported him in spite of all his shortcomings. As some of us have said time and time and time again, he just doesn't get it. And for those that say a press-conference is meaningless because it's just "for the media and all coaches say stuff like that", the e-mail banter should drive the point home. Gregg Brandon has no idea what it takes to lead a successful football program.

I hope he either resigns or is fired shortly after the Toledo game. I'm sure he can find a good OC job somewhere making as much or more than he makes here. That's where he can be successful.