Complacency and Excuses.

[jpfalcon09]

It's a sign of a defeated coach who doesn't know what to do. It's very sad to see the current state of BG football in such disarray, but to hear those comments is sickening and to me shows how little faith Mr. Brandon has in his team.

If he's going to blame our problems on recruiting, then he needs to take his leave and let someone else take over who knows what they're doing.

If Bowling Green does not make a hard push after this season is over to get a new coach and new staff, then I believe it'll be the Blackney-Era all over again.

Here's to hoping our boys can stick it out for 3 more games, and at least give us a chance at going to the championship game.

[Dayons_Den]

Sure I am down on him as everyone is and those comments suck, but come on some of you sound like you are ready to run him out of town?!!!!!


Over the years I often asked my Dad and thought how BGSU could have let a great coach like Don Nehlen go and my dad's response was "He went 6-5 a season after going 8-3 and that wasn't good enough for some folks in town"

What did he do after BG? Oh yeah that's right turned West Virginia into a household football name, should have won a National Title and got inducted into the Hall of Fame. Now I guess I know how this could have happened, you people can't be old enough to have run him out of town too, can you?!!?

I am not saying Gregg Brandon is the next Don Nehlen by any means, I have been very critical of him as well, but he certainly isn't Moe Ankeny either and last year (by sticking thru Mobile) he showed he was no Denny Stolz. . .

But come on lets take a reality check here, give the guy some time with the program and R-E-L-A-X a little.

I was as sad/angry/dissapointed/wanting to break things following the last two pathetic weeks of football but for real y'all get a grip.

[FalconAwesome]

But, we need to realize that there is more to life than winning, and that the young men we cheer through thick and thin are students who are here to get their education first and foremost.

That being said, judging from these comments, if Gregg Brandon is one of the people these student athletes are learning from, it is time for a change because they are recieving a sub-par education.

Well said, Matt. This is why I am upset. Not only are we losing the games, we are not doing any teaching or showing any professionalism. To blame 18-22 year old kids for the coaching staff's failures on the radio is not good for anyone. What purpose does that serve? Show a little accountability to your team and your fans.

[Dr. Bucko]

Any coach that goes into Div I coaching knows that it's a gamble. You either produce/entertain or you leave. It's a matter of alumni ego/pride/money. These coaches make a ton of money ---- some make more in one year than most of you (certainly me) will earn in a life time. And many if not most of those who do get fired can laugh all the way to the bank. And most, unless they are at the top of the ladder, are always looking for a better opportunity (the MAC is nothing more than a stepping stone for most coaches) and probably have no sense of loyality even though they preach loyalty to their staff/athletes. Take Urban M. for example. So the University/alum shouldn't feel sorry for these guys. This once highly productive football team at BG is in a state of atrophy (decay) and things probably aren't gonna get better with the present coaching staff. The recruiting class was a disaster last year (and I said so at the time, but caught holy hell from a lot of contributors to this Web), and unless there is vast improvement in this department this year, this team will be in deep do-do. How is it that Western Mich. got soooooo many outstanding recruits (they started 9 freshmen against BG and they beat the hell out of us) and we got the 80th ranked or something like that -- class in the country. Whatever, I'm still a Falcon fan and I hope to remain so. I got through Moe Ankey, Blackney, and I'll get through Brandon. ------ Just for me, Mr. Brandon, lets have some razzle-dazzles against Kent and let Turner put the ball down the field on 3rd and 6; we don't need any more of these lateral passes for two-inch gains.

[Redwingtom]

I was surprised by the comments a little...but c'mon people...you are hanging on every little word he says like Toledo fans.

To play devil's advocate a bit, NONE of us know what recruits we lost because of coaching changes, only GB would know that. Also, we have a recruiting coordinator, Troy Rothenbuhler (sp?) I believe is his name. And there have been other coaching changes on our staff not just head coaching changes.

My take on all this is that he is just straining to do some explaining without bashing the kids on the team too much. And those who heard the show know that he said at least twice that coaching and preparation were not good and needs to be improved.

And again...what you hear in the media is in no way a 100% representation of what goes on in meetings and in the locker room. Besides, I seriously doubt any players even listen to AM radio in the afternoon anyway, assuming the signal is making it all the way to BG. They would either be in class, practicing, doing homework, the chicken dance, etc.

[Falconboy]

Is this thread a downer. :ugh: As much as I agree with Hammb and others that Coach Brandon has a ton of growing up to do in HC department, I still dont' want' to fire him yet or anything. We got him till '08 , lets see if he doens't do better in the recruiting end of things. What he said on the radio about not doin well recruiting being our woes, he's half right.

Its mainly the defensive recruiting thats not gotten great attention. It took us until last year to make any kind of effort into DL and linebacker recruiting. Since most of those guys like Fredricks, Basler, Lawrence and others are redshirting , I would like to see if these guys with major strengh and weight training next year can yield better results.

One thing that the coaching staff could do to help our defense in a big way is the proper assignment of defensive positions for the players. Lets get these guys into their proper positions and let em make the kind of plays they can make.

[Falconfreak90]

The jury is still out, IMO. DD brings up some great points about Nehlen. Look at Earle Bruce. The dude won at least 8 games a year, beat Mich more than he lost to them and won bowl games and those crazy idiots in Columbus ran the guy outta town. Look at Frank Solich. Same deal.

BG hasn't lost back to back games in FIVE years.....FIVE YEARS. We've played the majority of the season without are best player, Pope, and the guy responsible for almost 70% of our offense the last 2 games.

NIU has had their injuries to key players and is struggling as well.

I am as disappointed and frustrated as anyone with the way the season has gone. But we still have a pretty good chance at winning the East. There is a lot of football to be played. Akron WILL lose another game or two...they are very inconsistent like many MAC teams this year.

GB hasn't had to deal with adversity as a HC....I think we'll find out a lot more in the next few weeks how he deals with it. I didn't hear the interview so I cannot comment on that.

If Coach is so bad, I say we call up Minnesota and bring back Moe Ankney. Talk about a guy that had no clue....

BEAT KENT!!!

[Schadenfreude]

Over the years I often asked my Dad and thought how BGSU could have let a great coach like Don Nehlen go and my dad's response was "He went 6-5 a season after going 8-3 and that wasn't good enough for some folks in town"

There was more to it than that.

From what I understand, the lynch mob lit up its torches after Nehlen ran the ball on a critical fourth down against Miami. I think Don thought it was third down... the first down marker or the scoreboard may have had it wrong.

[orangeandbrown]

SF, yes and no. There was a big screw up down at Miami, but the administation was mostly tired of finished second in the MAC, based on my recollection.

[Falconfreak90]

SF, yes and no. There was a big screw up down at Miami, but the administation was mostly tired of finished second in the MAC, based on my recollection.

Talk about frustrating....BG finished 2nd almost every year under Nehlen. First it was UT that went on that 35 game unbeaten streak from 69-71. Then Miami goes 32-1-1 from 1973-75. Kent won the title in 1972.

[h2oville rocket]

Kent won the title

Not a sentence you will see very often.

[1987alum]

Kent won the title

Not a sentence you will see very often.

No kidding!

[BGSU33]

All I will add to this post about all of this is this. I didn't hear the interview on the radio earlier this week, but I did hear his postgame interview after the Akron game on my way home. As my fiancee and I listened to the broadcast in the car (me in complete disgust, her impartial because she didn’t got to BG), after Coach Brandon was finished, she said to me that he seemed to be pointing his finger at everyone else but himself. Granted, he in only one person, but as THE head coach of a team, he is the person ultimately responsible for the team. Now he didn’t go out there and fumble at the goal line and he didn’t botch a kickoff and he didn’t miss a tackle. But at some point in his broadcast, it would have been nice to at least hear him take a little responsibility for what happened out there. Would that have changed the outcome? No. But as head coach, it would have been nice to hear that, or even the tone in his voice he’s at least pissed off. It was as if he was giving a book report, there was little emotion IMO. Just my two cents.

[NIUBro]

Sounds like fans from both of our teams are still reeling from recent events. I was at the Ball State game and we left shaking our heads and wondering what the Heck happened.
We both have the chance to meet for the MAC championship if we both run the table. CMU and Toledo on the road will be tough for us. I think that most NIU fans really do hate Toledo and think of BG as a better rivalry for us. I personally wish that Toledo had moved divisions and you guys stayed with us but I don't run things.
Good luck and lets hope we play each other this year.

[Falconfreak90]

Sounds like fans from both of our teams are still reeling from recent events. I was at the Ball State game and we left shaking our heads and wondering what the Heck happened.
We both have the chance to meet for the MAC championship if we both run the table. CMU and Toledo on the road will be tough for us. I think that most NIU fans really do hate Toledo and think of BG as a better rivalry for us. I personally wish that Toledo had moved divisions and you guys stayed with us but I don't run things.
Good luck and lets hope we play each other this year.

No doubt. This league has been crazy this year.

I would love to see BG and NIU play for the title.

Best of luck down the stretch.