Agreed. And it should be publically stated by Maturi that in 2010 Brewster needs to:
A.Beat at least one rivalry school. And that glorified bowling trophy we play PSU for doesn't count
B.Finish 4-4 or better in the BT
C.Get invited to a bowl game of at least the Alamo bowl in caliber (or whatever bowl the BT is tied in with next year that's equivalent).
If Brewster doesn't go 3 fer 3 on those things, its time to clean out your desk. And Maturi needs to start doing the legwork now to start identifying a replacement. Its stupefying to me that in late 2006 Mason was on double secret probation, and it was only a 52 yard FG by the TT kicker that got our new coaching search in motion. Maturi will need to pull a hiring of the Tubby level out of his azz.
I think he'll be fired at the end of this season barring a win over Iowa or a bowl win, neither of which seem likely.
Twelve years. They simplify the offensive scheme next year and Gray beats out Weber in an open spring training. Team goes 9-3 beats two trophy opponents and Brewster gets a 5 year extension.
I have been thinking what you wrote. Next spring practice is all we will hear is about how Fisch has simplified the offense and everyone is happy.
As for Mason, whose name keeps popping up, I think the Texas Tech game was the last nail in the coffin, but the lion's share of that coffin was built with games like the 10-9 win over NDSU. My guess is Mason would have only lasted one more year anyway, as the team that would have took the field in 2007 under him would have probably been a 4-8 team (maybe 5-7 at best).
Mason had a decent base on the O line, especially at LT and LG, and his younger linemen always got better. Mason would not have squandered that talent as Brewster did. Amir Pinnix, Decker, and Wheelright would have had a big years.
Weber would have been good in that offense.
2007 Under Mason, the team would have won 6,7, or 8 games, without question. 9 if things went their way. The system would have taken pressure off the defense. The running game would have been much more settled than it was for the first 2/3 of 2006.
Wins: Bowling Green, Miami OH, FAU, NDSU, Indiana,
Possible Wins: Purdue, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Illinois
likely losses: Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State
DATE OPPONENT W/L SCORE ATTEND Unde
------------ ------------------------ --- ----- ------
Sep. 1, 2007 BOWLING GREEN LOT 31-32 49253
Sep. 8, 2007 MIAMI (OHIO) W OT 41-35 45383
Sep 15, 2007 at Florida Atlantic L 39-42 1075
*Sep 22, 2007 PURDUE L 31-45 47483
*Sep 29, 2007 #8 OHIO STATE L 7-30 51611
*Oct 06, 2007 at Indiana L 20-40 32009
*Oct 13, 2007 at Northwestern LOT 48-49 23314
Oct 20, 2007 NORTH DAKOTA STATE L 21-27 63088
*Oct 27, 2007 at #19 Michigan L 10-34 109432
*Nov 03, 2007 ILLINOIS L 17-44 46604
*Nov 10, 2007 at Iowa L 16-21 70585
*Nov 17, 2007 #24 WISCONSIN L 34-41 59116
I think the real conundrum for the administration is this: The only real coaching knack that Brew has shown so far is recruiting. However, it will be tough for Brew to recruit without an extension. However, he's done nothing at this point to warrent an extension. IIRC, next year is the last of his contract (perhaps he has two more, I could be wrong). It would be foolish for the U at this point to extend Brew after this season, and barring a top tier finish in the Big 10 next year, a long term extension would not be warranted either at that time either. The last this program needs is to be paying another out of work coach.
Let's look at Brew's strengths: Right now, the best that can be said is that his recruitment is an improvement over the previous regime. That might be it. Maybe throw in that Brew has done a prettty good diplomatic job with the in-state highschool programs although I can't speak to the current state of those relationships. At one point, one could point to the buzz the Brewster had created for the program. I don't think the same can be said anymore. At this point, there is just as much negative vibe about the program, if not more, than the positive.
Let's look at the weaknesses. Although Brew has improved recruiting, he's done so at the risk of academic integrity. He has taken at risk recruits, has failed to improve the academic standing of this team, without any improvement of the on field performance. His teams lack discipline, both on and off the field. He hasn't shown adminstrative leadership and judgment (see the revolving door of coordinators). There is no team "identity" (save lack of discipline). Although there is much talk of how bare the cupboard was when he took over, his supposedly superior recruits still sit on the bench in deference to Mase recruits. With a plethora of returning starters, he was unable to deliver an upper division finish in a very mediocre Big 10. His teams haven't even been competitive, as many posters assert. They were whipped by Wiscy, OSU, PSU and even Illinois. They spotted a mediocre Cal team 14 and managed to make a game of it thanks to the heroics of one player (Decker). They squeaked by a bad Syracuse team. They have yet to win a trinket game or a game against a I-A team in November. He has gotten into sophomoric, undignified pi$$ing matches with the local media. Perhaps most egregious is that there are many, many empty seats at the much celebrated brand new, undersized stadium (there really is no buzz around the team or stadium).
I think the last sentence, more than anything, might be the tipping point if Maturi gives coach the hook. The administration ought to shutter at the thought of 10,000 Hawkeye fans at TCF next fall, which, given recent events, could be a real possibility. A bad loss to Iowa next week and Maturi gives him the hook.
he might have lost some of the fans, but I can tell you from what I have seen, he hasn't lost the locker room, those kids love Brew--
The wretched on field results combined with the BS talk have turned off the public. The momentum of a new stadium has been lost after one year.
It will be worse by about mid afternoon next Saturday.
The stadium will not be sold out next year, and Panthhawk will be proven correct.
In fact all the empty seats gave Pantherhawk valid ammunition. How were there more students in the seats in 2003 through 2006 than this year???????
Agreed. And it should be publically stated by Maturi that in 2010 Brewster needs to:
A.Beat at least one rivalry school. And that glorified bowling trophy we play PSU for doesn't count
B.Finish 4-4 or better in the BT
C.Get invited to a bowl game of at least the Alamo bowl in caliber (or whatever bowl the BT is tied in with next year that's equivalent).
If Brewster doesn't go 3 fer 3 on those things, its time to clean out your desk. And Maturi needs to start doing the legwork now to start identifying a replacement. Its stupefying to me that in late 2006 Mason was on double secret probation, and it was only a 52 yard FG by the TT kicker that got our new coaching search in motion. Maturi will need to pull a hiring of the Tubby level out of his azz.