Brewster is different

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[censored] said:
Is it? Does he get paid by the answer? How does that work?
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Yes it is.

http://www.coacheshotseat.com/MinnesotaCoachesHotSeat.pdf

See item I.1.2.1.d. - "Representing the University's Team program, and cooperating with the Department in fulfilling contracts with or requests from, the news media, including appearances on radio and television".

One could also argue that item f. falls under this umbrella - "Representing in a positive fashion the University and its athletic programs in private and public forums".

Portion III explicitly states that he may be terminated for failing to "perform the duties required by Section 1.2", part of which is the "media clause" referenced above.

You will note under item II.2.4. that he gets paid $400,000 a year in "supplemental compensation" for "media, fundraising, community involvement, and endorsements of apparel and shoes".

"Media relations" clauses are pretty standard in virtually all NCAA coaching contracts, especially for DI-A football and D-I basketball.
 

GopherGod said:
Please the media pressure here is alot easier than at many other BCS jobs, most of the time the media just ignores the team and doesn't cover them at all. When the gophers are covered it is hardly front page news where every word of the coaches and players is dissected as it is at many other programs.
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I'm not suggesting there is intense media pressure here. I'm suggesting the constant negative press whenever the football program is discussed and how that influences the general masses can beat a man down. It is not pressure. It is just a wearing down of a man's willingness to do things. On top of that, coaches live in their own worlds. They may perceive things to be far sharper than reality. Coaches often times don't live in reality. They live in perception and that perception can make your own little cacoon seem mighty small (and that holds true at tons of coaching jobs, not just MN).

Pressure is intense in places like Tennessee, Nebraska, and Florida, etc. No question. What separates MN is the lack of good reporting here. At college football hotbeds reporters do their job, are well-informed, and generally aren't trying to stir the pot, etc. They live it and breath it. Here, it can beat you down when you make efforts to change perception and those efforts (good, solid efforts) are met with snarky jokes, smart aleck comments, verbal jabs, pointed arrows, etc., from guys who rarely ever attend games, go to news conferences, or take any hard interest in the program and some of whom take downright glee in the Gopher misfortunes. It is an incredibly and embarrassingly uninformed media with regards to Gopher football here and that makes the job of selling the program very tough.

My suggestion is that when trying to build a program the environment at MN (as stated above) is far more toxic than an environment of high scrutiny and high expectations (like a Neb.). As I said, it can beat a good man down.
 

GopherGod said:
He will get a greater level of appreciation when he finishes the job, don't expect him to get tons of pats on the back for trying hard but not achieving the goal. He also knew what he was getting into and is financially rewarded very well for the work he does. Does he put in a lot of hours, he probably does as does virtually every other Division 1 football coach.
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Excellent take... also remember this: if not for this situation -- the struggles over the last 40+ years -- does Brewster even get to interview for this job? He knew what he was getting into.
 


Doogie said:
Excellent take... also remember this: if not for this situation -- the struggles over the last 40+ years -- does Brewster even get to interview for this job? He knew what he was getting into.
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I doubt he knew how pathetic the media coverage is. He probably figured that a Big Ten team in a fairly affluent market (lots of college educated people, many from the U) would have football reporters who knew football. What a thought.
 

He probably also thought that the collective media also cared a lot more... for the most part, many never show up at practice or games... although on practice, in his 1st year we had great access... now, we get to see them stretch and run a couple drills... we are kicked out after a few minutes, and don't see 80-90% of what they do. That though is not all that different from most BCS schools... just curious as to why it changed.
 

One thing that has struck me about Brewster is he does seem to be more worn out certain weeks in comparison to others, I take this from being at all of the radio shows the past few years.
I wouldn't go as far as to say the team's performance is predictable by his energy level and demeanor, but I will say that he was most run down looking before the Air Force game last year(big time pressure to win that one), and most energetic and upbeat before the MSU game(He called the opening TD to us on Thursday at our table, I think they knew they could pass on Sparty) .

I do think he runs himself ragged early in the season, and actually seemed to recharge as the season went on. No excuse for snapping on reporters, but maybe an explanation.
 

Doogie said:
He probably also thought that the collective media also cared a lot more... for the most part, many never show up at practice or games... although on practice, in his 1st year we had great access... now, we get to see them stretch and run a couple drills... we are kicked out after a few minutes, and don't see 80-90% of what they do. That though is not all that different from most BCS schools... just curious as to why it changed.
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I think, with no inside information, that he opened it up to try to get more coverage and excitement and thought that the extra exposure would offset the potential downfall. Since there was virtually no extra exposure or interest it doesn't offset potential negatives.
 



gold04 said:
I know Brewster probably feels like he's accomplished alot but so far we are stuck in medocrity like we were with Mase. In order for Brewster to get the respect that he wants for himself and the football program then he needs to start winning big games. He needs to win trophy games and games against teams like USC. This year we have five big games (OSU, PSU, IOWA, WISC, and USC). Four of those games are at home. Let's win at least two of those games. This is his fourth year and it's time we start winning some of those games. Look at coach Fitz in Northwestern. He is 3-0 as a coach against the Hawkeyes in Iowa. Purdue's coach in his first year beat OSU. These were guys that didn't inherit the greatest teams either. Brewster has got to start winning some of those games. Until he does that, he will get no respect from the media. I know that the media can be unfair and hard on the Gophers. The best way to shut up the media and get respect is to win.
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All of that rings true except for this"I know Brewster probably feels like he's accomplished alot" no, you don't know that.
 

tjgopher said:
I'm not suggesting there is intense media pressure here. I'm suggesting the constant negative press whenever the football program is discussed and how that influences the general masses can beat a man down. It is not pressure. It is just a wearing down of a man's willingness to do things. On top of that, coaches live in their own worlds. They may perceive things to be far sharper than reality. Coaches often times don't live in reality. They live in perception and that perception can make your own little cacoon seem mighty small (and that holds true at tons of coaching jobs, not just MN).

Pressure is intense in places like Tennessee, Nebraska, and Florida, etc. No question. What separates MN is the lack of good reporting here. At college football hotbeds reporters do their job, are well-informed, and generally aren't trying to stir the pot, etc. They live it and breath it. Here, it can beat you down when you make efforts to change perception and those efforts (good, solid efforts) are met with snarky jokes, smart aleck comments, verbal jabs, pointed arrows, etc., from guys who rarely ever attend games, go to news conferences, or take any hard interest in the program and some of whom take downright glee in the Gopher misfortunes. It is an incredibly and embarrassingly uninformed media with regards to Gopher football here and that makes the job of selling the program very tough.

My suggestion is that when trying to build a program the environment at MN (as stated above) is far more toxic than an environment of high scrutiny and high expectations (like a Neb.). As I said, it can beat a good man down.
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The problem in this town isn't primarily with the sports reporters being glib or negative. Its with the opinion columnists or radio hosts. And this is something that is true in major football hotbeds too (see: Finebaum, Paul in Alabama). That's b/c those guys get paid for ratings and they'll stir the pot just b/c. That said, guys like Finebaum also know how to play to the homers too and they mix up their schtick. Here being relentlessly negative is the schtick.
 

EG#9 said:
You have Tom Powers calling him Brother Brewster,
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I wouldn't put Powers in that category. I always took it as a compliment....like when Powers listens to him, he's ready to suit up and run through a wall for him. He seems to be pretty objective...borderline positive the majority of the time.
 

Doogie said:
He probably also thought that the collective media also cared a lot more... for the most part, many never show up at practice or games... although on practice, in his 1st year we had great access... now, we get to see them stretch and run a couple drills... we are kicked out after a few minutes, and don't see 80-90% of what they do. That though is not all that different from most BCS schools... just curious as to why it changed.
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I'd have some guesses but I don't run in the same circles as you. Why do you think it changed?
 



Were they the only Big Ten team that allowed reporters to watch the whole time? Was it a feel-good gesture in his first year? Not sure.
 

Do you feel that the quality of Gopher coverage was better back then, or since many didn't take advantage of it, it is really a wash?
 

I remember very well many of the same posters said how the new coach would handle the press better and therefore get better press. Perhaps the coach is finding that this job is not as easy as he and others thought it was?
 

GoAUpher said:
The problem in this town isn't primarily with the sports reporters being glib or negative. Its with the opinion columnists or radio hosts. And this is something that is true in major football hotbeds too (see: Finebaum, Paul in Alabama). That's b/c those guys get paid for ratings and they'll stir the pot just b/c. That said, guys like Finebaum also know how to play to the homers too and they mix up their schtick. Here being relentlessly negative is the schtick.
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This goes on in every city. I can't believe you guys are still talking about this year after year. Worry about the state of the football program and not what the big mean guys on the talk box say.
 

Khaliq said:
This goes on in every city. I can't believe you guys are still talking about this year after year. Worry about the state of the football program and not what the big mean guys on the talk box say.
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One of the changes that is happening is the boys on the box are coming on to the site. I'm sure you can even agree that changes things.
 

Khaliq said:
This goes on in every city. I can't believe you guys are still talking about this year after year. Worry about the state of the football program and not what the big mean guys on the talk box say.
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How about if you stop worrying about what the big mean people on the Gopherhole say?
 


Brewster's media access is somewhere in the middle. Illinois has in the past had their entire practice open. Ohio State has had one day a week fully open to reporters.

People like to rip on the questions asked by reporters, but it is also difficult to ask completely intelligent questions when you can't see what is going on. Once they play some games, it gets better.

Also, the advent of streaming press opportunities is bad for both sides. Both sides have jobs to do and it isn't always what the other side wants. There are times when a coach doesn't like what a reporter is asking or doesn't like what a reporter recently wrote. Sometimes the coach is in a crabby mood because practice didn't go well and it gets taken out on the reporter. Most of the time things can be contentious for one day and they are back to normal.

Take a look at your job. Do you have conversations with people through the course of the day that aren't always super awesome. Say some tough negotiations over price. Or maybe a customer who is a PITA. Some days are probably good and others aren't as great. Would you want that broadcast on the internet every day?

Brewster isn't always sunshine and flowers, just like Mason wasn't always sunshine and flowers. I don't think things have changed that much.

And for those people who fall into the 'screw 'em' camp, I'll leave you this: I am of the belief that non-superstar coaches who have bad relationships with their beat writers will cost themselves about $1 million and maybe more. A good relationship with the press can get a coach one more year before being fired and that is worth at least $1 million.
 

Khaliq said:
That would be milquetoast not mean.
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Milquetoast would be rolling over to the media, which you seem to favor. Instead, we should all down to you. If we won't you'll call us milquetoasts. Gee, that really stings. :rolleyes:
 

I don't think you can have a good relationship with this media. It is hilarious the media complaining about Brewster "mocking" the media. Oh, kettle, thou art black.
 

It never fails to amaze me how much smarter everyone on this board is than me. I need some bigger words.
 

ruralgopher said:
It never fails to amaze me how much smarter everyone on this board is than me. I need some bigger words.
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Iceland does it better justice then me, so forgive my poor attempt. However ask and you shall receive.
 

I just don't think it matters what kind of mood Brewster is in or what kind of relationship he has with the media. Who cares! He's a football coach. He is supposed to run a clean program for the "U" and to win football games. That's really all that matters. So far, relatively speaking, the clean program part looks good. The winning football games part is where he is still lacking.
 

Goldy223123 said:
He is supposed to run a clean program for the "U" and to win football games. That's really all that matters.
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No. As has been the entire point of this thread, there is a lot more nuance to it than that.

Your point was true 60 years ago, but not anymore. You can be successful and keep your job by doing just those those things, but the true greats do a lot more than that.
 

You can be successful and keep your job by doing just those those things, but the true greats do a lot more than that.[/QUOTE]

I don't think we should be asking or expecting Brewster to do things that would make him a "true great" when he seems in over his head just trying to survive in the Big Ten!
 

Doogie said:
Excellent take... also remember this: if not for this situation -- the struggles over the last 40+ years -- does Brewster even get to interview for this job? He knew what he was getting into.
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This is the classic media attitude towards Brew. He's not good enough to get a "real" D-1 job, so let's rip on him at every moment. Nice justification.

Do you think that a great experienced coach would even think about stepping into this job? One that the media darlings will bow to?? Hell no. We need a green coach that will hopefully develop into a good coach. Brew fits that, but has received very little support from most of our lovely media. I know, the media's job isn't to be a cheerleader, but at least be fair on the situation. If you look at it, Brew has done ok. A great job would be beating a ranked team and win a few trophy games this year.

PS: I have been pleased with the recent Gopher fb coverage. It has been pretty good.
 

LC19 said:
This is the classic media attitude towards Brew. He's not good enough to get a "real" D-1 job, so let's rip on him at every moment. Nice justification.

Do you think that a great experienced coach would even think about stepping into this job? One that the media darlings will bow to?? Hell no. We need a green coach that will hopefully develop into a good coach. Brew fits that, but has received very little support from most of our lovely media. I know, the media's job isn't to be a cheerleader, but at least be fair on the situation. If you look at it, Brew has done ok. A great job would be beating a ranked team and win a few trophy games this year.

PS: I have been pleased with the recent Gopher fb coverage. It has been pretty good.
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Sorry, but that's silly. This is a BCS job in the Big Ten. One that has its issues, but if the U had wanted they could have found an "experienced" coach who would have taken the job. Charlie Strong comes to mind.

Also, where do you get the whole "real" D-1 job thing? That's not what Doogie said. All he pointed out was if the Gophers had been more successful over the last 40 years the U wouldn't have even considered an inexperienced candidate. I think that is true. If you disagree, that's fine. But I fail to see how holding that opinion is some big slam on Brewster.
 

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