Brewster Q&A at umn.edu

[year of the gopher]

http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2010/UR_CONTENT_249936.html

My favorite quote:

“I think the things that you become more comfortable with as you move forward are handling all the demands on your time that are non-football related. Understanding the media. Learning, particularly in this market, the media’s agenda, shall I say. Obviously, I feel very comfortable now going into my fourth year with all facets of what this job entails."

 

[eker0016]

I kind of think he has realized that when he is rah-rah-rah with the media, they love it because it gives them ammo to criticize him later. Brewster made Jimmy and Pat's jobs pretty easy for a few years now.

I think he saves the rah-rah-rah stuff mainly for the recruits and the team members, now. And I'm sure he is very good at it. That's just my guess.

Good find, and it explains the change we've noticed in Brewster the last 6 months or so.

 

[Ole]

http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2010/UR_CONTENT_249936.html

My favorite quote:

“I think the things that you become more comfortable with as you move forward are handling all the demands on your time that are non-football related. Understanding the media. Learning, particularly in this market, the media’s agenda, shall I say. Obviously, I feel very comfortable now going into my fourth year with all facets of what this job entails."

I do think he was caught off guard by the local media's lack of college athletic coverage, but especially caught off guard by the local media's hatred of all things positive involving college athletics. Other places simply aren't like this, most big college football programs have at least moderate support of the local media, if not enthusiastic support. Here it's either indifference or an all out agenda of destruction and dirt.

 

[Gopher Bandanna Guy]

Interesting read, to be sure. That was my favorite quote as well. I wonder if the comfort level he's established after 4 years on the job he describes, is reflected in his somewhat surly attitude towards the press this season. He's presume he's now learned how to cope with the fact that there are not many in the press who are here to cheerlead for the program, and some even take a bit of pleasure in picking at the Gophs. If that means being a little snappy at press conferences, so be it!

 

[RodentRampage]

I do think he was caught off guard by the local media's lack of college athletic coverage, but especially caught off guard by the local media's hatred of all things positive involving college athletics. Other places simply aren't like this, most big college football programs have at least moderate support of the local media, if not enthusiastic support. Here it's either indifference or an all out agenda of destruction and dirt.

I think it's hard to get a job in this market if you don't share the poisonous attitude of the local sports media. In other markets, these people would shape up or be fired fast. But many in the local media are baffled that people get upset when they make empty cheap shots at the Gophers. If they think WE are irate, try to write like this in most markets. Maybe when some of the worst offenders retire things might improve.

The media shouldn't act like it is an unreasonable burden to be asked to cover the local team. If their analysis isn't positive, fine, just so long as it is honest: lay off cheap shots. If you don't like the coach, that's fine, but suck it up and be professional. And don't lean on the national reporters, you're SUPPOSED to know more than they know.

If Bill Gates left me all his money, I'd buy a certain radio station, clean house and put some talent on the air. People would realize they had been eating vending machine hamburgers all these years when they could have had steak.

 

[tikited]

If Bill Gates left me all his money, I'd buy a certain radio station, clean house and put some talent on the air. People would realize they had been eating vending machine hamburgers all these years when they could have had steak.

If Bill Gates left me all of his money, I'd buy a pony.

Then I'd buy a certain station and clean house. I'd finally have my own show.

 

[Gopher Bandanna Guy]

The media shouldn't act like it is an unreasonable burden to be asked to cover the local team. If their analysis isn't positive, fine, just so long as it is honest: lay off cheap shots. If you don't like the coach, that's fine, but suck it up and be professional. And don't lean on the national reporters, you're SUPPOSED to know more than they know.

NAILED IT.

 

[wels0081]

Let's be honest about this for a second. I love college sports, I think when it's pure it's one of the best things we've got going in this country.

That said, what have the Gophers or the University of Minnesota athletic department done to warrant positive coverage above and beyond what the media has covered?

The past 15 years have brought us an academic scandal that stripped a men's final four appearance, the Glen Mason era of undefeated starts and low-level bowl births, and a women's basketball coach who brought in a final four caliber team, only to ditch the university before they realized their potential.

When the hockey team won back-to-back titles it was huge news. The big regular season games were big news, local television affiliates would go and cover practice and get soundbites to use about the upcoming series.

I read Phil Miller's stuff every morning. He's the beat reporter and, like Youngblood, has done a good job in my opinion. When you've got a .500 program that the public doesn't seem to rally around, what do you expect the media to do?

If you want more coverage and bigger headlines, get the public to care. Whether that's something that needs to come from strictly wins and losses is another issue all together.



BTW... Reusse is a curmudgeon, that's his schtick. He doesn't count.

 

[RodentRampage]

Let's be honest about this for a second.

We are being honest.

That said, what have the Gophers or the University of Minnesota athletic department done to warrant positive coverage above and beyond what the media has covered?

That's irrelvant. What we deserve is quality and professionalism from the media.

When you've got a .500 program that the public doesn't seem to rally around, what do you expect the media to do?

I expect professionalism. I expect the media to inform the public, and not to talk smack or grind axes.

If you want more coverage and bigger headlines, get the public to care. Whether that's something that needs to come from strictly wins and losses is another issue all together.

It's hard to get the public to care when they are fed a constant stream of smack and bile from the media. The public does care more than the media will admit. The local media tells us that interest in the Gophers is miniscule. But attendance for football is greater than for hockey, and more radio stations cover hockey.

BTW... Reusse is a curmudgeon, that's his schtick. He doesn't count.

Let's be honest for a second, yes he does count. He'd be fired in most markets.

Oh, wait... you were being honest?

 

[GoAUpher]

Let's be honest for a second, yes he does count. He'd be fired in most markets.

That's not true. There are Reusse clones all over the country. I don't like him, I don't disagree that it's lame that he can just grind his axe any way he wants, but his style is not unique and is tolerated (if not embraced) by media outlets in lots of locations.

 

[Ole]

Let's be honest about this for a second. I love college sports, I think when it's pure it's one of the best things we've got going in this country.

Yes it is one of the treasures of America, college football is a point of local pride for so many people and regions, towns, cities, and states
That said, what have the Gophers or the University of Minnesota athletic department done to warrant positive coverage above and beyond what the media has covered?

They really shouldn't HAVE to do anything to warrant good coverage, when the Vikings go 8-8, the local feel for the franchise isn't "What a joke". Cover the team, be informed, give honest evaluations of their performance without potshots and without inserting yourself personally into the coverage

The past 15 years have brought us an academic scandal that stripped a men's final four appearance, the Glen Mason era of undefeated starts and low-level bowl births, and a women's basketball coach who brought in a final four caliber team, only to ditch the university before they realized their potential.

I'll be honest, I believe the scandal that was uncovered is chicken feed next to what other local media have known about other college programs and sit on, doesn't make it right, but the feeding frenzy that scandal created here was unreal, none of those examples warrants the coverage the Gophers get here now, especially since all the coaches and AD's etc involved have moved on long ago. You can still cover college sports with a positive or neutral light

When the hockey team won back-to-back titles it was huge news. The big regular season games were big news, local television affiliates would go and cover practice and get soundbites to use about the upcoming series.

I suppose, I don't recall local writers being swept away with Maroon and Gold pride, maybe I'm forgetting

I read Phil Miller's stuff every morning. He's the beat reporter and, like Youngblood, has done a good job in my opinion. When you've got a .500 program that the public doesn't seem to rally around, what do you expect the media to do?

Phil Miller's done his job, he's the beat writer, the answer to that question shouldn't be to rip and ridicule to .500 program until it's public perception is a joke, again an 8-8 vikings team here is not a joke

If you want more coverage and bigger headlines, get the public to care. Whether that's something that needs to come from strictly wins and losses is another issue all together.

Agreed, but it's chicken or egg. The stadium will help long term, even with .500 football, the future alumni should have better memories of their school's team and spending saturdays at the Bank going forward


BTW... Reusse is a curmudgeon, that's his schtick. He doesn't count.
Fine, he can still swell with baseball pride on occasion, he does speak fondly of local baseball teams, it's not impossible to apply his curmudgeoness to a grumbling but honest evaluation of the Gophers

.

 

[Unregistered User]

If you want more coverage and bigger headlines, get the public to care. Whether that's something that needs to come from strictly wins and losses is another issue all together.

The people who read and listen to these professionals trust them. When those same professionals them the listening and reading public that the product is not worth their time, the unfortunate result of that is the the sheep pay attention to that negativity.

The issue is not the amount of coverage, it is the lack of informed opinions.

 

[Gopher Bandanna Guy]

That said, what have the Gophers or the University of Minnesota athletic department done to warrant positive coverage above and beyond what the media has covered?

How about Tubby taking us to two NCAA appearances in 3 years AND beating Wisconsin 3 times in a row AND beating several highly ranked opponents like Louisville, Butler, Michigan State and Purdue. All this while stockpiling a roster of talented young players in the midst of off court distractions (Royce, Mbakwe, Nolen).

Yet what do those Strib hacks, Reusse and Souhan choose focus on? They hand-wring over Tubby's recruiting of a kid like Royce White, downplay the team's hot streak to get them into the Tourney, and tells us what a shame that Tubby will bolt from Minnesota for Auburn/Oregon/Insert Random School.

THAT is the very reason I have serious doubts that if Gopher football starts regularly winning 9-10 games a year, we'll see the media treat the programs better. That's when we'll see the column that tells readers not to care about the Gophers, 'cause they're not as pure and homegrown a collegiate sport as St. Johns football.

 

[Hates Monikers]

Let's be honest about this for a second. I love college sports, I think when it's pure it's one of the best things we've got going in this country.

That said, what have the Gophers or the University of Minnesota athletic department done to warrant positive coverage above and beyond what the media has covered?

The past 15 years have brought us an academic scandal that stripped a men's final four appearance, the Glen Mason era of undefeated starts and low-level bowl births, and a women's basketball coach who brought in a final four caliber team, only to ditch the university before they realized their potential.

When the hockey team won back-to-back titles it was huge news. The big regular season games were big news, local television affiliates would go and cover practice and get soundbites to use about the upcoming series.

I read Phil Miller's stuff every morning. He's the beat reporter and, like Youngblood, has done a good job in my opinion. When you've got a .500 program that the public doesn't seem to rally around, what do you expect the media to do?

If you want more coverage and bigger headlines, get the public to care. Whether that's something that needs to come from strictly wins and losses is another issue all together.



BTW... Reusse is a curmudgeon, that's his schtick. He doesn't count.

Are we really going to have to go through the quality vs. quantity argument again? Which post argued that the U has a right to positive coverage? Be informed and professional, and have at least an iota of respect for the fans. That's all anybody is really asking for.

I think everybody agrees that if negative coverage is warranted, then it's okay be negative. But being negative just because you think it attracts attention, or because you don't like the team or the coach, has become tiresome in this market.

 

[Firejumper]

That said, what have the Gophers or the University of Minnesota athletic department done to warrant positive coverage above and beyond what the media has covered?

Aside from a few articles this fall, what is this 'positive coverage' you speak of?

To answer your question, how about hundreds of student athletes that bust their asses all year long for a scholarship and the right to represent the University and the state of MN? Certainly pro sports are not such a noble cause.

 

[SMU GOPHS FAN]

Aside from a few articles this fall, what is this 'positive coverage' you speak of?

To answer your question, how about hundreds of student athletes that bust their asses all year long for a scholarship and the right to represent the University and the state of MN? Certainly pro sports are not such a noble cause.

This was proven in spades last night during the Saints/Vikes game.

 

[wels0081]

Just for the record: it's not the job of columnists and radio show hosts to be objective. Why do you guys get so wound up about this? They're there to make noise and you guys keep firing back so what they're doing is working.