Brewster the first to see the door?

[gopher22]

Brewster the first to see the door?
11:13
AM ETMinnesota Golden Gophers TopEmailIllinois coach Ron Zook and Minnesota coach Tim Brewster are on the hot seat. With a horrible 41-38 loss to South Dakota, Brewster's is probably warmer.

In a poll run by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, 67.8 percent of the 15,582 who voted said the Gophers were in need of a coaching change "right now."

Brewster actually tells the Trib he can't blame them. But he still wants them to give his team the benefit of the doubt when USC comes to town on Saturday. If Minnesota starts off 1-2, then loses to both Northern Illinois and Northwestern expect a possible early exit for Brewster.

ESPN's Bruce Feldman weighs in with his take below.

- LaRue Cook



Bruce Feldman
Brewster's in trouble

"If you're guessing who will be the first FBS coach to get fired this season, Minnesota's Tim Brewster seems like a good bet. The Gophers, who almost lost to a Middle Tennessee State team without its best player, Dwight Dasher, in the opener, turned around and lost to South Dakota at home. South Dakota, by the way, is a team that lost to UCF the previous week 38-7. Maybe Brewster ought to change his Twitter handle from Play4Brew to Pray4Brew."


http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/features/rumors/_/date/20100913

 

[gophmeister]

Looks like Brew will be coaching for his job the next few weeks. I still can't believe its come to this. He lost the one game he couldn't lose.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Looks like Brew will be coaching for his job the next few weeks. I still can't believe its come to this. He lost the one game he couldn't lose.

He was going to be on the fence all season no matter what happened. If by some small miracle, he beats Wisconsin and Iowa, all would be forgiven, at least in the short term.

 

[Schnoodler]

Well Zook got his warning, so if he doesn't show something he is gone.

Brew can probably survive with just a little luck.

Right now I'd say they are both out on the same day. But there's alot of season left.

 

[nsmike]

I don't think it's over yet for Brewster but he has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. After the Missouri beating Zook has both feet in the grave and is just waiting to be buried. I think Zook gets fired the day after the last regular season game. Maturi will sleep on it an extra day so Zook goes first.

 

[thailleagle]

Zook got his team into the Rose Bowl...Brewster has lost to *TWO* Dakota teams...

I really want them to wait til' the end of the Season with Brewster but something tells me if we go 1-4...he'll be shown the door...

 

[Schnoodler]

If he loses the team and can't recruit he's gone Munson style.

I don't see him losing the team it's one of his strengths. Recruiting??

It's just not a likely outcome. Not saying it won't happen.

 

[RodentRampage]

I don't think that Brewster will be fired before the end of the year, even if it is certain he will be fired. We're not likely to hire a replacement before the end of the year. I think the U should be looking hard at potential coaches and be ready to start interviews right after the season ends.

It's possible that this season could be Brewster's interview for his next job. A lower-tier team could consider him, figuring that maybe he's made his rookie mistakes. Of he could land a cushy job at the BTN.

 

[year of the gopher]

I don't think that Brewster will be fired before the end of the year, even if it is certain he will be fired. We're not likely to hire a replacement before the end of the year. I think the U should be looking hard at potential coaches and be ready to start interviews right after the season ends.

It's possible that this season could be Brewster's interview for his next job. A lower-tier team could consider him, figuring that maybe he's made his rookie mistakes. Of he could land a cushy job at the BTN.

If we start the season 1-4, he should be gone. It will allow Maturi to beat other schools to other top candidates.

I hope that doesn't happen. In fact, I hope Brew is still here next year after he turns this ship around this week.

 

[RodentRampage]

If we start the season 1-4, he should be gone. It will allow Maturi to beat other schools to other top candidates.

I hope that doesn't happen. In fact, I hope Brew is still here next year after he turns this ship around this week.

I don't see how this helps us. The top candidates will be busy with their current teams until the end of the season anyway.

 

[wdgold]

I don't think that Brewster will be fired before the end of the year, even if it is certain he will be fired. We're not likely to hire a replacement before the end of the year. I think the U should be looking hard at potential coaches and be ready to start interviews right after the season ends.

It's possible that this season could be Brewster's interview for his next job. A lower-tier team could consider him, figuring that maybe he's made his rookie mistakes. Of he could land a cushy job at the BTN.

No matter what you hear from Maturi about his commitment to keep Brew till the end of the season I think based on last saturday it is all up in the air at this point and I don't think even Maturi deep down knows whether he or Brew will make it through the season. Just a thought.

 

[year of the gopher]

I don't see how this helps us. The top candidates will be busy with their current teams until the end of the season anyway.

Sure, just like coaches never interview for other jobs during the season or between the regular season and bowl games...it happens all the time.

At a minimum, the time could be used to identify potential candidates, gauge interest, and whittle down the list to a few to go after at the end of the season.

As I mentioned, I hope it's not necessary, both because I want to see the team turn it around and also because firing a whole coaching staff (which in reality is what happens when the HC is fired) is not an easy thing for the players, coaches, and recruits PLUS coaches' families, etc. My wife worked with the wife of a coach on Mason's staff and it's extremely difficult for families who have built a life in this area and around this team to all of a sudden get the boot. It's even worse than firing someone from a "regular job" because these people generally have to move to another area of the country to find work.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Bingo.

If he loses the team and can't recruit he's gone Munson style.

I don't see him losing the team it's one of his strengths. Recruiting??

It's just not a likely outcome. Not saying it won't happen.

Apparently I'm in the minority here and I know a lot of the anti-Brewster crowd don't want to hear this but I think this is the number one factor right now in keeping his job, MUCH moreso than wins and losses.

The ONLY way I see Brewster losing his job this year, at all, is if it becomes painfully obvious to the adminstration/athletic department that he has lost the locker room and/or coaching staff. At this point, that seems far from the case.

There are TEN (10) games left in the season. At this point, I wouldn't bet my paycheck that there is more than a 15-20% chance that Brewster is NOT the head coach next season. I just don't see the University that eager and willing to throw down the cash to buy him out and start the process all over again to find another guy.

I don't have a clue if Brewster is the man for the job or not but I'm betting he gets next year to prove it one way or the other. I know that's incredibly painful for some of you but from everything I'm hearing, that's how I see this thing playing out.

 

[dpodoll68]

Sure, just like coaches never interview for other jobs during the season

I'd like for you to find me evidence of a college football coach, currently employed as such, interviewing for another college football job in September. Or October, for that matter.

Thanks in advance!

 

[year of the gopher]

I'd like for you to find me evidence of a college football coach, currently employed as such, interviewing for another college football job in September. Or October, for that matter.

Thanks in advance!

Feeling irritable today? I never said they interviewed in September or October, so feel free to act all pr!ckish and challenge me on something I never said.

It IS quite common though for coaches to interview for a job and even leave the team well before said team's bowl game. See Brian Kelly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Kelly_(coach)

All I'm saying is that if there comes a time that a change is going to be made, it might be best to do it during the season and start gauging interest so that a hire can be made early on, so as not to saddle the new coach with a short recruiting window (ala Brewster in 2007).

 

[dpodoll68]

Feeling irritable today? I never said they interviewed in September or October, so feel free to act all pr!ckish and challenge me on something I never said.

It IS quite common though for coaches to interview for a job and even leave the team well before said team's bowl game. See Brian Kelly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Kelly_(coach)

All I'm saying is that if there comes a time that a change is going to be made, it might be best to do it during the season and start gauging interest so that a hire can be made early on, so as not to saddle the new coach with a short recruiting window (ala Brewster in 2007).

I never said that you said that. However, RR's point was that a new coach couldn't come right now anyway. Which he is 100% correct on (not any coach currently employed, at least - and why would we want someone unemployed right now anyway?) And you said "coaches interview during the season all the time." A. No, not during the regular season, they don't; and B. Whether or not coaches interview before a bowl game (which, yes, they do, all the time) has no bearing on making a firing decision in September or October.

 

[Maroon]

I don't see how this helps us. The top candidates will be busy with their current teams until the end of the season anyway.

Mike Bellotti's not busy right now.

 

[year of the gopher]

I never said that you said that. However, RR's point was that a new coach couldn't come right now anyway. Which he is 100% correct on (not any coach currently employed, at least - and why would we want someone unemployed right now anyway?) And you said "coaches interview during the season all the time." A. No, not during the regular season, they don't; and B. Whether or not coaches interview before a bowl game (which, yes, they do, all the time) has no bearing on making a firing decision in September or October.

Well, you wanted me to offer evidence of something I never argued occurred. So if you agree I never said that, why bother. And RR never said that his point was that a new coach would come right now nor did I ever infer that they could.

Anyway, I don't want to get in a pissing match over a hypothetical. Creating the opening, though, could allow Maturi to gauge the interest of other coaches so a hire could be made in November or December rather than January, allowing the new coach to work the recruiting circuit much harder.

All I am saying, and I hope it does not come to this, is that if the wheels really come off by mid-October Maturi should make the move without wasting any time.

 

[dpodoll68]

And RR never said that his point was that a new coach would come right now

No, he didn't. That's the whole point.

nor did I ever infer that they could

"just like coaches never interview for other jobs during the season"

Actually, that's exactly what you said.

Creating the opening, though, could allow Maturi to gauge the interest of other coaches so a hire could be made in November or December rather than January, allowing the new coach to work the recruiting circuit much harder.

All I am saying, and I hope it does not come to this, is that if the wheels really come off by mid-October Maturi should make the move without wasting any time.

100% agreed. But, again, that's not what you said. "Gauging interest" and "sending out feelers" is much, much different than "interview(ing) for other jobs during the season."

 

[year of the gopher]

No, he didn't. That's the whole point.



"just like coaches never interview for other jobs during the season"

Actually, that's exactly what you said.



100% agreed. But, again, that's not what you said. "Gauging interest" and "sending out feelers" is much, much different than "interview(ing) for other jobs during the season."

Let me say it loud and clear. I NEVER said or insinuated that a new coach could come in during the middle of the season. Find it and quote it and I'll believe you. What I said is Maturi could start contacting people and narrowing the list.

I did say that they could interview during the season, yes. They could. Why not? A discrete interview, even a preliminary phone interview during the season is very plausible. I may not have been clear about what I meant "happens all the time", which is not formal interviews during the regular season (but includes formal interviews before bowl games).

If you think there's never any contact with those coaches during the regular season (again, to gauge interest and/or to have a discrete phone interview even by a search firm), then I think you're a fool.

I think we probably agree on this topic and for some reason you are trying to paint me into a corner of saying something I'm not. Take a frickin' pill and enjoy the game tomorrow.

 

[SMU GOPHS FAN]

Whenever the axe falls, I would get Al Golden on the phone and ask what will it take for you to forget about PSU and come here and then I would give him whatever he asks.

 

[gophermartin]

If we start the season 1-4, he should be gone. It will allow Maturi to beat other schools to other top candidates.

I hope that doesn't happen. In fact, I hope Brew is still here next year after he turns this ship around this week.

Agreed. Me too.

Looking forward to my trip up to TCF for homecoming no matter what.
GM