David Shama: Give Brewster Time to Coach His Team

[BleedGopher]

From Shama:

Give Brewster Time to Coach His Team

Fans are justifiably upset with last Saturday’s loss to South Dakota but the extremists asking for the firing of coach Tim Brewster are wrong.

The Gophers have 10 games remaining on their schedule. Brewster, his staff and players deserve the opportunity to show what they can do in those games starting with Saturday’s home game against Southern California.

Brewster believes that his squad has more athleticism, football talent and potential than his previous teams. You can be sure University officials are going to give Brewster every chance in the weeks ahead to earn some wins. They’re not going to make a change in September.

The loss to a South Dakota team that is part of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) was a “hot poker” to the faces of angry fans who have been upset for decades with Gopher football. There was frustration coming into this season as Brewster started his fourth year with a losing record and fans found much to complain about after the 41-38 loss on Saturday.

But it makes no sense not to allow Brewster to see what he can do in the remaining nonconference games and the eight Big Ten Conference games that follow. No one knows how the Gophers will play in those games.

What’s certain is Gopher football has the potential to be better than it is, much better. The public should continue to be outspoken. The emails, phone calls and letters that are flying around this town might be the best hope for helping Brewster or whoever is coaching the Gophers in the years ahead.

A public demanding that the University make winning football a priority is a healthy first step. Historically the University has often made poor decisions regarding football and its importance, although the new football stadium is a valuable resource and step in the right direction. It’s time to thoroughly address all the problems and find solutions.

Loyal fans can recite the years of bad and mediocre football at Minnesota. They can complain about all the reasons it’s a challenge to win games here. They can even empathize with Minnesota coaches about smaller budgets compared to some Big Ten schools that spend more money on their football programs.

But action resulting from public outcry is what might move the dial forward. We need a constituency that demands Gophers football become a winning program. If you care, make your voice heard (repeatedly) via emails, phone calls and letters.

http://www.shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Maroon]

So we should make our voices heard, just as long as we're not voicing an opinion that Brewster be fired? And we must demand a winning program, but we must not demand the removal of a coach that can't provide that?

 

[gophmeister]

I don't think he's saying that per se. He's merely suggesting that it might be premature to fire him. It is early in the season. However, if we go on the losing streak we're expecting, then demanding he be fired is a reasonable option.

 

[Schnoodler]

We all knew we had a problem on defense that was going to take time. I don't think we grasped how bad it might be, but it's not totally unexpected. we also knew that the fix was experience. so now we have to wait for the exerience. The hope always was that we slogged out a few wins in the meantime.

so Shama is right. We still need to wait to see what the product will look like after the inputs. Didn't imagine the starting point would be so low though.

 

[jovs]

I agree with some of what he says, but Lets face it, we will know Brewsters future in the next three games. Anything less than 2-1 and he is a gonner. The schedule gets tougher after that and there won't be many more wins. One maybe two more wins after that.

The schedule has no room for errors, after last week it is almost impossible to recover.

 

[GoAUpher]

So we should make our voices heard, just as long as we're not voicing an opinion that Brewster be fired? And we must demand a winning program, but we must not demand the removal of a coach that can't provide that?

I think he's saying that asking for Brew's firing should only be a part of what the fans communicate. Also, I think he's urging fans who want Brew gone not to stop communicating when Brew isn't fired right away (because he won't be).

Summary: now is a GREAT time to make your voice heard. Whatever it is that you want to say, say it politely but forcefully to as many movers and shakers related to the U as possible as many times as possible.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

So we should make our voices heard, just as long as we're not voicing an opinion that Brewster be fired? And we must demand a winning program, but we must not demand the removal of a coach that can't provide that?

I didn't get that at all. I interpreted it as "any emails, calls, etc" is good because it shows the U that the fans care.

I also agree with Shama that you have to give Brew this season (at least. i really think/hope he'll be back next year as well.). Everyone knew it'd be a talented, but young & inexperienced team this year. You've heard of growing pains, well these are them.

Just as we played down to their level & crapped the bed against USD I expect we'll play above our heads & knock off a USC/OSU/PSU/Iowa at some point this year as well.

 

[GoAUpher]

I agree with some of what he says, but Lets face it, we will know Brewsters future in the next three games. Anything less that 2-1 and he is a gonner. The schedule gets tougher after that and there won't be many more wins. One maybe two more wins after that.

Goner after the season? Probably. But I'll be immensely surprised if he gets canned midseason.

 

[Schnoodler]

I don't think that's true at all. A total collapse is the only thing that get's him fired before game 8. Even then he probably still rides the year out. I'm sure there are lists being compiled and preliminary discussions occuring now, thus is the definition of a hot seat. But we all know Maturi well enough, and hopefully we're wise enough to know we gain nothing but an empty recruiting year by reacting early.

 

[strokemonster]

Good season, bad season or somewhere in between, I hate to think of making another coaching change. I'm not a big Brewster backer but every time we fire and hire we lose two seasons minimum. The only bright spot would be if we were able to make a "kill shot" hire. Is that even possible?

 

[wdgold]

Just defeat Iowa and Wisconsin that's all I ask. But we won't know that till the end of the season.

 

[Schnoodler]

We should know if we have a chance before then though.

 

[gophmeister]

I agree with some of what he says, but Lets face it, we will know Brewsters future in the next three games. Anything less that 2-1 and he is a gonner. The schedule gets tougher after that and there won't be many more wins. One maybe two more wins after that.

My intuition tells me he's not for sure fired yet in the minds of the powers that be, but little or no patience remains. My guess is they won't decide until the team is completely out of bowl contention unless of course he goes 0-3 and loses big in Madison. Even then, I imagine they'll wait until the end of the season.

I can't believe we're having this conversation and it's only week 3 of the season. If the team had somehow pulled it out last Saturday, I'd be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but just the way they lost is too eerily similar to all the other debacles. If I were Maturi, I'd fire him regardless, but a bowl bid might just buy him one more year.

 

[GopherGod]

We all knew we had a problem on defense that was going to take time. I don't think we grasped how bad it might be, but it's not totally unexpected. we also knew that the fix was experience. so now we have to wait for the exerience. The hope always was that we slogged out a few wins in the meantime.

so Shama is right. We still need to wait to see what the product will look like after the inputs. Didn't imagine the starting point would be so low though.

Well your tune has sure changed. Not that long ago you were talking about all this talent and depth we had and this great plan that Brewster had in place.

 

[Maroon]

Well your tune has sure changed. Not that long ago you were talking about all this talent and depth we had and this great plan that Brewster had in place.

It has been quite comical to watch.

 

[Goldmember]

If Brewster is fired it will happen at about 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Jeff Horton will become interim HC.

What is noteworthy is that there are 9 games between now and that hour. That's a lot of season left to play.

4 Top 25 opponents, 7 Big Ten games, 5 home games.

 

[calminnfan]

I just wanted to peak in here and add a thought. It appears to me the article is not about firing Brew at all or clamoring per se that he be fired, either immediately. He is basically saying give him a fair shake on the matter.

The articles main point is for fans to let the U know it wants to reestablish a quality football program and prioritize it. As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If enough fans make their displeasure with the football program heard, it will force the U powers that be to make the programs development more of a priority.

The lack of funding, and priority really, for the football program has been one of the achilles heels of it for a long time and it has shown in the overall program as well as on the field mediocrity. Brew even sacrificed some of what would have been a better salary just to try to bring in some better asst. coaches when he was first hired. All the other points are simply highlights of the U's lack of prioritizing the program.

BTW - for all the anti-Sid, Sid has been saying that forr quite a while, even when Mason was HC.

 

[Bayfieldgopher]

What Maturi needs to ask himself is do we have a better chance of turning this around with Brewster still making the calls or canning him now and going with an interim for the balance of the season.

If I were Maturi, I would also want to know for certain what the players are thinking. Are they behind the coach? Or do they want him gone.

 

[Schnoodler]

An interim means no recruiting. It means transfers. It means dropped verbals.

If Brews hasn't lost the team, you gain nothing by removing him early. If he has then he must be removed asap.

 

[AhliBobwa]

An interim means no recruiting. It means transfers. It means dropped verbals.

If Brews hasn't lost the team, you gain nothing by removing him early. If he has then he must be removed asap.

Great post. Does no good to fire a coach early. And whenever a coach leaves a lot of his best recruits leave too. Change shouldn't be embraced until necessary, because it's devastating in the short term.

 

[stevedave23]

A public demanding that the University make winning football a priority is a healthy first step. Historically the University has often made poor decisions regarding football and its importance, although the new football stadium is a valuable resource and step in the right direction. It’s time to thoroughly address all the problems and find solutions.

I thought this part was excellent.

 

[Unregistered User]

Maybe someone could just e-mail him asking for clarification instead of trying to interpret the article like it's some reading in the bible.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

There's really no shot Brew is canned during the season imo. I believe he could go 0-12 and last the year. I also think he's back next year if we put up a 3-9 record or better and some progress is shown in developing the young players.

You guys hoping Brew is canned, that means new coordinators, another new offense, another new defense, all our recruits are gone and I'd bet you could kiss M Gray & and a bunch of our other top young players goodbye.

Maturi knows this is a work in progress and as he said during the extension this schedule is very difficult, the players are young an inexperienced and he'll look at how we're doing overall, not just wins/losses.

 

[maxwellsmart]

I'm not hoping Brewster is fired and sure not hoping for ANY Gopher loss in order for that to be accomplished. I've been a solid backer from game one of his stint here, but there is more to what has happened than waiting for depth and talent. Head anythings are judged by results, but also by the people with which they surround themselves. Brewster has shown a singular ability to hire the wrong people and then step back and let them run the team unfettered. Either they expect too much from college talent or not enough. Or they're so set in their ways you couldn't get through their thick skulls with a sledgehammer. Or they're so young they're using our team as a lab experiment. Or they're on the rebound and headed to greener pastures as soon as possible.

How will talent and depth of same change the way a defensive coordinator sees the field in a given situation? How do we allow an opposing QB to stick a knife in our backs over and over and over again with his feet, not his arm? Anybody in a coaching position on this team ever figure out that you MUST commit to stopping that kind of QB? We should have learned our lesson two years ago after Kafka. It's called spying. These coaches ought to know that. Just like in the Illinois game last year when the entire crowd knew the Illini were going to throw a fade to the right corner and we not only did not allow for that contingency in the defensive call, we exaggerated the problem by biting on an obvious man-in-motion ruse to the left instead.

Young players are on the field all over the country and doing well. This is no longer about waiting for talent. Schembechler would never have allowed his defensive coordinator to screw up this badly and just continue on. Maybe the Brew is too nice of a guy. I don't know, but I do know I don't trust a football coach who stands on the sideline worrying about working up the crowd to a fever pitch instead of getting the right plays called by his coordinators. Nobody wants to start over, but what choice are we being given? Players won't solve the problems I see.

 

[scools12]

There's really no shot Brew is canned during the season imo. I believe he could go 0-12 and last the year. I also think he's back next year if we put up a 3-9record or better and some progress is shown in developing the young players.

So the definition of progress and developing young players is 1-11, 7-6. 6-7 and 3-9.

Well your tune has sure changed. Not that long ago you were talking about all this talent and depth we had and this great plan that Brewster had in place.

Awful lot of tune changing going on around here.

 

[GopherGod]

There's really no shot Brew is canned during the season imo. I believe he could go 0-12 and last the year. I also think he's back next year if we put up a 3-9 record or better and some progress is shown in developing the young players.

You guys hoping Brew is canned, that means new coordinators, another new offense, another new defense, all our recruits are gone and I'd bet you could kiss M Gray & and a bunch of our other top young players goodbye.

Maturi knows this is a work in progress and as he said during the extension this schedule is very difficult, the players are young an inexperienced and he'll look at how we're doing overall, not just wins/losses.

First off there is no guarantee that by switching coaches you would lose all recruits, some but not likely to be all. In addition, the recruits committed thus far are not exactly all-Americans with tons of better offers. If you hire the right guy you might even be able to pick up some other recruits. There would likely be coordinator changes but Brewster has done this every year already and if you hire a good candidate they can and will bring in their staff. A staff that is on the same page from the start and believes and knows their system and philosophy can work. Now you have a coach that doesn't have a true philosophy and piece meals a staff together each season because he didn't have a staff to bring on board with him.

 

[howeda7]

First off there is no guarantee that by switching coaches you would lose all recruits, some but not likely to be all. In addition, the recruits committed thus far are not exactly all-Americans with tons of better offers. If you hire the right guy you might even be able to pick up some other recruits. There would likely be coordinator changes but Brewster has done this every year already and if you hire a good candidate they can and will bring in their staff. A staff that is on the same page from the start and believes and knows their system and philosophy can work. Now you have a coach that doesn't have a true philosophy and piece meals a staff together each season because he didn't have a staff to bring on board with him.

Amen to this. The idea that shouldn't make the move because of recruiting or changes in offense are beyond short-sighted. There's always pain involved in making a coaching change. But the fact that Brewster can't coach at this level is beyond obvious at this point. And it's not as though he has a top 10, 20, 30 or 40 recruiting class waiting at the gate that's going to be broken up by this. Further, I believe/hope that the next coach will be a current D-I head coach. As such, they will bring thier coordinators and offense with them. They will also likely bring some of thier recruits with them and be able to keep some who are already on board. This all needs to happen in late November, not January. That is on Maturi.

Jeremy Foley is right, what must be done eventually should be done immediately. This is why I was in favor of firing him after last season. It was clear to me after the SDSU game, if not before that it wasn't going to happen with Brew. I'm not really calling for it happen right this second. But if/when we get to 2-8 or so, do it then to give yourself a few week head-start.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Young players are on the field all over the country and doing well. This is no longer about waiting for talent.

Young players ARE doing well all over the country! Just as our young players played well last year. The difference is those guys play/played on defenses with veteran leadership. This year we have the blind leading the blind at LB and in the secondary. I'm confident Manuel will look much better lined up next to Theret/Royston. I'm sure Cooper, Rallis or Tinsley would all look much better if Campbell and Lawrence were lining up next to them too. Instead we'll have to learn on the job and take some lumps.

 

[Schnoodler]

We played a really crappy game on Defense. Get over it. We knew we were in for a bumpy ride, we hoped for better. So a bunch of freshman got lit up. It wasn't because of the game plan or the coaching, it's because they were too inexperienced to play to the game plan the way the game needed to play. It will slowly improve. Enough to make a difference or save jobs?? I'm not confident, but hopeful.

The only coaching error was that we didn't have any experience and should in year four.

 

[GopherGod]

We played a really crappy game on Defense. Get over it. We knew we were in for a bumpy ride, we hoped for better. So a bunch of freshman got lit up. It wasn't because of the game plan or the coaching, it's because they were too inexperienced to play to the game plan the way the game needed to play. It will slowly improve. Enough to make a difference or save jobs?? I'm not confident, but hopeful.

The only coaching error was that we didn't have any experience and should in year four.

That is not what you were saying not that long ago. You were talking about all the talent and depth that we had and that the loss of all the starters on defense wouldn't matter that much.