Must hit rock bottom before

[tikited]

IMO a coach/program needs to hit rock bottom to make getting rid of a coach the obvious-right move. I'm not saying 0-12, or numerous violations, I'm talking about when it is obvious to all in the know (coaching staff-admin.-smart fans-etc.) that things are not working. This is a situation that does not always present itself, but it does happen. Our situation is not even close to being there.

Brewster has us going to the 2nd straight bowl game. Brewster is still a new head-coach. Brewster has up-graded recruiting by a mile. Brewster is an optimist (Mase was not). Brewster has upgraded our schedule (something most of us fans wanted). Brewster sells the program more so than any other coach in memory. Is this the stuff of a coach that needs to go?

The other side has their points. Lots of them, but none that can override what is going on with the program. Remember folks, the "experts" all had us at best: 5-7. Most thought we'd be lucky to get to 5 wins.

A coach needs a chance to succeed or fail. Brewster hasn't failed. He hasn't turned things as of today, but it appears to many that he has the ship going in the right direction. If next year is a huge downer, then we can have this conversation again. A coach needs time.

Rock bottom: I would rather see the program hit rock bottom and know for sure that they need a change than to make a move hoping it was the right move. At least with rock bottom there isn't anywhere to go but up! Rock bottom breeds hope and hope can help get through many situations. Wacker to Mason is a good example of that.

In all: Brewster should have already gotten that extension. He should get that five years to prove he can win.... or fail. If he fails, then back to the drawing board--at least we all will know where we stand.

 

[GoGophers2005]

How many years did Wacker get?
How many years did Gutey get?
How many years did Salem get?

Our program is in better shape now than at any point in those regimes and we have people calling for Brewsters head after only 3 years? Doesn't make ANY sense to me.

For anyone thinking Brew should go I recommend picking up a roster sheet of the current team and then look at how many blue chip kids this squad has at the sophomore and freshman years. If you don't see that we are quitely building a pretty darn deep squad you should just watch football on Sundays where you can concentrate on your #1 draft picks and free agent pick ups. Not making a Vikings vs. Gophers comparison just an NFL vs. College Football comparison. College football isn't for everyone.

 

[91 CLA Grad]

+1

Right or wrong, Maturi made the decision to go with Brewster and we have to give him the time needed to establish his program. I'm not happy with some of the games we lost this year but those are the breaks, and in hindsight I shouldn't be surprised that we'll lose some games we should have one considering we basically have a rookie coach and a rookie OC who are both learning on the job just like the kids they're coaching. I think the overall level of talent is increasing and the difficulty of our schedule (non-conf) is better. My main beef is that the offense has to get better next year. I'm sure that's not news to anyone in the coaching staff.

Program building takes time, and hiring coaches is a crapshoot, especially for schools that don't have really deep pockets.

 

[Gold Rush]

I think it can be pointed out that the talent level is getting better and the defense is getting better, all that is true. The greatest cause for alarm is of course the offense. The defense showed improvement this year with a new coordinator and new schemes, but the offense really struggled, especially toward the end of the season. I agree that you do not want to switch coaches unless the program hits rock bottom, but I would certainly say the offense hit rock bottom at the end of the season. That is an offense that will get you fired.

As long as Brewster continues to bring in talent, he can show the program is getting better, but if his recruiting falls off (which it will if the program does not get better - see Illinois for an example of that) he won't have that going for him anymore. I think there's a lot of pressure on Fisch to get that offense turned around next season and that could save Brewster's job if he can get it done. If we have an entire season next year of the offense that played vs. SDSU and Iowa, we won't win more than 2-3 games at the most, the media will have a field day with this program and Brewster will be in big trouble. I don't think that's enlightening news to anyone - we all know this.

 

[Bayfieldgopher]

How people can expect to turn around a program that has been in the crapper for decades after three years is beyond me. The problem is that Brewster has struggled to put up typical Mason-like years and many immediately bought into the hype that Brewster brought with him. You know; Rose Bowl, Big Ten Championships and yes, even a National Championship! Quality takes time.

What successful HC would consider coming to MN if Brewster was sent packing after three years and getting to two bowl games and a .53 winning % the past two seasons? And Maturi likely wouldn't spend the big bucks anyway. Firing Brewster now would be a mistake. Brewster must put a better product on the field next season.

Maturi will not offer an extension now but I think he needs to make a decision on Brewster no later than Nov 1, 2010 to either extend or fire.

 

[Gold Rush]

How people can expect to turn around a program that has been in the crapper for decades after three years is beyond me. The problem is that Brewster has struggled to put up typical Mason-like years and many immediately bought into the hype that Brewster brought with him. You know; Rose Bowl, Big Ten Championships and yes, even a National Championship! Quality takes time.

What successful HC would consider coming to MN if Brewster was sent packing after three years and getting to two bowl games and a .53 winning % the past two seasons? And Maturi likely wouldn't spend the big bucks anyway. Firing Brewster now would be a mistake. Brewster must put a better product on the field next season.

Maturi will not offer an extension now but I think he needs to make a decision on Brewster no later than Nov 1, 2010 to either extend or fire.

Well...I agree with this post completely. You have to give Brewster another year and firing him right now would be a mistake. Maturi needs to either extend or fire him by Nov. 1, 2010. I think one more year and we will know if this thing is coming together or not. Like I said in an earlier post, I don't think 6-6 gets Brewster fired next year, but another #110 in offense probably will.

 

[Schnoodler]

If we were a real program we'd extend him now and still fire him at any point it we know he can't get it done.