Per Cory Roufs' (1500ESPN) Twitter...

[Unregistered User]

what is the point of announcing something now that we all know will happen at the end of the season? ridiculous-unless we have a solid interim plan/coach in mind that will allow the team to play hard the rest of the way

From the article that followed:
"If the Boilermakers win, sources with knowledge of the situation said on Friday, the school will announce Brewster won't be back next year."

This is not the same as saying clean out your desk and turn in your keys. It could be read as him not being here next year, we are starting the search process, but Brew will finish out the year.

Not advocating one way or the other, just reading it that way.

 

[howeda7]

The timing of this leak is very strange. I'm all for announcing on Monday that he's gone and will coach the rest of the season. But we're only going to do that if we lose? So, what if we win, we somehow think 5-6 wins is still possible so we'll hold off? This is a bit typical of this AD. It would have been perfectly reasonable to announce this the Monday following any of the recent losses other then USC, including this week after the Wisconsin game. But instead they will find a way to screw it up. Watch us go out and win tomorrow, causing this mess to go on for at least another few weeks.

I now see a moral dilemma for Gopher fans. It's quite possible that a loss tomorrow will make this whole situation a lot easier to deal with. But it does seem sickening to do so. What is acceptable?

 

[denguegopher]

What would a win or a loss at Purdue have to do with his overall performance? One game shouldn't make or break the decision to be fired. What happens if he wins?

Logically I agree that one game should not make or break a firing decision. However IMHO its fan rage because of the loss to South Dakota that is costing him his job. There was no talk of firing him after the Middle Tenn win, but there has been nothing else since the USD loss. I think that the consensus is that there is absolutely no explanation for a loss to South Dakota. He's gone, largely because of that game. A loss to Purdue will just be the last straw.

 

[Pewterschmidt]

Maturi is the problem. He can’t let something like this leak out if it’s true. I'm definitely on the side that Brewster should be fired but as I stated in an earlier post in a different thread...it's not Brewster's fault he got hired. That responsibility rests on Maturi's shoulders. He's the one that hired a underqualified and overwhelmed coach in the first place.

I’ve never heard of a public declaration that a coach must win a particular game to keep his job another week. This will be weird for the players and other coaches on the team. This isn’t the first time that Maturi has botched a firing. Remember the Monson fiasco after the loss to Cincy in the NIT? Or waiting until after a bowl game to fire Mason, basically losing an entire recruiting class?

Either keep it quiet and fire him after the game or do it the day after the Iowa game in November. None of this fence-sitting BS. Maturi is incredibly weak. He’s turning this all on Brewster by having the win-or-be-fired mandate. Does one game really matter even if we win? The Pres should turn around and do the same thing to Maturi…if Brewster doesn’t beat Purdue, you’re out of a job as well and then the Regents should do it to Brunnicks.

 

[Wheaton]

Logically I agree that one game should not make or break a firing decision. However IMHO its fan rage because of the loss to South Dakota that is costing him his job. There was no talk of firing him after the Middle Tenn win, but there has been nothing else since the USD loss. I think that the consensus is that there is absolutely no explanation for a loss to South Dakota. He's gone, largely because of that game. A loss to Purdue will just be the last straw.

Well lets not kid anyone. I think there were questions about Brewster's job security coming into the season. I think most would agree that this was a "make or break" year for Brewster and the way it started/how it looks like it will shape up, he hasn't done his job.

Now lets pretend, for fun, that we came into the Big 10 schedule with only one loss to USC, then went mediocre Big 10. There is a good chance that Brewster would get that fifth year with an even larger question mark about his security.

 

[Too Long in the Wasteland]

I can't say "Boiler Up!"...

The timing of this leak is very strange. I'm all for announcing on Monday that he's gone and will coach the rest of the season. But we're only going to do that if we lose? So, what if we win, we somehow think 5-6 wins is still possible so we'll hold off? This is a bit typical of this AD. It would have been perfectly reasonable to announce this the Monday following any of the recent losses other then USC, including this week after the Wisconsin game. But instead they will find a way to screw it up. Watch us go out and win tomorrow, causing this mess to go on for at least another few weeks.

I now see a moral dilemma for Gopher fans. It's quite possible that a loss tomorrow will make this whole situation a lot easier to deal with. But it does seem sickening to do so. What is acceptable?

without throwing up in my mouth a little bit. But I had the same thought. It may be what's best for the program, but you gotta support the team, irregardless (as TB would say).

Brewster should have coldcocked Bulemia after the game last week. It was his last chance to do so, and he would have gone out in style. Yeah, he would have probably lost his $200K buyout, but:

A)Brewster would have been cemented his place in Gopher lore for generations. He'd have been right up there with Bronko, instead of being mentioned in the same sentence with Wacker.

B)I think we could have started a collection on this board to make up for the contract money he lost out on due to being fired with cause. I'd have written out a check.

C)Someday there might have even been a statue of Brewster landing a haymaker outside of TCF. If Wisky can put a statue of Alvarez in front of Camp Randall, why not?

 

[Duluthguy]

I don't see this as a "win-or-be-fired mandate," nor do I see this as a decision based on one game. We've all assumed for weeks that Brewster was not coming back, but you don't want to fire the guy before his most winable Big Ten game or while he has a faint hope of a bowl game. It's more of a matter of giving him time and opportunity to save the season or seal his own fate. A Purdue loss would pretty much seal the deal. If he wins, well, it's pretty tough to fire a guy right after a win and with some chance to win the next game. A Penn State loss or getting killed by OSU would probably then seal the deal. As for this news leaking out, if it is true, governments all around the world have the same trouble, so I can't be too harsh on the administration for that.

 

[howeda7]

Reusse has added details on his blog that the source of all this is that they have already prepared the press release that will be used. Further that Maturi's only job is to issue it. (Does this imply the decision is not his?)

But he goes on to say that this exact scenerio also occured in March 2006 with Dan Monson. And Maturi got cold feet at the last minute and wouldn't issue the press release. Of course we all know how horrible that turned out.

This whole thing leaking out now seems to be the beginning of another ringing endorsement of Maturi's ability to do his job. Frankly, I have to think a loss tomorrow is for the best if it brings this to some conclusion. In many ways winning the next couple games might be the worst thing that could happen. It sucks to feel that way. But when you have an AD as decisive as Cool Whip, it's best not to leave any room for waffling.

 

[howeda7]

without throwing up in my mouth a little bit. But I had the same thought. It may be what's best for the program, but you gotta support the team, irregardless (as TB would say).

Brewster should have coldcocked Bulemia after the game last week. It was his last chance to do so, and he would have gone out in style. Yeah, he would have probably lost his $200K buyout, but:

A)Brewster would have been cemented his place in Gopher lore for generations. He'd have been right up there with Bronko, instead of being mentioned in the same sentence with Wacker.

B)I think we could have started a collection on this board to make up for the contract money he lost out on due to being fired with cause. I'd have written out a check.

C)Someday there might have even been a statue of Brewster landing a haymaker outside of TCF. If Wisky can put a statue of Alvarez in front of Camp Randall, why not?

I actually agree with this. It would have been in his obituary (at least the one published in MN) before any mention of his record. In fairness to him, it might have cost him his ability get another job, not just the $200K from this one. But as a fan, it would have been worth it.

 

[wait!what?]

Allows them 1st chance at Jim Zorn.

 

[station19]

Maybe it was decided he had to have an above 500 record(7-5) this season. A loss to PU would make 6-6 the best he could do.

Just another random thought.

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

Assuming this is accurate, it is inexcusable to allow this to leak. It’s not fair to the players or the staff to let them twist in the wind like this. I was under the impression that Maturi’s official stance was that he evaluates the coaches after the season. That is obviously not entirely true (see Monson, Dan), but it allows the players and the staff to push off inquiries about the future by simply relying on the stated policy. Even if it wasn't his call, now Maturi has to address the rumor and say that it’s not true or say nothing and let it fester all weekend and beyond. He can’t confirm that it’s true because he’d look even worse than he already does now. He certainly can’t say that a final decision to fire a coach was based on the outcome of one game (see Mason, Glen).

Sure, they can contact candidates who are not currently coaching and they can contact agents to gauge the interest of working candidates, but they also fire up the speculation around the country about who has been contacted, who’s interested, etc. Names will be leaked. Persons who have their names mentioned (accurately or not) will deny contact and disavow any interest in our program. Persons looking for attention will claim to have received interest from the University (true or not). That will create the impression that whoever we hire wasn’t one of the top choices for the job. None of this means we will necessarily end up with another hiring mistake, but it makes the process a lot more dragged out then it needs to be. And it will happen with players and coaches trying to finish a season.

The only way this makes sense to me is if they are hoping to re-create the Tubby magic–open the job early and hope to receive interest from someone looking for a change of scenery who would normally be perceived to be beyond their grasp. Hope it works again. If it does, I expect to see this new hiring strategy spread across the nation. (Dude, did you hear they fired Coach Wilson after they lost to State? They Maturied him after six weeks and started soliciting resumes and agent contact.)

 

[Rotundo]

It just wouldn't be a Gopher coaching change if it wasn't sloppy. This is Maturi time!

 

[Duluthguy]

I've thought for quite awhile that a loss to Purdue would be the last straw. Lose, and make no announcement until the end of the season, and the next two home games will be nothing but fire Brewster chants and the Iowa game will be like a home game for them. What a terrible way to end the second season in the stadium and what a terrible situation for the players. Make some type of an announcement, on the other hand, and the fans can fully rally around the team and the players can play without the inevitable hanging over their heads. It might be the best scenario in an unfortunate situation for all involved. There are positive and negative ramifications for all possible options, but at least the emotional, irrational side of me wants something to happen so I can get back to being really excited about Gopher football.

 

[station19]

I've thought for quite awhile that a loss to Purdue would be the last straw. Lose, and make no announcement until the end of the season, and the next two home games will be nothing but fire Brewster chants and the Iowa game will be like a home game for them. What a terrible way to end the second season in the stadium and what a terrible situation for the players. Make some type of an announcement, on the other hand, and the fans can fully rally around the team and the players can play without the inevitable hanging over their heads. It might be the best scenario in an unfortunate situation for all involved. There are positive and negative ramifications for all possible options, but at least the emotional, irrational side of me wants something to happen so I can get back to being really excited about Gopher football.

I was just thinking the same thing. This way the new coach search could start asap and Brewster would have a choice to finish season or not. A couple more losses and a possible blow-out at home against the big boys could get really ugly.

 

[Rescooter]

I was just thinking the same thing. This way the new coach search could start asap and Brewster would have a choice to finish season or not. A couple more losses and a possible blow-out at home against the big boys could get really ugly.

After thinking about it, the mid-term firing announcement shouldn't be a problem:

-Brewster is proving his effectiveness as a coach for his next job opportunity
-The team is playing for the next coach. It would be a great time to get noticed especially if Brewster et al has over looked you. We might even see a more unified effort under those circumstances. It honestly cannot get worse.

On a side note: let's really put something on the line for this game. Gophers lose...Brewster gone, Gophers win....Maturi goes.

 

[BleedGopher]

Tweet from Tom Dienhart of Yahoo:

"I have confirmed that Minnesota AD Joel Maturi talked with Brewster's representatives recently."

Go Gophers!!

 

[gophmeister]

Tweet from Tom Dienhart of Yahoo:

"I have confirmed that Minnesota AD Joel Maturi talked with Brewster's representatives recently."

Go Gophers!!

The plot thickens. It amazes me that Brewster has "representatives." Not in the sense that he doesn't have an agent, but in how Maturi wouldn't jus talk to the man himself. There must be some strained relationships over there.

I wonder if the whole McCarney thing has some weight. Here's a scenario, they hire McCarney and then fire only the assistant coaches who have never coached for the badgers.

 

[ButchNashGuy]

The plot thickens. It amazes me that Brewster has "representatives." Not in the sense that he doesn't have an agent, but in how Maturi wouldn't jus talk to the man himself. There must be some strained relationships over there.

I wonder if the whole McCarney thing has some weight. Here's a scenario, they hire McCarney and then fire only the assistant coaches who have never coached for the badgers.

 

[Iceland12]

The plot thickens. It amazes me that Brewster has "representatives." Not in the sense that he doesn't have an agent, but in how Maturi wouldn't jus talk to the man himself. There must be some strained relationships over there.

I wonder if the whole McCarney thing has some weight. Here's a scenario, they hire McCarney and then fire only the assistant coaches who have never coached for the badgers.

Not really and of course Maturi and Brewster have talked. You probably hit it on the head with the "agent" line. The chances of a Head Coach handling his own negotiations, particularly in a termination are probably zero.

 

[gophmeister]

Not really and of course Maturi and Brewster have talked. You probably hit it on the head with the "agent" line. The chances of a Head Coach handling his own negotiations, particularly in a termination are probably zero.

You're right. I think I was taken aback by how it was worded.

 

[Too Long in the Wasteland]

Deep Throat

Depends on if they meant for it to leak.

More often than not, that's the case in situations like this. As someone else pointed out, PU is quite possibly our most winnable remaining game. They're practically starting the pissboy at every skill position, they're so banged up. The question, though, is if this was deliberately leaked, who leaked it. Doesn't seem like Maturi's style. My guess is it would be from someone in Bruininks office, or a regent.

The other thing that points against it being a deliberate leak is who it was leaked to. This guy at ESPN1500 is a relative unknown. You would think that if someone high up the food chain at the U wanted to get this rumor circulating, he'd pick someone in the local media they're friendly with, or want to curry favor with. And someone with more credibility. Joe Schmidt, for example, or someone else in TV. In print one of the columnists. Probably not Sid, though. Noone would trust him not to burn the source, plus he'd probably garble up the rumor.

My guess is that this was an unintentional leak, and the rumor's been banging around for at least 24 hours or so. In fact, I'd wager that someone at the Trib found out about this yesterday, but they couldn't corroborate it with multiple sources. That's why it isn't there, or in Shooter's column. A sports radio station like 1500AM, however, treats journalistic standards more like guidelines that rules, so they're free to spitball it. Put it out on twitter first, and make sure they don't get a call from a U lawyer 15 minutes later. Then put out an e-article.

Taking the conspiracy theory a step further, maybe the Tribune did catch wind of it yesterday. Their editor (& lawyers) say no to printing it, but Souhan slaps together a column calling for Brewster's head. That way if we do lose to PU and Brewster gets the heave ho, they can claim credit for leading the charge. I wouldn't put that past either the Tribune or Souhan (I know I just defended him, kind of, in another thread).

 

[josh087]

Taking the conspiracy theory a step further, maybe the Tribune did catch wind of it yesterday. Their editor (& lawyers) say no to printing it, but Souhan slaps together a column calling for Brewster's head. That way if we do lose to PU and Brewster gets the heave ho, they can claim credit for leading the charge. I wouldn't put that past either the Tribune or Souhan (I know I just defended him, kind of, in another thread).

I'd hope for his family's sake that was why Souhan's column felt like it was put together in about 15 minutes.

 

[50PoundHead]

Some great takes. Souhan's column did look haphazard and it would follow that he was working on a very tight timeline.

Brewster is going to be done at the end of the year regardless, so I don't see why they couldn't wait until before the last game to do it. Brewster won't quit, so if they don't want him around, they'll have to fire him and tell him to leave the building. I doubt the players would quit.

Maybe the boosters have had it and have leapfrogged Maturi and gone right to Bruininks.

 

[disco]

The plot thickens. It amazes me that Brewster has "representatives."

That was my thought. Like Brewster has some posse of lackeys doing his bidding for him.

I think the players will still play hard. Most of these guys aren't going to play beyond college, so why wouldn't you make the most of your opportunity to play ball?

 

[Khaliq]

I wonder if the whole McCarney thing has some weight. Here's a scenario, they hire McCarney and then fire only the assistant coaches who have never coached for the badgers.

 

[Silvio]

If this is true then just can him now. With my luck as a Minnesota sports fan Brew will go on a two game winning streak and will finish with an almost respectable BigTen record for the year (3-5). Maturi still feeling heat from various boosters and fans who knew how close Brew was to being gone before the Purdue game will still decide to fire Brew. However, during that time he will have solidified his standing with the players and that will lead to MASS transfers and really hurting the program. Basically Maturi will find a way to take a worst case scenario and make it worse.

 

[washgopher]

Get real about this. If, in fact, this rumor is true, the impetous is not 'players' or even 'winning' per se, it's the effect the program has on the public face of the university and how that affects
a) research grant success
b) major donors
those two areas are huge monetarily for the U with over $800million in reasearch grants this year and tens of millions in donors. If the academic status of the U seems in any way down graded due to poor football performance, when an action occurs is meaningless, the action will occur if it's in the best interest of the U not the program. $200K difference? Who cares if a wealthy donor withdraws the possiblity of a multi million dollar gift. The adminstration has much bigger issues than football unless it impacts other, more important, issues.

 

[Iceland12]

If this is true then just can him now. With my luck as a Minnesota sports fan Brew will go on a two game winning streak and will finish with an almost respectable BigTen record for the year (3-5). Maturi still feeling heat from various boosters and fans who knew how close Brew was to being gone before the Purdue game will still decide to fire Brew. However, during that time he will have solidified his standing with the players and that will lead to MASS transfers and really hurting the program. Basically Maturi will find a way to take a worst case scenario and make it worse.

That's why the "beat Purdue or get fired" part of the story has as much credibility as Souhan does.

(Sorry for bringing Souhan into it Too Long. Is he married to your Sister or something?)

 

[Sparlimb]

This is a terrible idea. If the administration announces Brew is gonna be gone what's going to prevent the players from packing it in? The results on the field have been horrendous, but by and large the players are still playing hard.

Well since playing hard as equalled 1-5 agaisnt the easier half of the schedule, I'm not sure how much worse the team could do. Sometimes you see surges out of teams when they know their coach has already been fired for sucking dog crap. This season is lost already. There is no bowl game, there is no more for the seniors.