Christensen needs to be fired

[wellpoke]

When a 4th-year head coach goes from 2 bowl games in 3 years to a trainwreck season following a bowl season, it invites scrutiny

Do you have a crystal ball? Are you certain this is a train-wreck of a season? We still have 9 games left. Granted these three games have been pretty dismal, but who's to say we don't get things back on track against Idaho and go into conference season firing on all cylinders.

I get really tired of the fairweather fans we have around here. A little adversity and it's time to fire the coach, clean house with the players, and start all over again. I think Christensen is building this right (at least on the offensive side of the ball) and has been thrown a few curveballs (ACS, Pittser) that threw a kink in the works. This season isn't over, and there's a lot of football yet to be played.

GO POKES!

 

[Wyovanian]

When a 4th-year head coach goes from 2 bowl games in 3 years to a trainwreck season following a bowl season, it invites scrutiny

Do you have a crystal ball? Are you certain this is a train-wreck of a season? We still have 9 games left. Granted these three games have been pretty dismal, but who's to say we don't get things back on track against Idaho and go into conference season firing on all cylinders.

I get really tired of the fairweather fans we have around here. A little adversity and it's time to fire the coach, clean house with the players, and start all over again. I think Christensen is building this right (at least on the offensive side of the ball) and has been thrown a few curveballs (ACS, Pittser) that threw a kink in the works. This season isn't over, and there's a lot of football yet to be played.

GO POKES!

I'm hardly a fair-weathered fan, but based on three games so far, I'd be willing to bet some good money (you know- put my money where my mouth is) against a winning season.

Look, for all I know, there's been discussions with Christensen. These things should be kept close to the vest by admin, and for anyone who's confused, Coach Christensen's got what you'd call a poker face. It is who he is. The question becomes whether or not his players and staff respond to him, in a way, despite that poker face. What I think needs to be expressed, in a bit of anticipation and preparedness, is the otherwise shakiness of his record. In three seasons he's coached them to two winning seasons and two bottom-of-the-barrel bowl games. His most quality win in three seasons was against Air Force last season. He hasn't beaten a BCS opponent, BYU, Utah, or Boise State, he's lost twice to MAC teams- once in a Bowl game, once at home, and he's now lost at home to an FCS opponent. I don't need a crystal ball, I just go off of the evidence at hand. His players don't appear to respond to him, or their situation- the record bares that out. I think, as a fan and a donor, I have every right to state my observation and voice my heretofore quiet suspicions- there might be something wrong here.

I'd love to be wrong, I'd love to lose the above bet, believe me. I will continue to support UW athletics through CJC, season ticket purchases, whatever, and I'll still travel to Reno and Fresno and make home games in Laramie, but I'll no longer hold my nose while sitting there, pretending something doesn't smell right or just hoping it'll go away.

 

[Wyo2dal]

Look I'm a Pokes fan through and through but I will tell you one thing our defense is garbage right now. I'm not calling for someones head just the opposite but I agree with the rest of the people that our season is in jeopardy right now. The Toledo game acceptable loss they out played us on both sides of the field.

Cal Poly loss not acceptable, FCS team that busts back to back 70+ yard runs on the first two possessions. I mean if they beat on the play the first possession don't you make adjustments to make sure you don't get burnt again? We NEVER have 3rd quarter adjustments ever.

On top of that our entire 3rd quart no matter what the score losing or winning we play the entire 3rd quarter conservative with very very little effort and no change at all. Think of all the games we have won, Go look at the box score and find a great 3rd quarter. I think we had 2 last year, Bowling Green and Texas State outside of that we had plenty shit 3rd quarters.

Something has to change sooner or later prefer it is sooner and not later but we can't fail to make adjustments every game.

 

[SDPokeFan]

We lost to a freaking FCS school...and not even a good one. Our backups should be able to beat Cal Poly. You really think we're going to compete in the Mountain West when it's been made clear we couldn't even win the Big Sky Conference?

 

[kansasCowboy]

Okay, it's obvious a lot of people on here "have" played or coached football and were quite good at it too. Because everyone knows you win even win you have 6 starters and 3 backups out! Not to mention the leadership and play of the starters out. Also, lets not mention how easy the victory will be when you have to utilize your younger more inexperienced underclassmen at key positions!
I have a question for all of you. Please tell me? What is your secret to success? How do you all do it?
Seriously, I'm a pretty good coach, I've had success wherever I've been. Maybe "wyocowboy2014" remembers and could vouge for me. But I've struggled when injuries to my key players occur.
I know if I lose my starting QB or playmaking RB, not to mention losing both at the same time. My successful offense and game plan goes through the roof! No, that's an understatement. It doesn't just go through the roof, it falls off the roof from 5 stories and then goes through the roof of the building next to it. I've had the number one rushing offense in the state of Kansas and I lose my QB and RB... My backups can do what they can but it is nowhere near as productive. It actually reminds me of how Wyo played Cal Poly. Our game plan was pretty much the same, just changed to better benefit what we had to put on the field, and then it still shows it's mediocrity. Key: When you lose your playmakers, you will struggle.
When I played at R.S. we had the number one offense in the state. No one could touch us. We pretty much averaged 50 + ppg, and 400+ yards rushing a game. Yet we lost a couple key guys when we played Cody. Cody almost beat us. I think it was something like 21-14. When you lose your key players, you struggle.
So please inform me of how you all did/do it? I would love to know.

 

[djm19]

As for myself, I'm not saying I have an answer on how to fix it. This much I do know. Our D from day 1 was not good. Texas, Toledo, Cal Poly all shredded us. Long before injuries, our d was suspect. I'm not convinced having some of our "starters'
" on d would have made much difference. Smith makes a huge difference, but backups should still beat cal poly. My opinion.

 

[cowboyz]

Okay, it's obvious a lot of people on here "have" played or coached football and were quite good at it too. Because everyone knows you win even win you have 6 starters and 3 backups out! Not to mention the leadership and play of the starters out. Also, lets not mention how easy the victory will be when you have to utilize your younger more inexperienced underclassmen at key positions!
I have a question for all of you. Please tell me? What is your secret to success? How do you all do it?
Seriously, I'm a pretty good coach, I've had success wherever I've been. Maybe "wyocowboy2014" remembers and could vouge for me. But I've struggled when injuries to my key players occur.
I know if I lose my starting QB or playmaking RB, not to mention losing both at the same time. My successful offense and game plan goes through the roof! No, that's an understatement. It doesn't just go through the roof, it falls off the roof from 5 stories and then goes through the roof of the building next to it. I've had the number one rushing offense in the state of Kansas and I lose my QB and RB... My backups can do what they can but it is nowhere near as productive. It actually reminds me of how Wyo played Cal Poly. Our game plan was pretty much the same, just changed to better benefit what we had to put on the field, and then it still shows it's mediocrity. Key: When you lose your playmakers, you will struggle.
When I played at R.S. we had the number one offense in the state. No one could touch us. We pretty much averaged 50 + ppg, and 400+ yards rushing a game. Yet we lost a couple key guys when we played Cody. Cody almost beat us. I think it was something like 21-14. When you lose your key players, you struggle.
So please inform me of how you all did/do it? I would love to know.

I assume you coach high school. That's a little different than college. You ask how do you do it. Well, I say you do it by planning ahead and having your back ups have a little more experience by letting them play in blow out games. I say you do it because unlike high school you get to pick your players from all over the country and overseas apparantly, not just from the kids that show up at the field for try-outs. You do it with ten paid coaches, one of them collecting a 7 figure salary and a couple collecting 6 figure salaries, with a few of them also having head coach experience at the college level. You do it because even with the injuries listed, you still have more scholarshipped players than your opponent, who all work out in a state-of-the-art training facility. And you do it because you're in front of your home town fans in your house, playing in your altitude. You do it by not losing so many players regardless of the reason. Our three leading scorers from our 2009 team would all be seniors this year and they're all gone, not to mention our Freshman All American defensive back. Half of this years starters would be the back ups if we could keep our players. Hell, the list is a mile long but I threw it up a while back, so I won't go on. You do it because you're 0-3 and have some pride and fight in you. And you do it because maybe you're a little better at managing and coaching than the guys across the field from you, to justify your salary.

 

[Wyokie]

I assume you coach high school. That's a little different than college. You ask how do you do it. Well, I say you do it by planning ahead and having your back ups have a little more experience by letting them play in blow out games. I say you do it because unlike high school you get to pick your players from all over the country and overseas apparantly, not just from the kids that show up at the field for try-outs. You do it with ten paid coaches, one of them collecting a 7 figure salary and a couple collecting 6 figure salaries, with a few of them also having head coach experience at the college level. You do it because even with the injuries listed, you still have more scholarshipped players than your opponent, who all work out in a state-of-the-art training facility. And you do it because you're in front of your home town fans in your house, playing in your altitude. You do it by not losing so many players regardless of the reason. Our three leading scorers from our 2009 team would all be seniors this year and they're all gone, not to mention our Freshman All American defensive back. Half of this years starters would be the back ups if we could keep our players. Hell, the list is a mile long but I threw it up a while back, so I won't go on. You do it because you're 0-3 and have some pride and fight in you. And you do it because maybe you're a little better at managing and coaching than the guys across the field from you, to justify your salary.

(In a British accent) I do believe he's got it. :thumb:

FIRE THE SOB aka CDC.

 

[J-Rod]

Regardless of anyone's opinion....^^^ this whole thread is the result of unrealistic expectations. People set the bar really high, the team doesn't live up to that standard....and there you have it. Mass panic, people jumping ship, everyone should get fired, internet arguments, etc.

 

[Wyovanian]

Regardless of anyone's opinion....^^^ this whole thread is the result of unrealistic expectations. People set the bar really high, the team doesn't live up to that standard....and there you have it. Mass panic, people jumping ship, everyone should get fired, internet arguments, etc.

Competing for a conference championship is unrealistic? Again- that's the FCS bar speaking. Perhaps Dickinson, Missoula, or Greeley would be more your speed.

 

[BJC]

+1 on cowboyz' comment..... no excuses...

"Ifs and buts......candy and nuts"

 

[kansasCowboy]

I assume you coach high school. That's a little different than college. You ask how do you do it. Well, I say you do it by planning ahead and having your back ups have a little more experience by letting them play in blow out games. I say you do it because unlike high school you get to pick your players from all over the country and overseas apparantly, not just from the kids that show up at the field for try-outs. You do it with ten paid coaches, one of them collecting a 7 figure salary and a couple collecting 6 figure salaries, with a few of them also having head coach experience at the college level. You do it because even with the injuries listed, you still have more scholarshipped players than your opponent, who all work out in a state-of-the-art training facility. And you do it because you're in front of your home town fans in your house, playing in your altitude. You do it by not losing so many players regardless of the reason. Our three leading scorers from our 2009 team would all be seniors this year and they're all gone, not to mention our Freshman All American defensive back. Half of this years starters would be the back ups if we could keep our players. Hell, the list is a mile long but I threw it up a while back, so I won't go on. You do it because you're 0-3 and have some pride and fight in you. And you do it because maybe you're a little better at managing and coaching than the guys across the field from you, to justify your salary.[/quote]

Yes, High school is a little different. But when your team has enough talent to go three deep at most skill positions, on the field it isn't that much different.
And that was a great motivational speech, but you still never gave me the answer. Having pride and fight in you does not always correlate to wins. a coaches salary does not get you wins either. When I ask how you would do it, I want to know, how are you going to beat Cal Poly. Well, that game is hindsight 20/20, so that wouldn't be fair. So, tell me, we still have Smith, Herron, Huff,Harris, DL, LB, G,G, out. How are you beating Idaho? Don't give me an answer than sounds exactly like what every fan wants to hear. I want to know what YOU would do to win this game. Because, most of you here are pro's when it comes to play calling and coaching. So what is your game plan and Why? And how is it any better than anything our coaching staff is doing now?
Here's something else I see. I remember last year people were talking up Utah State, saying they were the best 0-4 team in the country. There record did not show who this team really was. And it was true, they lost the games but, they were in position to win those games. The difference, before they were getting blown out of these games and NEVER had the chance.
Wyo is similar right now. We went down to Texas and played really well, we had the opportunity to get back in the game before the end and missed a crucial 4th down convert. We played one of the BEST team in the MAC, Toledo. Toledo has never been a pushover , really to anybody. They know offense at Toledo and We were in position to win that game, we just came up a few plays shy. Cal Poly was what should have been a win. But with as many as we have out due to injury and the change that makes to game plans it became another close loss. Again we got in position to win it and then, turnover.
A couple of plays and honestly this team could be 3-0 right now.

 

[Asmodeanreborn]

You ask how do you do it. Well, I say you do it by planning ahead and having your back ups have a little more experience by letting them play in blow out games.

We've had a lot of those so far this year. Not to mention, last year when we had decisive victories, we let our runningbacks get plenty of carries each, while Smith didn't throw THAT much.


Let's face it, very few teams in the nation will put up a lot of points with a bunch of their backups playing, mostly because there are very few teams where very good backups will stick around if backup happens to be what they are. If they feel they're good enough to start somewhere else, chances are they'll take the chance and transfer.


There's really no excuses for how poorly our defense does against the run and with pressuring the QB, though.

 

[Wyolie Coyote]

Okay, it's obvious a lot of people on here "have" played or coached football and were quite good at it too. Because everyone knows you win even win you have 6 starters and 3 backups out! Not to mention the leadership and play of the starters out. Also, lets not mention how easy the victory will be when you have to utilize your younger more inexperienced underclassmen at key positions!
I have a question for all of you. Please tell me? What is your secret to success? How do you all do it?
Seriously, I'm a pretty good coach, I've had success wherever I've been. Maybe "wyocowboy2014" remembers and could vouge for me. But I've struggled when injuries to my key players occur.
I know if I lose my starting QB or playmaking RB, not to mention losing both at the same time. My successful offense and game plan goes through the roof! No, that's an understatement. It doesn't just go through the roof, it falls off the roof from 5 stories and then goes through the roof of the building next to it. I've had the number one rushing offense in the state of Kansas and I lose my QB and RB... My backups can do what they can but it is nowhere near as productive. It actually reminds me of how Wyo played Cal Poly. Our game plan was pretty much the same, just changed to better benefit what we had to put on the field, and then it still shows it's mediocrity. Key: When you lose your playmakers, you will struggle.
When I played at R.S. we had the number one offense in the state. No one could touch us. We pretty much averaged 50 + ppg, and 400+ yards rushing a game. Yet we lost a couple key guys when we played Cody. Cody almost beat us. I think it was something like 21-14. When you lose your key players, you struggle.
So please inform me of how you all did/do it? I would love to know.

To begin with, UW has 85 scholarships available versus 65 for the FCS Cal Poly. I would hope we have recruited better with 20 more schollys than a Cal Poly. Injuries are part of football and with more depth than the opponent, one would surmise that we should be able to overcome those injuries. UW should never have lost to a low level FCS team based purely on numbers and depth. That is, if we are really recruiting D1 football players. You can argue all you want about losing key players, but this is Division One college football brother! We should have adequate backups to plug in and beat a shitty FCS team.

 

[JimmyDimes]

The loss to Cal Poly sucks and hurts. From my prespective, the team came out emotionally flat due to losing the star QB (and/or not having fait in the current backup) and some other starters and weren't ready when the ball was kicked off. They find themselves down 2 tds in just a few minutes. We fought back, but in the end one of the worst losses in Wyoming football history. Cal Poly is decent, but with Brett we win. He is the leader of this team. The team hasn't responded well in his absence. But they had better get their shit togehter this weekend.

 

[laxwyo]

We are thin. Especially at QB. It's funny how much your offense can help the defense. If our O could have went on a drive instead of 3 and out after our D just gave up a long TD run, perhaps they have time to adjust. Instead they get burned again.

 

[SDPokeFan]

I assume you coach high school. That's a little different than college. You ask how do you do it. Well, I say you do it by planning ahead and having your back ups have a little more experience by letting them play in blow out games. I say you do it because unlike high school you get to pick your players from all over the country and overseas apparantly, not just from the kids that show up at the field for try-outs. You do it with ten paid coaches, one of them collecting a 7 figure salary and a couple collecting 6 figure salaries, with a few of them also having head coach experience at the college level. You do it because even with the injuries listed, you still have more scholarshipped players than your opponent, who all work out in a state-of-the-art training facility. And you do it because you're in front of your home town fans in your house, playing in your altitude. You do it by not losing so many players regardless of the reason. Our three leading scorers from our 2009 team would all be seniors this year and they're all gone, not to mention our Freshman All American defensive back. Half of this years starters would be the back ups if we could keep our players. Hell, the list is a mile long but I threw it up a while back, so I won't go on. You do it because you're 0-3 and have some pride and fight in you. And you do it because maybe you're a little better at managing and coaching than the guys across the field from you, to justify your salary.

Yes, High school is a little different. But when your team has enough talent to go three deep at most skill positions, on the field it isn't that much different.
And that was a great motivational speech, but you still never gave me the answer. Having pride and fight in you does not always correlate to wins. a coaches salary does not get you wins either. When I ask how you would do it, I want to know, how are you going to beat Cal Poly. Well, that game is hindsight 20/20, so that wouldn't be fair. So, tell me, we still have Smith, Herron, Huff,Harris, DL, LB, G,G, out. How are you beating Idaho? Don't give me an answer than sounds exactly like what every fan wants to hear. I want to know what YOU would do to win this game. Because, most of you here are pro's when it comes to play calling and coaching. So what is your game plan and Why? And how is it any better than anything our coaching staff is doing now?
Here's something else I see. I remember last year people were talking up Utah State, saying they were the best 0-4 team in the country. There record did not show who this team really was. And it was true, they lost the games but, they were in position to win those games. The difference, before they were getting blown out of these games and NEVER had the chance.
Wyo is similar right now. We went down to Texas and played really well, we had the opportunity to get back in the game before the end and missed a crucial 4th down convert. We played one of the BEST team in the MAC, Toledo. Toledo has never been a pushover , really to anybody. They know offense at Toledo and We were in position to win that game, we just came up a few plays shy. Cal Poly was what should have been a win. But with as many as we have out due to injury and the change that makes to game plans it became another close loss. Again we got in position to win it and then, turnover.
A couple of plays and honestly this team could be 3-0 right now.[/quote]

COULD, but isn't. Keep making excuses though. I hope you're the only one in this forum that enjoys being 0-3.

 

[kansasCowboy]

Did I say I enjoy this? No, And I have yet to make an excuse. I just want to hear logic other than rants from pissy fans. Tell me what you would do different, since everyone on here is so freakin knowledgeable about how to call a game. Stop saying I'm making excuses. I've yet to do so.
Easy way to put it.Scenario: Alabama has to play a healthy Wyoming. The week prior, Alabama loses their starting QB, starting WR and several line and D players. Wyo pulls out the close victory and upsets Alabama.
Point is, when you lose your best players, you WILL struggle, no matter who you are. Now as a Pokes fan if this happened, what would you say to Alabama fans complaining the exact same way you are? "There is no way that even are back ups lose to Wyo!" "Wyoming!? Why are we losing to a smaller nobody school?"
Sorry, but College football is college football. That's how this game is played. Teams pull upsets. App. St. beating Mich. Cal Poly beating SDSU, and now Cal Poly beating Wyo.
Yes, I think we could have played better. But a coach cannot get Kirk to split the defense to wide open receivers during a game. As a coach you have to trust that your player will make the right decision. Kirk didn't. You can get on to him about it all game long, but if he is uncomfortable, he won't make the pass. A coach can teach splitting the D all week long and come game time some QBs just won't do it.
I've asked twice, an yet have not received an answer to my questions. Stop bitching and use your noggins people. What would you do in Wyo's case and would you do anything different? I see no excuse in these questions.

 

[cowboyz]

Did I say I enjoy this? No, And I have yet to make an excuse. I just want to hear logic other than rants from pissy fans. Tell me what you would do different, since everyone on here is so freakin knowledgeable about how to call a game. Stop saying I'm making excuses. I've yet to do so.
Easy way to put it.Scenario: Alabama has to play a healthy Wyoming. The week prior, Alabama loses their starting QB, starting WR and several line and D players. Wyo pulls out the close victory and upsets Alabama.
Point is, when you lose your best players, you WILL struggle, no matter who you are. Now as a Pokes fan if this happened, what would you say to Alabama fans complaining the exact same way you are? "There is no way that even are back ups lose to Wyo!" "Wyoming!? Why are we losing to a smaller nobody school?"
Sorry, but College football is college football. That's how this game is played. Teams pull upsets. App. St. beating Mich. Cal Poly beating SDSU, and now Cal Poly beating Wyo.
Yes, I think we could have played better. But a coach cannot get Kirk to split the defense to wide open receivers during a game. As a coach you have to trust that your player will make the right decision. Kirk didn't. You can get on to him about it all game long, but if he is uncomfortable, he won't make the pass. A coach can teach splitting the D all week long and come game time some QBs just won't do it.
I've asked twice, an yet have not received an answer to my questions. Stop bitching and use your noggins people. What would you do in Wyo's case and would you do anything different? I see no excuse in these questions.

I can’t speak for any of the other pissy fans but we’re sort of debating different points here. I don’t have a bad feeling about the future of the team because of how one game was called. The point I’m trying to make is, why are we where we are? Why can the loss of a few players cause us to be the biggest win for Cal Poly? When Cal Poly beat SDSU, they were very bad SDSU teams. I can’t imagine they’d beat them now. Then again, I couldn’t imagine the Pokes losing to Cal Poly either, so maybe we’re as bad as those SDSU teams. If you read my posts you’ll see I’m upset over where we are and more importantly, where we may be heading with this regime. I have never seen even one Cal Poly game in person, on TV on film, etc. And I certainly do not” follow them”. So if you are asking how I’d call the game, it’s not even something I thought about. As they’ve been on our schedule and their game films are available to our coaches, I’d assume our staff took a look at them and used this information to call the game.
Regarding your Alabama/Wyoming scenario, if they were what we think of as a typical Alabama team, they could probably lose half their starters and beat us. So if this happened and we did beat them, it would be a big win. If they were 0-2 and your scenario kicked in and we made them 0-3, then I don’t think we’d get too excited, other than the “we beat an auto-qualifier league team”. Sort of like beating Tennessee a few years back. It was cool, but we didn’t get crazy over it because Tennessee sucked that year. Do we suck this year?
We didn’t lose this game because Kirk couldn’t hit a longer pass, we lost it because he wasn’t prepared or allowed to make those passes. So to answer your question of what would I do different, the answer is, not be in this position (refer to my earlier post).

 

[TheCup]

When I ask how you would do it, I want to know, how are you going to beat Cal Poly. Well, that game is hindsight 20/20, so that wouldn't be fair. So, tell me, we still have Smith, Herron, Huff,Harris, DL, LB, G,G, out. How are you beating Idaho? Don't give me an answer than sounds exactly like what every fan wants to hear. I want to know what YOU would do to win this game.

I would get Cowboy Tough.

Just kidding.

The way I view this is sort of like the old standard that Middle American courts used to apply to pornography - "I'll know it when I see it."

If I knew exactly what to do in a situation like this then I would be the guy making $1.2 million a year. But I don't, and I'm not.

The flip side of that coin is that if we're paying a coach a million bucks a year, then I goddamn sure expect him to be able to figure it out - and on Saturday he didn't. The gameplan never really changed. And worse, Colby's play never really improved. From what I gather, he looked just as lousy Saturday as he did when got thrown in against TCU last year.

A critical piece of a coach's job is player development and player management. It doesn't appear that Colby's confidence was built up, that a gameplan was put in place to protect him while still putting points on the board or that any steps were really taken to improve his play from the 1st quarter to the 4th.

You would think an "offensive genius" could draw something up in the dirt to beat an FCS team. For whatever reason, DC didn't get it done. You don't have to be Don Coryell to see that - you just have to be able to see the scoreboard at the end of the game.