When a kid starts thinking he's larger than the program and feels like he should get certain touches in and around the goalline to pad his stats, and his own self-interests it is the second you've lost him as the teams leader, and have compromised the overall chemistry of your team. If your a HC worth your weight in salt, you excise the cancer before the cancer has a chance to permiate the rest of the team, REGARDLESS, of who that person is. I believe DC laid it out to ACS that he needed to be more of a "we" guy than an "I" guy and that his attitude was hurting the team. ACS hurt the chemistry of the Pokes long before he decided to send the text message and quit on them. DC had to enact a very basic clause in "Coaching 101" that not all coaches are willing to enact, and usually only the strong ones do enact. The tough decision, of confronting the leader who is arguably your best player. If your a strong head coach, you must do it or you, yourself are compromising your own leadership. Make no mistake, I believe DC wanted very much for ACS to be his guy for the next 2 years, as long as he was going to do it "the DC way", as it should be. For whatever reason, ACS wasn't willing to do it that way and chose to throw away, probably the life of a legend in Laramie. Ultimately, I believe it will be his loss. Score one for DC for having the stones big enough to make the tough decision for the overall betterment of the program , coaches, and players. Go Pokes!
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Need a QB? ACS shopping his services
- Thread starter The Virginian
- Start date
cowboyz said:
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I suggest you talk to some people on the team or some people who were in the locker rooms during last season. Find out the real reason why ACS didn't go to the (can't remember if it was the TCU or NMex) game. I wish him well - he showed what he is capable of. Even DC said he regrets putting so much responsibility on him so soon. This last season was only DC's second season as a HC - he is bound to make some mistakes. At least he has shown he is willing to make moves on his staff. I'm not ready to throw him under the bus. Maybe I'm talking to the wrong person here.
The Virginian
Well-known member
WYCowboy said:
Even as the season progressed, I could tell from afar that there was some malfunction between ACS and the staff. I was at the Toledo game and ACS came off the field and had heated words with someone on the sidelines. I think he replaced by Crum for a series or two. The following game versus TCU he was left home with an "injury". At the time I thought is was odd, but assumed that what we were being told was true. Now I'm not so sure. However, whatever the malfunction was between ACS and others, was it great enough for him to quit the team and throw everything away like he did? Remember, just before Christmas break DC said that he'd talked to ACS and was told that his QB was coming back, looking forward to next season. Lo and behold, during Christmas Break ACS texted the staff he wasn't coming back. So, was it his father that changed his mind?
Whatever the reason, ACS quitting the team has put the program in a huge bind. Essentially we're starting from scratch on the offense with freshmen quarterbacks and a new OC. I hate to be so pessimistic, but I can't see Wyoming winning more than 3 or 4 games next season. I hope to hell I'm wrong. If ACS had stuck with it, the Pokes may have gotten six or seven wins.
I know no one really owes us fans an explanation, but I sure like to know why ACS torpedoed his team and his teammates like he did.
He wasn't injured. :twocents:
The Virginian said:
I don't think we are set back as much as you think. While losing ACS certainly didn't help the program, we have a tremendously good QB coming into the program in Pittser. Rivals lists Pittser as having the 5th strongest arm in the entire country. There are many people in Illinois with a lot of football knowledge who believe Adam Pittser is a 5 star caliber recruit and would have been rated as such if his high school coach would have utilized him more. Personally, I believe that Pittser will go down as one the best Poke signal callers of all time.
Remember: Wyoming must win 7 games to go bowling since only 1 of the FCS games count.
kdwrightuwyo
Well-known member
MrTitleist said:
I've actually heard conflicting stories on this...I've heard that we still only need the 6 wins to be bowl eligable, but can only count one of the two FCS games. AND I've also heard that we need to win 7, because of the two FCS.
Anyone know the real truth?
I believe we improve next year just from hiring OC Brandon. If Ghalil and Nehimie prove capable as back ups to AA then our running game should be decent. The offensive line play has to get better, but we only lose one starter and the red shirts should push everyone else for playing time. I like both of the QBs DC/staff brought in and chances are one of them would have seen some playing time even if ACS was still here. I fully expect this team to go to a bowl this year and ACS leaving should not be an excuse for another poor performance.
Last place in 2010, no where to go but up in 2011.
Last place in 2010, no where to go but up in 2011.
kdwrightuwyo said:
They would need to win 7 assuming they defeat both FCS teams. If they lose to one of the FCS (god forbid) then yes, they would need to win 6 games.
MrTitleist said:
I don't think UW will have a problem with Weber State, but they better watch out for Texas State. They have a good amount of talented players. The speed and size disparity that is often evident when an FBS team plays and FCS team will not be nearly as noticeable when we play Texas State. They are certainly capable of beating UW if they don't play mentally sound football.
Remember that Southern Utah team we beat by 8 at home? Well, 2 weeks later they went to Texas State and got crushed 42-21...and that's even after 2 fumbles inside SU's 20 yard line. The defense better be come ready to play.
WestSalemFootballFan
Active member
Didn't know the QB slot was given to Pittser already. If the guy has the talent and leadership skills to beat out Brett Smith, more power to him. But let's see how it plays out before we anoint him as one of the best.....he may not beat out one of Oregon's all-time best high school signal callers. Either way, things are looking up for this year!TheRealUW said:
One thing's for sure, there's a lot of competition for that starting QB spot.
PokePride.com
Well-known member
WestSalemFootballFan said:
Watching video of both Pittser and Smith I have to say looks like the more polished QB right now and will not be surprised if he is the starter opening day. He has a quicker release, is more accurate than Pittser and can scramble just as well. I cannot comment on arm strength as neither look to be lacking in being able to throw the football. With Smith throwing so much more in high school though you would have to think that he may have and advantage there as well though. Should be a great battle for the job and let the best man win it.
"I don't think we are set back as much as you think. While losing ACS certainly didn't help the program, we have a tremendously good QB coming into the program in Pittser. Rivals lists Pittser as having the 5th strongest arm in the entire country. There are many people in Illinois with a lot of football knowledge who believe Adam Pittser is a 5 star caliber recruit and would have been rated as such if his high school coach would have utilized him more. Personally, I believe that Pittser will go down as one the best Poke signal callers of all time."
Respectfully, your opinion and your entitled to it UW, but I have to ask the question and will never know why Rivals.com chooses to make itself look so foolish by coming up with such a ridiculous ranking. You mean to tell me that all of the high school QB's in the USA lined up somewhere, cranked up, and let loose with a throw and THAT determined their arm strength? Where did the Wyo kids rank? Was any of them in the top 10 or were they further down the list at say...3,672nd? No that was the kid from New Hamshire that was 3,672nd, sorry. Slightly curious to me how a kid that spent three years in a wing-t offense and only threw it "a few times a game" can also have the 5th strongest arm in the country. Something sure seems amiss with all of this. Not knocking the kid, but Real UW, he wasn't even the top ranked QB in the state of Illinois, a kid by the name of Reily O'Toole was who ended up going to the U of Illinois. Just saying...
Show me stats, production, and wins. I tell you what I do like about both guys, and the thing I like most about Pittser is that he wins. He made it all the way to the finals this year and lost at the end of the game. Personally, for me I like that aspect of him much more than his supposed arm strength. All or most D1 QB's have the arm strength to get it done, that's why they have been identified, recruited, and signed to that level. Rivals, star rankings, and what they did or didn't do in high school doesn't matter at all anymore for either of our true freshman QB's. I have the guy I prefer but I choose to base that on his film, the O he ran, the production within that O he ran, how many wins, and how I see that project to the next level. I would never base anything on whether or not some Rivals analyst said "Man, he's got the 5th strongest arm in the country!" Maybe you do which, ok thats your perrogative. Just know most of those guys never even played a down of football anyway. :roll:
Also toughness, because your a$$ better be tough if your going to go to school and play in Laramie.
Respectfully, your opinion and your entitled to it UW, but I have to ask the question and will never know why Rivals.com chooses to make itself look so foolish by coming up with such a ridiculous ranking. You mean to tell me that all of the high school QB's in the USA lined up somewhere, cranked up, and let loose with a throw and THAT determined their arm strength? Where did the Wyo kids rank? Was any of them in the top 10 or were they further down the list at say...3,672nd? No that was the kid from New Hamshire that was 3,672nd, sorry. Slightly curious to me how a kid that spent three years in a wing-t offense and only threw it "a few times a game" can also have the 5th strongest arm in the country. Something sure seems amiss with all of this. Not knocking the kid, but Real UW, he wasn't even the top ranked QB in the state of Illinois, a kid by the name of Reily O'Toole was who ended up going to the U of Illinois. Just saying...
Show me stats, production, and wins. I tell you what I do like about both guys, and the thing I like most about Pittser is that he wins. He made it all the way to the finals this year and lost at the end of the game. Personally, for me I like that aspect of him much more than his supposed arm strength. All or most D1 QB's have the arm strength to get it done, that's why they have been identified, recruited, and signed to that level. Rivals, star rankings, and what they did or didn't do in high school doesn't matter at all anymore for either of our true freshman QB's. I have the guy I prefer but I choose to base that on his film, the O he ran, the production within that O he ran, how many wins, and how I see that project to the next level. I would never base anything on whether or not some Rivals analyst said "Man, he's got the 5th strongest arm in the country!" Maybe you do which, ok thats your perrogative. Just know most of those guys never even played a down of football anyway. :roll:
Also toughness, because your a$$ better be tough if your going to go to school and play in Laramie.
laxwyo
Well-known member
We will all find out soon enough. The speculation is somewhat ridiculous. I did have a feeling that ACS would probably end up being the starter in 2009, but Benjamin could have easily proved me wrong. All I can say is that I think we have two great recruits and one of them will probably be the starter. I would actually hope that Emory Miller takes his chance and rises to the occasion. I don't know much about Pittser except for all the camp stuff I hear. I hear from the Oregon guys that Smith is a real steal and sounds like he might have been one of the best coming from there. He seems to have the attitude to be a cowboy and he gets the edge considering the success he had running the offense that he did. I'll be curious to see if one of them gets butt hurt if they aren't the man right away. I hope that they both push each other to become better and the kid that isn't #1 coming out of fall camp doesn't give up but instead pushes the envelope and takes the job.
WyoIrish:
You actually made me curious as to Rivals methodology for arriving at the stronest arm rankings...so I sent them an email asking for an explanation and this is what they said in a nutshell:
There is basically a 3-pronged approach to their ranking. First, they contact the coaches who are part of both regional and national camps (Elite 11, Nike Combines, Nike 7on7, etc) and ask for their input. Secondly, they contact regional high school coaches and ask for their input. Finally, they have their own scouts make a determination from film. They admitted that it was far from a scientific process and that there was a fair amount of subjectivity to the rankings, but they felt that while the exact order may not be correct, the rankings give a good guage of which FBS quarterbacks fall in the top 10% in arm strength. I think they are probably right.
As far as your claim that Reily O'toole is the highest rated QB in Illinois...only rivals agrees with that assessment. Both ESPN and Scout have Pittser ranked well above O'toole. I definitely don't put all my stock into recruiting websites such as Rivals or Scout, but I do believe they are one tool among many that can help predict how well a given player will translate into the college game. While I find it absurd for anybody to make claims based soley on what Rivals or Scout thinks, I find it just as absurd for people to try and claim their input is absolutely useless. In talking with many of the Illinois coaches, I would say it is almost split 50/50 on their feelings of whether Pittser or O'toole was the best QB in the state. I know a few of the well respected Illinois coaches have mentioned to me that they legitimately believe Pittser would have been a top 10 QB recruit nationally had he played in any other offense. As I never watched Pittser play live, I put a lot of stock into their beliefs.
Brett Smith was used brilliantly by his high school coach. He was put into a postion to succeed, and to his credit, he definitely did. I'm not trying to knock Brett Smith at all. I just think Pittser has the better skill set. That's all. If Brett Smith turns out to be the better overall QB, then great for him. I'll support him 100%.
You actually made me curious as to Rivals methodology for arriving at the stronest arm rankings...so I sent them an email asking for an explanation and this is what they said in a nutshell:
There is basically a 3-pronged approach to their ranking. First, they contact the coaches who are part of both regional and national camps (Elite 11, Nike Combines, Nike 7on7, etc) and ask for their input. Secondly, they contact regional high school coaches and ask for their input. Finally, they have their own scouts make a determination from film. They admitted that it was far from a scientific process and that there was a fair amount of subjectivity to the rankings, but they felt that while the exact order may not be correct, the rankings give a good guage of which FBS quarterbacks fall in the top 10% in arm strength. I think they are probably right.
As far as your claim that Reily O'toole is the highest rated QB in Illinois...only rivals agrees with that assessment. Both ESPN and Scout have Pittser ranked well above O'toole. I definitely don't put all my stock into recruiting websites such as Rivals or Scout, but I do believe they are one tool among many that can help predict how well a given player will translate into the college game. While I find it absurd for anybody to make claims based soley on what Rivals or Scout thinks, I find it just as absurd for people to try and claim their input is absolutely useless. In talking with many of the Illinois coaches, I would say it is almost split 50/50 on their feelings of whether Pittser or O'toole was the best QB in the state. I know a few of the well respected Illinois coaches have mentioned to me that they legitimately believe Pittser would have been a top 10 QB recruit nationally had he played in any other offense. As I never watched Pittser play live, I put a lot of stock into their beliefs.
Brett Smith was used brilliantly by his high school coach. He was put into a postion to succeed, and to his credit, he definitely did. I'm not trying to knock Brett Smith at all. I just think Pittser has the better skill set. That's all. If Brett Smith turns out to be the better overall QB, then great for him. I'll support him 100%.
TheRealUW said:
Thanks for the info regarding Rivals but, to me, there still seems like a lot of subjectivity by these analysts. As for O'Toole, I was using Rivals ranking, and saw that he was supposedly ranked higher than Adam. I also saw that he went to the big in-state school so they obviously thought his skill-set fit in better for them. Fair enough Real UW-and I'm not knocking Adam Pittser, just questioning the whole ranking thing. The best part about it is that it just doesn't matter anymore, high school that is. I'm all for the competition between all three of these guys and believe it will be fun to watch as they all bring plenty to the table. I will be looking forward to it and hopefully we will win a lot of games because of that competition.
One thing I heard was that Pittser was a pretty good baseball player, is he playing his senior year this Spring do you know?
