Solution to the problem

[Wind River Poke]

Until Burman, the Administration, or whomever figures out that we have to spend money on a coach, our woes will continue.
The college sports landscape has changed so much in the past decade that I don't believe its reasonable to think we can hire coordinators or Div II coaches to be head coaches and compete in this league. I think Wyoming Football is evident of that.
There have been a lot of dollars spent on new facilities and upgrades, a great investment. But until someone is willing to lay down the cash for a D1 seasoned coach, its all for not.
We need a Brady Hoke type that knows how to win in Div I. Let the Ball State's be the proving grounds, not Wyoming. I find it ironic that I was always afraid of losing our coach when we had success. Now I really wouldn't mind if we rose to the top and lost our coach. At least we could say we rose to the top.

 

[fromolwyoming]

Or get another Lloyd Eaton, or an assistant who coaches under one of the greats (like Roach did with Eaton). We at least need a better D-coordinator who can at least know what it means to have a disciplined and ball swarming defense.

 

[cowboyz]

I don't think it's so bad to hire a first time head coach that shows potential, but he should surround himself with some experience. They're all learning on the job. I feel as bad for the players as I do the fans that finance it.

 

[socalpoke82]

could be worse. despite the irony, DC could have Locksley's overall record.

 

[gopokes1399]

give it sometime, you guys all loved him after a bowl victory you have to remember we are trying to get this program to a point where we can compete and DC will get his guys i truly believe that, we had some terrible breaks today 3 fumbles in the red zone is just poor execution but DC didnt fumble those footballs

 

[basinpoke]

I believe Nebraska hired a coordinator. And now they are back in top 25. It took a little time but they are playing ball again. Year three is the make or break year for DC. Need to show big improvement next year with his recruits or then folks should panic. Sure it is a very disappointing season but I vote to wait one more year.

 

[Asmodeanreborn]

Wow. I think I need to stop going to these boards.

As a parting statement: take a look at other very successful coaches in their second years at different schools (and no, Utah doesn't count as that program was already "there" when Whittingham took over).

Heck, even look at Tiller's second year. Patterson...

 

[PokePride.com]

I do not agree with a lot of the calls that Dave Christensen has made this season and he says the same thing week in and week out and that gets old, but I do believe it honestly to early to pull the plug on him. I say every coach needs five years, that fifth year guarantees that all the players on the team are that coaches recruits.

Give Dave time if he sticks around and he gets decent recruits we could have a decent team in a couple of years.

But I may still rip coach a new one on Poke Pride as he made some real stupid calls Saturday against the Lobos.

 

[23handicap]

I do not agree with a lot of the calls that Dave Christensen has made this season and he says the same thing week in and week out and that gets old, but I do believe it honestly to early to pull the plug on him. I say every coach needs five years, that fifth year guarantees that all the players on the team are that coaches recruits.

Give Dave time if he sticks around and he gets decent recruits we could have a decent team in a couple of years.

But I may still rip coach a new one on Poke Pride as he made some real stupid calls Saturday
against the Lobos.

I agree. But I'm afraid DC is headed towards the Joe Glenn path if doesn't fire Marty English and Arroyo. He needs to come to the realization these guys are not going to produce a championship. They aren't D-I quality.

 

[Wind River Poke]

Wow. I think I need to stop going to these boards.

As a parting statement: take a look at other very successful coaches in their second years at different schools (and no, Utah doesn't count as that program was already "there" when Whittingham took over).

Heck, even look at Tiller's second year. Patterson...

In Patterson's second year he went 10-2, what is your point? And Tiller did NOT lose to an 0-8 team, even in his first year.
I am the first to agree that a new coach should be given a chance to prove himself, get his athletes, and put in his system. I know it takes time...I'm not an idiot. But IF this coach has IT there should be some progression during the course of the season. He got out-coached by Locksley. Do you think that is progress?
There was a great post on GWG about how a coach needs to teach his team. Screaming in the face of players isn't always the answer.
I hope DC gets it done, I really do. But the evolution of this team doesn't appear to be happening.

 

[TheRealUW]

I've thought a lot about what needs to be done in order to make a serious attempt to get this program turned around. My conclusion:

WE NEED BETTER TALENT

Coaches can only do so much. Quite honestly, Gary Patterson and his staff would be extremely lucky if they could put together 5 wins with this UW team. The talent gap becomes obvious when we play the big boys, but if you watch closely, you can see we are lacking talent in our closer losses as well. I will give DC credit in that he has attempted to get some blue chippers to come play for him in Laramie. Unfortunately, those attempts have failed for the most part. I heard DC say on multiple occassions last season that 90% of the recruits that visit end up verballing to the Pokes. What he didn't mention was that 95% of the big time prospects that he and his staff offered never even made a visit to the UW campus.

To be fair, UW is a tough sell, especially if competing with other big programs. The reality of things is that Laramie isn't a town that appeals to many people, especially those players that are used to a big city. It's not easy to convince a guy that they should come play for a team that has only won 6 games in a season twice in the past decade over another team that can promise them an expectation of 8 win seasons and the oppurtunity to play in a national championship game. So, how in the hell do we get better recruits to come play for UW. Personally, I think we need to bring in a big name coach. A big name coach doesn't always mean big time money either. If we could convince a guy like Phil Fulmer or Mike Leach (who both have ties to the state of Wyoming) to come coach for us, I think our recruiting would take a big turn in the right direction. How realistic is something like that actually happening? I don't know, but I do think its a possibility.

 

[TheCup]

What is Fulmer's tie to Wyoming?

100% agree, by the way.

 

[pokesfan52]

Wow. I think I need to stop going to these boards.

As a parting statement: take a look at other very successful coaches in their second years at different schools (and no, Utah doesn't count as that program was already "there" when Whittingham took over).

Heck, even look at Tiller's second year. Patterson...

In Patterson's second year he went 10-2, what is your point? And Tiller did NOT lose to an 0-8 team, even in his first year.
I am the first to agree that a new coach should be given a chance to prove himself, get his athletes, and put in his system. I know it takes time...I'm not an idiot. But IF this coach has IT there should be some progression during the course of the season. He got out-coached by Locksley. Do you think that is progress?
There was a great post on GWG about how a coach needs to teach his team. Screaming in the face of players isn't always the answer.
I hope DC gets it done, I really do. But the evolution of this team doesn't appear to be happening.

According to Wikipedia, Patteron went 6-6 in his second season (he became TCU's head coach prior to the Mobile Alabama Bowl in 2000, and posted a .500 season in 2001). Mack Brown went 1-10 in his second year as a head coach, and 4-7 in his third.
I think I'll wait a couple of seasons before raising my expectations too much. While the loss certainly sucked, the year was pretty much a wash anyways. UW will play New Mexico again. The BYU loss was, for me, much harder to take.

 

[Wind River Poke]

Wow. I think I need to stop going to these boards.

As a parting statement: take a look at other very successful coaches in their second years at different schools (and no, Utah doesn't count as that program was already "there" when Whittingham took over).

Heck, even look at Tiller's second year. Patterson...

In Patterson's second year he went 10-2, what is your point? And Tiller did NOT lose to an 0-8 team, even in his first year.
I am the first to agree that a new coach should be given a chance to prove himself, get his athletes, and put in his system. I know it takes time...I'm not an idiot. But IF this coach has IT there should be some progression during the course of the season. He got out-coached by Locksley. Do you think that is progress?
There was a great post on GWG about how a coach needs to teach his team. Screaming in the face of players isn't always the answer.
I hope DC gets it done, I really do. But the evolution of this team doesn't appear to be happening.

According to Wikipedia, Patteron went 6-6 in his second season (he became TCU's head coach prior to the Mobile Alabama Bowl in 2000, and posted a .500 season in 2001). Mack Brown went 1-10 in his second year as a head coach, and 4-7 in his third.
I think I'll wait a couple of seasons before raising my expectations too much. While the loss certainly sucked, the year was pretty much a wash anyways. UW will play New Mexico again. The BYU loss was, for me, much harder to take.

Not that it really matters but Patterson did take over in Ft. Worth in December of 2000. In 2001 (his first year) he went 6-6. In 2002 he took the Frogs to a 10-2 record.

 

[kansasCowboy]

I do not agree with a lot of the calls that Dave Christensen has made this season and he says the same thing week in and week out and that gets old, but I do believe it honestly to early to pull the plug on him. I say every coach needs five years, that fifth year guarantees that all the players on the team are that coaches recruits.

Give Dave time if he sticks around and he gets decent recruits we could have a decent team in a couple of years.

But I may still rip coach a new one on Poke Pride as he made some real stupid calls Saturday
against the Lobos.

I agree. But I'm afraid DC is headed towards the Joe Glenn path if doesn't fire Marty English and Arroyo. He needs to come to the realization these guys are not going to produce a championship. They aren't D-I quality.

I've come to the conclusion that it is NOT the team, coaches or even the program that is not D-1 quality...But, rather it is some of the so called fans I keep hearing bitching about everything, year in and year out that are not D-1 quality. Either shut it! And cheer. Or find someone else to cheer for, because in my eye's most of all these so called UW fans are no greater than a typical "bandwagon fan."
Did you guys really think everything was Roses with this team? Seriously! We were picked to finish last the year before. LAST! And we overachieved and won a bowl. This year we had a typical first half of the season, and only two games that threw us so far, the Lobos and Aztecs. Aztecs i always thought could go either way, UNM I didn't see coming, but honestly, I had a feeling we might actually lose a winnable one this year. I did predict a 5-7 to a 7-5 record this year, I'm hoping for 4-8, The only two I've missed...the last two. We were kind of overrated this year. Did I get my hopes up like everyone else? A little. but, I still remembered that we are one of the youngest teams in the nation. We only won because of 5 fourth quarter comebacks, and, we only had 67 scholarship players on this team. This team will be better, And honestly? This is right about where they should be. It will get better, if our fans wouldn't jump the gun and start calling for coaches and players heads when all is lost. A TRUE fan lives and dies with his team. He doesn't turn on them when things get rough.
Pretty much, I'm calling all you Bums out! Actually be a fan, or get a new team or hobby!

 

[fromolwyoming]

I do not agree with a lot of the calls that Dave Christensen has made this season and he says the same thing week in and week out and that gets old, but I do believe it honestly to early to pull the plug on him. I say every coach needs five years, that fifth year guarantees that all the players on the team are that coaches recruits.

Give Dave time if he sticks around and he gets decent recruits we could have a decent team in a couple of years.

But I may still rip coach a new one on Poke Pride as he made some real stupid calls Saturday
against the Lobos.

I agree. But I'm afraid DC is headed towards the Joe Glenn path if doesn't fire Marty English and Arroyo. He needs to come to the realization these guys are not going to produce a championship. They aren't D-I quality.

I've come to the conclusion that it is NOT the team, coaches or even the program that is not D-1 quality...But, rather it is some of the so called fans I keep hearing bitching about everything, year in and year out that are not D-1 quality. Either shut it! And cheer. Or find someone else to cheer for, because in my eye's most of all these so called UW fans are no greater than a typical "bandwagon fan."
Did you guys really think everything was Roses with this team? Seriously! We were picked to finish last the year before. LAST! And we overachieved and won a bowl. This year we had a typical first half of the season, and only two games that threw us so far, the Lobos and Aztecs. Aztecs i always thought could go either way, UNM I didn't see coming, but honestly, I had a feeling we might actually lose a winnable one this year. I did predict a 5-7 to a 7-5 record this year, I'm hoping for 4-8, The only two I've missed...the last two. We were kind of overrated this year. Did I get my hopes up like everyone else? A little. but, I still remembered that we are one of the youngest teams in the nation. We only won because of 5 fourth quarter comebacks, and, we only had 67 scholarship players on this team. This team will be better, And honestly? This is right about where they should be. It will get better, if our fans wouldn't jump the gun and start calling for coaches and players heads when all is lost. A TRUE fan lives and dies with his team. He doesn't turn on them when things get rough.
Pretty much, I'm calling all you Bums out! Actually be a fan, or get a new team or hobby!

I've gone to every home game so far this year. I cheered for the Pokes when no one around me would. But certain aspects sould have been addressed from day 1 of this season.
1. Play calling. Teams don't need to be real worried about it because it hardly ever changes. It's either read option, or "oh shit, run!" What happened to sceens or HB draws? Or any other type of play for that matter? This can only be rested on the offensive coordinator.
2. Piss poor tackling and undisciplined (and unimagined) defense. Our secondary has to come up and make the stops because our front seven (minus Knapton, Hendricks, and Schober) would rather go for a big hit and miss rather than just wrapping them up. Plus when they don't cheat up, we have horrible discipline when trying to cover WRs and other potential recievers. This should have been coached into them from day one and not left to linger like it has. And for defensive schemes, we need to STOP trying to cover WRs with linebackers and use DBs instead. We should also blitz from time to time as well. Maybe once per series and not once per game. It would help the D-line a bit as the offense wouldn't know where the blitz would come from. All of these can be laid to rest at the coach's feet.
3. Blocking. Our O-line has done horribly at it. CSU started out similarly, but now their O-line has improved remarkably. Ours has looked to regressed over the season. Can't even block against UNM. The coaches should be getting EVERYTHING they can out of these players and not saying "well, that's as good as you'll ever be, so we'll leave it as is."
4. I have sat in section 28, row 9, seat 17 for every home game this year and none of these things have actually been fixed. That falls squarely on the coach's shoulders. Should we be Bowl eligible this year? Maybe. We got screwed in the BYU game during that final drive and had a good chance to win there. The refs in the SDSU game called 2 very suspicious PI calls (one there was NO contact) on us that could have cost us the game, and now the one that hurts the most was against UNM. Fumbled 3 times and picked off 1 time. With no TOs of our own. These things should have been adjusted from the start. I know DC had a great offense at Mizzou, but his OC and DC stink, to put it simply, and I have every right as a season ticket holder to criticize these things.

 

[Wind River Poke]

I do not agree with a lot of the calls that Dave Christensen has made this season and he says the same thing week in and week out and that gets old, but I do believe it honestly to early to pull the plug on him. I say every coach needs five years, that fifth year guarantees that all the players on the team are that coaches recruits.

Give Dave time if he sticks around and he gets decent recruits we could have a decent team in a couple of years.

But I may still rip coach a new one on Poke Pride as he made some real stupid calls Saturday
against the Lobos.

I agree. But I'm afraid DC is headed towards the Joe Glenn path if doesn't fire Marty English and Arroyo. He needs to come to the realization these guys are not going to produce a championship. They aren't D-I quality.

I've come to the conclusion that it is NOT the team, coaches or even the program that is not D-1 quality...But, rather it is some of the so called fans I keep hearing bitching about everything, year in and year out that are not D-1 quality. Either shut it! And cheer. Or find someone else to cheer for, because in my eye's most of all these so called UW fans are no greater than a typical "bandwagon fan."
Did you guys really think everything was Roses with this team? Seriously! We were picked to finish last the year before. LAST! And we overachieved and won a bowl. This year we had a typical first half of the season, and only two games that threw us so far, the Lobos and Aztecs. Aztecs i always thought could go either way, UNM I didn't see coming, but honestly, I had a feeling we might actually lose a winnable one this year. I did predict a 5-7 to a 7-5 record this year, I'm hoping for 4-8, The only two I've missed...the last two. We were kind of overrated this year. Did I get my hopes up like everyone else? A little. but, I still remembered that we are one of the youngest teams in the nation. We only won because of 5 fourth quarter comebacks, and, we only had 67 scholarship players on this team. This team will be better, And honestly? This is right about where they should be. It will get better, if our fans wouldn't jump the gun and start calling for coaches and players heads when all is lost. A TRUE fan lives and dies with his team. He doesn't turn on them when things get rough.
Pretty much, I'm calling all you Bums out! Actually be a fan, or get a new team or hobby!

You can shove it Kansas. Let me ask a TRUE fan like you how many UW sports do you hold season tickets to and for how many years? How many years have you volunteered your time to CJC, or even donated to for that matter? How many women's soccer games, wrestling matches, and volleyball games have you attended? Really...don't tread on me clown. I HAVE paid my dues and I am entitled to expect more from our football program. I'll be damned if I will watch what I did last night and say it's OK Dave, you have a young team. BULLSHIT

 

[Wind River Poke]

I do not agree with a lot of the calls that Dave Christensen has made this season and he says the same thing week in and week out and that gets old, but I do believe it honestly to early to pull the plug on him. I say every coach needs five years, that fifth year guarantees that all the players on the team are that coaches recruits.

Give Dave time if he sticks around and he gets decent recruits we could have a decent team in a couple of years.

But I may still rip coach a new one on Poke Pride as he made some real stupid calls Saturday
against the Lobos.

I agree. But I'm afraid DC is headed towards the Joe Glenn path if doesn't fire Marty English and Arroyo. He needs to come to the realization these guys are not going to produce a championship. They aren't D-I quality.

I've come to the conclusion that it is NOT the team, coaches or even the program that is not D-1 quality...But, rather it is some of the so called fans I keep hearing bitching about everything, year in and year out that are not D-1 quality. Either shut it! And cheer. Or find someone else to cheer for, because in my eye's most of all these so called UW fans are no greater than a typical "bandwagon fan."
Did you guys really think everything was Roses with this team? Seriously! We were picked to finish last the year before. LAST! And we overachieved and won a bowl. This year we had a typical first half of the season, and only two games that threw us so far, the Lobos and Aztecs. Aztecs i always thought could go either way, UNM I didn't see coming, but honestly, I had a feeling we might actually lose a winnable one this year. I did predict a 5-7 to a 7-5 record this year, I'm hoping for 4-8, The only two I've missed...the last two. We were kind of overrated this year. Did I get my hopes up like everyone else? A little. but, I still remembered that we are one of the youngest teams in the nation. We only won because of 5 fourth quarter comebacks, and, we only had 67 scholarship players on this team. This team will be better, And honestly? This is right about where they should be. It will get better, if our fans wouldn't jump the gun and start calling for coaches and players heads when all is lost. A TRUE fan lives and dies with his team. He doesn't turn on them when things get rough.
Pretty much, I'm calling all you Bums out! Actually be a fan, or get a new team or hobby!

I've gone to every home game so far this year. I cheered for the Pokes when no one around me would. But certain aspects sould have been addressed from day 1 of this season.
1. Play calling. Teams don't need to be real worried about it because it hardly ever changes. It's either read option, or "oh s##t, run!" What happened to sceens or HB draws? Or any other type of play for that matter? This can only be rested on the offensive coordinator.
2. Piss poor tackling and undisciplined (and unimagined) defense. Our secondary has to come up and make the stops because our front seven (minus Knapton, Hendricks, and Schober) would rather go for a big hit and miss rather than just wrapping them up. Plus when they don't cheat up, we have horrible discipline when trying to cover WRs and other potential recievers. This should have been coached into them from day one and not left to linger like it has. And for defensive schemes, we need to STOP trying to cover WRs with linebackers and use DBs instead. We should also blitz from time to time as well. Maybe once per series and not once per game. It would help the D-line a bit as the offense wouldn't know where the blitz would come from. All of these can be laid to rest at the coach's feet.
3. Blocking. Our O-line has done horribly at it. CSU started out similarly, but now their O-line has improved remarkably. Ours has looked to regressed over the season. Can't even block against UNM. The coaches should be getting EVERYTHING they can out of these players and not saying "well, that's as good as you'll ever be, so we'll leave it as is."
4. I have sat in section 28, row 9, seat 17 for every home game this year and none of these things have actually been fixed. That falls squarely on the coach's shoulders. Should we be Bowl eligible this year? Maybe. We got screwed in the BYU game during that final drive and had a good chance to win there. The refs in the SDSU game called 2 very suspicious PI calls (one there was NO contact) on us that could have cost us the game, and now the one that hurts the most was against UNM. Fumbled 3 times and picked off 1 time. With no TOs of our own. These things should have been adjusted from the start. I know DC had a great offense at Mizzou, but his OC and DC stink, to put it simply, and I have every right as a season ticket holder to criticize these things.

Well said.

 

[23handicap]

All this talk about recruiting batter talent is pissing me off. What about recruiting better coaches!

 

[Wyokie]

All this talk about recruiting batter talent is pissing me off. What about recruiting better coaches!

One problem with that: UW doesn't have the $$ to bring in better coaches nor the big-name ones like Mike Leach.

Now if TCU stays and the MWC gets the BCS AQ status we need (& deserve) then UW could be in a etter situation.

Until that happens, we're screwed! :brick: