Nothing will change

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Those of you that say 'McCall must go' or 'put in Alviti'...are you not paying attention for the past 10 years??

Repeat after me - nothing will change. Now, it doesn't mean we won't have intermittent success, just that as long as Reichmeister Fitz is there, this is what he knows, this is what you get. Sometimes the schedule lines up, and we have a solid class, and good breaks, and few injuries, and a good winning season. Other times it will be the usual excuses and no accountability. The thumbs that they point at themselves have been recently removed from their asses.

Fitz is like a tenured professor or a lifelong civil servant, neither accountable nor interested in hearing something new. He's the all time leader in wins, somehow respected nationally, bleeds purple, is an ambassador. I don't advocate firing him, I am simply saying nothing will change. Nothing. If you think it might change, rid yourself of the delusion. He will coach as long as he wants, probably the rest of my life.

Nothing will change

 

[NUChicago]

Good article Teddy G just published in the Tribune. Basically calls our success last year unintentional (which I agree) and calls out the offensive line and wide reciever development/recruiting.

 

[NJCat]

Good article Teddy G just published in the Tribune. Basically calls our success last year unintentional (which I agree) and calls out the offensive line and wide reciever development/recruiting.

I disagree about last season. Cats deserved to win every one of those 10 games last year (well, maybe not Wisky). Just like they deserved to lose all three of their losses. The suck they are embracing this year should not detract from the success they enjoyed on the back of Lowry and Gibson last year.

 

[stpaulcat]

Those of you that say 'McCall must go' or 'put in Alviti'...are you not paying attention for the past 10 years??

Repeat after me - nothing will change. Now, it doesn't mean we won't have intermittent success, just that as long as Reichmeister Fitz is there, this is what he knows, this is what you get. Sometimes the schedule lines up, and we have a solid class, and good breaks, and few injuries, and a good winning season. Other times it will be the usual excuses and no accountability. The thumbs that they point at themselves have been recently removed from their asses.

Fitz is like a tenured professor or a lifelong civil servant, neither accountable nor interested in hearing something new. He's the all time leader in wins, somehow respected nationally, bleeds purple, is an ambassador. I don't advocate firing him, I am simply saying nothing will change. Nothing. If you think it might change, rid yourself of the delusion. He will coach as long as he wants, probably the rest of my life.

Nothing will change

Is that to say nothing has changed? There has been huge change, already. Since mid 2013 our hugely productive and spectacular to watch offense has evaporated. The ship is taking water and listing badly. The question is not will things change, but rather will we plug the leak and pump out the bilges? If not, that's just nuts.

 

[kaTNap]

Fitz isn't going anywhere. But a season with double-digit losses might force his hand in making some staff changes.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Fitz isn't going anywhere. But a season with double-digit losses might force his hand in making some staff changes.

Respectfully disagree. I don't think he knows another way, and/or is too pigheaded. You see that quote where someone told him that his offense is easy to predict and he basically said (paraphrased) ' so what? I know what Iowa is going to do and they execute anyway'. I've said before he is like the German generals in War and Peace - if the plan fails it's duento poor execution. Because, of course, the plan is perfect

i honestly think he would get fired before admitting he was wrong

 

[Frabjous_rivals]

Good article Teddy G just published in the Tribune. Basically calls our success last year unintentional (which I agree) and calls out the offensive line and wide reciever development/recruiting.

"Unintentional' is the wrong word. It's not like they did not want to win. NU won all the close games and got blown out in the losses which, in the vernacular, means they were punching above their weight. This year they have regressed to the mean, as Bill James would say. I'll go with 'fortuitous' instead of 'unintentional' for $500, Alex.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Respectfully disagree. I don't think he knows another way, and/or is too pigheaded. You see that quote where someone told him that his offense is easy to predict and he basically said (paraphrased) ' so what? I know what Iowa is going to do and they execute anyway'. I've said before he is like the German generals in War and Peace - if the plan fails it's duento poor execution. Because, of course, the plan is perfect

i honestly think he would get fired before admitting he was wrong

If he says anything else, he is basically publicly blasting his OC. He isn't going to do that. I do believe anything less than 500 this year and changes will finally occur. Just can't see how we get to 500 after watching the first two games.

 

[NJCat]

If he says anything else, he is basically publicly blasting his OC. He isn't going to do that. I do believe anything less than 500 this year and changes will finally occur. Just can't see how we get to 500 after watching the first two games.

Color me skeptical. He wil used the old "execution" or "not hitting the fits" or (sadly) injuries as the excuse, and say "the system works" using 3 10 win seasons in 11 years as evidence that the problems are everywhere but with this long-tenured coaching staff.......

 

[TheC]

Those of you that say 'McCall must go' or 'put in Alviti'...are you not paying attention for the past 10 years??

Repeat after me - nothing will change. Now, it doesn't mean we won't have intermittent success, just that as long as Reichmeister Fitz is there, this is what he knows, this is what you get. Sometimes the schedule lines up, and we have a solid class, and good breaks, and few injuries, and a good winning season. Other times it will be the usual excuses and no accountability. The thumbs that they point at themselves have been recently removed from their asses.

Fitz is like a tenured professor or a lifelong civil servant, neither accountable nor interested in hearing something new. He's the all time leader in wins, somehow respected nationally, bleeds purple, is an ambassador. I don't advocate firing him, I am simply saying nothing will change. Nothing. If you think it might change, rid yourself of the delusion. He will coach as long as he wants, probably the rest of my life.

Nothing will change

I really don't think you have a clue what's going through his head, but then again, this is an internet message board so you're free to pretend like the rest of us. I will tell you your tenured professor crack is also full of it.

 

[GreenBayCat]

Color me skeptical. He wil used the old "execution" or "not hitting the fits" or (sadly) injuries as the excuse, and say "the system works" using 3 10 win seasons in 11 years as evidence that the problems are everywhere but with this long-tenured coaching staff.......

Uh, which 3 seasons had 10 wins?

 

[Fitz51]

I'd take an 0-12 season if it meant immediate change.

 

[Sheffielder]

I'd take an 0-12 season if it meant immediate change.

I frustratingly agree.

 

[NJCat]

Uh, which 3 seasons had 10 wins?

My bad. Just 2.....

 

[stpaulcat]

I frustratingly agree.

I never, ever thought I'd be hoping for losses, but in some demented way, I am. A question might be, how many losses before the Fitz Change-O-Meter registers "in-extremis"? The mark at which the idea of coaching change lodges itself indelibly in Fitz's brain? If we lose six in a row, will that do it? But then, what if we win six in a row--will that cause permanent erasure of the idea? Say we go 6-6 and get a low tier bowl game? Will that signal coach redemption for another year or two? This is scary territory.

 

[DaCat]

The Fitz Change-o-Meter went to the same shop for repairs as this Board's Sarcasm Meter. It's not going to be a quick fix.

 

[hdhntr1]

My bad. Just 2.....

And that is over 5years

 

[kaTNap]

It's not the Fitz Change-o-meter I'm hoping on, it's the Phillips Change-o-meter.

 

[sprinkler2]

Those of you that say 'McCall must go' or 'put in Alviti'...are you not paying attention for the past 10 years??

Repeat after me - nothing will change. Now, it doesn't mean we won't have intermittent success, just that as long as Reichmeister Fitz is there, this is what he knows, this is what you get. Sometimes the schedule lines up, and we have a solid class, and good breaks, and few injuries, and a good winning season. Other times it will be the usual excuses and no accountability. The thumbs that they point at themselves have been recently removed from their asses.

Fitz is like a tenured professor or a lifelong civil servant, neither accountable nor interested in hearing something new. He's the all time leader in wins, somehow respected nationally, bleeds purple, is an ambassador. I don't advocate firing him, I am simply saying nothing will change. Nothing. If you think it might change, rid yourself of the delusion. He will coach as long as he wants, probably the rest of my life.

Nothing will change

Except the level of fan support for this program. Football at NU is not on a strong enough foundation that it can easily handle (survive?) an extended period of really bad performance. Don't misunderstand me, I love our student athletes and the high quality of the people associated with the program, but you can't put that kind of performance out on the field week after week and expect to remain relevant in the prime time college sports today.

 

[mikewebb68]

It's not the Fitz Change-o-meter I'm hoping on, it's the Phillips Change-o-meter.

You'll be waiting a long time for Phiilips to leave, unless he leaves for voluntarily for a bigger stage. One of the most respected and recognized ADs in all of college athletics.

 

[kaTNap]

You'll be waiting a long time for Phiilips to leave, unless he leaves for voluntarily for a bigger stage. One of the most respected and recognized ADs in all of college athletics.

No, no, no. I'm hoping Phillips puts pressure on Fitz to change his assistants. Sheesh!

 

[willycat]

No, no, no. I'm hoping Phillips puts pressure on Fitz to change his assistants. Sheesh!

Maybe the only way NU gets new assistant coaches, is if the HC moves on. Long shot but it could happen if Phillips gets the Big Ten Commissioner gig and an AD position opens.

 

[julescat]

Maybe the only way NU gets new assistant coaches, is if the HC moves on. Long shot but it could happen if Phillips gets the Big Ten Commissioner gig and an AD position opens.

I would be OK with that.

 

[theProducer]

"so what? I know what Iowa is going to do and they execute anyway'."

I cant believe he admitted what I always believed, that he thinks being a half-rate version of Iowa is just fine. This is the most depressing thing Ive read in this most depressing week.

Win or lose, we used to dictate the pace of every game we played. Teams were on their heels. We exhausted people (including an Auburn team that had a lot of future national champions). Now we aspire to be the JV version of the most boring team in America.

 

[mikewebb68]

No, no, no. I'm hoping Phillips puts pressure on Fitz to change his assistants. Sheesh!

Ok, sorry to misintepret. Do ADs typically fire assistants?

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Ok, sorry to misintepret. Do ADs typically fire assistants?

No

 

[Gladeskat]

"so what? I know what Iowa is going to do and they execute anyway'."

I cant believe he admitted what I always believed, that he thinks being a half-rate version of Iowa is just fine. This is the most depressing thing Ive read in this most depressing week.

Football 101 offends you? Well executed vanilla offenses will beat poorly executed razzle-dazzle offenses every time. When we begin to execute well, we'll win.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I never, ever thought I'd be hoping for losses, but in some demented way, I am. A question might be, how many losses before the Fitz Change-O-Meter registers "in-extremis"? The mark at which the idea of coaching change lodges itself indelibly in Fitz's brain? If we lose six in a row, will that do it? But then, what if we win six in a row--will that cause permanent erasure of the idea? Say we go 6-6 and get a low tier bowl game? Will that signal coach redemption for another year or two? This is scary territory.

No, we can't be rooting for losses. This program can't afford a total melt down season. This is an important season for sustainability in the program. We are flunking the test right now. Barring a turn around that nets us the West title, I surely think changes happen. 6-6 we make changes, 0-12 we makes changes. I would rather be 6-6. We just lost to friggin ISU. We clearly were outplayed which is unacceptable and with the talent gap has to fall on the coaches. I can understand losses in the conference because they overall have similar talent or better. These rumblings are much louder than they were in the 5-7 seasons and a one eyed blind man can see we need to make some changes.

 

[stpaulcat]

No, we can't be rooting for losses. This program can't afford a total melt down season. This is an important season for sustainability in the program. We are flunking the test right now. Barring a turn around that nets us the West title, I surely think changes happen. 6-6 we make changes, 0-12 we makes changes. I would rather be 6-6. We just lost to friggin ISU. We clearly were outplayed which is unacceptable and with the talent gap has to fall on the coaches. I can understand losses in the conference because they overall have similar talent or better. These rumblings are much louder than they were in the 5-7 seasons and a one eyed blind man can see we need to make some changes.

Instead of losses, then we should hope Fitz is blind with one eye? I'll take it if helps take this program toward better outcomes.

 

[ricko6543211]

Football 101 offends you? Well executed vanilla offenses will beat poorly executed razzle-dazzle offenses every time. When we begin to execute well, we'll win.

Sometimes some of you guys are obstinate to the point of it being painful. Good scheme and good execution are not entirely dependent nor entirely independent, and both fall on coaching. I'm not even a McCall hater per se, but is it perhaps possible that our challenges in execution arise in part because the other team often knows what is coming? And that good scheme can make good execution easier, as it has the defense on their wrong foot since they are guessing in the wrong direction, trying to cover many different things, etc? Also, is it not possible that poor execution could have something to do with the coaches, whose job is to teach them to execute the core and ancillary parts of our offense?

Good players help. Good scheme helps. Good execution helps. These are all interrelated components, and in college all have some relation to the coaches via recruiting, strategy, and teaching. If you don't think that good scheme helped us during the early spread offense years under Walker then I think you're blind.

 

[ricko6543211]

Sometimes some of you guys are obstinate to the point of it being painful. Good scheme and good execution are not entirely dependent nor entirely independent, and both fall on coaching. I'm not even a McCall hater per se, but is it perhaps possible that our challenges in execution arise in part because the other team often knows what is coming? And that good scheme can make good execution easier, as it has the defense on their wrong foot since they are guessing in the wrong direction, trying to cover many different things, etc? Also, is it not possible that poor execution could have something to do with the coaches, whose job is to teach them to execute the core and ancillary parts of our offense?

Good players help. Good scheme helps. Good execution helps. These are all interrelated components, and in college all have some relation to the coaches via recruiting, strategy, and teaching. If you don't think that good scheme helped us during the early spread offense years under Walker then I think you're blind.

Or have you not watched Belicheck for the last 20 or whatever years? Also, even though he's a slimeball, watch Harbaugh's offense and what he does with misdirection and other things to get guys in open space, and that's on a team of 4 and 5 star recruits. Pat's comment on Iowa's scheme was also depressing to me, like let's just give up on being innovative or getting any potential advantage schematically...

 

[willycat]

Or have you not watched Belicheck for the last 20 or whatever years? Also, even though he's a slimeball, watch Harbaugh's offense and what he does with misdirection and other things to get guys in open space, and that's on a team of 4 and 5 star recruits. Pat's comment on Iowa's scheme was also depressing to me, like let's just give up on being innovative or getting any potential advantage schematically...

Correct. seems like most have caught up with defending the hurry up spread O, or has NU stopped running it. Either way it might be time to go to something else. How about a version of the wishbone or the triple option, heck the single wing may gain more yards for the Cats at this juncture. OK, maybe the QB to run a new type offense is not on the roster, then go out and recruit that guy or guys. Just saying we can't or won't change the way we game plan or recruit is un-acceptable.

 

[NUCat320]

Football 101 offends you? Well executed vanilla offenses will beat poorly executed razzle-dazzle offenses every time. When we begin to execute well, we'll win.

I disagree, Glades.

You can execute all you want, but it doesn't matter if their D-Linemen are better than your O-Linemen.

NU will have less talent that most conference opponents, without fail, probably always. Scheme is how you address the fact that you can't just beat the crap out of the other guys. (Iowa recruits farm boys and turns them into maulers. NU's guys don't have that learning curve.)

 

[Gladeskat]

I disagree, Glades.

You can execute all you want, but it doesn't matter if their D-Linemen are better than your O-Linemen.

NU will have less talent that most conference opponents, without fail, probably always. Scheme is how you address the fact that you can't just beat the crap out of the other guys. (Iowa recruits farm boys and turns them into maulers. NU's guys don't have that learning curve.)

If you don't execute well, you're not going to do crap with an offense designed by even Spock and ET. Our problem is NOT scheme.

 

[NUCat320]

If you don't execute well, you're not going to do crap with an offense designed by even Spock and ET. Our problem is NOT scheme.

Could last year's team, executing perfectly, even come within a touchdown of Iowa or Tennessee or Michigan?

There's talent, development, scheme, and execution. NU will always be deficient in talent. How do they close the gap?

 

[NJCat]

There's talent, development, scheme, and execution. NU will always be deficient in talent. How do they close the gap?

Re talent, and how to close the gap:

1) Upgrade facilities - In progress
2) Upgrade coaching staff - No progress

 

[stpaulcat]

Could last year's team, executing perfectly, even come within a touchdown of Iowa or Tennessee or Michigan?

There's talent, development, scheme, and execution. NU will always be deficient in talent. How do they close the gap?

"NU will always be deficient in talent." I don't buy that. History doesn't either.

 

[NUCat320]

"NU will always be deficient in talent." I don't buy that. History doesn't either.

Has NU ever, in any single season, lined up more guys that made the NFL than Ohio State did in that same season, or signed more four-star recruits than Michigan? Penn State? Michigan State? Wisconsin? Iowa? No need to look it up, I promise. Talent-wise, by those objective measures, NU will always rank in the bottom half of the conference. On average, the other guys will always have better 17 1/2 year olds.

NU needs to maximize those talents between 17 1/2 and 22 to be great. NU is not doing that today.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

"NU will always be deficient in talent." I don't buy that. History doesn't either.

Eh... even during the "Golden Age" of NU football (1995-2000 with some intervening bad years under Barnett), I don't think we ever really "out-talented" teams.

 

[theProducer]

If you don't execute well, you're not going to do crap with an offense designed by even Spock and ET. Our problem is NOT scheme.

I got really nostalgic watching Houston trounce Oklahoma 2 weeks ago Glades. We had our own identity as recently as the Kafka era. As recently as the Siemian era, we had our moments (generally when we had our foot on the gas). I know several people who think, like I do, that last year was as boring and unsatisfying as a 10-win season could possibly be. This is supposed to be entertainment. Forgive me if I preferred watching NU football when it was entertaining.