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(10-26-2014 02:35 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 02:27 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 08:10 AM)BCBronco Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for

I know that a handful of you are hoping for quick success by the Broncos and a quick exit by PJ. Whatever your rationale, in many ways it's irrelevant to the larger issue of on the field success. It's true that all successful MAC coaches move up when the time comes and PJ will do the same. But know that we are in the Golden age of Bronco recruiting and that when PJ leaves that will end. PJ is not only best recruiter in the MAC right now, he might be the best of all time.

So, here is what will happen when PJ leaves? WMU will hire a new coach, he'll probably be competent, we've had a few over the years. The new guy will win with PJ's recruits for a few years. But…recruiting will drop off, how could it not, and Western will return to its mediocre foundations.

With respect to the proud heritage that another Bronco poster mentioned a few days ago, give me a break. While we have had some decent teams, the 1988 team and Tim Lester's era comes to mind, as does the Cubit team that went 9-4. However, three MAC titles in 60 or so years is not a proud heritage on the field no matter how you spin it.

For the record, I am defining proud heritage as a success on the field, not so-called character, not "niceness", none of that intangible crap. No one is going to go see bunch of nice losers play. Sorry all of you high horse character guys, but that's life in America.

So, from my perspective whether you like PJ or not, I'd be careful about wishing him away too quickly. I'm hoping for at least one more year after this when I'm certain that Western will win a MAC championship.

Great post, too bad it falls on deaf ears to the 4-5 village idiots that truly need to hear it. It took me about 6 months or so of seeing him work up close to see that this thing was going to be success. I just had no idea it would be this soon. I'm still shocked at our turnaround this year. Don't think for a second that there aren't other A.D.'s out there keeping a VERY close eye on our team right now. I guarantee you Fleck's name is already in a few hats out there based on his recruiting success, and this season's turnaround alone.

My biggest fear is that we win 8-9 games, still don't win a MAC West or a MAC Championship, and then he gets the big bucks and leaves before this thing is completely established. It's the difference between where Toledo's program was at when Beckman left, and where NIU's program was at 1-2 years ago. One is stockpiled with talent but never completely made it over the hump (Toledo), the other built a strong foundation, had an exit strategy, and never seemed to miss a beat (NIU).

A part of me almost doesn't want us to win too quick because it'll all come crashing back down very quickly and we'll be right back to where we started. It can happen very fast. Which is scary, because I'm not sure I have the faith in our athletic dept. to conduct another search. I think we got extremely lucky this time around. The best thing we'd have going for us would be the inherited talent and improved facilities.

One benefit might actually be that we don't have a strong incentive to promote from within though. If you look at the MAC programs that backslide after a coach leaves it usually* involves a knee jerk in house promotion. PJ has surrounded himself with mostly experienced coaches who haven't been thought of as potential head coaches throughout their careers or coaches that are too young and inexperienced. I'd rather have a Jerry Kill than a Rod Carrey if that unfortunate scenario plays out.

It sure would be nice to have a coach who is in a position to do something more than stay here forever and try and defend a mediocre record. Its a good position to be in relative to what we've had.