1)NIU is not the end all "Xanadu" for most coaches. Hard to comprehend for some. If he does go to the NFL, that is perhaps what he always wanted.



2)Someone's word, even if it is the beloved and idolized PJ Fleck by so many on here, may not be worth anything. I am not saying that, but it could be. For some NIU may have did things/got them to places, but didn't make them. Again, I am not saying this, but may seem to think NIU made him, which I don't believe.

:ncaabbs:


3) Sports figures, even former NIU one's should not be idolized, namely after they have left NIU. 4/5 times they will let you down, not meet YOUR expectations and do what YOU want. Love them for their on field performance, and should they do off field things to be recognized for such as charity work, classroom performance and leave it at that.



4) People's situations change daily, if not by the hour. Perhaps only he will know or it will come out if he really wanted this job @ all, just the $ or was another job (TB) on the table beforehand. Everyon one has experienced it, god or bad be it promotion, firing, death, birth. Maybe Fleck IS telling the TRUTH?



5) Be careful what you wish for. You wanted him, you got him. Dind't end or even start as you wanted, but if he was as iconic as many portrayed him as, you would think he would achieve much higher. Have to understand #1 for that though.



6) It's ok experience NIU, leave it and yet not coach here/be a daily part of it and still love it. I don't think Fleck would ever give up his experience @ NIU for anything, but that has nothing do with his play.I heard Ron Rivera, who I despise from his perceived attitude and from what people I know that met have said about him, talk yesterday and he had nothing but great things to say about the Bears and how he wants them to win, still feels part of them. Now if an NIU palyer said that elsewhere, you would feel great. A coach @ NIU says that, youd want him run out.



7) Following up to #6, when a player leaves NIU, let him go. Coaches too. Cherish the time they were here, judge them on that. It will help relieve your bitterness to them and mankind.There are some people/schools you will always hate and their fans ALL of them and ANYONE associated with something you don't like.....UW....Iowa (well, me too)...Toledo...Illini Tire owner. I could only imagine if Fleck becoame OC @ U of I in a couple years.



8) Many of you are over the top NIU fans, which is fine. But many, even most, former players don't share your conceived love. They don't let NIU control their personal and professional decisons. Most I am guessing are just fans, maybe played there but were never a coach there, never given other oppurtunities in life that put them in a better position.



9) If things go as expected, perhaps it is possible to be loyal and thankful to more than 1 coach or school. Maybe Schiano wants Fleck their, Fleck feels that's what he wants. Maybe they have a respect for each other, work together. They wouldn't be the 1st tandemn to pull somehting like this off, won't be the last. When oppurtunity knocks, one you want, you go.



10)It's fun to read people turn on PJ Fleck in a heartbeat.Some or you wanted him, paroyed for him, demanded him got him. You seemed to know him so well just days ago, now you seem to know him even better. You made him a super hero now have made him #1 villain. Kudos to you and your judgment of character past, present and future.

+1

Don't you dare make sense of this situation or provide perspective. It will not be tolerated while we're handing out pitchforks and torches.

#7 is the highlight for me.

More than even pro sports, college sports is about staying in the moment. The players are only out there a short time. And no matter how long the tenure, coaches are fungible.

And yes, expecting loyalty to a program from a coach is misplaced. They came up in their field living nomadic lives, subject to the whims of employers so fickle most of us would never put up with it. Their loyalty is to the guys they work with, to players they care about, and above all to their families. Nothing to take issue with there.

(02-04-2012 11:43 AM)DogTracks Wrote:  #7 is the highlight for me.

More than even pro sports, college sports is about staying in the moment. The players are only out there a short time. And no matter how long the tenure, coaches are fungible.

And yes, expecting loyalty to a program from a coach is misplaced. They came up in their field living nomadic lives, subject to the whims of employers so fickle most of us would never put up with it. Their loyalty is to the guys they work with, to players they care about, and above all to their families. Nothing to take issue with there.

No, I think their loyalty is to their families. Not there's anything wrong with that, but that's really the only people they are loyal to. It is what it is.

#1--If that is what he always wanted fine, but don't lie and embarrass NIU and a class guy like DD.

Most of those points are fine, but you simply don't accept a job and quit the next day. It's not appropriate in any profession.

:soapbox:

Great post. Although I do agree that you don't burn bridges. I guess that's up to NIU Athletics to determine. Nobody knows exactly how this was handled. Fleck's relationship with NIU may not be strained. Only time will tell if he comes back.

(02-04-2012 11:34 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  Don't you dare make sense of this situation or provide perspective. It will not be tolerated while we're handing out pitchforks and torches.

No need to hand the pitchforks and torches. A lot of people still have them out for Jerry Kill.

(02-04-2012 12:55 PM)Doeren Identity Wrote:  Great post. Although I do agree that you don't burn bridges. I guess that's up to NIU Athletics to determine. Nobody knows exactly how this was handled. Fleck's relationship with NIU may not be strained. Only time will tell if he comes back.

What relationship with NIU? He burned his bridges everywhere when he did what he did in a span of 24hrs. This reminds me of the Bears when they announced that they had a new head coach before they signed him. This is worse, because you do not let your new employer have announce the hire if you will not be there.
On the bright side, I am very thankful that we have finaly moved on from the 2-10 mess and have now had four very successful seasons thanks to JK and DD. It appears that NIU football has finally turned the corner and a down year will be 5-6 or 6-5. We have the capability of finally becoming a Mid Major player year in / year out.

(02-04-2012 01:42 PM)WIS11 Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 12:55 PM)Doeren Identity Wrote:  Great post. Although I do agree that you don't burn bridges. I guess that's up to NIU Athletics to determine. Nobody knows exactly how this was handled. Fleck's relationship with NIU may not be strained. Only time will tell if he comes back.

What relationship with NIU? He burned his bridges everywhere when he did what he did in a span of 24hrs. This reminds me of the Bears when they announced that they had a new head coach before they signed him. This is worse, because you do not let your new employer have announce the hire if you will not be there.
On the bright side, I am very thankful that we have finaly moved on from the 2-10 mess and have now had four very successful seasons thanks to JK and DD. It appears that NIU football has finally turned the corner and a down year will be 5-6 or 6-5. We have the capability of finally becoming a Mid Major player year in / year out.

So your barometer for successful seasons are 6-7 and 7-6. That's Kill's record his first 2 years.

(02-04-2012 12:09 PM)chazb2 Wrote:  #1--If that is what he always wanted fine, but don't lie and embarrass NIU and a class guy like DD.

You don't know that this was a lie, do you? Do you have other information to share to support this was a lie?

I thought not.

And you think DD is a class guy now - we all do. But I expect that when DD leaves, you will turn on him in a heartbeat.

(02-04-2012 01:45 PM)Doggone Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 01:42 PM)WIS11 Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 12:55 PM)Doeren Identity Wrote:  Great post. Although I do agree that you don't burn bridges. I guess that's up to NIU Athletics to determine. Nobody knows exactly how this was handled. Fleck's relationship with NIU may not be strained. Only time will tell if he comes back.

What relationship with NIU? He burned his bridges everywhere when he did what he did in a span of 24hrs. This reminds me of the Bears when they announced that they had a new head coach before they signed him. This is worse, because you do not let your new employer have announce the hire if you will not be there.
On the bright side, I am very thankful that we have finaly moved on from the 2-10 mess and have now had four very successful seasons thanks to JK and DD. It appears that NIU football has finally turned the corner and a down year will be 5-6 or 6-5. We have the capability of finally becoming a Mid Major player year in / year out.

So your barometer for successful seasons are 6-7 and 7-6. That's Kill's record his first 2 years.

At least were are finished with the 2-10 seasons. 6-7 does not look bad for a down year, 2-10 on the otherhand only four years removed from a 10-2 season looks terrible.

Good post Randy. All valid points.

(02-04-2012 01:48 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 12:09 PM)chazb2 Wrote:  #1--If that is what he always wanted fine, but don't lie and embarrass NIU and a class guy like DD.

You don't know that this was a lie, do you? Do you have other information to share to support this was a lie?

I thought not.

And you think DD is a class guy now - we all do. But I expect that when DD leaves, you will turn on him in a heartbeat.

When DD leaves, I will be because he left for a better opportunity. I will be happy for him and thankful he came to NIU and continued the JK success. He will leave being the most successful coach in NIU history. He will also have the best winning percentage of any NIU FBcoach in the schools history. Since we went to Division 1A, we have not had one former FB Coach obtain long term success at a BCS school.

(02-04-2012 02:00 PM)WIS11 Wrote:  Since we went to Division 1A, we have not had one former FB Coach obtain long term success at a BCS school.

Mallory

(02-04-2012 02:06 PM)Huskie359 Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 02:00 PM)WIS11 Wrote:  Since we went to Division 1A, we have not had one former FB Coach obtain long term success at a BCS school.

Mallory

He was fired because of lack of success at Indiana. Just like Joe was let go at NIU due to his lack of success.

(02-04-2012 02:11 PM)WIS11 Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 02:06 PM)Huskie359 Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 02:00 PM)WIS11 Wrote:  Since we went to Division 1A, we have not had one former FB Coach obtain long term success at a BCS school.

Mallory

He was fired because of lack of success at Indiana. Just like Joe was let go at NIU due to his lack of success.

He coached 13 years at Indiana (a long time for any Big 10 gig, but an eternity at IU), how has IU fared since?

(02-04-2012 01:48 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(02-04-2012 12:09 PM)chazb2 Wrote:  #1--If that is what he always wanted fine, but don't lie and embarrass NIU and a class guy like DD.

You don't know that this was a lie, do you? Do you have other information to share to support this was a lie?

I thought not.

And you think DD is a class guy now - we all do. But I expect that when DD leaves, you will turn on him in a heartbeat.

I have always thought DD was a classy guy. You are indeed an idiot.