The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Three days earlier... didn't do himself any favors here:

http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...coach.html

Quote:Fleck’s energy is a breath of fresh air and players seem to feed off of his enthusiasm. His talk of oars, rowing and other nautical terms was a good way to make a splash, but it’s getting old.

There is room for excitement and anecdotes and if it works to bring out the best in players keep using it, in the huddle.

The WMU football fan base is hungry for trophies, not catchy phrases that rhyme.

(08-10-2014 07:03 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Three days earlier... didn't do himself any favors here:

http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...coach.html

Quote:Fleck’s energy is a breath of fresh air and players seem to feed off of his enthusiasm. His talk of oars, rowing and other nautical terms was a good way to make a splash, but it’s getting old.

There is room for excitement and anecdotes and if it works to bring out the best in players keep using it, in the huddle.

The WMU football fan base is hungry for trophies, not catchy phrases that rhyme.

Looks like accuracy and accountability. We support you coach; it's ok.

Well I really thought something bad was written that caused trouble. Guess I was wrong. So that couldn't possibly be the reason for a bad relationship between mlive and Fleck.

I have found DD to be refreshing and objective after Couch's homerism. Graham did some good reporting, but sure seemed to be drinking the Kool-Aid the last year. As I recall there were threads on stampede to that affect.

Couch does the same at MSU right now. It gets you "in". So if you like objectivity and criticism with limited access, then DD is your guy. If you want a little homerism with very good access, then Couch was your style. Personally, I'd rather get some homerism with great access. I can make my own judgments when I think Fleck is being over the top, or deserves criticism, etc.

(08-10-2014 09:55 AM)Broncobelt Wrote:  I have found DD to be refreshing and objective after Couch's homerism. Graham did some good reporting, but sure seemed to be drinking the Kool-Aid the last year. As I recall there were threads on stampede to that affect.

Yes, threads by DB. He's always looked for the kind of hyper objectivity that reporters use when a coach is about to be shown the door, except he wants them burning bridges in the first 5 minutes of his career.

It shouldn't be a requirement to kiss Fleck's ring in order to have access. That's petty and reeks of insecurity.

(08-10-2014 11:48 AM)DesertBronco Wrote:  It shouldn't be a requirement to kiss Fleck's ring in order to have access. That's petty and reeks of insecurity.

Nobody said it's a requirement. It's called playing the game. Happens in every program across the country. Not unique to Fleck.

I don't agree with that, but then I haven't had access to every program across the country like you so I could be mistaken.

Seriously, in a major program with real big time parties on both sides, this would be a big issue. The fact that mlive is the only game in town allows Fleck to shut them out. Telling one journalist he can't have access while letting others in would be cause for some serious repercussions.

(08-10-2014 12:57 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Telling one journalist he can't have access while letting others in would be cause for some serious repercussions.

There was a portion of the day (in the afternoon) that was open to all media.

(08-10-2014 01:14 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(08-10-2014 12:57 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Telling one journalist he can't have access while letting others in would be cause for some serious repercussions.

There was a portion of the day (in the afternoon) that was open to all media.

Was there a portion when DD wasn't allowed and others were?

(08-10-2014 01:14 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  

(08-10-2014 01:14 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(08-10-2014 12:57 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Telling one journalist he can't have access while letting others in would be cause for some serious repercussions.

There was a portion of the day (in the afternoon) that was open to all media.

Was there a portion when DD wasn't allowed and others were?

WMU extended invitations to certain media members, donors, and other various alums to sit in the war room and watch LOI's come in through the fax machine that morning. There was a media portion in the afternoon that was open to all media members.

The year before that in 2013, nobody was allowed in the football facilities to be near the fax machine.

(08-10-2014 01:26 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(08-10-2014 01:14 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  

(08-10-2014 01:14 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  

(08-10-2014 12:57 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Telling one journalist he can't have access while letting others in would be cause for some serious repercussions.

There was a portion of the day (in the afternoon) that was open to all media.

Was there a portion when DD wasn't allowed and others were?

WMU extended invitations to certain media members, donors, and other various alums to sit in the war room and watch LOI's come in through the fax machine that morning. There was a media portion in the afternoon that was open to all media members.

The year before that in 2013, nobody was allowed in the football facilities to be near the fax machine.

I'll take that as a yes, he was excluded. Good form PJ.

(08-09-2014 09:37 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  

(08-09-2014 08:45 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  

(08-09-2014 03:31 PM)bostonbronco Wrote:  

(08-08-2014 02:41 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  Got an OK to attend the full scrimmage.

Let us know how the scrimmage went and how many people attended.

Thanks for taking the initiative to check on access to the practice.

Got sidetracked and didn't arrive until about 11:45. I went to the guy with the lanyards and he said, are you media? I said no, but was told I could attend the entire scrimmage. He said, oh, see the guy with the tie. When I went to see the guy with the tie, I realized there were already about 250 people in the stands, so I just walked in.

Scrimmage wise, I saw nothing of interest. Just a bunch of very VERY basic stuff executed at a low level of competence. 5 on a scale of 10. It's early, but this practice reminded me of how low I felt after the spring game.
#33 Leo Ekwoge looks to be a keeper.

If things don't improve real fast, I'm stuck on the 2-3 win scenario again. Sorry, but that is my impression based only on watching 40 minutes or so.

What did you see that you thought needed improving?

I've watched 50 practices in the last half dozen years. Great plays on offense were almost always against the second unit and resulted because of blown assignments. Defense was almost always ahead of the offense in fall camp, so it often seemed like nothing much was happening.

You're probably right. And they only had a couple days in pads. As Hawk always says at B/B, this isn't basketball yet. Still, the scrimmage was just flat sad. The drills were good, and the energy as well, just (as someone else said) the effectiveness ratio seems low.

Too much for me to try and read 12 pages of this thread. And most likely this has all been mentioned. But, did many people turn out for the scrimmage and facilities tour?

And, for anyone that was there, how did the team look and did you learn anything?

250 people there approx.

I thought they looked like a 2-3 win team.

Haven't seen any other comments. Maybe people were told to keep quiet about stuff.

(08-11-2014 03:04 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  250 people there approx.

I thought they looked like a 2-3 win team.

Haven't seen any other comments. Maybe people were told to keep quiet about stuff.

Or be banned from watching?

DD must have been at Flecks Saturday Press Conference cause Fleck referred to "David" (something to the affect of him seeing change since "David" has been around the program) Or maybe he was referring to someone else.