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

(07-06-2016 12:51 PM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 10:32 AM)GullLake Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 10:19 AM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  Be nice to win and not have coach humblebrag constantly talking himself up and pretending he's all about the team, maybe next coach eh?

Just be pleased WMU has a coach who has not lost 5 consecutive games to Central Michigan.

I'd take ONE P5 win, instead of moral victories.

Ahhh yes. Beating our rival is now just a 'moral' victory.

(07-06-2016 12:51 PM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 10:32 AM)GullLake Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 10:19 AM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  Be nice to win and not have coach humblebrag constantly talking himself up and pretending he's all about the team, maybe next coach eh?

Just be pleased WMU has a coach who has not lost 5 consecutive games to Central Michigan.

I'd take ONE P5 win, instead of moral victories.

This falls into the "Are You For Real?" category.

With your logic, Michigan would rather beat Utah than Ohio State.

USC would rather beat Oklahoma than UCLA.

Michigan State would rather beat Notre Dame than Michigan.

CMU is WMU's rival and a CONFERENCE opponent.

P5 wins are wonderful, but they don't count toward CONFERENCE championships. Ask the 2008 Bronco team that beat Illinois, but lost to Ball State and choked on a CMU team with its back-up QB.

Your logic is spot on, for a guy who throws a football like a girl. We haven't beaten a p5 team since coach douchebag was appointed "god in chief to change WMU for the better since it sucked so bad".

Back to topic of thread -

Yes, Fleck has proven himself to be a "top recruiter" in MAC.

He's proven he can win MAC games.

Now it's time for him to prove he can do what he was hired (and given all the resources) to do:

Win MAC West outright.

Win MACC.

Beat a lower level P5 team (two opportunities this year).

Win a bowl game against a quality opponent.

This is all stuff he has talked about doing (and more) since the day he was hired.

I look forward to him achieving these things in the near future!

Bronco football excitement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7jdRl0lcCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heGoCqn-B6I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWN4l5WQVTE

http://on.aol.com/video/western-michigan...2fd2bfccff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4MuyDjZbPY

(07-05-2016 03:07 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  GBL, who I completely respect and appreciate, probably won't appreciate or respect where I'm at. I was always cut from everything I ever tried out for...the opposite of an athlete.

It seems like those who have competed for WMU have a different take on Coach Fleck than I do. But purely as an alum fan ...

It's FUN.

Winning is fun. I get that and don't disagree.

I'm a big fan of the kids. I would like them to experience a MAC championship. It's neat. IMO it is and should be about them. The reason I originally got into coaching, my way of helping along that path. I can appreciate and certainly respect your experience but disagree with your conclusion. My athletic experience included being at the end of the bench in jr high, being demoted from A to B team freshman year mid season, sustaining injuries that required surgery and sitting out for two years recovering and rehabbing. Though not exactly parallel to you not the "athletic perspective" you infer. As a coach I either kept kids as you described yourself because of their commitment or due to requirements had to cut some to make a roster limit. I'm not devoid of sharing in your perspective. Just maybe a different angle/perspective.

Back to how this trio of players equate to Fleck being an elite recruiter/HC.

Good talent and good mix. But I would argue that the OL is what has allowed that group to excel not Fleck.

Bogan replaced Franklin with nary a blink. The consistent factor? The OL. Without the line primarily anchored by Beavers, Kristof and Moten Davis doesn't see the ball because Terrell can't see Davis as ZT is flat on his back. ZT has time to hand off to Franklin and then Bogan because the OL opened up holes regularly. I don't have to explain to you as a fan how that impacts the time available for any WR and QB to be more successful.

The poll is a projection based on the past performance. Which underscores my point. To apply that trio's past performance as reason to justify Fleck as a top HC because of his recruiting is a stretch.

Fleck's marketing himself and the program as he flys around, bobbles some, sues others and makes kick boxing and dance video's. As a former kid, coach and as a fan I appreciate the success on and off the field for the kids. Much less so for the adult who would rather draw the attention to himself. Played with and coached against enough of those in the past.

Very nice post, gbl, as always.

Spot on about the OL. It's a little shocking how many runs from Bogan and Franklin over the past 2 years have been sprints after the first yard with NOBODY around them. I think we've almost had as many as Georgia Southern had against us! (facepalm)

(07-08-2016 08:58 AM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  It's a little shocking how many runs from Bogan and Franklin over the past 2 years have been sprints after the first yard with NOBODY around them. I think we've almost had as many as Georgia Southern had against us! (facepalm)

And that would be my 2nd point re PJ. The defense, other than DB's continues to not be elite. Not that the kids and staff aren't trying.

The bane of WMU football and MOST mid-majors are finding 4 year DT's that make a real difference. Drew Nowak was an exception but didn't he start out on OL? He made Travante Boles look really good. Then Drew graduates and you see how much a 5'10 250 lb. DT really stacks up.

Fleck, as a Toledo fan wrote here a month back, has improved on the depth for both sides of the ball. But on D that depth is still on the line between "No diving not deep enough to diving is acceptable". Set aside a Richard Ash groomed by ScUM WMU continues to utilize undersized DL personnel.

Point being we could argue or poll that WMU's secondary is really top notch and that it points out what a great HC/recruiter PJ is. I'd argue that if you are noticing who the DB's are it's because they are constantly in the mix as a result of need. The DL isn't getting pressure on the QB. Backers picked the wrong hole to fill as the DL gets steered in one direction or get caught on an athletic back in the open leaving a DB to come up and accumulate tackles.

PJ and his staff are doing a fine job. With the resources no other HC at WMU remotely had. And he should. So he hasn't failed in that respect. He has succeeded. The kids he brings in are getting the job done. They are mixing well with the Beavers, Curries, Celiscars, Terrells, Bravermans, Kristofs, Motens, Hoffings, Simons and Zamorts.

All good.

Not worthy of deification or a man crush.

Again, wanting the kids to taste the fruit of their labor. PJ? Be a good Dad and step Dad. Do your job on and before the kick off and on the sideline. The kudos he strains so hard to achieve will come. Even without fighter planes.

http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=PJ-F...lite-teams

(07-10-2016 09:29 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=PJ-F...lite-teams

Good article,

Yes, good point about leadership.

But I hope it isn't new to most.

The interesting thing to me is his point that his seniors are now a product of the culture.

Initially he had seniors and good ones, but they were coming out of a different perspective. Not saying good or bad, just saying different.

Now, hopefully, everyone is on the same page, the culture change is at full cycle.

I see two possible benefits. One, if this mindset is indeed meaningful and helpful, it should be reflected in results.

Second, one might say this point in the cycle is also a time for coach to step up his own better best. The culture thing is ongoing, but it is embedded now, and should not be the time consumer it has been. So what will fill that time? Recruiting? Marketing? or my own personal choice, getting to a better best with coaching. Or at least filling in to that phase of the career where the focus can move from regime change to improving on the classical coaching component. Our man is still very very young. The next couple of years will allow a glimpse into his full powers. I won't be alive to see what the guy is as a 50 year old, but some guys will see that of course. Will people say he is a top level coach and remember the circus start to his career? or will he fade or become just average? Be interesting to see how the year goes.