* I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Your last point concerns me as well. Is it the disloyalty to the university by the alum/locals/region? Are we just spoiled with the wins that losses are no longer acceptable so ppl dont show up? Is it bc ppl can now watch virtually every game on tv so they dont need to attend?

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Always been a problem, his biggest problem and everyone sees it, sees it coming.

I could see if it was a couple losses. But not 7 of 8, now 8 of 9. I mean who in their right might would say that? And moreover actually believe it enough to say it.

"I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey."

I have not heard a Carey backer since last season! If there is, he/she does not know very much about football!

(10-15-2016 09:21 PM)NILAW Wrote:  "I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey."

I have not heard a Carey backer since last season! If there is, he/she does not know very much about football!

I remained a Carey backer. He pulled off the wins against Toledo and WMU last season, I treated the MACC game as an unlikely win, and the Boise State game as an embarrassing fluke by the coordinators.

But this season. Ugh. so much solid talent on this team, utterly wasted. the play calling is atrocious. you can see it immediately when the team moves up tempo. they slice through the defense. and then its back to the same old. Bubble screen, Bougnon for three yards.

and WTF is this BS with the team getting set for the snap and then all looking up to the sideline?

Is this some attempt at ransom by Carey to get bought out? As disappointing as this season is, next season is going to be just as bad. The lack of emerging talent and no clear QB is going to kill us.

(10-15-2016 09:19 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Your last point concerns me as well. Is it the disloyalty to the university by the alum/locals/region? Are we just spoiled with the wins that losses are no longer acceptable so ppl dont show up? Is it bc ppl can now watch virtually every game on tv so they dont need to attend?

Concerns me greatly as well. I don't think one can overstate the damage that the ESPN deal has done to our fan base/season ticket base, decimation, complete and total decimation.

This is what our season feels like....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXJn9tYA6kU

(10-15-2016 11:15 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:19 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Your last point concerns me as well. Is it the disloyalty to the university by the alum/locals/region? Are we just spoiled with the wins that losses are no longer acceptable so ppl dont show up? Is it bc ppl can now watch virtually every game on tv so they dont need to attend?

Concerns me greatly as well. I don't think one can overstate the damage that the ESPN deal has done to our fan base/season ticket base, decimation, complete and total decimation.

FYI -People were saying the Wisconsin student section was half empty
tonight in the Ohio State game. It is a nationwide problem to some
extent.

(10-15-2016 11:19 PM)jjj Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 11:15 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:19 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Your last point concerns me as well. Is it the disloyalty to the university by the alum/locals/region? Are we just spoiled with the wins that losses are no longer acceptable so ppl dont show up? Is it bc ppl can now watch virtually every game on tv so they dont need to attend?

Concerns me greatly as well. I don't think one can overstate the damage that the ESPN deal has done to our fan base/season ticket base, decimation, complete and total decimation.

FYI -People were saying the Wisconsin student section was half empty
tonight in the Ohio State game. It is a nationwide problem to some
extent.

Wisconsin is infamous for filling their student section up as the game goes on.

(10-15-2016 11:19 PM)jjj Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 11:15 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:19 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Your last point concerns me as well. Is it the disloyalty to the university by the alum/locals/region? Are we just spoiled with the wins that losses are no longer acceptable so ppl dont show up? Is it bc ppl can now watch virtually every game on tv so they dont need to attend?

Concerns me greatly as well. I don't think one can overstate the damage that the ESPN deal has done to our fan base/season ticket base, decimation, complete and total decimation.

FYI -People were saying the Wisconsin student section was half empty
tonight in the Ohio State game. It is a nationwide problem to some
extent.

Uhm, no.

I don't think UW has an issue with their students. Other than a few 100 likely never saw the game since they have been drinking since Gameday this morning. When I went to UW/LSU, I was amazed by the consumption I saw. I also saw a few at game that couldn't even walk, even a few older peeps.

(10-15-2016 11:25 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 11:19 PM)jjj Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 11:15 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:19 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I find it astonishing to wrap my brain around how we've dropped from our lofty status as a mid-major national power who played in the Orange Bowl to one of the worst collegiate football teams in the country so quickly. Make no mistake about it; this team now has a staggering 1-6 record. I don't care how much supposed "talent" we have on both sides of the ball...we are 1-6.

* Need more evidence? Last week NIU played a conference game against WMU and went off as nineteen point dogs. With the abundance of collegiate football games being played that week, only FOUR teams went off as larger dogs than the Huskies did. That should be the type of line we have when we suit up against Alabama or Ohio State - not Western Michigan. Very sad.

* Coach Carey showed his deficiencies as a head coach as far back as the loss to Bowling Green in the game that would have sent us to a second consecutive BCS bowl game. The signs have been there - some fans chose to ignore them. I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey. I also think it's important to note the reason why; it's not the awful record - it's why we have the awful record. Week in and out, our team appears unprepared, uncommitted, and disjointed. We are unbelievably predicable and we continuously make the same errors over and over. Our student athletes show very little growth as each season progresses.

* I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

* The announcers on the ESPN3 broadcast were recounting a conversation they had with Coach Carey. They referenced his response when questioned about how he and his staff react to the difficult start to the season. His exact response: "We put on our pants the same way. We don't change a thing." It's just that inflexibility that I think holds back this staff and this team from success. A football team needs to be fluid in how they approach each season and each game. You have your core system and approach, but you tweak things to reflect the personnel you have and the skill set of your opponent. Our system needs to fit the players, not the players fit the system.

* I'm concerned about attrition with our limited fan base. Back in my days, we used to fill up the stadium for our really good Coach Novak teams. I'm not sure why we have seen erosion in our fan base when our success continued, and even grew past what we had in the early 2000's. I fear that we are on the path to a complete collapse of this football program. I know that sounds dramatic, and it's probably vastly overstated, but the thought needs to be in the back of all of our minds. I found myself rooting against the Huskies today. I want this Carey era to be over, and I think it's in our best interest if we lose as much as possible to force Frazier to make the change. The worst possible scenario would be we salvage a few wins, end this season as a mediocre team, and retain this staff for another year. We need this season to be a complete disaster. So I'm rooting against my Huskies. I hate that I am.

Your last point concerns me as well. Is it the disloyalty to the university by the alum/locals/region? Are we just spoiled with the wins that losses are no longer acceptable so ppl dont show up? Is it bc ppl can now watch virtually every game on tv so they dont need to attend?

Concerns me greatly as well. I don't think one can overstate the damage that the ESPN deal has done to our fan base/season ticket base, decimation, complete and total decimation.

FYI -People were saying the Wisconsin student section was half empty
tonight in the Ohio State game. It is a nationwide problem to some
extent.

Uhm, no.

I don't think UW has an issue with their students. Other than a few 100 likely never saw the game since they have been drinking since Gameday this morning. When I went to UW/LSU, I was amazed by the consumption I saw. I also saw a few at game that couldn't even walk, even a few older peeps.

http://www.scout.com/college/wisconsin/f...-in-nation

this is because we built our NIU fanbase on the sole concept of 'if we win they will come'. i have preached that the gameday experience should have always been prioritized and enhanced. building a fanbase solely on winning has always been a fragile concept so i am not surprised that support has collapsed as win % has collapsed. college football is cyclical so you need to be ready for those down seasons

"and WTF is this BS with the team getting set for the snap and then all looking up to the sideline?"

This is not an unusual practice. A fair amount of teams do it.

(10-15-2016 11:36 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  this is because we built our NIU fanbase on the sole concept of 'if we win they will come'. i have preached that the gameday experience should have always been prioritized and enhanced. building a fanbase solely on winning has always been a fragile concept so i am not surprised that support has collapsed as win % has collapsed. college football is cyclical so you need to be ready for those down seasons

Fan turnout wasn't even much better when we were winning.

I'll bet Illinois is on the phone now begging to play us.

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

No coach you'd want running an FBS football program is going to find those terms acceptable and you'd be completely unable to put together a competent coaching staff without offering them competitive contracts. It would also absolutely annihilate recruiting.

(10-15-2016 11:13 PM)thehappyhuskie Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:21 PM)NILAW Wrote:  "I think very few fans can possibly still be behind Coach Carey."

I have not heard a Carey backer since last season! If there is, he/she does not know very much about football!

I remained a Carey backer. He pulled off the wins against Toledo and WMU last season, I treated the MACC game as an unlikely win, and the Boise State game as an embarrassing fluke by the coordinators.

But this season. Ugh. so much solid talent on this team, utterly wasted. the play calling is atrocious. you can see it immediately when the team moves up tempo. they slice through the defense. and then its back to the same old. Bubble screen, Bougnon for three yards.

and WTF is this BS with the team getting set for the snap and then all looking up to the sideline?

Is this some attempt at ransom by Carey to get bought out? As disappointing as this season is, next season is going to be just as bad. The lack of emerging talent and no clear QB is going to kill us.

That is because you are Rod'a doppelgänger.

I've seen you mention the team getting set and then looking to the sidelines a few times. That's intentional and a larger trend in CFB. It's the modern audible...get set, D has to tip hand, and then the look over is prompted by the coaching staff who is determining if they need to check out of the original call. Pretty smart actually...but it's another reason why the NFL sucks...these QB's coming out have had the staff cutting their meat for them.

(10-16-2016 12:08 AM)NIUSAE Wrote:  "and WTF is this BS with the team getting set for the snap and then all looking up to the sideline?"

This is not an unusual practice. A fair amount of teams do it.

The purpose of getting to line then call play is to not allow the defense to substitute players based on down and distance

(10-16-2016 10:11 AM)UIHuskie Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 09:07 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  * I hope I never read again anyone who states we can't buy out Coach Carey's contract. That is absolute nonsense. While it is true he likely can't be fired for cause and have his contract terminated, there is no reason why NIU can't move forward with a different head coach. The university is obligated to pay out his contract regardless if he trolls the sidelines or not. That said, I understand we are not Notre Dame, Auburn, or LSU that can swallow a heavy contract buyout and bring in another high priced coach. At the least, we can bring in a coach as an "employee at will" with no contract that can run the team in the interim of Coach Carey's buyout expiring. It is not an ideal situation, however many collegiate coaches in a myriad of sports are employees at will and it wouldn't be unprecedented to have a young coach take the reigns with a reasonable and affordable salary negotiated and no contractual obligation outside of each given school year.

No coach you'd want running an FBS football program is going to find those terms acceptable and you'd be completely unable to put together a competent coaching staff without offering them competitive contracts. It would also absolutely annihilate recruiting.

No contract?? No coach would do this. Is this supposed to be like the Cubs college of coaches? Does anyone remember that fiasco?

(10-16-2016 12:23 PM)klake87 Wrote:  [quote='NIUSAE' pid='13684794' dateline='1476594483']
"and WTF is this BS with the team getting set for the snap and then all looking up to the sideline?"

This is not an unusual practice. A fair amount of teams do it.

The purpose of getting to line then call play is to not allow the defense to substitute players based on down and distance
[/quote

This used to be true, but it's not anymore. If the offense subs, the refs halt action until the defense can sub too. If the offense doesn't sub, the defense is already presumably matched up correctly.

The only reason the hut hut look to the sidelines is done now is hoping the defense tips its hand.