Seven is probably my least favorite poster on this website (in terms of me agreeing with his opinions). That said, I do give him credit for standing by his man through thick and thin. He developed a crush on Coach Carey from the get go and didn't waver in his loyalty.

So the Sevens of Huskie nation get to gloat a bit, while we Carey detractors have to eat crow and admit that we were wrong all along - everything is just fine in DeKalb.

It's amazing how the tide has turned right here on this website. After week one, very few people were pleased with the state of Huskie football. We saw the same recurring themes under the Carey regime; ridiculously conservative football, questionable personnel decisions, awful clock management, etc.

Week two rolls around and NIU beats a high school team. That game doesn't matter.

Week three comes and goes and the Huskies have a fantastic victory in Lincoln. NIU fans rejoice, and now everything is perfect. Coach Carey is the right guy to lead this program, we just were confused these past two seasons as we watched the NIU program regress. Those embarrassing bowl game losses are okay, a loss to Western at home didn't matter. Dwindling attendance and fan support are irrelevant to our program. We don't need a charismatic, energetic coach to engage our alumni and fan base.

We beat Nebraska. Everything is good now.

But what would have happened if NIU choked that game at the end? Somehow, I don't think the swell of support for Coach Carey would be quite the same. So I say to my fellow Huskie fans, grow a spine.

If you felt NIU needed a leadership change before they played Nebraska, one game shouldn't sway your opinion. If we see a trend of games where NIU looks like the team that beat the Huskers, then cool, maybe I'll even jump on the Carey bandwagon. We're not there yet though, kids. Not even close.

(09-25-2017 12:34 AM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  But what would have happened if NIU choked that game at the end?

I love games of Whatwould-ism.

oooo...what if games, yes! What if we come back and win the BC game? Or SDSU last year? or or or...blah blah

I really don't think there are many who have a HUGE love of Carey before or after the Nebraska game, there are just some that see there are some positives and that he's not 'the worst coach to ever walk the planet'. It's OK to look at the positive sometimes in life, you'll live longer.

(09-25-2017 07:42 AM)17Huskies Wrote:  oooo...what if games, yes! What if we come back and win the BC game? Or SDSU last year? or or or...blah blah

I really don't think there are many who have a HUGE love of Carey before or after the Nebraska game, there are just some that see there are some positives and that he's not 'the worst coach to ever walk the planet'. It's OK to look at the positive sometimes in life, you'll live longer.

It seems that there are some very vocal, negative posters on this board. I say block em and move on.

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It's a roller coaster...if we get smoked by sdsu or have a bad loss it's back to old feelings. I do have concerns but am happy he finds a way to win big ten games.

Gonna take more than a 4-point win over a down P5 program to change minds. He needs to keep winning and then needs to actually win postseason games rather than having NIU get embarrassed.

(09-25-2017 08:51 AM)JB04 Wrote:  It's a roller coaster...if we get smoked by sdsu or have a bad loss it's back to old feelings. I do have concerns but am happy he finds a way to win big ten games.

yep. come on back in a week VegasHuskie. things will be back to normal. but at least we will still have ways to improve the attendance to all agree upon!

Still not sold on Carey.
However, one of the complaints was that he didn't connect with the team. I think that is not true, especially after they drenched him after the Nebraska game and hugs all around.

I still blame bad play calling and time management killed us against BC. No doubt on that.

Am I sold that we need a change?? No, but I believe he needs to win at least 7 games this year to keep the fans interested. After all, the only team that worries me (assuming the QB play doesn't get a whole lot worse) is Toledo in conference.

This weeks game will be a tough test for sure. With our QB play, we are at a disadvantage against SDSU. Not sure how Air Force kept it close, but I am assuming small, light and fast on D is the way to hold them down in scoring. Check the box on that one. The question I have, is can we move the ball some. We will see.

This week will make or break the season and I believe Coaches future. Winning the MAC may be important, but winning the big games is more important long run.

You guys realize your (and my) opinions on Coach Carey mean precisely dick, right? If Carey’s record overall and against the Big Ten don’t lead you to the conclusion Carey isn’t a complete moron, that’s on you.

As easy as you can sit here and say “what if NIU blows the Nebraska game” I can sit here and say what if Hagan makes a FG against Boston College? We’d all be taking Access Bowl.

Carey is far from a perfect coach. He’s overseen three QB battles and he’s made the wrong decision probably all three times now. That’s not a good trait to have.

However, consistently fielding a really good program at a mid major is unbelievably hard. There are countless examples of mid majors who have great years and immediately become terrible. It happened to Hawaii, Fresno, and UCF. Kent State was Mat Sims missing a FG away from the Orange Bowl and they’ve been terrible since. Bowling Green had a great three year run with Matt Johnson and they’re awful. If you’ve followed WMU at all this year, you know they’re likely taking a big step back this year.

No matter how much you refuse to recognize the facts in front of you, it doesn’t change that they’re facts.

Last year was an unacceptable year, but that team was wrecked with injuries both at QB and in the secondary. This year, they still don’t have a QB but the entire defense is exceptional and the offensive line is really good.

NIU’s offense will likely cost them at least another game at some point, but this is a 7-8 win team minimum with as good of a chance as anyone to win the West.

Are the days of NIU winning 10 games every year gone? Yes, but if that’s your expectation for this program or any other mid major program you’re kidding yourself. The only program who has ever sustained that success as a mid major is Boise and that was because they held onto their coach. They’re 2-2 this year and just got wrecked by a mediocre Virgina team at home.

NIU will win 8+ games this year and has one of their best recruiting classes ever right now. The program is on solid footing, and at this point the program is fully Carey’s. Enjoy beating Nebraska (and IMO having a good shot to beat SDSU) and stop being unrealistic, miserable SOBs all the time.

Carey is going nowhere, and if you’re still sitting here rooting for Carey to get fired, you’re a bad fan. Firing Carey likely ruins a great recruiting class which in no way is good for the program.

Enjoy the fact we’re relatively back after a rough year. We’re still spoiled.

(09-25-2017 09:57 AM)7 Wrote:  You guys realize your (and my) opinions on Coach Carey mean precisely dick, right? If Carey’s record overall and against the Big Ten don’t lead you to the conclusion Carey isn’t a complete moron, that’s on you.

As easy as you can sit here and say “what if NIU blows the Nebraska game” I can sit here and say what if Hagan makes a FG against Boston College? We’d all be taking Access Bowl.

Carey is far from a perfect coach. He’s overseen three QB battles and he’s made the wrong decision probably all three times now. That’s not a good trait to have.

However, consistently fielding a really good program at a mid major is unbelievably hard. There are countless examples of mid majors who have great years and immediately become terrible. It happened to Hawaii, Fresno, and UCF. Kent State was Mat Sims missing a FG away from the Orange Bowl and they’ve been terrible since. Bowling Green had a great three year run with Matt Johnson and they’re awful. If you’ve followed WMU at all this year, you know they’re likely taking a big step back this year.

No matter how much you refuse to recognize the facts in front of you, it doesn’t change that they’re facts.

Last year was an unacceptable year, but that team was wrecked with injuries both at QB and in the secondary. This year, they still don’t have a QB but the entire defense is exceptional and the offensive line is really good.

NIU’s offense will likely cost them at least another game at some point, but this is a 7-8 win team minimum with as good of a chance as anyone to win the West.

Are the days of NIU winning 10 games every year gone? Yes, but if that’s your expectation for this program or any other mid major program you’re kidding yourself. The only program who has ever sustained that success as a mid major is Boise and that was because they held onto their coach. They’re 2-2 this year and just got wrecked by a mediocre Virgina team at home.

NIU will win 8+ games this year and has one of their best recruiting classes ever right now. The program is on solid footing, and at this point the program is fully Carey’s. Enjoy beating Nebraska (and IMO having a good shot to beat SDSU) and stop being unrealistic, miserable SOBs all the time.

Carey is going nowhere, and if you’re still sitting here rooting for Carey to get fired, you’re a bad fan. Firing Carey likely ruins a great recruiting class which in no way is good for the program.

Enjoy the fact we’re relatively back after a rough year. We’re still spoiled.

Some valid points made; I still have 1 simple question for you; what who Santa have had to do in his 3 starts to change your opinion that "we still don't have a QB"?

I think Santa has been fine. I wound start him even when Graham is healthy which is a different opinion than I had three weeks ago.

But let’s not act like he played well on Saturday. If the defense didn’t play out of it’s mind on Saturday that’s a game, much like the BC game, NIU loses because they didn’t have a QB.

I think he has some skills that could eventually lead him to be a good player (he’s mobile and has a great arm), but he has a long way to go with both accuracy and keeping the team out of bad plays. There were multiple times in the Nebraska game where he made pre snap mistakes (ie sending a guy in motion too early, which he did on the play where there was a “bad snap”).

I would like Santa to continue keep the ball out of harm's way. I would love his accuracy to improve in the short game. I would expect us to pass for about 200+ yards a game. Short of that could mean a new QB.

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(09-25-2017 10:15 AM)7 Wrote:  I think Santa has been fine. I wound start him even when Graham is healthy which is a different opinion than I had three weeks ago.

But let’s not act like he played well on Saturday. If the defense didn’t play out of it’s mind on Saturday that’s a game, much like the BC game, NIU loses because they didn’t have a QB.

I think he has some skills that could eventually lead him to be a good player (he’s mobile and has a great arm), but he has a long way to go with both accuracy and keeping the team out of bad plays. There were multiple times in the Nebraska game where he made pre snap mistakes (ie sending a guy in motion too early, which he did on the play where there was a “bad snap”).

Not sure this answers my question. He has three starts in his career; to expect flawless play is absolutely ridiculous. Prior to these 3 games a logical answer to my question would be something along the lines of the following:
Beat the teams we should beat (check)
Beat a team we shouldn't beat (check)
Keep the bad mistakes (turnovers) to a minimum (check)
Minimize the bad decisions (check)
Throw for a high completion % (check)
Stretch the field by completing deep passes (check)
Step up and make big plays when we need it (check)
Be the leader that the team needs and the position requires (check)

The problem with this site is too many people take a position and refuse to accept any data that doesn't support that stance. Santa will defiantly make some mistakes moving forward; and someone else may ultimately take his spot. But in the interim can we just tip our hat and appreciate what the kids has accomplished.

Dafuq are you talking about? I literally said I would start him when Graham is healthy which is something I wouldn’t have said three weeks ago.

He just still has a long way to go to be a good QB.

(09-25-2017 10:41 AM)Djud Wrote:  

(09-25-2017 10:15 AM)7 Wrote:  I think Santa has been fine. I wound start him even when Graham is healthy which is a different opinion than I had three weeks ago.

But let’s not act like he played well on Saturday. If the defense didn’t play out of it’s mind on Saturday that’s a game, much like the BC game, NIU loses because they didn’t have a QB.

I think he has some skills that could eventually lead him to be a good player (he’s mobile and has a great arm), but he has a long way to go with both accuracy and keeping the team out of bad plays. There were multiple times in the Nebraska game where he made pre snap mistakes (ie sending a guy in motion too early, which he did on the play where there was a “bad snap”).

Not sure this answers my question. He has three starts in his career; to expect flawless play is absolutely ridiculous. Prior to these 3 games a logical answer to my question would be something along the lines of the following:
Beat the teams we should beat (check)
Beat a team we shouldn't beat (check)
Keep the bad mistakes (turnovers) to a minimum (check)
Minimize the bad decisions (check)
Throw for a high completion % (check)
Stretch the field by completing deep passes (check)
Step up and make big plays when we need it (check)
Be the leader that the team needs and the position requires (check)

The problem with this site is too many people take a position and refuse to accept any data that doesn't support that stance. Santa will definitely make some mistakes moving forward; and someone else may ultimately take his spot. But in the interim can we just tip our hat and appreciate what the kids has accomplished.

Right or wrong Carey is going nowhere. Any other talk is garbage unless someone has a big checkbook.

We will need more than one score on offense to beat SDSU. Lets hope that Santa can continue to improve. Graham does not appear to have much upside, the jury is still out on Santa.

What if Carey starts Graham again? It sounded like they expected Graham to be healthy for the SDSU game.

I bet we beat Boston College with Santa at QB. Graham's passing was absolutely terrible in that game.

Box jellyfish are pretty bad***. That's a compliment.

(09-25-2017 12:40 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  We will need more than one score on offense to beat SDSU. Lets hope that Santa can continue to improve. Graham does not appear to have much upside, the jury is still out on Santa.

So I guess there is simply too small a sample size for us to draw any conclusions on Santa; if that is the point that would be fair and reasonable. My question to the comments like "jury is still out"; "we still don't have a QB"; and "Santa is not the answer"; is what would he have had to do in the 4 games (specifically in the 3 starts) to change this?
In 3 starts he is 3-0 with a victory over Nebraska; 51-79 (65% completion %); 638 yards (212 per game); 3 TDs; 2 picks.