(11-27-2022 05:36 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: (11-27-2022 05:26 PM)Big Red Wrote: (11-27-2022 05:23 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: (11-27-2022 05:20 PM)Big Red Wrote: (11-27-2022 04:34 PM)epasnoopy Wrote: As expected, STF is fine with this season and will not make any changes.
You actually thought they were going to fire Hammock?
There was a 0.000000000% chance he was getting fired.
He lost at home in last game of season by 32 points to an Akron team whose only other win vs. FCS team.
This is year 4, not year 1. We didn't even lose to any MAC schools in our 2020 winless season by that much. NIU has now finished dead last in MAC West two of last four seasons with three losing records.
Absolutely unacceptable!
All true.
Also true was he was never going to get fired.
Because of money reasons or because you don't think he should?
I was willing to give him yet another year after this horrendous season, but that loss (to a terrible team) yesterday and the way the team didn't even look inspired made me rethink it. Hammock needs to go. Lombardi and Rudolph aren't enough next season and what happens if one or both get injured again. There is no good depth at WR, QB, CB, and LB. This team has too many weaknesses, including defensive coaching staff, going into year 5.
I'm not one to throw around how embarrassed I am to be a fan of any particular team but, I will admit, yesterday's game was 100% unacceptable. And I too grow tired of Hammock sitting in the post game presser saying things like "we weren't prepared or we didn't come out to play, etc, and I take full responsibility for that".
He's been saying that all season and its a BS statement (coach-speak) any time let alone the 6th or 7th time you hear it in a season.
With that said, you asked a very specific question.
Is it because of money or because I don't think he deserved to get fired?
I'd say it's almost entirely the first one but I also sprinkle in a dash of the second one. Simply put, I'm not a huge fan of dumping coaches after bad seasons. I know he's technically had 3 bad seasons but I don't put much into his first season and completely give him a pass on his 2nd season because of covid. Yes, some teams did really well during that season. Some teams didn't. That season didn't treat all teams equally. It is what it is.
He did win the MACC the next season and that was a full season will a full offseason to prepare for it. Sure, some things bounced our way a lot but you have to be in position to win in order to capitalize on those bounces. You could also point a a few games this season where that bounce went the other way. So, do I discredit it when it happens in his favor and blame him when it doesn't? That's not fair to do.
Needless to say. The money issue is a major and real thing to consider. As for his performance, I'd say after yesterday's game, he has to show a marked improvement next year (compete for the division title, which this year would have been basically a 4-4 conference record) or he's going to start getting the Mark Montgomery treatment from basically everyone here (which is a minuscule sample of the fanbase, but still) and will have burned through any good will he accumulated over his first 3 seasons (even the bad ones).