Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

(10-15-2026 03:24 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

Excellent post ... Hammock left our cupboard bare and 18 year old boys need time in a college weight training and conditioning program before they can be expected to compete with 22-24 year old young men.

Coach Harley had no choice other than to play many freshmen and transfers from FCS and DII programs. He is in an impossible situation and should not be judged based on wins and losses this season.

Sadly, our basketball program is in exactly the same position.

i judge him for the losses to illinois state, georgia state, and air force.

and don't understand your comment about men's hoops. we have a new coach who has yet to play a game and there are two freshman on the roster.

(10-15-2026 03:45 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:24 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

Excellent post ... Hammock left our cupboard bare and 18 year old boys need time in a college weight training and conditioning program before they can be expected to compete with 22-24 year old young men.

Coach Harley had no choice other than to play many freshmen and transfers from FCS and DII programs. He is in an impossible situation and should not be judged based on wins and losses this season.

Sadly, our basketball program is in exactly the same position.

Disagree about basketball. They are going to come together nicely. I like the coach, he seems to have a plan. That's all we are asking for at this point...i mean gotta be better than football's "**** it, lets start Macon>" Plan.

(10-15-2026 03:45 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:24 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

Excellent post ... Hammock left our cupboard bare and 18 year old boys need time in a college weight training and conditioning program before they can be expected to compete with 22-24 year old young men.

Coach Harley had no choice other than to play many freshmen and transfers from FCS and DII programs. He is in an impossible situation and should not be judged based on wins and losses this season.

Sadly, our basketball program is in exactly the same position.

Harley has to play the hand he was dealt, but he can and should be criticized for coaching blunders, putting in the wrong players, and a lack of aggressiveness when conservative play makes no sense.

(10-15-2026 03:50 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  i judge him for the losses to illinois state, georgia state, and air force.

and don't understand your comment about men's hoops. we have a new coach who has yet to play a game and there are two freshman on the roster.

I agree as to Illinois State and somewhat as to Ga St. I don't agree as to AF. You are selling AF short if you think this NIU team should have won against AF. I am not saying it was not possible. But you can't really say NIU SHOULD HAVE won and but for bad coaching NIU would have won. That is not the case.

I also don't throw that much shade on TH. He had a lot of guys leave exactly because they showed something and other programs wanted them. So, it's not like he "left the cupboard bare." He left it young.... due to unavoidable circumstances. I would say there are a bunch of things all conspiring against us right now. Top to bottom. And looking to replace one guy is going to do nothing. (unless the guy being replaced is the guy at the top.... that would likely be a good start.)

(10-15-2026 03:56 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:45 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:24 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

Excellent post ... Hammock left our cupboard bare and 18 year old boys need time in a college weight training and conditioning program before they can be expected to compete with 22-24 year old young men.

Coach Harley had no choice other than to play many freshmen and transfers from FCS and DII programs. He is in an impossible situation and should not be judged based on wins and losses this season.

Sadly, our basketball program is in exactly the same position.

Harley has to play the hand he was dealt, but he can and should be criticized for coaching blunders, putting in the wrong players, and a lack of aggressiveness when conservative play makes no sense.

yep. I can't cry for his firing because he ultimately lost to AF. But ABSOLUTELY he needs to show he can put these guys in the best position to win. Look at the first quarter against AZ. Not bad! And the look at the crap right before half against AF. MAkes no sense. And he should answer fo that. If not, then he is not the guy. Not because the result was that they lost to a bigger, more experienced team of seasoned guys, but because he messed up and has no explanation. Failing to attempt to score before half, until I hear some dam good explanation, was a mistake. A big mistake.

(10-15-2026 06:35 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:50 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  i judge him for the losses to illinois state, georgia state, and air force.

and don't understand your comment about men's hoops. we have a new coach who has yet to play a game and there are two freshman on the roster.

I agree as to Illinois State and somewhat as to Ga St. I don't agree as to AF. You are selling AF short if you think this NIU team should have won against AF. I am not saying it was not possible. But you can't really say NIU SHOULD HAVE won and but for bad coaching NIU would have won. That is not the case.

I also don't throw that much shade on TH. He had a lot of guys leave exactly because they showed something and other programs wanted them. So, it's not like he "left the cupboard bare." He left it young.... due to unavoidable circumstances. I would say there are a bunch of things all conspiring against us right now. Top to bottom. And looking to replace one guy is going to do nothing. (unless the guy being replaced is the guy at the top.... that would likely be a good start.)

judging for the performance (all the results are the same). air force was the better team. but that game was in garbage time with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter and the talent gap was not that wide. you had a bye. you are a defensive coordinator. it was base defense for 60 minutes and you had no answer for the only thing they do (run the football).

i expect they'll do a full coaching search after the season and if they make the right selection things don't need to be dire for very long. see jason eck with new mexico and his track record

(10-15-2026 08:50 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 06:35 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:50 PM)JeffNIU Wrote:  i judge him for the losses to illinois state, georgia state, and air force.

and don't understand your comment about men's hoops. we have a new coach who has yet to play a game and there are two freshman on the roster.

I agree as to Illinois State and somewhat as to Ga St. I don't agree as to AF. You are selling AF short if you think this NIU team should have won against AF. I am not saying it was not possible. But you can't really say NIU SHOULD HAVE won and but for bad coaching NIU would have won. That is not the case.

I also don't throw that much shade on TH. He had a lot of guys leave exactly because they showed something and other programs wanted them. So, it's not like he "left the cupboard bare." He left it young.... due to unavoidable circumstances. I would say there are a bunch of things all conspiring against us right now. Top to bottom. And looking to replace one guy is going to do nothing. (unless the guy being replaced is the guy at the top.... that would likely be a good start.)

judging for the performance (all the results are the same). air force was the better team. but that game was in garbage time with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter and the talent gap was not that wide. you had a bye. you are a defensive coordinator. it was base defense for 60 minutes and you had no answer for the only thing they do (run the football).

i expect they'll do a full coaching search after the season and if they make the right selection things don't need to be dire for very long. see jason eck with new mexico and his track record

Staying in that 4-2-5 all night was bad, not starting Dickens for ISU was a huge mistake. .... We need the OLINE to come alive, move the ball and give the D a rest.

(10-15-2026 03:24 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

Others have said it but starting Macon twice and moving him to tight end three weeks later has nothing to do with lack of talent and it single handedly cost them the Illinois state game. Playing 5 DB’s the entire game against a team who dropped back to throw twice has nothing to do with talent. Not calling a timeout to save time at the end of the first half and then not trying to score with 40 seconds left when the game was still in doubt has nothing to do with lack of talent. Jashawn Nelson being one of the few bright spots for three weeks and then mysteriously getting benched has nothing to do with lack of talent. De’vion Reynolds being your best returning defender and being healthy enough to return kicks but not play defense until halfway through the Georgia state game has nothing to do with defense.

The vast majority of this mess is on Hammock. Harley has also been a disaster. Both of these things can be true. It’s not really Harley’s fault. He got fired by Arkansas State two years ago. If hammock had any ability to build a staff he would be out of football right now, which I suspect he will be at this time next year.

(10-15-2026 09:59 PM)7 Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 03:24 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Those three could appear and agree to coach this current group of Huskies and they would be lucky to eek out three wins.

I hope most of us realize that. Yell and moan about Harley if it makes you feel better, but you can only coach the guys you have. You can't teach an 18 or 19 year old freshman boys how to out technique a 300+ pound 24 yeard old man who has 4 or 5 years of major college football experience behind him. You can't teach how to handle widly different offensive or defensive schemes to 18-20 year olds with little to no experience from one week to the next. It does not matter how much "potential" those kids may have, it is not happening. And blaming Harley is not going to change that. There is nothing to do but support these kids, help them to grow and get a little better week to week. Same for coach Harley--- get better.

Others have said it but starting Macon twice and moving him to tight end three weeks later has nothing to do with lack of talent and it single handedly cost them the Illinois state game. Playing 5 DB’s the entire game against a team who dropped back to throw twice has nothing to do with talent. Not calling a timeout to save time at the end of the first half and then not trying to score with 40 seconds left when the game was still in doubt has nothing to do with lack of talent. Jashawn Nelson being one of the few bright spots for three weeks and then mysteriously getting benched has nothing to do with lack of talent. De’vion Reynolds being your best returning defender and being healthy enough to return kicks but not play defense until halfway through the Georgia state game has nothing to do with defense.

The vast majority of this mess is on Hammock. Harley has also been a disaster. Both of these things can be true. It’s not really Harley’s fault. He got fired by Arkansas State two years ago. If hammock had any ability to build a staff he would be out of football right now, which I suspect he will be at this time next year.

Fire Sean Frazier, next Monday, around lunchtime... Let the new AD pick the new FB HC.

I promise you, Frazier isn't going anywhere and he's not getting fired. No chance Freeman does that. We could have a new HC next year, but Frazier will be the one picking him.

(10-16-2026 11:26 AM)NIU32 Wrote:  I promise you, Frazier isn't going anywhere and he's not getting fired. No chance Freeman does that. We could have a new HC next year, but Frazier will be the one picking him.

Frazier did fine with the basketball hire. Keep that logic going to football!