(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

Klieman coached North Dakota State through the playoffs and won a Championship. You want to say his team was better than Houston’s last year I’ll grant you that but clearly Houston’s team was distracted and it showed on the field while Klieman’s team was focused throughout a deep playoff run to a Championship. Pretty obvious Houston was half out the door to the highest bidder. Klieman left for a P5 job where the AD at Kansas State was formerly the AD at North Dakota State and knew Klieman. Houston’s dalliance with Charlotte (Mike Hill new Ad previously at Florida) And Ecu (new Ad previously at Southern Miss) had no connection to Houston or JMU.

(12-01-2019 02:12 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

The way he left and that other thing that everyone has heard about but no one is talking about.

I must be in the dark here about the thing that everyone has heard about. My two cents is that the Jury is very much out on Houston. He won with talent from Mickey and Everett and results went down every year after his first. The seniors playing even today were not recruited by him and we are senior heavy. Not sold on his recruiting and program building. Don’t wish him ill will but not going to root for his success either.

(12-01-2019 09:42 PM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 02:12 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

The way he left and that other thing that everyone has heard about but no one is talking about.

I must be in the dark here about the thing that everyone has heard about. My two cents is that the Jury is very much out on Houston. He won with talent from Mickey and Everett and results went down every year after his first. The seniors playing even today were not recruited by him and we are senior heavy. Not sold on his recruiting and program building. Don’t wish him ill will but not going to root for his success either.

I'm on here every day, subscribe to the DNR and Madia's tweets and have countless other Duke Club contacts. Yet apparently I have missed something that everyone else knows about Houston??

(12-01-2019 07:05 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 06:36 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 01:49 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:23 AM)Purple Wrote:  As I said before, I think a new coach who is truly a good hire will take someone else's players and at least change the culture to one of a winning attitude. That, alone, should show in the team's demeanor and should show in at least some kind of improvement. ECU under Houston is the same old ECU. I hope Houston can change things at ECU. I just don't see it. I don't think it will be the dumpster Withers inherited and continued at Texas State, but I just don't see him getting it done. That is going to be a steep hill to climb, and when the finish after Year One looks like the same old losing team, it gets even steeper.

Purple we all know you don’t like MH, despite your disclaimers to the contrary. Whether he’s the guy that turns around ECU is still a work In progress, and your and my and all the other JMU fan opinions about MH won’t change that truth one bit. MH will succeed at ECU or he won’t, it’s as simple as that. One fact is MH’s tenure at ECU won’t end after one season so stay tuned.

I don't dislike Houston at all, even though I think he played us all for chumps with signing a ten-year contract then playing Charlotte against ECU while we were beginning a one-game playoff run and it turned the whole team into a chaotic mess. I don't like that AT ALL!

So, is it the new rule that no one is allowed to predict a coach's success until Horny says so? Is that about right?

No, I think the rule you’re thinking about is nobody is allowed to counter an opinion posted by Purple.

Oh, OK! Thanks for keeping me straight on this stuff. Just let me know when it is OK for me to comment on Mike Houston and I will post accordingly, sir.

Dirty opened the door. Now everyone who is supposed to have heard something, but in reality hasn’t, wants to know? What have we not heard that we apparently should have heard.

(12-01-2019 10:38 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Dirty opened the door. Now everyone who is supposed to have heard something, but in reality hasn’t, wants to know? What have we not heard that we apparently should have heard.

Not for public consumption on the message board. He was a good coach and we should move on.

(12-01-2019 02:12 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

The way he left and that other thing that everyone has heard about but no one is talking about.

Careful Dirty. I was taken to the woodshed for mentioning this about Mickey even though it was public knowledge. Again, MH was more of the same when we all thought he was something different.

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

How's it different? Kleiman kept at it and won....Houston absolutely did not prepare for that Colgate loss. That's worse than pretending to be staying

Klieman kept his job search private until he accepted the job at Kansas St. Houston used Charlotte by going public with the offer to get the ECU job. Two very different approaches.

(12-02-2019 12:06 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

“Sources” eh? Interesting. The take most of us read/heard was that UNCC leaked their offer to try and leverage MH to announce his decision and sign earlier. UNCC’S move backfired. The sequence of events was not something MH controlled.

(12-02-2019 01:58 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(12-02-2019 12:06 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

“Sources” eh? Interesting. The take most of us read/heard was that UNCC leaked their offer to try and leverage MH to announce his decision and sign earlier. UNCC’S move backfired. The sequence of events was not something MH controlled.

We’ve also heard that it was Houston that leaked the UNCC offer to gain leverage with ECU. Not buying that he had nothing to do with how it played out.

(12-02-2019 01:58 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(12-02-2019 12:06 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

“Sources” eh? Interesting. The take most of us read/heard was that UNCC leaked their offer to try and leverage MH to announce his decision and sign earlier. UNCC’S move backfired. The sequence of events was not something MH controlled.

Houston- Mr "Lock the d*mn gates" must be a good actor then because he didn't seem too bothered by the UNCC news being leaked and said he was considering the job all during the week of prep for his team's playoff game at Colgate.

I think he comes off as a bit of a phony with how things played out. Whatever the case the going rate is for FBS coaches to get 3-4 years before they are fired. He will have 2 or 3 more years to at least get ECU to a bowl. They've lost a couple of commits and a transfer or two so we'll see how the off season plays out. The big one for them is the WR. If he stays there I'm not sure he stays all 4 years before turning pro.

(12-02-2019 12:06 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

Kleiman also took a P5 job which I think plays a huge role in it. Houston consider Charlotte felt like a slap in the face. ECU is a bit better but still sucks. I dont think anyone can hold it against a coach going from FCS to the Big12

Lou Campanelli is lucky the internet was not around when he left. Could you imagine what would of been made up, then believed, and then spread about him?

If someone said it, it's fact. Plus he didn't leave to go to a good enough school. Plus he made Ben have 4 interceptions in the playoffs last year, Plus he dominated with Withers players (that had never won a playoff game).

So happy the SOB is out of here.


Nope - I'm appreciative of the greatest 3 year span of football at JMU. That it was in the middle of the NDSU era makes it even more impressive. And did he leave the program in "amazing" shape. Yep - the most talented and experienced team in JMU history.

(12-02-2019 12:06 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

Well a source that has spoken out about it who would probably know more than internet rumors is Brian McLaughlin from Herosports. He has been very outspoken about it and has said that Houston did no such thing. He had interviewed at the Charlotte job and told them he wanted to keep it quiet. Charlotte couldn't keep their mouth shut and went against their word and leaked it. Houston was angry and pulled the offer. The rest is history.
If you want to believe Houston would leak a coaching job to the press and ruin the season he had been building then so be it. I would much rather believe a guy without a horse in the race that actually knows what happened. Brian hasn't done anything to make me believe he is just lying to protect Houston. That's ridiculous.

(12-01-2019 02:12 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

The way he left and that other thing that everyone has heard about but no one is talking about.

Bingo, both make it clear he is not the 'man' we thought he was.

(12-02-2019 10:30 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(12-02-2019 12:06 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 08:29 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-01-2019 11:04 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  Each coach since Matthews has taken the program to new heights. The progression has been amazing. Houston has had the most success but with Cig, we are winning games by a large margin and our offense appears to be better. Winning a N.C. in his first year would put him slightly ahead of Houston.

The disappointing part about Houston is he turned out to not be the man we all thought he was. All his talk was just rhetoric. The way he left was a circus. I have no grudge with him improving his lot in life just the way he did it.

The guy at NDSU did it the right way. There were no distractions with his leaving.

Just curious, why do you think Kleiman did it the right way and Houston did it the wrong way? Kleiman accepted the job 3 days after their quarterfinal win and 4 days before their semifinal against SD State.

According to sources, Houston had the Charlotte job offer leaked in order to get ECU to make an offer. Kleiman waited until he accepted the job to allow it to become public. Houston’s job search was played out publicly. Kleiman’s was not.

I believe the uncertainty with Houston’s tenure led to distractions for his players. Kleiman’s players were not distracted by his job search.

Well a source that has spoken out about it who would probably know more than internet rumors is Brian McLaughlin from Herosports. He has been very outspoken about it and has said that Houston did no such thing. He had interviewed at the Charlotte job and told them he wanted to keep it quiet. Charlotte couldn't keep their mouth shut and went against their word and leaked it. Houston was angry and pulled the offer. The rest is history.
If you want to believe Houston would leak a coaching job to the press and ruin the season he had been building then so be it. I would much rather believe a guy without a horse in the race that actually knows what happened. Brian hasn't done anything to make me believe he is just lying to protect Houston. That's ridiculous.

What motivation would Charlotte have for leaking it if it was a done deal?!?!

(12-02-2019 09:03 AM)Dukester Wrote:  Lou Campanelli is lucky the internet was not around when he left. Could you imagine what would of been made up, then believed, and then spread about him?

If someone said it, it's fact. Plus he didn't leave to go to a good enough school. Plus he made Ben have 4 interceptions in the playoffs last year, Plus he dominated with Withers players (that had never won a playoff game).

So happy the SOB is out of here.


Nope - I'm appreciative of the greatest 3 year span of football at JMU. That it was in the middle of the NDSU era makes it even more impressive. And did he leave the program in "amazing" shape. Yep - the most talented and experienced team in JMU history.

I know you really like Houston and that's fine. But, if you can't see the difference between Houston's team last year and Cig's team this year, then you need a service dog and a white cane. There are lots of differences, but very much the same team and players.

Two key differences I would note are....

1. Improvement in offensive line play. Our linemen are creating holes you could drive a bulldozer through, and their pass protection is a million times better. Coaching!

2. Not too high, not too low. Awesome philosophy. Rather than the fire and brimstone that could get players jacked out of their minds, Cig is more like, "All business, gentlemen. We've trained as well as we can. Just go out and play the way you've trained. Take care of the ball. You're the best."

I see improvement in every facet of the game. Same players. How can you give Houston credit for that?

Sorry, not sorry. I have nothing against Houston, but Cig is night and day better. Don't take my word for it. Check the W&L columns. This time last year our guys were sitting at home watching the playoffs after getting our a$$es kicked by Toothpaste U, the same players who are tearing it up this year.