The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Time to move on from the 'it was half-assed by KB'. How do you guys think he'll do? I've seen some Negative Nellies say 'it was the safe hire.' Okay, so then he can't be that bad of a coach, can he?

I think he rebuilds us. Like it or not, we're in the MAC's basement. There's really nowhere to go but up. Unless he's truly awful, and I don't think there's a reason to believe he is. He was under staff by Robert McCallum & was retained by Hawkins. We have to see how he does before we can truly judge him. If he can bring in the right players & retain them, surrounding himself w/ the right staff, knows the X's & O's, can motivate, we'll be fine. Who knows if we'll win the MAC under him, but if he can get us to the hump, that should be considered a success considering the state of the program.

Are people thinking he won't rebuild us? Understand people wanted a PJF kind of guy, but you don't necessarily need that if the guy can coach.

He signed a 2 year deal, and that is all the time he will spend as coach imo. I have us worse next year and terrible in 2 years. Hope I am wrong. We will be lucky if others don't leave the program. Recruiting is key, and being quarantined will not help that picture.

We will win 10 games combined in the next two years.

I have a feeling we are going to be JUCO U for the next two years... if thats the case its a crap shoot as to how successful that will be in W's and L's... we could either get really lucky and pluck a few juco transfer stars who end up playing really well together... or what likely will happen is we look disorganized, sloppy and can't survive or keep anything close without the clutch play of Flowers and Johnson ...

It will probably be unwatchable...

I predict 25 wins in the next two seasons...with things looking up at the end of year 2. With everything else...we need some positivity.

Yes, but why?

In light of recent events - both within and outside WMU's control - I think many would've been a little warmer to the idea of Hawkins staying on a little longer. Despite that mega-thread that got bumped after every loss.

I'm not close enough to the program or Kalamazoo to know exactly where to spread the 'blame' (Corona or KB or EM or whatever). But what's done is done. Giving Bates a solid chance.

Not expecting immediate miracles from the guy, and who knows how long of a leash he'll have given his short contract, but I like what's he's had to say thus far. And esss knows of him personally I believe, and raved about him in another thread.

So we shall see...

Correct, ess was ranting & raving about him in that other thread.

I think Bates will do a pretty good job. Players have always seemed to really like him and he seems to have a great rapport with the current players. He has also been the best recruiter on the Broncos staff. He already has an offer out to a nice player from the state of Michigan.

Obviously the team next season would have been better if Johnson and Flowers didn't leave but the cupboard isn't totally bare. The way I see it, if nobody else leaves, the starting lineup will probably be B Artis, Cruz, Emilien, Squeaky and Titus with Barrs, Whitens, Martin and WBR coming off the bench. Hopefully with a full season of conditioning and practice all those players progress, especially the freshmen. They also have 4 spots on the roster to fill, probably with a few transfers so who knows how much that might help. All this being said, I think they will win more than 5 games.

I expect Bates to be somewhat successful and get a contract extension, maybe after his first year.

In any case, this should all be interesting. Go Broncos!!

(04-02-2020 12:57 AM)WMUPorter Wrote:  I think Bates will do a pretty good job. Players have always seemed to really like him and he seems to have a great rapport with the current players. He has also been the best recruiter on the Broncos staff. He already has an offer out to a nice player from the state of Michigan.

Obviously the team next season would have been better if Johnson and Flowers didn't leave but the cupboard isn't totally bare. The way I see it, if nobody else leaves, the starting lineup will probably be B Artis, Cruz, Emilien, Squeaky and Titus with Barrs, Whitens, Martin and WBR coming off the bench. Hopefully with a full season of conditioning and practice all those players progress, especially the freshmen. They also have 4 spots on the roster to fill, probably with a few transfers so who knows how much that might help. All this being said, I think they will win more than 5 games.

I expect Bates to be somewhat successful and get a contract extension, maybe after his first year.

In any case, this should all be interesting. Go Broncos!!

Squeaky isn't playing. He just had leg surgery three weeks ago. Out until mid-winter. Needs medical redshirt waiver for additional year. He burned his redshirt this season.

(04-02-2020 12:08 PM)fastbuicks Wrote:  

(04-02-2020 12:57 AM)WMUPorter Wrote:  I think Bates will do a pretty good job. Players have always seemed to really like him and he seems to have a great rapport with the current players. He has also been the best recruiter on the Broncos staff. He already has an offer out to a nice player from the state of Michigan.

Obviously the team next season would have been better if Johnson and Flowers didn't leave but the cupboard isn't totally bare. The way I see it, if nobody else leaves, the starting lineup will probably be B Artis, Cruz, Emilien, Squeaky and Titus with Barrs, Whitens, Martin and WBR coming off the bench. Hopefully with a full season of conditioning and practice all those players progress, especially the freshmen. They also have 4 spots on the roster to fill, probably with a few transfers so who knows how much that might help. All this being said, I think they will win more than 5 games.

I expect Bates to be somewhat successful and get a contract extension, maybe after his first year.

In any case, this should all be interesting. Go Broncos!!

Squeaky isn't playing. He just had leg surgery three weeks ago. Out until mid-winter. Needs medical redshirt waiver for additional year. He burned his redshirt this season.

Thanks. I guess I did know that. That will teach me for making a post in the wee hours of the morning.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/colle...090157002/

Squeaky isn't playing. He just had leg surgery three weeks ago. Out until mid-winter. Needs medical redshirt waiver for additional year. He burned his redshirt this season.
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Thanks. I guess I did know that. That will teach me for making a post in the wee hours of the morning.
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Squeaks will be back in the fall. I like the starting lineup.

(04-03-2020 09:32 AM)WMU95 Wrote:  Squeaks will be back in the fall.

NOPE

(04-03-2020 09:32 AM)WMU95 Wrote:  Squeaks will be back in the fall.

NOPE

(04-03-2020 09:50 AM)okgc Wrote:  

(04-03-2020 09:32 AM)WMU95 Wrote:  Squeaks will be back in the fall.

NOPE

Ok sir