Gragg (an new Pres) should seize the opportunity..but they won't

[julescat]

Of course Fitz will continue as HC for a long time but this is the opportunity for new guys to move. I'm sure they don't have balls or the money guys lined up to pull the trigger. But this would be the time to pull the plug on this recent era of NU football and move on. As a not one of the money guys fans I will continue to pay less attention to this shit show.

 

[mcgurgmv]

Of course Fitz will continue as HC for a long time but this is the opportunity for new guys to move. I'm sure they don't have balls or the money guys lined up to pull the trigger. But this would be the time to pull the plug on this recent era of NU football and move on. As a not one of the money guys fans I will continue to pay less attention to this shit show.

100% agree. I’d have a lot of respect for an AD willing to fire Fitz and bring in a new regime!

 

[NJCat]

Gragg ripped Collins a new asshole last year after a 15-16 overall and 7 B1G win season. Let's see what he has to say about the head football coach.

[Collins brought in 2 new assistant coaches]

 

[AcademicsMatter]

Fitz is untouchable given his links to the big money donors. Gragg can’t touch him. But Gragg can insist on firing his staff; and should do it himself if Fitz won’t. Fitz can resign if he’s pissed, or decide to play on Gragg’s terms. We’ll see if Gragg is in charge this week; or if he works for the real AD (Fitz).

 

[Sheffielder]

I would be genuinely interested to know how "tuned in" Pat Ryan is to the college football landscape. By that I mean...is he watching CFB every Saturday? Does he know the "coaching carousel," and how 99.9% of other programs would burn everything to the ground after the seasons we've just had?

Or does he just watch NU, and he and his wife just adore Pat and his wife and sons?

I bring this up probably for obvious reasons, and tend to suspect it's the latter - that the Ryan family lives in a Northwestern bubble and they'll never get rid of their favorite toys. Otherwise a guy like Gragg would be able to go to Ryan and say, "as an athletic director, you can't reasonably expect me to stand idly by while the coach folds his arms and flat-out refuses to move the program in a positive direction."

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

I would be genuinely interested to know how "tuned in" Pat Ryan is to the college football landscape. By that I mean...is he watching CFB every Saturday? Does he know the "coaching carousel," and how 99.9% of other programs would burn everything to the ground after the seasons we've just had?

Or does he just watch NU, and he and his wife just adore Pat and his wife and sons?

I bring this up probably for obvious reasons, and tend to suspect it's the latter - that the Ryan family lives in a Northwestern bubble and they'll never get rid of their favorite toys. Otherwise a guy like Gragg would be able to go to Ryan and say, "as an athletic director, you can't reasonably expect me to stand idly by while the coach folds his arms and flat-out refuses to move the program in a positive direction."

Have you ever given any thought to the fact that Gragg could be on his way out. In my opinion and that of a lot of others things have tanked since Jim Phillips left and Gragg was hired.

 

[NJCat]

In my opinion and that of a lot of others things have tanked since Jim Phillips left and Gragg was hired.

Such as?

New football stadium, playoffs for several women's teams, top 10 finish for wrestling, etc.

 

[phatcat]

Fitz is untouchable given his links to the big money donors. Gragg can’t touch him. But Gragg can insist on firing his staff; and should do it himself if Fitz won’t. Fitz can resign if he’s pissed, or decide to play on Gragg’s terms. We’ll see if Gragg is in charge this week; or if he works for the real AD (Fitz).

Fitz contract may have control over hiring and firing. That said, he surely wants the program to succeed. He must know he will look like a douchebag if he takes no action. I look for him to clean house this week, with a not-so-gentle nudge from Dr. Gragg

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Have you ever given any thought to the fact that Gragg could be on his way out. In my opinion and that of a lot of others things have tanked since Jim Phillips left and Gragg was hired.

Aside from FB, where have things gotten worse since Gragg got to NU????

 

[realklysickoflosing]

Fitz contract may have control over hiring and firing. That said, he surely wants the program to succeed. He must know he will look like a douchebag if he takes no action. I look for him to clean house this week, with a not-so-gentle nudge from Dr. Gragg

I used to know Pat Ryan (we weren’t buddies). He was a successful business man. He wouldn’t gave tolerated the kind if performance we’ve gotten from Fitzgerald in the past few years. I am sure he, as many of us were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for some period of time. The question is when has that time ended. It seems to me that it decision time. With Morty and Jim Phillips gone it could be drawing nearer than you think - maybe another year. I am ready.

Of course Fitz will continue as HC for a long time but this is the opportunity for new guys to move. I'm sure they don't have balls or the money guys lined up to pull the trigger. But this would be the time to pull the plug on this recent era of NU football and move on. As a not one of the money guys fans I will continue to pay less attention to this shit show.

The university does need to determine its response to the NIL/portal reality. I don’t know the best answer, but it is a huge issue that can’t be ignored. What is our response? Wgat i learned from Kellogg is not to “lead from the back.”

 

[realklysickoflosing]

Who do we want to be?

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I used to know Pat Ryan (we weren’t buddies). He was a successful business man. He wouldn’t gave tolerated the kind if performance we’ve gotten from Fitzgerald in the past few years. I am sure he, as many of us were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for some period of time. The question is when has that time ended. It seems to me that it decision time. With Morty and Jim Phillips gone it could be drawing nearer than you think - maybe another year. I am ready.

The university does need to determine its response to the NIL/portal reality. I don’t know the best answer, but it is a huge issue that can’t be ignored. What is our response? Wgat i learned from Kellogg is not to “lead from the back.”

These are the real issues at hand. Issues the lead to Shaw’s decision at Stanford. Issues that must be addressed at NU. Who do we want to be??

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Aside from FB, where have things gotten worse since Gragg got to NU????

Baseball and basketball. the baseball coach who came from Illinois moved on along with a number of promising young players. The only thing I ever heard from him was the ultimatum to Collins to start winning or pack up. Do you guys really think Gragg will hire a new basketball coach who will turn the program into an upper tier Big Ten program. Don’t hold your breathe.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Such as?

New football stadium, playoffs for several women's teams, top 10 finish for wrestling, etc.

The Ryan family donated 450 million dollars for the stadium. I doubt that Gragg talked Pat Ryan into the donation. Since when have women’s sports and Wrestling become become big revenue sports in the athletic department

 

[clarificationcat]

Baseball and basketball. the baseball coach who came from Illinois moved on along with a number of promising young players. The only thing I ever heard from him was the ultimatum to Collins to start winning or pack up. Do you guys really think Gragg will hire a new basketball coach who will turn the program into an upper tier Big Ten program. Don’t hold your breathe.

Baseball counts as a big-time revenue sport? We should get rid of the program. What is the best finish for the baseball team in the last 30 years?

And he inherited Fitz and Collins, as you know. I have not been impressed with him thus far but I am not sure there was much he could have done to impact the football and basketball programs.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Baseball counts as a big-time revenue sport? We should get rid of the program. What is the best finish for the baseball team in the last 30 years?

And he inherited Fitz and Collins, as you know. I have not been impressed with him thus far but I am not sure there was much he could have done to impact the football and basketball programs.

I don’t recall saying that it is a revenue sport. By the way it is our national Pastime. I’m sure
Dick Pepper would be extremely pleased if we dropped baseball. If you will recal he and family donated and built the stadium. I know they do a lot of work at the university but they get a lot of work elsewhere too.

In the early years of the coach I referred to NU went to the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament. In a winner goes to the NCAA’s game they lost. I agree with you about what he can do in two years but perhaps we’re spoiled by having Jim Phillips front and center at every game and the same way around town in Wilmette.

 

[stpaulcat]

I used to know Pat Ryan (we weren’t buddies). He was a successful business man. He wouldn’t gave tolerated the kind if performance we’ve gotten from Fitzgerald in the past few years. I am sure he, as many of us were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for some period of time. The question is when has that time ended. It seems to me that it decision time. With Morty and Jim Phillips gone it could be drawing nearer than you think - maybe another year. I am ready.

The university does need to determine its response to the NIL/portal reality. I don’t know the best answer, but it is a huge issue that can’t be ignored. What is our response? Wgat i learned from Kellogg is not to “lead from the back.”

Wagt you learned from Kellogg is not worthwhile. They are a value free, profit determined force dedicated to self enrichment.