Our offensive staff's resumes

[WoodersonCat]

We have one of the worst offenses in the country. It's been this way for 3 1/3 years now. Are these the resumes of the people that YOU would employ to fix it??

MacPherson:

"Prior to joining the Wildcat staff, MacPherson spent two seasons working on Jeff Genyk's staff at Eastern Michigan University, coaching the Eagles' safeties. Prior to his two-year stint at Eastern Michigan, MacPherson was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, MacPherson attended DePauw University, where he played football for four seasons and was named a two-time first-team all-conference linebacker. He also was named a third-team Football Gazette All-American in 1998. He was DePauw's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, and went on to be selected to the school's All-Century Team.

Following his graduation in 1999, MacPherson remained at DePauw as a graduate assistant/recruiting coordinator and worked as the running backs coach and the junior varsity offensive coordinator. He earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical performance."

Cushing:

"A native of Chicago, Cushing joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif. He coached tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003.

Cushing is a former player at prep power Mt. Carmel High School, and went on to play at NCAA Division III University of Chicago.

At Chicago, Cushing was a three-year starter at tight end and was named to the all-University Athletic Association team three consecutive years (1999-2001). He helped the Maroons win UAA titles in 1998 and 2000. Cushing was a team captain his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with 72 receptions, good enough for 10th on U of C's career catches list.

A Dean's List honoree, Cushing graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Chicago in 2002. He completed work on his master's degree in general education at La Verne in 2004."

Springer:

"Prior to his stint at Indiana, Springer spent one season as the defensive secondary coach at Western Kentucky University as the Hilltoppers made the transition from the Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Springer's coaching career has its roots in the Mid-American Conference as he spent four seasons at Bowling Green State University prior to joining the staff at WKU. Springer was in charge of the running backs from 2003 to 2005 before making the transition to the defensive side of the ball, taking responsibility of the safeties for the 2006 season. He helped guide the Falcons to the 2003 MAC West Division title and a 28-24 victory over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. BGSU also won the 2004 GMAC Bowl, defeating Memphis 52-35, and captured the 2005 MAC East Division championship.

While at Bowling Green, Springer worked with Northwestern's current offensive coordinator, Mick McCall.

Springer's lengthiest tenure came at Ball State University where he spent 10 seasons with the Cardinals in a handful of capacities. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the 1993 and 1994 seasons before being promoted to wide receivers coach in 1995. Springer filled that role until the 1999 season when he resumed responsibility of the outside linebackers, a position he held for two years before being named the defensive secondary coach for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Ball State made a pair of appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl (1993, 1996) during that time.

A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Springer earned his bachelor of science in secondary education from Butler University in 1993 after helping the Bulldogs to three Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference championships. Springer also served as a team captain of the 1991 team."

And of course, Mick McCall:

"McCall spent the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University...
McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. He then spent five seasons (1983-87) as the running backs/tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Idaho State. From there, he joined Oregon State (1988-90) as the Beavers' wide receivers and tight ends coach. ... After a successful 10-year stint (1991-2000) as the head coach at Douglas County and J.K. Mullen high schools in Colorado, McCall spent two seasons (2001-02) as the quarterbacks/running backs coach at Wyoming before moving to Bowling Green. At Mullen High School, he led the football program to a 68-17 record and a state championship in 1998, which earned him Denver Post Coach of the Year honors.

... Prior to starting his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball."

---------

Honestly, how many coaches with ZERO experience at top tier programs (guys whose ONLY experience is at bad, second and third rate programs) are we supposed to tolerate -- as we sit here and wonder why we have a bad, third rate offense? And how in the blazes can Fitz not see that this lack of legit, big-league coaching experience and coaching talent is THE problem?

To recap: Eastern Michigan, Kenyan College, DePauw, University of LaVerne, University of Chicsgo, Indiana, Bowling Green, Ball State, Butler, Wyoming, Southern Colorado, Idaho State, Oregon State, and last (but clearly not least!), Douglas County and J.K. Mullen High School...

Honestly? Not one big time coaching gig among them! Not one...

(Wait, you say... I see Oregon State in there. McCall coached there from 88-90. That's legit, right? WRONG. 4 wins. 4 wins. 1 win. Fired. Failure. Got worse, not better. But Indiana is big time, right? WRONG. 2008-2010: 11th, 10th and 11th in the Big Ten. Abject failure. So basically the two who got to the big leagues flopped (and flipped fast).

This is where our offensive brain trust learned and coached football?

And we wonder why our offense is one of the worst in the country?

C'mon, Fitz, the answer is staring you right in the face!!

 

[xxjfgxx]

One of the best Posts of the year !

PS. Fitz is totally unqualified to be a head coach and wouldn't have been HC at NU except for the sudden death of Randy Walker who was extremely qualified and prepared to lead a BigTen program !

 

[WoodersonCat]

One of the best Posts of the year !

PS. Fitz is totally unqualified to be a head coach and wouldn't have been HC at NU except for the sudden death of Randy Walker who was extremely qualified and prepared to lead a BigTen program !

I completely disagree that he was "totally unqualified". He had, in fact, learned at Gary Barnett's big time program that won two BT titles and went to the Rose and Citrus Bowls. He also had learned under a fine coach who succeeded in the Big Ten in Randy Walker. And most importantly, he has "that thing". And having "that thing" is probably the No. 1 attribute that lands people jobs. So he was not unqualified. He had very little experience but it was all excellent experience, but most of all, he had "that thing". In truth, no matter what the endevour, you hire hire that guy every time because those guys don't come along very often.

 

[Gladeskat]

One of the best Posts of the year !

PS. Fitz is totally unqualified to be a head coach and wouldn't have been HC at NU except for the sudden death of Randy Walker who was extremely qualified and prepared to lead a BigTen program !

Best posts of the year? Nah. These are the best posts of the year...

xxjfgxx,

Thorson is not the problem. The OL is the problem, and they have have a lot of work to do.

By the way, I thought it would be worthwhile to dust off this March 2015 post from you about Trevor Siemian.

"It's got to be a joke. Chances of Siemian of making an NFL roster = 0"
- xxjfgxx (March 5, 2015)

link to 2015 thread: https://northwestern.forums.rivals.com/threads/trevor-working-out-for-the-bears.2504/

Here's a hint for you... Trevor wasn't the problem in 2014 either.

I'm pretty sure xxjfgxx's eyes are pointed at his large intestines, so he cannot see much else.

How many times did Walker lose to BGSU teams coached by McCall and Springer? Twice? (too lazy to research)

 

[EvanstonCat]

We have one of the worst offenses in the country. It's been this way for 3 1/3 years now. Are these the resumes of the people that YOU would employ to fix it??

MacPherson:

"Prior to joining the Wildcat staff, MacPherson spent two seasons working on Jeff Genyk's staff at Eastern Michigan University, coaching the Eagles' safeties. Prior to his two-year stint at Eastern Michigan, MacPherson was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, MacPherson attended DePauw University, where he played football for four seasons and was named a two-time first-team all-conference linebacker. He also was named a third-team Football Gazette All-American in 1998. He was DePauw's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, and went on to be selected to the school's All-Century Team.

Following his graduation in 1999, MacPherson remained at DePauw as a graduate assistant/recruiting coordinator and worked as the running backs coach and the junior varsity offensive coordinator. He earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical performance."

Cushing:

"A native of Chicago, Cushing joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif. He coached tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003.

Cushing is a former player at prep power Mt. Carmel High School, and went on to play at NCAA Division III University of Chicago.

At Chicago, Cushing was a three-year starter at tight end and was named to the all-University Athletic Association team three consecutive years (1999-2001). He helped the Maroons win UAA titles in 1998 and 2000. Cushing was a team captain his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with 72 receptions, good enough for 10th on U of C's career catches list.

A Dean's List honoree, Cushing graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Chicago in 2002. He completed work on his master's degree in general education at La Verne in 2004."

Springer:

"Prior to his stint at Indiana, Springer spent one season as the defensive secondary coach at Western Kentucky University as the Hilltoppers made the transition from the Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Springer's coaching career has its roots in the Mid-American Conference as he spent four seasons at Bowling Green State University prior to joining the staff at WKU. Springer was in charge of the running backs from 2003 to 2005 before making the transition to the defensive side of the ball, taking responsibility of the safeties for the 2006 season. He helped guide the Falcons to the 2003 MAC West Division title and a 28-24 victory over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. BGSU also won the 2004 GMAC Bowl, defeating Memphis 52-35, and captured the 2005 MAC East Division championship.

While at Bowling Green, Springer worked with Northwestern's current offensive coordinator, Mick McCall.

Springer's lengthiest tenure came at Ball State University where he spent 10 seasons with the Cardinals in a handful of capacities. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the 1993 and 1994 seasons before being promoted to wide receivers coach in 1995. Springer filled that role until the 1999 season when he resumed responsibility of the outside linebackers, a position he held for two years before being named the defensive secondary coach for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Ball State made a pair of appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl (1993, 1996) during that time.

A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Springer earned his bachelor of science in secondary education from Butler University in 1993 after helping the Bulldogs to three Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference championships. Springer also served as a team captain of the 1991 team."

And of course, Mick McCall:

"McCall spent the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University...

After a successful 10-year stint (1991-2000) as the head coach at Douglas County and J.K. Mullen high schools in Colorado, McCall spent two seasons (2001-02) as the quarterbacks/running backs coach at Wyoming before moving to Bowling Green. At Mullen High School, he led the football program to a 68-17 record and a state championship in 1998, which earned him Denver Post Coach of the Year honors.

... Prior to starting his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball."

---------

Honestly, how many coaches with ZERO experience at top tier programs (guys whose ONLY experience is at bad, second and third rate programs) are we supposed to tolerate -- as we sit here and wonder why we have a bad, third rate offense? And how in the blazes can Fitz not see that this lack of legit, big-league coaching experience and coaching talent is THE problem?

To recap: Eastern Michigan, Kenyan College, DePauw, University of LaVerne, University of Chicsgo, Indiana, Bowling Green, Butler, Wyoming, Southern Colorado, and last (but clearly not least!), Douglas County and J.K. Mullen High School...

Honestly?

This is where our offensive brain trust learned and coached football?

And we wonder why our offense is one of the worst in the country?

C'mon, Fitz, the answer is staring you right in the face!!

Honestly? Quite underwhelming. And a bit nausea inducing. They must have thrown a grenade in the assistant coaches room, which is the only explanation I can think of.

I think you're seeing what kind of quality this staff is right now.

The only coach I'm ok with out of that group is MacPherson, only because he has a position group that is actually performing. Every other position group or the Offense as a whole (under the responsiblity of the OC) is putrid right now.

I notice however that you didn't put Heffner's resume up there. He's the only coach that's worth anything on the offensive side of the ball, at least on paper. Why he's coaching just the Superbacks while we have all these other jokers coaching much more important position groups (OL especially) perplexes me. I'd feel better with Heffner as the OC right now, simply because he isn't McCall.

If Fitz wants to demonstrate that he's serious, he should elevate Heffner to OC and move McCall back to coach the QB (something he's good at). Can Cushing outright and probably Springer too. Keep McPherson. Have Heffner bring in someone he knows can get the job at OL. That's what you do after the season.

During the season, move Cushing back to coach the Superbacks and have Heffner work with the OL full time for Pete's sake. Get that guy out of there where he can't do any more damage.

 

[WoodersonCat]

Yup. And isn't it interesting that Heffner is the only guy who has consistently produced and is also the only guy on the offensive side of the ball that has held an at least semi-big league job? Hmm...

 

[EvanstonCat]

One of the best Posts of the year !

PS. Fitz is totally unqualified to be a head coach and wouldn't have been HC at NU except for the sudden death of Randy Walker who was extremely qualified and prepared to lead a BigTen program !

I liked Walker as an offensive coach. And prior to the Wheeler tragedy, I respected the way he prepared our players. He had similar loyalty issues that have unfortunately been passed on to Fitzgerald. How do you explain the Colby years? The defense was just awful. And his recriuting ability or lack thereof was Carmodyesque. Still he got as much out of the talent we had, particularly on the offensive side as you could ask for.

Much of it was due to keeping on Colby all those years, but I don't recall having a single solid defense under Walker, even if we had all these players that ended up in the League.

 

[NUCat320]

All right all right all right - good post, Wooderson.

The other thing that is not made explicit in Springer's bio is that he had coached primarily RBs and DBs and special teams. As I recall, he had one year with WRs prior to coming to NU.

 

[EvanstonCat]

I completely disagree that he was "totally unqualified". He had, in fact, learned at Gary Barnett's big time program that won two BT titles and went to the Rose and Citrus Bowls. He also had learned under a fine coach who succeeded in the Big Ten in Randy Walker. And most importantly, he has "that thing". And having "that thing" is probably the No. 1 attribute that lands people jobs. So he was not unqualified. He had very little experience but it was all excellent experience, but most of all, he had "that thing". In truth, no matter what the endevour, you hire hire that guy every time because those guys don't come along very often.

Yes, Fitz has "that thing." But, I sure wish he'd learn to be performance oriented and not misplace loyalty in incompetent staff who are demonstrating repeated unproductivity before results and the good of the program.

 

[lou v]

We have one of the worst offenses in the country. It's been this way for 3 1/3 years now. Are these the resumes of the people that YOU would employ to fix it??

MacPherson:

"Prior to joining the Wildcat staff, MacPherson spent two seasons working on Jeff Genyk's staff at Eastern Michigan University, coaching the Eagles' safeties. Prior to his two-year stint at Eastern Michigan, MacPherson was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, MacPherson attended DePauw University, where he played football for four seasons and was named a two-time first-team all-conference linebacker. He also was named a third-team Football Gazette All-American in 1998. He was DePauw's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, and went on to be selected to the school's All-Century Team.

Following his graduation in 1999, MacPherson remained at DePauw as a graduate assistant/recruiting coordinator and worked as the running backs coach and the junior varsity offensive coordinator. He earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical performance."

Cushing:

"A native of Chicago, Cushing joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif. He coached tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003.

Cushing is a former player at prep power Mt. Carmel High School, and went on to play at NCAA Division III University of Chicago.

At Chicago, Cushing was a three-year starter at tight end and was named to the all-University Athletic Association team three consecutive years (1999-2001). He helped the Maroons win UAA titles in 1998 and 2000. Cushing was a team captain his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with 72 receptions, good enough for 10th on U of C's career catches list.

A Dean's List honoree, Cushing graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Chicago in 2002. He completed work on his master's degree in general education at La Verne in 2004."

Springer:

"Prior to his stint at Indiana, Springer spent one season as the defensive secondary coach at Western Kentucky University as the Hilltoppers made the transition from the Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Springer's coaching career has its roots in the Mid-American Conference as he spent four seasons at Bowling Green State University prior to joining the staff at WKU. Springer was in charge of the running backs from 2003 to 2005 before making the transition to the defensive side of the ball, taking responsibility of the safeties for the 2006 season. He helped guide the Falcons to the 2003 MAC West Division title and a 28-24 victory over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. BGSU also won the 2004 GMAC Bowl, defeating Memphis 52-35, and captured the 2005 MAC East Division championship.

While at Bowling Green, Springer worked with Northwestern's current offensive coordinator, Mick McCall.

Springer's lengthiest tenure came at Ball State University where he spent 10 seasons with the Cardinals in a handful of capacities. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the 1993 and 1994 seasons before being promoted to wide receivers coach in 1995. Springer filled that role until the 1999 season when he resumed responsibility of the outside linebackers, a position he held for two years before being named the defensive secondary coach for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Ball State made a pair of appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl (1993, 1996) during that time.

A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Springer earned his bachelor of science in secondary education from Butler University in 1993 after helping the Bulldogs to three Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference championships. Springer also served as a team captain of the 1991 team."

And of course, Mick McCall:

"McCall spent the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University...
McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. He then spent five seasons (1983-87) as the running backs/tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Idaho State. From there, he joined Oregon State (1988-90) as the Beavers' wide receivers and tight ends coach. ... After a successful 10-year stint (1991-2000) as the head coach at Douglas County and J.K. Mullen high schools in Colorado, McCall spent two seasons (2001-02) as the quarterbacks/running backs coach at Wyoming before moving to Bowling Green. At Mullen High School, he led the football program to a 68-17 record and a state championship in 1998, which earned him Denver Post Coach of the Year honors.

... Prior to starting his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball."

---------

Honestly, how many coaches with ZERO experience at top tier programs (guys whose ONLY experience is at bad, second and third rate programs) are we supposed to tolerate -- as we sit here and wonder why we have a bad, third rate offense? And how in the blazes can Fitz not see that this lack of legit, big-league coaching experience and coaching talent is THE problem?

To recap: Eastern Michigan, Kenyan College, DePauw, University of LaVerne, University of Chicsgo, Indiana, Bowling Green, Ball State, Butler, Wyoming, Southern Colorado, Idaho State, Oregon State, and last (but clearly not least!), Douglas County and J.K. Mullen High School...

Honestly? Not one big time coaching gig among them! Not one...

(Wait, you say... I see Oregon State in there. McCall coached there from 88-90. That's legit, right? WRONG. 4 wins. 4 wins. 1 win. Fired. Failure. Got worse, not better. But Indiana is big time, right? WRONG. 2008-2010: 11th, 10th and 11th in the Big Ten. Abject failure. So basically the two who got to the big leagues flopped (and flipped fast).

This is where our offensive brain trust learned and coached football?

And we wonder why our offense is one of the worst in the country?

C'mon, Fitz, the answer is staring you right in the face!!

They don't have ZERO experience at top-tier programs. You're missing one big thing in their resumes: they have all coached at least six years at Northwestern, a Big Ten program. Cushing has 13 years, Mac 12, McCall 9 and Springer 6.

You can question their ability as coaches, and given the Cats' performance offensively it's certainly a valid topic of discussion. But if you're talking about the resume of coaches you would hire to fix the offense NOW, as your premise states, you would have to include their experience at Northwestern. So they all have experience at a major, Power Five program.

 

[EvanstonCat]

They don't have ZERO experience at top-tier programs. You're missing one big thing in their resumes: they have all coached at least six years at Northwestern, a Big Ten program. Cushing has 13 years, Mac 12, McCall 9 and Springer 6.

You can question their ability as coaches, and given the Cats' performance offensively it's certainly a valid topic of discussion. But if you're talking about the resume of coaches you would hire to fix the offense NOW, as your premise states, you would have to include their experience at Northwestern. So they all have experience at a major, Power Five program.

Yes, and it's an indictment of NU. Frankly, they should get zero credit for their experience at NU. At no other program would these people last as long as they have and would their incompetence be tolerated year after year after year. The O has been steadily going down hill since they have been around. Cushing was fine when he was coaching the non-existent tight ends. But, when he moved to OL after Ingalls left, it's been a swift downhill journey since. The O is markedly worse than when McCall inherited it from a non-experienced Garrick McGee (and certainly a far cry from where Dunbar and before him Wilson had it). The deterioriation of our passing game has been epic.The WR's are the worst WR unit we've had excepting last year that I've seen at NU. The only two coaches that don't deserve to be fired on the Offensive side of the ball are Heffner and MacPherson. I was hard on MacPherson when we had no running game some years back, but that unit has made huge strides since. It's the only unit that has improved under the current coach's watch - which is what you want to see. Except Superback which has been consistently solid. He deserves praise for recruting, developing and otherwise coaching a unit that has performed. The rest of these jokers? It gets worse and worse every year it seems. It's Colby Swiss all over again, only on the Offensive side of the ball. I remember when our Offense was something to be proud of, when I thought we could score and keep up with anyone in the nation. Now, if the D doesn't hold someone to less than three TDs, we are almost assured to lose.

When is enough enough for crying out loud?

 

[HawkCat]

Yup. And isn't it interesting that Heffner is the only guy who has consistently produced and is also the only guy on the offensive side of the ball that has held an at least semi-big league job? Hmm...

Why is it that the posters on this board with the least football knowledge always seem to hold the most vociferous opinions? Hmmm.....

 

[WoodersonCat]

They don't have ZERO experience at top-tier programs. You're missing one big thing in their resumes: they have all coached at least six years at Northwestern, a Big Ten program. Cushing has 13 years, Mac 12, McCall 9 and Springer 6.

You can question their ability as coaches, and given the Cats' performance offensively it's certainly a valid topic of discussion. But if you're talking about the resume of coaches you would hire to fix the offense NOW, as your premise states, you would have to include their experience at Northwestern. So they all have experience at a major, Power Five program.

This, or course, assumes that NU is a top tier program when it has never won a division title, let alone a conference title. We are a middling program, which is only tolerable to most of us because we grew up as a laughingstock. So we've gone from laughingstock to middling over 20 years, starting with Gary Barnett's "Big Bang" for NU football on Sept. 2, 1995. But we ain't anywhere near top-tier by any definition. We're trying to get to the top tier. That's sort of the point...

 

[YesterdaysCat]

We have one of the worst offenses in the country. It's been this way for 3 1/3 years now. Are these the resumes of the people that YOU would employ to fix it??

MacPherson:

"Prior to joining the Wildcat staff, MacPherson spent two seasons working on Jeff Genyk's staff at Eastern Michigan University, coaching the Eagles' safeties. Prior to his two-year stint at Eastern Michigan, MacPherson was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, MacPherson attended DePauw University, where he played football for four seasons and was named a two-time first-team all-conference linebacker. He also was named a third-team Football Gazette All-American in 1998. He was DePauw's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, and went on to be selected to the school's All-Century Team.

Following his graduation in 1999, MacPherson remained at DePauw as a graduate assistant/recruiting coordinator and worked as the running backs coach and the junior varsity offensive coordinator. He earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical performance."

Cushing:

"A native of Chicago, Cushing joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif. He coached tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003.

Cushing is a former player at prep power Mt. Carmel High School, and went on to play at NCAA Division III University of Chicago.

At Chicago, Cushing was a three-year starter at tight end and was named to the all-University Athletic Association team three consecutive years (1999-2001). He helped the Maroons win UAA titles in 1998 and 2000. Cushing was a team captain his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with 72 receptions, good enough for 10th on U of C's career catches list.

A Dean's List honoree, Cushing graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Chicago in 2002. He completed work on his master's degree in general education at La Verne in 2004."

Springer:

"Prior to his stint at Indiana, Springer spent one season as the defensive secondary coach at Western Kentucky University as the Hilltoppers made the transition from the Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Springer's coaching career has its roots in the Mid-American Conference as he spent four seasons at Bowling Green State University prior to joining the staff at WKU. Springer was in charge of the running backs from 2003 to 2005 before making the transition to the defensive side of the ball, taking responsibility of the safeties for the 2006 season. He helped guide the Falcons to the 2003 MAC West Division title and a 28-24 victory over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. BGSU also won the 2004 GMAC Bowl, defeating Memphis 52-35, and captured the 2005 MAC East Division championship.

While at Bowling Green, Springer worked with Northwestern's current offensive coordinator, Mick McCall.

Springer's lengthiest tenure came at Ball State University where he spent 10 seasons with the Cardinals in a handful of capacities. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the 1993 and 1994 seasons before being promoted to wide receivers coach in 1995. Springer filled that role until the 1999 season when he resumed responsibility of the outside linebackers, a position he held for two years before being named the defensive secondary coach for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Ball State made a pair of appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl (1993, 1996) during that time.

A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Springer earned his bachelor of science in secondary education from Butler University in 1993 after helping the Bulldogs to three Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference championships. Springer also served as a team captain of the 1991 team."

And of course, Mick McCall:

"McCall spent the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University...
McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. He then spent five seasons (1983-87) as the running backs/tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Idaho State. From there, he joined Oregon State (1988-90) as the Beavers' wide receivers and tight ends coach. ... After a successful 10-year stint (1991-2000) as the head coach at Douglas County and J.K. Mullen high schools in Colorado, McCall spent two seasons (2001-02) as the quarterbacks/running backs coach at Wyoming before moving to Bowling Green. At Mullen High School, he led the football program to a 68-17 record and a state championship in 1998, which earned him Denver Post Coach of the Year honors.

... Prior to starting his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball."

---------

Honestly, how many coaches with ZERO experience at top tier programs (guys whose ONLY experience is at bad, second and third rate programs) are we supposed to tolerate -- as we sit here and wonder why we have a bad, third rate offense? And how in the blazes can Fitz not see that this lack of legit, big-league coaching experience and coaching talent is THE problem?

To recap: Eastern Michigan, Kenyan College, DePauw, University of LaVerne, University of Chicsgo, Indiana, Bowling Green, Ball State, Butler, Wyoming, Southern Colorado, Idaho State, Oregon State, and last (but clearly not least!), Douglas County and J.K. Mullen High School...

Honestly? Not one big time coaching gig among them! Not one...

(Wait, you say... I see Oregon State in there. McCall coached there from 88-90. That's legit, right? WRONG. 4 wins. 4 wins. 1 win. Fired. Failure. Got worse, not better. But Indiana is big time, right? WRONG. 2008-2010: 11th, 10th and 11th in the Big Ten. Abject failure. So basically the two who got to the big leagues flopped (and flipped fast).

This is where our offensive brain trust learned and coached football?

And we wonder why our offense is one of the worst in the country?

C'mon, Fitz, the answer is staring you right in the face!!

Was it really necessary to copy and paste their bios?

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Yes, and it's an indictment of NU. Frankly, they should get zero credit for their experience at NU. At no other program would these people last as long as they have and would their incompetence be tolerated year after year after year. The O has been steadily going down hill since they have been around. Cushing was fine when he was coaching the non-existent tight ends. But, when he moved to OL after Ingalls left, it's been a swift downhill journey since. The O is markedly worse than when McCall inherited it from a non-experienced Garrick McGee (and certainly a far cry from where Dunbar and before him Wilson had it). The deterioriation of our passing game has been epic.The WR's are the worst WR unit we've had excepting last year that I've seen at NU. The only two coaches that don't deserve to be fired on the Offensive side of the ball are Heffner and MacPherson. I was hard on MacPherson when we had no running game some years back, but that unit has made huge strides since. It's the only unit that has improved under the current coach's watch - which is what you want to see. Except Superback which has been consistently solid. He deserves praise for recruting, developing and otherwise coaching a unit that has performed. The rest of these jokers? It gets worse and worse every year it seems. It's Colby Swiss all over again, only on the Offensive side of the ball. I remember when our Offense was something to be proud of, when I thought we could score and keep up with anyone in the nation. Now, if the D doesn't hold someone to less than three TDs, we are almost assured to lose.

When is enough enough for crying out loud?

The receivers are way better than last year. Fewer drops, better routes. Still not enough separation.

 

[lou v]

This, or course, assumes that NU is a top tier program when it has never won a division title, let alone a conference title. We are a middling program, which is only tolerable to most of us because we grew up as a laughingstock. So we've gone from laughingstock to middling over 20 years, starting with Gary Barnett's "Big Bang" for NU football on Sept. 2, 1995. But we ain't anywhere near top-tier by any definition. We're trying to get to the top tier. That's sort of the point...

You guys can debate the topic. That's fine. I'm just pointing out that if you want to talk about their resumes, you have to include their time at NU. Whether you think NU is top-tier or not, it's still on their resume.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Yes, and it's an indictment of NU. Frankly, they should get zero credit for their experience at NU. At no other program would these people last as long as they have and would their incompetence be tolerated year after year after year. The O has been steadily going down hill since they have been around. Cushing was fine when he was coaching the non-existent tight ends. But, when he moved to OL after Ingalls left, it's been a swift downhill journey since. The O is markedly worse than when McCall inherited it from a non-experienced Garrick McGee (and certainly a far cry from where Dunbar and before him Wilson had it). The deterioriation of our passing game has been epic.The WR's are the worst WR unit we've had excepting last year that I've seen at NU. The only two coaches that don't deserve to be fired on the Offensive side of the ball are Heffner and MacPherson. I was hard on MacPherson when we had no running game some years back, but that unit has made huge strides since. It's the only unit that has improved under the current coach's watch - which is what you want to see. Except Superback which has been consistently solid. He deserves praise for recruting, developing and otherwise coaching a unit that has performed. The rest of these jokers? It gets worse and worse every year it seems. It's Colby Swiss all over again, only on the Offensive side of the ball. I remember when our Offense was something to be proud of, when I thought we could score and keep up with anyone in the nation. Now, if the D doesn't hold someone to less than three TDs, we are almost assured to lose.

When is enough enough for crying out loud?

Put your money where your big mouth is and send your opinions to Pat.

I have talked and exchanged emails with coach and he told me that he hates people who criticize the team and don't put their names to their words. I agree with him.

You and Woodsy/Shivas/Stupor are going too far without ever being accountable for this repetitive tripe. Say what you want about me but I have put my name to my face and email address with Pat and my booster buddies.

Do the same or shut up.

 

[NJCat]

Put your money where your big mouth is and send your opinions to Pat.

I have talked and exchanged emails with coach and he told me that he hates people who criticize the team and don't put their names to their words. I agree with him.

You and Woodsy/Shivas/Stupor are going too far without ever being accountable for this repetitive tripe. Say what you want about me but I have put my name to my face and email address with Pat and my booster buddies.

Do the same or shut up.

If Fitz or any other coach is readying and replying to mail from fans during the season, he should stop. It's fine in the off season, and your point is well taken. But coaches and players should have a very narrow bandwidth during the season.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

If Fitz or any other coach is readying and replying to mail from fans during the season, he should stop. It's fine in the off season, and your point is well taken. But coaches and players should have a very narrow bandwidth during the season.

I'm not going to out myself or anybody else but they have lives too.

One thing that people don't understand is how much BS that Pat had to put up with as far as publicity, fundraising, and recruiting. If only it were all about coaching. Pat puts in long hours. He is a good guy but too loyal and stubborn.

 

[WoodersonCat]

Was it really necessary to copy and paste their bios?

You mean me doing it just now, or when NU does it every year? LOL!

 

[WoodersonCat]

Put your money where your big mouth is and send your opinions to Pat.

I have talked and exchanged emails with coach and he told me that he hates people who criticize the team and don't put their names to their words. I agree with him.

You and Woodsy/Shivas/Stupor are going too far without ever being accountable for this repetitive tripe. Say what you want about me but I have put my name to my face and email address with Pat and my booster buddies.

Do the same or shut up.

That's a nonsense argument and you know it. What matters is what's said, not who says it. What you're trying to do is stifle criticism.

Am I supposed to care what Fitz personally likes or dislikes? I'm quite certain Fitz doesn't care a whit about I like or dislike, so why should I care. And in either case, how is that relevant to anything?

I personally dislike terrible offenses. Fitz doesn't care what I think. That's sort of the point. Thanks for highlighting it.

 

[mikewebb68]

Put your money where your big mouth is and send your opinions to Pat.

I have talked and exchanged emails with coach and he told me that he hates people who criticize the team and don't put their names to their words. I agree with him.

You and Woodsy/Shivas/Stupor are going too far without ever being accountable for this repetitive tripe. Say what you want about me but I have put my name to my face and email address with Pat and my booster buddies.

Do the same or shut up.

You know that I don't always agree with your posts, but this was one million percent on the mark, imo.

 

[mikewebb68]

That's a nonsense argument and you know it. What matters is what's said, not who says it. What you're trying to do is stifle criticism.

Am I supposed to care what Fitz personally likes or dislikes? I'm quite certain Fitz doesn't care whit I like or dislike, so why should I care. How is that relevant to anything?

I personally dislike terrible offenses. Fitz doesn't care what I think. That's sort of the point. Thanks for highlighting it.

So you think trolling on an internet message board is an effective way of attempting to bring about change? Lol.

Yesterday's Cat>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Stupor

 

[YesterdaysCat]

So you think trolling on an internet message board is an effective way of attempting to bring about change? Lol.

Yesterday's Cat>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Stupor

.... Thanks?

 

[willycat]

I'm not going to out myself or anybody else but they have lives too.

One thing that people don't understand is how much BS that Pat had to put up with as far as publicity, fundraising, and recruiting. If only it were all about coaching. Pat puts in long hours. He is a good guy but too loyal and stubborn.

Come on, all coaches put in long hours, some more then Fitzgerald. Also thought that all coaches are heavily involved in recruiting and have input into fund raising and the publicity that their coaching receive. Nice try but Fitzgerald and staff are failing on almost all fronts.

 

[mikewebb68]

One of the best Posts of the year !

PS. Fitz is totally unqualified to be a head coach and wouldn't have been HC at NU except for the sudden death of Randy Walker who was extremely qualified and prepared to lead a BigTen program !

Wow, another amazingly insightful post! Right up there with your post about Duke being the lock of the century....

 

[mikewebb68]

.... Thanks?

It was a compliment. Guess I should have put more greater than symbols in it. Unless you are just another screenname for Stupor/Shivas, in which the case the joke is on me, well played!

 

[WoodersonCat]

I'm not going to out myself or anybody else but they have lives too.

One thing that people don't understand is how much BS that Pat had to put up with as far as publicity, fundraising, and recruiting. If only it were all about coaching. Pat puts in long hours. He is a good guy but too loyal and stubborn.

Well if that isn't a tear-jerking giant ball of "so what"? "Shut up and take it because Fitz works hard"? That's your argument? C'mon...

A lot of those people in the seats that wanted to see a competitive football game on a beautiful Saturday night worked long hours too, you know ...

And they deserve better than to be served up a big stinking pile of you know what week after week.

 

[ajr938]

This is a fantastic post. I had been thinking the same thing. I do not understand why we cannot put together a stronger staff. I realize NU is not a destination, but why we cannot even get people that are using us a stepping stone. The biggest indication of what other coaches think of our staff is the fact that we went 10-3 last year and there was no buzz for any assistants to get a HC job or even a job in a better program . Walker's staff at least went on to some other jobs. Fitzgerald is a good ambassador for our program and I think he is a good motivator. I think he needs to build a D1 staff and not D3 staff. I cannot imagine there is another staff in power 5 conference that is as unimpressive as our staff.

 

[lou v]

This is a fantastic post. I had been thinking the same thing. I do not understand why we cannot put together a stronger staff. I realize NU is not a destination, but why we cannot even get people that are using us a stepping stone. The biggest indication of what other coaches think of our staff is the fact that we went 10-3 last year and there was no buzz for any assistants to get a HC job or even a job in a better program . Walker's staff at least went on to some other jobs. Fitzgerald is a good ambassador for our program and I think he is a good motivator. I think he needs to build a D1 staff and not D3 staff. I cannot imagine there is another staff in power 5 conference that is as unimpressive as our staff.

I'll give you one reason: NU pays assistants A LOT less than they get at other Big Ten schools. That's a fact. The salary disparity has gotten a little better under Fitz -- it was an important part of his last contract -- but NU still pays significantly less than their counterparts. I'm sure NU has the highest cost of living in the Big Ten, too, which makes the gap a little wider.

 

[WoodersonCat]

True, but that contract was negotiated before all his extra Big Ten TV money started floating in. Let's put a smidgeon of it to good use!!! Even if we gave out an extra $100k/guy, that's only a $1mm per year.

A $1mm investment in salaries (paid for, basically, by Maryland and Rutgers anyway (hey, them joining the BT has to be good for something) would way more than pay for itself in ticket sales and alumni donations. Total no brainer to drop an extra mil or even two mil a year of basically free money on assistant salaries if it gets you a winner.

 

[WoodersonCat]

Hell, how many parking spots in the west lot again? Multiply that by $600 and I bet it's north of a mil. Spend that...make that ransom payment somehow productive... Sooner or later, donors are going to start demanding proof of life before paying it, anyway...

 

[YesterdaysCat]

I'll give you one reason: NU pays assistants A LOT less than they get at other Big Ten schools. That's a fact. The salary disparity has gotten a little better under Fitz -- it was an important part of his last contract -- but NU still pays significantly less than their counterparts. I'm sure NU has the highest cost of living in the Big Ten, too, which makes the gap a little wider.

This is totally true and another example of how Northwestern refuses to be "all in" on football while behaving in a way that indicates it is. Make up your damn mind, Northwestern. You can't build a palace for football on the lake and pay your assistants peanuts. You can't have admissions requirements for football that are way more lenient than regular admissions yet way harder than the NCAA's.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Well if that isn't a tear-jerking giant ball of "so what"? "Shut up and take it because Fitz works hard"? That's your argument? C'mon...

A lot of those people in the seats that wanted to see a competitive football game on a beautiful Saturday night worked long hours too, you know ...

And they deserve better than to be served up a big stinking pile of you know what week after week.

It wasn't a competitive game?

A lot of those people in the seats wore red and were rooting for the other team!

 

[WoodersonCat]

This is totally true and another example of how Northwestern refuses to be "all in" on football while behaving in a way that indicates it is. Make up your damn mind, Northwestern. You can't build a palace for football on the lake and pay your assistants peanuts. You can't have admissions requirements for football that are way more lenient than regular admissions yet way harder than the NCAA's.

Yup. You took the words right out of my mouth in light of that question corbi asked about whether I thought they'd build that thing without being fully fully committed...this is one of a decent number of examples.

 

[willycat]

I'll give you one reason: NU pays assistants A LOT less than they get at other Big Ten schools. That's a fact. The salary disparity has gotten a little better under Fitz -- it was an important part of his last contract -- but NU still pays significantly less than their counterparts. I'm sure NU has the highest cost of living in the Big Ten, too, which makes the gap a little wider.

Likely true but why is that so, should be the question. I realize that it's ancient history but the staff Ara put together during his years at NU were powerhouses and many went on to make a names for themselves throughout football. More recent history shows that Barnett also assembled a stellar staff, that also have moved on to greener pastures. Wondering if NU also had the lowest paying staff during those years or did these guys come because of the HC.

 

[NUCat320]

I'll give you one reason: NU pays assistants A LOT less than they get at other Big Ten schools. That's a fact. The salary disparity has gotten a little better under Fitz -- it was an important part of his last contract -- but NU still pays significantly less than their counterparts. I'm sure NU has the highest cost of living in the Big Ten, too, which makes the gap a little wider.

This actually makes the fact that nobody has made the leap quite discouraging.

If anybody at NU were excelling, most P5 programs could come in and offer a significantly better package. That Johns is (I think) the only full time assistant to have taken another gig speaks poorly of NU's coaching staff. (There is a 'loyalty is a two way street' counter-argument, but I doubt it's relevant here.)

 

[Hungry Jack]

Why is it that the posters on this board with the least football knowledge always seem to hold the most vociferous opinions? Hmmm.....

Unfettered circle jerks in small rooms always get messy

 

[lou v]

True, but that contract was negotiated before all his extra Big Ten TV money started floating in. Let's put a smidgeon of it to good use!!! Even if we gave out an extra $100k/guy, that's only a $1mm per year.

A $1mm investment in salaries (paid for, basically, by Maryland and Rutgers anyway (hey, them joining the BT has to be good for something) would way more than pay for itself in ticket sales and alumni donations. Total no brainer to drop an extra mil or even two mil a year of basically free money on assistant salaries if it gets you a winner.

Thing is, all your competitors in the Big Ten got all that money too. They're using it for the same types of things, so if you started behind, you're still behind. And you can imagine how much more revenue Ohio State, Michigan, et al, has to play with than NU does. How much more money do you think Michigan made for yesterday's home game against Penn State, with 110K fans, than NU did for its game against Nebraska, with 40K? Multiply that by six times per year. The difference in donations, advertising, everything, is staggering. All that makes it very difficult for NU to compete in terms of salaries, recruiting budgets, operations staff, etc. That's just economic reality.

 

[lou v]

This actually makes the fact that nobody has made the leap quite discouraging.

If anybody at NU were excelling, most P5 programs could come in and offer a significantly better package. That Johns is (I think) the only full time assistant to have taken another gig speaks poorly of NU's coaching staff. (There is a 'loyalty is a two way street' counter-argument, but I doubt it's relevant here.)

This, I agree with. Fitz has said that staff members have gotten offers in the past, but we don't know any details. I imagine that loyalty to Fitz and liking NU could keep people in Evanston, but at some point you'd think that money would outweigh those things. Everyone has families to take care of.