There's really nothing left to say...

[stpaulcat]

Until Fitz says it. It would be really interesting to see what would happen were Fitz to fire JON on Monday. At worst it would be a huge breath of fresh air, for players and fans alike.

It is interesting that the announcers today said that Northwestern is very close to putting it together (on offense). That may be true, with Sullivan gaininge xperience. JON's defense will impede this for years. I don't see the problem being talent.

The heat should really be on Fitz starting tomorrow.

 

[Rodenthater]

Total embarrassment to call this a D1 team!

 

[eddie_gocats]

We’re worse than South Dakota State…

 

[TerraCat]

Breaking news, SIU has lost to four FCS teams...

 

[Medill '03]

We’re worse than South Dakota State…

NU is WAY worse than SDSU. They are #1 in FCS. Neutral field they would be double-digit favorites vs. NU. They are equivalent to Iowa, their only loss on their year (in a close defensive struggle).

 

[stpaulcat]

Fitz is fortunate his is not an elective position. And there is no House of Commons.

 

[1830sherman]

It is interesting that the announcers today said that Northwestern is very close to putting it together (on offense). That may be true, with Sullivan gaininge xperience. JON's defense will impede this for years. I don't see the problem being talent.

"Close to putting it together" based on what? The offense is as inept as the defense, unless you're placing stock in a final drive when Iowa is yukking it up on the sidelines. The O-line is mediocre on its best days, the receivers can't get open, and the qb (when he isn't falling down untouched) isn't feeling pressure when he needs to. Maybe he'll get better, and I hope he does, but right now it's just hope based on scant evidence.

Heck yes, the problem IS talent. It's also coaching, from the top down, on BOTH sides of the ball. The best DC in the land, whoever he is, could not come in and turn this thing around single-handedly. The entire program needs a reset.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

We’re worse than South Dakota State…

I could have told you that several weeks ago. SDSU is a legit team, #1 in the FCS who just knocked pff North Dakota State. A good number of Power 5 Teams are worse than SDSU. We’re just a LOT worse than SDSU.

We’re also worse that SIU - we didn’t just lose to them, we’re actually worse than them - and they’re roughly the 8-15th best FCS team in the country and probably #3 in their conference.

 

[JoeWildcat]

The good news is we should get the number 1 pick in next year’s draft.

 

[stpaulcat]

"Close to putting it together" based on what? The offense is as inept as the defense, unless you're placing stock in a final drive when Iowa is yukking it up on the sidelines. The O-line is mediocre on its best days, the receivers can't get open, and the qb (when he isn't falling down untouched) isn't feeling pressure when he needs to. Maybe he'll get better, and I hope he does, but right now it's just hope based on scant evidence.

Heck yes, the problem IS talent. It's also coaching, from the top down, on BOTH sides of the ball. The best DC in the land, whoever he is, could not come in and turn this thing around single-handedly. The entire program needs a reset.

I don't know, I'm not the announcers. I just want some hope that the defense is the ONLY problem going forward.

 

[Williesfan]

So the practice faculty didn’t assist in getting better talent anyhow.

 

[Ryanfield124]

There is a lot to say. Its not Fitz's fault. None of it. If he didn't have the facilities and Top tier pay think how bad it could REALLY get? We are barely losing to programs with gold standard athletes, coaches, and resources.

Have any of you seen the practice facility at SIU? Do any of you realize how talented the staff at Miami of Ohio is? We played a week 1 coach at Wisconsin. How could you possibly prepare for that?

Bottom line Fitz has earned a break and going 1-11 is a special season. Going 6-6..Yawn. Going 1-11?

I'll tell my grand kids about that. I was there....

 

[stpaulcat]

There is a lot to say. Its not Fitz's fault. None of it. If he didn't have the facilities and Top tier pay think how bad it could REALLY get? We are barely losing to programs with gold standard athletes, coaches, and resources.

Have any of you seen the practice facility at SIU? Do any of you realize how talented the staff at Miami of Ohio is? We played a week 1 coach at Wisconsin. How could you possibly prepare for that?

Bottom line Fitz has earned a break and going 1-11 is a special season. Going 6-6..Yawn. Going 1-11?

I'll tell my grand kids about that. I was there....

Well, he did allow it to happen that they went from one of the top defenses in the country to one of the worst in a short nine months (not likely a good outcome with an on-going mediocre offense). You're supposed to get better, not much worse when you hire a new coordinator. Well, yeah it was Hank, but the descrepancy has been way too wide for two years now.

 

[Ryanfield124]

Well, he did allow it to happen that they went from one of the top defenses in the country to one of the worst in a short nine months (not likely a good outcome with an on-going mediocre offense). You're supposed to get better, not much worse when you hire a new coordinator. Well, yeah it was Hank, but the descrepancy has been way too wide for two years now.

Hey man be careful. People might call you a "bitter" ex baseball player who only posts 99% negative stuff. Forget your eyes and join the Fitz cult. Drink purple 24/7 even though its yellow and smells like P.

3-9 in 2019 (For some reason the season didn't happen around here)
6-1 in 2020
3-9 in 2021
1-11 in 2022
So based on my review here; this is not a bad football team. 13 wins in 4 years is pretty monumental.
Fitz should discuss an extension.

 

[realklysickoflosing]

Until Fitz says it. It would be really interesting to see what would happen were Fitz to fire JON on Monday. At worst it would be a huge breath of fresh air, for players and fans alike.

It is interesting that the announcers today said that Northwestern is very close to putting it together (on offense). That may be true, with Sullivan gaininge xperience. JON's defense will impede this for years. I don't see the problem being talent.

The heat should really be on Fitz starting tomorrow.

For the past two or three weeks, the defense has been pretty good. The offensive has been pathetic except for the RBs. I find it incredible that the non scholarship kid that played Saturday was generally as effective as the first three. He nay actually have greater promise. Where are the Trevor’s (who was horribly used during his time there)? Where are capable receivers?

 

[stpaulcat]

Hey man be careful. People might call you a "bitter" ex baseball player who only posts 99% negative stuff. Forget your eyes and join the Fitz cult. Drink purple 24/7 even though its yellow and smells like P.

3-9 in 2019 (For some reason the season didn't happen around here)
6-1 in 2020
3-9 in 2021
1-11 in 2022
So based on my review here; this is not a bad football team. 13 wins in 4 years is pretty monumental.
Fitz should discuss an extension.

I guess I hadn't been paying close enough attention to your posting history. Yes, all the problems most people have been carrying on about are real, and I do question how Fitz let it get this bad. None-the-less he built a solid, competitive program prior to 2019, fanned the flames in 2020, and has gotten facilities on the forefront of college football into the future. Maybe that's enough, although he deserves a year or two to match the team with the facilities. If he doesn't want that, perhaps he's ready to retire or move on.

 

[stpaulcat]

For the past two or three weeks, the defense has been pretty good. The offensive has been pathetic except for the RBs. I find it incredible that the non scholarship kid that played Saturday was generally as effective as the first three. He nay actually have greater promise. Where are the Trevor’s (who was horribly used during his time there)? Where are capable receivers?

I noticed that. But how many more years does JON need to keep teams from scoring at will when they really need to. We were so accustomed to a lock down defense to bail out a mediocre offense, that I believe even Fitz forgot about the offense, and now he has allowed the defense to slip--not a formula for success. This is the reason why, to really turn things around, both coordinators should be replaced this winter.

 

[phatcat]

It comes down to this. Fitz fires the coordinators, or Smithee and Pat Ryan write checks to buyout Fitz. I'm too old to let him burn this to the ground before he finally admits his crap hires.