SELU

[Disgruntled Demon]

Seems like everyone, at least that I talk with, is seeing the same thing: we are getting out-coached for at least 1/2 or more of the game. Either our coach has to learn how to be a HC quickly or this will continue for the rest of this year as everyone we play has a coach with more HC experience than us. I didn't see and still don't see how our leaders thought someone with NO HC experience could step in and compete. It is a more complicated process than that. Hopefully we pull one or two out this year but Coach Laird is in real danger of losing this team after 5 straight loses. Makes for a tough open week and then I'm afraid I don't see but 1-2 wins at most for the rest of the season.  Gonna be a long season.

[NSU2003]

0-4 SFA beat Lamar last night. They look to be about as bad as we are. The difference is Clint Conque is a proven HC...so we'll see. I see us beating Lamar and 50/50 chance against SFA. 1-10 or 2-9.

[demonsgoon]

Sept 29, 2019 6:59:36 GMT Disgruntled Demon said:

Seems like everyone, at least that I talk with, is seeing the same thing: we are getting out-coached for at least 1/2 or more of the game. Either our coach has to learn how to be a HC quickly or this will continue for the rest of this year as everyone we play has a coach with more HC experience than us. I didn't see and still don't see how our leaders thought someone with NO HC experience could step in and compete. It is a more complicated process than that. Hopefully we pull one or two out this year but Coach Laird is in real danger of losing this team after 5 straight loses. Makes for a tough open week and then I'm afraid I don't see but 1-2 wins at most for the rest of the season.  Gonna be a long season.

[demonsgoon]

Sept 29, 2019 14:21:44 GMT demonsgoon said:

Sept 29, 2019 6:59:36 GMT Disgruntled Demon said:

Seems like everyone, at least that I talk with, is seeing the same thing: we are getting out-coached for at least 1/2 or more of the game. Either our coach has to learn how to be a HC quickly or this will continue for the rest of this year as everyone we play has a coach with more HC experience than us. I didn't see and still don't see how our leaders thought someone with NO HC experience could step in and compete. It is a more complicated process than that. Hopefully we pull one or two out this year but Coach Laird is in real danger of losing this team after 5 straight loses. Makes for a tough open week and then I'm afraid I don't see but 1-2 wins at most for the rest of the season.  Gonna be a long season.

Nobody was born a head coach. Everybody at some time assumes the top position for the first time. Some just grow into it better than others. Also thought having coordinators who have head coaching experience would help with the head coaching transition for Laird. And to Purple Storm’s post about the soccer team, those coaches are first-timers and at least up to now, have competed well and with a very young roster.

[jneal318]

NSU2003, SFA has a new head coach, Colby Carthel. If the name rings any bells, he had a powerhouse D-II team at Texas A&M-Commerce who won the championship in 2017. In time, he will turn that program around as that team has competed similar to us but at least they have a win under their belts. I heard Patrick say something last night as I was watching the game but listening to the NSU broadcast. The play where Jared West runs for 50 but doesn't make it to the end zone (play was called back due to holding penalty, go figure), he comments on how yes they love Jared West but he's not fast enough. Maybe they should have had a faster back in the backfield for that play. Three ways to look at that: 1) Yes, maybe but our #2 running back was hurt and out for the game. Also, how much run are the back-ups getting in practice to be ready for the field? 2) Is he taking a shot at the coaches? Not putting the right personnel on the field for specific plays? 3) Is Patrick just as frustrated with us after hopes of a program defining season? I think it's a little bit of all of the above in this case. I haven't given up on Laird as there were a lot of freshmen on the field last night. To me, this should have been the approach to start the season, let them to their lumps early so that we can be great later. Instead, you go after transfers who aren't any better and are older players. If you recruit these guys, you must have seen something in them that you liked, so play them!!! Again, it goes back to development....develop the players you have to turn around the program instead of putting patchwork transfers who come to your program last minute. Akile Davis has been a great find, but the others....are they really making a difference? It shows desperation and trust the others in the conference see it.

[purplestorm]

Four things stood out to me last night that could have made the game tighter: First, the second fourth-down we went for and ran the same exact play we ran before on a prior fourth-down (why do coaches do that?). If we trusted our FG kicker a little more, that could have been three points. Secondly, Jared West's run of 50 yards could have helped add three-seven more points, maybe. So, now you're at 33-37 points. Of course, there was a hold on the run. Par for the season. Thirdly, our defense getting gouged in the third quarter with no adjustments was very telling (lots of young guys playing, yes, but several programs are playing young guys ... and winning). If you could have held SLU to a FG try on just one of those TD possessions, that's 40 points instead of 44. Now you're within a TD or less at the end of the game. Finally, we only forced them to punt one time (stat of the game). SLU is a good team this year and I felt we competed fairly well for three quarters. We checked out of the game in the third quarter as we have often this season. In fact, we've been outscored 51-17 in the third quarter this season (not counting LSU). Was last night's game something to build off of or have we dug too deep a hole to win a few games? I don't know, but I'm sensing the blowout loss to Midwestern State was the worse loss for NSU football in a long, long, long time. Maybe the worse loss in the modern era. You just don't get whipped by a D2 team at your place. Yes, you can lose once in a blue moon in a tight game, but to get whipped? That loss will define our season, a season that unless the coaches can find some major gumption in the next two weeks is OVER. I'm already looking at who we have coming back next year and wondering who the QB will be to replace Eppler. We need a FG kicker, a punter (Pastorello has been pretty darn good), a QB, a good shifty RB, several OL, etc., and we'll have to replace Shorts and Davis, who have been bright spots for the team ... along with Eppler (all good players). We have a lot of young talent, yes, but we will likely have the same coaches. Will they grow and get better (coaches)? If not, it might be awhile yet before we sniff a winning season, much less the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong. I really do. It's not up to the fans to give ourselves hope, though. That's the job of the coaches. We're about to see what kind of mettle we're made of in the next seven games.

[Patrick]

Sept 29, 2019 14:59:25 GMT jneal318 said:

NSU2003 , SFA has a new head coach, Colby Carthel. If the name rings any bells, he had a powerhouse D-II team at Texas A&M-Commerce who won the championship in 2017. In time, he will turn that program around as that team has competed similar to us but at least they have a win under their belts. I heard Patrick say something last night as I was watching the game but listening to the NSU broadcast. The play where Jared West runs for 50 but doesn't make it to the end zone (play was called back due to holding penalty, go figure), he comments on how yes they love Jared West but he's not fast enough. Maybe they should have had a faster back in the backfield for that play. Three ways to look at that: 1) Yes, maybe but our #2 running back was hurt and out for the game. Also, how much run are the back-ups getting in practice to be ready for the field? 2) Is he taking a shot at the coaches? Not putting the right personnel on the field for specific plays? 3) Is Patrick just as frustrated with us after hopes of a program defining season? I think it's a little bit of all of the above in this case. I haven't given up on Laird as there were a lot of freshmen on the field last night. To me, this should have been the approach to start the season, let them to their lumps early so that we can be great later. Instead, you go after transfers who aren't any better and are older players. If you recruit these guys, you must have seen something in them that you liked, so play them!!! Again, it goes back to development....develop the players you have to turn around the program instead of putting patchwork transfers who come to your program last minute. Akile Davis has been a great find, but the others....are they really making a difference? It shows desperation and trust the others in the conference see it.

My point during the broadcast was not a knock on the coaches or on JWest. He is by far the best available RB and should be the guy in the game. My point was about the lack of explosive plays within the offense and that run was indicative of that issue. And I am absolutely frustrated because I know and respect and love these coaches. They are good men and are damn fine coaches and we all anticipated a different result through five games. I hurt because I WANT these guys to succeed, not just for NSU and the fans but also for them, because of the men they are. When you are the voice of a team (as opposed to a neutral network broadcaster) you are emotionally affected by what happens. These coaches and players become friends and you pull for them, you celebrate when they win and you are frustrated when they lose.