An Interview With ...

[Dr Z]

This does not seem like part of "the process" to me, but if I have to endure another year of iCoach,

please find me a QB that can score points for our team. At the very least, this is would be trying.

When you can't buy a win, the risk seems to be worth ruining "locker room dynamics." If we don't pull this off, maybe

we can turn it around and use that as our tag line on the schedules next year...'Best Locker Room Dynamics in the MAC'

[Captain Kangaroo]

If the guys can play, you take them in a heartbeat.

If they are injured, you don't touch them with a 10-ft scholarship. We don't need anymore 5-star Andrew Johnson's...Marcus Sanders'... etc. cluttering both our roster & IR list simultaneously.

[GP1]

That being said, this is a HORRIBLE idea, and just confirms the utter stupidity and ineptitude at building a program of Ianello if true. Want to completely lose the locker room and any players you have left in your corner? Start bringing in 5th year seniors, "your guys", from your previous place of employment to take guys spots who have been here for the long haul.

It's a horrible idea if it doesn't work. Great idea if it does work. My guess is the lockerroom dynamics are probably pretty broken right now with all of the losing.

In terms of the remaining guys, they aren't showing me much so if they want to pout around, let them. In fact, if they want to pack their bags, then so be it. This team is on pace for another 1-11 season so I really don't care what upper classmen think of change. It's called competition. Playing on a college football team isn't a union job. You don't get to play because you were willing to sit on the bench for years and it becomes your turn. It's this type of entitlement we don't need on the team. I say bring in the best guys possible and create competition. It could be a stud freshman or a fifth year guy in a transfer situation. No free rides. The best guys play, the guys who aren't, sit.

[Big Zip]

That highlight real didn't have many snaps from under center?

Seems like a common thread for iCoach if he brings this kid in...take kid comfortable in shotgun, put behind center directly and fail.

[ZachTheZip]

Do we run the Charlie Weis offense (do we even run an offense)? That's what these kids were recruited for out of high school.

[Blue & Gold]

Do we run the Charlie Weis offense (do we even run an offense)? That's what these kids were recruited for out of high school.

Here is an interesting article about how Denver Bronco's head coach, John Fox, has altered his offense to play to the limited strengths of Tim Tebow. Just thought it was interesting when we often gripe about iCoach stubbornly sticking w/ the Pro-set.

[pdt1420]

My first feeling was "yeah, what does this do to the locker room" but after reading some more posts and thinking a little longer, I care less for the locker room dynamics and way more for results. Plus I agree that the locker room isn't rock solid right now anyways.

I know it's fun to bash Notre Dame, but saying that you don't care for their HS ratings, or that they weren't good enough to beat out their competition means nothing to me. With the way this team is playing, backups from major schools are better than our starters. Period. Also don't underestimate what a year of our young players learning from these "vets" might mean to their development.

[InTheZone]

If you don't think it can get any worse, it can. You bring in 8 guys to start and piss the rest of the team off. 8 guys playing like all-conference performers coupled with 57 guys who hate their coach and feel betrayed will equal an even bigger disaster than we have now. Plus the lost scholarships in the next recruiting class will be very harmful down the road.

The quarterback play has been awful, so by all means, if Cryst wants to come here, bring him. Maybe 1 or 2 other guys, ala Getsy/Alleman. A "mass transfer", however, would be disastrous.

[zippy5]

If you don't think it can get any worse, it can. You bring in 8 guys to start and piss the rest of the team off. 8 guys playing like all-conference performers coupled with 57 guys who hate their coach and feel betrayed will equal an even bigger disaster than we have now. Plus the lost scholarships in the next recruiting class will be very harmful down the road.

The quarterback play has been awful, so by all means, if Cryst wants to come here, bring him. Maybe 1 or 2 other guys, ala Getsy/Alleman. A "mass transfer", however, would be disastrous.

I'm sorry, and I respect your opinion as a former player, but it can't get worse.

[InTheZone]

I'm sorry, and I respect your opinion as a former player, but it can't get worse.

It can get worse, and it can create a mess that even a great coach down the road wouldn't be able to come in here and clean up.

[GP1]

I'm sorry, and I respect your opinion as a former player, but it can't get worse.

It can get worse, and it can create a mess that even a great coach down the road wouldn't be able to come in here and clean up.

I agree, it can always get worse. However, if we have 8 guys come in a produce all conference results, it would be a lot better than the numbers we have producing "All Blocking Dummy Team" results right now. I'd take the 8 all conference and risk the disruption. Heck, the winning might bring the team together.

[jupitertoo]

My father was part of Akron's Notre Dame "mafia" in the 1960s-90s. They hung out at Eddie Niam's "Fighting Irish Parkette" restaurant on Locust Street and discussed all things ND through the years. We're talking big-time contributors to the program, plus Eddie was Ara Parseghian's best friend from childhood.

According to my father, Ara was called in by ND's president during Gerry's second year in South Bend because the president was CONVINCED Gerry had what today is known as Attention Deficit Disorder. Assistant coaches had complained that he was absolutely incapable of focusing during their strategy sessions. The prez asked Ara to spend half a day with Gerry during the off-season to emphasize his need to get organized and focused. He had players in the wrong positions, coaches handling the wrong duties, etc. Ara arranged to spend 5 hours with Gerry in his office. Within 5 minutes of his arrival, Gerry excused himself to wish happy birthday to a co-worker and didn't return for 15 minutes. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, he left the room 3-4 times, took several calls and placed a couple more to say hello to old friends. The last time he left the room, Ara asked Gerry's secretary where he had gone. She replied, "Your guess is as good as mine, but he took his car. I think you might need to make your own lunch plans." Ara left and told the prez that the coach was a hopeless case.

I worked with him on one project several years ago and, true to form, he over-promised and under-delivered. He was WAY out there. If you want someone to make you feel important for 10-15 minutes, Gerry's your man. If you want someone to remember and follow-through on details for you and/or accurately collect and process information, you've got the wrong guy.

[Zips Win!]

My father was part of Akron's Notre Dame "mafia" in the 1960s-90s. They hung out at Eddie Niam's "Fighting Irish Parkette" restaurant on Locust Street and discussed all things ND through the years. We're talking big-time contributors to the program, plus Eddie was Ara Parseghian's best friend from childhood.

Ara was called in by ND's president during Gerry's second year in South Bend because the president was CONVINCED Gerry had what today is known as Attention Deficit Disorder. Assistant coaches complained that he was absolutely incapable of focusing during their strategy sessions. The prez asked Ara to spend half a day with Gerry during the off-season to emphasize his need to get organized and focused. He had players in the wrong positions, coaches handling the wrong duties, etc. Ara arranged to spend 5 hours with Gerry in his office. Within 5 minutes of his arrival, Gerry excused himself to wish happy birthday to a co-worker and didn't return for 15 minutes. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, he left the room 3-4 times, took several calls and placed a couple more to say hello to old friends. The last time he left the room, Ara asked Gerry's secretary where he had gone. She replied, "Your guess is as good as mine, but he took his car. I think you might need to make your own lunch plans." Ara left and told the prez that the coach was a hopeless case.

I worked with him on one project several years ago and, true to form, he over-promised and under-delivered. He was WAY out there. If you want someone to make you feel important for 10-15 minutes, Gerry's your man. If you want someone to remember and follow-through on details for you and/or accurately collect and process information, you've got the wrong guy.

Sounds fairly accurate to me. Until 2010, Fausty could have been labeled the worst coach in college football history and you would be hard pressed to find someone who would disagree....

[GP1]

Assistant coaches had complained that he was absolutely incapable of focusing during their strategy sessions.

Maybe it was the 12 pack of Diet Coke he consumed on a daily basis.

[skip-zip]

Sounds fairly accurate to me. Until 2010, Fausty could have been labeled the worst coach in college football history and you would be hard pressed to find someone who would disagree....

Are you kidding?

No facilities, limited scholarships, and a D-1A program in its infancy, and he produced 4 winning seasons and the top season record in the last 25 years of the program. That's the worst coaching job ever?

I'm definitely not the biggest Faust fan, but one could easily argue that Akron...alone...has had coaches that didn't accomplish what Faust accomplished.

By the way, I am in the same camp with those who feel that we should bring in these ND transfers. We need to do whatever it takes to win football games. It doesn't appear that any of this kids are an academic liability, becuase they have already done well enough to graduate. And I don't see the risk of ruining the future chemistry of a team that's already broken.

[johnnyzip84]

Speaking of hiring ex-Notre Dame coaches to turn around your program...

This story has a "full circle" angle as well, since I can still recall Gerry's Zips whipping the Lobos on TV (must have been a local deal, but I can't remember the details). I believe UA won on a last minute FG.

I'm in the "go ahead and bring them in" camp, but I also agree with those that believe this reeks of desperation. I don't see how Rob could say this would be "sticking with the plan". These guys (on offense) were all recruited for the Pro-Set, so it makes sense from that standpoint. Kelly has no need for them.

[Big Zip]

If the guys in the locker room don't like it....beat them out on the field.

[zippy5]

I'm sorry, and I respect your opinion as a former player, but it can't get worse.

It can get worse, and it can create a mess that even a great coach down the road wouldn't be able to come in here and clean up.

I guess. We can win 1 or 0 games in a two year span instead of 2...If they can be 8 all conference guys, I don't care how bad they hate each other. How many all-conference players do we have now? At least they like each other right? Low-risk, high-reward, imo.

Although I will say this- it's only a short term fix. Someone needs to figure out a way to sustain some success.

[Blue & Gold]

How many all-conference players do we have now?...

One. Brian Wagner.

And how pathetic is the current state of our program when my 2nd & 3rd favorite players on the team are our long-snapper and place-kicker, respectively?

[Dave in Green]

I have no direct experience with college football locker room dynamics. However, I do have 35 years of experience with business team dynamics, from small companies to major corporations, where people work in teams to produce winning results.

I can tell you that there is no definitive answer to cover all situations of bringing in new blood to improve team results. Sometimes it upsets team chemistry and produces negative results. Sometimes it reinvigorates the team and produces winning results.

It depends on the people and how the situation is handled.

[jupitertoo]

I have no direct experience with college football locker room dynamics. However, I do have 35 years of experience with business team dynamics, from small companies to major corporations, where people work in teams to produce winning results.

I can tell you that there is no definitive answer to cover all situations of bringing in new blood to improve team results. Sometimes it upsets team chemistry and produces negative results. Sometimes it reinvigorates the team and produces winning results.

It depends on the people and how the situation is handled.

Here is a quote from Ianello's press conference yesterday (reported by Gaffney): "There is no magic wand. If you take shortcuts and you compromise, you really won’t get it fixed." I find it hard to believe that the guy who said this would bring in several fifth-year seniors to play one year and piss off recruits. Sounds like a Gerry Faust pipe dream.

[Lee Adams]

Somebody touched on it. Ianello and Wistrcill keep referring to the 'process' of 'building' a program. Not that bringing these guys in would ever happen,but what does that say about the value of allegedly trying to build a program when you resort to a desparation heave like this? Thats not what building a program is about. Seems it would be saying we were wrong now we are going to spend resources and take one shot to see if that works. Kind of contradictory to what Ianello has been preaching.

[ZachTheZip]

As far as team chemistry goes, Ianello's already removed most of the players that were against him, and most of the rest graduate after this season.

After this season, the just about the only players on the team that are not Ianello guys will be in the senior class. So Ianello would be bringing in his own senior class to offset that.

So we had better show significant progress with a team made up almost entirely of Ianello's own players and a dozen BCS transfers and JUCOs in our senior class (the ND guys, Suel, Price, Griggs, Blake, Rizzo, and Sabbat). By "significant", I mean at least four wins. Three or less and Ianello absolutely has to go, assuming that we inexplicably choose to keep him after this season.

[pdt1420]

As far as team chemistry goes, Ianello's already removed most of the players that were against him, and most of the rest graduate after this season.

After this season, the just about the only players on the team that are not Ianello guys will be in the senior class. So Ianello would be bringing in his own senior class to offset that.

So we had better show significant progress with a team made up almost entirely of Ianello's own players and a dozen BCS transfers and JUCOs in our senior class (the ND guys, Suel, Price, Griggs, Blake, Rizzo, and Sabbat). By "significant", I mean at least four wins. Three or less and Ianello absolutely has to go, assuming that we inexplicably choose to keep him after this season.

I agree, and I think we're underestimating what these players would do to the program in terms of talent. It is a sad indictment of our program that I would not be shocked if each of these guys were immediately in our top dozen players next year.

I don't mean to overblow something that is just a rumor on a forum, but I think this move would be made to be over .500 next year. It's really the only way that happens. Maybe there was a conversation that we can't continue losing at this pace, and even with your "process" and player maturation we get to 4 wins next year... sorry coach, that's not going to be good enough. Get to 6-6 or better and then the following year sustain that with all your own players.

[ZachTheZip]

The real issue comes from the fact that we're also pushing hard to get a bunch of JUCO players in this recruiting class, as well. More than we already have.

If all 8 ND players come in, and then you get 6 or so JUCOs, you're left with absolutely nothing for this class after only two years. The only way to fix that is to bring in a new wave of JUCOs once the class of 2012 ones are gone.