Head Coaching Carousel

[Bigbuf]

Injuries were never a problem for this team. Personnel, coaching, and recruiting were a problem for this team. Well coached teams take injury problems in stride. Michigan State has a friggin NFL caliber QB...who didn't play against Ohio State...AND THEY WON. Good coaches deal with the intangibles they are given, bad coaches make excuses and grasp at straws to try and find a solution when they don't have one in mind to begin with.

If Hud doesn't step away from micromanaging this team...nothing will change. If Hud doesn't change his recruiting style away from glorified athletes he has no clue where to put on the field...nothing will change. We can all be like Jay and relish the good times, because those bad times were so bad, or we can demand more from a guy we pay $1,000,000 to move this program in the right direction. One of those keeps us right were we are...one of those moves us on to bigger and better things. Be part of the solution...not an enabler.

you cant compare UL to Michigan State. Nor can you compare any team to any other team. Each year has its own issues. If this was three years in a row of this and excuse are still being made then someone is being then I would say, to use your words "enabling", them to think 9-4 is the ceiling at UL. I dont think it is nor do I think the Belt is the ceiling. Hud has said that major changes will happen this offseason and I will give him the benefit of the doubt to take care of it.

And in no way do i think that UL has not been substantially moved in the right direction by the success of the last 4 years. And in no way should you or anyone else think that I think that I am ok what this years result.

[ManAboutTown]

you cant compare UL to Michigan State. Nor can you compare any team to any other team. Each year has its own issues. If this was three years in a row of this and excuse are still being made then someone is being then I would say, to use your words "enabling", them to think 9-4 is the ceiling at UL. I dont think it is nor do I think the Belt is the ceiling. Hud has said that major changes will happen this offseason and I will give him the benefit of the doubt to take care of it.

And in no way do i think that UL has not been substantially moved in the right direction by the success of the last 4 years. And in no way should you or anyone else think that I think that I am ok what this years result.

Buff, I hear you. And you're right mostly.
But IMO, our fans spend too much time looking ahead and not enough time going back and dissecting the previous 4 years. And its because people seldom analyze wins. Because the ends justify the means. I get that. If you look at the games from an analytical stand-point, (forget that stats and outcomes), you will begin to see trends and issues. Watch the games with a coach, or smart player (preferably a offensive lineman). Things that took place this year are not new!

[Just1More]

Matt, as you have gotten older I think your choices in the colors of the thongs you wear on your head haven been more moderate. I'm not so sure you are any less intoxicated at times. LOL!!!

I get shy when I drink. You can't just take any color thong off and put it on your head in public... when you're shy.

[Bigbuf]

Buff, I hear you. And you're right mostly.
But IMO, our fans spend too much time looking ahead and not enough time going back and dissecting the previous 4 years. And its because people seldom analyze wins. Because the ends justify the means. I get that. If you look at the games from an analytical stand-point, (forget that stats and outcomes), you will begin to see trends and issues. Watch the games with a coach, or smart player (preferably a offensive lineman). Things that took place this year are not new!

I am sure no team is perfect, in any game, in any possession, in any play.

I had an ex player tell me a couple of things before the season. Concerning the QB, I asked who would the team play for? He said Haack, said Nixon still had issues and Jordan Davis was the real deal. I inferred from that, Haack would be Captain and start. But after the Kentucky game I knew things were screwed up in that we didnt have the horses on the field with Haack in. But you are right it goes much deeper than that and it takes ex coaches/players and people that the coaches trust to really understand the multiple level failures it takes to have this crappy of a season. I am not one of those people, sure I know some ex players and have access to ex high school coaches but that just really give me a small snap shot of what is going on. I may be totally wrong on things.

Like another person posted I too have been in the safety field for many years and i can tell you with absolute certainty that the cause of every incident (4-? season) are problems that no-one saw coming and the real problem is something that surprises most people. But you really have to dig deep into it to get the answer. Short of talking to all the coaches, staff etc. you or anyone else will never know what really happened this year other than we had a crappy year, injuries, QB issues, O Line issues, D lines issues, Leadership issues, coaching issues, xyz issues, abc issues, new house issues etc. You have to take all of them into account even the one we don't know. In safety we term that as reactive. Something happens and you react to it to mitigate the hazard. Safety Professionals want to be proactive. We want to stop the incident from happening in the first place. I would equate that, in this instance, Defensive coaching changes, building the APC, setting up nutrition programs, pre-season camps, spring training and after season evaluations of the department top to bottom. In reality safety departments have to be poth because we cant for see every problem that will happen. The human factor is a funny thing in that its always there and there is no way to predict it. Recruiting is one of the best proactive tools they have but some kids change there mind, decide college is not for them, they don't like Lafayette or what ever. The point is even in recruiting the BEST P5 schools crap out at times.

I think UL in general has taken some very proactive steps since Dr. Savoie has been President. You and other may not like all or none of them, but its hard to argue that the stadium expansion, APC, 6+mil for the Tigue, and countless others has not been a huge step forward. Perfect? No but a far cry to what has happened in the past.

[cajunhawk]

you cant compare UL to Michigan State. Nor can you compare any team to any other team. Each year has its own issues. If this was three years in a row of this and excuse are still being made then someone is being then I would say, to use your words "enabling", them to think 9-4 is the ceiling at UL. I dont think it is nor do I think the Belt is the ceiling. Hud has said that major changes will happen this offseason and I will give him the benefit of the doubt to take care of it.

Why can we not compare teams? Does Michigan State not play in a conference, against peer institutions? Do they not call plays, or run an offense or defense? Do they not play football at all, and instead just show up for the dance team's halftime routine? You CAN compare football teams when you do it...OBJECTIVELY. In this case...injuries. All football teams have them. Comparing teams and how they handle injuries is a direct reflection on the quality of the coaching staffs ability to roll with the punches.

This is three years in a row of the same problems. The chickens just came home to roost. The first two years it was glossed over by walloping SBC schools. Now we can't even do that. If you want to believe Hud...fine. I can't...because we have done this with him and the defense...3 times. It still hasn't worked out. So why does he deserve any benefit of the doubt? How much more has to go wrong before we realize it's lip service?

And in no way do i think that UL has not been substantially moved in the right direction by the success of the last 4 years. And in no way should you or anyone else think that I think that I am ok what this years result.

Then why are you giving him the benefit of the doubt? If you have serious concerns...why gloss them over?

[cajunhawk]

I am sure no team is perfect, in any game, in any possession, in any play.

I had an ex player tell me a couple of things before the season. Concerning the QB, I asked who would the team play for? He said Haack, said Nixon still had issues and Jordan Davis was the real deal. I inferred from that, Haack would be Captain and start. But after the Kentucky game I knew things were screwed up in that we didnt have the horses on the field with Haack in. But you are right it goes much deeper than that and it takes ex coaches/players and people that the coaches trust to really understand the multiple level failures it takes to have this crappy of a season. I am not one of those people, sure I know some ex players and have access to ex high school coaches but that just really give me a small snap shot of what is going on. I may be totally wrong on things.

Like another person posted I too have been in the safety field for many years and i can tell you with absolute certainty that the cause of every incident (4-? season) are problems that no-one saw coming and the real problem is something that surprises most people. But you really have to dig deep into it to get the answer. Short of talking to all the coaches, staff etc. you or anyone else will never know what really happened this year other than we had a crappy year, injuries, QB issues, O Line issues, D lines issues, Leadership issues, coaching issues, xyz issues, abc issues, new house issues etc. You have to take all of them into account even the one we don't know. In safety we term that as reactive. Something happens and you react to it to mitigate the hazard. Safety Professionals want to be proactive. We want to stop the incident from happening in the first place. I would equate that, in this instance, Defensive coaching changes, building the APC, setting up nutrition programs, pre-season camps, spring training and after season evaluations of the department top to bottom. In reality safety departments have to be poth because we cant for see every problem that will happen. The human factor is a funny thing in that its always there and there is no way to predict it. Recruiting is one of the best proactive tools they have but some kids change there mind, decide college is not for them, they don't like Lafayette or what ever. The point is even in recruiting the BEST P5 schools crap out at times.

I think UL in general has taken some very proactive steps since Dr. Savoie has been President. You and other may not like all or none of them, but its hard to argue that the stadium expansion, APC, 6+mil for the Tigue, and countless others has not been a huge step forward. Perfect? No but a far cry to what has happened in the past.

If you cannot compare football teams...to...other...football teams...how in the blue blazes can you compare football teams to Safety departments?

[CajunJack55]

Why can we not compare teams? Does Michigan State not play in a conference, against peer institutions? Do they not call plays, or run an offense or defense? Do they not play football at all, and instead just show up for the dance team's halftime routine? You CAN compare football teams when you do it...OBJECTIVELY. In this case...injuries. All football teams have them. Comparing teams and how they handle injuries is a direct reflection on the quality of the coaching staffs ability to roll with the punches.

Not necessarily, especially when it comes to the offensive line...most P5 schools have the depth to plug in the holes instantly when someone goes down. Most smaller/G5 schools do not have that luxury, it takes us longer to develop those players.

[ZoomZoom]

Seeing some of these posts, they fall in line with what I shared with Monkee yesterday. For whatever reason, the coaching staff AND team failed to develop a single true leader on either side of the ball this year. Throw in the cascade of other problems such as injuries, indecision, and egos, it's why we are 4-7. Everyone knew how the good times felt, NOBODY knew what to do in hard times.

Would not rule out the NCAA thing being a distraction. Even if Hud did not know, it happened on his watch. There is some level of "stink" that goes with that, which may close some doors for a year or two for him.

[CajunJack55]

Well this could get interesting...

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/s...iami/76611244/

[CajunEXPRESS]

I was addressing you. And I want to address this statement. BECAUSE we have sat through so many god awful seasons 9-4 with a NOLA Bowl appearance is and was fine, is and was fine, is and was fine, is and was fine. Would you not take that this year?

Now with that said, let's talk about the "progress the younger generation speaks of". Of course I would like to be undefeated every year, win every game, trounce our opponent. But I don't understand why you want to make this an age issue. We have gone through the best 4 years in our programs' history, that is not progress, that is not progress enough?

I personally don't understand why several posters on here are so bitter among themselves.

I personally don't understand how someone knows what I am or am not interested in, especially because of my age.

I personally don't know how we had such a bad season ... I personally would have been VERY happy with a 9-4 season AND another trip to NOLA. Instead I'll do yard work and go to a Christmas party or two.

Every year under Hud we have won games that were close, maybe we shouldn't have won. This year we lost those games. Winning seems to hide a lot of problems.

The thing I am most disjointed in this year is that I don't feel the preparation was made before the season began. Now at the end of the year they seem to realize that; that there plan for the season was not very good.

Enough. My point is, don't build barriers when they aren't needed.

We looked every bit a 4/7 team. It's not always the pure record. It's how you got there. We looked good in two games, NWS and TXST. We were pretty bad in two if three elements of football in all others.

[cajunhawk]

Not necessarily, especially when it comes to the offensive line...most P5 schools have the depth to plug in the holes instantly when someone goes down. Most smaller/G5 schools do not have that luxury, it takes us longer to develop those players.

I can see that point...but it still circles back to coaching...regardless. If my memory serves me...I think Tech was on their 3rd center when we played them. I don't remember them using it as an excuse...cause they whipped our uninjured first string.

[cajunhawk]

Well this could get interesting...

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/s...iami/76611244/

At this point it's the best case scenario. Hud moves on to a bigger job...we get that notoriety of having fed a coach to an SEC school. I don't see anything that makes me believe Hud will change, so the downward trend will continue. Why not strike will the iron still has some of that 4 bowl win steam coming off of it? It would be the best thing for all parties to move on. We cannot fire Hud...he doesn't deserve it. But...him moving on is the biggest win-win we can hope for.