Will our Interim AD fire Spack?

[TBS_20]

I've made this argument in the past: The grass is always greener. I personally think firing the winningest HC in the history of the program on the back of a winning season not only is dumb, but paints the people that demand he be fired as complete morons.

This is the hardest conference in FCS football and ISU wins in it. It is possible you bring in a coach that comes in with some revolutionary process and wins 8-9 games year 1, but in all likelihood, getting rid of Spack sets you up for 2 years of sub 4 wins in the HOPES that culture, recruiting and training will all match up years 3 to produce exactly what you have now, a winning team. You then, in that scenario, have to worry about someone from a big program recruiting your new coach away and starting this whole thing over again in 2027.

I, personally, don't think it would be a good look to build an $11M practice dome for a team that tear it down to the studs and wobble through 2 seasons of being among the worst teams in FCS football. You cant afford a rebuild right now, especially since there is a below average likelihood of that rebuild working in the first place.

They're looking at a rebuild anyway. Its been mediocre for 7 of the last 8 seasons.

 

[Birgs]

They're looking at a rebuild anyway. Its been mediocre for 7 of the last 8 seasons.

Sort of, kinda, just kidding... what about Fuente? One-time ACC coach-of-the-year. ISU connections as a coach and brother-in-law (i believe) of a Fundraiser AD; rather stacked Offensive cred (since big octane offense seems be-all/end-all to you) @ TCU...

Like I said mostly kidding.

 

[TBS_20]

You're not always gonna get the right hire. I've said that repeatedly. I'd rather try and have to move on to the next if it doesn't work out than staying in purgatory, which is exactly where we are at right now. Or, do I need to do more baseball analogies? I slipped a paranormal one in there.

 

[TBS_20]

Sort of, kinda, just kidding... what about Fuente? One-time ACC coach-of-the-year. ISU connections as a coach and brother-in-law (i believe) of a Fundraiser AD; rather stacked Offensive cred (since big octane offense seems be-all/end-all to you) @ TCU...

Like I said mostly kidding.

I get up at 4AM for work so I didn't understand what you were saying at 10PM after my sleeping pills. My thought is Fuente is not that realistic. He could at least command a Sub Belt job, if not AAC. Also, I'm not high on former coaches coming to the FCS level after being exposed, much like Fuente...or Petino. We see how well it's going for Petino. He sucked at MSU but he's a proven coordinator (34.2 PPG this season at A&M). Sometimes its just best to be one of the best OC's.

 

[Birgs]

I get up at 4AM for work so I didn't understand what you were saying at 10PM after my sleeping pills. My thought is Fuente is not that realistic. He could at least command a Sub Belt job, if not AAC. Also, I'm not high on former coaches coming to the FCS level after being exposed, much like Fuente...or Petino. We see how well it's going for Petino. He sucked at MSU but he's a proven coordinator (34.2 PPG this season at A&M). Sometimes its just best to be one of the best OC's.

I was almost entirely kidding, as all of your points. exactly, make it a non-starter of an option. The pay scale alone seems unrealistic. It was just a frail attempt at nostalgic levity.

That said, some other thoughts...

Regarding any replacement, whatever your stance on the "fire Brock" spectrum, the next guy is going to have some pretty significant expectations facing him. As much as Red Boots gets mocked in some circles, he was a genuine dude (and I am not just saying his staff were GREAT guys 'cause they were close chums) . But he had zero chance to meet what were expectations earlier never even uttered prior to Berry's magical assertion.

Coach Spack has, at the very least, made ISU an annual member of playoff and ranking talk. I know we all strive for championships, but let's delve back into our deep morbid history. We are now at the very least, inked in as a non-Dakota shoe-in on the top half of the Gateway ledger every year. Definitive mediocrity, perhaps, but there are no "down" years.

Again, none of this a "Keep Spack" endorsement (I've made my thoughts on that crystal these past few weeks). But any hire, post-retirement, or if there is (won't be) and Admin encouragement of change, the no-excuses (IPF, portal era) immediate returns bar will/should be set significantly higher than the last go-around.

Just my $.02 as my realistic playoff wishes continue to crawl into the sunset.

...Oh, and just for fun, in the "TBS_20" vein of offensive-minded, solid FCS pedigree: Justin Roper (Furman OC) - I believe he has high-octane chops in balanced sets the Paladins and Holy Cross prior; solid D-II chops at perennial Valdosta; Oregon/Montana as a player; pro indoor career); there, I bit, even though I am "agin'" a change. That would be "type"

 

[TBS_20]

I was almost entirely kidding, as all of your points. exactly, make it a non-starter of an option. The pay scale alone seems unrealistic. It was just a frail attempt at nostalgic levity.

That said, some other thoughts...

Regarding any replacement, whatever your stance on the "fire Brock" spectrum, the next guy is going to have some pretty significant expectations facing him. As much as Red Boots gets mocked in some circles, he was a genuine dude (and I am not just saying his staff were GREAT guys 'cause they were close chums) . But he had zero chance to meet what were expectations earlier never even uttered prior to Berry's magical assertion.

Coach Spack has, at the very least, made ISU an annual member of playoff and ranking talk. I know we all strive for championships, but let's delve back into our deep morbid history. We are now at the very least, inked in as a non-Dakota shoe-in on the top half of the Gateway ledger every year. Definitive mediocrity, perhaps, but there are no "down" years.

Again, none of this a "Keep Spack" endorsement (I've made my thoughts on that crystal these past few weeks). But any hire, post-retirement, or if there is (won't be) and Admin encouragement of change, the no-excuses (IPF, portal era) immediate returns bar will/should be set significantly higher than the last go-around.

Just my $.02 as my realistic playoff wishes continue to crawl into the sunset.

This isnt about what you said just my thought. I just really don't want to lose out to someone like a Zach Lujan because an almost retired, now mediocre coach wants to coach a couple more seasons and we're just going to let him because of the distant past. Thats so shortsighted.

 

[Birgs]

This isnt about what you said just my thought. I just really don't want to lose out to someone like a Zach Lujan because an almost retired, now mediocre coach wants to coach a couple more seasons and we're just going to let him because of the distant past. Thats so shortsighted.

I'll admit to sentimentality, so (thoroughly wishful thinking), Lujan does not get snapped up. Considering he, admittedly, check many of the boxes, hopefully (I know you'll tear this bashful sentiment up, rightfully) HE, also is waiting for an ideal landing spot (such as us). Rarely is there such a thing as a HCIW. Change is gonna take some patience even with a stud hire. So I am prepared. I just can't be all that thrilled about ir as an aging football softy.

 

[Bird Friend]

I get up at 4AM for work so I didn't understand what you were saying at 10PM after my sleeping pills. My thought is Fuente is not that realistic. He could at least command a Sub Belt job, if not AAC. Also, I'm not high on former coaches coming to the FCS level after being exposed, much like Fuente...or Petino. We see how well it's going for Petino. He sucked at MSU but he's a proven coordinator (34.2 PPG this season at A&M). Sometimes its just best to be one of the best OC's.

Freudian slip?

 

[StLRedbird]

They're looking at a rebuild anyway. Its been mediocre for 7 of the last 8 seasons.

How are we staring down the barrel of a rebuild? We have one of the youngest defenses in FCS and a coach that could assemble one in his sleep. He needs a good OC, but we’ve known that since practically the start. We’re gonna have turnover on the offense, but that happens. Rebuild? We should be better next year and if we don’t suffer too badly at the hands of the transfer portal, might have lockdown defensive unit.

 

[BJJ guy]

Next year is definitely not a rebuild. We lose Zack and Grandy on Offense along with a lineman or two, but that's about it for high impact players and after the TE performance the last couple years, I would imagine we could find another in the portal. Rittenhouse is getting a chance to show his stuff now, and providing Peterson stays, we can offer a portal QB a chance to get into a high powered offense. Sobkowicz and Kasper will be back with their 100+ receptions and so will at least 3 stud RB's, as I wouldn't be surprised if at least one hits the portal. If you want to see everyone empty out and start over, fire the head coach, watch Peterson leave, and throw the program into chaos. Our D will be stout as well. If you fire Spack, our DC, Niekamp is likely gone as well, and all those young studs on D will hit the portal. Firing coaches is a very different scenario than it was just a few years ago. WE've got a solid team, playing for a coach that they like. I don't think now is the time to shake things up.

 

[TBS_20]

Next year is definitely not a rebuild. We lose Zack and Grandy on Offense along with a lineman or two, but that's about it for high impact players and after the TE performance the last couple years, I would imagine we could find another in the portal. Rittenhouse is getting a chance to show his stuff now, and providing Peterson stays, we can offer a portal QB a chance to get into a high powered offense. Sobkowicz and Kasper will be back with their 100+ receptions and so will at least 3 stud RB's, as I wouldn't be surprised if at least one hits the portal. If you want to see everyone empty out and start over, fire the head coach, watch Peterson leave, and throw the program into chaos. Our D will be stout as well. If you fire Spack, our DC, Niekamp is likely gone as well, and all those young studs on D will hit the portal. Firing coaches is a very different scenario than it was just a few years ago. WE've got a solid team, playing for a coach that they like. I don't think now is the time to shake things up.

Sounds like a fantastic 6-5 season. I love kicking cans though so there's that

 

[fourthandshort]

How are we staring down the barrel of a rebuild? We have one of the youngest defenses in FCS and a coach that could assemble one in his sleep. He needs a good OC, but we’ve known that since practically the start. We’re gonna have turnover on the offense, but that happens. Rebuild? We should be better next year and if we don’t suffer too badly at the hands of the transfer portal, might have lockdown defensive unit.

agreed .. mainly need to make sure we will have a QB ... lot of RBs and WRs supposedly returning. Defense should be back to full form. It's really just the QB position we need to make sure we are locked and loaded. And as we learned again this season .. we need a QB #2.

 

[StLRedbird]

agreed .. mainly need to make sure we will have a QB ... lot of RBs and WRs supposedly returning. Defense should be back to full form. It's really just the QB position we need to make sure we are locked and loaded. And as we learned again this season .. we need a QB #2.

That’s about the size of it. Do the Valley opponents rotate next year? Either way, we’re setup for a good season. Damn strange time to be calling for tear down, imho.

 

[Dmills]

That’s about the size of it. Do the Valley opponents rotate next year? Either way, we’re setup for a good season. Damn strange time to be calling for tear down, imho.

2024 Football Schedule - Illinois State University Athletics

The official 2024 Football schedule for the Illinois State University Redbirds

goredbirds.com

The schedule is set for next season. We avoid SDSU and USD, so it may be a relatively favorable schedule once again. No PFL game and an FBS game vs Iowa. I would hope we would be comfortably in at 8-4. 7-5, and we would probably be out.

 

[MadBird]

Next year is definitely not a rebuild. We lose Zack and Grandy on Offense along with a lineman or two, but that's about it for high impact players and after the TE performance the last couple years, I would imagine we could find another in the portal. Rittenhouse is getting a chance to show his stuff now, and providing Peterson stays, we can offer a portal QB a chance to get into a high powered offense. Sobkowicz and Kasper will be back with their 100+ receptions and so will at least 3 stud RB's, as I wouldn't be surprised if at least one hits the portal. If you want to see everyone empty out and start over, fire the head coach, watch Peterson leave, and throw the program into chaos. Our D will be stout as well. If you fire Spack, our DC, Niekamp is likely gone as well, and all those young studs on D will hit the portal. Firing coaches is a very different scenario than it was just a few years ago. WE've got a solid team, playing for a coach that they like. I don't think now is the time to shake things up.

Agree, but also we have young TE who was injured earlier in the year, Brett Spaulding. And played his first two years on special teams, his bio says. He could also help.

Would sure be sweet to keep most of the band together on both sides of the ball.

 

[Redbird15]

Next year is definitely not a rebuild. We lose Zack and Grandy on Offense along with a lineman or two, but that's about it for high impact players and after the TE performance the last couple years, I would imagine we could find another in the portal. Rittenhouse is getting a chance to show his stuff now, and providing Peterson stays, we can offer a portal QB a chance to get into a high powered offense. Sobkowicz and Kasper will be back with their 100+ receptions and so will at least 3 stud RB's, as I wouldn't be surprised if at least one hits the portal. If you want to see everyone empty out and start over, fire the head coach, watch Peterson leave, and throw the program into chaos. Our D will be stout as well. If you fire Spack, our DC, Niekamp is likely gone as well, and all those young studs on D will hit the portal. Firing coaches is a very different scenario than it was just a few years ago. WE've got a solid team, playing for a coach that they like. I don't think now is the time to shake things up.

What flavor kool-aid in your drink. 3 OL Grads...gone. What was issue last yr with same OC. We had no line. Better hope they get OL transfers to gel. Run game goes with OL play as well as pass game ! Rebuild ! .

 

[StLRedbird]

What flavor kool-aid in your drink. 3 OL Grads...gone. What was issue last yr with same OC. We had no line. Better hope they get OL transfers to gel. Run game goes with OL play as well as pass game ! Rebuild ! .View attachment 1227

I thought we were getting hit hard in the OL, but practically nowhere else. That’s a good year in college football. I think I like a dual threat QB in that situation. But like fourth said, who’s no 2?

 

[Redbird15]

I thought we were getting hit hard in the OL, but practically nowhere else. That’s a good year in college football. I think I like a dual threat QB in that situation. But like fourth said, who’s no 2?

Yes QB run for yah life even worse if its not a big body QB who can take the pounding constantly and not good for RB if no OL>>>>>>

 

[TBS_20]

Seems like I've seen this problem close to home recently? Hmm....

 

[DaveBird10]

What flavor kool-aid in your drink. 3 OL Grads...gone. What was issue last yr with same OC. We had no line. Better hope they get OL transfers to gel. Run game goes with OL play as well as pass game ! Rebuild ! .View attachment 1227

They are losing Bussone at center and Kobe Rios at left guard but Justin Bromagen who started some games at left guard is a natural center to slide in for Bussone and Ron Carr a transfer from Duke played in more then half the games I think at left guard so they should slide right in where we are losing Bussone and Rios. I also think we have a kid from Duke who transferred in but is sitting out this season or couldn't practice with the team. There is also a few freshman/sophomore who should make a good jump this off-season on the o-line.