The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Dacey sure sounds like a Fleck-apologist in the comment section of this article.

He must be pure evil. He should be banned from covering WMU football immediately!!

http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...cart_river

Of course those comments wont get him banned from WMU Football. In fact, it will probably get him extra access to fall camp.

Did he make a pick for the Broncos? If he went and picked them 4th or better, while DD picked them 5th. We just might see a new Bronco beat reporter in a few weeks. He would be the ONLY media member in the area given access.

He could just go full Couch and pretend that the program is on par with the B1G programs in the state.

Never understood the animosity to Grahm around here, granted it's been limited to a select few, but they each echo the same tone and sentiment when it comes to him. Sounds like they are a club!

(07-29-2014 02:23 PM)BroncoLifer Wrote:  Never understood the animosity to Grahm around here, granted it's been limited to a select few, but they each echo the same tone and sentiment when it comes to him.

Replace"Graham" with "Persky" and I could ask you the same question, Randy.

(07-29-2014 02:34 PM)ChuckNorris Wrote:  

(07-29-2014 02:23 PM)BroncoLifer Wrote:  Never understood the animosity to Grahm around here, granted it's been limited to a select few, but they each echo the same tone and sentiment when it comes to him.

Replace"Graham" with "Persky" and I could ask you the same question, Randy.

Who is Randy? What's up with that name in your mind? Did some guy named Randy leave you at the alter? NTTAWWT

Couch did a great job here. Was he a little pro-WMU biased? Sure. But he knew how to get inside the program like not many others have figured out since.

(07-29-2014 02:42 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Couch did a great job here. Was he a little pro-WMU biased? Sure. But he knew how to get inside the program like not many others have figured out since.

Not only did he gain great access which was obvious, he was able to maintain his objectivity and be professional like nobody has done since.

I think David Drew is more objective than Couch was. Couch would say only positive things about WMU football/basketball, where as David is not afraid to show both the pros and cons.

(07-29-2014 03:07 PM)Broncobelt Wrote:  I think David Drew is more objective than Couch was. Couch would say only positive things about WMU football/basketball, where as David is not afraid the show both the pros and cons.

That's true, David is limited by the whole ecosystem there these days. That's not his fault though.

I think that they both did/do a great job.

Graham was able to create excellent relationships with coaches and players that really allowed him to get inside of things and really give us some in depth coverage. He also got out of town and on to better things before MLive group really took a dump on their coverage.

David has unfortunately been the victim of MLive totally undervaluing how much many of us care about the coverage of WMU Athletics. How many times have we heard of them not wanting to foot the bill for gas on a 90 minute trip to EMU? Or how often he has to listen to a game on the radio and draw conclusions from that. I think David is doing a great job as well, given the resources he has been given. I think if he sticks around he will continue to create those relationships with Fleck and Hawkins that will allow him to get more inside the programs as well.

(07-29-2014 08:43 PM)WheresWaldo42 Wrote:  I think that they both did/do a great job.

Graham was able to create excellent relationships with coaches and players that really allowed him to get inside of things and really give us some in depth coverage. He also got out of town and on to better things before MLive group really took a dump on their coverage.

David has unfortunately been the victim of MLive totally undervaluing how much many of us care about the coverage of WMU Athletics. How many times have we heard of them not wanting to foot the bill for gas on a 90 minute trip to EMU? Or how often he has to listen to a game on the radio and draw conclusions from that. I think David is doing a great job as well, given the resources he has been given. I think if he sticks around he will continue to create those relationships with Fleck and Hawkins that will allow him to get more inside the programs as well.

Exactly, no reason to bag on either of them.

Uhh, there was no comparison.

Couch knew football, and built a relationship with Cubit that allowed him a lot of access. I dont see that today.

Nothing against DD, but I don't get much out of his stuff. His articles tend to state the obvious or use dubious sources. They tend to lack depth. For example, all of his position breakdowns are based on depth charts from Lindys and Anthalon sp. Couch got his depth charts from the program, and got feedback from them regarding it. I don't get the impression the Gazette ever talks to Fleck.

I read too many of these. "I don't know, but I'll look into it." Then he never does.

I get that Mlive is understaffed and asked to do too much, but there was a time when the Gazette had 4 or 5 knowledgeable sports writers on their staff. Now we have one who is very up to speed on hockey, but really doesn't tell me anything I don't know in regards to FB or BB.

I don't think anyone was comparing them, this thread took a direction of bagging on Couch for some unkown reason. I think your issues with DD are more of a result of the lack of resources and large workload he faces more than anything, but I could be mistaken.

I still appreciate his professional approach and objectivity. We haven't seen that in a while for sure.

(07-30-2014 09:15 PM)BroncoLifer Wrote:  I don't think anyone was comparing them, this thread took a direction of bagging on Couch for some unkown reason. I think your issues with DD are more of a result of the lack of resources and large workload he faces more than anything, but I could be mistaken.

I still appreciate his professional approach and objectivity. We haven't seen that in a while for sure.

Objectivity? He basically quotes other sources who have done the research (Lindy's, Phil Steel, Rivals, Scout, Anthalon, etc.) The most controversial stuff he says, is when he responds to a readers comments, and he says, "Yes, I have some concerns about __________ (fill in the blank) as well, but time will tell." Not exactly going out on a limb.

If Fleck isn't giving media access, then you make a point of letting your readers know that. Make the program feel uncomfortable. What's he got to lose? They're already limiting his access, so it's not as if they can hold that over his head.

Fleck's not Nick Sabin who can to a 1 minute presser and get covered in every media outlet in America. Fleck needs the media as much as they need him. Being a good reporter is like being a good salesman. If they say no, you call them back the next day, and the next, and the next.

Journalism is dead as we knew it, which is why sports blogs are taking off. They're doing the job that the major media outlets used to do.

I still like what DD does and am thankful that we have a Bronco covering us the best that his situation allows him to do.

(07-30-2014 09:43 PM)BroncoLifer Wrote:  I still like what DD does and am thankful that we have a Bronco covering us the best that his situation allows him to do.

So his editor is telling him, "No need to call Fleck and get some info from him, just go to Barnes and Nobles and quote a bunch of those pre season football magazines."

(07-30-2014 10:08 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  

(07-30-2014 09:43 PM)BroncoLifer Wrote:  I still like what DD does and am thankful that we have a Bronco covering us the best that his situation allows him to do.

So his editor is telling him, "No need to call Fleck and get some info from him, just go to Barnes and Nobles and quote a bunch of those pre season football magazines."

I doubt very much that's the case. Or do you know that as fact? That's hard to believe and would be sad if true. :(

He stated in his live chat that his depth chart came out of Lindy's.

What's the worst thing that could happen?

He calls the Director of Football operations or the SID and asks for a depth chart to help with a series of articles.

So he never calls then? That for reals?