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

You want me to prove that you made something up? Jesus, are we married?

CMUDOC is on your board blasting your illustrious base b/c of their cheapness...people are ripping him b/c he is a public employee (at CMU?) If he is a prof, his salary is likely about $100K (that's the CMU average for all profs). WMUs is just a little higher, fwiw. Is CMUDOC your fat cat? I laugh if that is the case.

(01-22-2015 12:18 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Hope they don't hire Annese.

Mike Bajakian and Zach Azzanni from Butch's UT staff could be candidates.

Enough bantering for now - Annese is the guy I'm hoping for. Seriously, today is better than Christmas. I thought I was dreaming when I first read that Enos is gone. I suspect we'll lose some guys, that's the way it usually works. Long term, I couldn't be more excited.

(01-22-2015 04:00 PM)arrows80 Wrote:  You want me to prove that you made something up? Jesus, are we married?

married to a chip...never.

I'll get my research staff on it. However, I am willing to bet, after said research is completed, that we are better human beings. and by better, I mean, less broke!

(01-22-2015 04:03 PM)arrows80 Wrote:  

(01-22-2015 12:18 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Hope they don't hire Annese.

Mike Bajakian and Zach Azzanni from Butch's UT staff could be candidates.

Enough bantering for now - Annese is the guy I'm hoping for. Seriously, today is better than Christmas. I thought I was dreaming when I first read that Enos is gone. I suspect we'll lose some guys, that's the way it usually works. Long term, I couldn't be more excited.

now, I agree with that. I have heard Annese speak a couple times, he is impressive. I am surprised he is still available.

(01-22-2015 12:40 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  You have to wonder if CMU is just going to go with an interim coach from the current staff, giving them the year to do a proper coaching search, and hold on to most of the current players and recruits.

I agree, Flush, that it will be interesting to see where CMU goes from here.

As a couple have pointed out here, many of their recruits currently hold only one FBS offer: CMU's. That being the case, if I'm in their shoes, I'm more concerned with trying to get who I feel is the right coach now as opposed to trying to hold the current class together. Some of their guys will probably get poached, but it wasn't going to be a great class anyway.

If they go the interim coach route and the interim coach does surprisingly well, they could find themselves hiring the interim guy instead of the best long-term fit. Nothing wrong with that if the interim guy is indeed the best guy, but I'd focus on finding the right guy now if possible. The timing will certainly make it tougher than it might otherwise be.

Living in Missouri now, I see similarities between CMU/Enos and Mizzou basketball/Frank Haith. Haith had multiple seasons that could be described as decent, but definitely below expectations. Knowing that his best players were leaving and the fans would be calling for his head as soon as things went south, Haith surprised some by taking what many would perceive as a "step down" job at Tulsa. One of my buddies here described Haith's move as "cowardly, but smart." I think the same could be said of Enos' decision, especially considering the timing.

Like Mizzou basketball, the short-term outlook for CMU football appears relatively bleak (especially considering the current strength of the MAC West). Mizzou basketball hired a former alum (Kim Anderson) who is taking the long-term rebuilding approach, playing many freshmen and taking their lumps. The approach is probably the right one, even if it will probably be a painful one for at least a couple of years.

Far from a perfect analogy, of course, but CMU finds itself in a position where they need to focus on the long-term and make sure they find the right guy. Otherwise, a bleak short-term has the potential to drag on much longer.

Flat out deeper pockets here. Frankly it's not even close.

Fetzer, not an alum, but donated substantial amounts. Owned the Tigers, and a broadcasting empire.

Hayworth. Alum. One of the largest manufacturers of office furniture in the world.

Rhonda Stryker, alum. Net worth, almost 3 billion. Her husband, owner of the Radisson, K Wings, and Greenleaf Trust. Net worth in th elulti millions. Donated 160 million to the med school.

You might notice our "tool shed" in the east end zone. Named after another significant donor.

Parfets. Owners of MPI pharmaceutical research and the grand children of the W.E. Upjohn. Donated the structure that houses the med school.

I wouldn't discount teachers though. A few years back WMU received a multi million dollar donation from an 80 year old retired school teacher. Don't remember if she had passed, but I believe she gave the majority of her estates to WMU.

(01-22-2015 04:12 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Flat out deeper pockets here. Frankly it's not even close.

Fetzer, not an alum, but donated substantial amounts. Owned the Tigers, and a broadcasting empire.

Hayworth. Alum. One of the largest manufacturers of office furniture in the world.

Rhonda Stryker, alum. Net worth, almost 3 billion. Her husband, owner of the Radisson, K Wings, and Greenleaf Trust. Net worth in th elulti millions. Donated 160 million to the med school.

You might notice our "tool shed" in the east end zone. Named after another significant donor.

Parfets. Owners of MPI pharmaceutical research and the grand children of the W.E. Upjohn. Donated the structure that houses the med school.

I wouldn't discount teachers though. A few years back WMU received a multi million dollar donation from an 80 year old retired school teacher. Don't remember if she had passed, but I believe she gave the majority of her estates to WMU.

not ripping teachers...my mom is a retired teacher. Teachers are for all practical purposes, underpaid. But so are professors (which I realize is not popular). But anyone that goes to school for 10 years to get a PhD should make more than a nuclear power plant worker in Covert. Apples and oranges, I get it...

All I know is that CMU didn't need its big money donors to step up and double the coaches salary. So even if the Chips do have donations paying 2/3 of the coaches salary, that's only what $75k rather than $550k?

Better get some of the big boys at the Soaring Eagle to open up the checkbooks and bump up the next coaches pay if they want to get on the same level.

seriously, and I am being serious...Casinos are ATMs for communities...granted they take from the community. But, they love to contribute back to public institutions...CMU should have the "Soaring Eagle - Flying C - Kelly Shorts" fund.

Let RBS run thru the gift shop with the cameras off should work in Mt. Pleasant.

(01-22-2015 04:56 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  Let RBS run thru the gift shop with the cameras off should work in Mt. Pleasant.

(01-22-2015 04:12 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  Flat out deeper pockets here. Frankly it's not even close.

Fetzer, not an alum, but donated substantial amounts. Owned the Tigers, and a broadcasting empire.

Hayworth. Alum. One of the largest manufacturers of office furniture in the world.

Rhonda Stryker, alum. Net worth, almost 3 billion. Her husband, owner of the Radisson, K Wings, and Greenleaf Trust. Net worth in th elulti millions. Donated 160 million to the med school.

You might notice our "tool shed" in the east end zone. Named after another asignificant donor.

Parfets. Owners of MPI pharmaceutical research and the grand children of the W.E. Upjohn. Donated the structure that houses the med school.

I wouldn't discount teachers though. A few years back WMU received a multi million dollar donation from an 80 year old retired school teacher. Don't remember if she had passed, but I believe she gave the majority of her estates to WMU.

Don't forget the sizable donation made by artist Gwen Frostic to WMU

Also, seriously, how can CMU's endowment be almost a 1/3 of ours? While I like to bag on CMU, that # doesn't seem possible...perhaps it is. They don't have a med school or law school to worry about. Virtual Programs have to be a windfall for CMU, when I see CMUs delightful signs boasting their vast online programs I always think of UofP (no, not University of Pennsylvania, although their endowment is nice $7billion+).

Nope I am thinking of the other more famous UofP, Phoenix that is! Perhaps CMU and University of Phoenix can join forces? Has anyone noticed University of Phoenix' football program? Heck they are so good they play in the NFL...certainly there has to be love to spread!

I'm reading a lot where a lot of Chip fans, Arrow included, who think the future is bright now that Enos is gone.

It simply isn't going to be that easy.

Enos inherited far more talent than he's leaving behind. He has not recruited well at all for the last three cycles.

The timing could not be worse. Their 2015 class is middle of the pack at best in the MAC, and it will likely lose a couple of those that could send it to the bottom of the league. The timing makes me wonder if he didn't do this on purpose to screw the pooch on his way out the door. "Don't want to extend my contract, fine, you have a week to find a coach before NSD."

The idea that every new coach will be the next Brian Kelly is delusional. If the top GLIAC coach always translated to a top MAC coach, you'd see one hired every year.

I don't think Enos was going to have a good year next year, but the next guy in will have a much more difficult situation than Enos inherited, and if its a slow building process that could mean 8 years of losing being in the lower tier of the division since the BK Butch era. By that time the BK era will be a distant memory and a blip on the radar within a twenty year decline.

Granted, they could get an energetic genius and shock the world, but if anything Heeke has shown himself to a play it safe kind of guy. I think he'll go with someone with DI experience, but not necessarily head coaching experience. Bottom line, no one is going to move the bar in the next two years. UT, NIU, BSU, and WMU all have too big of a head start for the new guy to catch up quickly.

As for Tony Annesse, the HC at Ferris. He's done a great job. He was also coaching HS football three years ago. Big learning curve, can't see him having a lot of contacts in the coaching world to procure a staff.

(01-22-2015 07:14 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I'm reading a lot where a lot of Chip fans, Arrow included, who think the future is bright now that Enos is gone.

It simply isn't going to be that easy.

Enos inherited far more talent than he's leaving behind. He has not recruited well at all for the last three cycles.

The timing could not be worse. Their 2015 class is middle of the pack at best in the MAC, and it will likely lose a couple of those that could send it to the bottom of the league. The timing makes me wonder if he didn't do this on purpose to screw the pooch on his way out the door. "Don't want to extend my contract, fine, you have a week to find a coach before NSD."

The idea that every new coach will be the next Brian Kelly is delusional. If the top GLIAC coach always translated to a top MAC coach, you'd see one hired every year.

I don't think Enos was going to have a good year next year, but the next guy in will have a much more difficult situation than Enos inherited, and if its a slow building process that could mean 8 years of losing being in the lower tier of the division since the BK Butch era. By that time the BK era will be a distant memory and a blip on the radar within a twenty year decline.

Granted, they could get an energetic genius and shock the world, but if anything Heeke has shown himself to a play it safe kind of guy. I think he'll go with someone with DI experience, but not necessarily head coaching experience. Bottom line, no one is going to move the bar in the next two years. UT, NIU, BSU, and WMU all have too big of a head start for the new guy to catch up quickly.

As for Tony Annesse, the HC at Ferris. He's done a great job. He was also coaching HS football three years ago. Big learning curve, can't see him having a lot of contacts in the coaching world to procure a staff.

lol

Comedic gold from this one as usual. Of course, the next time he shares a positive outlook for ANYTHING related to CMU it may be the first. Thankfully, we were willing to be patient with Keno Davis despite being told by people who have proven they don't know jack about basketball that his schemes would never work.

First of all, the consensus from many is that CMU had talent under Enos and didn't play to its potential. I share this sentiment. We lost plenty of games in the last 5 years that we had no business losing, including Ball State this year. There are plenty of experienced, solid players returning, including a junior QB with two years of starting experience. The cupboard is hardly bare.

This year's recruiting class will likely be impacted. No debate there. Any kids brought in this year probably wouldn't see the field for 1-2 years anyway, so the 2015 season won't be affected.

I'll simplify this. If the next guy can coach, we'll be fine. If not, we won't. I hope it's Annese, but if it isn't, it's silly to believe other viable candidates aren't out there. How many of you had Coach Shamwow pegged as your guy before he was hired?

Thanks.

How many of you had him pegged as a huge mistake?

How many of you thought you'd blowing him out this year?

"Most returning starters in the MAC!!!!" How'd that work out.

I told you when he ate Enos for lunch in recruiting that your days were numbered. Yeah, I was the idiot.

Rawls, Davis, Walton, Cherroci, Phillips, Wilson, Butler, and Kinville wont be replaced easily. In Rawls, Walton, and Davis's case, they wont be replaced period.

Johnson, Elli, Terrel > Rush

The cupboard wont be bare for the next guy, but it will lack depth, and there will be no huge play makers like Davis or Rawls to carry it. And if Rush goes down, Katy bar the door.

NIU, UT, WMU, and BSU are trending up. The MAC will not be down next year. Hence, I think regardless who the next guy in is, it will take him two years to catch up.

(01-22-2015 08:14 PM)arrows80 Wrote:  There are plenty of experienced, solid players returning, including a junior QB with two years of starting experience. The cupboard is hardly bare...Any kids brought in this year probably wouldn't see the field for 1-2 years anyway, so the 2015 season won't be affected. I'll simplify this. If the next guy can coach, we'll be fine. If not, we won't.

Just for clarification, in the short-term (2015) when you say "we'll be fine," what are your expectations? MAC title? MACC appearance? Another winning season and bowl game?

Based on the likelihood that we'll be no better than 1-3 when conference play starts, I'm of the notion that 5-7/6-6/7-5 is realistic.

From there, we'll see if the new guy (again, assuming he is competent) can build something.

My guess is that most of their fan base (particularly the anti-Enos crowd) is willing to sacrifice a potentially shaky 2015 for a rejuvenating shot in the arm for 2016 and beyond. I hope they make a bad hire here, of course, but they could in fact make find a solid candidate.

Lurking the CMU fan banter, their fans' reaction to the past couple Enos seasons weren't too different than fans' evaluation of Cubit's last few seasons around here. There were mixed opinions on the guy, pros and cons, and Enos was a relatively long-tenured MAC coach with 'some good years, some not so good.' He had a few noteworthy BCS wins and seemed to have NIU's number, but no MACC appearances and posted a losing record against his arch-rival.

Indeed, Enos leaves CMU giving them a much more bitter taste, having bailed out 12 days before signing day.