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

(01-14-2017 02:14 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Curious - who is Tony Paul, and why should we care what he writes about our program from Detroit NEWS?

Well, the Kalamazoo Gazette is a zombie paper, so maybe WMU sources figured they'd converse with one that's alive.

Quote:Absolutely 100% correct. Its a public investment in the success of the program. We are in a marketplace that demands it.

We are -- however, did PJ make that coming in? Nope. Does anyone in mid-major who's not inheriting stuff? NOPE. At P5-level, is Lester deserving of that at a G5? NO, but at a P5 Yes (if a place decided to hire him).

The one thing I Like about getting Lester is that he made us Good at the end of the Century. Him & Sanford --- I was in the Swamp. I remember that. I saw their fans groan when we got the turnover after kick-off 2nd half.

What he needs to understand is that things are Different. We're not some little guy trying to beat bottom-B1G team. That should be a Given. We need to be in position to make a top-P5 team WORK to beat us, and if they sleep on the job, they'll lose. That is what PJ brought in -- and that's what we need to follow-through on.

God help us all. In a weird way, why do I feel so comfortable knowing Tim Lester has our back despite me being "Ugh"? Because if we follow through -- it'll be better than PJ.

And wouldn't it be cool if in 2 years, we went to another BCS/Access Bowl to play this up-and-coming B1G team Minnesota team, like we did Wisconsin --- But Beat Them? Kill 'em. Kill 'em All.

(01-14-2017 02:14 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Curious - who is Tony Paul, and why should we care what he writes about our program from Detroit NEWS?

One thing PJ did right away when he got here was get us in the papers and on TV a ton. Some would call them stunts, and many said he was just promoting himself, which was true. However, PJ understood that self promotion is a necessary component in today's college football landscape, in that the coach and the school need to be recognizable like a name brand. Recruits don't want to go to a no-name school, or play for a no-name coach.

WMU has always gotten lowest billing in the Detroit media markets. CMU, and even EMU, based on its proximity I suppose, got more written about them before fleck came around. When that changed, and changed dramatically, recruits took notice of us far more.

For sure, fleck built a name brand, and carved it into the woodwork. Tony Paul's coverage is a benefit of that brand. I think we need to do what we can to continue the brand.

Honestly, if I was Lester I would continue to use RTB. It means something to the players right now, and embodys a general philosophy which is solid. And frankly, right now more than ever we need to all keep rowing the boat together in the right direction. It works and it's ours. Who cares if PJ Fleck came up with it. One day 20 years from now PJ will be welcomed back at WMU and honored with his team. People will forgive him for leaving and taking recruits, and instead will want to celebrate the accomplishments, and plenty there were. RTB has been a big part of it and I can't see any real good reason to change the mantra.

(01-15-2017 07:28 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(01-14-2017 02:14 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Curious - who is Tony Paul, and why should we care what he writes about our program from Detroit NEWS?

One thing PJ did right away when he got here was get us in the papers and on TV a ton. Some would call them stunts, and many said he was just promoting himself, which was true. However, PJ understood that self promotion is a necessary component in today's college football landscape, in that the coach and the school need to be recognizable like a name brand. Recruits don't want to go to a no-name school, or play for a no-name coach.

WMU has always gotten lowest billing in the Detroit media markets. CMU, and even EMU, based on its proximity I suppose, got more written about them before fleck came around. When that changed, and changed dramatically, recruits took notice of us far more.

For sure, fleck built a name brand, and carved it into the woodwork. Tony Paul's coverage is a benefit of that brand. I think we need to do what we can to continue the brand.

Honestly, if I was Lester I would continue to use RTB. It means something to the players right now, and embodys a general philosophy which is solid. And frankly, right now more than ever we need to all keep rowing the boat together in the right direction. It works and it's ours. Who cares if PJ Fleck came up with it. One day 20 years from now PJ will be welcomed back at WMU and honored with his team. People will forgive him for leaving and taking recruits, and instead will want to celebrate the accomplishments, and plenty there were. RTB has been a big part of it and I can't see any real good reason to change the mantra.

Brovol you are on point with the WMU coverage from the Detroit papers.I live in Metro Detroit When and if they covered MAC football on TV or in the papers strangely enough it was cmu that got top billing then emu. Coverage picked up for WMU the last two to three years granted most of it was about FLeck but WMU was mentioned plenty.With the recent search for a new coach the Detroit News covered the most the Free Press a little. WMU has a ton of alumni with in a 45 Minute radius of Detroit and WMU is of interest.If I'm Lester I'm chatting up Tony Paul from time to time to keep the connection and WMU coverage going.

(01-15-2017 08:05 AM)goldsworth Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 07:28 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(01-14-2017 02:14 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Curious - who is Tony Paul, and why should we care what he writes about our program from Detroit NEWS?

One thing PJ did right away when he got here was get us in the papers and on TV a ton. Some would call them stunts, and many said he was just promoting himself, which was true. However, PJ understood that self promotion is a necessary component in today's college football landscape, in that the coach and the school need to be recognizable like a name brand. Recruits don't want to go to a no-name school, or play for a no-name coach.

WMU has always gotten lowest billing in the Detroit media markets. CMU, and even EMU, based on its proximity I suppose, got more written about them before fleck came around. When that changed, and changed dramatically, recruits took notice of us far more.

For sure, fleck built a name brand, and carved it into the woodwork. Tony Paul's coverage is a benefit of that brand. I think we need to do what we can to continue the brand.

Honestly, if I was Lester I would continue to use RTB. It means something to the players right now, and embodys a general philosophy which is solid. And frankly, right now more than ever we need to all keep rowing the boat together in the right direction. It works and it's ours. Who cares if PJ Fleck came up with it. One day 20 years from now PJ will be welcomed back at WMU and honored with his team. People will forgive him for leaving and taking recruits, and instead will want to celebrate the accomplishments, and plenty there were. RTB has been a big part of it and I can't see any real good reason to change the mantra.

Brovol you are on point with the WMU coverage from the Detroit papers.I live in Metro Detroit When and if they covered MAC football on TV or in the papers strangely enough it was cmu that got top billing then emu. Coverage picked up for WMU the last two to three years granted most of it was about FLeck but WMU was mentioned plenty.With the recent search for a new coach the Detroit News covered the most the Free Press a little. WMU has a ton of alumni with in a 45 Minute radius of Detroit and WMU is of interest.If I'm Lester I'm chatting up Tony Paul from time to time to keep the connection and WMU coverage going.

I live in Metro Detroit as well. Coverage WMU got for football 30 years ago was 4-5 sentences at the bottom of page 4 or 5. Scant to say the least. People know Western now, last season had a lot to do with that. ESPN Gameday had a REAL LOT to do with it. Everyone who follows college football knows PJ Fleck and what he did at WMU. There is respect for WMU football there NEVER was in the past.

I don't want to lose that, after waiting so long for it to happen. We had our moment in the sun, it would be nice if it was a permanent condition from here on out.

(01-15-2017 02:41 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Absolutely 100% correct. Its a public investment in the success of the program. We are in a marketplace that demands it.

We are -- however, did PJ make that coming in? Nope. Does anyone in mid-major who's not inheriting stuff? NOPE. At P5-level, is Lester deserving of that at a G5? NO, but at a P5 Yes (if a place decided to hire him).

The one thing I Like about getting Lester is that he made us Good at the end of the Century. Him & Sanford --- I was in the Swamp. I remember that. I saw their fans groan when we got the turnover after kick-off 2nd half.

What he needs to understand is that things are Different. We're not some little guy trying to beat bottom-B1G team. That should be a Given. We need to be in position to make a top-P5 team WORK to beat us, and if they sleep on the job, they'll lose. That is what PJ brought in -- and that's what we need to follow-through on.

God help us all. In a weird way, why do I feel so comfortable knowing Tim Lester has our back despite me being "Ugh"? Because if we follow through -- it'll be better than PJ.

And wouldn't it be cool if in 2 years, we went to another BCS/Access Bowl to play this up-and-coming B1G team Minnesota team, like we did Wisconsin --- But Beat Them? Kill 'em. Kill 'em All.

Except that bozo may not be there.

(01-15-2017 10:08 AM)WMUslappy1 Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 02:41 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  And wouldn't it be cool if in 2 years, we went to another BCS/Access Bowl to play this up-and-coming B1G team Minnesota team, like we did Wisconsin --- But Beat Them?

Except that bozo may not be there.

Probably more likely in the next 2-3 years: A WMU-Minnesota Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field.

Think that matchup would fill some seats?

(01-15-2017 11:07 AM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 10:08 AM)WMUslappy1 Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 02:41 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  And wouldn't it be cool if in 2 years, we went to another BCS/Access Bowl to play this up-and-coming B1G team Minnesota team, like we did Wisconsin --- But Beat Them?

Except that bozo may not be there.

Probably more likely in the next 2-3 years: A WMU-Minnesota Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field.

Think that matchup would fill some seats?

Would LOVE to take a poke at PJ's Golden Gopher squad!

(01-15-2017 11:07 AM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 10:08 AM)WMUslappy1 Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 02:41 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  And wouldn't it be cool if in 2 years, we went to another BCS/Access Bowl to play this up-and-coming B1G team Minnesota team, like we did Wisconsin --- But Beat Them?

Except that bozo may not be there.

Probably more likely in the next 2-3 years: A WMU-Minnesota Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field.

Think that matchup would fill some seats?

If that happened there would be a huge turnout in Detroit providing Dr. Fleckenstien is still there.