(11-26-2010 12:12 PM)CajunT Wrote:  

(11-26-2010 09:30 AM)SOT1977 Wrote:  

(11-25-2010 10:06 PM)CajunT Wrote:  

(11-25-2010 04:16 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  Didn't he washout at Iowa State? Why would they pay so much for that guy? Is he more suited as a coordinator than as a HC?

ULM is paying $150,000 to $175,000 plus incentives...is it all about the amount you pay in salary, or is it about the type of system the coach runs and the recruits they can bring in?

Actually it is both, including scheduling. In talking to our coaches, Berry has done a tremendous job of weeding out the low hanging fruit in the ULM program. As an offensive mind, he has the reputation of developing quarterbacks and has done a tremendous job with Browning. ULM is no longer exempt from APR in football, so I don't think you will see Berry take as many chances on certain athletes as Weatherby did over the last few years in Monroe.

Having the money to make a quality HC hire and pay a good staff is the best way to gain improvement in a program percentage wise. We will see what happens with the Berry regime in Monroe over the next few years once staffs see enough of his offense in the SBC.

Berry is happy in Monroe, liked the place when he was here the last time. With his contract recently extended another year to 2013 he is intending to stay here at least that long (or so he says). The worry we have is how long his assistants will stay. Our DC, Reffert, is always getting inquiries from other staffs about how he runs that 3-3-5. He's working with a bunch of youngsters this season but he proved the thing worked last year.

It could be said that over the next few years that Berry will make changes in his offense to stay on top of whatever defenses are drawn up by opposing SBC teams, which is what all coaches have to do each season. Right now he works a combination of the spread and the pistol (Nevada lives off the pistol). The pistol is an odd looking offense since it looks like you're running the Statue of Liberty play almost all the time. It drives me crazy to see Browning do a play with his back to the rush but it seems to work.

If you are going to ask questions about a coach, you go to his peers. Berry has done an outstanding job and deserves the credit he is getting.

Our staff stated that he runs new plays every game, including four that they have never seen in college football. His offensive mind speaks for itself and if ULM makes to a bowl it will be a major lift to the program.

I remember when the great Johnny Unitas was in his heyday in the NFL and he had a habit of making the first play of every game a trick play (back then the QB called his own plays). Every time the old Baltimore Colts were on TV I'd be watching to see what Johnny U was going to pull on his first play and I was rarely disappointed.

I think Berry is kinda like that. He tried to pull a couple of tricks on LSU but our whole team was playing so sucky that night that even simple plays weren't dialing in like they should have. The Tigers weren't as tough as the final score showed but when things aren't working then they ain't working and even a D-II school can beat you on those nights.