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Post by redbirdman on Nov 5, 2015 23:51:40 GMT -6
This was posted on Mlive in Kalamazoo by Iliketoast tonight.
2 years ago Dear Alumni & Friends, We defeated Western Michigan University yesterday at Waldo stadium by a score of 38-17 in front of a modest crowd of 10,274. After battling the Broncos to a 3-3 tie in the first quarter. We were able to stem the tide in the second and third periods. WMU closed the gap to two scores early in the fourth quarter but we were able to batten down the hatches and responded with two long scoring drives which eventually put the game out of reach. We improved to 7-1 (4-0 MAC) while the Broncos sank to 0-8 (0-4 MAC). Sincerely, Pete Lembo
I will write Pete's letter for him this week. Dear Testicle State Alumni, Two years ago I was something special and was mighty cocky abut our victory over the Broncos. Well, we ran into a monsoon this year and were drowning in embarrassment by halftime. But don't worry. Eventually we will win again, and I will be a condescending jerk about the opposing coach when we do. Keep chirping.
It appears tonight's score stems from that game. While I do not think Fleck will be at WMU in six weeks I will certainly be hoping that UT, NIU and BG defeat them.
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Post by lmills72 on Nov 6, 2015 0:42:44 GMT -6
Didn't get to see or listen to the game tonight, so just catching up ...
Very disappointing, not necessarily that we lost since I expected that, but I get the picture of a lack of effort. While I'd advocated Pete getting another year with some changes in staff, that was considering that the team would play hard. Without that, I'm not so sure ...
I don't blame WMU for running up the score. If the team or Fleck have a chip on their shoulder, so be it.
In fairness to Pete, he's hardly the only person who's been "condescending" about Fleck. Their fans should realize that outside of Kalamazoo, Pete is part of a pretty significant majority. But, if that's motivation for them, go for it.
I also find it interesting that during WMU's mostly winless season a couple of years ago they drew 10,000+ to the BSU game. Tonight, a much better WMU team was rewarded with a turnout of just over 12,000 fans.
While I'd love to be really mean and condescending about that modest increase in attendance, it's hard to muster much attitude about that when 12,000 would be a high-water mark for a Cardinals home game this year. I guess people who attend games in mostly empty stadiums shouldn't throw stones.
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Post by bsu0 on Nov 6, 2015 5:52:48 GMT -6
If you lose the team, you should lose your job. If players are not buying into the head coach's philosophy it does not matter who the assistant coaches are. What really surprises me was the speed that everything hit rock bottom. We played Northwestern ( and should have won leaving 17 pts. on the field in the first half) as well as we have played for three quarters early this season only to fall completely on our collective faces a few short weeks later. It is hard to blame this down fall on injuries. My initial feeling is Lembo should have a chance to turn this around but if the players have tuned him out, it is a lost cause. I would like the coach to address these concerns and solutions that will be implemented ASAP. If this is not done, fan interest will wane and recruiting for this cycle will be lost when we need it in the worst way. Coach Lembo, you were never shy about the program when it was going good. Now is not the time to be silent, but the time to tell all the potential Cardinals and fans how the shortcomings of this season will be reversed.
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Post by universityjim on Nov 6, 2015 7:20:05 GMT -6
Didn't get to see or listen to the game tonight, ... You are a lucky bird. I don't think WMU did run up the score. What were they supposed to do, tackle themselves?
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Post by cardfan on Nov 6, 2015 8:09:50 GMT -6
Didn't get to see or listen to the game tonight, ... You are a lucky bird. I don't think WMU did run up the score. What were they supposed to do, tackle themselves? I agree. Could have been even worse if Fleck wanted to stay on the gas. We just couldn't even stop their reserves. I don't know if we quit or not. I saw young guys playing hard, just weren't good enough. It still all comes back to recruiting. As the announcers said, very early on, we just do not have the speed or athleticism to stay with a team like WMU. We lack play makers and athletes. That's on Pete. The apparent lack of preparation and ability to play positions well is on the entire staff. Yes, we are playing a freshman QB, but I didn't see anyone else on offense helping him out. WR's have been dropping balls all year. The Oline wasn't good. WMU hasn't been great at stopping the run, so of course we weren't able to run the ball. The entire thing from start to finish was ugly. Where do we go from here???
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Post by comet on Nov 6, 2015 11:03:10 GMT -6
To basketball
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Post by rgmillikan on Nov 6, 2015 11:11:10 GMT -6
If you lose the team, you should lose your job. If players are not buying into the head coach's philosophy it does not matter who the assistant coaches are. What really surprises me was the speed that everything hit rock bottom. We played Northwestern ( and should have won leaving 17 pts. on the field in the first half) as well as we have played for three quarters early this season only to fall completely on our collective faces a few short weeks later. It is hard to blame this down fall on injuries. My initial feeling is Lembo should have a chance to turn this around but if the players have tuned him out, it is a lost cause. I would like the coach to address these concerns and solutions that will be implemented ASAP. If this is not done, fan interest will wane and recruiting for this cycle will be lost when we need it in the worst way. Coach Lembo, you were never shy about the program when it was going good. Now is not the time to be silent, but the time to tell all the potential Cardinals and fans how the shortcomings of this season will be reversed. I presume the buyout which to my understanding would in theory be in the ballpark of $1,575,000 (based on $525,000 annual compensation) is the biggest reason Lembo will return next year. I don't know what buyout threshold our athletic department and university could withstand for a head coach, but that amount seems like it would exceed it.
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Post by rgmillikan on Nov 6, 2015 11:13:26 GMT -6
You are a lucky bird. I don't think WMU did run up the score. What were they supposed to do, tackle themselves? I agree. Could have been even worse if Fleck wanted to stay on the gas. We just couldn't even stop their reserves. I don't know if we quit or not. I saw young guys playing hard, just weren't good enough. It still all comes back to recruiting. As the announcers said, very early on, we just do not have the speed or athleticism to stay with a team like WMU. We lack play makers and athletes. That's on Pete. The apparent lack of preparation and ability to play positions well is on the entire staff. Yes, we are playing a freshman QB, but I didn't see anyone else on offense helping him out. WR's have been dropping balls all year. The Oline wasn't good. WMU hasn't been great at stopping the run, so of course we weren't able to run the ball. The entire thing from start to finish was ugly. Where do we go from here??? ------------------------------------------------- This season with loss #7 is a lost cause, it's certainly possible we could catch Bowling Green napping if they wrap up the MAC East by the 11th game, but the best we can do is hope Lembo hires 2 new coordinators as some last ditch effort to swing the pendulum a little more the way it was when he was given the 5 year extension. Even though realistically his tenure peaked after the blowout Central Michigan win 2 years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2015 11:22:42 GMT -6
I agree. Could have been even worse if Fleck wanted to stay on the gas. We just couldn't even stop their reserves. I don't know if we quit or not. I saw young guys playing hard, just weren't good enough. It still all comes back to recruiting. As the announcers said, very early on, we just do not have the speed or athleticism to stay with a team like WMU. We lack play makers and athletes. That's on Pete. The apparent lack of preparation and ability to play positions well is on the entire staff. Yes, we are playing a freshman QB, but I didn't see anyone else on offense helping him out. WR's have been dropping balls all year. The Oline wasn't good. WMU hasn't been great at stopping the run, so of course we weren't able to run the ball. The entire thing from start to finish was ugly. Where do we go from here??? ------------------------------------------------- This season with loss #7 is a lost cause, it's certainly possible we could catch Bowling Green napping if they wrap up the MAC East by the 11th game, but the best we can do is hope Lembo hires 2 new coordinators as some last ditch effort to swing the pendulum a little more the way it was when he was given the 5 year extension. Even though realistically his tenure peaked after the blowout Central Michigan win 2 years ago. I think that the Ohio game is a better chance to win than the BG game.
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Post by rgmillikan on Nov 6, 2015 11:24:23 GMT -6
I think that the Ohio game is a better chance to win than the BG game. If Bowling Green approaches it like they have every other game this season, I'd agree with you. I'm not sure how they will approach it.
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Post by bsu0 on Nov 6, 2015 12:09:27 GMT -6
BGSU will come in here guns firing, itching to run 90 plays and keep the momentum rolling.
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Post by redbirdman on Nov 6, 2015 15:37:22 GMT -6
I felt Fleck did try to beat us badly. He put Franklin in the game who was MAC offensive player of the year last year in with a 40 point lead after not playing him for two quarters. WMU fans thought he was benched because he had fumbled. I will say I can see why he would have been happy to get back at Lembo. Fleck will soon be gone and I suspect he would do the same thing to Toledo and BG but not NIU as an alum. I think we would agree most MAC coaches don't like his attitude and approach. I think most of us on here would have also laughed about it two years ago even though no one really cared about another school's approach . I suspect Fleck got a lot more hazing and ridicule from other coaches simply because he is so young.
I think the Ohio game will be interesting because two schools will be trying to come back from embarrassing losses. The difference being Ohio will have played a game before we play and could be coming in off a win over KSU. Then BG whom I think will be going all out against us as I think they will have just lost games to both WMU and Toledo.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2015 19:09:17 GMT -6
We're stuck with Pete and he's stuck in Muncie for the foreseeable future. He needs to settle in and regroup. Colonel Sandy needs to give him a "pep" talk.
Buying Skrosky back as "head coach in waiting" would be money better spent.
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Post by bsu0 on Nov 6, 2015 19:44:09 GMT -6
Seems to me ''Head coach in waiting'' wait till the next good deal is offered from the college down the road. If Skrosky is what you want back, offer him a better deal than what he has now.
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Post by DaRegion on Nov 7, 2015 11:36:51 GMT -6
I think Western just scored again.....
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