2024-2025 Off Season

[achrist70]

Agreed, she's just listing off accomplishments, and I hope that this is just a stepping stone job for him, that means he has been successful.

[Blue42]

Feel about as I did after watching the YouTube videos of prior interviews.

Seems like a likeable guy. Seems like a guy kids will like to play for.

I like what he's got to say about scheme. I think we're all dying for a change in approach there.

What I'm really concerned about is personnel. That entire discussion sounded like a non-scholarship football coach.

Doesn't like the portal. Focus on Iowa high school kids. Maybe we'll do some recruiting in neighboring states. Hmmmmm. That's probably not gonna cut it.

[06panther10]

I did not hear anything groundbreaking in the press conference. It was fine, he did fine. I don't have any complaints.

Anxious to see that full staff he hires, and everything else is just wait and see.

[06panther10]

Feel about as I did after watching the YouTube videos of prior interviews.

Seems like a likeable guy. Seems like a guy kids will like to play for.

I like what he's got to say about scheme. I think we're all dying for a change in approach there.

What I'm really concerned about is personnel. That entire discussion sounded like a non-scholarship football coach.

Doesn't like the portal. Focus on Iowa high school kids. Maybe we'll do some recruiting in neighboring states. Hmmmmm. That's probably not gonna cut it.

That recruiting strategy is literally the foundation of UNI Football for 100 years.

If you think some guy is just gonna come in here and dominate by loading up with JUCO's and portal guys, you are going to be mistaken.

[pnthr53]

There are probably only a few who like the portal....as I think the portal is more difficult to navigate than NIL....but you better have a plan with it cause that's where it's probably going to be at if you are going to stay competitive.

[BCPanther]

I'm.....whelmed?

He was fine. Coach speak and all that and whatever. Hated his portal answer but I think we expected that.

We're in a post-student athlete world. I don't care if anyone he recruits ever even takes a class as long as we win football games.

[BCPanther]

That recruiting strategy is literally the foundation of UNI Football for 100 years.

If you think some guy is just gonna come in here and dominate by loading up with JUCO's and portal guys, you are going to be mistaken.

That's the foundation but you have to supplement it with transfers. All of TAs and Mark's best teams had plenty of guys in big roles that didn't start here.

[06panther10]

That's the foundation but you have to supplement it with transfers. All of TAs and Mark's best teams had plenty of guys in big roles that didn't start here.

Was that not exactly what he said? He quite literally said that they will look to the portal to fill roster needs with more veteran guys where needed, but the foundation of the program will be with HS players.

[BCPanther]

Was that not exactly what he said? He quite literally said that they will look to the portal to fill roster needs with more veteran guys where needed, but the foundation of the program will be with HS players.

My impression was that he was talking very short term on that as in this coming year. Could have read it wrong.

We'll know soon either way, I guess.

[Blue42]

That recruiting strategy is literally the foundation of UNI Football for 100 years.

If you think some guy is just gonna come in here and dominate by loading up with JUCO's and portal guys, you are going to be mistaken.

We've also focused significantly on the Kansas City, Twin Cities, Wisconsin...and in recent years Nebraska and Illinois markets. Some of our best talent.

[clenz]

I have many thoughts. I'll wait to see how he does as a coach to see if I was wrong or right in them.

The one thing that caught my attention was him saying "I didn't get into this for wins and championships"

So....we will see

[Wxcpanther]

I have many thoughts. I'll wait to see how he does as a coach to see if I was wrong or right in them.

The one thing that caught my attention was him saying "I didn't get into this for wins and championships"

So....we will see

I think there are lots of coaches that share this mindset, and have been made fun of for having this mindset, but players love those coaches. Both Matt Campbell and Kenny Dillingham have been very public about having this mindset, and they've accomplished things never seen before at their respective schools. I'm not saying it will or won't work, but that mindset does not bother me near as much as it would have a decade ago. I think his analogy on offense was excellent, and I like that he wants to be aggressive on defense. We'll see what happens, he deserves a chance to build his program, and I fully intend to support the program while he gets that chance.

[Born-a-Panther]

As a mom of a varsity football player that is starting to go through the recruiting process and is taking visits, part of the job is being able to get the kids to want to come and play for you. From that aspect, he sold me today. And I promise you that's not just my purple colored glasses looking at things. I want to win championships, too. Believe me I do. But today - I liked him.

[06panther10]

I guess my main point is that he did just fine at the presser, and I would encourage everyone to not make make any grand proclamations about him based off of some generic coach-speak answers at an introductory press conference.

[BCPanther]

Sounds like Nelly, Van Whye and LaQuinton Black are going to be retained. That's a nice base to keep momentum on any current recruiting. I assume the rest of the staff will be his Drake staff.

Lots of work to be done between now and spring ball.

Time to build!