AJS

When Jackson is announced tomorrow, I actually think it opens Chaves to the highest level of criticism if it doesn’t work out / not real change of direction for the program. Also, Chaves will have to answer the most why questions when it’s announced.

Sunday. First reported by @RhettRingers, but Schlossman also expects that date per his interview on Dom Izzo’s show on Friday.

I’ll be incredibly disappointed if they felt there was a viable candidate, but didn’t pursue because they were coaching in the NCAAs (non-FF teams). We’re talking days, not weeks. A current players decision to stay / go would not change, because it was announced next Wednesday vs Sunday. Disappointing narrative that Schlossman has been pushing.

Haven’t listened yet. Defensively, take time to (1) See improvement (2) Become Average FCS (3) Championship caliber I’ve said it the last two off-seasons. The thought has been, it can’t possibly be worse than the year prior. Each year, it’s either worse or equally as bad. My hope is new system, coaches & attitude can get the defense to slightly below or average. That would be a huge improvement.

What candidate gives this program the best chance to get back to elite status. There’s different variables, but that’s the ultimate question Chaves needs to ask himself. Everyone would risk losing a few players for a better chance to get back to the elite status. Here’s to Jackson being the guy

What were the perceived weaknesses of the program under Berry? What’s an important note is things can change quickly. I know some have given @yzerman19 a hard time about perception of Top youth players and UND, but last recruiting cycle (HS Juniors), something seemed off. It needs to get better. Weaknesses • Style of play (attract high end talent) • Roster management • Accountability (Berry’s guys. Not everyone was treated the same, based on performance) • Recruiting • NIL I’m sure there’s others. I have no doubt Jackson will either be an improvement or couldn’t be worse in some of those categories. I would be worried about 1 / 4 / 5. Can he fundraise? Being a collegiate coach in 2025 in the transfer portal / NIL era is completely different. Can he adapt? If he cannot, and he’s not out trying to fundraise for the collective, then this program will just be a slightly better version of these last few years under Berry. All of these facets need to improve, some drastically to get back to an elite program. Chaves better think he can check all those boxes. If he does, he’ll be incredibly successful. No outcome would be worse than hiring Jackson, although it wouldn’t be said, but the reason was so players didn’t leave. Or more accurately, threatened to leave, we don’t know if anyone would have (my guess most would stay), 2nd seed / 1st round exit next year. All the players that said they would leave, are now gone. And this program is stuck with a slightly better version than Berry, but stuck in Tier 2 level for another 10 years.

We want Barr in the mix!

Any chance they can try to get Barr in the mix? Or is he 24rs too late for the zoom call interview?

I connected the dots earlier today.

Chavez got his guy! The process was a joke, but at least we've connected the dots., so we've got that going for us now. I was so confused for days.

All coming together. Great post.

Chavez just reeling people in! He's sharper than I give him credit for.

Just connecting dots based on the information @RhettRingers has stated. If this has been in motion for months and Berry was blindsided, someone had to sound the alarm of the disfunction that was going on internally.

Dane just proved program > person! I'm starting to warm up to this!

Some would rather live in whatever make believe land Schlossman is going to write about. Now we're getting to a place where the pieces are starting to make sense. Theory, essentially, Jackson stabs Berry in the back. VERY interesting that Jacksons name was not mentioned at all in the letter he wrote. If Jackson noticed things were in bad shape last year under Berry, good on him to sound the alarm. Someone needed to. ***Just working on some theories***

Fair. If you're hesitant, because there should really only be three people with true inner workings of this decision and how could they be so careless? You can be bold and careless if nobody will ask questions. Honestly, I'm 90% in the boat that this entire process has been a sham, which it would be if @RhettRingers is correct that it's been over for days. 5% that he's doubling down on an educated guess and the final 5% is it makes so little sense that it can't be true. It won't be Jackson. I also don't believe in coincidences. If Jackson ends up with it and by all indications, he's been #1 the entire time. Questions need to be asked.

Until he gets one of these wrong. What a joke of a process, Chaves is so lucky the media won’t ask any questions. Turn the page, congrats to Dane! Onto the usual off-season topics.

I'm going to have the popcorn ready for the press conference. Maybe that's what's taking so long, Chaves and Jackson are locked away with Schlossman, Ausmus and Schmaltz trying to figure out how they are going to explain this. Something is going to have to give. I don't think the fan base will be happy with, things were so great under Berry that we are going to keep the party going.

What’s bothered me from the beginning is not that it would end up being Jackson, it’s that he’s been the wire to wire favorite. Given the state of the program and reminding all, his former boss was fired, you would think he’d have the most questions to answer out of anybody. Doesn’t pass the smell test. Could just the right people telling half truths. The only way it would make sense is if Berry himself was the sole reason and everyone knew it. Also, if Jackson had previous in-depth talks with Chaves prior to this.

Go back and reread @mygarske post!

Doesn't make sense to me that Jackson is a lock at this point, unless there were no other worthy candidates. Even so, who would be interviewed? Nobody? Only Jackson? The next three days just a giant waste of everyone's time? Logic says they still go elsewhere. Edit: Another reason I'm so skeptical is Jackson was really the wire-to-wire favorite? Rumors started as early as Monday that he was the guy. Who started it, Jackson? Every logical reason would say you don't know with the Assistant to the coach who was fired, but he had this locked up right away? Not buying it.

We all hope it works out, but how embarrassing when Jackson gets the job. Qualifications include having support from current players, recent graduates & turned down an AHL job once. What an all-time resume!

With Zmolek returning and Laurila coming in, something had to give. You weren't going to keep 10 D, with 9 expecting minutes. Wish him well, but looking at the numbers, not the worst thing.

@siouxkid12 @siouxweet you're both absolutely correct that a big name is not going to officially apply for the job. Also, a big name isn't going to reach out at 4pm today and let Chavez know he's interested. Jax being the guy as early as Monday morning tells me anyone that Chavez reached out to couldn't have said no faster. His phone must have been lighting up with No's and laughing emojis from guys he hoped would be interested Monday morning.