Irish

I find the discussion on audibles interesting - although I guess we'll never know for sure unless we hear from Bubba (and he ain't talking). For me this wraps into an issue we seem to have struggled with for years - we never seem to keep a defense off balance or make them pay for over-playing - and I am not talking about the tricky double reverse type crap we seem to love. Just catching the defense off-guard or countering their stacking the line or catching them in a shift or exploiting their coverage. How many times have we seen 8 in the box, for example, and done nothing to exploit it. We don't seem to use the run to set up the pass or the pass to set up the run. For all of our motion and shifts we seem to be pretty predictable. We are somewhat better since the Rudy years, but don't quite seem to get it still. We don't quite have the horses for the old "you know what's coming now try to stop it" philosophy. An improvement in this area could really help us.

One of three things happening: 1. We do audible - it's very hard to spot or we don't do it very often or both 2. Coaches don't allow the QB to audible - that's on the coaches 3. Coaches allow the QB to audible but have chosen to start one who doesn't do it (or very rarely does it). That's poor QB play but ultimately on the coaches for lack of development of the QB position and choice of starters.

And your point is? a. Everyone is wrong - Bubba did a great job of game prep and coaching this year - don't believe your lying eyes b. Ok, Bubba did a poor job - but he is very flexible and open to input - he'll have things changed by next year for sure c. I know Bubba did a crappy coaching job this year and probably won't change but I don't want to talk about it any more and I don't want to hear about it from anyone else on this fan board either.

That's like your opinion, man.

Has this been brought up a lot on this board - yes. Way more than some would prefer - also yes. However this Horse won't be dead as long as there is a real possibility of it rearing up its ugly head again next year.

What are your "solutions" or "changes" - the 3 I mentioned bit us in the butt this year.

Ummm - maybe because all of the "solutions" involve the Head Coach changing - it's pretty hard to work around him. Here are a few - If you are not up to game clock management then appoint an assistant to do that job - rethink and revise your strategy on when to punt - have your offense ready to go after the half - just to name a few.

I think that a lot of the somewhat repetitive complaining on this board is due to the fact that many believe (and probably rightly so) that absolutely nothing will change. Meanwhile, headline and lead story in the Heraldo sports section this morning is Bison Bison Bison. Big secondary story is Montana State and South Dakota State. (Third story is how our Men's BB program got tuned up by some college called Dixie State). I agree that better funding is a must, but Bubba isn't exactly leading that charge either. The optics on this program are horrible both in game experience and PR.

This is the crux of the matter. No one knows what happens behind closed doors because they are exceptionally tight lipped - all we get from Bubba is "shucky darn, work harder, day by day" and Chaves is invisible. However. based on what we can see from this program there is approaching zero honest self-evaluation and even less outward change. The game management by staff seems to have gotten worse and even after the SU fiasco we continued to piss games away that we easily could have won.

Watching the Bison once again make great plays and pull out a playoff game made me increasingly frustrated with the prospect of another year of Bubba's game management. I know I should be used to it by now but really ... Especially when we should have beaten 2 of the 3 teams still playing.

Why yes, I think that's exactly what he should do. Did you watch any games this season?

It doesn't appear like anything soaked in - Bubba was nothing if not consistent throughout the season.

Although perhaps poorly worded, that was an actual question. Does anyone have any insight into anyone - friends, donors, coaches etc. who can talk to Bubba about what went on last season? It seems like the AD is missing in action. My guess is that he is the same shucky-darn, work harder, day by day guy in real life and is hard to get to do some serious evaluation of what went right and wrong. Any chance of change? I know he will always be the guy who punts on the opponents 35 yard line, but the other stuff really bit us this year. Given the challenges of roster building with the portal next year is crucial to our program. We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Another mediocre or worse season could dig us a serious hole.

I have no doubt the players took some lessons from last year. What are the odds of Bubba "learning from last year"? Simple Question.

Waiting for the Giveth part.

Agreed - but I see absolutely no indication that Bubba has learned anything. At this stage of his coaching career there is absolutely no excuse for managing games like a Junior High Math teacher who was talked into coaching 7th grade football.

And done wonders for fan support and attendance - we have been so close to building enthusiasm for Football and seem to shoot ourselves in the foot every time.

Problem solved - I'll have Bubba shaped up by fall.

Next year's topic - clock management - be afraid, be very afraid.

I think a lot of the frustration here is that we know that there is no friend, fan, assistant coach, or athletic department personnel that will tell Bubba what he needs to know in a manner that will soak in. We will get the same Game Manager Bubba next year as we had this year. The guy is clueless.

Agreed - but this is Bubba's 12 year as a head coach and God knows how many as an assistant at the College level. He showed absolutely no signs of figuring this out during the season when it cost us greatly. This shouldn't be rocket science. What is it going to take to wake him up?

The sad part is that you could make this comment in a different thread and no one would be able to figure which of the games this year you are referring to. Bubba has absolutely done some good things for this program and has improved both the talent and atmosphere. The problem is that some things like game management need a serious change and Bubba is allergic to serious change - We saw some real bad game decisions and clock management earlier in the season and here we are after the last game of the season talking about this exact same thing after another brutal loss. Agreed Bubba isn't going anywhere soon but we really need an adult in the house to have a talk with him - Chaves seems awol so I'm guessing it won't get done. My frustration is that we'll see the exact same Sideline Bubba next year.

I agree that we have some good players and recruits. My problem is that Bubba has learned exactly zero lessons this season.

Good news - we can play with anyone this season. Bad news - when we play against anyone we have Bubba as game manager.

Exactly this