Irish

Not on the ledge - frustrated, yes. I just didn't see much skill tonight, especially with the puck. They were brutal. And I am not advocating a BU approach, more of a 2016 Sioux approach.

I expected him to recognize a crap offensive scheme when it is under his nose and I expected him to have a much better culture.

Give me all the crap you want, but we sure could have used a couple Blue Chippers out there tonight - you know, guys who can bury their chances or make the good pass. We were brutal with the puck - teed it up endlessly, made an errant half-pass, or skated until we lost it. The seven pass goal of two years ago seems like a distant memory. Add some wooden-head plays - puking up a goal on a break-away less than a minute after we cut the lead to one and get the crowd in it, the stupid 3rd period penalties, and of course Thome's attempt to get an assist. We couldn't think about covering the Union far wing on their rushes and were lucky with a couple of pipes. A sorry showing in our own house.

Totally agree with your concerns. Part of my extreme irritation is that I expected so much more from Bubba. We knew we would get a conservative philosophy, but the total lack of adjustments and play calling on the offensive side were ridiculous - It showed us a coach who was overmatched not only by other coaches, but by his own Xs and Os. Every week he would come out in his presser and state how we "needed to find a way to get better". I'm not so sure that if we increased the assistant coaches' salary he wouldn't just give Ruldoph a raise. I just don't know why we put up with this lack of coaching skill. And not that he needs advise from the fan board, but he doesn't seem to listen to anyone (or has a staff of yes-men).

I could not agree more - I would venture to say that most here don't have a basic disagreement with a ball control offense. In addition to not having the horses, Rudolph has shown absolutely no talent for keeping the defense guessing or for making adjustments. O against D is a big chess match and Rudolph has no feel for the game. There are ways to defend against a run-first ball control offense and one of them is 8 or 9 in the box. When that happens, other things should be wide open. We have shown no ability to exploit any overplaying by the defense. We are utterly predictable. I was accused on another thread of polluting the discussion because I am so totally frustrated with Bubba's decision to keep things the same. How can he watch the amount of game film he has and not see the problems that are right in front of his face? I could not be more upset with Bubba at this point - more than with Rudolph who is what he is and will never see the light. We pay Bubba big bucks to see the light for him.

Watch your comments, the hall monitor is here.

"If" - Rudolph has shown he has no clue what to do with 3 stud running backs and I don't expect him to get smarter over the off season. He also has shown he has absolutely no idea about how to beat a defense that is stacking the box. His go to play against 8 or 9 in the box seems to be Santiago up the gut. So there's that.

I agree it is cheap - I hadn't even heard of this until lately - seems to have been absolutely no push to fund them. It's time we get serious about football and demand excellence.

I'm less concerned with the injury issue as it is somewhat out of our control - my problem is the 1980's inflexible offense that Bubba and Rudolph have created. The total lack of adjustments and misuse of talent is coaching malpractice - someone needs to be held accountable and since Bubba seems incapable of holding anyone else accountable it falls on him.

Bubba and Rudolph making offensive adjustments.

I understand your position, especially about the defense - but what do you say about the offensive malpractice committed this year? Are we content to say that our entire staff of D1 coaches couldn't come up with a better way to utilize our offensive talent even give our O line woes? Bubba seems totally unwilling to make a change here and even tacitly endorsed what Rudolph did by keeping him on. I am just stunned that we called this kind of offensive game this year and many seem to be just fine with it.

I agree that a coach with a good philosophy can be a powerful thing. Look at that team to the south, for example. However, I am not sure how that morphs into sheer stubbornness in the face of all facts. Maybe some of you who have coached or played at the college level can help me understand - what has to go haywire in a coaches brain (one who has played and studied football all of his life) that he looks at our stable of stud running backs, looks at our line, understands that our D is going to give up points, and still tries to pound our 185 pound running back up the middle against an 8-9 man front? Can't he figure any other way or configuration to use our talent? Santiago in the slot? Nooo , all 3 on the field at the same time - nooo, screen pass - noooooo, throw to the tight end - which one is he again? This is pure coaching malpractice and it seems to start with Bubba. Every week we heard him in an interview saying "we have to find a way to get better" - he might as well say "we've tried nothing and it doesn't work". Would we put up with this kind of lack of insight from our doctor, our dentist, or our plumber or electrician? I hope not. I'm beginning to think we were sold a bill of goods on Bubba because he's "one of us, one of us". I am so frustrated at the lack of change so far. Here endeth the rant.

You make. A good point but my question is why does Bubba sn to get a free pass. At some point being a good old boy back slapper needs to meet the 21st centuary. If this is the way Bubba wants the offense he needs to be gone too. Why are we so content with mediocracy in the football program.

My point exactly. What would have to break inside his brain to think that?

Not everything, but they seem to excuse his backing of Rudolph which is pure idiocy. They seem to love that stone age offense.

I'd feel better if I had seen even the slightest inkling that Bubba will make some changes - we haven't seen any so far (and I don't mean just since the end of the season - I mean ever). His endorsement of Rudolph and his offensive play calling made me throw up in my mouth a little.

I would be glad to talk about the defense - they had it a little worse for injuries though, but have a stubborn love of the 3-4 which was put in to stop the option. Defense giving up 40+ points a game and Rudolph calling the plays = train wreck. It is beyond mystifying why we have seen no changes. Bubba needs to wake up and smell the toast.

I don't think anyone was praising Rudolph. His total lack of creativity and feel for the game is unbelievable. He keeps no defense off balance ever. Many here are totally frustrated that Bubba won't make any changes in this area. I've said this before, but it is a joke in my section that everyone can call his next play with about 80% accuracy (sometimes more) - people even had bets on it. Bubba has shown that he stubbornly refuses to change anything. That's the frustration.

I'm not sure what time to review our game and in season strategies and philosophy will accomplish as Bubba and company have shown an ultra stubborn resistance to any changes as evidenced by the total lack of adjustments and game management during the season. Does anyone think an off season of thinking will help Rudolph improve? I sure don't.

Based on what - what has Bubba and staff shown us this year about flexibility, adjustments, and game management? One of the worst coaching years I have seen (injuries aside)

Not right now, but I am more than disgusted about the lack of changes. When our play calling becomes a joke and our entire section can predict the next play with about 80% accuracy then it is time to make a move. I am beyond frustrated with Bubba that he doesn't have the stones to get rid of Rudolph. If he was fired I wouldn't lose any sleep.

I'm not quite sure what to make out of your word soup, but it sounds like your definition of "integrity" is allowing under-performing people who report to you keep their jobs because you are a "friend". Under your definition, an employer who lets an employee go because he/she is not getting the job done lacks "integrity". Bubba also has a duty to his employer to do what is best to become a winning football program. That includes making hard decisions. Bubba's family probably has a lot of integrity, but his brother lobbied long and hard with the good old boys and former players to get Bubba this job. Time to get things right in this program starting with the Head Coach.

Bubba has neither the insight nor the stones to lead this program. It is clear that he is the big problem. Sounds like another year of 1 yard plunges on first down.

RE: Rudolf-

We have absolutely no evidence to show that Bubba is one bit introspective as shown by the total lack of adjustments this season. How would you feel about him if he changes absolutely nothing (which in my opinion is a possibility).