Who do you want to see as a new HC?....Part II

[letsgonecks]

Glad Leatherneck57 came on board to share, along with others that have helped calm everyone down. Hopefully what he's talking about and doing does lead to more alumni/former player involvement and much needed improvements. Turn this whole fiasco into a blessing in disguise.

I've contemplated doing a kickstarter in the past to raise money for the west stands and/or other athletic related upgrades. I give to the Leatherneck Club, but would be more than happy to also help on something LN57 gets going.

Can't wait to see who our finalists are and soon!!!!!!

[wiu712]

If they can get the top few in for interviews before Christmas, or early the week afterwards, they could very possibly make a decision and announce a new HC by January 1st.

That would be the ideal timeline for any new team members hoping to be on campus for the spring practice season.

Spring semester begins January 19, 2016.

[meganeck]

Kalen Deboer - He was one of the candidates for the position at South Dakota, no d1 HC experience, but was very successful at NAIA Sioux Falls

Matt Limegrover- long time assistant of Jerry Kill, Was OL and OC at Minnesota, would be good for him to get some HC experience, big name in midwest recruiting circles.

Matt is a candidate for the Southern Illinois job, a finalist I guess I should say

[meganeck]

Being a former player I am very disappointed for what happened this week and it was embbarrassing to the university, the players and the football program. VP Biller over stepped his authority and did something he had no business doing...promising the the HC job to Coach Yelk. I feel sorry for Tyler and any of his family that made the trip to attend the press conference. VP Biller should be dismissed from his duties.

I was close with a lot of Nielson's staff and thought they did a nice job but one person doesn't define this program..we have way too much history. I get the taking more money thing but I feel as though Bob slapped us in our face by making a latteral move in the same conference. If you listened to Bob's press confereence he wanted to be a part of the vision at SD. Well hell, they just broke ground on a new basketball arena then they have to build a track and field complex and then a soccer complex. That "VISION" of new coaches offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms and stadium renovations is 5-6 years away. Bob may not be there then! If you take the roof off that dome you have no more than a glorified high school field. Even Bob said he will miss playing outside on brisk fall days...

I have been in touch with about 70 former players this week and they are all chiming in with athletic administration and even including President Thomas offering recommendations on selecting a coach. There is also some retirred football alumni that have formed a task force to research a building foundation to renovate the west side of the stadium. There are meetings taking place in Chicago next week...so we have things stirring but it will take time.

I donated to the current locker room and was proud to do so as did a bunch of other alums. At the time it was built it was state of the art and FBS players that transferreed in even said their locker room wasn't that nice. So eventually we'll get it done but let's not forget the state isn't helping either by not settling on a budget!

I am pleading with all current players, their famlies and fans to be patient and give this new HC and his staff a chance to put their plan in to action. You'll see...we'll be a better football team and our program will be in great shape! Let's not forget we've had more players in the NFL than ANY other FCS school in the country and it wasn't because of the stadium!

There has been a lot of sweat left on Hanson Field...when I played our locker room and weight room was a block house next to the stadium. But that didn't keep me from playing my heart out every Saturday or getting stronger...it was because I played with pride...I was a Leatherneck! Always have been...always will be!

Former Neck

Well LN57, thanks for your post, you made me feel a lot better about things. I hope things get formed and the former players can lead the charge on updates to the football field. If you are holding meeting in Chicago, might look into including JC (NFS71), the Chicago area lead for the Leatherneck Club in on those. Anyway sounds like maybe there are things going on in the background we don't know about. Hopefully when contacting administration something needs to be mentioned about Biller over stepping his bounds.

[Leatherneck57]

meganeck...I know JC very well and he is included with a former football player.

[meganeck]

LN57, good to hear... appreciate the update and any future updates you can provide.

[Leatherneck57]

Sealhall74 you pose a great question and as far as a timeline I can’t give you an honest answer. But what I do know, there have been plans in place since Nielson’s hire but when former AD Bell left those were shut down for some reason. Plus with all the problems with the state not having a budget in place it makes it difficult on all state institutions to know where funds are coming from.

Interim AD Matt Tanney and Assistant AD Michael Jones are doing a good job holding down the ship. They are well received by all football alumni and are listening and doing the best they can with what they have. They are 100 times better than Van Alstine ever thought about being. He was not good for the university and a lot of former football alumni turned their back on him. We now have more football alumni back involved and they are attending functions like Football Alumni Weekend in the spring and we recently had a reunion at the ISU playoff game. The excitement is electrifying and the momentum continues to grow on a daily basis.

Now back to your question...I will share with you what I know…there will be a meeting next week in the Chicago area with certain football alumni and Leatherneck club members to start the ball rolling on researching a building fund/foundation and they also want to reach out to some former alumni that own construction companies for their involvement/input. Believe me…the football alumni are well aware of the need for a new west side but I would be crazy to tell you a timeline. All I can say is be patient…

Right now we need the students, faculty, administration, fans and community to get behind this team and encourage them to be a good students, get stronger and faster and not sit around like they are “Doomed”! It will all be good in the end! This team is built to win and has a lot of talent at all positions for years to come. Someone on that team needs to stand up and take on the leadership role and I don’t care if it’s an underclassman or a 5th year senior. Players listen to players especially if they trust them.

I’ve lived the experience of a coaching change going into my senior year and it made me work even harder. We lost 3 games early in the season by a total of 9 points and then we went to Eastern Illinois in week 6. Eastern Illinois was ranked #1 in the country and defending National Champions. ABC decided to carry the game as their “Game of the Week” and the announcers didn’t give us a prayer because they were bigger, faster blah blah blah! We upset them that day forcing 6 turnovers (3 interceptions/3 fumble recoveries) and broke their All American running backs collarbone and put him out of the game early in the 3rd quarter. The headlines in the Charleston Newspaper the next day read “TV Game Turns into Horror Film”. Eastern didn’t win another game that year and they had the same team as the previous year.

We had a lot of injuries after that game and even though the rest of the season didn’t turn out like I wanted it to I wouldn’t trade it for a million bucks! We had 11 seniors on that team and 5 of us had pro tryouts. Being a Leatherneck was one of the best times of my life and I remember every game as though it was yesterday.

I would love to talk to this team and share some of my experiences and reassure them that they will be just fine and will be a better football team and closer than ever before!

The last time I checked a stadium didn’t throw a long pass or make a diving TD catch or make a game breaking block or be part of a big tackle in a crucial situation.

Former Neck

[ST_Lawson]

The last time I checked a stadium didn’t throw a long pass or make a diving TD catch or make a game breaking block or be part of a big tackle in a crucial situation.Former Neck

Stecker didn't need luxury suites to put up over 2k yards in '97

[Leatherneck57]

You get it ST_Lawson

[meganeck]

Not sure where to put this but AJ Blazek interviewed for the Concordia-St. Paul head coach job and didn't get it, but reports say might be in line for a job as Minnesota's O-Line coach.