Who do you want to see as a new HC?

[LocalYokelFan]

A few thoughts...

We'd be lucky to have Coach Yelk take over. Great young football mind and an even better person. Honestly, I'd be very happy with any of the internal candidates. Coach Nielson was a pretty high character guy with a high character staff, whether his exit was indicative of it or not.

I believe I've said this before, so I'll say it again, WIU football (or athletics in general) will struggle until they are supported. If you've been to Hanson Field or Western Hall recently, I think you understand that interest and support is lacking... severely. I know it was cold and there was some weather related issues to contend with, but the attendance at the SDSU game with a playoff birth on the line was embarrassing. The recorded attendance (embarrassing as it is at 1853) wasn't even close. By half time and after the band left early (to catch trains for Thanksgiving break, understandable), I'd put money on the under 500 all day every day. That's not sustainable FCS level support; budget problems aside.

But in times of great challenge, there is also great opportunity. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to up my Leatherneck Club membership by 1 level next year and I'm going to make it my goal to recruit at least 1 more LC member. I'd challenge everyone to do the same.

Here's hoping we can build on what we started under Coach Nielson and in a few years make WIU athletics a way better destination than SD. Who plays football indoors anyways!?

GO WESTERN!

One last thing, Tere, knock it off with the WIU-Quad Cities baloney. Until we're told otherwise, those of us living in this Macomb want to do what we can to keep the University here. You're welcome to your opinion, but that sort of talk will be rebutted firmly from here on out.

[sealhall74]

Start rebutting. We need at least one, maybe two hoops games every year at the I-Wireless. Just good for business. Make it a student-recruiting event.

[Tere North]

knock it off with the WIU-Quad Cities baloney. Until we're told otherwise, those of us living in this Macomb want to do what we can to keep the University here. You're welcome to your opinion, but that sort of talk will be rebutted firmly from here on out.

I don't disagree, but Western needs to find its mojo, something that is far bigger than athletics.

[huskie]

A few thoughts...

We'd be lucky to have Coach Yelk take over. Great young football mind and an even better person. Honestly, I'd be very happy with any of the internal candidates. Coach Nielson was a pretty high character guy with a high character staff, whether his exit was indicative of it or not.

I believe I've said this before, so I'll say it again, WIU football (or athletics in general) will struggle until they are supported. If you've been to Hanson Field or Western Hall recently, I think you understand that interest and support is lacking... severely. I know it was cold and there was some weather related issues to contend with, but the attendance at the SDSU game with a playoff birth on the line was embarrassing. The recorded attendance (embarrassing as it is at 1853) wasn't even close. By half time and after the band left early (to catch trains for Thanksgiving break, understandable), I'd put money on the under 500 all day every day. That's not sustainable FCS level support; budget problems aside.

But in times of great challenge, there is also great opportunity. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to up my Leatherneck Club membership by 1 level next year and I'm going to make it my goal to recruit at least 1 more LC member. I'd challenge everyone to do the same.

Here's hoping we can build on what we started under Coach Nielson and in a few years make WIU athletics a way better destination than SD. Who plays football indoors anyways!?

GO WESTERN!

One last thing, Tere, knock it off with the WIU-Quad Cities baloney. Until we're told otherwise, those of us living in this Macomb want to do what we can to keep the University here. You're welcome to your opinion, but that sort of talk will be rebutted firmly from here on out.

I agree with everything you just said. Go Leathernecks!

[ST_Lawson]

I believe I've said this before, so I'll say it again, WIU football (or athletics in general) will struggle until they are supported. If you've been to Hanson Field or Western Hall recently, I think you understand that interest and support is lacking... severely. I know it was cold and there was some weather related issues to contend with, but the attendance at the SDSU game with a playoff birth on the line was embarrassing. The recorded attendance (embarrassing as it is at 1853) wasn't even close. By half time and after the band left early (to catch trains for Thanksgiving break, understandable), I'd put money on the under 500 all day every day. That's not sustainable FCS level support; budget problems aside.

But in times of great challenge, there is also great opportunity. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to up my Leatherneck Club membership by 1 level next year and I'm going to make it my goal to recruit at least 1 more LC member. I'd challenge everyone to do the same.

Yea, combination of the later start (so people expecting to be able to stay at entire game and still have time to catch train back home had to leave early), plus it was so cold that the instruments were freezing up and band members were starting to get frostbite (those gloves are not thick). I can't blame them for that.
Attendance in general though needs to get better. I realize that some of that will come with a better team, so hopefully next year, now that we're a playoff team again, it'll tick back up....but it's still pretty disappointing.

Just so everyone is aware...the ad near the top of this site has made enough to pay for the hosting of the site itself along with some extra. I plan on taking that extra next year when they're having the big signup push and putting it towards a Leatherneck Club membership in the name of the site (if they allow me to do that...and unless anyone here has a major problem with that). I'll post more about that when the time is closer, but that's my plan currently.

[Tere North]

Still waiting on something official on the twitter accounts or athletics website.....refresh....refresh....refresh.

You'd think the press release would have already been written and could go live immediately.

[ST_Lawson]

Still waiting on something official on the twitter accounts or athletics website.....refresh....refresh....refresh.

You'd think the press release would have already been written and could go live immediately.

Maybe last minute dealings to figure out which other coaches will be sticking around?

EDIT - and of course, now I have to go do lunch and read to my daughter's school class. They'll probably announce it 5 minutes from now. Well, I'll be back in like 2 hours to talk about it with you all.

[LocalYokelFan]

Gladly Seal. WIU doesn't have the money to try something like that right now and should be worried about filling Western Hall first. I'd recommend less Bible School X opponents first and foremost. Also, Illinois has tried the same thing with going to Chicago every year for the same type of reasons. This years attendance was around 5,000 in the United Center and the Illini also almost walked away with a loss to boot. There off campus Springfield games were nearly as big of a disaster. Keep those bad ideas coming though.

[sealhall74]

Or maybe Tyler had a final exam. I am not joking. Most of our coaches seem to be pursuing that all-important sports mgmt degree.

[sealhall74]

Gladly Seal. WIU doesn't have the money to try something like that right now and should be worried about filling Western Hall first. I'd recommend less Bible School X opponents first and foremost. Also, Illinois has tried the same thing with going to Chicago every year for the same type of reasons. This years attendance was around 5,000 in the United Center and the Illini also almost walked away with a loss to boot. There off campus Springfield games were nearly as big of a disaster. Keep those bad ideas coming though.

Primary purpose is a student-recruiting event. That's is all I am going to say about it.