FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SagatagSam]

Well, the devil's advocate view would be that it's a bit telling that there's apparently more excitement over the hiring of one of the other finalists as an assistant than there was over the guy who actually got the head job. Also, seems probable, Ramler would be coordinator if Grant had gotten it too, which was the scenario many wanted.

Fair point. And, I agree with you to a certain extent.
However, I'll add that I think this generates more enthusiasm for Gary because it alleviates fears that he was going to step in and continue—as several Tommies were gleeful to point out—with MOTS (more of the same) from the last three years.

My enthusiasm is of the MOTS variety. I was happy with Fasching and don't have greater enthusiasm for the assistant than for the head. I have a woohoo! because things are a changing, but not too much. I'm convinced that we're going to see a renovation not a revolution an that makes me happy.

I think you'll admit, Oz, that you felt like you were in the minority when it came to openly expressed enthusiasm for Gary, especially when you look outside of this board (see: Strib article where one former Johnnie standout had this quote about the Fasching hire, "I'm shocked ... Sad to think about being average ... Too bad, this would have been great with Mike.")

[ron doney]

Looks like the Ramler news is positive, if you think Fasching was the right choice to begin with.  How long is Fasching expected to coach?  Am I correct to assume the reigns are now expected to be passed to Ramler at some point?

I am a little surprised Ramler would hitch himself to Fasching's wagon - as could be an awkward outcome for the both of them.  Conversely, that Fasching would hire behind him a one-time head coach, aspiring to quickly be head coach again.  If this experiment fails I suppose they both are let go.  If it is wildly successful, Fasching retires after winning a first/second/third national title and Ramler steps in, saving the Administration from another search committee.  I think both these ends of the spectrum are unlikely......the program's fate is likely to fall somewhere in the middle. 

Somewhere in the middle might look like Fasching stepping aside after 5 years of just above .500 ball.  Or it might be that Fasching is a victim of his own success, forced out after failing to advance past the first round of the national tournament.  Either way, the fans, the rest of the coaching staff and the players/recruits are going to be divided over Fasching's departure and the degree to which Ramler's merits taking over.

[Retired Old Rat]

Football coaching news out of Hamline today as well:  http://www.hamlineathletics.com/news/2013/1/10/FB_0110132929.aspx?path=football

[Retired Old Rat]

I think any conjecture on Ramler's future role at SJU is futile.  There are a multitude of options that will be available to him after SJU's return to the upper echelons of D3 football.

[finsleft]

I think any conjecture on Ramler's future role at SJU is futile.  There are a multitude of options that will be available to him after SJU's return to the upper echelons of D3 football.

Agreed. Let's go one year at a time. 2013: beat UST, win the MIAC title, we'll call that a good year...

[SagatagSam]

I think any conjecture on Ramler's future role at SJU is futile.  There are a multitude of options that will be available to him after SJU's return to the upper echelons of D3 football.

Anything for the folks on the corner of Cretin and Summit to distract themselves from a great move.

[DuffMan]

...it's a bit telling that there's apparently more excitement over the hiring of one of the other finalists as an assistant than there was over the guy who actually got the head job.

I'm excited because Gary is making some of the changes I thought necessary.  Kurt was an assistant during my senior season.  I think he'll be a great asset to the program.

What I really want to know, though, is where does Jim "The Shorts Guy" Platten fit in?

[ron doney]

I think any conjecture on Ramler's future role at SJU is futile.  There are a multitude of options that will be available to him after SJU's return to the upper echelons of D3 football.

Fair enough. 

So next question.....now that SJU has completed their hiring process, would you (as in posters) change anything if you had to go back and do it again?


I'll offer one:  why announce the finalists?  It made the "national search" laughable.  There was no "get to know 'em" needed, all SJU alum.  Created more of a mess to clean up - namely Grant's in/out drama.  Puts Ramler in an odd spot now, having been in the final three with Fasching.  The administration knew they were going with MOTS when they narrowed it down to three SJU alums, so why even solicit the alumni input?  The finalist process is designed for a group of completely new names with different styles and therefore the Administration should have abandoned it when their search didn't yield such a group....IMHO. 

Can't be too hard on them though, as this whole process was new territory.

[DuffMan]

I thought the process was completely worthless.

[AlmostEx]

I did not comment on Gary's hiring for several reasons, foremost of which was the final cards had yet to be played.  The announcement today says volumes about adminsitration support, or as Gary stated "The pieces have been put in place by our administration, now it is our job to move forward and get the job done on the field."  I trust that this is Gary's staff and it says a lot about his character!  I also trust they will be 100% aligned on focused on the objectives at hand.

I will say one last thing, UST recruiting staff has had its way in metro area high schools of late and that ends with Ramler and Dumonceaux!  This will be fun to watch.

[Boys of Fall]

These latest moves show the character Fasching has and how he's following up on his statement that the job is about the SJU program and not about him.  He's already made two difficult decisions, moving Jimmy out as OC (necessary, but difficult because of the Gagliardi history up there, and naming Ramler OC (difficult because he now has a shadow on his HC position).  On top of this Novak goes back to his linebacking strength.  With the exception of John's legacy on the coaching staff, the staff is now improved in recruiting, on offense, and on defense.  I agree that Johnnie fans should be smiling.  Now all they have to do is battle the "scholarship/grant" money UST throws at players and convince the metro kids to head up 94.

[OzJohnnie]

I thought the process was completely worthless.

I almost always agree with your conclusions, Duff, but in this instance you couldn't be more wrong if you declared the Pope a Methodist.  Completely worthless?  This has been the most entertaining off-season on these boards since forever.

And on a semi-serious note: although the HC selection was not necessarily different than what a closed process would come up with, the process itself had the benefit of enabling a range of people to be involved and treated with respect.  Who here thinks that Ramler would now be the OC and Associate HC (whatever that means.  I'm not really sure) if not for a process where he could be intimately and respectfully involved?  I think it's a fairly safe thing to say that our happiness today is due to the process followed by SJU.  Selecting the HC was not the only objective of the search committee.

[AlmostEx]

So next question.....now that SJU has  . . . . . only if you are prone to pondering your belly button.

The much more interesting question is what will Caruso say when he runs into Ramler and/or Dumonceaux in all those metro area high schools he has basically owned for the past several years.  I would love to be there for those awkward meetings.

[OzJohnnie]

So next question.....now that SJU has  . . . . . only if you are prone to pondering your belly button.

The much more interesting question is what will Caruso say when he runs into Ramler and/or Dumonceaux in all those metro area high schools he has basically owned for the past several years.  I would love to be there for those awkward meetings.

"Have you seen my wiener?"

[AlmostEx]

Oz -- well played.  Size will be an issue in more ways than one when he runs into those two!