The Bobcat Nation

.....I guess Bobby isn't the only one who gives the Cats credit
Opinion: Kramer deserves some blame

10/07/02
By PETE FAGGEN Chronicle Sports Editor

Montana State football coach Mike Kramer didn't shoulder the blame after Division II Central Washington routed the Bobcats 31-16 on Homecoming Saturday.

While he said the coaches have "overcoached" to the point where the players don't perform well, Kramer routinely ripped his squad.

And he unfairly criticized one of the team's best players — tailback Ryan Johnson — who was a last-minute scratch with a hamstring injury.

Kramer said "it seems like Johnson's been hurt all his life." When asked further how he felt, Kramer said he couldn't utter words because "our editors would fire us (reporters)." He went on and on, leaving doubt as to whether Johnson was really hurt or not.

It turns out Johnson was indeed injured.

To publicly blast Johnson is irresponsible and wrong.

How can you question the guy who's carried the team on his back -- 304 carries last year and 84 this season? How can you chide a player who has sacrificed his body to take a pounding week in and week out, who is 68 yards shy of breaking the school's all-time rushing record?

Granted, losing your tailback right before the game is an inconvenience to say the least.

But Johnson is the main reason the Bobcats (2-3) have won seven games over the past two-plus seasons. Without him, MSU has little to fall back on, as the CWU game illustrated.

More than an embarrassing loss, though, Johnson's injury exposed an even greater problem: the overall stability of the program from coaching down to recruiting.

Before the season Kramer said a coach has 1,000 days (or three years) to build a program. He has had three years to bring in his type of player, most who have proven to be more smoke than substance.

Take quarterback Tyler Thomas, or receiver Aaron Hill or even cornerback Joey Thomas -- disappointments all.

But they aren't the only ones in Kramer's tenure.

Remember receiver Marcel Dunn in 2000, who was supposed to dazzle us with his blazing speed? And Camron King and Vernon Williams, who were supposed to be the new-type of running back rarely seen around here in 2000 and 2001?

And what about Farhaad Azimi, who before Tyler Thomas, was supposed to be the quarterback to lead the Bobcats to a Big Sky Conference championship?

None of those players lasted more than a season with the Bobcats.

I don't fault the players.

Kramer is to blame, for over-hyping and for poor recruiting, for shuffling players in and out of his program like a circus.

After the CWU game, Kramer said his team will rebound in next week's Big Sky opener at Idaho State (3-2, 2-1 BSC).

"We'll play with some bravado," Kramer said. "Some will be false and some will be true. We'll act like we're pumped up and pretend like we're confident."

Since when does a football team have to act confident?

That statement is indicative of where the problem really lies.

And it's not with Ryan Johnson.

I wouldn’t give that writer to much credit. He bashed Joey Thomas who is now in the NFL and Aaron Hill was a very productive receiver for the Cats. Kramer also went on to say that the team was going to turn things around and make good on the season, and he did beating the griz, making the playoffs and placing first in the conference. Keep those things in consideration.

mquast53000 wrote:I wouldn’t give that writer to much credit. He bashed Joey Thomas who is now in the NFL and Aaron Hill was a very productive receiver for the Cats. Kramer also went on to say that the team was going to turn things around and make good on the season, and he did beating the griz, making the playoffs and placing first in the conference. Keep those things in consideration.

And Bobby Hauck went on to beat the 'Cats the next year, and got to the NC. The point is no one should be reduced to the sum of their worst moments, whether Kramer or Hauck.

mquast53000 wrote:I wouldn’t give that writer to much credit. He bashed Joey Thomas who is now in the NFL and Aaron Hill was a very productive receiver for the Cats. Kramer also went on to say that the team was going to turn things around and make good on the season, and he did beating the griz, making the playoffs and placing first in the conference. Keep those things in consideration.

So the reporter lied. Interesting. And you all say we look through maroon colored glasses.

Eastcoastgriz wrote:So the reporter lied. Interesting. And you all say we look through maroon colored glasses.

I am simply saying, if you are going to bash Kramer maybe you should find an article that is a little better then this one. There is a lot more to this story then any of you guys know. Take my word for that.

mquast53000 wrote:

Eastcoastgriz wrote:So the reporter lied. Interesting. And you all say we look through maroon colored glasses.

I am simply saying, if you are going to bash Kramer maybe you should find an article that is a little better then this one. There is a lot more to this story then any of you guys know. Take my word for that.

Yea that Joey Thomas guy turned out to be awful.

I still hate Bobby Hauck and know for a fact he said the things we've mentioned, however I've been unable to find them. Regarless I heard he did a very classy thing in Great Falls last week during the funeral of the kid who go electrocuted. I wasn't there so can't say for sure (and don't have the all important documentation) but I believe the source and am not too proud to say I was impressed. Sounds like he may have class in all things NOT involving Cats/MSU. Gee, I don't know anyone like that

Props to Bobby though if what I heard was tru.

Mike, Maybe there's a lot more to the story with Coach Hauck too...did YOU ever think of that?? [/b]

GFGriz wrote:And Bobby Hauck went on to beat the 'Cats the next year, and got to the NC. The point is no one should be reduced to the sum of their worst moments, whether Kramer or Hauck.

Actually this was two years later. And thank god for the Central Washington debacle. If not for it, a little red headed freshman by the name of Lulay may not have started as a Freshman, and eventually defeat the Griz.

info197176 wrote:Mike, Maybe there's a lot more to the story with Coach Hauck too...did YOU ever think of that?? [/b]

No I think Bobby is just a dick. No other story to tell.

mquast53000 wrote:

info197176 wrote:Mike, Maybe there's a lot more to the story with Coach Hauck too...did YOU ever think of that?? [/b]

No I think Bobby is just a dick. No other story to tell.

And Kramer's just a pussy.

ahhh...methinks there's a double standard in the "happy little world" of Mike.. btw ponyboy, more than one "color" is normally refered to as "colors", as in "blue and gold are pretty much my favorite colors"

info197176 wrote:ahhh...methinks there's a double standard in the "happy little world" of Mike.. btw ponyboy, more than one "color" is normally refered to as "colors", as in "blue and gold are pretty much my favorite colors"

I'm guessing pony is employing a little irony in his signature line ... that's how I read it, anyway.

info197176 wrote:btw ponyboy, more than one "color" is normally refered to as "colors", as in "blue and gold are pretty much my favorite colors"

Thanks for the news flash but .........oh never mind.

Bay Area Cat wrote:

info197176 wrote:ahhh...methinks there's a double standard in the "happy little world" of Mike.. btw ponyboy, more than one "color" is normally refered to as "colors", as in "blue and gold are pretty much my favorite colors"

I'm guessing pony is employing a little irony in his signature line ... that's how I read it, anyway.

I am guessing it is from pretty much my favorite movie

Like there's any way you could ever know that.

Nick,

You're really reaching when you've got to go back nearly 3 years in an effort to make some type of weak point. Kramer blasts his team when they lose?? OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! STOP THE PRESSES, WE'VE GOT A SCOOP! All that Cat team did was end the streak, win the BSC title, and play a respectable playoff game on the road that year. Maybe Kramer's words had something to do with that? I'm sure not in your eyes, but then again, you're a griz and the ONLY coaches in America worth a paycheck are those that coach in Missoula.

Keep trying though, Nick; it's kind of like your Senior year in High School; 2 or 3 tries and you'll get through it!

Boy Gato, you really let me down with this one! Re-read Nick's post and try to catch the point this time...