Today's Interviews?

[CatBlitz]

I think you can both appreciate what Ash did and acknowledge what he failed to do.

Yep. Coach Ash did an amazing job at MSU and helped build the program to where it is today. But as with many coaches who stay at the same school for a decade or so, at some point there comes a time that a change just needs to be made for the benefit of all involved.

Yep, both correct.

[CatBlitz]

Maybe he should have spent less time chatting with reporters and film crew and more time evaluating his defensive coordinator.
Don't get me wrong, I think Ash was a good man and the right man for the time, he cleaned up the program and elevated it to league championships. Then he kind of reached a plateau and wasn't able to go any higher, when the defense started to regress he couldn't get over his own loyalty to a friend to fix the problem.

I get it, but don't hear what I'm not saying.
We didn't just sit in there and BS all day, lol.

[Camo_Cat]

I think you can both appreciate what Ash did and acknowledge what he failed to do.

Yep. Coach Ash did an amazing job at MSU and helped build the program to where it is today. But as with many coaches who stay at the same school for a decade or so, at some point there comes a time that a change just needs to be made for the benefit of all involved.

He came into a really tumultuous situation and added some much needed stability and integrity....and won quite a few games while doing so. Also, MSU head football coach wasn't seen as a great job back then. He was the right guy at the right time. As was Choate as is Vigen.

I would say that Hysell and Kramer were key components for their time in building what we have today.

He was instrumental in the progression to where we are today. The fact that the administration took a year too long to fire him doesn't take away from his positive contributions to the program.

Yeah, but the year before he was fired, we went 8-5 and went to the playoffs. Hard to justify firing a winning coach with playoff appearances in 4 of the 5 previous seasons. You could kind of see the beginning of the end in 2014, but there was still a glimmer of hope. It was that 2015 season where we went 5-6 and looked really bad doing it that was the final straw.

[Monymony]

Anybody pick up on Tommy’s comment about Cole Sain leaving the Griz? Reminded me of what he said last year that “we have it so much better than they do,” and also the anonymous quote from one of our coaches about Adam Jones’ visit with them.

Yeah the “he left there for reasons we are all aware of comment” was either a deep stab or there was a true reason I’m not aware of

[coloradocat]

I think you can both appreciate what Ash did and acknowledge what he failed to do.

Yep. Coach Ash did an amazing job at MSU and helped build the program to where it is today. But as with many coaches who stay at the same school for a decade or so, at some point there comes a time that a change just needs to be made for the benefit of all involved.

He came into a really tumultuous situation and added some much needed stability and integrity....and won quite a few games while doing so. Also, MSU head football coach wasn't seen as a great job back then. He was the right guy at the right time. As was Choate as is Vigen.

I would say that Hysell and Kramer were key components for their time in building what we have today.

He was instrumental in the progression to where we are today. The fact that the administration took a year too long to fire him doesn't take away from his positive contributions to the program.

Yeah, but the year before he was fired, we went 8-5 and went to the playoffs. Hard to justify firing a winning coach with playoff appearances in 4 of the 5 previous seasons. You could kind of see the beginning of the end in 2014, but there was still a glimmer of hope. It was that 2015 season where we went 5-6 and looked really bad doing it that was the final straw.

Maybe 2014 wasn't as bad as I remember but I'll never forgive him for sacrificing Bleskin to the griz that year. Waiting until the 5th interception to change QBs was just inexcusable. I was on the Fire Ash train from that day on.

Either way, he did good things for the program.

[CatBlitz]

I think you can both appreciate what Ash did and acknowledge what he failed to do.

Yep. Coach Ash did an amazing job at MSU and helped build the program to where it is today. But as with many coaches who stay at the same school for a decade or so, at some point there comes a time that a change just needs to be made for the benefit of all involved.

He came into a really tumultuous situation and added some much needed stability and integrity....and won quite a few games while doing so. Also, MSU head football coach wasn't seen as a great job back then. He was the right guy at the right time. As was Choate as is Vigen.

I would say that Hysell and Kramer were key components for their time in building what we have today.

He was instrumental in the progression to where we are today. The fact that the administration took a year too long to fire him doesn't take away from his positive contributions to the program.

Yeah, but the year before he was fired, we went 8-5 and went to the playoffs. Hard to justify firing a winning coach with playoff appearances in 4 of the 5 previous seasons. You could kind of see the beginning of the end in 2014, but there was still a glimmer of hope. It was that 2015 season where we went 5-6 and looked really bad doing it that was the final straw.

Maybe 2014 wasn't as bad as I remember but I'll never forgive him for sacrificing Bleskin to the griz that year. Waiting until the 5th interception to change QBs was just inexcusable. I was on the Fire Ash train from that day on.

Either way, he did good things for the program.

Ash was what we needed at the time and paved the way for where we are now.

[coloradocat]

I think you can both appreciate what Ash did and acknowledge what he failed to do.

Yep. Coach Ash did an amazing job at MSU and helped build the program to where it is today. But as with many coaches who stay at the same school for a decade or so, at some point there comes a time that a change just needs to be made for the benefit of all involved.

He came into a really tumultuous situation and added some much needed stability and integrity....and won quite a few games while doing so. Also, MSU head football coach wasn't seen as a great job back then. He was the right guy at the right time. As was Choate as is Vigen.

I would say that Hysell and Kramer were key components for their time in building what we have today.

He was instrumental in the progression to where we are today. The fact that the administration took a year too long to fire him doesn't take away from his positive contributions to the program.

Yeah, but the year before he was fired, we went 8-5 and went to the playoffs. Hard to justify firing a winning coach with playoff appearances in 4 of the 5 previous seasons. You could kind of see the beginning of the end in 2014, but there was still a glimmer of hope. It was that 2015 season where we went 5-6 and looked really bad doing it that was the final straw.

Maybe 2014 wasn't as bad as I remember but I'll never forgive him for sacrificing Bleskin to the griz that year. Waiting until the 5th interception to change QBs was just inexcusable. I was on the Fire Ash train from that day on.

Either way, he did good things for the program.

Ash was what we needed at the time and paved the way for where we are now.

Agreed! Glad he was willing to talk to Colter about the Bobcats in the lead up to the game.

[AFCAT]

I think you can both appreciate what Ash did and acknowledge what he failed to do.

Yep. Coach Ash did an amazing job at MSU and helped build the program to where it is today. But as with many coaches who stay at the same school for a decade or so, at some point there comes a time that a change just needs to be made for the benefit of all involved.

He came into a really tumultuous situation and added some much needed stability and integrity....and won quite a few games while doing so. Also, MSU head football coach wasn't seen as a great job back then. He was the right guy at the right time. As was Choate as is Vigen.

I would say that Hysell and Kramer were key components for their time in building what we have today.

He was instrumental in the progression to where we are today. The fact that the administration took a year too long to fire him doesn't take away from his positive contributions to the program.

Yeah, but the year before he was fired, we went 8-5 and went to the playoffs. Hard to justify firing a winning coach with playoff appearances in 4 of the 5 previous seasons. You could kind of see the beginning of the end in 2014, but there was still a glimmer of hope. It was that 2015 season where we went 5-6 and looked really bad doing it that was the final straw.

I think the final straw was his inability to win the Cat-gris game. His 2-7 record over 9 years in that game and getting his rear end kicked in 2015 did him in.

[catatac]

I think he was a phenomenal coach, brilliant mind with the X's and O's. He won the Big Sky title what, three years in a row? I think his biggest flaw was the inability to get the team truly bought into the "play for your brothers" mentality... a legit team first mindset. I'm sure he understood the importance of this, and preached it, but for whatever reason it wasn't there at least towards the end. However Vigen has done it, it is 100% there and unmistakable. Can't remember the exact year for there was a game at PSU that we went to. Cat offense was lights out, defense was playing like absolute garbage. The D players were all just standing around and didn't look like they cared. No interaction between players, pumping each other up, etc. Zero chance that happens today under Vigen.

[BelligerentBobcat]

This is really beating a dead horse. Ash is gone, we’re much better off for it, and that’s enough said.

[cats2506]

This is really beating a dead horse. Ash is gone, we’re much better off for it, and that’s enough said.

I agree that this subject has been rehashed many times here, but when you get farther away, its ok to review it in the greater context of history.

We are having a historic year so its natural to look back at how we got here

[catatac]

This is really beating a dead horse. Ash is gone, we’re much better off for it, and that’s enough said.

Yup. Cats are better off because he was here, and they're better off now.

[Bobcat Sig]

I liked Ash. I like him now. He was great for the program and I appreciate what he did for us and the program. His defensive schemes were maddeningly frustrating and relied heavily on one or two playmakers. The offensives under him were so much fun to watch. I loved it.

I’m glad to see him commenting on the program and our national championship run.

[MSU01]

I see Colter just posted a new interview with Mike Kramer, that should provide for a few more pages of discussion after the Ash talk dies down!

[BFcatfan]

Maybe he should have spent less time chatting with reporters and film crew and more time evaluating his defensive coordinator.
Don't get me wrong, I think Ash was a good man and the right man for the time, he cleaned up the program and elevated it to league championships. Then he kind of reached a plateau and wasn't able to go any higher, when the defense started to regress he couldn't get over his own loyalty to a friend to fix the problem.

This was exactly the problem. To nice of a guy or say spineless.. call it what you want… if he would have made the decision to fire his D coordinator he would have kept
his job. Had a rough go of beating the Gris also, and that will sink your ship eventually.

[nanacat]

2 things I took away from the interviews with Vigen and Tommy...Tommy is loyal and expects loyalty. Some of his comments regarding guys choosing to stay and be a part of this or not, and another comment about playing for more than money, made me think he's not a huge fan of the portal.

And with Vigen, it made me wonder if his comment about he and his family being happy in Bozeman, and that he is where his feet are planted was more a "coach-speak" thing because he didn't get the Washington job, so that's what he's telling himself and everyone else to offset the loss of 8 million dollars, or if all those who were saying he was leaving were wrong?

[BelgradeBobcat]

I see Colter just posted a new interview with Mike Kramer, that should provide for a few more pages of discussion after the Ash talk dies down!

Saw that. It was great. Wonder if @Colter_Nuanez will get Choate next!

[Montanabob]

I see Colter just posted a new interview with Mike Kramer, that should provide for a few more pages of discussion after the Ash talk dies down!

Saw that. It was great. Wonder if @Colter_Nuanez will get Choate next!

my money says yes and Choate will be at the game.

[tetoncat]

2 things I took away from the interviews with Vigen and Tommy...Tommy is loyal and expects loyalty. Some of his comments regarding guys choosing to stay and be a part of this or not, and another comment about playing for more than money, made me think he's not a huge fan of the portal.

And with Vigen, it made me wonder if his comment about he and his family being happy in Bozeman, and that he is where his feet are planted was more a "coach-speak" thing because he didn't get the Washington job, so that's what he's telling himself and everyone else to offset the loss of 8 million dollars, or if all those who were saying he was leaving were wrong?

He didn't lose 8 million. He either didnt get the offer or turned it down. Can't lose what you didn't have. Also He has a contract at MSU, still making money.

[nanacat]

2 things I took away from the interviews with Vigen and Tommy...Tommy is loyal and expects loyalty. Some of his comments regarding guys choosing to stay and be a part of this or not, and another comment about playing for more than money, made me think he's not a huge fan of the portal.

And with Vigen, it made me wonder if his comment about he and his family being happy in Bozeman, and that he is where his feet are planted was more a "coach-speak" thing because he didn't get the Washington job, so that's what he's telling himself and everyone else to offset the loss of 8 million dollars, or if all those who were saying he was leaving were wrong?

He didn't lose 8 million. He either didnt get the offer or turned it down. Can't lose what you didn't have. Also He has a contract at MSU, still making money.

No, he didn't "lose" 8 mil, but I read that was an estimate of the potential rumored offer. Like 8-9 over 5 years or something. But there were so many posters sharing rumors I doubt anyone will ever know but Vigen of course. Regardless, I'm so glad he's staying.