Northwestern removed "interim" title, promoted Braun to HC
Title says it all. I guess that moves Sparty up one rung on the coaching search ladder.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:16 PM ^
But seriously, 5-5 after the situation he inherited is pretty damn good.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:17 PM ^
They certainly could do worse. Northwestern having a shot at bowl eligibility is one of the biggest surprises in FBS iyam.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:18 PM ^
In less surprising news, the NCAA shot down JMU's appeal for bowl eligibility.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:31 PM ^
Of course the NCAA did that. They are dicks.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:36 PM ^
modify that noun with the word, 'pettiti'. very, very pettiti.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:36 PM ^
Of course they did.
November 15th, 2023 at 9:31 PM ^
I never understood the point of banning a team from bowl eligibility if they take a step up in competition. If they're willing to take on the added degree of difficulty, they should be able to reap the same rewards as everyone else. Otherwise, their opponents should get credited with a 'W' since JMU winning does nothing for anybody.
November 16th, 2023 at 8:47 AM ^
If the Sun Belt Conference has a spine, it'll let JMU play in the Conf CG anyway. What a bullshit decision - the NCAA just cannot stop stepping on its own vagina...
November 15th, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^
They certainly could have. No idea how much he's being paid, but I wouldn't be surprised if TAMU, MSU, and UCLA all manage to get fewer wins per dollar out of their new hires than Northwestern does.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:17 PM ^
Good for him, he earned it.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:21 PM ^
Smart move. He's gotten the team into rare form, in short order. Hopefully for them it lasts.
November 16th, 2023 at 9:25 AM ^
In retrospect, we shouldn't be surprised that this Northwestern team is outperforming last year's team - the one where players were sexually assaulting each other.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^
This is the correct decision by NW. Braun has certainly exceeded expectations, even in a disappointing B1G West. After some really difficult stories this summer, I'm glad to see Northwestern return to respectability on the field, and hopefully off the field as well. Unless they give Coach of the Year to Ferentz as a retirement gift, he "should" win the award.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:27 PM ^
A well-deserved promotion.
NU is having a demonstrably better season than Purdue, Illinois, and spartie. And they've already beaten Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maryland, and barely lost to B1G West-leading Iowa 10-7.
Braun has done one helluva job with a team that was widely expected to be in the division cellar. Good for him.
November 15th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
Yea who would have thunk Northwestern would be better than 1 of those let alone all? Thats crazy
November 16th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
Looking at Maryland's record, and the BIG west team's records, I am wondering what scenario sets up to have as many 6-6 teams as possible. I want the Big west to be Iowa, then 5 teams tied for 6th (you don't get to be tied for 2nd in this scenario and that record) and then Purdue, with Maryland coming in on the 6-6 from the East. Let all the bowl games get to choose which crappy 6-6 BIG team you want. I'm sure that would give Michigan even more leverage.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^
He's definitely exceeded my expectations after inheriting a mess at NW
Good on him
November 15th, 2023 at 8:32 PM ^
It’s like the points on Whose Line Is It Anyway? It doesn’t matter who the NW HC is.
Edit: this is regarding next year and going forward. They will be part of the second tier of also-rans. I don’t expect to see any B1G champs outside of UM, USC, OSU, PSU, UO and UW for the next decade or two. And only this 6 in the BTCG.
November 16th, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
USC is pretty lucky to have they record now, after Caleb Williams leaves, they may actually have a worse record than one of your also-rans. And PSU is not going to compete for the big-10 anytime soon. USC defense needs a total overhaul to win in the big ten.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:32 PM ^
Need to get some coaching the year votes
November 15th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
Move them over from the Deion column.
November 16th, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
My vote is Mel Tucker. An undefeated season with that roster is impressive work.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:35 PM ^
Good for Northwestern.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
Congrats to both Coach Braun and the Wildcats
November 15th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
He’s done better than he has any right to. He may be a good choice to lead them through this.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:44 PM ^
Mentioned it in 2 threads this week should happen. Not sure long term future but guy did an amazing job this yr and worth a dice roll
November 15th, 2023 at 8:44 PM ^
I thought they’d be lucky to win two games, and instead, they could legitimately go bowling. Either way, he earned the right to coach them next year.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:51 PM ^
Well deserved. That program was left for dead.
Now they are in a position to make a bowl game. And, if certain games go certain ways, they could actually be Big Ten West Champions.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
Yeah, MSU likely ends the year at the bottom of the top 10 of schools with vacancies. I mean, until Urban signs with them. How in the hell did I forget that imminent event?
November 15th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
Forgot Jimbo as the OC
November 15th, 2023 at 9:02 PM ^
Second favorite teary eyed postgame interview this season. I approve.
November 15th, 2023 at 9:09 PM ^
I need a public statement from Braun on sign stealing to know exactly how mad I am at him. At the moment it's just low-grade hate for being part of the mob. (If you haven't spoken out against the mob, you're part of it.)
November 15th, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
You ok, buddy?
November 15th, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^
I have no reason to believe this but I really feel like Northwestern wasn't a school pushing for all this. I feel like they're just keeping to themselves and have no ill will towards Michigan like the rest of the conference. Minnesota, Iowa and Northwestern I feel like aren't pushing. I doubt they're supporting Michigan but I feel like they've almost abstained themselves.
November 16th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
Northwestern is probably the last school to be able to get up on its moral high horse over the Michigan situation, and they know it.
What Stallions did was wrong, but its the kind of thing you should really just frown upon. What Northwestern did.....goes so far beyond.
November 15th, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^
Honestly, considering the size and type of scandal at Northwestern, that Braun has taken a 1-11 team and gotten them to 5-5 with 2 games left really is rather impressive. There probably aren't too many people among those potentially available who could have done much better. That might be the right move for them.
November 15th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
I used to like rooting for B1G teams. Northwestern in particular is a guilty pleasure. Several family members and a few friends went there for grad school. When I was 10 I had a Northwestern t-shirt and I look good in royal purple.
glad to see them get a good young coach
November 16th, 2023 at 9:35 AM ^
I remember as a kid feeling rage toward Northwestern for the 4th quarter collapses we had in 95 and 96. When we beat them in the 97 championship year, I was so happy but also had to breathe a sigh of relief. Things seemed to be back to normal for a few years…and then the 2000 game happened. And I had to start hating them again.
The rage has died down considerably over the years. But a part of me is still majorly bitter. The A-train fumble will always be one of those things that haunt my nightmares. (He had the game clinching 1st down!!).
November 15th, 2023 at 9:31 PM ^
Braun should win BIG coach of the year and it shouldn’t be close.
November 15th, 2023 at 9:55 PM ^
Good for him. He exceed all expectations after being put in an awful position. Honestly he probably exceeded the expectations for the team if Fitzgerald stayed. They have been bad recently so I couldn't see them being this good this year before any of that crap happened.
Also the fact he beat Wisconsin in Wisconsin, in a much worse situation when they got their starting QB back is great.
November 15th, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
Good move for them.
November 15th, 2023 at 10:47 PM ^
Seems like a good move
November 15th, 2023 at 11:27 PM ^
Don't know anything about Braun's role in the mob but maybe he just quit whining and got a better team?
November 15th, 2023 at 11:52 PM ^
Totally makes sense and a good move for them. Apparently you can win at NW and not be Patty Fitz
November 16th, 2023 at 4:17 AM ^
Braun should be a leading candidate for BIG COY, and Luke Fickell should be Bust of the Year.
November 16th, 2023 at 8:01 AM ^
You don't think Mel Tugger will beat him to it?
November 16th, 2023 at 8:39 AM ^
I dunno, Bret Bielema has an amazingly ample bust.
November 16th, 2023 at 8:57 AM ^
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