Brewster gets extension?

This morning, the Strib's Gopher Football beat reporter, Kent Youngblood, reported that Gopher AD Joel Maturi deemed that Coach Brew has earned a contract extension, and that the negotiations have already begun.

Stability was the key word Maturi used to justify his belief that Brewster should be extended. If you've read any of Gopher Bandanna Guy's posts on this blog in the past, you know that I agree with Maturi wholeheartedly. Which is not to say that stability is the only reason Brew should be extended, but it is a significant one in my mind.

So let's analyze this move a bit (assuming Brew does get extended). What are the pros and cons? Let's start with the pros - First, recruiting promises can continue to be made (playing time, positional guarantees, etc.). Second, the new out-state recruiting pipelines that are being established can continue to develop (Texas, Florida, Louisiana). Third, the young and upcoming players aren't forced to learn a different system (provided Brew keeps his coordinators in town). Fourth, the University doesn't send the message that "2 bowl games in 3 years gets you canned" to every other potential coaching hire in the country. And finally, re-upping with Brewster gives us a much better chance to retain him long-term should he make big gains in his 4th and 5th contracted seasons.

Now the cons. 1) We run the risk of continuing to have a football program without any kind of identity. 2) We run the risk of continuing the revolving door situation with coordinators. 3) We risk mediocrity or worse - what if Brewster cannot bring the program above the 6-6 (3-5) level throughout his tenure. 4) Reusse and Souhan will continue their campaign of negativity 'cause they don't like the guy.

So where does the Star Tribune online reading public fall on this topic? Well, the informal poll on the Stribs website when I checked had nearly 80% stating that Minnesota needed a coaching change, and 20% believed stability was more important (I should point out that this poll allowed multiple voting opportunities from the same computer, including 3 votes for the minority position by yours truly).

Now I realize that most of this 80% is made up of the mouth-breathers that still think we can land Tony Dungy or should hire back Lou Holtz away ESPN, but let's get real here people - NCAA Div 1 head football coaches don't get fired after their first 3 years. Especially when they make 2 bowl games, and expectations were not all that great. The only place the truly high expectations were coming from were the Gophers themselves. And that's where high expectation should be coming from at all times. Brew-haters - ask yourself if your opinion of Coach Brew would change at all if we had beat South Dakota State by 30. Or if we had beaten Illinois and were going to the Alamo Bowl instead. My guess is you'd still be hating on the guy.

My final take? Brew should be extended 2 years, unless the Gopher's showing vs. Iowa State on Thursday is absolutely dreadful. If that turns out to be the case, then back down to a 1-year extension, with another year possible if certain incentives are reached in 2010. Yeah, there's the possibility that Brewster won't agree to a 1-year deal, and if that's the case, let him sweat.

I'd love to hear other's opinions, on this polarizing topic within Gopher Nation.

Can we give this Brew some room to breathe?

Apparently the Mark Craig article in the Strib I discussed last week has created some reactionaries. Check out this Tom Dienhart article from Rivals.com.

Nice headline, huh?

Dienhart really put together some top-notch journalism there. Wrote two paragraphs of background, and then he essentially copied a small part of the Mark Craig article. Well done sir. And while I didn't particularly enjoy Craig's article, it did tell us some things about Maturi and Brewster. Maturi is actively gauging things, and success this season is important in his decision. Maturi said:

"If we go 2-10, the odds of me extending [his contract] probably aren't real good. If we go 10-2, the odds of me extending him might be better, provided everything else is OK, we don't have major violations, we don't have this, we don't have that." All in all, I suppose this is what a good AD does, right? Continuously evaluate. Still, I can't help but wonder if this pressure applied is being amplified by the media thanks to Maturi's comments.

Well, we know one thing for sure. We won't be going 2-10 this year, since we clocked Northwestern in the 4th quarter last Saturday, to seal our 3rd win of the season. But, we probably won't be going 10-2 either though... ...so where does this put Coach Brew? Who knows, but its clearly to early to tell.

I will say that while at the Northwestern game, a number of us in attendance saw one Mr. Joel Maturi making his way to the sideline mid-4th quarter, no doubt to congratulate the team (maybe a little prematurely? Has this guy watched our games with NU the last few years?). I'll now completely speculate as to the converstation he had with Brewster. It might have gone something like this:

Maturi: Great win Tim. Great win.

Coach Brew: Hey Joel, we gotta ways to go yet here, keep your chili hot, but let's talk later, okay?

Maturi: Alright, alright Tim - you do your thing. Just remember we're evaluating your progress this season, you want to be re-upped, right?

Coach Brew: Yeah, but not if its like this. Why are you publicly letting every sportswriter in town in on your eval process... HEY, CAMPBELL! CAMPBELL!!! ISO ON KAFKA! ISO ON KAFKA!... Look Joel, this really isn't the time.

Maturi: I know, I know. But I just want you to coach like there's pressure on you.

Coach Brew: There IS pressure on me... ATTABOY WILHITE!! OFFENSE GET OUT THERE! I WANT SIX!

Maturi: Well I see you've got this well in hand. I'll go sit back down. Don't forget to go easy on Wisconsin next week. I worked there for 9 years, remember?

Coach Brew: (under his breath) I can't think of a better reason than to beat them by 6 TDs...