An Open letter to Dr. Peter Fields...

[HelenaCat95]

Dear Dr. Fields,

I wouldn't normally comment on the success or failure of a particular program during the middle of it's teams season, but the recent loss of 3 home games, and the performance I saw during those 3 losses, compels me to make some remarks on the direction of the Football program. Keep in mind that all of my comments are directed towards the Football program, and not this years team - while the two are obviously related, there is a difference between the program, and a particular team.

I have been, and continue to be a Mike Kramer fan. He has taken a Montana State program that was down in the dumps, and rebuilt it into something that we could be proud in. He has helped us believe in the program again, which is a feeling we have not had in a while. Three out of the past four years we shared the Big Sky Conference Championship, and Three out of the past four years we have beaten our rivals the University of Montana. We have also put on field student athletes that we can be proud of, like Blake Wolf, Zach Wolf, Travis Lulay, Mac Mollohan, among many...many others.

There are always key moments in the lifespan of a particular athletic program that are cause for reflection and for questioning. Even though this is the middle of the 2006 season, because of the three consecutive home losses, and the overall effort put forth in those losses, I think this is one of those moments. The key question to ask is whether we as booster/fans/alumni/season ticket holders/supporters, and you as Athletic Director are happy with the direction of a particular program - in this case the Football program.

Over the past several years, there have been several things that have caused concern with the direction of the FB program. Several publicized off-the-field incidents involving former players and coaches, and other individuals very close to the program. And other incidents that have pointed the finger at the FB program, have caused concern. Personally, I have been first into the fray to defend my University and the Athletic Department. Unfortunately, bad things happen at bad times, to good people, and MSU is not immune.

We have also been faced with a situation, that is beyond my understanding, that has resulted in the loss of precious scholarships to our 1-aa FB program. This has, and will continue to hamper our ability to put quality student-athletes on the Football field.

Now, we are faced with losing three straight home games. The time has come to ask, are you happy with the direction that the FB program is headed? Are we a program on the rise? Are we putting quality student athletes on the field? And are we bringing quality student athletes into Bozeman and the state of Montana? Are we putting ourselves in the position to have post-season success?

We have some great student athletes on the FB team, who are giving their all in the classroom and on the field. But the crucial question I must ask is, Is this the coaching staff that can take us to the next level?

I think all this begs the question of what are the Universities expectations for the Football programs success? The University has reaped the benefits of Football success through increased ticket sales, and renewed enthusiasm in the program and the University, and this is reflected in a great game day atmosphere that you and your staff have created on Saturdays. I don't have to tell you that this continued success of this atmosphere is contingent upon winning games...especially at home. I know what I expect, but what does the University expect from it's Football program? And are we moving towards that goal?

Maybe this letter and the questions I ask are premature. Maybe being 0-1 in the Big Sky, and 1-3 overall in this young season means it is too early to ask these questions. If so, then I accept responsibility for raising the question too early. But I do ask that the questions on the direction of this program be asked NOW. Whatever the direction of the program is, and whatever the expectations are, it is never too early to look to the future. I know that you care about this program, and I know that this letter on an internet board is probably the smallest amount of questioning that you are facing.

I am a Catfan, and will always support the Cats. It is not me and the dollars I spend on this program that you need to worry about. But it is because I care about my University and the FB program that I ask these questions.

Thank you for letting me air a few of these questions and concerns. And thank you to Bobcatnation.com for giving me a forum to vent and to learn.

Sincerely,
Forever a Cat Fan

[torrybruce]

Dear Dr. Fields,

I wouldn't normally comment on the success or failure of a particular program during the middle of it's teams season, but the recent loss of 3 home games, and the performance I saw during those 3 losses, compels me to make some remarks on the direction of the Football program. Keep in mind that all of my comments are directed towards the Football program, and not this years team - while the two are obviously related, there is a difference between the program, and a particular team.

I have been, and continue to be a Mike Kramer fan. He has taken a Montana State program that was down in the dumps, and rebuilt it into something that we could be proud in. He has helped us believe in the program again, which is a feeling we have not had in a while. Three out of the past four years we shared the Big Sky Conference Championship, and Three out of the past four years we have beaten our rivals the University of Montana. We have also put on field student athletes that we can be proud of, like Blake Wolf, Zach Wolf, Travis Lulay, Mac Mollohan, among many...many others.

There are always key moments in the lifespan of a particular athletic program that are cause for reflection and for questioning. Even though this is the middle of the 2006 season, because of the three consecutive home losses, and the overall effort put forth in those losses, I think this is one of those moments. The key question to ask is whether we as booster/fans/alumi/season ticket holders/supporters, and you as Athletic Director are happy with the direction of a particular program - in this case the Football program.

Over the past several years, there have been several things that have caused concern with the direction of the FB program. Several publicized off-the-field incidents involving former players and coaches, and other individuals very close to the program. And other incidents that have pointed the finger at the FB program, have caused concern. Personally, I have been first into the fray to defend my University and the Athletic Department. Unfortunately, bad things happen at bad times, to good people, and MSU is not immune.

We have also been faced with a situation, that is beyond my understanding, that has resulted in the loss of precious scholarships to our 1-aa FB program. This has, and will continue to hamper our ability to put quality student-athletes on the Football field.

Now, we are faced with losing three straight home games. The time has come to ask, are you happy with the direction that the FB program is headed? Are we a program on the rise? Are we putting quality student athletes on the field? And are we bringing quality student athletes into Bozeman and the state of Montana? Are we putting ourselves in the position to have post-season success?

We have some great student athletes on the FB team, who are giving their all in the classroom and on the field. But the crucial question I must ask is, Is this the coaching staff that can take us to the next level?

I think all this begs the question of what are the Universities expectations for the Football programs success? The University has reaped the benefits of Football success through increased ticket sales, and renewed enthusiasm in the program and the University, and this is reflected in a great game day atmosphere that you and your staff have created on Saturdays. I don't have to tell you that this continued success of this atmosphere is contingent upon winning games...especially at home. I know what I expect, but what does the University expect from it's Football program? And are we moving towards that goal?

Maybe this letter the questions I ask are premature. Maybe being 0-1 in the Big Sky, and 1-3 overall in this young season means it is too early to ask these questions. If so, then I accept responsibility for raising the question too early. But I do ask that the questions on the direction of this program be asked NOW. Whatever the direction of the program is, and whatever the expectations are, it is never too early to look to the future. I know that you care about this program, and I know that this letter on an internet board is probably the smallest amount of questioning that you are facing.

I am a Catfan, and will always support the Cats. It is not me and the dollars I spend on this program that you need to worry about. But it is because I care about my University and the FB program that I ask these questions.

Thank you for letting me air a few of these questions and concerns. And thank you to Bobcatnation.com for giving me a forum to vent and to learn.

Sincerely,
Forever a Cat Fan

:goodpost: we all could use that sort of devotion!!!

[BozCatFan]

excellent! email it to him!!!!

[cat92]

Please send this to him.

[soldier668]

agreed send it

[couloir41]

95...

let me say i don't like to loose either...however

from the self serving dialog of your letter i think you are a cat fan...as long as every young man on the team meets your expectations on or off of the field...makes great grades...and measures up to your standards...and the program in every way improves and gratifies your need to win and everyone answers to your demands and inquiries...

clearly i don't think you should send the letter unless you have command of the details of the issues you think are important and you have well thought out and constructive alternatives to the problems you perceive...of course you have no knowledge except what you read on this board...see on the field and what ever you conjure when the input collides in your mind...

from the tone of your letter you have a tough time convincing me that you are as loyal and dedicated as you claim...remember when the going gets tough families band together and support each other until the relationship no longer serves a purpose...i think we are still some distance from that happening...so fasten your chinstrap and don't be a quitter...jmo

[HelenaCat95]

95...

let me say i don't like to loose either...however

from the self serving dialog of your letter i think you are a cat fan...as long as every young man on the team meets your expectations on or off of the field...makes great grades...and measures up to your standards...and the program in every way improves and gratifies your need to win and everyone answers to your demands and inquiries...

clearly i don't think you should send the letter unless you have command of the details of the issues you think are important and you have well thought out and constructive alternatives to the problems you perceive...of course you have no knowledge except what you read on this board...see on the field and what ever you conjure when the input collides in your mind...

from the tone of your letter you have a tough time convincing me that you are as loyal and dedicated as you claim...remember when the going gets tough families band together and support each other until the relationship no longer serves a purpose...i think we are still some distance from that happening...so fasten your chinstrap and don't be a quitter...jmo

I honestly thank you for your input. That is why I posted this.
I expected some criticism on some of the issues I raised, and I accept that. But I did not expect someone to question my loyalty. I'm sorry that you feel that way. It is not much different than if I questioned your patriotism for your pointed questioning of the Bush administration. While you and I may differ on politics, I would not question your patriotism simply for asking questions, so in that spirit, I ask that you not question my loyalty and dedication to the program and the University.

The last line of my post says that I would like to learn. I freely admit that I do not know everything about this program. If you know more that I do, then please let me know. (I did think the "input collide in your mind" line was a little below the belt, but I am willing to learn.)

You ask for conclusions, which is fair. I don't have conclusions. I do have questions, and I think that the questions of what one thinks the expectations of the program should be? And are you/we happy with the direction of the program are valid questions.

You are free to think that my post was self-serving. If you feel that way, then I really don't think that you read my post. But I make no apologies for having high expectations in many areas of my life, and in things that I care about. Don't judge me for having high expectations - but you may criticize me on how I deal with meeting or not meeting those expectations. That is why I posted a series of big picture questions, and not a list of conclusions.

I do appreciate your post being put in the context of the Cat family. I agree with your sentiments and know that it is only because we both care about the program and the University that we can civilly discuss this.

Thanks again for the input, and if you have information that can help me with those questions, I would be very interested in learning them.

[HelenaCat95]

After going back and re-reading my original post, I stand by the questions I have raised.

However, in retrospect, I do regret the timing. In my post (and it is still just a post....not a letter that has been sent), I said that I accept responsibility if the questions I am asking are premature. As I reflect on it, this post IS premature. We should always be looking to see if we meet expectations, and I do look forward to a healthy discussion on what other members of this board think the expectations for this program should be. But given the recent circumstances and events, and my all too raw feelings about them, I do not want this to degenerate into simply a discussion on the fate of the coaching staff - unfortunately, that is being covered on other threads.

Let me try to redirect the discussion to the members of this board, and not the Athletic Department: What are your expectations for the FB program - not this particular team. I don't just mean Wins and Losses, or playoff appearances. Do we have other measurable off-the-field and classroom expectations? The time for determining if this particular coaching staff can reach these expectations will come later.

Thanks again for letting me vent, and thank you for a healthy discussion.

[couloir41]

95...

my problem with your post was this...

you were in my opinion judging the program...coaches...players and administration by the nature of the questions you asked...you made it clear you judged the direction of the athletic program in general and it was not satisfactory to you...that is your right...and you can judge...there is only a quaint social stigma against it...no big deal if you are not afraid of being judged in return...

you then foisted your judgements on the membership of this board...i felt it should be brought to your attention...maybe i was clumbsy...

i don't have any answers to the dilemma we are facing...except kramer has a very interesting and difficult job ahead of him...he has our expectations where they have never been before and his successes are now coming back to haunt him...he has unintentionally teased us...i personally hope he pulls off miracle (sp) and wins back the support he enjoyed as recently as three games ago...

i enjoy your posts...

[couloir41]

by the way the moderators are lurking...and foisting their petty authority on us all...

[HelenaCat95]

95...

my problem with your post was this...

you were in my opinion judging the program...coaches...players and administration by the nature of the questions you asked...you made it clear you judged the direction of the athletic program in general and it was not satisfactory to you...that is your right...and you can judge...there is only a quaint social stigma against it...no big deal if you are not afraid of being judged in return...

you then foisted your judgements on the membership of this board...i felt it should be brought to your attention...maybe i was clumbsy...

i don't have any answers to the dilemma we are facing...except kramer has a very interesting and difficult job ahead of him...he has our expectations where they have never been before and his successes are now coming back to haunt him...he has unintentionally teased us...i personally hope he pulls off miracle (sp) and wins back the support he enjoyed as recently as three games ago...

i enjoy your posts...

Glad to see that we're both back in each others good graces.

We both care about this University and about this program, and it's good to see that we can carry on a civil discussion within the "family".

I think your second to last paragraph, and especially the "unintentionally teased us" part is dead on correct. We're all dealing with it in different ways.

Couloir41, here's to you and the rest of the Cat family who cares about this University and about our student athletes, coaches and Athletic Dept.

[rtb]

by the way the moderators are lurking...and foisting their petty authority on us all...

WHAT?

[couloir41]

ah ha...!!!....there's one...!!