The Bobcat Nation

Joe Kusek: Coaches approached job searches differently
By JOE KUSEK
Of The Gazette Staff

So, both our I-AA football coaches are staying. What was fascinating was how both scenarios played out.

Montana State head football coach Mike Kramer actively pursued the Idaho job and made sure everybody knew it.

And why not?

Kramer played for the Vandals, grew up near Moscow, Idaho and he and his wife Sandy have a place in Couer d'Alene. It was a perfect fit for both sides. Kramer was one of the few coaches in America who truly wanted that job - most considered it career suicide - and Idaho officials knew that Kramer would not pull a Dennis Erickson and bolt after a year.

Plus, it was an opportunity for Kramer to have his ego stroked a little bit. Everybody has the need to be wanted and he and his offensive coaches are still taking heat from the ill-fated Michael Jefferson pass against Appalachian State.

It was a very public courtship that abruptly ended when Kramer realized he had a bigger mess to clean up at MSU than the one awaiting him at IU.

At Montana, Bobby Hauck continues to be, well, uh, Bobby Hauck.

Hauck quietly slipped away to meet with Stanford officials in Salt Lake City, blowing off his final television show of the season.

"Recruiting," he said until the New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the news.

While Kramer updated the media daily, Hauck was silent.

Why?

The shroud of secrecy only angers Griz fans even more.

Nobody would hold it against a person for the opportunity for a more high-profile - and much better paying - coaching job.

Hauck made his agenda clear upon his arrival at UM. Washington-Grizzly Stadium was going to be a stepping-stone, so why not admit the discussion with Stanford?

And the two coolest customers during the whole ordeal?

The two athletic directors, Peter Fields at MSU and UM's Jim O'Day.

Both understand an athletic director has to be prepared and both probably have a list of potential head football coaches sitting in a desk drawer.

Both said all the right things during the entire process.

While Hauck was mostly silent, O'Day did all the talking for the Grizzlies, letting everybody know what a wonderful opportunity Stanford would be for his football coach.

O'Day understands if Hauck goes to a bigger school - which will happen some day - it only makes the UM football program look even more appealing. Both of Hauck's predecessors - Mick Dennehy and Joe Glenn - eventually jumped to Division I programs following their time at UM.

With that track record, it's easier to court higher-quality coaches. The playoffs are expected, not a hope, in Missoula.

Kramer's recent success has made Fields' job a little easier. It's one thing to find established coaches for winning programs, it's another to find head coaches for the Idaho State's of the world.

Funny thing, after all the talk and non-talk, the back-and-forth, both Kramer and Hauck are back for another season.

And we'll do this again next December

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Why? Because he considered a job change to better him and his family and he didn't want everyone to know?

People that are upset about this might want to look in the mirror and make sure they don't see the word hypocrite stamped on their forehead. Hauck didn't do anything most of us haven't done already.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Why? Because he considered a job change to better him and his family and he didn't want everyone to know?

People that are upset about this might want to look in the mirror and make sure they don't see the word hypocrite stamped on their forehead. Hauck didn't do anything most of us haven't done already.

mslacat wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Well I for one do not like Bobby

But I do like ....... ahhh ... well, OK, juvinile joke.... I will crawl back into my cave

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

PapaG wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Rick Neuheisel did the exact same thing to UW when he slipped away to interview for the 49er job. He denied he even went. The problem was a Seattle PI writer happened to be on the same flight. Neuheisel didn't get the job, and if he had his way no one would have ever known about.

Hauck is simply doing what he learned from his mentor. The difference is that Hauck at least had the decency to inform his AD, but I think because it was related to moving to another school he had to do that.

Hauck will get his shot, yet at times I wonder how hot a coach he can actually be. He has only managed to get to one title game at the most-supported and best program in FCS. I know that sounds crazy relative to MSU's play-off history under Kramer, but simply put, winning at UM is much, much easier than winning at most other FCS schools. That program is at a level where you hope someone maintains it.

I wouldn't want to be the Griz coach who misses the play-offs...

mslacat wrote:

PapaG wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Rick Neuheisel did the exact same thing to UW when he slipped away to interview for the 49er job. He denied he even went. The problem was a Seattle PI writer happened to be on the same flight. Neuheisel didn't get the job, and if he had his way no one would have ever known about.

Hauck is simply doing what he learned from his mentor. The difference is that Hauck at least had the decency to inform his AD, but I think because it was related to moving to another school he had to do that.

Hauck will get his shot, yet at times I wonder how hot a coach he can actually be. He has only managed to get to one title game at the most-supported and best program in FCS. I know that sounds crazy relative to MSU's play-off history under Kramer, but simply put, winning at UM is much, much easier than winning at most other FCS schools. That program is at a level where you hope someone maintains it.

I wouldn't want to be the Griz coach who misses the play-offs...

Why do you think many people refer to Bobby as little Ricky!

MTBobcatFan wrote:

mslacat wrote:

PapaG wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Rick Neuheisel did the exact same thing to UW when he slipped away to interview for the 49er job. He denied he even went. The problem was a Seattle PI writer happened to be on the same flight. Neuheisel didn't get the job, and if he had his way no one would have ever known about.

Hauck is simply doing what he learned from his mentor. The difference is that Hauck at least had the decency to inform his AD, but I think because it was related to moving to another school he had to do that.

Hauck will get his shot, yet at times I wonder how hot a coach he can actually be. He has only managed to get to one title game at the most-supported and best program in FCS. I know that sounds crazy relative to MSU's play-off history under Kramer, but simply put, winning at UM is much, much easier than winning at most other FCS schools. That program is at a level where you hope someone maintains it.

I wouldn't want to be the Griz coach who misses the play-offs...

Why do you think many people refer to Bobby as little Ricky!

How about Ricky Bobby?

Billings_Griz wrote:I don't like Kusek.

Go Eastern.

PapaG wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:

mslacat wrote:

PapaG wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Rick Neuheisel did the exact same thing to UW when he slipped away to interview for the 49er job. He denied he even went. The problem was a Seattle PI writer happened to be on the same flight. Neuheisel didn't get the job, and if he had his way no one would have ever known about.

Hauck is simply doing what he learned from his mentor. The difference is that Hauck at least had the decency to inform his AD, but I think because it was related to moving to another school he had to do that.

Hauck will get his shot, yet at times I wonder how hot a coach he can actually be. He has only managed to get to one title game at the most-supported and best program in FCS. I know that sounds crazy relative to MSU's play-off history under Kramer, but simply put, winning at UM is much, much easier than winning at most other FCS schools. That program is at a level where you hope someone maintains it.

I wouldn't want to be the Griz coach who misses the play-offs...

Why do you think many people refer to Bobby as little Ricky!

How about Ricky Bobby?

Chattanooga Nights: The Failure of Ricky Bobby

OK, this is a a smack post. I apologize in advance. My holiday freebie?

mslacat wrote:

PapaG wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Rick Neuheisel did the exact same thing to UW when he slipped away to interview for the 49er job. He denied he even went. The problem was a Seattle PI writer happened to be on the same flight. Neuheisel didn't get the job, and if he had his way no one would have ever known about.

Hauck is simply doing what he learned from his mentor. The difference is that Hauck at least had the decency to inform his AD, but I think because it was related to moving to another school he had to do that.

Hauck will get his shot, yet at times I wonder how hot a coach he can actually be. He has only managed to get to one title game at the most-supported and best program in FCS. I know that sounds crazy relative to MSU's play-off history under Kramer, but simply put, winning at UM is much, much easier than winning at most other FCS schools. That program is at a level where you hope someone maintains it.

I wouldn't want to be the Griz coach who misses the play-offs...

Why do you think many people refer to Bobby as little Ricky!

MTBobcatFan wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:

MTBobcatFan wrote:Another reason why I don't like Boobie.

Why? Because he considered a job change to better him and his family and he didn't want everyone to know?

People that are upset about this might want to look in the mirror and make sure they don't see the word hypocrite stamped on their forehead. Hauck didn't do anything most of us haven't done already.

Of course, I don't have a problem with him looking for a job to better his career. I don't fault anyone for that. It was the way he handled it. I didn't like how he was being deceitful.

Cat Grad wrote:I wonder if this isn't part of the entire difference in philosophy between the two institutions, however. One is very open and forthright in all their dealings and the other creates a product (graduate) that has a persona of a lawyer in virtually everything they do. They tend to operate in a great cloud of mystery and I guess that's why I'm perplexed about all the secrecy surrounding our stadium expansion. I'm used to everything being out in the open for all to examine and I for one hate surprises. (Emphasis added)