My lord this dude Coach David Braun says all the right things, clearly connects with the young men he coaches and embodies what we want this program to be long term … the previous coach was a legend but we are seeing the future of the Wildcats right here.
Coach Braun had me from from "Hello" ... aka, his debut press conference at Big 10 day back in August. That moment wasn't too big for him. He struck the perfect tone and didn't shy away from the scandal that we were in. Yet, he never threw Fitz under the bus - which was important to all of us who loved and appreciated everything Pat had done for us as a player, assistant coach, and head man. For a few weeks in July I wasn't sure if there would even be a season this year. I thought we might even shut down our athletic department and just drop out of the Big 10. It was looking bleak. If I'm being honest, I thought we'd go 0-9 in conference and 1-11 overall. I figured we'd beat Howard and that was it. Worst-case scenario, we'll go 2-7 and 4-8 and that, alone, would be cause for celebration in my book this year. But way beyond wins and losses, Coach Braun has just won me over with his attitude and his answers. He is improving each week as a tactician and he will only get better as the years go by. More importantly, he was won over the locker room and our players ... and, I hope, he has won over alumni, students, and fans. He was put into an impossible situation and he didn't run from it. He ran into the fire and, in my opinion, pulled out a burning body and gave it CPR. Please forgive some of my hyperbole as I know that college football isn't life and death. But Coach Braun is going to be a winner somewhere ... I'd just as soon see him do it in Evanston with the Wildcats. Northwestern can try to make a sexy, national, hire and start all over again next year. But what a message we would be sending to high school kids that we already have our coach and he will be here for years to come.
Hire this guy already. The players love him. They are all bonding. It would be foolish to not keep Braun. He's far-exceeded any realistic expectation. He came in at the absolute worst time in our program history and has done the unthinkable, to wit, to compel a serious question in late October about "bowl eligibility". Hire him already.
Best case scenario is we get a real coach that knows how to build a championship program including recruiting, and keeps Braun as DC and Associate Head Coach
We ran into Coach at a steakhouse in Nebraska last weekend on our annual road trip, he's a dude and a half!
My lord this dude Coach David Braun says all the right things, clearly connects with the young men he coaches and embodies what we want this program to be long term … the previous coach was a legend but we are seeing the future of the Wildcats right here.
Agree
Coach Braun had me from from "Hello" ... aka, his debut press conference at Big 10 day back in August. That moment wasn't too big for him. He struck the perfect tone and didn't shy away from the scandal that we were in. Yet, he never threw Fitz under the bus - which was important to all of us who loved and appreciated everything Pat had done for us as a player, assistant coach, and head man.
For a few weeks in July I wasn't sure if there would even be a season this year. I thought we might even shut down our athletic department and just drop out of the Big 10. It was looking bleak.
If I'm being honest, I thought we'd go 0-9 in conference and 1-11 overall. I figured we'd beat Howard and that was it. Worst-case scenario, we'll go 2-7 and 4-8 and that, alone, would be cause for celebration in my book this year.
But way beyond wins and losses, Coach Braun has just won me over with his attitude and his answers. He is improving each week as a tactician and he will only get better as the years go by. More importantly, he was won over the locker room and our players ... and, I hope, he has won over alumni, students, and fans.
He was put into an impossible situation and he didn't run from it. He ran into the fire and, in my opinion, pulled out a burning body and gave it CPR. Please forgive some of my hyperbole as I know that college football isn't life and death. But Coach Braun is going to be a winner somewhere ... I'd just as soon see him do it in Evanston with the Wildcats.
Northwestern can try to make a sexy, national, hire and start all over again next year. But what a message we would be sending to high school kids that we already have our coach and he will be here for years to come.
Honesty. Integrity. Persistence. The Wildcat Way.
Joy In Evanston! Thank you Cats!
Congrats to the players and coaches for a great win. We are proud of you! Beat Iowa.
Hire this guy already. The players love him. They are all bonding. It would be foolish to not keep Braun. He's far-exceeded any realistic expectation. He came in at the absolute worst time in our program history and has done the unthinkable, to wit, to compel a serious question in late October about "bowl eligibility".
Hire him already.
Best case scenario is we get a real coach that knows how to build a championship program including recruiting, and keeps Braun as DC and Associate Head Coach
Agree
Great win, go 'cats!
Great win Cardiac Cats!