Kramer & Hauck Talk -- Split from FB Practice thread

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:11 am

El_Gato wrote:Coach Kramer update:

The Big Human did his usual job; he even had us finish with the Bobcat Fight Song (which I estimate about 25% of the crowd knew). Watching Coach K work the crowd, it struck me how the griz fans just can't fathom why we like this guy so much when they think he's only gotten us "mediocre" results thus far. I now know why they feel that way: For close to 10 years now, they've either been led by a dud (Dennehy) or a snake-oil salesman (Glenn & Hauck).

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He was in Billings in June and I took a couple Griz fans I know (who have Bobcat season tickets now - still like Griz though) to Holligans to check out what he had to say. Let's just say that they were FLOORED by Kramers room presence and intensity for the program. He had everyone in that room ready to drop down and give him 50 for the Bobcats. I sure hope Kramer visits EVERY top recruit he wants in his program and their families because once he is in that door ..... HOW COULD A KID NOT WANT TO PLAY FOR THIS GUY. He is a tough demanding coach. I bet if half the Griz fans attended one of these Bobcat gatherings and got the chance to talk with him for a few minutes or listen to him speak they would totally change their opinion of him. Yes, our Football program can still get better ... and I think Kramer is getting us there. Remember, our football program is growing by leaps and bounds and yet we didn't get a 25 million dollar donation for a stadium by a donar. We have to do it the hard way and Kramer is working his tail off for this program.

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:34 am

Could not agree more with all of the other posters on this thread in regards to Coach Kramers presence and what he has done for MSU atheletics. Yes his record has been medicore, but we have a sold out stadium and the Bobcats are in the hunt every game.

Whenever Kramer is in Billings, I make sure to attend the function. This guy is tireless and he can sure fire up a crowd. I would like to see him give the crowd a pep talk before one of the games this year. It would be electric and the crowd would be so into the game.

I am looking forward to a great season led by Kramer and Lulay.

GO CATS!!!!!!!!

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:32 am

I was in Great Falls for the scrimmage earlier this year, and had a chance to listen to Kramer talk at the quarterback club little get together. My Dad was with me, who is a big Griz fan, but also pulls for the Cats because his beloved son attends MSU. We were both blown away by this guy! I was ready to write him a check for the QB club right then and there with money I don't have. He is so energetic and passionate, you can't help but love the guy.

Side note, the best quote came from an older gentlemen who talked about why he joined the QBC. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to join or not, but then this big guy here promised me one thing - we'll beat the Griz. I joined up, and he did it twice! I hate those bastards."

CatFamily · Post by **CatFamily** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:45 am

It's really great to hear these good things about Big K. I had a chance to meet him after a Cat game (through Butch Damberger who is a personal friend) and I was very impressed with him then. He is an extremely personable person and has that unlimited energy about him. His passion for the game is undeniable and he has the gift of giving that to his players. The program is solid right now... thanks to him... and I anticipate it will continue to improve. Thanks for sharing the info.....

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:15 pm

Thanks for the info. El. Surprises me that he told you he had us 1st. Did he preface that by saying "On Paper" or that we had the "Most Potential"? Anytime I've heard his speak he always says that until you go into the Grizzly game knowing you are going to win, they are still the top of the Sky...

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:35 pm

El_Gato wrote:Coach Kramer update:

Coach is in the Flathead this weekend, playing in the Flathead Lake Bobcat Booster golf tourney today in Ronan and the Bobcat Open in Kalispell on Saturday.

Last night I attended a dinner near Polson where Coach K, Mick, and Peter Fields all spoke & I'd say we've got a GREAT team of people handling athletics at MSU.

Mick commented on how different this BBall season will be from last; in 2004-05, he was picked last so most everyone was thrilled with their 2nd place finish. This year, however, he'll be picked to win the BSC title, so a 2nd place finish will have everyone blaming the coach and calling for his head!

The Big Human did his usual job; he even had us finish with the Bobcat Fight Song (which I estimate about 25% of the crowd knew). Watching Coach K work the crowd, it struck me how the griz fans just can't fathom why we like this guy so much when they think he's only gotten us "mediocre" results thus far. I now know why they feel that way: For close to 10 years now, they've either been led by a dud (Dennehy) or a snake-oil salesman (Glenn & Hauck).

Yes, those 3 have continued the Griz football tradition, but even a staunch griz fan would have to admit they weren't or aren't always the most likeable guys. I've heard many people talk about how personable Glenn was, but I've heard just many refer to him as phony (an opinion I agree with that was pretty evident when he left missoula). Bobby? Well, we all know the various opinions of him & his total lack of respect for MSU. Hauck & Glenn both have shown themselves to be pretty poor losers as well; sorry griz fans, but even though you only lose 2 or 3 games a year, your coaches should still know how to handle it with a little (or a lot) more class. As I said in another post, Kramer just makes you feel GOOD about the program and where we're headed and he does it WITHOUT bashing any other player, coach, or team. You really can't help but like the guy.

Kramer, as usual, had nothing but praise for the Griz program and continued his theme of "climbing the mountain" to get our program where their's is. It's funny to me that Mike has yet to win a playoff game for us & we love him; compare that to Glenn winning the Griz a National Championship yet you'll find a significant amount of animosity toward him from a number of griz fans.

For the record, Coach told me he puts us #1 in the Sky (although coaches aren't allowed to vote for their own team in the poll), EWU second, the Griz #3, with PSU 4th.

I can see your agument with Hauck but show me one time where Glenn was a sore loser. Even after the Cats broke the streak he gave them all the credit in the world and said no rivalry should be that lopsided.

Glenn was much more personable to the fans, and especially to the press than Kramer. I think Kramer is a nice guy, but Joe Glenn was one of those guys you would meet for 5 minutes, and a year down the road he would still remember your name. I don't call that phony.

You could call the way he left Missoula phony for a higher paying and higher level job, but my instinct tells me that if Kramer got the same type of deal he wouldn't act any different.

I don't understand why someone said there is animosity towards Glenn from Griz fans. It was a bad situation when he left and there was some resentment in that, but if you check eGriz during football season there are always posts on how Wyoming is doing and ALWAYS posts wishing Coach Glenn the best.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:50 pm

Nick wrote:
El_Gato wrote:Coach Kramer update:

Coach is in the Flathead this weekend, playing in the Flathead Lake Bobcat Booster golf tourney today in Ronan and the Bobcat Open in Kalispell on Saturday.

Last night I attended a dinner near Polson where Coach K, Mick, and Peter Fields all spoke & I'd say we've got a GREAT team of people handling athletics at MSU.

Mick commented on how different this BBall season will be from last; in 2004-05, he was picked last so most everyone was thrilled with their 2nd place finish. This year, however, he'll be picked to win the BSC title, so a 2nd place finish will have everyone blaming the coach and calling for his head!

The Big Human did his usual job; he even had us finish with the Bobcat Fight Song (which I estimate about 25% of the crowd knew). Watching Coach K work the crowd, it struck me how the griz fans just can't fathom why we like this guy so much when they think he's only gotten us "mediocre" results thus far. I now know why they feel that way: For close to 10 years now, they've either been led by a dud (Dennehy) or a snake-oil salesman (Glenn & Hauck).

Yes, those 3 have continued the Griz football tradition, but even a staunch griz fan would have to admit they weren't or aren't always the most likeable guys. I've heard many people talk about how personable Glenn was, but I've heard just many refer to him as phony (an opinion I agree with that was pretty evident when he left missoula). Bobby? Well, we all know the various opinions of him & his total lack of respect for MSU. Hauck & Glenn both have shown themselves to be pretty poor losers as well; sorry griz fans, but even though you only lose 2 or 3 games a year, your coaches should still know how to handle it with a little (or a lot) more class. As I said in another post, Kramer just makes you feel GOOD about the program and where we're headed and he does it WITHOUT bashing any other player, coach, or team. You really can't help but like the guy.

Kramer, as usual, had nothing but praise for the Griz program and continued his theme of "climbing the mountain" to get our program where their's is. It's funny to me that Mike has yet to win a playoff game for us & we love him; compare that to Glenn winning the Griz a National Championship yet you'll find a significant amount of animosity toward him from a number of griz fans.

For the record, Coach told me he puts us #1 in the Sky (although coaches aren't allowed to vote for their own team in the poll), EWU second, the Griz #3, with PSU 4th.
I can see your agument with Hauck but show me one time where Glenn was a sore loser. Even after the Cats broke the streak he gave them all the credit in the world and said no rivalry should be that lopsided.

Glenn was much more personable to the fans, and especially to the press than Kramer. I think Kramer is a nice guy, but Joe Glenn was one of those guys you would meet for 5 minutes, and a year down the road he would still remember your name. I don't call that phony.

You could call the way he left Missoula phony for a higher paying and higher level job, but my instinct tells me that if Kramer got the same type of deal he wouldn't act any different.

I don't understand why someone said there is animosity towards Glenn from Griz fans. It was a bad situation when he left and there was some resentment in that, but if you check eGriz during football season there are always posts on how Wyoming is doing and ALWAYS posts wishing Coach Glenn the best.

I have no animosity towards Glenn at all. He was a class act in a very similiar in regards to Kramer as far as RA RA with the fans/boosters etc. To me that is what athletics and competition is all about. If you don't have energy/passion/love the kids/fan then why even coach? To me, Hauck doesn't seem to have any of that except to 'GET AHEAD' to a better job. He just seems bitter to me. Maybe that is just me.

theblackgecko · Post by **theblackgecko** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:56 pm

As someone who uses the moniker Joe "Judas" Glenn, there's animosity from a decent segment of Griz country. I'd say between 30% to 60%, anecdotally.

El Gato wrote:For the record, Coach told me he puts us #1 in the Sky (although coaches aren't allowed to vote for their own team in the poll), EWU second, the Griz #3, with PSU 4th.

The non-conference schedule will have a large impact in determining what happens to the Bobcats this season. If Kramer continues his woeful non-conference performance, the 'Cats will be forced into a very difficult autobid race. On the other hand, if Kramer can win 3 of 4 in the non-conference games, a 5-2 record in conference would be good enough for the playoffs.
I'm more of a pessimist toward the Bobcats chances in conference than Kramer.
If Eastern Washington, Montana, and Montana State can all go 3-1 (or better) in their solid non-conference schedules it will put the 'Sky very close to getting three bids and make the Big Sky conference race a battle for home games and high seeds.

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 3:55 pm

Just my opinion but even mentioning Glenn in the same breath as Hauck is uncontainable. Glenn has more class in his ear wax the Hauck will ever have.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:16 pm

Ponycat wrote:Just my opinion but even mentioning Glenn in the same breath as Hauck is uncontainable. Glenn has more class in his ear wax the Hauck will ever have.

Have to totally agree. I thought Glenn was a great griz coach & a class act ala Coach Kramer. Seems very personable and never smacked the opponent. My read on the griz fans dissing him boils down to the fact that he left with zip notice to take a better job. What coach would pass up the offer to advance?

Hauck on the other hand may be a good coach (yet to be determined), but definitley gives the impression of a 'spoiled brat'. I've never met the guy, but could be he has a "wedgie" due to the pressure to keep the griz on top and can't relax a bit. Just doesn't come off as a guy I respect so far.

CatFamily · Post by **CatFamily** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:50 pm

Agree, Glenn and Don Read (sp?) were great for the state of Montana and football... obviously look what they did with the Griz program which was struggling before Coach Read came aboard. They are much the same as Jim Sweeny and Sonny Holland were for the Bobcats... two great coaches and individuals, and all of them class acts above and beyond, and I think Coach Kramer has the ability to be in that class of coaches too. Hauck may or may not prove to be a good coach, but he certainly does not have the charisma or character of any of the 5 coaches mentioned.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:59 pm

Just for clarification, I have met Coach Hauck many times.

He is a very nice guy. The best word to describe him on the field though is passionate. Sometimes his emotions get the best of him -- Griz-Cat game included. He has a problem sometimes with not leaving it all on the field. Krames did it a few times in his first two years (ala spouting off during press conferences). But that doesn't mean Krames is a bad guy or bratty guy. Ever been pissed and said something that you didn't mean to? His attitude needs to come off better yes, but in real life he is a classy guy. Alot of Cat fans tend to pick and choose stories about him.

Personality wise, he is no Coach Glenn or Read, but he's working on it.

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:02 pm

Honestly, I have probably talked about Baby to 50 Griz fans and you are only the second one who has used classy and Bobbyt Hauck in the same sentence. THe other was his former roommate.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 5:59 pm

Nick wrote:His attitude needs to come off better yes, but in real life he is a classy guy.

Yeah, Baby is a classy guy who I hear likes to pee on Bobcat paraphenilia at family gatherings...

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:02 pm

...And wont go on a certain sports Radio show because its in Bozeman, even thought the Athletic Director and Mens and Women's b-ball coach will.

Eastcoastgriz · Post by **Eastcoastgriz** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:53 pm

Ponycat wrote:Honestly, I have probably talked about Baby to 50 Griz fans and you are only the second one who has used classy and Bobbyt Hauck in the same sentence. THe other was his former roommate.

I have also met Coach H (and many of his family members) all are great people. We are lucky to have a coach with his passion for the game, his players and the university. I hope we can keep him in Msla for years to come. Under his leadership the Griz will continue to be the STAR of the BSC and one of the perennial IAA powerhouses.

I can understand your dislike for the man after another solid win last year in Msla. That dislike will only grow after we do the same in bozo this fall.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:22 pm

I've yet to hear a non-Griz fan say anything overwhelmingly nice about him. A few 'he seems like a good guy' from people who have just had a quick stop-n-chat with him.

Have to remember that he is young and probably has a chip on his shoulder from never playing college ball. It's as if he's trying too hard. If he'd just snap out of the anti-MSU thing he is carrying on about, all would be forgotten. He really seems to have that engrained in his head and it is kind of creepy.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:39 pm

Esatcoastgriz,
Make no mistake in knowing that Hauck was disliked for his arrogance and blatant, public displays of treacherous sportsmanship long before last year's cat/griz. I have no problem with a guy being intense during the game. But his behavior after games he loses is pitiful and there are plenty of Griz fans out there, who I playfully argue with on a regular basis, who completely agree. In speaking to his leadership, we'll see how his teams are in two years when his recruiting classes begin to take on a higher percentage of starting positions with the team.

As to Coach K, I love being around him. He truly has the energy of youthfulness. One aspect that hasn't been mentioned on this site is what he is also doing to promote Bobcat athletics with youth. Last year, we went to a kid's day up at the stadium where Coach K, his staff, and all of the players spent the afternoon hanging out with area youth and their families. Not only were they there, but they were interacting with the kids; they absolutely love it and spend the rest of the season following the players they got to know. There was some serious games of kids chasing players and gang piling them. And who was the main instigator in this? Kramer himself yelling out instructions to the kids and planning strategy on who to get next. On top of all of this, he was constantly being asked to take photos which he happily obliged. I can honestly say the photo he took with my Dad is the number one reason my Dad is a Bobcat fan and can't wait to come down for some games this Fall.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:16 pm

Eastcoastgriz wrote:I hope we can keep him in Msla for years to come.

Finally, something we can agree on!

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:45 pm

It remains to be seen how Hauck does on his own without players he did not recruit and if the U of M mistique can continue to produce winners regardless of the coach. I have said this before but I know that Hauck's first recruiting class was considered by many BSC coaches as a D-II type of class. It may turn out to be better than expected but his recruiting capability will be suspect until he wins on his own.