Chronicle Article on Kramer
Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:53 pm
The latest article on line- probably tomorrows print edition.
Kramer: "This program has not run amok"
By TIM DUMAS Chronicle Sports Writer
After nearly a week of talks - and a 15-hour round trip - Mike Kramer has decided to remain as Montana State's head football coach.
Upon returning from Moscow, Idaho, Thursday night, Kramer told University of Idaho athletic director Rob Spear he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the vacant head coaching position at the school.
Kramer was in Moscow most of the day Thursday to interview with school president Tim White and Spear. Idaho is looking to replace former Montana State quarterback and coach Dennis Erickson, who left Saturday to take the head job at Arizona State.
"I made the decision in consultation with my family," Kramer said at a press conference at MSU on Friday morning. "And I called Mr. Spear last night at 10:30 and said, 'I will not be a candidate for the head the coaching position at your university.'"
Kramer, 52, was a finalist for the job earlier this year before Erickson took the job, stayed there 10 months and led the Vandals to a 4-8 record.
Kramer appeared to be a good fit for Idaho, where he played his college football and graduated in 1977. He and his wife's family are from the area and Kramer has 13 years of head coaching experience on his resume.
But all that changed Thursday night.
"We discussed the position and had a very good visit," Spear said in an e-mail early Friday afternoon. "At the end of the day, we mutually agreed it was not the right move for Mike or for the University of Idaho."
The news came as a relief to junior linebacker Will Claggett.
"The past couple of days have been confusing and wondering where we're going to be," he said from his home in California. "With him doing that, it makes us feel a lot more comfortable and now we can go on for next year."
MSU athletic director Peter Fields, speaking Friday from Chattanooga, Tenn., where the FCS national championship game will be played tonight, said Kramer's choice started to become clear after his interview was completed.
"He indicated (Thursday) afternoon to me that he was thinking about (withdrawing his name) when he was driving back from Idaho," Fields said. "Now it's time for us to sit down and evaluate our program."
Kramer holds a 40-43 record in seven years at Montana State and his teams have won three Big Sky Conference championships. His 40 wins are third all-time at MSU, one behind Cliff Hysell and seven behind Sonny Holland.
"With the whole situation, I thought there was a high possibility that he could be leaving," senior safety Ryan Force said. "But at the same time, I think he has intentions at Montana State that he had set with (trying to win) the national championship.
"With what he's done over those seven years and with the type of players that he's brought in, it's good for the program."
There is speculation that Monday's arrest of current player Andre Fuller and former players Eddie Sullivan and Derrick Davis on drug-related charges had a role in Kramer not landing the job.
Another former player, John Lebrum, was arrested in June along with former basketball player Branden Miller, and charged in the murder of Jason Wright.
Kramer acknowledged that the arrests were part of his reasoning for not going to Idaho.
"I told Rob (Spear) that this situation at Montana State requires my leadership," Kramer said. "I'm talking about the arrest and the ongoing legal situation of Andre Fuller, and even our ex-players, because the last thing that I want to do is leave a program with the feeling that there's some work undone. I want to get this issue resolved."
Kramer met with his coaching staff at 8 a.m. Friday to discuss the recent events.
"We talked at length about the process we're involved with right now in regard to the arrest of Andre and what it means to us," he said. "I think I have a long process ahead of me to reassure our university, our university community, the fans, the boosters, that this is not a program run amok."
Claggett stated that it is now more important than ever to set a good example and to regain the public's trust.
"We're going to go out there and do everything that we can and do the right thing for the community, whether that be volunteering or setting a good example," he said. "Just sitting back and being a football player isn't going to cut it anymore."
Kramer: "This program has not run amok"
By TIM DUMAS Chronicle Sports Writer
After nearly a week of talks - and a 15-hour round trip - Mike Kramer has decided to remain as Montana State's head football coach.
Upon returning from Moscow, Idaho, Thursday night, Kramer told University of Idaho athletic director Rob Spear he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the vacant head coaching position at the school.
Kramer was in Moscow most of the day Thursday to interview with school president Tim White and Spear. Idaho is looking to replace former Montana State quarterback and coach Dennis Erickson, who left Saturday to take the head job at Arizona State.
"I made the decision in consultation with my family," Kramer said at a press conference at MSU on Friday morning. "And I called Mr. Spear last night at 10:30 and said, 'I will not be a candidate for the head the coaching position at your university.'"
Kramer, 52, was a finalist for the job earlier this year before Erickson took the job, stayed there 10 months and led the Vandals to a 4-8 record.
Kramer appeared to be a good fit for Idaho, where he played his college football and graduated in 1977. He and his wife's family are from the area and Kramer has 13 years of head coaching experience on his resume.
But all that changed Thursday night.
"We discussed the position and had a very good visit," Spear said in an e-mail early Friday afternoon. "At the end of the day, we mutually agreed it was not the right move for Mike or for the University of Idaho."
The news came as a relief to junior linebacker Will Claggett.
"The past couple of days have been confusing and wondering where we're going to be," he said from his home in California. "With him doing that, it makes us feel a lot more comfortable and now we can go on for next year."
MSU athletic director Peter Fields, speaking Friday from Chattanooga, Tenn., where the FCS national championship game will be played tonight, said Kramer's choice started to become clear after his interview was completed.
"He indicated (Thursday) afternoon to me that he was thinking about (withdrawing his name) when he was driving back from Idaho," Fields said. "Now it's time for us to sit down and evaluate our program."
Kramer holds a 40-43 record in seven years at Montana State and his teams have won three Big Sky Conference championships. His 40 wins are third all-time at MSU, one behind Cliff Hysell and seven behind Sonny Holland.
"With the whole situation, I thought there was a high possibility that he could be leaving," senior safety Ryan Force said. "But at the same time, I think he has intentions at Montana State that he had set with (trying to win) the national championship.
"With what he's done over those seven years and with the type of players that he's brought in, it's good for the program."
There is speculation that Monday's arrest of current player Andre Fuller and former players Eddie Sullivan and Derrick Davis on drug-related charges had a role in Kramer not landing the job.
Another former player, John Lebrum, was arrested in June along with former basketball player Branden Miller, and charged in the murder of Jason Wright.
Kramer acknowledged that the arrests were part of his reasoning for not going to Idaho.
"I told Rob (Spear) that this situation at Montana State requires my leadership," Kramer said. "I'm talking about the arrest and the ongoing legal situation of Andre Fuller, and even our ex-players, because the last thing that I want to do is leave a program with the feeling that there's some work undone. I want to get this issue resolved."
Kramer met with his coaching staff at 8 a.m. Friday to discuss the recent events.
"We talked at length about the process we're involved with right now in regard to the arrest of Andre and what it means to us," he said. "I think I have a long process ahead of me to reassure our university, our university community, the fans, the boosters, that this is not a program run amok."
Claggett stated that it is now more important than ever to set a good example and to regain the public's trust.
"We're going to go out there and do everything that we can and do the right thing for the community, whether that be volunteering or setting a good example," he said. "Just sitting back and being a football player isn't going to cut it anymore."
Do you waste the rest of your life like you do here with your wonderful posts on Bobcat nation? Come on, you can do better than that. I hope, for your own self-esteem, that Bobby gets that coaching job that you've always wanted. And uofm hires a coach that can finally help them win more nc's than the cats. In reality, Martha Stewarts polishing brass on the Titanic...its all going down Eastcoastgriz.
Especially while you're putting down everything in your midst longingly wishing you were "back home" in fizzleagainland 
Better yet, watch the movie--wait--that was filmed in and around Bozo