Arizona Board of Regents approve Souers contract extension

[NAU_Alum10]

As an alum I cant say im happy about this...looks like AD and University president ignored the boosters and alums. Felt that if any year would be the year to do it this would be the year. With the comming renovations this would of been the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and start over but....im speechless.

here is a few articles with the details:

nau : http://www.nauathletics.com/sports/fbal ... 0.10souers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

flagstaff az daily sun: http://azdailysun.com/sports/article_7a ... ccfe9.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dbackjon]

Stupid.

Time for a new AD.

[EWURanger]

I don't think JS has been that bad a coach at NAU. His biggest problem is that he's been unable to win the big ones.

[clenz]

I don't think JS has been that bad a coach at NAU. His biggest problem is that he's been unable to win the big ones.

So what you are saying is:

"He isn't a bad coach, he just doesn't win anything"

[EWURanger]

I don't think JS has been that bad a coach at NAU. His biggest problem is that he's been unable to win the big ones.

So what you are saying is:

"He isn't a bad coach, he just doesn't win anything"

NAU is always pretty competitive, generally in the top echelon of the Big Sky. Just seems Souers tends to lose those couple games a year that would put them in a position to win a share of the conference or get them into the playoffs. Not saying he's great, but it's nowhere the situation ISU and UNC had, or PSU with Glanville the past few years. His teams generally have winning records at least.

[clenz]

So what you are saying is:

"He isn't a bad coach, he just doesn't win anything"

NAU is always pretty competitive, generally in the top echelon of the Big Sky. Just seems Souers tends to lose those couple games a year that would put them in a position to win a share of the conference or get them into the playoffs. Not saying he's great, but it's nowhere the situation ISU and UNC has, or PSU with Glanville.

So he wins 4 or 5 games a year.

That doesn't sound like a good coach. If I were NAU I'd be pissed he was resigned. Every year it seems there is hype coming from NAU about how good they should be, only to have them end the season with 4-6 wins.

[NAU_Alum10]

I don't think JS has been that bad a coach at NAU. His biggest problem is that he's been unable to win the big ones.

In all due respect EWURanger…you say this as your in the playoffs and we again are sitting home watching.

Tired of the 6-5 and 5-6 seasons after we hear year after year from the program that they’ve fixed the problems and “this is the year” get ready its going to be a special season(tired of hearing the BS excuses). If we cant win with a great QB like Ole Miss transfer Herrick and the depth we had on defense this year, im pessimistic we do any better in the future with Souers at the helm. The thing that really gets me about this whole situation is how badly this team played with the season and playoffs on the line during homecoming to sac st. If a coach cant get his team up for a big game like that and shake of a tough loss from the week before, then you don’t belong in the business.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Yeah, I've gotta go with NAU Alum on this one. Souers has too many chances and no results that matter. He's gotta go. Bad decision by the AD.

[EWURanger]

I don't think JS has been that bad a coach at NAU. His biggest problem is that he's been unable to win the big ones.

In all due respect EWURanger…you say this as your in the playoffs and we again are sitting home watching.

Tired of the 6-5 and 5-6 seasons after we hear year after year from the program that they’ve fixed the problems and “this is the year” get ready its going to be a special season(tired of hearing the BS excuses). If we cant win with a great QB like Ole Miss transfer Herrick and the depth we had on defense this year, im pessimistic we do any better in the future with Souers at the helm. The thing that really gets me about this whole situation is how badly this team played with the season and playoffs on the line during homecoming to sac st. If a coach cant get his team up for a big game like that and shake of a tough loss from the week before, then you don’t belong in the business.

Fair enough, I should have looked into it a little more before I posted that. But for some reason, I thought NAU had better records the past few seasons. After looking into it:

2010: 6-5
2009: 5-6
2008: 6-5
2007: 6-5
2006: 6-5
2005: 3-8
2004: 4-7
2003: 9-4 (Last playoff appearance)
2002: 6-5
2001: 8-4 (playoffs)
2000: 3-8
1999: 8-4 (playoffs)
1998: 6-5

Maybe it was time for a change after all.

[JBS]

I have heard that NAU doesn't allow redshirt seasons. Is this true? If so, that could really hamper development of skill players and offensive linemen. Not an excuse for Souers, but certainly a possible reason for mediocre performance.

[dbackjon]

I have heard that NAU doesn't allow redshirt seasons. Is this true? If so, that could really hamper development of skill players and offensive linemen. Not an excuse for Souers, but certainly a possible reason for mediocre performance.

That is not true. One of my fraternity brother's sons red-shirted this year.

[JBS]

If I didn't get bad info I'd get no info at all. Thanks for the clarification. That makes Jerome look worse in my eyes.

[kemajic]

So what you are saying is:

"He isn't a bad coach, he just doesn't win anything"

NAU is always pretty competitive, generally in the top echelon of the Big Sky. Just seems Souers tends to lose those couple games a year that would put them in a position to win a share of the conference or get them into the playoffs. Not saying he's great, but it's nowhere the situation ISU and UNC had, or PSU with Glanville the past few years. His teams generally have winning records at least.

Jerome's 72-75 record in 13 years at NAU does not equate to "the top echelon of the Big Sky." He has never beaten his former employer, Montana. His teams usually start decently, but inevitably fall flat on their faces in the second half of the season. They must be satisfied with that.

[EWURanger]

NAU is always pretty competitive, generally in the top echelon of the Big Sky. Just seems Souers tends to lose those couple games a year that would put them in a position to win a share of the conference or get them into the playoffs. Not saying he's great, but it's nowhere the situation ISU and UNC had, or PSU with Glanville the past few years. His teams generally have winning records at least.

Jerome's 72-75 record in 13 years at NAU does not equate to "the top echelon of the Big Sky." He has never beaten his former employer, Montana. His teams usually start decently, but inevitably fall flat on their faces in the second half of the season. They must be satisfied with that.

If you had scrolled down a couple more posts - I recanted my earlier post. For some reason I thought NAU had more successful seasons under Souers. I was wrong.

[mtjack]

Don't know if I agree with every opinion stated here but 1.) I'm thrilled to see NAU fans...and even you, Kemajic.... give a shiznit enough to post/discuss this and 2.) I can definitely see more than one side to this decision by the A.D. and board of regents.

In the end, I'm surprised that Coach Souers wasn't let go after this year. This year wasn't the "collapse" that is brought up by other fan bases like the past two seasons. But that homecoming loss to Sacramento State was one of the first times in a while that I can say I was embarassed for the football team. The loss on the last play to UM and on the second to last play (or whatever the hell it was) vs. WSU were rough endings for this team but those rough endings seem to happen more often than not.

I don't doubt that Souers and his coaching staff care about their players. The academic production by players under Souers has improved. The negative player behavior newspaper headlines have become non-existent to minimal. Only 4 sub-.500 seasons out of 11. Rarely do I see a team that quits or gets blown out on the field. It rarely seems that effort is lacking. Those are the positives.

The negatives...end results. Playoff appearances for only 3 of 11 seasons. Six total middling 6-5 seasons. Decent student support but thoroughly lacking community support (that's a whole other topic that makes my head hurt). High expectations, close calls and a lot of "almosts" for a lot of teams with some pretty damned good talent.

In the end, I'm guessing it was either too much work for the A.D. to take on an overhaul, was not considered cost effective or the positive results in the classroom and in the community (i.e. staying out of trouble) trumped all else.

Whatever the case was, being an NAU alumni/fan is like being in a bad relationship. I just can't quit when common sense says I probably should. I'll be following the Lumberjacks again next season no matter how frustrating and gut-wrenching it proves to be. I have my hopes that this summer training program I've heard mentioned results in positive outcomes but that remains to be seen.

[kemajic]

Only 4 sub-.500 seasons out of 11.

Jerome has been there 13 seasons with 5 sub-.500 seasons, 72-75 overall. If he wasn't such a great guy he probably would have been gone years ago. Not too many guys get 13+ years to build a winner. Axman did far better.

[putter]

..would not be the first time a coach has been given an extension and then fired after......just sayin...

[mtjack]

Only 4 sub-.500 seasons out of 11.

Jerome has been there 13 seasons with 5 sub-.500 seasons, 72-75 overall. If he wasn't such a great guy he probably would have been gone years ago. Not too many guys get 13+ years to build a winner. Axman did far better.

Wow, I was way off on my counting there. Thanks for the fix, Kemajic.

Never heard (or was in the loop) as to why Axman was let go. His offense was fun to watch.