🏈 WCU coach hammers Herbstreit, praises Bentley & Saban, proclaims ‘Roll Tide’

[PhillyGirl]

http://yellowhammernews.com/politic...it-praises-bentley-saban-proclaims-roll-tide/

Western Carolina head football coach Mark Speir had something he needed to get off his chest during the post game press conference after his Catamounts fell 48-14 to top-ranked Alabama on Saturday.

Earlier in the day during ESPN’S College GameDay, analyst Kirk Herbstreit, a former college quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, criticized several SEC schools for playing FCS teams this week, even going as far as to call it “embarrassing.”

Speir, whose squad had been paid $480,000 to play Alabama, took exception to the comment. He said games like these help FCS schools fund their entire athletic department and give opportunities to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to go to college. Speir also noted that Troy Mitchell, the Catamounts quarterback, had a particularly memorable experience. Mitchell threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns and, in the process, eclipsed the school record for total yardage in a season.

“Guys get an education and we battled our butts off, playing games like this,” Speirsaid. “It sends people who wouldn’t have an opportunity to go to college and have great memories. Then a guy like Troy sets a record. You tell me that ain’t special.”

Speir then took direct aim at Herbstreit.

“A guy who had a silver spoon in his mouth all his life, Ohio State, prima donna state quarterback is talking about, ‘It’s an embarrassment.’ He ain’t ever coached,” Speir quipped. “I’m just proud of FCS football, I’m proud of our football team, I hope America doesn’t listen to a guy who sits behind a mic that hasn’t ever done it. With that silver spoon in his mouth, he probably never had a bloody nose or a callous like some of these guys.”

But in spite of the frustration Speir was clearly feeling toward Herbstreit, he had nothing by high praise for Alabama’s program, Saban, and even Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.

“(Alabama has a) governor who, until the employment rate went down, he ain’t taking a paycheck,” Speir said. “I wish some of those guys behind a (mic) would work for a living, too, instead of putting their opinions out there… But I love your governor here. I love this program here and I’ll give you a Roll Tide.”

 

[riz]

Poetry.

 

[252BAMA]

Screw him. Dirty coaching bastard.

 

[BigCrimson]

His team plays dirty. I have no respect for coaches that coach their players to do this and there's no doubt in my mind they were coached this way. There should be a letter written to him from Coach Saban letting him know that due to the dirty play that the University of Alabama will no longer be affording them games.

 

[bamaledge]

I agree, they targeted knees the entire game.

 

[planomateo]

Only $480k...dare I ask what their expenses were.

 

[BamaFan334]

It does appear to be a two sided argument that tends to benefit the aggressor in the conversation. On one hand you have a powerhouse scheduling an opponent in another lower level, so I can understand that point. On the other hand, those schools have some good athletes in their own right and should not be denied the opportunity to play against the big guns. Crappy high schools aren't kept from playing great ones. Then you have the argument where the money is used to find their entire program. Gotta play the game to get paid, earn that paycheck. And on the other end you have these people calling it pathetic, yet they gripe about the conditions like Grambling, where the walls are literally caving in on their facilities. These analyst cry and moan over that situation and how they deserve better, yet they want to strike down the opportunity for them to play a game and make the money needed to upgrade those sorry facilities. Like I said, it's not fun to watch those games, but I completely understand them from all perspectives. I think it's what makes college athletics great. Think about March Madness and all the fun we have that time of year if these smaller programs weren't allowed to participate.

 

[planomateo]

FBS teams should never play FCS.

 

[BamaFan334]

FBS teams should never play FCS.

Why don't you believe they should? I know it's 1:10,000, but Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and North Dakota State (plus others) have shown they can compete and sometimes pull the improbable. I had a buddy win $20,000 when Georgia Southern beat Florida because he put a $100 bet on his alma mater. Coach Saban also said Georgia Southern was the toughest team we played all year that last time they came to Bryant-Denny and that he would never schedule them again.

I am in agreement that those Saturday's suck for the most part and that season ticket holders pay good money to watch their team, and they should be treated to better games, but I'm not to the point if saying we should never play an FCS team. I think it should be minimal, maybe one or two games. For the most part, we beat a Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss just as badly as we do some FCS teams.

 

[planomateo]

Why don't you believe they should? I know it's 1:10,000, but Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and North Dakota State (plus others) have shown they can compete and sometimes pull the improbable. I had a buddy win $20,000 when Georgia Southern beat Florida because he put a $100 bet on his alma mater. Coach Saban also said Georgia Southern was the toughest team we played all year that last time they came to Bryant-Denny and that he would never schedule them again.

I am in agreement that those Saturday's suck for the most part and that season ticket holders pay good money to watch their team, and they should be treated to better games, but I'm not to the point if saying we should never play an FCS team. I think it should be minimal, maybe one or two games. For the most part, we beat a Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss just as badly as we do some FCS teams.

It's not an even playing field and its buying a win...how many teams do you see lining up to play NDSU, Ga Southern, or App State these days? There are plenty of crappy teams in the FBS (that frankly don't belong in the FBS) we should be scheduling if its about paying for a win and scheduling an easier opponent.

To start with.

1) Talent level...its not even close. Its like playing a high school team for the most part.
2) Scholarship limits....FCS has 63 vs FBS with 85 - this has a huge impact on the talent level.
3) Revenue levels, this impacts all kinds of things - the type of athletes that go to the school, the type of coaches willing to coach there, the travel they get to games, and tons of stuff on the backend (recovery equipment, nutrition, student support, etc)

NDSU has won the FCS championship 3 consecutive years at the stadium 6 miles south of my house. They have some of the coolest fans I've ever meet, as I get to see them around town every year

 

[BamaFan334]

It's not an even playing field and its buying a win...how many teams do you see lining up to play NDSU, Ga Southern, or App State these days? There are plenty of crappy teams in the FBS (that frankly don't belong in the FBS) we should be scheduling if its about paying for a win and scheduling an easier opponent.

To start with.

1) Talent level...its not even close. Its like playing a high school team for the most part.
2) Scholarship limits....FCS has 63 vs FBS with 85 - this has a huge impact on the talent level.
3) Revenue levels, this impacts all kinds of things - the type of athletes that go to the school, the type of coaches willing to coach there, the travel they get to games, and tons of stuff on the backend (recovery equipment, nutrition, student support, etc)

NDSU has won the FCS championship 3 consecutive years at the stadium 6 miles south of my house. They have some of the coolest fans I've ever meet, as I get to see them around town every year

I understand everything you're saying. No one wants to play the Bizon. Those boys will ruin your season if you're not careful.