A quick review of Mac's job performance

[Bufffan68]

When Mac took over 2 years ago, he inherited a program that was, to properly apply previously and inaccurately used invective, burned to the ground. In 2 years he has made us competitive in most PAC12 games, fired a bad DC, hired a great one, increased the talent level and made CU football at least kinda fun to watch again. I know there is still work to be done and we need more Ws this season, but considering what he inherited, he is doing a good job IMO. Some criticize him for lackluster recruiting and not enough Ws, but considering where we were at, I don't mind cutting him some slack...for now. Keep up the good work Mac!!!

 

[onealcd]

Yeah I think the only complaints I hear is
1) lack of recruits with P5 offers or Blue chippers
2) Could not close out games

But these things seem to be tied together at some level so it can be a quick turnaround.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

I personally believe that overall MacIntyre has done a good job. Last year was the most competitive I have seen CU since 2008. That being said, the honeymoon phase is over. The excuses are gone. Time to put up or ship out. We have to start winning games and recruiting battles. Period. The fan base has been patient with HCMM for the most part, and I think that good-will, will end if we see a repeat of last year.

For me to be content with this season, CU needs to win at a minimum 5 games. The overall recruiting class ranking is going to be crap this year regardless because of how few spots we have available, unless they punch way above their weight class, so in that regard I just want the average star rating to be 2.9 or higher and the majority of our recruits to have other P5 offers.

Facilities: check
Coaching Upgrades: check
Uniforms: check
Admin backing: check
Loosened academic standards: check

There are no excuses anymore. We will have an experienced team. We will have dynamic players at most skill positions. We have a very winnable road schedule this year. MacIntyre needs to get it done.

 

[Joe Theismann's Leg]

When people criticize HCMM I think they forget the total and complete shambles that CU was in before he got here. People on this board attack his recruiting as not being good enough for a Pac-12 school and that some of our recruits are MWC worthy... Well, under MacIntyre SJSU was a top 25 team and I think any of us would be okay with a top 25 ranking for CU within the next few seasons.

 

[Bufffan68]

I personally believe that overall MacIntyre has done a good job. Last year was the most competitive I have seen CU since 2008. That being said, the honeymoon phase is over. The excuses are gone. Time to put up or ship out. We have to start winning games and recruiting battles. Period. The fan base has been patient with HCMM for the most part, and I think that good-will, will end if we see a repeat of last year.

For me to be content with this season, CU needs to win at a minimum 5 games. The overall recruiting class ranking is going to be crap this year regardless because of how few spots we have available, unless they punch way above their weight class, so in that regard I just want the average star rating to be 2.9 or higher and the majority of our recruits to have other P5 offers.

Facilities: check
Coaching Upgrades: check
Uniforms: check
Admin backing: check
Loosened academic standards: check

There are no excuses anymore. We will have an experienced team. We will have dynamic players at most skill positions. We have a very winnable road schedule this year. MacIntyre needs to get it done.

Largely agree. He needs to show more improvement this season and win at least 1 conference game which to me means 4-5 wins.

I'm willing to give him through 2016 as he will have a roster full of his upperclassmen and a very favorable schedule. If this year is a repeat of last year, his seat will get warmer...if he doesn't perform in 2016, he needs to go.

BTW...new unis? Can you provide a link as I'd like more info. Thanks.

 

[Buffnik]

Recruiting = C
Game Management = B
Record = F
Staffing = B

Everything else, I give him an A.

I'm probably higher on his game management than others, but I recognize it from the Parcells school. It's about doing what you can to hang in as long as possible to give the team a chance to make a play to win. With a roster that's known nothing but losing, keeping it close and giving them a chance builds confidence. I expect him to become less conservative as the team learns to handle adversity and to win.

I'm a believer in the program he's running. But it needs to start showing up in the win column this year.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

Largely agree. He needs to show more improvement this season and win at least 1 conference game which to me means 4-5 wins.

I'm willing to give him through 2016 as he will have a roster full of his upperclassmen and a very favorable schedule. If this year is a repeat of last year, his seat will get warmer...if he doesn't perform in 2016, he needs to go.

BTW...new unis? Can you provide a link as I'd like more info. Thanks.

Nothing solid. Just know that something was shown in the new Facilities renders and that current players have been involved in new uniform decisions.

 

[SD Buff]

Recruiting on paper has been slightly behind what we've unfortunately become accustomed to over the majority of the past decade. But will say it over and over, outside the elite classes where its obvious you are loading up with next level kids year in and year out, I could not give a rip less if a class is ranked 40 or 60. BFD, its all on paper.

What we will see this year and next is whether the kids MacIntyre is bringing in to the program can perform on the field after a couple years. If we have more Gillams', Thompson's, Awuzie's, etc. this program will get back to playing ~.500. When that happens - with the completion of shiny new facilities, MacIntyre and his staff need to step their game up on the recruiting trail and engage in drama filled battles with PAC and P5 programs. This whole thing is a process from the very freakn bottom to where we expect and need to be. Was never a quick fix. And you don't accomplish that by chasing broken toys who have alleged P5 offers to boost your paper recruiting rankings. Kids that are more concerned about ladies night vs. winning football games. Kids that don't love the game.

You accomplish it by signing a class that is going to be at CU for the next 4-5 years, that will grow and develop. That is a healthy foundation and one that you build on when its strong enough to support the next level.

If MacIntyre is not the one who will ultimately get it done, then this will be a much more attractive job during our next search. But as of today, there is a lot to be positive about and hopefully it will transition into the season.

 

[DBT]

I really like Mac, man. For me, he's easy to pull for. The previous two guys were not. And I hate saying that about Embree but he just developed a "me against the world" persona which turned me off. I do agree with Nik. I think Mac's game day coaching is pretty good. Especially compared to the previous two guys. Mac has a really good balance between passion and control. I'm one who loved him going after the officials after the Oregon St. loss. At the same time, he has made an effort to be much more in control after tough losses in his post game interviews. He appears to learn from his mistakes. I like that.

 

[Bufffan68]

When people criticize HCMM I think they forget the total and complete shambles that CU was in before he got here. People on this board attack his recruiting as not being good enough for a Pac-12 school and that some of our recruits are MWC worthy... Well, under MacIntyre SJSU was a top 25 team and I think any of us would be okay with a top 25 ranking for CU within the next few seasons.

It seems to me the more vocal critics of Mac don't take into account the context of the complete **** sandwich he inherited. Few coaches of note would've wanted to come to Boulder 2 years ago, so considering what MB had to work with in hiring he did a good job with Mac. This job will be much more coveted in a few years when the facilities are built and we're back bowling.

 

[BuffsNYC]

I like MM and I'm positive he will be a successful college head coach (at CU if given time, somewhere else if not). That being said, the only data set that matters is wins and CU should have won more than 2 games last season. I think that was an aberration and I expect MM's teams to punch at or above their weight in most years.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

I don't think people necessarily forget about the mess the program was in when he got here, I just think the people that aren't impressed with MM have unrealistic expectations. CU made the jump to the Pac 12 at the worst time possible, from a competitive standpoint. Just didn't have the athletes to compete with the spread style offenses and ultra-fast defenses in the P12. As MM's recruiting efforts have been geared toward fixing those deficiencies, we've seen a much more competitive team, as a whole.

 

[DavisBuff]

I am very hopeful that MMac is the right guy to get us back on track. Most all of the signs are positive. A few more recruiting victories would have been nice. The recruits we have may develop into great players under this staff. It is just we weren't able to close on kids with other Pac 12 offers. But, most all other areas have shown drastic improvement and hopefully recruiting will bump up with the facilities and some wins. It is a process to rebuild, MMac has us moving forward and even at 2-10 we were fun to watch. no matter the record in 2015 Mmac should have through 2016 to prove he his the right guy. Personally I think we go bowling this year and
it is a mute point.

 

[Darth Snow]

I really like Mac, man. For me, he's easy to pull for. The previous two guys were not. And I hate saying that about Embree but he just developed a "me against the world" persona which turned me off. I do agree with Nik. I think Mac's game day coaching is pretty good. Especially compared to the previous two guys. Mac has a really good balance between passion and control. I'm one who loved him going after the officials after the Oregon St. loss. At the same time, he has made an effort to be much more in control after tough losses in his post game interviews. He appears to learn from his mistakes. I like that.

Dude, you liked the HaLk plenty :lol:

 

[DiggerBuffs]

Yeah I think the only complaints I hear is
1) lack of recruits with P5 offers or Blue chippers
2) Could not close out games

But these things seem to be tied together at some level so it can be a quick turnaround.

Nailed it on the head. Everyone was feeling good about the Buffs and people wanted to come here after we gave Alabama a scare and our 2008 class was supposed to be Top 20 in the country. Unfortunately Will Pericak and Rodney Stewart were the highest impact guys and some of the lowest rated.

With a small class next year (my guess is 12), it's great to see 50 offers out there, but they need to be patient. They need to wait and get guys that can help them immediately at LB, provide another spark at WR like a Fields type and get another QB since Sefo will be a Senior the following year.

Mac has a huge next 12 months. I still have faith he is the guy. I am glad for the most part others feel the same. A college analogy: Right now it is just after mid-terms of junior year for Mac and he's got a C in a very important class. How he finishes over the next 12 months will show whether he progresses or ends up having to drop out of the program.

 

[slider]

:lurks:

 

[dio]

Recruiting and Wins, the most important standard to ME, are not good. Still, seems responsive, the team is playing better, and I like how he's addressed the staff.

He had got to get W's next year.

 

[Bufffan68]

I don't think people necessarily forget about the mess the program was in when he got here, I just think the people that aren't impressed with MM have unrealistic expectations. CU made the jump to the Pac 12 at the worst time possible, from a competitive standpoint. Just didn't have the athletes to compete with the spread style offenses and ultra-fast defenses in the P12. As MM's recruiting efforts have been geared toward fixing those deficiencies, we've seen a much more competitive team, as a whole.

True. Another part of the context is the fact he is rebuilding in, what I think is indisputable, the best division in all of CFB. The PAC12 South had 5 ranked teams and went 4-1 in their bowl games, and they don't seem to be losing much in 2015. Normally I would expect to be bowling this season, but I understand it takes more time to be competitive in the PAC12 South, so I'm looking to 2016 before I change my mind on Mac.

 

[Duff Man]

Will wait to see how the coaching staff shakes out the next couple seasons before I definitively say he is acing that part of the job. How it all shakes out will directly affect recruiting if we start winning.

 

[Bufffan68]

Another potential point in Mac's plus column...strategic recruitment of JUCO transfers. Thoughts?

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Another potential point in Mac's plus column...strategic recruitment of JUCO transfers. Thoughts?

Can someone shed light on how often we were recruiting JUCO guys, prior to HCMM? It seems to be a point of emphasis for him, in order to bring in quality contributors that have a year a "next level" competition and physical development, to win a little quicker. However, academic standards that CU has kept high for football players in years past haven't really been conducive for bringing in JUCO kids, correct? If that's the case, I would credit Rick George (as well as MM) in getting through to the administration that they need some of the academic standards "loosened" in order to bring in the necessary talent.

 

[CUFan]

Can someone shed light on how often we were recruiting JUCO guys, prior to HCMM? It seems to be a point of emphasis for him, in order to bring in quality contributors that have a year a "next level" competition and physical development, to win a little quicker. However, academic standards that CU has kept high for football players in years past haven't really been conducive for bringing in JUCO kids, correct? If that's the case, I would credit Rick George (as well as MM) in getting through to the administration that they need some of the academic standards "loosened" in order to bring in the necessary talent.

I think it's generally not abnormal academic standards, it's CU not accepting enough of the JUCO credits from kids (due mostly to not having the corresponding majors).

 

[Buffnik]

Can someone shed light on how often we were recruiting JUCO guys, prior to HCMM? It seems to be a point of emphasis for him, in order to bring in quality contributors that have a year a "next level" competition and physical development, to win a little quicker. However, academic standards that CU has kept high for football players in years past haven't really been conducive for bringing in JUCO kids, correct? If that's the case, I would credit Rick George (as well as MM) in getting through to the administration that they need some of the academic standards "loosened" in order to bring in the necessary talent.

It's not that CU has loosened things so much as the NCAA changed policy in a way that forced JUCO athletes to do coursework more in line with what it would take to get admitted to CU. That really doesn't take effect until this coming year, but some guys and programs got a jump on it. Mostly, though, HCMM was very strategic in finding guys who were qualifiers out of high school and then developed while maintaining good academics on the JC level. He seems to be emphasizing December graduates, too. Once again an example of learning from mistakes after not having Carrell in the DL rotation for the 2014 as he had counted on.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Thank you both for the responses.

 

[buffaholic]

If you look at past successful rebuilds* and let that be your guide, recruiting rankings is not one of the leading indicators of a successful turnaround. Pretty much the only time that happens is when a very high profile HC is hired. Even then, that has been rare. In fact, it may be a contrarian indicator.

 

[Bufffan68]

If you look at past successful rebuilds* and let that be your guide, recruiting rankings is not one of the leading indicators of a successful turnaround. Pretty much the only time that happens is when a very high profile HC is hired. Even then, that has been rare. In fact, it may be a contrarian indicator.

That's a great point. How can a program turn things around if they need turning around in the first place? The highest rated classes usually go to perennial powers with large recruiting bases, a history of success and big budgets. CU, KState, USF, UCF, Cincinnati, TCU...none of these and other "famous" turnaround programs didn't get 4-5* right off the bat...many of them still don't and are still successful. To turnaround you have to change the culture, spot talent, coach them up and be good in the Xs and Os, and I think we have that with Mac.

 

[SD Buff]

Regarding JUCOs.

CU still has the same transfer standards that are above and beyond most everyone else. CU doesn't transfer credits for anything lower than a C. Others will transfer Ds. CU only transfers credits for classes towards a major offered at CU. Since CU doesn't offer general studies, PE, etc. most JUCOs don't have the credits for CU. As was already pointed out though, new NCAA JUCO standards limit the number of transferable PE and fluff courses for everyone. So it levels the playing field.

For the JUCOs this staff has brought in though -- they have all been FULL qualifiers out of HS. So its a different pool than the kid who didn't qualify and had to go JUCO to get eligible.

 

[pcbuff]

Last year we were out coached in the CSU game. Beyond that, we did okay. This year we need a couple conference wins. In my mind, we were a pass rush and PAC 12 level running back away. Our backs showed flashes, but had durability and consistency problems.

If he pitches no conference wins and keeps them all close this season, will you continue to be this patient? I won't. Continued progression means wins. Anything else is just sunshine and koolaide.

 

[ahoelsken]

I really like Mac, man. For me, he's easy to pull for. The previous two guys were not. And I hate saying that about Embree but he just developed a "me against the world" persona which turned me off. I do agree with Nik. I think Mac's game day coaching is pretty good. Especially compared to the previous two guys. Mac has a really good balance between passion and control. I'm one who loved him going after the officials after the Oregon St. loss. At the same time, he has made an effort to be much more in control after tough losses in his post game interviews. He appears to learn from his mistakes. I like that.

I think everybody who posts on here really likes him. I also think he has us in a better spot than when he and his staff got here, and that in itself is impressive. I'm with most-Mac and staff need to take another step this coming year, and turn a fair amount of the games that we lost in a close fashion in 2014 to wins this coming year. The DC change, especially given we wound up with a name like Jim Leavitt, was big. It took guts for MM to can a guy he worked with for several years and brought here from San Jose State.

 

[Dark Bohner]

Recruiting and Wins, the most important standard to ME, are not good. Still, seems responsive, the team is playing better, and I like how he's addressed the staff.

He had got to get W's next year.

Wins are all that matters. If MM is winning then recruiting is working. I could care less about a top 15 class that has absolutely no impact on the program winning more games (Thank you Dan Hawkins 2007).