COLUMN: Enos deserves more credit than he gets
A good coach needs passion for his job.
He needs to be wealthy in his knowledge of the sport.
He needs to know how to build up a talented roster.
Finally, a quality coach needs to win games.
Following Dan Enos’ second consecutive 3-9 season, I was only confident that he brought two of those things to the table.
As a former Michigan State quarterback and football coach of nine different universities, I didn’t doubt his football knowledge.
With young guys like Titus Davis, Courtney Williams, Anthony Garland, Cody Lopez and Ryan Petro on roster, it would be hard to argue Enos’ ability to bring in quality recruits.
What I have thought he has lacked has been his decision making down the stretch, his passion and obviously tallies in the win column.
Sitting in on his post-game press conference, I realized he has more passion than I’ve given him credit for.
Enos said he had a hard time comparing his two seasons at CMU.
“I think there’s been a significant improvement that wasn’t in the record, but as I look at our program, I think we practiced better, had almost no discipline issues; the things people don’t see,” he said.
In 18 minutes after the game, Enos talked about the talent CMU has, position-by-position.
He talked about his confidence in junior quarterback Ryan Radcliff, whose ability has been overshadowed by the team’s need to play catch-up consistently.
Enos showed a mix of emotions that proved to me his heart in this program and he has obviously proved that to Athletics Director Dave Heeke, who isn’t letting Enos go just yet.
He has expressed confidence in his coach’s passion and ability to rebuild CMU’s football team, calling him the future of the program.
While I don’t fully agree with all of Enos’ coaching decisions, he should have a little more time to prove his ability with such drastic changes made to the team’s scheme and roster.
Enos changed up the offensive scheme from Brian Kelly and Butch Jones’ spread to more of a pro-style offense and it’s not going to be changed back with him running the show.
Many people calling for his job want it back to the way it was ran under Kelly and Jones and that’s not going to happen in the near future.
Such a switch back would require another two years of rebuilding and even more disappointment with CMU football.
Put away your “Fire Enos” signs for one more year and if this team doesn’t finish with a winning record next season, by all means he’s yours.
As for the 2012 season, Radcliff described this team’s mentality well:
“Chin down, head up and keep fighting.”
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33 Comments
LOFL! Passion? Justin, that’s not passion, THAT’S DESPERATION! Enos knows the rope is about to be placed around his neck. If this is what 16 years of “football knowledge” has to offer, I would rather the players coached themselves! Nobody has questioned his ability to recruit, it’s everything else that’s bothersome! 3&9, 3&9 = window-licking-re-re boy!
”Nobody has questioned his ability to recruit, it’s everything else
that’s bothersome! 3&9, 3&9 = window-licking-re-re boy!”
Excuse me? While many of the comments on here are extremely offensive and absolutely ridiculous, this is the most offensive of them all. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for even typing that out.
I…I..you shouldn’t be allowed to even wear the Flying C.
when are we going to finally fire this clown
Where’s that fire ON the field, Justin? Where was that knowledge and emotion when he balked in the Kent State game and played for the TIE?! While the NCAA isn’t breathing down our necks for violations, Enos has had several players WALK AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM with no explanation or cause. While Heeke talks about Enos being the one to “rebuild” the program, the program DIDN’T NEED REBUILDING BEFORE ENOS GOT HERE! Yes, the loss of LeFevour et al was a setback, but certainly not a rebuilding. This team has gone backwards in the two years he’s been here. 2010 was a bunch of close losses, 2011 was full of blowouts and one (apparently lucky) conference win. Even the worst coach to date in CMU’s history, Mike DeBord, managed to win one more game every year than the one before when he was at the helm. The year after he didn’t, 2003, he got canned. CMU needs to follow the same pattern. CMU got BETTER, not WORSE, the year after replacing a pro offense (DeBord) to spread (Kelly), no reason to think it can’t happen again. Enos needs to go, he’s in over his head, and our talented recruits are getting wasted (I’ll give Enos this, he can recruit, he just can’t develop).
A wise post from a wise man, MarchingChip0306!
When Dan Enos arrived in Mount Pleasant, he inherited a young team, with an established championship culture on AND off the field, and the MAC’s top recruiting classes from BOTH 2008 and 2009.
Enos pulled a RichRod and proceeded to diss and dismiss all that CMU had accomplished since 2004. He was/is particularly cynical and disrespectful of the spread offense, despite the fact it helped win three championships in four years at CMU and ALL his inherited players were recruited for it.
Enos told his players they could no longer sprint to the other end of the field at the end of the 3rd quarter. He claimed they laughed at that at MSU. Despite claiming to be a strong Christian, he also put an abrupt hault to the players joining hands a praying at mid-field after the game (something the players initiated on their own under Jones). He said it was bush league and inappropriate for a public school.
On top of that, he brought former MSU assistant coach Buck Nystrom to Mount Pleasant to address the Chippewas at their first spring practice. Nystrom told the players their win over MSU the previous fall was a fluke, the spread offense was a gimmick, and that Enos would rebuild the CMU program in the mirror image of MSU. Several players wanted to hit him.
Dan Enos is a cancer to the Central Michigan University football program. Dave Heeke should send him back to East Lansing, where Enos would rather be anyway.
Tressel gone. JoePa gone. – they had winning teams but made poor judgement. Rich Rod gone. He had losing teams and lost support of the team, staff, alumni, students, and staff. Coach Enos is a nice guy that enherited a team with talent. He was able to attract talented freshmen.
Enos has consistently shown he doesn’t manage the clock, calls questionable plays, removes confidence from the team (very evident after halftime), and most of all the score board after two years has not shown any improvement.
It’s not the team, it’s the coach and it’s time for a new one.
Redefining “progress” is what those do who have none…..Enos, Obama……It is a “rebuilding” because he tore up a solid foundation in order to put in a dysfunctional “mini-Sparty” foundation. That is his problem.
It’s interesting how everyone is calling for Enos to be fired when no one has a said a dang thing about Ernie Ziegler. Enos inherited in all respect a horrible team. Taking one look at Ryan you can see that he cannot run the ball like Lefevour did. Butch Jones was going to leave because he can’t coach or win with his players, LeFevour, Anderson, Brown, Bellore, all of Kelly’s players. Honestly this program hit the highest point under Jones, but remember how everyone was calling for Jones head when the team went 8-6 in his first season after a 10-4 year with Kelly? Or in 2008 when the team went 8-5 and we lost to Ball St at home and then to Eastern the next week and didn’t end up in the MAC title game? Our program has only been to 6, I repeat 6 bowl games in our history. 4 of the 6 came under the leadership of Dan LeFevour as our QB. Granted we have only been in the FBS division since the 1980′s but still in 31 years only 6 bowl games. What message would we be sending to other coaches if we fired Enos after 2 years and 1 true recruiting class? CMU isn’t suppose to be the toughest job in the country, leave that for the SEC schools. Give the guy one more year, show up to the game to support the TEAM, the BAND, and this UNIVERSITY. Don’t start yelling fire Enos at the beginning of a game, yell it as the time expires during the last game of the year. Give the guy one more year.
Here’s a guy that needs a long, tall glass of STFU! Jones is not Kelly, and Enos isn’t close to either of them! Akron has dumped their coach after two years, and CMU should do the same! This guy’s (Enos) learning curve is bigger than a rainbow! The problem is, he doesn’t learn. He keeps repeating the same mistakes. He had enough talent to win at least five games. He had to go to the final play to beat Akron. No excuse for that! The whole staff is totally unqualified. You want to harp on Ernie? You need to harp on Heeke! Oh, and don’t even begin about our Tinker Bell drum & bugle band. You want to see a band, watch OU’s band in the MAC Championship game! There’s a band! Until, then, FIRE ENOS! FIRE ENOS! FIRE ENOS!
Thank you for revoking my freedom of speech C.E….. I’m not saying Enos is like any of them, I’m just saying remember when everyone was calling for them to be fired and look at what they did for the program. The only reason C.E why Akron fired their coach after two years was 1. they had a new stadium and 2. the coach they wanted finally was available. I’m sorry but CMU isn’t UofM or MSU. UofM at least gave Rich Rod 3 years, he snapped their 35 year bowl game streak and yet they stayed with him for two more years. We need to stay with Enos until his contract is up next year, and see what he does next season. If we fired him today we lose a lot of the recruits, have to start over fresh (which is hard to do), then find a coach, change the system which will probably give us 3-9 again or we could stay with Enos and see what happens. Also C.E you think our band is the worst in the MAC? that’s very offensive and obviously you’re from Ohio and need to get the heck off of this board because people from Ohio have no business on our website unless you went here and appreciate the history and the greatness of the Marching Chips! I sure hope the band doesn’t read your comments, there is a reason why the Marching Chips are the best band in the land!
I’m with ya CE!!
Tinker bell drum and bugle band. Wow, haven’t heard that one before. Saw the OU marching 110 in ’06 and ’09. Talented group, played good stuff, didn’t set the world on fire. Could probably go into depth with you about it, but I’m guessing you don’t know all that much about the subject, which gives you 100% of the right to rip other people’s groups.
…as far as football goes, we agree.
Chips#1
This was the most ridiculous paragraph I’ve ever read! The first year Enos was coach he had
most, if not all of the offensive line back from the 12-2 Team. He went 3-9. Knowbody was asking for a 12-2 record, but a .500 record was acceptable. The second year he is making the same mistakes that he made the first year. Haven’t you watched the games? Haven’t you noticed a poor offensive line that stalls inside the 20yr line? Haven’t you noticed that Radcliff still can’t check off when he drops back for a pass? Haven’t you noticed the poor clock management? Should I go on? These examples are things that should have been cleaned up after the first year. But they weren’t. These things went on through the whole year. ENOS HASN’T IMPROVED SO THE TEAM WON’T!! Enos needs to be fired!!
Chips#1
This was the most ridiculous paragraph I’ve ever read! The first year Enos was coach he had
most, if not all of the offensive line back from the 12-2 Team. He went 3-9. Knowbody was asking for a 12-2 record, but a .500 record was acceptable. The second year he is making the same mistakes that he made the first year. Haven’t you watched the games? Haven’t you noticed a poor offensive line that stalls inside the 20yr line? Haven’t you noticed that Radcliff still can’t check off when he drops back for a pass? Haven’t you noticed the poor clock management? Should I go on? These examples are things that should have been cleaned up after the first year. But they weren’t. These things went on through the whole year. ENOS HASN’T IMPROVED SO THE TEAM WON’T!! Enos needs to be fired!!
Bill Caldwell 84′
Your paragraph just makes me laugh! I’m guessing you never watched a CMU game. Our Offensive line during our 12-2 run wasn’t that good. Why do you think almost every other play Dan LeFevour was flushed out of the pocket? If we had a a QB like LeFevour no one would notice our OL. I’m also guessing you didn’t watch a single game this past year? How many injuries did the team have this past year? A lot, enough for the team to play true freshmen. Hell the defense had to play a majority of true freshmen. What I can tell you is this, when has a CMU football team EVER competed with an ACC school or an SEC school? We were in both of those games. Yes the team did get blown out at MSU, WMU, Toledo but other than that we were in every game. If Enos stays as the coach with the good talent we have coming in this team will compete with those conferences. I’m sorry but there is no “automatic td play”, if there was then we would use it every game! Any play he calls, or the offensive coordinator calls, could go for a big gain or a td. If the team doesn’t improve next year then I’m wrong but I really think that this team will be in the top of the MAC and win our 9th conference title.
So what they had most of the OL back. They still lost there 3 best players that made the team good. Now Eno’s may be a bad coach but give the guy one more year. And I cant leave out the fact that Radcliffe doesn’t know where the hell his wide outs are and is constanly throwing the ball away.
I can’t vouch for the rest of the people, but when I visit this website I first highlight “Sports” and then select “Football” – last I checked, Ernie Ziegler does not fall under this category. We’ve admittedly been spoiled in regards to football in recent history, whereas we haven’t expected anything from basketball since Kaman’s days.
I don’t remember anyone calling for Butch’s head. I was there, we were happy to be going to a bowl so close to home as opposed to the Idaho Potato Bowl or some random thing that we couldn’t be bothered to visit. Obviously we’re not going to the Rose or Alamo Bowl, so I don’t know where you get that.
The biggest joke of your post is your inclusion about supporting the band. What a joke – they could easily just pipe in the music over the audio system and I wouldn’t even realize they were gone. I’m there for football, not poorly choreographed brass renditions of pop songs I don’t like in the first place. You’d get my vote to take the funding away from the band and put it into finding a better coach that actually knows how to manage the clock and knows that it’s important to go for the win on a road game.
You are right frmatmn2ashes Ziegler has nothing to do with the football program. All I’m saying is that people are giving Enos two years with 1 true recruiting class and Ziegler hasn’t even had one winning season, if anyone should be fired it should be him. Yes you are right no one has cared since Kaman’s days.
I remember students wanting Jones to be fired after the 8-5 season in 2008, we lost to Ball St and then to EMU for the second straight year. I’m not saying going to the Rose or Alamo or any of those bowl games, I was making a point that our program has had recent success under a couple of players and when they left our program was going to need rebuilding like we are going through.
Seriously, what is with everyone hating on the band? If it wasn’t for the band people wouldn’t know when to say “go, go,go” after a first down. Without the band the game would be boring, we have THE best band in the state and one of the best in the country. I’ve seen almost all of the other MAC schools bands, MSU’s and UofM’s. Our band brings most of the energy to our stadium every home game. If we didn’t have the band it would very unamusing when the team comes out on the field before the game.
Well, you had me until you started ripping the band. You want canned music blasted over the loudspeaker? Go watch the NFL. Marching band is part of the pagentry associated with college football. You want the band gone? You sure as hell better start learning the words to the fight song. Or maybe that does not matter to you, you’d rather they blast some AC/DC or something over the sound system after a score. Quite often the band is the only group of people left in the stands, while the team is getting blown out, and yet still cheering for the team. You probably don’t know that though, since you probably left before halftime. The team and the band have a long history (hard as it is for you to believe I’m sure), and that isn’t going to change.
I don’t want “pagentry” with my football, I want “football” with my football. Last I checked, the band does not sing the fight song – it plays it. We can get the same thing by uploading the recorded version to the PA.
The band HAS to stay for the game, that point is moot. I went to every home game while I was there, and only left early maybe 1-3 times. I can only think of 1 time I left a game early as a student, but there may have been more. I’ve also attended 4 games upon graduation – I actually flew back from Texas last year for Western weekend. Unnecessary expenses that only add to the game if you’re in band.
Pantera > Brass instruments
We need marching bands at football games. It adds to the pagentry.
Plus, it’s a good team-learning experience for the band members, just as it is for the football players.
You look at Wisconsin and its 5th Quarter post-game show, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, etc. The band is very popular.
Remember, the football program is NOT self-sufficient. If we’re going to spend $$$ on football for a learning experience, then likewise for the marching band.
Ohio U has a great band. Check them out on You Tube. But, I still like the Marching Chips better!!
I can’t vouch for the rest of the people, but when I visit this website I first highlight “Sports” and then select “Football” – last I checked, Ernie Ziegler does not fall under this category. We’ve admittedly been spoiled in regards to football in recent history, whereas we haven’t expected anything from basketball since Kaman’s days.
I don’t remember anyone calling for Butch’s head. I was there, we were happy to be going to a bowl so close to home as opposed to the Idaho Potato Bowl or some random thing that we couldn’t be bothered to visit. Obviously we’re not going to the Rose or Alamo Bowl, so I don’t know where you get that.
The biggest joke of your post is your inclusion about supporting the band. What a joke – they could easily just pipe in the music over the audio system and I wouldn’t even realize they were gone. I’m there for football, not poorly choreographed brass renditions of pop songs I don’t like in the first place. You’d get my vote to take the funding away from the band and put it into finding a better coach that actually knows how to manage the clock and knows that it’s important to go for the win on a road game.
Talk about laughing..Are you blind. When I see the same mistakes the last game that I saw in the first game, something has to change. Your one of these guys that thinks something great is going to happen with the same coaches. New students but the same coaches!! Nothing will change. You must be one those people that keep sticking his hand in a oven hoping that by turning the heat down he won’t get burned. Or try a different oven. I’ll stick my hand in that one..it’s gotta be different! Enos needs to be fired!! NOW!!
I think the funny thing is your response was nothing but fire Enos….please name the same mistakes, blown coverages, missed tackles, interceptions. Most of that has to do with playing true freshmen! Please give me a team in the country that started as many true freshmen as we did in any year and lets see their record. If their record was better than us, then yes you’re right. We started a total of 16 true freshmen in one game, I don’t see any team in the country that does that half way through the season. Half of those freshmen that played were going to be red-shirted and were on the scout team until the week of, that doesn’t give very much preparation time. All I have to say is if we go to a bowl game next year, which I think will happen, I’ll be calling you out. I expect you’ll do the same if we don’t, which means guess what smarty pants? No one will be happy when you say that. If you can’t show faith in a coach for one full season, that means you don’t have faith in this team, University and the recruits coming in. Give Enos one more season. Oh and yeah how is the other finalist for this job who didn’t get it, Jeff Quinn, he has done a great job at Buffalo right……..Shut up and if you feel that way go in person and talk to Coach Enos and look him in the eyes and tell him what you think of him instead of saying things behind his back through a computer. Everyone knows when you actually hear him speak in a post game press conference, a donor dinner and camps, he really does know what he is talking about and is the best coach for the job.
Well Chips#1 I won’t change your mind. And you won’t change mine. We will just have to wait until next year to see who is right and who is wrong!! Happy Holidays to everyone!!
Anyone see who the interim coach @ Kansas is? Former CMU running back Reggie Mitchell. Turner Gill just got fired today. Don’t know if Reggie is in the running or not. Maybe something CM-Life can look into.
Butch Jones is on everybody’s list.
The LA papers say he’s going to UCLA. Midwest papers say to Illinois. Another report to North Carolina.
Dan Enos, take note. Had you run the spread the last 2 years, you’d be 18-6, instead of 6-18 and cashing in on one of those multi-million dollar contracts.
Instead you wanted to be George Perles and Mark Dantonio. So, you’re on the hot seat in Mt. Pleasant.
By the way, did anyone at CM LIFE noticed and will write about, Ohio U. WON THREE GAMES WITHIN a 12 game span (remember Enos whining about having to play 3 in 12 days). Frank Solich didn’t whine. He had his players ready to go. Now, they’ve got to play again this Friday night.
Danny Boy needs to quit complaining and start coaching.
Brian Kelly and Butch Jones are laughing their way to the bank. They ran the spread and won at CMU and now cash checks worth millions. And, Butch, may be getting richer!
Speaking of Reggie Mitchell and Kansas. Turner Gill who got fired never should have gotten that job. He just wasn’t ready!
Jones is a good coach but he hasn’t every had to rebuild a program. He took over at CMU when Central just came off a 10-4 MAC championship season. At Cin he took over a 12-1 team with almost everyone coming back. Yes, yes I know how he turned the team around after going 4-8 or 5-7 last year, but still noting ground breaking. UCLA would be a a job that needs rebuilding along with Kansas. Kelly was and is the re-builder and Jones just wins with Kelly’s players lets be honest. I think the one great recruit Jones had at CMU was Brown (while he was here). Yes Wilson has come on strong in the past two years but that wasn’t him developing him. It will be interesting but I don’t see Jones taking over a rebuilding job anytime soon.
Totally agree about Turner Gill, I’m sure Auburn is thanking their lucky stars they went with Gene!
I do like the Marching Chips and have fond memories of them but I gotta say they are the second best band in the MAC; the OU marching 110 are better. CMU 80′
Wow. Why the band slamming. If it wasn’t for the band, the stadium would have been even more empty on the ESPN night games. They stayed until the end. How about you frmatmn2ashes? Were you there till the end at Kelly/Shorts or even watching the game on TV till the end? Are you only a fan if the team is winning? Fair weather? When I was at Central in the 90′s, the band members were some of the most dedicated & passionate CMU fans, not to mention great musicians. I’m sure that is still true today. Thanks Marching Chips!!!
You know what I saw in this team over the past 2 years–yes, mistakes, critical fumbles, interceptions, big lead losses, injuries, injuries, freshman mistakes–but I’ve also seen never give up, fight till the end. Even though we got blown out by Toledo, it was great to see Paris nearly break one on the last play–pushing till the end. The coaching staff has made too many bad calls.
Good article Justin. Enos needs to show that passion for the game, and also for Central Michigan football. We true fans need to see this and hear it. Also the player needs this. At Central we need that passion. I’d say give Enos one more season. If he goes .500 or under it’s time for a change. I’m not sure if Enos’ passion is still with the Spartans, but then again Herb D. was a Michigan alum.
Band: Norman Dietz would roll-over in his grave if he saw this drum & bugle band.
March On 110!
Football:
The Evolution of Dissolution -
Kelly – “Awakened a Sleeping Giant.”
Jones – Gave it steroids.
Heeke/Ross – Anesthetized it.
Enos – CHIPwrecked and euthanized it.
Like Ianello, FIRE ENOS!
I hope you aren’t talking about the Bobcat’s 110
If you don’t like the band. Why don’t you send an email to Dr. Jim Batcheller. Tell him the improvemnts you want to make!!