LA Tech has always been hindered by a faction of fans that is desperately opposed to change. Almost any change. If they had their way, Jack Bicknell would still be our head coach. Those people are typically indecisive, can't make big decisions, and usually delay making decisions in life as long as they can. You can call them reactive folks instead of proactive. I'm sure God loves them too, but the rest of us just have to tolerate 'em.
Last edited by FriscoDawg; 09-19-2021 at 05:15 PM.
If I had my way and could snap my fingers to make it happen, Matt Dunigan would be the Tech head coach today. I know all the gibberish about why there are other options and that he’s never coached and that’s exactly why I’d put him in the position, he simply wouldn’t overthink playing to win! Tech needs a return to the former bloodlines of winning at Tech. Enough of these outsiders...
Or if he had won them all and his win percentage was over 70, we might even be talking about our new HC right now. Maybe we would be taking about another coach in his 3rd year already.
I loved watching Dunigan play. He never slid, never backed away from contact, when he ran he saw himself as another RB and he lowered the boom on would-be tacklers. Between the collisions at Tech and later in the CFL, there's no telling how many concussions that man suffered. He was (is) tough as nails. He also had a cannon for an arm, one of the strongest I have ever seen in person. He is also career leader in INTs thrown (I believe), and many of those were rockets the WRs couldn't handle and resulted in a deflected pick. He was a tough competitor and fought for every yard on every play.
He has done CFL TV for years, decades now I guess, and I've watched some of it. He knows football...of course. Coaching requires a different set of skills and know-how, so who knows how he might do? But, I'm willing to give him a shot.
I had a family member that played with Dunigan, he said, he was the first to practice every day and the last to leave, said he’d run bleachers longer than anyone. I want a guy with that dedication. Strategical coaching is overrated. All you need to do is turn athletes loose within their discipline.
Matt is literally the Terry Bradshaw of the CFL. He has practically the exact same job as TB on the TSN. He’d be hard pressed to leave other than coming home to the south. I had an employee named Willie Pless who was a CFL legend and he was always in touch with Matt, so I got to see and visit with Matt fairly often, albeit 10 years ago. He is as good of a guy as you would imagine and one of Tech’s best all around. Although he would be a great HC, I’m sure, I think we need someone with some coaching experience, but young & hungry.
What I don’t see on this team is leadership! I think SH might be too soft on his players! I don’t see how he reacts to poor performance in practice because I am not there! But I would like to see an occasional old school ass chewing when players don’t execute what is expected! I also don’t see leadership from any player( maybe because of all the transfers, they don’t seem to have that old school Tech love and spirit! I have followed the Dawgs since the early 80’s and I don’t think I’ve ever been this disappointed in a Tech team! Back when we made the move from 1AA to FBS our slogan was “Hitting the Big Time”! Our expectations were high and our players came to play no matter who we played! Back when we were Independent and had to play some of the very best teams almost week in and wek out JRP and the players put their team pride in the line every Saturday even though we were outmatched almost every game! But they were highly motivated and played to win! I just don’t see that motivation anymore and I think that starts at the very top and filters down! I expect the administration and the coaches and players to have higher expectations ALL THE TIME!!
I think it was the NC State coach that absolutely lit into a player for spinning the ball after making a good first down catch. The player was awarded an unsportsmanlike. The commentators were saying coach went overboard. I was thinking he did a great job restraining himself. Everyone is too soft today.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System