gophers/ncaa

As a Johnnie alum it's tough to watch the win total decrease. At the same time, St John's is more than football; and Gagliarti is more to St. John's than a football coach. He'll retire when the time is right for him and I support his decision whatever the record. He's earned that.

An octogenarian figure-head coach is decimating St John's recruiting. What talented kid wants to sign on not knowing who the head coach will be next season or 4 years from now, or knowing that the current program is in a tail spin? This is the perfect storm and it plays right into the Tommies' hands.The unselfish thing would be for Gags to step aside now for the sake of the program.

Gags will take hard look in the mirror and decide to call it quits after a great career. His quote "I could go on coaching like this forever" (with his assistants doing most of the work) is a clear sign that he needs to do the unselfish thing and move on. The kids who practice and play hard every day deserve a head coach 100% committed to recruiting and teaching players...not an 86 year old kicking back in his recliner in the hopes he can reach 500 wins.

I'm not a Johnny - I went to the purple school school about 100 years ago. But I'll say it really is a 'what have you done for me lately world' ... isn't it? A man devotes 60 years - has a short dry spell (relatively speaking to his length of service to the school) and the "peanut gallery" starts callin' for the 'hook'! As a 'purple grad' but one who holds Johnnies in high regard - Gagliardi and St. John's likely do need a succession plan ... to be instituted and exercised at a time and place of Gagliardi's choosing. Keep on truckin' John!

Caruso (and every MIAC coach) would love for Gags to stay put for several more seasons. That way they can cherry pick every top prospect while SJU pretends everything is fine.

Once again, Reusse writes about Minnesota, while the other non-beat-dedicated columnists write about who knows what, overusing pop-culture metaphors in the process.

Everything comes and goes in cycles, btw Paul maybe I missed how many times SJU beat bethel before that first win, could you enlighten me?

Okay, it is not proper to criticize people who are larger than life. But there are other people capable of coaching. Penn State is an example.

Coach Gagliardi staying in the head coach position, is all about HIM and not about the school or sport he professes to love. Its about making HIS numbers and not about the athletes or the university. It all seems kind of sad and selfish at the same time.

My 90 year old Johnnie uncle still goes to all the SJU home games and sits on the 50 yard line, where he's had season tickets since Eisenhower. The issue isn't St. Thomas, it's the REST of the MIAC. If Gagliardi had the talent he'd still win, there is no doubt. But he can no longer effectively recruit, even though he is completely capable of doing the same job he's always done. The problem is the 86 year old "label." When a 17 year old blue chip high school senior knows the coach isn't going to be there more than a season or two, he will likely go elsewhere. A possible solution? Name a new coach, but he doesn't start until Gagliardi steps down after next year or the year after; in the meantime he's the assistant head coach and in charge of recruiting.