Yale Daily News

There is a god!

In all seriousness, as a devoted Yale football fan, I feel bad that it had to come to this...though lots of people, including myself, have criticized him quite a bit, he did turn the program around when he initially took over in the late 90s, and the Yale faithful should be thankful for his efforts.

The bottom line is that it just wasn't working out anymore for whatever reason, and it was time for a change. I sincerely wish him the best of luck, wherever he may end up.

As usual, Harvard acts and Yale reacts.

Whoooo!

Yes we did!

The coach has done a very good job with the restrictions the school and the league puts on him. He rebuilt the program. The Harvard and Penn Teams are just larger then the Yale Offense it is not about being outcoached being kicked upstairs might be fine for senile old proffessors not for an athlectic department that gets very little support from the students and community.

This is Yale not Alabama or Oklahoma. Since when does Yale fire a coach for not winning? Who cares whether Harvard wins a few more games? The Ivy League should be proud of its reputation for being a last bastion of true college football played with real scholar athletes; not professionals disguised as "communication" majors.

Does the team like him? Has he been a good mentor? Does he promote good sportsmanship? Is he conscientious?

Get a grip, its sports.

It's funny, but if those two records were reversed (say Yale were 49-70 over the last 12 years but was 8-4 against Harvard), he'd still have the job. Ivy football will always be sad by objective standards, but you gotta win the homecoming game.

I saw last year's team at the beginning of the season and at the end, when it was crushed by Harvard at home. Hype was high since both teams were undefeated. I have never personally seen a college team come out so flat for a big game. It wasn't just because McLeod was hurt. A former player who has friends with kids on the team told me after that game the coach was not popular with the players. It's not a popularity contest but when a coach can no longer draw performance from his team that matches its talent, it's time for him to go.

Praise the lord! I can die a happy man now. I'm sure Siedlecki is a good guy, and yes, he has a winning record overall, but his play-calling has been absolutely horrendous for the four football seasons I have spent at Yale. Last year, we won because of a monster season by Mike and the O-Line. This year, with an awful O-Line, Siedlecki didn't adjust, and we only won any games because of an amazing defense. This change is long overdue, and good luck to whoever takes over, because we're losing a hell of a lot of talent this year.

And if by "almost immediately" you actually mean years ago when he was resigned after losing another miserable Game vs. Hahvahd.

Do they even know of someone better to replace him with? If not, that sounds like a terrible idea.

Perhaps those new dorms, er exuse me, the new Residential college will be used to house the BCS eligible Yale Football Team and Final Four Basketball Team.

Great news for Yale!!

Totally agree with #9. Siedlecki was a disaster of a play-caller, could never adjust, and we had an amazing year last year in spite of him, not because of him.

To #6, "Onboard", what a moronic statement. You seriously ask "Since when does Yale fire a coach for not winning?" Get a grip!

Step one in the right direction. Now fire Beckett, and perhaps we can get around to fixing that little issue of Princeton having twice as many overall Ivy championships as Yale.

Who cares about Yale football. Is it still in existence?

As Yale President Giamatti famously said: "Winning isn't everything." (later Baseball Commissioner Giamatti suspended Pete Rose for corruption). Just because Harvard wins a Yalecoach has to lose his job? Sounds like a bunch of adolescent lunkheads made THAT decision.

It shouldn't be too hard to get a decent replacement in this economy

If only those football players were STRONGER......

lol....naw...obviously that's not why we lost.

he's no Carm Cozza, but handsome dan is relieved

Winning is everything. Yep, pretty much.

THANK YOU YALE ATHLETICS! Now maybe we can start kicking Harvard's ass again as God intended!

Up the middle, up the middle, up the middle, punt!

i am sure siedlecki is a nice guy, but this is definitely the right move. anyone who is defending him has clearly not watched the games or just doesnt understand football. many of the games yale won under his tenure were done at the physical expense of mcleod, who was ridiculously overworked. it is time for a coach who understands that football has evolved and there are other offensive strategies in addition to establishing the run.

Maybe the first step should be keeping the football team out of Toad's the week of the Harvard-Yale game.

I'm sure most of them weren't there, but...

I'm slightly relieved but not completely so until Yale finds a coach who manages not to be less innovative than Siedlecki....

If you think Yale should have the same excellence in their teachers on the athletic fields as they do in the classrooms (and I do) this is the correct move.

We should go after Ty Willingham, who has an excellent coaching pedigree, and who, fortuitously, may be available.

I hear a guy named Charlie Weis might be available to interview in about 48 hours. Supposed to be a great play caller, guaranteed to give his teams a "decided schematic advantage."

Siedlecki's performance is not defensible. Students have been clamoring for his "retirement" since 2004 at least.

Ty Willingham??!!?? The slob fired from Notre Dame and Washington?!?

Harvard is probably hoping that Yale hires him so they can keep on kicking their sorry a**.

The legendary Carm Cozza had a losing record against Harvard during his record 32 years at the helm, so the ability to beat Harvard is clearly not the be all and end all.

My nominee:

The dynamic, young coach of New Haven's Hillhouse High - Tom Dyer - an offensive genius whose squad has gone 11-0 this year.

My guess:

Comment #32 was written by a local high school football player.

As a University of Notre Dame alumnus (and Father of a Y 2008 graduate), my hope is that you hire Charlie Weiss, ND's coach, as soon as possible......

OnBoard, in response to your questions -

Does the team like him? NO.

Has he been a good mentor? NO, but he hasn't burnt down any children's hospitals either.

Does he promote good sportsmanship? Anyone who hired Coach Brooks is an enemy of sportsmanship.

Is he conscientious? NO.

Thanks.

JB

Duane Brooks is the best coach Yale has ever had.