Have we ever witnessed a coach like Brian Daboll?

[kartanoman]

Very good point Trench. I remember that too. People were getting frustrated with him and there was buzz in the air at the time of maybe getting rid of him after the season. I think they maybe had lost two or three games in a row at the time and people weren't happy.

So it is very fair to say that the above context made the speech even more impactful. I agree with you. Good point.

Both you and Trench have a good sidebar going on here with Jim Fassel and the 2000 season; however, please permit me to throw another log on the fire when it comes to context regarding the timing of Gentleman Jim throwing his chips to the center of the table.

You have to go back to the season when the Giants were humming along at 7-2 and getting ready to host the reigning Super Bowl Champion Rams at Giants Stadium. That was a HUGE matchup which many believed the winner would have the inside route to the #1 seed in the Conference playoffs which would be a HUGE advantage that season given NOBODY wanted to travel to New York in January, NOBODY wanted to face the Rams in their dome in St. Louis and NOBODY wanted to face that offensive juggernaut up in Minnesota in THEIR dome either. The game was intensely played but the Rams scored early and often with the aid of Giants' turnovers. Down 7-28 at the half, more turnovers in the second half sealed their fate, along with giving Trent Green 36 minutes of TOP to dissect the defense in a Rams 24-38 win.

The following week against the Lions was a Twilight Zone performance where the Giants mailed it in, fell behind 0-28 before losing 21-31. In addition, Ike Hilliard was knocked out for several weeks from a brutal head-to-head hit. After being in a position to compete for the #1 seed in the Conference, they now were hearing footsteps from teams in their own division and fears of collapses not unlike seasons' past. Jim Fassel knew talk about his job was starting to circulate in the NY press and he would likely find himself out of his job if the Giants continued to lose.

With that backdrop in place, and the nemesis Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium next up on the docket, a team the Giants hadn't beaten in five consecutive attempts at that time (i.e. four losses, one tie), the stage was set for Gentleman Jim's famous quote:

Get off the players' backs! Get off my coaches' backs! I'm raising the stakes right now. This is a poker game, and I'm shoving my chips to the middle of the table, I'm raising the ante, and anybody who wants to get in, get in. Anybody who wants out can get out. This team is going to the playoffs, OK? This team is going to the playoffs.

Describing this game doesn't do it justice. Below is the ESPN NFL Highlight:

Fassel's emotions during the post-game interview underscore just how stressful that week was for him. But that was the seminal moment where the fortunes for the 2000 Giants turned and they, in turn, rattled off three more regular season victories to clinch the #1 seed and play two very satisfying games before their home crowd in securing the NFC Championship, the  last championship of any kind for legendary owner Wellington Mara, as well as Preston Robert ("Bob") Tisch.

I hope this deeper context helps further contribute to your discussion.

Peace!

[Trench]

Good stuff thank you

[BluesCruz]

Id rate Daboll right there with Alex Webster, Bill Arnsparger, John McVay, Joe Judge, Ben MacAdoo, Pat Shurmer

If he can get this team cranking he will be in league with Dan Reeves and Jim Fassel.

He has a long way to go to be considered in league with Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin but Id love to see him ascend there

Personality wise he reminds me of Reeves a very intense coach  but Reeves kept his head on the sidelines much better

[Trench]

Id rate Daboll right there with Alex Webster, Bill Arnsparger, John McVay, Joe Judge, Ben MacAdoo, Pat Shurmer

If he can get this team cranking he will be in league with Dan Reeves and Jim Fassel.

He has a long way to go to be considered in league with Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin but Id love to see him ascend there

Personality wise he reminds me of Reeves a very intense coach  but Reeves kept his head on the sidelines much better

Good assessment