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****REVIEW OF TODAY'S COLUMBIA FIRE PRESS CONFERENCE****
Prior to the presser, the team announced that recently retired CB Wes Carlson is returning to the team as the head of public relations.
*Wes Carlson steps to the Mic*
Good Afternoon,
We know there are a lot of questions about the recent events with our organization, all our front office staff and coaches will be available after to discuss any and all questions with the staff. Before we get to the Q&A portion of this meeting, I have a quick statement from our team owner, Jackson Burns, regarding the direction of the organization.
*Wes Carlson reads statement*
Good Afternoon, I know at this time many of our fans are trying to figure out what is going on. Despite only being 4 years out from the organizations only championship and we are dismantling a team that is coming off a winning season. As an organization we understand this frustration and we ask that you be patient with us as we do our best to rebuild this program back into the championship team it was in 2034. We believe in the staff that we have in place, both in the front office and on the field, and we think that we should be able to minimize the amount of time it will take to put a winning team back onto the field. We have a very strong corp of young players and we look forward to watching them play in 2039. Thank You
And now I would like to invite onstage Head Coach Jesse Staple, and General Manager David Hiley to address your questions.
*Coach, GM and Wes Carlson sit at the table for questioning*
Wes - The floor is now open to questions
1st Question - (ESPN) To the front office? Why rebuild now? Your coming off a winning season?
(GM) Well it was simple, in the last 4 years we are 32-32 with a 1-1 playoff record. We lost the final 3 games of our season when we could have won the division, and the loss of players like Wes Carlson, Freddie Nelson, and Mario Torgerson showed us that our window of opportunity may have closed and we wanted to give our players a shot to win with other organizations.
2nd Question - (SI) Coach, are you concerned about your position after the GMs recent statement?
(Coach) I am paid to win games, if I do not win games I do not expect to be here. But that being said I have sat down with management and I have been reassured that I am not going anywhere because of this rebuild
3rd Question - (SI) Why does the team feel that now is the right time to make these moves.
(GM) These players are at their peak, we felt we could get the best offers for them now and we did not want to wait until the off-season.
4th Question - (CBSSports) Do you feel that you can put a winning team on the field in 2039?
(Coach) YES...
5th Question - (CBSSports) why are you so confident about that?
(Coach) One, I believe in my staff. Two, our front office has managed to draft some really great players the last few years. We have a strong number of young players ready to step up and I am sure we will add more from this draft.
6th Question - (ESPN) How does a team let a player like Freddie Nelson slip away in Free Agency?
(GM) Simply put it was a decision that was very hard for us, Freddie is a great athlete and he will play great for the Mules. But we felt that a player who has only missed 15 games in his career may not be able to play at that level for two more years. Especially at 26+ Million a year. We wish him the best and we hope he wins another ring
*Wes Carlson announces that this will be the last question*
7th Question - (ESPN) Who do you expect to step up in 2039?
(Coach) Every player on our team. We are going to need the best from all our players if we hope to succeed in 2039. It will be an uphill battle for us.
*Wes Carlson steps back up to the Mic*
Thank you all for coming...
Prior to the presser, the team announced that recently retired CB Wes Carlson is returning to the team as the head of public relations.
*Wes Carlson steps to the Mic*
Good Afternoon,
We know there are a lot of questions about the recent events with our organization, all our front office staff and coaches will be available after to discuss any and all questions with the staff. Before we get to the Q&A portion of this meeting, I have a quick statement from our team owner, Jackson Burns, regarding the direction of the organization.
*Wes Carlson reads statement*
Good Afternoon, I know at this time many of our fans are trying to figure out what is going on. Despite only being 4 years out from the organizations only championship and we are dismantling a team that is coming off a winning season. As an organization we understand this frustration and we ask that you be patient with us as we do our best to rebuild this program back into the championship team it was in 2034. We believe in the staff that we have in place, both in the front office and on the field, and we think that we should be able to minimize the amount of time it will take to put a winning team back onto the field. We have a very strong corp of young players and we look forward to watching them play in 2039. Thank You
And now I would like to invite onstage Head Coach Jesse Staple, and General Manager David Hiley to address your questions.
*Coach, GM and Wes Carlson sit at the table for questioning*
Wes - The floor is now open to questions
1st Question - (ESPN) To the front office? Why rebuild now? Your coming off a winning season?
(GM) Well it was simple, in the last 4 years we are 32-32 with a 1-1 playoff record. We lost the final 3 games of our season when we could have won the division, and the loss of players like Wes Carlson, Freddie Nelson, and Mario Torgerson showed us that our window of opportunity may have closed and we wanted to give our players a shot to win with other organizations.
2nd Question - (SI) Coach, are you concerned about your position after the GMs recent statement?
(Coach) I am paid to win games, if I do not win games I do not expect to be here. But that being said I have sat down with management and I have been reassured that I am not going anywhere because of this rebuild
3rd Question - (SI) Why does the team feel that now is the right time to make these moves.
(GM) These players are at their peak, we felt we could get the best offers for them now and we did not want to wait until the off-season.
4th Question - (CBSSports) Do you feel that you can put a winning team on the field in 2039?
(Coach) YES...
5th Question - (CBSSports) why are you so confident about that?
(Coach) One, I believe in my staff. Two, our front office has managed to draft some really great players the last few years. We have a strong number of young players ready to step up and I am sure we will add more from this draft.
6th Question - (ESPN) How does a team let a player like Freddie Nelson slip away in Free Agency?
(GM) Simply put it was a decision that was very hard for us, Freddie is a great athlete and he will play great for the Mules. But we felt that a player who has only missed 15 games in his career may not be able to play at that level for two more years. Especially at 26+ Million a year. We wish him the best and we hope he wins another ring
*Wes Carlson announces that this will be the last question*
7th Question - (ESPN) Who do you expect to step up in 2039?
(Coach) Every player on our team. We are going to need the best from all our players if we hope to succeed in 2039. It will be an uphill battle for us.
*Wes Carlson steps back up to the Mic*
Thank you all for coming...
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