Thoughts on all of our opponents ...

[Sub-Zero]

transfer, that's it in a nutshell....$$$$$. The MAC and other non-AQ conferences can say we're FBS schools just like the big boys, but we're not. Michigan draws more for one home game than we do for a season most years...it's a completely different scale and scope. It's a party we aren't invited to and unless we can somehow catch lightning in a bottle like Boise State...which is really unlikely for a myriad of reasons...we are never going to be on that guest list. Ultimately, if the power conferences that control the wealth really want to delineate those differences even further, there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. I don't know why they would of course...the curent set up suits them fine and dandy...but if they really wanted to do they would.

Given that framework...why pretend? Why make the OOC schedule so difficut that it hampers our MAC hopes? Set up your schedule so you can go into one of your "money games" with some momentum....hope to pull the upset and then look to win the conference. That should...in most years...land you in the top 20-25...maybe even the top 15 if you make a lot of noise early. That's what we're playing for...not the delusion that we're on the same level as the schools that put the equivalent of our entire athletic department budget into football

Think small, be small Flipper.

[MarkL]

Geez, I didn't mean to start up this s**tstorm. We've got all these posts, all about one of our twelve opponents ...

[Falcon Fanatic]

Think small, be small Flipper.

Small Flipper? Shirley, you jest!

[Flipper]

Think small, be small Flipper.

Yeah...let's completely ignore reality and base our decisions on meaningless sloganeering....

And I was small...once...I think it was the 15 minutes or so after I was born. It's like my "hot period" in the 80's. For about a week..right after my face cleared up and before my hair started falling out...from certain angles, I was considered almost attractive by girls with an only slightly elevated blood alcohol content

[h2oville rocket]

Think small, be small Flipper.

Yeah...let's completely ignore reality and base our decisions on meaningless sloganeering....

And I was small...once...I think it was the 15 minutes or so after I was born. It's like my "hot period" in the 80's. For about a week..right after my face cleared up and before my hair started falling out...from certain angles, I was considered almost attractive by girls with an only slightly elevated blood alcohol content

I kinda thought you looked pretty good in the dunking picture- those shorts-WOW!

[musicman2343]

All right MarkL - I'll attempt to get this thread back to its original intent even if it means being eaten alive from my comments

Idaho - I agree with you that every '09-'10 player will want revenge. I'm not well versed enough in Idaho's recent offense, but it was easy to see from the bowl game that their defense was terrible. I think we have a good shot at this game. 1-0 to start the season.

Morgan State - FCS team nonetheless, come out at 100% and play your "A" game. (2-0; 0-0).

Wyoming - Though I was only here for a couple years of the Brandon era, it is clear that he knows how to put points on the board. Our offense and defense will have to be really good to overcome that. There's no reason we can't be them, but it will be difficult. I'm saying this is BG's first loss. (2-1; 0-0).

Miami - I said it in a previous thread: "Just because you have a fantastic year does not mean continued success." Like you Mark, I think Miami will be rather good; however, with the coaching change and the want for revenge from the previous years against them, I think this one is a win. That being said, we'll see what crazy weather shows up for the game. (3-1; 1-0).

West Virginia - This will be one of the toughest games we have all season, especially with it being on the road. I would love to be proven wrong, but I think this is a loss. (3-2; 1-0).

Western Michigan - Toss-up IMO. This will be the 3rd straight road game. The previous weeks' results could have a huge impact on this game. The loss to them last year was embarrassing, but I think a lot of the team had checked out by that game. I'm going to say that we come out strong, take an early lead, and win. (4-2; 2-0).

Toledo - Huge game, especially with it being Homecoming weekend. This one will be close no doubt, but I find it very winnable. Toledo crumbled in their bowl game last year because their defense couldn't hold. I think the home atmosphere plays a big part in this game and we win a close one. (5-2; 3-0).

Temple - This is the only one that I really can't decide, so I'm going to put my faith in our staff and players. (6-2; 4-0).

Kent State - The last couple times we've played Kent State something just hasn't been right. We narrowly beat them on the road with a last second TD two years ago and last year we got steamrolled. KSU has been very good the past couple years and this one being at KSU, I see this being our first MAC loss. (6-3; 4-1).

Northern Illinois - Haven't checked, but with the way NIU finished last season, I really expect them to be in the top 25 to start this season. As you said Mark, they have a ton of talent. I don't see this one as winnable. (6-4; 4-2).

Ohio - As it is with every game, if we can take an early lead we have a chance. The problem with our guys the past few years has been they were gassed in the 2nd half and couldn't finish the game strong. I remember watching the game and seeing all those dropped passes last year. That score could have been much different had we been able to bring down a few of those. I see this one winnable with it being at home and near the end of the season at which point most of the kinks in the offense should be worked out. (7-4; 5-2).

Buffalo - Last year was unreal. Buffalo gave us every chance to win that game with their two foolish 4th down penalties. Not being able to capitalize, we rightly lost. I think that will be gnawing at our guys and it certainly won't happen again. Very winnable. (8-4; 6-2).

I realize this is a very hopeful (maybe naïve) outlook in many respects, but I believe it's doable. Obviously no way to tell until the season gets underway, but I think our staff is on the path of righting the program. GO FALCONS!!!!

[Flipper]

H2O...you're drunk right now, aren't you? . I could defend those shorts by pointing out that everyne wore em like that in the 80's....but...shorts like that, like segregation and not allowing women to vote, are crimes against humanity of a sort that not even contemporary social mores are a suitable defense...

[h2oville rocket]

H2O...you're drunk right now, aren't you? . I could defend those shorts by pointing out that everyne wore em like that in the 80's....but...shorts like that, like segregation and not allowing women to vote, are crimes against humanity of a sort that not even contemporary social mores are a suitable defense...

What makes you drunk I'm think? Can't help it if shorts you like I wear.

[musicman2343]

So much for trying to get the thread back on track

[h2oville rocket]

So much for trying to get the thread back on track

I'll try- 8-4 is not hopeful or naive. In fact, I'm not sure there's a word in English that adequately serves here... I would say there's a chance BG will improve over last year's record but anything better than a reversal of your prediction will amaze me. I say 3-9 or 4-8 with wins coming against Morgan State, Wyoming, Buffalo and Kent.

[Drago]

H2O....you obviously underestimate the leadership of our AD and Clawson. I think secretly their goal is to lose enough that they can drive attendance to the point that they can move the team to Florida.....Maybe we can get a late signing at QB from the California Penal League to save the program before GC suceeds and the team leaves...lol

[transfer2BGSU]

I say 3-9 or 4-8 with wins coming against Morgan State, Wyoming, Buffalo and Kent.

Make that 5-7

You forgot the victory over the Toledo.

[h2oville rocket]

I say 3-9 or 4-8 with wins coming against Morgan State, Wyoming, Buffalo and Kent.

Make that 5-7

You forgot the victory over the Toledo.

No- I listed all the games I thought BG might win. Not sure why you think I forgot anything. Toledo won easily last year and returns most of their player and welcomes a solid recruiting class. BG is unsettled at some skill positions, especially RB. I'm actually leaning more toward the 3 and 9 mark for BG. Nice that you have granted us near-TOSU status, but just plain Toledo is fine. "The" Toledo sounds pretentious.

[transfer2BGSU]

Nice that you have granted us near-TOSU status, but just plain Toledo is fine. "The" Toledo sounds pretentious.

Just preparing for your inevitable move up to the BiG East.

[Sub-Zero]

Nice that you have granted us near-TOSU status, but just plain Toledo is fine. "The" Toledo sounds pretentious.

Just preparing for your inevitable move up to the BiG East.

There's nothing wrong with thinking this way. I envy Toledo as they have a strong core of alumni who are trying to figure out how to move up the ranks. If they can solve their less than stellar academics and rule violations, they could put themselves in the right position for the next set of conference shake ups. We developed a 50 year plan for the University around infrastructure and academics, we should also have a 20 year plan for football and b-ball.