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Let's start looking ahead. Expectations should be high for the 2008 season. On offense, we lose three lineman. That could be a problem, but offensive lineman are about the easiest position to replace so I think we should be ok. We also lose Winovich. But that position, while important, also seems to be one that is easliy replaceable (Not discounting the contributions of Lichtenstieger, Huelsman, Nystrom, or Winovich at all.) We will have Ransom back to go with Geter and Turner in the backfield. Partirdge back with a WR corps that has stepped up this season. And now a full off season to digest what talent we have and how to best use that on the field. This offense should be scary good next year.

On the defenesive side, we lose just O'Drob and Hargrove. Again, not discounting their contributions, but we used a lot of guys on the d-line this year and also should have Nick Davis back from injury. We should easily be able to pick up the slack there. And at LB we will still have Dozier, Haneline, and Stanley. And if Sanderson comes back healthy, I wouldn't be surprised to see him or Mahone moved up to LB to get all the best athletes on the field. If the Toledo game is any indication of what this defense can do, they I think they can be outstanding as well.

Special teams were vastly improved over last season. Vrvillo and Iovinelli are both back as well as Roger Williams returning kickoffs.

Now the schedule. As it stands now, we have Minnesota at home and Pittsburgh, Boise St and Wyoming on the road for out of conference games. I have to say we have a legitimate shot at winning every one of these. There is no Oklahoma or Ohio State or other top ten team which might hurt the strength of schedule, but there is still two BCS teams and probably the #1 non-bcs program. Winning all four of these games, especially two trips out West, will be difficult, but definitely not out of the realm of possibility.

As for the MAC schedule, we will travel to Toledo, Ohio, Akron, and Temple and host Miami, Buffalo, Kent and one other MAC West team (anyone know for sure who this is?) The two teams we shared the East with this year will be visiting the Doyt next season, so that much is favorable.

I'm am not trying to be crazy here and say I expect it to happen. But the pieces are there. It sure would be a fun run if it happens. So let's bust the BCS!

I'm all for it!! I think we may host NIU next year as well.

2008 should be an excellent year for BGSU. We can get it rolling with a BiG Bowl win!

GO FALCONS!!!!

37-10. It doesn't get old.

It's certainly within the realm of possibility. My expectations for next year are very, very high. Anything less than a MAC championship is unacceptable, as far as I'm concerned. This team has been among the 2-3 most talented in the MAC for the last 5 years, and we don't have a single title to show for it. That must be goal #1.

Winning all those OOC games would be tough, but they are all games we can win. If we could manage them, I think the schedule & quality of our talent really sets up well for a potential BCS busting run.

Of course last time I thought that we lost our opening game, never played to expectations, had our starting QB get injured, and limped home without even a bowl game...

I'd be ecstatic with an 11-3 record that includes a MAC Championship and a Motor City Bowl victory over a Big 10 team. We would need to be 13-0 to secure a BCS bid. You would need to be quite the optimist to envision that happening.

Five levels for next year:

Total elation: MAC title, BCS bowl, top 10 ranking

Smug satisfaction: MAC title, bowl bid, some love in the polls

Disappointed: Loss in MACC game, bowl bid

Painfullly disappointed: No MACC game, but a winning record and a bowl bid (i.e. 2007 redux)

Suicide watch: Losing record

If we can run the table, we would be in great position for a BCS bid. I would give about 50-1 odds we don't run the table. I'll be very happy if we go 3-1 OOC (losing at Pitt or Boise), and we'll probably drop a conference game to an inferior opponent.

Sorry guys. Until I see some consistency out of our D and coaching, I can't predict greatness for the program. I have no trouble predicting very-goodness for next year, but BCS is a HUGE challenge.

I don't think we'll do better than 12-2, and I'd be extremely happy if we can do that. We should definitely be the favorites in the MAC East, though.

This past win (heck, the last 4 wins) will give us a great shot of confindence going into Spring ball. I think losing 3 lineman will be the biggest bump in the road. If we can establish a good starting line by the end of Springball, all will be good. Hopefully, the returning lineman will step into a leadership roll and keep the line strong. But looking at next season on paper, looks very, very promising. I'm excited and looking forward to 2008. It's gonna be a long off-season for me!

O-Lineman easy to replace?

I don't really want to start talking about BCS next year. That's something those fans up North talk about every year.

Any chance Corey P will be back for a bowl game in Jan 08?

O-Lineman easy to replace?

They are the hardest to replace. It takes a while to have the learn play as a cohesive unit. There could be a problem in this area for 2008.

ffejfalcon wrote:Any chance Corey P will be back for a bowl game in Jan 08?

I'd be surprised, but obviously we have a much better source in our ranks. (Good to see ya after the game, Spart...I only wish Corey could have been in there making catches against the Rockets, esp. with the game he had against them in the loss last year.)


I'd say the injury to keep your eye on is Haneline...hopefully he can make it back for a bowl as a reward for being a beast in the first half of the season.

freefalcon wrote:O-Lineman easy to replace?

In our system, yes, absolutely. They pass block 80% of the time and there is no pulling on running plays. All they really need to learn is picking up blitzes. Was there a huge drop off in other seasons when we lost o-lineman?

Warthog wrote:

freefalcon wrote:O-Lineman easy to replace?

In our system, yes, absolutely. They pass block 80% of the time and there is no pulling on running plays. All they really need to learn is picking up blitzes. Was there a huge drop off in other seasons when we lost o-lineman?

Right, but you certainly don't want to be breaking in a brand new line against a brutal non-conf schedule with 3 road games.

Kory's leadership on the line in particular will be impossible to replace right away.

Warthog wrote:

freefalcon wrote:O-Lineman easy to replace?

In our system, yes, absolutely. They pass block 80% of the time and there is no pulling on running plays. All they really need to learn is picking up blitzes. Was there a huge drop off in other seasons when we lost o-lineman?

There is a lot more to it...Im not slaming you on this but seriously its like saying all the Qb has to be able to do is throw the ball or hand it off, or that corners just has to be fast.
If we dont have well developed linemen ready to step up and fill these huge GAPs from those 3 leaving guys...dont expect alot...this was likely one of the top 3 O lines we have ever had.