Thoughts from the Day After

[Peregrinner]

Even the next morning I'm still pissed we lost to fricking Marshall. There are a few thoughts that are keeping me somewhat calm, though:

1. We're still 0-0 in MAC play. We're no worse off for the MAC Championship race than we were yesterday morning. Yeah, losing to Marshall stinks, and in the glow of the comeback win over Troy (and the first half of the Mizzou game) I had delusions of a 3-0 showdown with Boise. Clearly that isn't the case, but now all attention should be on a MAC title run.

2. We get Boise at home. We lost to Marshall in a stadium full of Marshall fans doing endless "WE ARE - MARSHALL" chants. It sucked. We lost to Mizzou in a packed, rowdy house full of Tiger fans. We get Boise in front of a possibly sold-out house full of rowdy BG fans. That has to count for something. We have a team who is probably tired of hearing about Boise and is looking to get some retribution on our behalf after getting shut down in smurf-land the last few meetings.

3. Just about everyone, coming into this season, realized that a complete first-year turnaround with a new coach rarely ever happens. We all saw Clawson's track record. His first year (or two) at his previous two head coaching jobs were pretty disastrous. From there, though, we all know how it worked out. I know it sucks to lose to anyone (especially Marshall), but in the long-run, it doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot.

4. We did have some players who looked really solid. Freddie Barnes is a total beast. Yeah, he seems to be about all we have going on offense right now, but if Tyler can (hopefully) start spreading the ball around a little bit more, it's hard to imagine he won't be even more effective in the future. Interestingly, Freddie's leading the nation in receptions with 42 (next best is 35) and is projected to have 168 catches this season. Good lord. Chris Bullock, when he did get the ball, looked pretty strong, even on the shovel pass where he didn't have much momentum once he got the ball. Keith Morgan did pretty well, from what I saw, filling in for P.J. Mahone. 9 total tackles and a pick is pretty impressive.

5. I finally get to see some BGSU football in person this coming Saturday. I don't care what anyone else is thinking or feeling about BG, football, or what's going to happen Saturday. I'm excited, damn it.

Anyway, carry on. Just needed to get some of that off of my chest.

[MarkL]

Great thoughts, Terry. I'm hoping that the game is a learning experience, the game is out of the player's memories quickly, and the team is focused on Boise and gets a HUGE crowd. And ... after only being able to see some mediocre-at-best Big 10 football, I'm ready for my Falcons!

Rock Boise and rock the Doyt!

[psc2009]

I love all four points. The goal is still to win the MAC and BG might still be the best team in the East. The goal is seven wins (minimum) and a bowl game. However we accomplish that, I'm ok with it.

[BGSU_Love]

I agree with you guys completely. BG does have some problems that we still need to work out, but on the other side we do have two home games in room. This will help for whole team to see that people are behind them and still support them and will cheer for them. That being said we need to pack the Doyt for Boise and show the Falcons our support!!

GO FALCONS BEAT THE BRONCOS!!!!

[60yearsofsicsic]

Okay here is my take on things so far.... One of the biggest things that will be perfectly obvious as the year goes on is that this OOC schedule is the best we have played in 5 year or so.... The next is that we need someone the stretch the field; Freddie is an incredible possession WR however "D" will start to jump those routes and will get a few picks if we dont stretch the field (Maybe Chris Wright?). Lastly, in OCC games specifically BOISE this week we need to jump out to a large lead talking 2 TD's. Although i love the HEART our small "D" has been playing with... They are small and will be worn down by bigger physical teams ( I think this is why we lost our last two games) unlike TROY who wasnt physical at all and we could stay with them on "D". This might be the reason I think we can win the MAC.. I dont think we will run into BIG Physical teams in the MAC (Unless NIU comes calling)... I could be wrong but if I was Boise I would run TOSS LEFT, TOSS RIGHT, DRAW, Screen and it could get ugly... I hope it doesn't but my football intellect tell me it might get ugly if they do that.

but here is to wishing I am wrong....

By the way first coaching chose Clawson regrets; 4th and a couple on the Marshal 12 down ten.... with 3 minutes left ... He kicks a FG on the road ( By the way nice to have a KICKER)... I dont like that choice at all... I might understand it at home but not on the road..

GO FALCONS

[hammb]

By the way first coaching chose Clawson regrets; 4th and a couple on the Marshal 12 down ten.... with 3 minutes left ... He kicks a FG on the road ( By the way nice to have a KICKER)... I dont like that choice at all... I might understand it at home but not on the road..

GO FALCONS

Absolutely, positively, 100% couldn't be more wrong.

You need 2 scores. Whether they come FG-TD or TD-FG you need to score, get the ball back, and score again. You fail to get that 4th & 2 and you lose right there.

Anytime you're losing at the end of the game your #1 goal is to prolong the time you still have a chance to win. Kicking the FG puts you in a position to still win the game. Even if you pick up that 4th down there is no guarantee you punch it in for a TD, and you STILL need another score anyhow, and now with less time on the clock.

Personally, in that situation I'm a proponent of kicking the FG as soon as you're in the range your kicker is a lock to make it, regardless of down/distance. Get the points on the board and move on to the next possession ASAP.

[factman]

Hamm is RIGHT ON, as usual!!

[Flipper]

Totally agree...when you're down late you make the play that keeps you alive longer. And I don't think Sinisia did a bad job for us at all...

[michhiker28]

By the way first coaching chose Clawson regrets; 4th and a couple on the Marshal 12 down ten.... with 3 minutes left ... He kicks a FG on the road ( By the way nice to have a KICKER)... I dont like that choice at all... I might understand it at home but not on the road..

GO FALCONS

Personally, in that situation I'm a proponent of kicking the FG as soon as you're in the range your kicker is a lock to make it, regardless of down/distance. Get the points on the board and move on to the next possession ASAP.

Hamm, I agree with the assessment, at what range is our kicker a "lock to make it"?

--MH

[1987alum]

What happened with Phillips on the FG attempts? I know there was some positive buzz about the kid, but missing two kicks on the road like that really hurt.

[factman]

I think it is the "smell around Huntington........Marshall missed a chip shot too!

[Peregrinner]

What happened with Phillips on the FG attempts? I know there was some positive buzz about the kid, but missing two kicks on the road like that really hurt.

The first miss, at least to me, looked like it was deflected. The second, I don't really know.

[HERDftblfan25701]

I watched the game Sunday morning after being in the stands Saturday. A couple of notes from a Herd fan.

* The first of your FGs was definitely blocked. The Marshall lineman got his hand up just in time.
* The second was a plain old miss.
* You guys got screwed on the early PI penalty. I thought that was good coverage and ended up costing your team 7.
* That said the chop block on the second long TD for Marshall I thought was a pretty poor call so it sort of evened out.
* Finally, the officials were from out west. Apparently the WAC and Moutain West do not call holding but do call a boat load of chop block penalites!
* Your QB must be hung like a small horse. That guy stood in the pocket and delivered pass after pass after pass with pressure on him all night. He really impressed me.
* Number 7 lived up to the hype. He just knows how to get open.
* You need to run the ball a little more.

Anyway, just a couple of opinions. Great game. Great time. Your fans were wonderful. Best of luck the rest of the season.

[BillyLP]

I watched the game Sunday morning after being in the stands Saturday. A couple of notes from a Herd fan.

* The first of your FGs was definitely blocked. The Marshall lineman got his hand up just in time.
* The second was a plain old miss.
* You guys got screwed on the early PI penalty. I thought that was good coverage and ended up costing your team 7.
* That said the chop block on the second long TD for Marshall I thought was a pretty poor call so it sort of evened out.
* Finally, the officials were from out west. Apparently the WAC and Moutain West do not call holding but do call a boat load of chop block penalites!
* Your QB must be hung like a small horse. That guy stood in the pocket and delivered pass after pass after pass with pressure on him all night. He really impressed me.
* Number 7 lived up to the hype. He just knows how to get open.
* You need to run the ball a little more.

Anyway, just a couple of opinions. Great game. Great time. Your fans were wonderful. Best of luck the rest of the season.

Can't say I disagree with anything you said. Thanks for stopping by and good luck to you guys this year!

[60yearsofsicsic]

I know its sinful to disagree with HAMMB... But I just think its a matter of coaching philso. I think there are alot of coaches on the road... whose teams were getting run over ...and you have a kicker that has missed..... that would rather go for the TD... becuase if you miss the kick you are also SOL... so I think its kind of suspect to say that it is 100% wrong. If you think URBAN or Pete Carroll do not GO in that situation your nuts and they are considered the best coaches in college football.