BG vs NIU - MAC Championship thread

[BGSU33]

I figured I'd get a thread started since we have 10 days of buildup until we play. I think we all have a lot of excitement, questions and concerns leading up to this game. Let the discussions begin.

[thewebboy]

Not much to discuss until we know who we play.

It will be nice to get our offense indoors, out of the elements. Perfect conditions, no excuses.

Other than the hole we dug ourselves versus UT, I really like what I have seen out of our D the last 5-6 weeks.

[jpfalcon09]

I think the excitement of seeing Toledo again, both on the field and the potential atmosphere at Ford Field has me very excited for what could be, and that's no knock to NIU. A BG/Toledo championship game has the potential to be amazing and I really hope it happens, just as a sports fan.

[Falconfreak90]

A BG/ut MACC would be huge and the MAC office would be salivating. I can honestly see 40,000+ for that game. Two bitter rivals competing for the ultimate prize. Doesn't get any BiGger or better than that.

Gonna be a tough 10 days to wait.

[BGSU33]

If WMU somehow knocks off UT, I really, really like BG's chances against NIU. If it's against UT, which I think it will be, my confidence level plummets. But that said, it would get no bigger or better than to beat UT for the MACC. But if UT beats us again and wins the title, it's gonna be simply miserable. I can't imagine a Matt Johnson-led team with all the talent this one has not being able to beat another MAC team at least once in three tries. But we're one loss away from that happening.

But no matter the opponent I just want to win. Anything less than a MAC Championship for this team would be a disappointment. They worked too hard and are too good to not be rewarded with a title. But they're gonna have to earn it. On the field.

[BGSU33]

It will be nice to get our offense indoors, out of the elements. Perfect conditions, no excuses.

Thing is, that's essentially what we had last week when we played them. You really couldn't have asked for a better night to play a game in mid-November in Northern Ohio than that.

[BGSU33]

A BG/ut MACC would be huge and the MAC office would be salivating. I can honestly see 40,000+ for that game. Two bitter rivals competing for the ultimate prize. Doesn't get any BiGger or better than that.

Gonna be a tough 10 days to wait.

You know the MAC will never come out and say it publicly, but getting that matchup has to be tops on their list.

[transfer2BGSU]

I can't imagine a Matt Johnson-led team with all the talent this one has not being able to beat another MAC team at least once in three tries. But we're one loss away from that happening.

Worse yet, this would be the first senior class to lose TWICE in one season to TSUN

This would be the first senior class to lose FIVE times to TSUN (if the redshirt season does not count)

They have a couple of things to play for in addition to the Championship ring and banner - PRIDE.

[Flipper]

Toledo and WMU must have switched up something in their coverage schemes. Johnson was holding the ball longer against them and in the 2nd half of the WMU game and throughout the UT game he was throwing into coverage more. It's like they know what he's reading so they bait with a disguised scheme and that throws his progressions off and he's forced to hold the ball while he goes beyond that first or second read.

10 days to study that film will be useful....

[Tech2000]

Just a question, wonder where Donovan Wilson has been and if we have him for macc

[BGSU33]

Just a question, wonder where Donovan Wilson has been and if we have him for macc

The injury reports the last few weeks had him out then eventually probable but didn't specify what was wrong.

[BGSU33]

I can't imagine a Matt Johnson-led team with all the talent this one has not being able to beat another MAC team at least once in three tries. But we're one loss away from that happening.

Worse yet, this would be the first senior class to lose TWICE in one season to TSUN

This would be the first senior class to lose FIVE times to TSUN (if the redshirt season does not count)

They have a couple of things to play for in addition to the Championship ring and banner - PRIDE.

Agreed. I honestly don't care much about Toledo until we play them. I know they are my school's rival, but I care more about all the MAC East schools than I do Toledo. I care more about winning the East and a MAC Championship than I do Toledo. But beating Toledo to win the MACC would have my full attention. But here's the thing - the thing that burns me up about losing to Toledo in football like this isn't because they are Toledo, it's the fact that they have owned us that frustrates the hell outta me. Especially because we've been pretty good a few of those years, such as the last three years. I'm just sick and tired of seeing another MAC school do this to us. I would feel the same way about if it was EMU doing this to us and not Toledo. It's the same thing that burns me up about Akron vs BG in basketball. It's not that it's Akron, it's the fact that another team is beating us every time we play for the better part of a decade like they're Duke and we can't beat them that is infuriating to me. That is what burns me up about losing to Toledo like this. It's not that it's Toledo, it's the fact it's happening to any team at all that eats at me.

[BGSU33]

Toledo and WMU must have switched up something in their coverage schemes. Johnson was holding the ball longer against them and in the 2nd half of the WMU game and throughout the UT game he was throwing into coverage more. It's like they know what he's reading so they bait with a disguised scheme and that throws his progressions off and he's forced to hold the ball while he goes beyond that first or second read.

10 days to study that film will be useful....

I noticed that too. I remember the same thing happening the year we went out to Boise State with Omar Jacobs. Boise State confused the hell outta him with coverages and he looked completely lost at times. Johnson was holding the ball what seemed like much longer vs UT. Even at times against Ball State it seemed like he needs to tuck the ball and get some yards with his feet but he sat back there too long and eventually got lit up when the DL got to him. I know he trusts the OL, but our OL had a lot of breakdowns vs Toledo and it cost us. It almost made him look like a freshman at times when you know the clock in their head needs to go off telling them to go but they don't and they get sacked or fumble.

[kdog27]

MJ tweeted:

If it meant to be it is meant to be. That being said I want them boys again.

[BGSU33]

MJ tweeted:

If it meant to be it is meant to be. That being said I want them boys again.

That's cool, I guess. Sort of reminds me of his excitement to want/finding out we were playing Pitt in the bowl two years ago and that didn't go so well. But I gotta believe a lot of guys want the same thing, and I'd rather have them want it than try to avoid it if it's indeed gonna happen. We'll know tomorrow afternoon.