2007 Regular Season

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:47 pm

My thoughts on the regular season...

The Good

1. We got back to running the offense that helped this program make a name or itself the last 6 or 7 years.

2. We found a big (6'3"), strong-armed, acurate quarterback that's capable of running our offense. He got some great experience this year and he's back for two more years. He should only get better.

3. If our offensive line recruiting pans out from the last couple of classes, this offense is again going to be a beast in the MAC. All the skill positions are basically back for the next couple of years.

4. The defense still has problems but if experience solves some of those woes we should be in good shape to at least be more competitive on that side of the ball. We've got a nice rotation developing on the d-line. Haneline, Dozier and Stanley should be a good linebacking corp. Mahone, Brown, Smith, Sanderson lead a veteran secondary.

5. Special teams were solitified big time. Field goals were almost automatic and punting was solid.

6. Team showed some character coming back to salvage the season with 4-game winning season to end the season.

The Bad

1. Once again this program falls short of a championship season. And, it was there for the taking this year with no dominate team in the MAC...especially in the east

2. This team couldn't avoid the roller coaster ride in mid-season. The Boston College through Ohio game stretch we looked like a completely different team than the one who finished the year 4-0. Blame the coach or is it inevitable with a young team? I tend to blame the coach not getting them ready to play each week. Going forward the "young team" excuse is out the window.

3. We had a favorable schedule this year which helped us get to 8 wins. We got Minnesota in a down year in the first game of the year. Passing attack surprised them big time and they never adjusted. (Don't get me wrong...nice win for BG) Temple and Western Kentucky at home were very winable games. Crossover games against EMU and Toledo gave us the bottom of the west. We avoid CMU, WMU and Ball State. Not sure who we get next year?

4. Injuries took there toll. Losing Ransom in week 2 was a hit, even though we had some nice depth at that position with Geter, Turner, Macon and Bullock. D-line had there share of injuries...Davis, O'bo and Ream's suspension hurt during that mid-year stretch. Losing Sanderson hurt but Mahone and Brown stepped up. Same for Haneline and Stanley.

jpfalcon09 · Post by **jpfalcon09** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:16 pm

Good

We were able to find a spot for AT to be extremely valuable. Call him a mini-Tebow or whatever, but he will be a huge asset next year for us.

We found a solid RB with our QB that will give us balance for the next 2+ seasons.

This team won 4 straight games without CP, Haneline and a myriad of other injuries. A true test of character was displayed by this team the last 1/3 of the season.

We beat a Big 10 team on the road, regardless of record, it is an accomplishment for any mid-major school to do that. We also hung with Michigan State.

We return 9 of 11 on defense.

We had a winning record on the road, a sign of a winning team.

We beat Toledo.

We're more than certain playing in a 13th game.

Bad

We laid an egg against Miami and played listlessly against Ohio.

Boston College screwed this team up for 2-3 weeks.

The season ended when this team was hitting their peak.

No MAC East Title and no MACC Game. Motivation for next year.

We lose 3 tough OL that may cause some bumps in the road next year.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:42 pm

Imagine Glen Stanly and John Haneline running around out there....

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:15 am

Our two deep actually is two deep....our depth really carried us through this year. That 2006 recruiting class may be regarded as the best in school history when all is said and done....

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:53 am

Good:

The Offense came back and showed it can be diverse when we let it be.

Special Teams, Special Teams, Special Teams.

Best Record in the MAC and a Bowl Game.

Yet another win over a B11 team.

KILLED Toledo.

Almost everyone is back next year.

Bad:

Two more inexplicable league losses to inferior squads.

No MACCCCCCC opportunity.

Took half a season to get the run game going.

Sheehan looked shaky at times - might have been the injury.

Defense - this has to improve before we can be anything more than what we are right now.

Overall, more good than bad this year. I expected 6-6 and I got 2 bonus wins and a bowl game. IMO, we went 0-2 against better teams, and 8-2 against inferior teams. That's not really all that bad. Still, with how poor the league has been, it stings to not get into the championship game.

Brandon showed some improvement this year. Hopefully he can keep improving and take advantage of the monster team we should have next year.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:42 am

At this point, I don't look at the bad. Not many folks here gave BG a chance to be better than 6-6...matter of fact a lot had us pegged for a 4-8 season.

I thought we would go 7-5, 5-3 MAC so I am very happy BG was one win better in both. Sure the Miami and Ohio games sucked but this team gutted it out and won 4 straight and 5 of the last 6...and now will go BOWLING!

Looking at the losses to graduation, we should have a great team in 2008....and I expect to win the MAC title.

But first, I intend to enjoy this BiG win over UT and get ready for the bowl.

GO FALCONS!!

Columbus_Zak · Post by **Columbus_Zak** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:08 pm

I've got to be honest, after last season I didn't expect very much. I couldn't have been more wrong; this team is poised to be very, very good next season. There is little question, at least in my mind, Coach Brandon deserves an extension of three years. Sure there were low points in the losses to OU and Miami, but he's gone on the road and beaten Minnesota, gone on the road and beat Kent State by a wide margin, and gone on the road and beaten an upstart Buffalo side. Furthermore, you've gone to a reasonably good Michigan State side and played them down to the wire. I'm betting the farm that we'll win the MAC in one of the next two seasons. I think there was a very tangible improvement this season, and the coaching staff and team deserve their just rewards.

SicSic80 · Post by **SicSic80** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:22 pm

Columbus_Zak wrote:I've got to be honest, after last season I didn't expect very much. I couldn't have been more wrong; this team is poised to be very, very good next season. There is little question, at least in my mind, Coach Brandon deserves an extension of three years. Sure there were low points in the losses to OU and Miami, but he's gone on the road and beaten Minnesota, gone on the road and beat Kent State by a wide margin, and gone on the road and beaten an upstart Buffalo side. Furthermore, you've gone to a reasonably good Michigan State side and played them down to the wire. I'm betting the farm that we'll win the MAC in one of the next two seasons. I think there was a very tangible improvement this season, and the coaching staff and team deserve their just rewards.

Zak - I'm with you on every point, EXCEPT the 3 year extension. Being in sales (Freak - remember you and I talked about this after our great victory over the Turds?

), the best motivation an individual (in any profession in my opinion) can have is to have to prove himself each and every day. My contract runs "month to month" if not "week to week" and more often than not "day to day". That is what drives me everyday to be successful and I shudder to think how I would conduct myself knowing that I had a guaranteed payday for years regardless of my performance. Are there upsides to contracts for college football coaches? Sure. I believe in my heart however, that the product we see on the field in the coming years will be directily contingent upon the entire coaching staff knowing and realizing that they must perform each and every moment of each and every day. Just my opinion.

Lord_Byron · Post by **Lord_Byron** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:39 pm

SicSic80 wrote: Zak - I'm with you on every point, EXCEPT the 3 year extension. Being in sales (Freak - remember you and I talked about this after our great victory over the Turds? ), the best motivation an individual (in any profession in my opinion) can have is to have to prove himself each and every day. My contract runs "month to month" if not "week to week" and more often than not "day to day". That is what drives me everyday to be successful and I shudder to think how I would conduct myself knowing that I had a guaranteed payday for years regardless of my performance. Are there upsides to contracts for college football coaches? Sure. I believe in my heart however, that the product we see on the field in the coming years will be directily contingent upon the entire coaching staff knowing and realizing that they must perform each and every moment of each and every day. Just my opinion.

Great motivator for sales staff. Great motivator for managers. Great motivator for coaches. For recruits, not so much.

Trouble is, much of recruiting is based on the recruit undestanding the long-term aspect of his college career and his comfort with the head coach.

So, it works much better for a coach to say to a kid: "We're coming off a 9-4 season (assume we win in January) and you've got the potential to play on a MAC champion next year. And I've got a new contract for three more years after that."

Than for him to say: "And I'm on a sales commission plan and will be fired immediately upon not making my quota."

Columbus_Zak · Post by **Columbus_Zak** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:40 pm

Exactly why the three year extension.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:33 pm

Columbus_Zak wrote:Exactly why the three year extension.

I think 2 years is a more appropriate number given the steady decline until this year. If it weren't for the negative recruiting aspect, I'd be in favor of not extending him at all. Next year would then be win the East or bust.

Of course, stability is very important at this level. We can't fire him after a good year like this, so we have to extend him. 3 years is dangerous, though.

thewebboy · Post by **thewebboy** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:33 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:
Columbus_Zak wrote:Exactly why the three year extension.
I think 2 years is a more appropriate number given the steady decline until this year. If it weren't for the negative recruiting aspect, I'd be in favor of not extending him at all. Next year would then be win the East or bust.

Of course, stability is very important at this level. We can't fire him after a good year like this, so we have to extend him. 3 years is dangerous, though.

I agree with a 2 year extension. It's good to feel comfortable with your job, just not TOO comfortable, to the point where you get complacent.

Perhaps we could rework the buyout to a smaller amount while we're at it, just in case.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:49 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:If it weren't for the negative recruiting aspect, I'd be in favor of not extending him at all. Next year would then be win the East or bust.

Could not agree more. This team will be loaded next year. I'll probably start a thread to discuss the topic, but I think we have to set the bar high for next year, I mean a BCS bowl bid. But I think we will look foolish giving Brandon a one or two year extension now, but firing him after next season if we don't follow through with an outstanding season.

Falcon137 · Post by **Falcon137** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:56 pm

Warthog wrote:
Jacobs4Heisman wrote:If it weren't for the negative recruiting aspect, I'd be in favor of not extending him at all. Next year would then be win the East or bust.
Could not agree more. This team will be loaded next year. I'll probably start a thread to discuss the topic, but I think we have to set the bar high for next year, I mean a BCS bowl bid. But I think we will look foolish giving Brandon a one or two year extension now, but firing him after next season if we don't follow through with an outstanding season.

To follow up on that, I know we play at Pitt and home for Minnesota who else do we play non-conference? Both of those are games I think we should win with the talent we have coming back. If we can get those 2, I see no reason why we shouldn't be thinking BCS. Oh and give GB a 2 year extension.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:58 pm

I'm on board. I'd give an extension of an additional year or two, but I would have the money ready to buy it out next year at this time if need be. I would let the coach know that we're very pleased with the steps forward this program took this year, and happy that we exceeded everyones expectations. Unfortunately we still fell short of the main goal.

We return a LOT of talent next year, and anything less than a MAC Championship is unacceptable. I would be sure to let that be known going in.

Like J4H & Warthog said, I'm really not comfortable with any extension at all yet. However, I don't believe in lame duck seasons, they have too many negatives on your recruiting. This season's turnaround definitely earned another year to prove himself, so I would bite the bullet and give an extension. I would still make sure the buyout is reasonable enough that we can void it after next year if we do not meet our lofty expectations.