Vandelay's MAC Preview

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:29 am

http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/ ... view-2008/

He has us FIFTH in the East.

Here is the BG preview.

http://www.vandelaysports.com/football/ ... /bgsu.html

I'm taking a beating on the MAC boards.
http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=304765

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:18 am

Alright, if things go against us, I could see a third place finish behind Miami and Temple. But the other teams?

First of all, Kent State sucks. They can't throw the ball, so offensively they will struggle big time. The MAC is not a "run the ball and stop the run" conference by any stretch of the imagination. If that was true, Ohio and Miami would have won the MAC in 2006 and 2007. Instead, CMU and the MAC's best player, Dan LeFevour, kicked their behinds. The teams that throw the ball best usually win the conference or do really well, as was the case of CMU, BG, and Ball State a year ago.

And Buffalo, don't even get me started. Here's a fact, Buffalo's last win at the Doyt was in 1982.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:31 am

Warthog wrote:I'm taking a beating on the MAC boards.
http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=304765

Badge of honor.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:37 am

1987alum wrote:
Warthog wrote:I'm taking a beating on the MAC boards.
http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=304765
Badge of honor.

+1

Thankfully I can only access them about once a week due to sporadic websense filtering at my work.

falconfan1999 · Post by **falconfan1999** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:14 am

I stopped posting over there a couple of years ago, too much belligerence....

As for us 5th? No way! Our offense is too good to finish that low! Our defense should be improved, even with a few less d-linemen

Looking forward to getting the season started so we can shut up the detractors!

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:46 am

I don't know where we'll finish, but it looks like someone needs to get tougher skin. You posed a legitimate question (the NIU, EMU, UT thing is the first thing I noticed - at 4-8, 5-7, and esp. 2-10, I'd *hope* they're the most improved teams in the league) and it got ignored because someone's ego was bruised by the accuracy question.

And while you're accuracy statement might have been a touch out of line to some, your explanation is right. If he's so proud of what he's done, he should have no problem laying out the numbers to back himself up without the whine and cheese party.

That said, I don't think anyone should judge this team from what happened at the GMAC Bowl, at least not before they look at the Miami(OH) and (maybe) OU games before you use Tulsa as a barometer for why BG shouldn't be picked highly.

MarkL · Post by **MarkL** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:13 pm

Fifth in the east? That's a little on the low side ...

Now I can certainly understand why so many are picking us so high, as I would do the same, but part of me is putting BG at first very tentatively. This team looks very similar to the '05 team - playmakers everywhere on offense coming back, brand new o-line, many questions on defense, rough OOC schedule, and we all remember what happened in 05. Sure, we have a solid secondary coming back and a decent to good set of LBs, but our D line is going to be hurting really bad all season long. The D line may raise even more questions than the entire defense in 05 did when we had a new D coordinator and only a few returners who made big impacts in 04. Not saying we deserve to be fifth, but I don't see it as alarming to see some people rating us low.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:41 pm

I've never really liked Vandelay's analysis. I have to think that just about everything would have to break bad for us to finish that low.

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:53 am

Here's all you need to know. Vandelay picked us to finish 5th in the East last season, and we finished with the best record in the division.

He picked us 5th again this season. Thanks Nick, we're on our way to the MAC Championship.

San Fran Falcon · Post by **San Fran Falcon** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:21 am

I've yet to look at what they have to say. I just have to laugh. Can any "expert" (or anyone for that matter) predict the MAC?

San Fran Falcon · Post by **San Fran Falcon** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:33 am

whatever. Our OOC schedule is going to hurt us? Um, I think that only prepares us for conference play. I understand the intangibles...blah, blah, blah. Vandelay claims to be the most accurate with MAC predictions. Can anyone agree with that? Seriously, have they been that accurate in the past? I just don't see a 5th place finish in our division.
I'm know it's overused, but the guy should just stick to architecture or latex sales.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:47 am

I could see us finishing 5th in the east, but as J4H said it would take everything breaking bad for that to happen. I could also see us winning the MAC, but that would likely take the breaks going our way. In the end we'll probably end up 2nd or 3rd in the East.

Going into the year I thought we should be a favorite to win the MAC, but our questions on the lines are just too great. Our DL has been abysmal for the entire Brandon era. I don't think it's really going to be helped by sending a few of them to jail either. Like it or not it doesn't matter who you've got at LB & DB if your DL cannot play. Barring a miracle our DL can't, so we can pretty much guarantee our defense sucks again.

Offensively we have a ton of talent returning at the skill spots, but again if the OL struggles this unit will struggle. Unlike the DL though I'm pretty optimistic that they'll get it together pretty early in the year and we'll have another pretty good offense. Unlike the DL we have a history of developing and maintaining high quality offensive line play. I expect that trend to continue.

In the end we'll probably be one of the better teams in the MAC. We'll look like the best at times. We'll get destroyed in one or two key matchups that cost us a chance at the division. Some of us will want Brandon fired. Others will be happy we won 7-8 games, and next year could be our year. We may or may not go to a bowl game but with 400 bowl games we probably should make one.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:49 pm

Eh, Nick is entitled to his views...

Just get the ball teed up in 7 weeks and it will all shake out.

GO FALCONS

San Fran Falcon · Post by **San Fran Falcon** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:57 am

Falconfreak90 wrote:Eh, Nick is entitled to his views...

Just get the ball teed up in 7 weeks and it will all shake out.

GO FALCONS

You know what? I agree. Let's just get this thing started. I like how you roll Freak. WAR....BG football as well as Dover and Lake High Schools!

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:58 pm

San Fran Falcon wrote:
Falconfreak90 wrote:Eh, Nick is entitled to his views...

Just get the ball teed up in 7 weeks and it will all shake out.

GO FALCONS
You know what? I agree. Let's just get this thing started. I like how you roll Freak. WAR....BG football as well as Dover and Lake High Schools!

Cool with me, bro! NOTHING is guaranteed no matter how many starters are back. BG will have to earn it like anyone else. I remember in 1995 BG got 38 of 40 first place votes and was supposed to roll thru the MAC...injuries hit and we limped home 5-6. Look at 2005...we were top 25 in some polls...and managed to go 6-5. NOTHING is guaranteed. Look at Louisville last year. Most had them pre season top 10...and they were not a very good team thru the year.

There's only one way to find out what's gonna happen...play the games. I still am expecting a very successful season and a chance to play for the MAC title. Anything less will be a major disappointment.

48 days...BEAT PITT!!!

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