Troy is coming in about a 6-point favorite over BG

[Father Brown]

we will need to leverage every ounce of talent and rely on the Doyt to help beat Troy. They are clearly the superior team. In times past, we would have a brilliant offensive game plan and high emotion save the day. Dont expect this to happen under the new regime.

Would these be the same brilliant offensive gameplans that consistently failed to control the ball & thus the clock last year? The same gameplans that prevented us from winning games late when all we needed were a couple first downs? I think we can survive without those game plans.

As to the having high emotion that is about the most laughable thing I've ever heard. Yeah, we came out with high emotions to compete and or win against BCS competition, but we consistently came out flat and uninspired in important games in the Gregg Brandon regime. Year in and year out we completely s**t the bed in key conference battles.

Gregg Brandon was a lousy head coach. He ran a crap program and couldn't even make up for it with consistent on field success. In 6 years he played for (and lost) only one MAC Championship. This, despite being favored quite a few times. He was a solid recruiter who consistently failed to develop talent, and routinely put teams out there that played below their talent level.

I don't care if Clawson proves to be a terrible head coach. I'd gladly take my chances with change over the consistent mediocrity and lack of discipline we got from Brandon's teams. He couldn't get out of town quick enough for me.

I absolutely hated the Brandon era. My references were about Urban (his impact did carry over to some degree the following two years with many of the same coaches and players). If you dont think Urban had it going on, you are sadly mistaken.

[Father Brown]

Just remember...Greg Christopher sat down across a table from Brandon and shook hands on a 2 year deal. We still pay him every other Friday this year along with Clawson. Makes no sense. We have budget problems at BGSU and with these types of decisions I am beginning to understand why.

We could have also amended the Constitution and had W stay around for another 4 years.

[Father Brown]

Troy is better than Mizzou, IMO

NOT. May be better than BG, but they are not better than Mizzou or any other Big 12 team. It is easy for everyone to be optimistic at this point since we have a lot of unknowns. If we can't even beat a Sun Belt team though, I hope all the rhetoric about us being anything more than a "mid-major" is firmly put to rest.

Spoken like a true fan of a BCS school...or the husband of a former BCS conference athlete. I know those BCS conference athletes go through their entire lives thinking every nonBCS school is automatically inferior to them, I mean of course they are, they're from the BCS conferences!

That being said your statement is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I will personally GUARANTEE you that Troy is not worse than all 12 teams in the Big 12 this year. Of course there's no way to prove it, since Troy doesn't play any Big 12 teams this year (I don't think). Regardless, your statement is just nuts. You honestly think that a team picked to be the favorite in the Sun Belt is automatically inferior to all of the Big 12. You're entitled to your opinion, I suppose, but you're wrong.

I agree. Troy would have a shot a beating half of Big 12. They might win the North.

[Father Brown]

Hammb, you can disagree if you want. See how things play out. You may be right, or I may be. I'm still a BG fan. Unfortunately, it's a lot like rooting for the Browns. I just get sick of all the puffery like pretending we will go to a BCS bowl or pretending the Mac or Sun Belt are not crappy football conferences. It is what it is.

Crappy? You have no idea what you are talking about. The upper half of the MAC at a minimum is very dangerous. The programs have upgraded in talent and capability every year certainly since I have graduated. How many big wins do you need to see before you get it? How about calling Alabama up on how good NIU is? How about calling up Purdue, Iowa State, Michigan State, Missouri, etc and ask them if they think MAC programs are crappy? I can think of any number of MAC teams over the last 10 years that would have done a Boise on a BCS program. The big stage you are referencing is controlled at present by the BCS (just ask the Moutain West). The firewalls to anti trust slowly erode however each year.

[Father Brown]

My main points:

1) The Sun Belt Conference sucks;
2) We used to have a pretty good Non-BCS football program that was competitive with BCS teams;
3) If we lose to a Sun Belt team, then we are need to quit pretending we are competitive.

I would much rather be comparing our team to BYU, Utah, or TCU, than worrying about whether we are better than Troy.

As for my BCS slant, or Baylor Slant, you are right. I'm biased. But I will tell you, I think you are all crazy if you say Troy is a "good football program." It may be better than BGSU, and you can say they may have more success over lower ranked BCS programs. Still, in the grand scheme of "good" major college football programs, Troy is not one of them. Also, I think you are all full of it if you think a kid would rather play for a team like Troy over a team in the Big 10, Big 12 or SEC with a losing record.

Sheesh, disagree with me if you want, and discredit me for being a girl and married to a football player. Still, some of you are deranged. Can we not agree on one thing: WE NEED TO BEAT TROY!

"for being a girl...". Now I understand. This helps and wont expend any more energy on your crazy posts.

[hammb]

I absolutely hated the Brandon era. My references were about Urban (his impact did carry over to some degree the following two years with many of the same coaches and players). If you dont think Urban had it going on, you are sadly mistaken.

Sorry, misunderstood.

I'm with you on Urban. You'll be hard pressed to find me say anything negative about Urban Meyer...I think he's the best football coach I've ever seen at any level.

[dstubb]

This is just a dumb argument all around. All conferences have weak members, BCS or otherwise, year-in and year-out. Boise State, BYU, Fresno State, Utah, Marshall and yes, even the BG teams of the Urban Meyer era have shown that what conference you're in doesn't tell the whole story.

Same goes for Michigan. Yes, they are a Big Ten, BCS school, and the winningest program in Division 1 history. Yet in the last two seasons they have lost to Appalachian State and Toledo.

I think the number 1 determiner of team success is who the head coach is, and there are plenty of examples to prove this point: Nick Saban, Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly, the vest, Pete Carroll, Urban. Success follows them.