Thoughts on all of our opponents ...

[MarkL]

I made one of these threads last year so I figured I’d do it again. Feel free to add thoughts ...
Idaho – I’m guessing every single player on the BG team, and especially those that were around in 09, is licking their chops waiting for a rematch against Idaho. Their QB Enderle was pretty darn good the last few years and he’s gone off to be a Bengal. (Sucks to be him …) The backup has played a lot so I do not expect a big dropoff of talent at QB. What worries me regarding their offense is their receivers. Our DBs couldn’t match up at all against their tall, physical receivers a couple of years ago and that worries me again. Idaho’s O line should again be big, but our D line is way, way better than two years ago. Defensively Idaho in general can’t fight their way out of a paper bag and if that’s the case again this year, I think we have a great shot at starting out 1-0.

Morgan State – Thank God! We finally get a FCS team on the schedule. We’ve for the longest time needed a team from the lower level to play against. Every year, we play Mizzou, Boise, Marshall, and Troy, or we play Boise, Minnesota, Pitt, and Wyoming, and the result is our guys are completely beat up by the time conference play starts. Not to disrespect Morgan State, but our team really needs a warm-up game where they won’t get physically beat to pieces.

Wyoming – I really like their new coach, Christensen. This will be his third year and he has gotten the team to play way beyond expectations. Defensively, they’ll be ok but not great. Offensively, I have an instinct they will be in the top 30 in the country this year, top 15 next year with Brandon at the helm. He’s got some great talent to work with, and unlike at Virginia, he’s working with guys that were recruited to play a spread offense. Wyoming probably won’t move the ball much on Boise or TCU, but in the rest of the MWC I expect they’ll be excellent. If we win, it will be a shootout. What I’m really hoping for is a second Marshall game from last year. An evening kickoff, a good, fun game, and a multi-possession BG win!

Miami – Miami had everything in the world work well for them last year en route to the MAC title. While they weren’t as incredibly, once-in-a-lifetime lucky as Buffalo in 08, they had some serious breaks fall their way. The big difference between Miami 2010 and Buffalo 2008 was Miami was actually a good team. Buffalo was an okay team with a physical running back and the best luck imaginable. Miami returns a huge percentage of their team and should be quite good again, but I don’t think they get the strokes of luck a second time. Between a new coaching staff and having the big target on their backs, I’m guessing they get around 6 – 8 wins this year. We can beat them. We should have beat them last year.

West Virginia – The new coach Holgorsen is apparently a drunk gambler. He should fit in great at WVU! Nah seriously, I like Holgorsen a lot. He inherits a loaded team and I bet he’ll have that offense humming in a hurry. I believe our best shot at beating them comes if there are too many distractions on the field and Holgorsen doesn’t get 100% respect and focus of the team.

Western Michigan – The last time we played at Western Michigan was 2003. Chew that over for a bit. We hosted them in 04, 05, and 2010, but we haven’t been up to Kalamazoo since 2003. MAC scheduling can be so weird. WMU offensively is likely to be in the top three in the conference. Defensively I think they’ll be hit or miss. There’s no reason we can’t win at WMU, but it will be a very tough game.

Toledo – Their offensive wasn’t consistently explosive last year, their defense was OK, but they just kept winning. It’s hard telling if Beckman is getting the best out of all of his players, they had a ton of luck, or maybe a bit of both. Regardless, I don’t think Toledo wins the west this year. I don’t know why, but I’m feeling either WMU or NIU winning the west. Toledo offensively should be great at running the ball and passing should be solid as long as Eric Page is the intended receiver. Outside of him, I don’t see that great of a receiving corps. Defensively, their d line had their way with our o line last year, as did every other d line after injuries set in. Their d line should be quite good this year and defensively Toledo might finally be solid. Just like WMU, this game is very winnable, especially if our guys show up inspired.

Temple – Steve Adazzio? Really? Maybe I’m underestimating him badly, but when I think of Steve Adazzio, all I can think of is the guy who couldn’t turn a stacked Florida offense in 2009 into a consistently powerful offense. Yeah, they hired him to be the head coach and not the offensive coordinator, but when Florida’s offense under-achieved that much and played so uninspired under his guidance, I have to question the hire as a head coach. Temple had a defensive player get drafted in both the first and second rounds last year, so it’s clear there’s some great player development going on there. This is a very talented team but I’m just not sure what to expect with the new coaching staff. Seeing as we probably should have beat them last year with an injury-plagued team, I expect a win this year at home.

Kent State – Did anybody get the license plate number of that semi that ran over our offensive line last year? Our injured and hobbled O line just fell apart completely against an extremely good Kent D line, and that front four completely shut down our offense. There were no running opportunities, and Schilz had no time whatsoever to find any open receivers. It was disastrous. For a while last year, Kent led the nation in rush defense, and that included playing Boston College and Penn State. And FWIW, the new coach Hazell might have been picked as the interim coach at Ohio State had he not left for Kent. I think Kent is stuck in neutral again in 2011, but come 2012 they could be quite good. Again, no reason we can’t win this game, but it will be a tough one.

Northern Illinois – 2010 NIU was really, really good. The last team as good as these guys might have been BG in 2004. They were hands down better than Ball State in 2008. For that reason, I expect NIU to be very good again. There’s a ton of talent remaining on both sides of the ball, including Chandler Harnish as a four year starter at QB. They’ve got a new coach, but I expect he’ll be able to win with these guys. This is the only MAC game that I just don’t think we have a real shot at winning. I would love to be proven wrong!

Ohio – When we played at Ohio last year, the team was blown off the field early but at least scored some in the second half. When our guys were getting destroyed, the single biggest problem was dropped passes. Schilz just came back from injury and certainly wasn’t his normal self, but there were far too many dropped passes. By all estimations, OU should be the best team in the east this year. They’ve got a ton of talent, but unlike Miami, they keep their coaching staff. We’ve got them back home after losing two straight. This is the year that Ohio comes in to the Doyt on cruise control in charge of the MAC East and Bowling Green knocks them off and ruins their title chances.

Buffalo – Last year we definitely should have beaten UB. With so many injuries on offense, the attack looked pretty incompetent, but the defense got us back in the game. Basically nothing at all worked for UB last year all season. What worked best for them was catching BG with a beaten up offensive line and a backup quarterback. I’m still not sure what I think of their coach Quinn. He was magic at Cincinnati, but now that he’s a head coach, he has looked a bit lost. We absolutely should win this game.

It’s tough calling this season because there are so many question marks on our team. However, with all the injuries we had last season and all the freshmen we played, we do have a ton of experience back. So there you’ve got my early views on all of our opponents.

[Globetrotter]

Enderle is a Bear. We need factman to write one of these. Go Bengals!

[Sub-Zero]

I dont think we have a chance in the majority of our games but I have to comment on Morgan State. Its sad that we are scheduling this kind of program. We should have nothing but 1-As on the sked. The way to get ready for the MAC and gain national exposure is to play good programs. If that mens a loss where we play well and upgrade our football IQ, I will take it even if we have to go on the road. We need to take our program up a notch and competition is an excellent tool available to us, especially exposure for recruiting. Our guys getting completely beat up? Give me a break, thats why we have a position called head coach who should be able to deal with playing I-A football. Why dont we just ask the NCAA to only play 8 games because we just arent good enough or tough enough.

[Flipper]

2003 was the recent high watermark for the program. We played two tough road OOC games and we played two easy ones against what were then 1AA's at home. I'd wager that 95% of all FBS programs schedule FCS schools at least once or twice a year. You need those games to rest your starters and catch yor breathe, so to speak. This notion that you have to play the big boys every week is nonsense...the fact that no one does it that way is proof that it's nonsense.

[transfer2BGSU]

We should have nothing but 1-As on the sked.

I agree with you completely. It always burns me when I-A schools play the lower level. I know. Everyone else does it. But that doesn't mean that we have to do it too.

We are I-A and should only play other I-A programs.

[birdman]

MarkL: Stay off the stuff. Your joking of course with the post. 3-8 SEASON. I got two tickets to see Urban Myers for $ 1200.

[Sub-Zero]

2003 was the recent high watermark for the program. We played two tough road OOC games and we played two easy ones against what were then 1AA's at home. I'd wager that 95% of all FBS programs schedule FCS schools at least once or twice a year. You need those games to rest your starters and catch yor breathe, so to speak. This notion that you have to play the big boys every week is nonsense...the fact that no one does it that way is proof that it's nonsense.

Its not a notion, its a mission statement. We are not Michigan where a 1-AA is a non factor in overall prestige or exposure. We dont have to play Wisconsin every week but thats not to say it cant be 1-A. "Resting" our players? I think we should be recruiting players who want and can stay on the field for an entire season of play. There are no skirts in football.

[musicman2343]

There are no skirts in football.

Something Michigan knows all too well... Appalachian State anyone?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing a I-AA. Some of them are decent programs. While playing them won't draw a huge crowd like a I-A, it is a game to be taken seriously like any other. Any win is a morale booster for the team whether it's I-A or I-AA.

[hammb]

I can't stand the 1AA games. Don't like watching them, and don't think they do anything good for the program. If you win it's what you should have done, and if you lose it's embarrassing.

[1987alum]

This is something you & I will always disagree with, hammb. I totally get your perspective, though.

I've long supported an OOC sked that looks something like this ...

H vs. I-AA
H vs. mid-major or lower-tier BC$ conference school
A vs. mid-major or lower-tier BC$ conference school
A vs. top-tier BC$ conference school (payday)

Mix in a year or two where the I-AA game is swapped with another payday-type game and that's a good guideline, I think.

FWIW, the Morgan State game looks like our best shot for a visit.

[footballguy51]

I can't stand the 1AA games. Don't like watching them, and don't think they do anything good for the program. If you win it's what you should have done, and if you lose it's embarrassing.

The same guildlines apply to upper level schools like Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, USC, etc., except replace 1AA with mid-major. Ohio State fans most likely don't like watching BG @ OSU, us losing doesn't do anything good for the OSU program, and if we won, the Buckeyes would be embarassed. So, essentially what you are saying is every team should play all of their OOC games against teams that are on their same level, and nothing below (which means nothing above, either).

[Sub-Zero]

I can't stand the 1AA games. Don't like watching them, and don't think they do anything good for the program. If you win it's what you should have done, and if you lose it's embarrassing.

The same guildlines apply to upper level schools like Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, USC, etc., except replace 1AA with mid-major. Ohio State fans most likely don't like watching BG @ OSU, us losing doesn't do anything good for the OSU program, and if we won, the Buckeyes would be embarassed. So, essentially what you are saying is every team should play all of their OOC games against teams that are on their same level, and nothing below (which means nothing above, either).

Ahhh, no, not the same thing. Sorry. Just ask our friend Phil Steele why 1-AAs are not included in his primary sports mag review. When NIU beats Alabama, Toledo beats Penn State and Michigan, BG beats Mizzou, Pitt and Purdue, Central beats Michigan State, and so on, they know a loss can happen with MAC programs. If they play a 1-AA game at all, they never think it can happen.

But for those enamored with lower division fare, you can move on down the road to Ada and catch a Polar Bears game.

[musicman2343]

When NIU beats Alabama, Toledo beats Penn State and Michigan, BG beats Mizzou, Pitt and Purdue, Central beats Michigan State, and so on, they know a loss can happen with MAC programs. If they play a 1-AA game at all, they never think it can happen.

Actually, you just hurt your argument more than you helped it. True, while a BCS school will most likely win a game versus a mid-major, there is the possibility of a loss. Likewise, a mid-major will most likely win a game versus a I-AA, there is also the possibility of a loss. Nobody is invincible on a football field. Just because Morgan State is I-AA does not mean they don't play quality football.

[debtzoomba]

Bottom line is if Ohio State can play a MAC school then BG sure as heck can play Morgan State. What's the difference? It's all relative.

[Flipper]

I love the mcho head games..."we should get a coach who cn build a tough team". You try getting pounded on by a BCS school multiple weeks before heading into your conference slate...tell me how you like it.

Once again I will point out that there's a reason no one does it that way...it's a bad idea.