Success at State?

[hammb]

My expectation? We get pounded and embarrassed in yet another game against a team that has a higher tier of athletes than we do.

My hope/desire? We play at least competitive with them and prove that we actually belong to be on the same field as a middle of the road BCS conference team.

And as stated here quite recently in the attendance thread....this is the biggest game of the season for me. I want to see us win and prove we can win against this level of competition. After that the UT game and a MAC Championship would just be gravy, but even a title run would be tainted to me if it came while also getting waxed against IU and MSU.

As for comparing this team to the previous "glory years"? I'm not sure we have 2 offensive players that would have been in the starting lineup from '02-'05. What year did Pope gaduate? Pope had a great career here, but man now that I think about it, Greene would be like a glove in that offensive system. He might start over PJ. Bottom line on that, IMO, is that this system isn't flashy and we're not bringing in the same level of offensive recruits because of it, outside of RB. Our RB position is stacked, but we don't have that same dynamic talent at the QB or WR spots (although all of Gallon, Joplin, and Moore have flashed big play potential, just not consistent like the other guys). I don't think our OL is any better or worse than the units that we were putting out there during those offensive glory years. All told the biggest difference is probably just at the QB spot. There is a reason Harris & Jacobs were drafted into the NFL and we haven't even had another guy sniff a tryout...

[Globetrotter]

Sheehan was in the Texans camp, but outside of theat I agree 100%.

To be honest outside of Sheehan I can't name a QB since Harris and Jacobs. Maybe thats because Sheehan and Schilz started for 7 years.

[Mr_Sweets]

We beat Northwestern, Mizzu, Kansas, and Purdue all while I was in school from 02-07 and ya it was pretty cool, the luster wore off because we never won a MAC Championship and that still stings. There was nothing like the atmosphere for the Toledo games and the 2003 Mac Championship. All I care about now is winning that MAC Championship that we haven't won since 1992.

Me too... And it was awesome... Making the rest of the nation know you exist when you take down "better teams".

BG can win if ...

1. Offense comes out in the 1st drive like they have down in the 3rd quarter all year... and
2. Ronnie Moore gets 8-15 designed plays
3. Travis Greene rushes for 100+
4. BG utilizes the TE/WR with downfield strikes ... but,

5. None of that matters if the DEF front 7 doesn't show up to play. (DL has to have sacks/pressure & LB's have to contain their dual QB's)

Just my personal opinion, but I like our chances if these are accomplished.

[mscarn]

Too much speed. Just hoping we are not embarrassed.

Yup. The national perception campaign ended after Indiana and would never have been a factor until the end of the year BCS discussions anyway. This season should be about beating Toledo, Ohio and winning the MAC championship.

They spend $67.9 million per year on athletics while we spend $18.3. Considering that it should be a miracle if we even come close to winning.

[zete]

I brought it up because we are playing Mississippi St this weekend and we are at a disadvantage on paper.
I thought with the very good MACs QBs of a while back recruiting in general across the board would improve in the skill positions. It seems the speed has improved somewhat from twenty years back so maybe it has gotten better. Logical thinking is if a team signs a 4 star QB 4 star receivers and running backs will follow due to the fact a great QB will accentuate the best of those around him. Case in point the Dan LeFevour Antonio Brown situation a few years back. Brown's game boosted LeFevour stock immensely in my eyes. If we recruit players to win MAC games only, why schedule Mississippi St. OSU etc? Money.

[mscarn]

The upsets definitely happen but they come at times when everything is breaking right for one program and everything is breaking poorly for the other.

Play one every year to get a check and see if this can be the year. The monetary disparity makes anything beyond that unrealistic.

[zete]

Look, if we are going to schedule these teams we need to play with them with decent showings. Our schedule is set up every year so we win and we are top twenty five. Clawson's teams evoke the proverbial big fish little pond. We can beat UMass and the likes but fail nationally. Honestly if we could develop a rivalry with Ohio St or Michigan, Michigan St or Indiana it would be wonderful. But to do so we need to play with them, beat them half the time and recruit on their level. I would to love to beat Mississippi St this weekend but do not have my hopes up even though they only have two wins.

[Globetrotter]

The upsets definitely happen but they come at times when everything is breaking right for one program and everything is breaking poorly for the other.

Play one every year to get a check and see if this can be the year. The monetary disparity makes anything beyond that unrealistic.

I would bet some FBC teams have bigger operating budgest then us. We can't simply look at athletic budgets to determine who will win and lose.

As far as this week. I should hope we can atleast play with a second tier BCS team.
I have no problem rooting for an upstart plucky program developing itself into a team that can consistently beat BCS teams. If our goal is to get a paycheck and just not be embarrassed that's not a program I will be backing for long.

[mscarn]

The upsets definitely happen but they come at times when everything is breaking right for one program and everything is breaking poorly for the other.

Play one every year to get a check and see if this can be the year. The monetary disparity makes anything beyond that unrealistic.

I would bet some FBC teams have bigger operating budgest then us. We can't simply look at athletic budgets to determine who will win and lose.

As far as this week. I should hope we can atleast play with a second tier BCS team.
I have no problem rooting for an upstart plucky program developing itself into a team that can consistently beat BCS teams. If our goal is to get a paycheck and just not be embarrassed that's not a program I will be backing for long.

I hear ya and I'd want few things more than to compete for national championships and Final Fours. I just don't see how we get there spending $18 million.

[Falconfreak90]

We must have a better showing than at IU....of course play to win.

[Flipper]

The upsets definitely happen but they come at times when everything is breaking right for one program and everything is breaking poorly for the other.

Play one every year to get a check and see if this can be the year. The monetary disparity makes anything beyond that unrealistic.

I would bet some FBC teams have bigger operating budgest then us. We can't simply look at athletic budgets to determine who will win and lose.

As far as this week. I should hope we can atleast play with a second tier BCS team.
I have no problem rooting for an upstart plucky program developing itself into a team that can consistently beat BCS teams. If our goal is to get a paycheck and just not be embarrassed that's not a program I will be backing for long.

You haven't been to a game since the first GWB Presidency...how are you "backing" them now?

Re the talent level then vs now...tough to say on WR because we don't play the same kind of downfield game we did with Harris (to an extent) and Omar so guys like Joplin and Gallon don't get a chance to shine. None of the 2003 guys had Ronnie Moore's speed though. Brandon would line up Patton at WR on hail mary's because he was one of our faster guys an he ran 4.6 40 for the scouts. Moore could do a 4.6 backwards. QB...Harris and Omar by a mile. the OL then by a mile. Warren, Lichtensteiger and Mruczcowski were 1-2nd team ALL MAC in 2003/2004. Chief and Flewellyn are good...but neither are quite at that level.

[Globetrotter]

The upsets definitely happen but they come at times when everything is breaking right for one program and everything is breaking poorly for the other.

Play one every year to get a check and see if this can be the year. The monetary disparity makes anything beyond that unrealistic.

I would bet some FBC teams have bigger operating budgest then us. We can't simply look at athletic budgets to determine who will win and lose.

As far as this week. I should hope we can atleast play with a second tier BCS team.
I have no problem rooting for an upstart plucky program developing itself into a team that can consistently beat BCS teams. If our goal is to get a paycheck and just not be embarrassed that's not a program I will be backing for long.

You haven't been to a game since the first GWB Presidency...how are you "backing" them now?

Maybe I should have said following.

I blame Obama.

[hammb]

The upsets definitely happen but they come at times when everything is breaking right for one program and everything is breaking poorly for the other.

Play one every year to get a check and see if this can be the year. The monetary disparity makes anything beyond that unrealistic.

I would bet some FBC teams have bigger operating budgest then us. We can't simply look at athletic budgets to determine who will win and lose.

As far as this week. I should hope we can atleast play with a second tier BCS team.
I have no problem rooting for an upstart plucky program developing itself into a team that can consistently beat BCS teams. If our goal is to get a paycheck and just not be embarrassed that's not a program I will be backing for long.

You haven't been to a game since the first GWB Presidency...how are you "backing" them now?

Re the talent level then vs now...tough to say on WR because we don't play the same kind of downfield game we did with Harris (to an extent) and Omar so guys like Joplin and Gallon don't get a chance to shine. None of the 2003 guys had Ronnie Moore's speed though. Brandon would line up Patton at WR on hail mary's because he was one of our faster guys an he ran 4.6 40 for the scouts. Moore could do a 4.6 backwards. QB...Harris and Omar by a mile. the OL then by a mile. Warren, Lichtensteiger and Mruczcowski were 1-2nd team ALL MAC in 2003/2004. Chief and Flewellyn are good...but neither are quite at that level.

That sounds about right. I definitely agree regarding the speed of Moore. I'm not sure I've ever seen a BG player with speed that pops out like his does...it's refreshing.

What about RB though, when ya think about it? I loved PJ Pope, but I really can't help but drool to think about guys like Greene/Samuel in that wide open system. Just seems they would flourish in that one cut/read option type running game. Probably would fit them far better than our more old school attack nowadays.

[BGorDeath]

I was hoping this thread was about Uncle Rico. Disappointment.

[jpfalcon09]

I was hoping this thread was about Uncle Rico. Disappointment.

"Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would've been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind."