D.A. is about as good an OHIO guy as there is.
But please...
Thanks Monroe, and let me give you a little more context around my "belief":
-On seeing all our MAC games this year, and watching many of our competitor's games, there is nothing that would lead me to believe that (despite being out-manned at some positions on the field) with the correct scheme, discipline and execution, we don't have a reasonable chance to beat any of the teams we are facing.
-I extend that thought to include the number of injuries that we have to date.
-And finally, as an extension of the first point above, especially considering that we play only three games in the final thirty one days in our season, I EXPECT us to win the final three games and finish at 7-5.
HOWEVER, I am not making the statement with a Pollyanna and non-critical attitude regarding some persistent and glaring concerns I have held through the season:
-Inexplicable lapses in mental toughness and execution like we saw in the first half against Western, especially after the targeting DQ call.
-Bouts with penalties either at critical points in the game, if not for entire games.
-Our lack of creativity in offensive scheme, especially this late in a season, and when you clearly do not have an answer at RB, with AJ being unable to play, or playing at less that 100%. If you do not have a serious running threat, then IMHO, you have to give up the pretense of 50/50 and get more creative in your passing game. UMASS has completely and blatantly avoided the run under Mark Whipple, and has developed a prolific offensive scheme that is kicking ass in this league, and I refuse to accept that we could not do the same, provided accepting reality and with the intent to succeed with the tools in our tool box.
-Our o-line and RB pass pro at times looking "elite", while at times looking porous and lacking discipline.
-Our second/third and long defensive scheme, which invariably is a blitz-less front and soft cover secondary scheme that permits underneath completions and which often translates to YAC's that lead to a lot of conversions.
-And finally, what has turned into a skipping record of woe is me, we are so injured seasons. The season is long for all teams, and you have to find a way to fight through this, and throw away that "crutch" of an excuse.
I can poke holes all day on what I haven't liked thus far, but despite what we have all seen in those points above, I would rather focus on what I believe and expect we CAN do.
What I like A LOT in this team is that I have not seen the quit that we saw last year, and that gives me the hope and expectation that I have held, and will continue to hold through the end of the season. There is too much talent on the field, and experience in the coaching staff, for me to give up the belief and expectation that we can execute.
So they may end up proving me wrong, but I won't stop expecting them to be able to actually pull it together and win out, or at the worst finish .500. (note: I'm still expecting us to win out with NIU at home, and despite Miami's offensive pass proficiency this season, which has been tough for us to deal with in competitors thus far.)
If they don't answer the bell and finish sub-.500, then I expect there to be substantive changes in the program. I don't know and won't suggest what those are, but I refuse to accept that at this point in the program's ascent that we should accept a sub-.500 result from this team considering our current scheduling philosophy and the state of the MAC, which is clearly weak at this point in time, especially the East.
You may be unwilling to give them the benefit of the doubt and expectation for performance that I am, and that is your prerogative, but please don't pee on those of us that hold that belief, because I do not feel it is unreasonable. I hope this context makes you feel more supportive of my assertion.