Here are some thoughts and/or observations that have been going through my mind about OUr football program in general.

First, let me state that I truly love and appreciate the work of both Russ and Rob broadcasting OUr games.  As a matter of fact, I often turn-down the TV feed and turn-up Russ and Rob's broadcasts.  However, after last weekend I do have a complaint.  They started this with the Kent game and continued this last weekend with the Beefs.  Basically they mentioned that each team (Kent and then Buffalo) were very physical.  This goes along with the idea that we were "out toughed" by both teams, whatever that means.  My complaint is this.  Several weeks ago they and others were labelling this team a "dream team" and possibly the best team in "40 years".  Then we come-up against two lower-level teams and they start making them out to be the best teams we will play all year.  I realize this is a broadcast and they are paid to make things interesting, but it really does insult my intelligence when they start talking about these two teams as if they are the best when truly they are not.  Kent is a very poor team.  Buffalo is not much better.  Also after OUr performance these last two weeks, this team is far from being a "dream team" unless you are referring to a nightmare,  this team is far from being the best team in "40 years" as right now after these last two weeks it appears we are mid-level MAC at best,  and this will not be a "special season".  As a matter of fact, I am not sure we will win either this week with BSU or next week with Akron who is probably the worst team in I-A/FBS football.

Secondly, I appreciate what Coach Solich and his staff have done for OUr program.  Among other things they have given us stability somewhat, have improved the level of OUr play, and have made great strides in OUr overall football program.  I also want to thank the Administration and Trustees for their support as well.  However, we really have not taken this program to the next level and until we develop a "killer instinct" which enables us to dominate the rest of the MAC on a weekly basis, we will progress this program no further.   These past two weeks we have played two very bad teams and made both of them look good.   Thus, this is why I have serious doubts about the next two weeks with BSU/Akron.  On paper we should destroy both of these teams,  However, I am not convinced that will happen.

Thirdly, I know we have injuries but does that mean we wasted the remaining 85 scholarships we gave on a bunch of stiffs?  Seriously, injuries are a part of the football world.  A truly good teams overcomes these and still finds ways to win, especially against weaker opponents and I consider both Kent and Buffalo to be weaker opponents.  Hence, again my concern over both the BSU and Akron games.  As a matter of fact, a recurrent nightmare I have is OUr team going into Akron and getting OUr collective butts whipped by a team that is pathetic at best.

Next, we are admittedly playing a "dumb-downed" schedule ostensibly to give us a chance to compete.  Clearly we are not the team I thought we would be coming out of the Marshall victory.  This team if it does not change and develop an attitude will be 8-4 at best and will not get a bowl invite if it comes down to us and WMU.

Finally, would all you basketball types please stay on the basketball forum and quit coming over talking about adding WKU, Delaware or any other I-AA/FCS school to the MAC.  If you want to a new basketball league, fine.  As for football, and no offense to any of the aforementioned programs, adding these to the MAC will not help the league at all.  Further, both the MAC and the Sun Belt are joke leagues in the I-A/FBS world.  Unless/until the MAC takes drastic steps to improve, we will remain a joke in major college football.

Have a good day.

GO BOBCATS!

Using the term "dream team" usually bites the team in the arse.....see the Philadelphia Eagles and The Miami Heat. Saying  (actually predicting) that this is "possibly" the best team in 40 years is not a  big stretch.  The season is not over and those "bunch of stiffs" deserve a chance to prove that we also have the best depth in 40 years. I've watched both the 68 team and this one...remove a Cleve Bryant or a Todd Snyder from the 68 team and you'd have problems....Huynh with teams constantly double teaming him was as important to this year's defense as the afore mentioned 2 were to the 68 team's offense.

If we lose to both Kron and Ball State then maybe this is a "paper only" team.  I don't think even a D with a Keller operating at about 50% is gonna let that happen.  By the time the end of the season rolls around we should have many of the injured D guys back....but the BSU and Kron game are must wins.

THANK YOU!

And don't forget,this is still a young team.  Tettleton is really good for a sophomore...but he's still a sophomore seeing his first real action.  He has some learning to do.  And nearly all the defense is underclassmen, so they're learning and growing, too. So even though you may have quality players, they're fairly inexperienced, too.  A lot has been made of the soft schedule this year (I think I was the first to point it out back in the spring) but we're finding that things change from one year to the next.  BG already has more wins than all of last season and BSU and CMU are only one short of last year's total, and we're only halfway through the season.  Preseason expectations usually take a hit once the season starts to play out.  I'm not ready to count this team out.  The offense gelled last week like it did in the first three games and I think having Harden back had a lot to do with it.  The defense is working through losing some key players.  That takes time and practice.

Hi.  A team, which was decent, but not great, last year returns no defensive line starters.  Then, loses a starting defensive tackle who is having the best year of anyone on the team.  Then, loses its other starting defensive tackle.

It's easily argued that Dominant Defensive Tackles are the most important players on a team.  Add in that the team's linebackers are not making much of a mark--hurt and/or only moderately talented.  What do you get?

Penalties and the decision to punt late first quarter had nothing to do with last week's outcome.  We scored 37; we win if our front end defense isn't decimated.

Someone here posted that if we got thru the first four games with W's we'd be flying and a single workd post--"Defense.'--before the Rutgers game.  Good calls.