The one thing this program has been really lacking is unexpected victories. Hopefully moving forward from Fleck we've figured out how to win or finish big games, but I don't remember Fleck really earning one of those wins, just out-executing and out-talenting other teams. When's the last time we really won a game we shouldn't have? A lot of teams have won those against us since I started watching in 2002.
2008 against Illinois with a horribly depleted receiving corps? Simmons really put the team on his back that day, I'll never forget it.
We're going to need two of these unexpected victories in these last few days! We may not be a huge underdog in terms of points tonight, but coming out with the win is going to be tough.
2015 when we beat Toledo. We were 6-5 and our season was essentially over, they were a top 25 team at home that would go to the MACC if they beat us. We beat them instead.
(11-15-2017 12:44 PM)Bronc33 Wrote: [ -> ]2015 when we beat Toledo. We were 6-5 and our season was essentially over, they were a top 25 team at home that would go to the MACC if they beat us. We beat them instead.
Yeah, I remember feeling pessimistic about the season that morning, but I thought we had a good chance to win that game. That win certainly changed the outlook I had on the team. Maybe I stand corrected there.
(11-15-2017 12:44 PM)Bronc33 Wrote: [ -> ]2015 when we beat Toledo. We were 6-5 and our season was essentially over, they were a top 25 team at home that would go to the MACC if they beat us. We beat them instead.
+1
If I remember correctly, that was WMU's first top 25 win. It was also the beginning of a long MAC win streak (12 games).
(11-15-2017 02:24 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 12:44 PM)Bronc33 Wrote: [ -> ]2015 when we beat Toledo. We were 6-5 and our season was essentially over, they were a top 25 team at home that would go to the MACC if they beat us. We beat them instead.
+1
If I remember correctly, that was WMU's first top 25 win. It was also the beginning of a long MAC win streak (12 games).
I legitimately think if we lose that game, we don't go 13-0 last year.
(11-15-2017 02:44 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 02:24 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 12:44 PM)Bronc33 Wrote: [ -> ]2015 when we beat Toledo. We were 6-5 and our season was essentially over, they were a top 25 team at home that would go to the MACC if they beat us. We beat them instead.
+1
If I remember correctly, that was WMU's first top 25 win. It was also the beginning of a long MAC win streak (12 games).
I legitimately think if we lose that game, we don't go 13-0 last year.
I absolutely agree, Fleck's whole thing was forward progress, if we would have ended up 6-6 that year (maybe even 6-7 if we lost a bowl) there would have been doubters within the team and things would have likely started to come apart. I remember after the NIU game where we fell to 6-5 Drew called the team out as same old broncos, fleck kind of lost it a little bit in the press conference, things were looking bad. Fortunately for us, Toledo can't finish, and we were able to beat them on their home field to turn things around (as much as possible) that year.
(11-15-2017 04:35 PM)broncoricky Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 12:43 PM)RunningGame Wrote: [ -> ]The one thing this program has been really lacking is unexpected victories. Hopefully moving forward from Fleck we've figured out how to win or finish big games, but I don't remember Fleck really earning one of those wins, just out-executing and out-talenting other teams. When's the last time we really won a game we shouldn't have? A lot of teams have won those against us since I started watching in 2002.
2008 against Illinois with a horribly depleted receiving corps? Simmons really put the team on his back that day, I'll never forget it.
We're going to need two of these unexpected victories in these last few days! We may not be a huge underdog in terms of points tonight, but coming out with the win is going to be tough.
Northwestern last year. I think we were a 7 point underdog. Fun game to watch and I thought WMU easily could have lost if it wasn't for a few clutch plays on offense and defense near the end of the game.
I'm not talking about being a touchdown underdog, I mean a game where we were clearly outmatched and won. CMU/NIU/Toledo have scraped together several of those kinds of victories in the last 15 years.
Northwestern win got us to the Cotton Bowl path.
2015 vs Toledo
(11-15-2017 04:02 PM)Bronc33 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 02:44 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 02:24 PM)WesternSkillet Wrote: [ -> ] (11-15-2017 12:44 PM)Bronc33 Wrote: [ -> ]2015 when we beat Toledo. We were 6-5 and our season was essentially over, they were a top 25 team at home that would go to the MACC if they beat us. We beat them instead.
+1
If I remember correctly, that was WMU's first top 25 win. It was also the beginning of a long MAC win streak (12 games).
I legitimately think if we lose that game, we don't go 13-0 last year.
I absolutely agree, Fleck's whole thing was forward progress, if we would have ended up 6-6 that year (maybe even 6-7 if we lost a bowl) there would have been doubters within the team and things would have likely started to come apart. I remember after the NIU game where we fell to 6-5 Drew called the team out as same old broncos, fleck kind of lost it a little bit in the press conference, things were looking bad. Fortunately for us, Toledo can't finish, and we were able to beat them on their home field to turn things around (as much as possible) that year.
For sure! Lot of my Bronco friends were calling us 'the same old Broncos' after that NIU loss. Out of all the losses the past few years (including Central Michigan this year), that loss stings to me to the most. I didn't even watch the Toledo game (call me a band-wagoner I guess!)