Someone posted on Coogfans that Cincy and Houston were holding up the release of the American football schedule.

I thought Cincy's nonconference slate was set.

Is the new AD trying to rearrange it? Anyone heard anything?

(02-21-2014 04:10 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Someone posted on Coogfans that Cincy and Houston were holding up the release of the American football schedule.

I thought Cincy's nonconference slate was set.

Is the new AD trying to rearrange it? Anyone heard anything?

Last I heard UC was trying to move a game to a different date.

What I heard...The way the schedule was set, UC starts the season with two byes. Not a good set up to have your first game week 3. UC is trying desperately to change this. As I said in an earlier thread, the schedule might get a little easier. All games are on the table and a possibility to move/drop/change opponent. I think this might be where Houston comes into the equation. They might be trying to pick up one of our marquee games to help out our scheduling issues. They give us an opponent who can play in week 1 and we gain a bye in the middle of the season. Before we all get our panties in a bunch, let's see how this all shakes out.

(02-21-2014 04:45 PM)ucnaticat Wrote:  What I heard...The way the schedule was set, UC starts the season with two byes. Not a good set up to have your first game week 3. UC is trying desperately to change this. As I said in an earlier thread, the schedule might get a little easier. All games are on the table and a possibility to move/drop/change opponent. I think this might be where Houston comes into the equation. They might be trying to pick up one of our marquee games to help out our scheduling issues. They give us an opponent who can play in week 1 and we gain a bye in the middle of the season. Before we all get our panties in a bunch, let's see how this all shakes out.

Can we give them $tosu?

(02-21-2014 04:45 PM)ucnaticat Wrote:  What I heard...The way the schedule was set, UC starts the season with two byes. Not a good set up to have your first game week 3. UC is trying desperately to change this. As I said in an earlier thread, the schedule might get a little easier. All games are on the table and a possibility to move/drop/change opponent. I think this might be where Houston comes into the equation. They might be trying to pick up one of our marquee games to help out our scheduling issues. They give us an opponent who can play in week 1 and we gain a bye in the middle of the season. Before we all get our panties in a bunch, let's see how this all shakes out.

The only conference foe that has an opening on 8/30 or 9/6 that is on Cincy's schedule is @ Tulane on 8/30. But their new stadium won't be ready by then.

So if Cincy is trying to play a game on 8/30 or 9/6, it is most likely a nonconference foe. Either:

1. Moving an existing nonconference game to one of those days, or
2. Punting on one of the existing nonconference games in favor of a different nonconference foe.

Could this be why Ticket renewals are delayed?

(02-24-2014 12:59 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(02-21-2014 04:45 PM)ucnaticat Wrote:  What I heard...The way the schedule was set, UC starts the season with two byes. Not a good set up to have your first game week 3. UC is trying desperately to change this. As I said in an earlier thread, the schedule might get a little easier. All games are on the table and a possibility to move/drop/change opponent. I think this might be where Houston comes into the equation. They might be trying to pick up one of our marquee games to help out our scheduling issues. They give us an opponent who can play in week 1 and we gain a bye in the middle of the season. Before we all get our panties in a bunch, let's see how this all shakes out.

The only conference foe that has an opening on 8/30 or 9/6 that is on Cincy's schedule is @ Tulane on 8/30. But their new stadium won't be ready by then.

So if Cincy is trying to play a game on 8/30 or 9/6, it is most likely a nonconference foe. Either:

1. Moving an existing nonconference game to one of those days, or
2. Punting on one of the existing nonconference games in favor of a different nonconference foe.

Cincy was trying to move / swap one of its non conference games with another team so as to avoid starting the season with two bye weeks. Doesn't look like it will happen at this point. Not good news for a team with depth issues and a new quarterback.

Look at it as another 2 straight weeks of summer camp to prepare. This team might need that as much as a bye week later.

(02-26-2014 10:17 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Look at it as another 2 straight weeks of summer camp to prepare. This team might need that as much as a bye week later.

Plus the first team they play won't have fill on them.

Looking at al AAC teams schedules the only 8/30 or 9/6 open date is Tulane 8/30 and that would be in the big easy. If there new stadium is not ready why wouldn't the game be played at the Dome?

If not it just solidifies what a POS is The AAC.

Two byes to start would mean playing a good Toledo team after they played 2 games. STUPID!

(02-26-2014 06:30 PM)dossbig Wrote:  Looking at al AAC teams schedules the only 8/30 or 9/6 open date is Tulane 8/30 and that would be in the big easy. If there new stadium is not ready why wouldn't the game be played at the Dome?

If not it just solidifies what a POS is The AAC.

Two byes to start would mean playing a good Toledo team after they played 2 games. STUPID!

no doubt about it...the AAC is a pos conference...no solidification necessary

If we have a double bye what does that say about the competence of our Athletic Department under the direction of Babcock? No one else in the AAC has this issue. We need to open at Tulane. Would be a nice trip.

(02-27-2014 12:25 AM)dossbig Wrote:  If we have a double bye what does that say about the competence of our Athletic Department under the direction of Babcock? No one else in the AAC has this issue. We need to open at Tulane. Would be a nice trip.

^^^^
Sadly I agree with this...

If we're switching with Houston on non conference games I don't know who we'd take. They play Texas San-Antonio, Grambling State and then BYU and since we have two games coming up with BYU in the next few years I doubt they are going to play UC this year.

(02-27-2014 01:52 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:25 AM)dossbig Wrote:  If we have a double bye what does that say about the competence of our Athletic Department under the direction of Babcock? No one else in the AAC has this issue. We need to open at Tulane. Would be a nice trip.

^^^^
Sadly I agree with this...

Babcock definitely is at fault here. Didn't he drop our opening game in lieu of the trip to Miami? I am not sure the AAC is to blame. Each team/ESPN is responsible for making their schedule, especially the first several weeks. UC knew there was no one else to play when they changed their schedule last year. Our new ad did not help the matter either when he came on board and ailenated us to the conference with his comments about leaving the AAC, instead of working on this major issue.

I just don't see us having a good football year with this schedule. Easy early season games give the coaches opportunities to fine tune and make changes. They give players the opportunity for game experience. Mid season byes give teams a break from the grind and an opportunity to get healthy. No one in the country starts the season this way for a reason.

(02-27-2014 07:25 AM)ucnaticat Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 01:52 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:25 AM)dossbig Wrote:  If we have a double bye what does that say about the competence of our Athletic Department under the direction of Babcock? No one else in the AAC has this issue. We need to open at Tulane. Would be a nice trip.

^^^^
Sadly I agree with this...

Babcock definitely is at fault here. Didn't he drop our opening game in lieu of the trip to Miami? I am not sure the AAC is to blame. Each team/ESPN is responsible for making their schedule, especially the first several weeks. UC knew there was no one else to play when they changed their schedule last year. Our new ad did not help the matter either when he came on board and ailenated us to the conference with his comments about leaving the AAC, instead of working on this major issue.

I just don't see us having a good football year with this schedule. Easy early season games give the coaches opportunities to fine tune and make changes. They give players the opportunity for game experience. Mid season byes give teams a break from the grind and an opportunity to get healthy. No one in the country starts the season this way for a reason.

In fairness to Bohn his statement was blown way out of proportion. First of all, he never dumped on the AAC or any teams in the conference. His comments about conferences were in response to questions thrown at him by the media in regards to conference affiliation. He said that the university, the BOT, the student athletes and the fans want to play at the highest level and that they were open to whatever presented itself.

As for the schedule, I agree this squad is going to have to receive baptism by fire. My biggest concern for the season is not necessarily starting out shaky (which could very well happen) but depth at certain positions. We don't have 8-10 experienced quality offensive and defensive linemen like we did last year. We appear to be a bit thin at the corner/safety positions and will rely on some Freshmen and Sophomores to be stalwarts for us. When you consider that our byes are burnt at the beginning of the year, it does not give us a lot of time to let guys heal and to get new players reps should one of our starters get banged up.

(02-26-2014 10:17 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Look at it as another 2 straight weeks of summer camp to prepare. This team might need that as much as a bye week later.

Rath, I can't agree with that. Looking at the roster, we have a total of 3 experienced DTs and probably 7 experienced OL. Two VERY thin positions, and two extra weeks of practice won't get any true freshman at the two positions ready.

I think multiple bye weeks dispersed throughout the season is my preference. But, we ended up being too much of a banged up team for that to even help.

This all said, other than my concern with the trenches (DEs obviously the exception), I do like this team.

The inexperience is why I said it. QB, DT, CB and possibly OL...There are a lot of position groups to get ironed out.

Come out and look like we could have used 2 more weeks to prepare for the OOC schedule and this season could flush down the toilet in a hurry.

Besides, if Whit screwed up setting it up this way (or not addressing it), might as well look for a positive.

There is a way to get a 13th game - play at Hawaii. Unfortunately, looking at their schedule, not only are they already at 13 games, they would have to dump Washington or Oregon State to make room for us the first two weeks. The next two non-conference games for them are Northern Iowa and @Colorado. Hawaii's bye week is September 27.

However, and not sure what incentive Hawaii would have to play along, but if they were to buy out their Northern Iowa game on September 13, Oregon State has a bye week that week. Oregon State could delay their trip to Hawaii by a week, and UC could play at Hawaii on September 6. At least we have some good will already with the folks at Oregon State following the recent series, maybe we have some friends in their Athletic Department.

How mad I would be though if I was an Oregon State fan who already bought plane tickets to Hawaii...

(02-27-2014 09:30 AM)Saint Martin Wrote:  There is a way to get a 13th game - play at Hawaii. Unfortunately, looking at their schedule, not only are they already at 13 games, they would have to dump Washington or Oregon State to make room for us the first two weeks. The next two non-conference games for them are Northern Iowa and @Colorado. Hawaii's bye week is September 27.

However, and not sure what incentive Hawaii would have to play along, but if they were to buy out their Northern Iowa game on September 13, Oregon State has a bye week that week. Oregon State could delay their trip to Hawaii by a week, and UC could play at Hawaii on September 6. At least we have some good will already with the folks at Oregon State following the recent series, maybe we have some friends in their Athletic Department.

How mad I would be though if I was an Oregon State fan who already bought plane tickets to Hawaii...

Hawaii won't dump those games.... those are big regional games for them and would be equivalent of asking us to dump a game against a B10 school to play a MWC team.

Barring some unforeseen dominoes to fall, we are a bit snookered here. It seems that is the story of our existance these days.