When your team hasn't played in a bowl since you were alive there is no off season it's just the next season. Before anyone declares for the draft, signings are complete, or bowls are even played. I'd like to hear what other MAC teams expect from their teams next year.

I know a lot of UMass fans are expecting a "big" year. I think the team could be much better if Fro stays healthy and I'm thinking:

1-3 OOC
5-3 MAC

6-6 no bowl invite. Improvement but disappointing season.

I'm really hoping for better but I don't know if UMass knows how to win/finish yet.

Miami OOC:
Win at home against Presbyterian, lose at home against UC, lose on the road to Wisconsin and WKU.

MAC:
Not sure what our schedule will be, but assuming that the home and aways are just flipped from this year I'm guessing 3-5.

We'll be better running the ball as Martin continues to develop the OL, but we're losing our QB and top two receivers so that'll cancel out most improvements. Unless we get another round of transfers (Hendrix) and miracles (Rollins), it'll be another losing season. Wake me up in August 2016.

WMU

vs. Michigan St. (L)
vs. FCS (W)
@ Ohio St. (L)
@ Georgia Southern (L)
@ Toledo (L)
vs. Ball St. (W)
vs. MAC East (W)
@ MAC East (W)
vs. MAC East (W)
@ EMU (W)
vs. CMU (W)
@ NIU (L)

We've got a brutal schedule next season. I'll say we go 7-5 (6-2).

2016 will be the year the Broncos win the MAC.

(12-20-2014 08:11 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  WMU

vs. Michigan St. (L)
vs. FCS (W)
@ Ohio St. (L)
@ Georgia Southern (L)
@ Toledo (L)
vs. Ball St. (W)
vs. MAC East (W)
@ MAC East (W)
vs. MAC East (W)
@ EMU (W)
vs. CMU (W)
@ NIU (L)

We've got a brutal schedule next season. I'll say we go 7-5 (6-2).

2016 will be the year the Broncos win the MAC.

Should be interesting. Yes, a brutal schedule but Western has the horses (I can't believe I said that...).

I think Northern's going to have a good team. WMU will be even better. CMU, they had a talented team this year and are losing some stars and still have Enos. Would anticipate big step back. BG and Miami will be better.

Is UMASS in the MAC next year?

I expect NIU to be even better, especially on offense. Hare will have an entire season's worth of experience (when you add in MACC and bowl game) and he will have an entire offseason to work on his passing game. If he gets that going we will be lethal on offense again. We return a lot on offense and defense.

How much better we are may not be reflected in our wins and losses if we don't beat Ohio State (highly unlikely) and Boston College (50/50 chance) on the road. The rest of our non-conference is Murray State and UNLV at home. We usually lose one MAC game we shouldn't so i say 9-3 at worst and 11-1 at best.

(12-20-2014 11:30 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  How much better we are may not be reflected in our wins and losses.

I feel the same way about WMU next season. Our nonconference schedule is obviously much tougher with MSU, @OSU, and @Georgia Southern. The game at Georgia Southern, IMO, is borderline must-win, and it won't be easy. There's a big difference between coming out of that nonconference schedule at 2-2 heading into MAC play and being 1-3 with games at NIU and at Toledo looming ahead.

Much has been made of our recruiting classes - both the current true freshmen and the potential incoming class - but the reality is there will be a number of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen stepping onto the field as collegiate athletes for the first time against Michigan State. That's asking a lot.

On paper, there's little question we should be better next season - we only lose literally a handful of players to graduation. My biggest concern is making it out of the nonconference schedule with confidence (two wins) and relatively injury-free.

Extreme best-case scenario: WMU shocks the world and opens the season by knocking off MSU at Waldo and gets drilled at OSU, but starts MAC play at 3-1 by winning at Georgia Southern. Extremely unlikely.

Realistic best-case scenario: WMU gives MSU and/or OSU a battle for a while, knocks off Georgia Southern on the road, and enters MAC play at 2-2 relatively injury-free.

Possible scenario: WMU drops three tough nonconference games and begins MAC play at 1-3, but escapes relatively injury-free and able to contend for a division title.

Worst-case scenario: WMU not only opens MAC play at 1-3, but suffers a couple of major injuries along the way that, much like Toledo's injuries to Ely and Hunt this season, make it very difficult to overcome.

Many WMU fans have a realistic perspective and realize that 2016, not 2015, will be the best chance to make big noise, when the nonconference schedule eases considerably (at NW, at Illinois, Georgia Southern at home) and NIU and Toledo return to Waldo.

(12-20-2014 12:31 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(12-20-2014 11:30 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  How much better we are may not be reflected in our wins and losses.

I feel the same way about WMU next season. Our nonconference schedule is obviously much tougher with MSU, @OSU, and @Georgia Southern. The game at Georgia Southern, IMO, is borderline must-win, and it won't be easy. There's a big difference between coming out of that nonconference schedule at 2-2 heading into MAC play and being 1-3 with games at NIU and at Toledo looming ahead.

Much has been made of our recruiting classes - both the current true freshmen and the potential incoming class - but the reality is there will be a number of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen stepping onto the field as collegiate athletes for the first time against Michigan State. That's asking a lot.

On paper, there's little question we should be better next season - we only lose literally a handful of players to graduation. My biggest concern is making it out of the nonconference schedule with confidence (two wins) and relatively injury-free.

Extreme best-case scenario: WMU shocks the world and opens the season by knocking off MSU at Waldo and gets drilled at OSU, but starts MAC play at 3-1 by winning at Georgia Southern. Extremely unlikely.

Realistic best-case scenario: WMU gives MSU and/or OSU a battle for a while, knocks off Georgia Southern on the road, and enters MAC play at 2-2 relatively injury-free.

Possible scenario: WMU drops three tough nonconference games and begins MAC play at 1-3, but escapes relatively injury-free and able to contend for a division title.

Worst-case scenario: WMU not only opens MAC play at 1-3, but suffers a couple of major injuries along the way that, much like Toledo's injuries to Ely and Hunt this season, make it very difficult to overcome.

Many WMU fans have a realistic perspective and realize that 2016, not 2015, will be the best chance to make big noise, when the nonconference schedule eases considerably (at NW, at Illinois, Georgia Southern at home) and NIU and Toledo return to Waldo.

... AND that recruiting class is in its third year on campus. 2016 is for sure a BIG year and will determine if potential becomes a player.

In 2016 Hunt, Ely, Jones, and then a veteran line will be seniors for Toledo. I agree WMU is in a better place to win the MAC, but along with us lots of teams will have skill player veterans then. WMU has a good shot next season I would say. They lose the least of anyone on offense.

The big question mark for Toledo in 2015 will be the O-Line, only 1 non senior has seen any significant time.

vs Stony Brook W
@ Arkansas L
vs Iowa St W
vs Arkansas St W

vs EMU W
@ Ball St W
@ CMU W
vs NIU L
vs WMU W
@ BGSUcks W
vs MAC East W
@ MAC East W

I see us splitting ISU and stAte then the rest is accurate.

(12-20-2014 06:58 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  The big question mark for Toledo in 2015 will be the O-Line, only 1 non senior has seen any significant time.

vs Stony Brook W
@ Arkansas L
vs Iowa St W
vs Arkansas St W

vs EMU W
@ Ball St W
@ CMU W
vs NIU L
vs WMU W
@ BGSUcks W
vs MAC East W
@ MAC East W

That is a BIG question for 2015. This was your year and losing -2- QBs was sums up your year.

(12-20-2014 04:39 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  In 2016 Hunt, Ely, Jones, and then a veteran line will be seniors for Toledo. I agree WMU is in a better place to win the MAC, but along with us lots of teams will have skill player veterans then. WMU has a good shot next season I would say. They lose the least of anyone on offense.

This was the year I thought that UT could win the MAC but they couldn't get past all the multiple injuries and (as usual) past NIU. A lot of MAC teams are going be better next year, but I expect UT will not. Still, barring injuries, I do expect the offensive line to improve as the season goes on and I could see the Rockets going about 7-5 next year with another "close but no cigar" type of year with respect to a MACC.

The loss of entire veteran OL along with the kicker Detmer is going to hurt a lot. UT should get two starting CBs that missed last season back, but they will still have the same DB coaches, so the secondary will probably still be the Achilles heel of the defense although the DL may be a bit better. Hunt and Swanson will continue to be beasts WHEN they are able to get into the secondary, but I suspect that we will see a lot more stops at the line and TFL because of the lack of experience in the line play. They should still have some nice runs but a lot fewer of them and thus a significantly lower YPC. By the same token I would be surprised if the QB protection is as good next as it has been for the past two years either, so the offense could take a step backwards, particularly early in the season.

Like hoekje said, I can see WMU around 7-5.

NIU and Toledo are back on the road. MSU and Ohio State...ouch. And then another loss somewhere in there.

As it's been said here already, WMU returns a ton of talent and experience but plays a brutal schedule. Not quite sure what to expect.

(12-19-2014 11:14 PM)Sam Minuteman Wrote:  When your team hasn't played in a bowl since you were alive there is no off season it's just the next season. Before anyone declares for the draft, signings are complete, or bowls are even played. I'd like to hear what other MAC teams expect from their teams next year.

I know a lot of UMass fans are expecting a "big" year. I think the team could be much better if Fro stays healthy and I'm thinking:

1-3 OOC
5-3 MAC

6-6 no bowl invite. Improvement but disappointing season.

I'm really hoping for better but I don't know if UMass knows how to win/finish yet.

WTF minuteman. We've been FCS division since it was formed in the 70's.

You know we've made it to the championship game 3 times and winning it in 1999, with coach Whipple.

I'll list predictions and we'll get a minimum of five.
1) We finish ahead of Miami for the 3 year in a row.
2) We beat a MAC team with a winning record.
3) We are bowl eligible.
4) We go Bowling.
5) We get a practice bubble.
6) We have solid home attendance.
7) Talk of expanding McGuirk goes main stream in the media.

(12-21-2014 12:21 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  As it's been said here already, WMU returns a ton of talent and experience but plays a brutal schedule. Not quite sure what to expect.

It should be fun to be a WMU fan.

I'd rather be a fan of a program with a 'ton of talent and experience' and a brutal schedule then a program with a soft schedule to go with mediocre talent.

I'll be in MI for the first weekend of the 2015 season, how can I get a tix to MSU @ WMU?

Will that be the tough MAC ticket in decades (even tougher then MSU @ CMU a few years ago)? It is opening night and a dream matchup for WMU fans. Doesn't get any better then that!!!

(12-21-2014 10:53 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(12-19-2014 11:14 PM)Sam Minuteman Wrote:  When your team hasn't played in a bowl since you were alive there is no off season it's just the next season. Before anyone declares for the draft, signings are complete, or bowls are even played. I'd like to hear what other MAC teams expect from their teams next year.

I know a lot of UMass fans are expecting a "big" year. I think the team could be much better if Fro stays healthy and I'm thinking:

1-3 OOC
5-3 MAC

6-6 no bowl invite. Improvement but disappointing season.

I'm really hoping for better but I don't know if UMass knows how to win/finish yet.

WTF minuteman. We've been FCS division since it was formed in the 70's.

You know we've made it to the championship game 3 times and winning it in 1999, with coach Whipple.

I'll list predictions and we'll get a minimum of five.
1) We finish ahead of Miami for the 3 year in a row.
2) We beat a MAC team with a winning record.
3) We are bowl eligible.
4) We go Bowling.
5) We get a practice bubble.
6) We have solid home attendance.
7) Talk of expanding McGuirk goes main stream in the media.

I was on the sideline for that game and it was awesome!

My worry is the recruiting may suffer from the lack of a conference affiliation moving forward & the team is 1 injury (Fro) away from Molnar like numbers.

I'm cautiously optimistic but not sure the team gets over the hump.

With Campbell at helm, we've been a 7-5/8-4 program last few years. I don't see that changing...

Ohio was young this year and won't lose much from seniors so should be better next year. Don't know if that will translate into more wins or just closer losses. OOC is @Idaho, Marshall, FCS, @Minnesota.