http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/2/14...k-exchange

no complaints about the north texas information...pretty spot on...

Dumb. Rice will lose because it's the "nerd" school of the conference? Trending downward (3 straight bowl games and 5 in 9 years after a 45 year absence)? Unless we drastically fix our amenities, which is exactly what we're doing right now? Probably took Steven all of 3 seconds to research his position. All he had to do was look at Jared's comment, which mentions the renovations.

I have a feeling that after the upcoming football season, the writer of this article is going to be eating some of his words regarding a few of these programs, I really feel that this will be the toughest division in Conference USA next season, and the Phoenix is finally going to rise in Hattiesburg. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!

The Rice one was kinda silly, but hey they write these things so we will talk about them.

Hmm...that Jared guy knows too much...

Here is how I would rate the west for this year:

Rice - (6-2) Having both La Tech and WKU at home certainly does not hurt. However, the Owls do have to make trips to much improved and dangerous FAU and to up and coming UTEP. Expect Rice to slip up at least once somewhere and one "WTF" game. Rice wins the tiebraker for the west crown.

La Tech - (6-2) Trips to WKU, Rice, and dangerous UTEP make things difficult for the Bulldogs. Expect two losses somewhere among the road games. HOWEVER, if the dawgs can put their head down and keep focused, they could win the division. (Sidenote: If they lose to Louisiana...like some ULL posters are guaranteeing, this could weigh pretty heavily on the psyche of the team)

UTEP - (5-3) A very dangerous team this year....and a very favorable schedule having La Tech, Rice, and UTSA all at home. Trips to ODU and USM could be trap games for the miners. They're good, but I don't think they are ready yet. Expect a couple of mild upsets, but I also think they'll lose some too. I think next year might be the one for the Miners.

USM - (4-4) I said last season that I thought that USM will be bowl eligible in 2015. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. The USM schedule doesn't really smile on them or I might have them at 5-3. Trips to Rice, La Tech, and Marshall will be too much to handle, and I think USM slips up once at home.

UTSA - (3-5) With ODU, LA Tech, Rice, and MTSU at home, they could get to 4-4, but they go to USM and UTEP. The meep meeps have to prove that they can hold it together down the stretch and not implode.

UNT - (2-6) They have Rice and WKU at home... Rice should play fine there, but there is a reason why west teams don't win in the east and vice versa... That TX trip is a loooooonnng one. This "could" be an upset special, but I think WKU has too many weapons for the Mean Green. Trips to USM, LA Tech and Marshall will be VERY tough.
"I've never been with a 10, but one night I was with five 2's..."

I think Tech is a buy. We were not supposed to be playing for the championship last year. It was just year 2 of a massive rebuilding project with 10 JC's and 4 transfers carrying Tech, with a few nice underclassmen like Dixon, Taylor, Henderson, and the DBs mixed in. We are starting to amass some good young talent in the last 2 recruiting classes. I see a very bright future for a while.

But with success, we lose coaches. Losing Manny Diaz was devastating. I think Holtz has done a great job replacing the 9 coaches he's lost in the past 2 years though.

(02-17-2015 12:29 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  I think Tech is a buy. We were not supposed to be playing for the championship last year. It was just year 2 of a massive rebuilding project with 10 JC's and 4 transfers carrying Tech, with a few nice underclassmen like Dixon, Taylor, Henderson, and the DBs mixed in. We are starting to amass some good young talent in the last 2 recruiting classes. I see a very bright future for a while.

But with success, we lose coaches. Losing Manny Diaz was devastating. I think Holtz has done a great job replacing the 9 coaches he's lost in the past 2 years though.

I feel good about our prospects, but would lean towards PUSH at this moment. We lost our LB core and our QB. I think Driskell will do great but the jury is still out on him according to most sources. I expect a bowl season but think Rice is the team to beat until shown otherwise. Southern Miss and Utep will compete as well.

(02-17-2015 12:34 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 12:29 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  I think Tech is a buy. We were not supposed to be playing for the championship last year. It was just year 2 of a massive rebuilding project with 10 JC's and 4 transfers carrying Tech, with a few nice underclassmen like Dixon, Taylor, Henderson, and the DBs mixed in. We are starting to amass some good young talent in the last 2 recruiting classes. I see a very bright future for a while.

But with success, we lose coaches. Losing Manny Diaz was devastating. I think Holtz has done a great job replacing the 9 coaches he's lost in the past 2 years though.

I feel good about our prospects, but would lean towards PUSH at this moment. We lost our LB core and our QB. I think Driskell will do great but the jury is still out on him according to most sources. I expect a bowl season but think Rice is the team to beat until shown otherwise. Southern Miss and Utep will compete as well.

I agree about next year, I'm talking more about the next 4 to 5 years. So short term push; long term buy.

Oh, I would say long term BUY. Things are going very well in Ruston and I think they will continue to. That can be said about all the programs in the West. We all have needs and all have strengths too.

F**k that article. UTEP has always had issues with football recruiting. These guys play it off like it's a newfound issue. Idiots.

The success that UTEP has had over the years (albeit minimal) can be attributed to the right players recruited to fit the particular system in place. UTEP's never going to get the 5, 4, or 3-star football player, whether from Texas or any state. Never. So, Kugler goes after the "under the radar" and "diamonds in the rough" players...players that fit his system. This doesn't mean they are untalented scrubs. It does mean they at times have to be developed a little more than the star-rated players, but a good coach with a good staff can do just that, and maximize the talent they do have. UTEP didn't go from 2-12 (2013) to 7-6 (2014) because they got lucky. They also didn't drastically improve because of a highly rated recruiting class. It happened because Coach Sean Kugler instilled a system and sought out the players who fit that system, and who's to say that method won't continue to succeed?

(02-17-2015 10:59 AM)Matrix Wrote:  I have a feeling that after the upcoming football season, the writer of this article is going to be eating some of his words regarding a few of these programs, I really feel that this will be the toughest division in Conference USA next season, and the Phoenix is finally going to rise in Hattiesburg. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!

spygate2 is just around the corner....and you know who our s&c coach is....



I've been wide-ass honest about what I've seen.....

the other boys better be ready.....we will be this time!

(02-17-2015 12:10 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  La Tech - (6-2) Trips to WKU, Rice, and dangerous UTEP make things difficult for the Bulldogs. Expect two losses somewhere among the road games. HOWEVER, if the dawgs can put their head down and keep focused, they could win the division. (Sidenote: If they lose to Louisiana...like some ULL posters are guaranteeing, this could weigh pretty heavily on the psyche of the team)

How are we going to lose to an entire state?

(02-17-2015 03:49 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 12:10 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  La Tech - (6-2) Trips to WKU, Rice, and dangerous UTEP make things difficult for the Bulldogs. Expect two losses somewhere among the road games. HOWEVER, if the dawgs can put their head down and keep focused, they could win the division. (Sidenote: If they lose to Louisiana...like some ULL posters are guaranteeing, this could weigh pretty heavily on the psyche of the team)

How are we going to lose to an entire state?

Please don't invoke the ULL trolls. They like to urinate in the well so no one can drink.

(02-17-2015 03:51 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 03:49 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 12:10 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  La Tech - (6-2) Trips to WKU, Rice, and dangerous UTEP make things difficult for the Bulldogs. Expect two losses somewhere among the road games. HOWEVER, if the dawgs can put their head down and keep focused, they could win the division. (Sidenote: If they lose to Louisiana...like some ULL posters are guaranteeing, this could weigh pretty heavily on the psyche of the team)

How are we going to lose to an entire state?

Please don't invoke the ULL trolls. They like to urinate in the well so no one can drink.

I'll reply slightly more seriously and respond instead by saying "isn't that what they were guaranteeing last season?" This probably doesn't reduce the likelihood of ULL trolls, but at least we'll get posts about how if it wasn't for those X number of plays that resulted in touchdowns, ULL would have won that game instead of the name stuff.

(02-17-2015 04:00 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 03:51 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 03:49 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(02-17-2015 12:10 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  La Tech - (6-2) Trips to WKU, Rice, and dangerous UTEP make things difficult for the Bulldogs. Expect two losses somewhere among the road games. HOWEVER, if the dawgs can put their head down and keep focused, they could win the division. (Sidenote: If they lose to Louisiana...like some ULL posters are guaranteeing, this could weigh pretty heavily on the psyche of the team)

How are we going to lose to an entire state?

Please don't invoke the ULL trolls. They like to urinate in the well so no one can drink.

I'll reply slightly more seriously and respond instead by saying "isn't that what they were guaranteeing last season?" This probably doesn't reduce the likelihood of ULL trolls, but at least we'll get posts about how if it wasn't for those X number of plays that resulted in touchdowns, ULL would have won that game instead of the name stuff.

It is my sincerest hope that we sweep in state games this year.

Just for full disclosure, Jason Jones (one of the three giving evaluations) is a Tech guy. Not sure about the other two.

On ULL, they guaranteed they would beat us this year and I believed them. I have less faith in them for next year although both teams should be largely new.

I laugh when people talk about LA Tech having a "tough road trip to Rice". Hell, LA Tech probably has more alumni living in Houston than Rice does. LA Tech ALWAYS draws a big crowd in Houston. If you don't believe me, just ask Rice.

(02-17-2015 05:55 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  I laugh when people talk about LA Tech having a "tough road trip to Rice". Hell, LA Tech probably has more alumni living in Houston than Rice does. LA Tech ALWAYS draws a big crowd in Houston. If you don't believe me, just ask Rice.

I don't think that he is talking about fan support...

(02-17-2015 10:59 AM)Matrix Wrote:  I have a feeling that after the upcoming football season, the writer of this article is going to be eating some of his words regarding a few of these programs, I really feel that this will be the toughest division in Conference USA next season, and the Phoenix is finally going to rise in Hattiesburg. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!

is the U of Phoenix building in Hattiesburg?