I haven't been this estatic about our football program since the departure of Larry Fedora. The team is playing great. The last 3 years, I have had no faith in our team to even remotely compete against any opposition. This years squad reminds me of what football use to be like at Southern Miss. Even though the two loses to Miss State and Nebraska were loses but I saw much improvement. On both occasions, the team could have folded when they got behind but they didn't. Todd Monken is doing a tremendous job and I think we are improving each and every week. Just remember the last 3 years and compare this years team..!

Agree 100%

(09-27-2015 02:54 PM)Jayesseagle Wrote:  I haven't been this estatic about our football program since the departure of Larry Fedora. The team is playing great. The last 3 years, I have had no faith in our team to even remotely compete against any opposition. This years squad reminds me of what football use to be like at Southern Miss. Even though the two loses to Miss State and Nebraska were loses but I saw much improvement. On both occasions, the team could have folded when they got behind but they didn't. Todd Monken is doing a tremendous job and I think we are improving each and every week. Just remember the last 3 years and compare this years team..!

I think the coaches and fans have been shocked but elated at the extremely high quality talent that is posessed by this team. They are now adjusting to that in order to implement the talent into new schemes and game plans that are going to surprise most.

Hopefully everyone will stay healthy, the coaches will continue to bring a good game plan, and that they are working on recruiting even now. I am ready to see success every year but that takes long term vision. I am proud of Monken and his staff but I would hate for him to have a great year and then he bolt. We needed to develop some consistency again. But for now I am excited and looking forward to Saturday.

SMTTT

Is USM going to ge good this year? This is the very first time I've heard that...

(09-28-2015 10:03 AM)SethManKA1 Wrote:  I am proud of Monken and his staff but I would hate for him to have a great year and then he bolt.

SMTTT

This concerns me too.

This is why I think some people don't quite realize what they lost when Bower was fired.

Southern Miss picked the absolute worst time in the history of collegiate athletics to go winless and become terrible. It cost them most of their old conference mates.

Not that I'm complaining USM is still here, at all. Nevertheless, if they would have replaced Bower with a coach that would have stayed just 2 extra years, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

(09-28-2015 10:22 AM)BoKnows Wrote:  

(09-28-2015 10:03 AM)SethManKA1 Wrote:  I am proud of Monken and his staff but I would hate for him to have a great year and then he bolt.

SMTTT

This concerns me too.

This is why I think some people don't quite realize what they lost when Bower was fired.

Southern Miss picked the absolute worst time in the history of collegiate athletics to go winless and become terrible. It cost them most of their old conference mates.

Not that I'm complaining USM is still here, at all. Nevertheless, if they would have replaced Bower with a coach that would have stayed just 2 extra years, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Hello Captain Obvious.

(09-28-2015 10:07 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Is USM going to ge good this year? This is the very first time I've heard that...

Uh oh... Looks like we have a nervous moderator here...lol

(09-28-2015 10:28 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  

(09-28-2015 10:07 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Is USM going to ge good this year? This is the very first time I've heard that...

Uh oh... Looks like we have a nervous moderator here...lol

Nervous?

I'm just surprised no one has said anything about the rise of USM this year...

Gotcha...most of them have just been beating their chests on how good their teams are I guess. We are very competitive this year, something we couldn't say for three years now...

Defense still sucks, but the offense appears to be good enough to counterbalance that. Definitely the best team we've had since 2011.

I'm happy for you guys - as I always say, CUSA needs a competitive USM team. You guys are a big part of CUSA football brand.

(09-28-2015 10:36 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Defense still sucks, but the offense appears to be good enough to counterbalance that. Definitely the best team we've had since 2011.

Defense sucks against mobile QBs. We're pretty banged up to. Some key guys hurt against Nebraska and gave up alot of yards on the ground especially between the 20s but as compared to last years D.....well there is no comparison.

Definitely much improved. Congrats.

(09-28-2015 11:06 AM)SoMs Eagle Wrote:  

(09-28-2015 10:36 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Defense still sucks, but the offense appears to be good enough to counterbalance that. Definitely the best team we've had since 2011.

Defense sucks against mobile QBs. We're pretty banged up to. Some key guys hurt against Nebraska and gave up alot of yards on the ground especially between the 20s but as compared to last years D.....well there is no comparison.

Exactly, I believe we were without 4 defensive starters this past weekend against Nebraska. At one point in time we had a walk-on 4th string Safety in the game.

I said this back in 2013 when we first played you guys in our first year in CUSA. I'd take Nick Mullins as my QB any day. Very good QB with a lot of heart. He never gives up and is a heck of a passer. So glad to see it start to come together down there.

USM is a very good team that has played a tough schedule. CUSA better look out for the eagles this year.

(09-28-2015 10:22 AM)BoKnows Wrote:  

(09-28-2015 10:03 AM)SethManKA1 Wrote:  I am proud of Monken and his staff but I would hate for him to have a great year and then he bolt.

SMTTT

This concerns me too.

This is why I think some people don't quite realize what they lost when Bower was fired.

Southern Miss picked the absolute worst time in the history of collegiate athletics to go winless and become terrible. It cost them most of their old conference mates.

Not that I'm complaining USM is still here, at all. Nevertheless, if they would have replaced Bower with a coach that would have stayed just 2 extra years, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

No, if we had replaced Fedora with someone who wasn't the worst coach in college football history we wouldn't be having this discussion. Blake Anderson or Todd Monken were far better candidates than EJ at that time and so were guys like Willie Fritz, but we as usual we are our own worse enemy.

Anyways, this team reminds me in a way of the early Fedora teams. There's enough talent to win, but the coaches are still learning on the job. We were so devoid of talent in Monken' first couple years that he was more concerned with keeping our players alive than developing coherent game plans. I still expect this team to be in 5-7 win range, but it's worlds better than past two years.

I know I'm probably jumping the gun here but as I look at the rest of the schedule...and going by how we have played through the first 4 games, I really think we can win out..but I also see 1 or 2 more games that could go either way, so I'm thinking we could end up anywhere from 10-2 to 8-4 !! But even if we were to lose every games we have the rest of season, we are so much better that we have been in the past 3 years. Other than the talent, out players are actually motivated and showing signs of life. Their attitude and energy alone show me that. A lot non-USM fans just don't realize the shape we were in since Fedora left and EJ stepped in the door.