It's going to be hard for Tech to be consistent with a new QB that probably has very few D1 snaps under his belt. Add that with the loss of Dixon and it's an uphill climb indeed.

I think Houston's trip was a good example to learn from. They were a very deserving G5 representative.

You not only have to be good, but your conference has to be pretty good as well. In the west, they beat, Memphis, Navy and Cincinnati, which upped their profile due to their good years. Even Tulsa, also in the west, was a bowl team. Tulane was not good, but it was only 1 of 6...not like our divisions. That hurts us. You can't control who you play in conference, but to get to the Access Bowl they can't be seen as walk-over wins either. Yes, they lost to Connecticut, but the good stuff in their side of the Conference offset that one injury mired game, plus Sherriffs had his best game, and he's a stud when healthy.

Their OOC schedule was also highly desirable. Scheduling and beating two mid to low rated teams in Louisville and Vanderbilt, was necessary. You don't need to schedule LSU, Alabama, Michigan to make it...mid-level will do, BUT you have to win them of course. You can't lose to Indiana, Pittsburgh, or any other non-elite P5 school and expect to get the Access Bowl.

Tech and WKU are losing too much on O to really be considered leaders for the G5 slot. Replacing a QB is tough enough, let alone replacing an OC (WKU & LT) and your Mr. everything back (LT).

(01-02-2016 09:12 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  I think Houston's trip was a good example to learn from. They were a very deserving G5 representative.

You not only have to be good, but your conference has to be pretty good as well. In the west, they beat, Memphis, Navy and Cincinnati, which upped their profile due to their good years. Even Tulsa, also in the west, was a bowl team. Tulane was not good, but it was only 1 of 6...not like our divisions. That hurts us. You can't control who you play in conference, but to get to the Access Bowl they can't be seen as walk-over wins either. Yes, they lost to Connecticut, but the good stuff in their side of the Conference offset that one injury mired game, plus Sherriffs had his best game, and he's a stud when healthy.

Their OOC schedule was also highly desirable. Scheduling and beating two mid to low rated teams in Louisville and Vanderbilt, was necessary. You don't need to schedule LSU, Alabama, Michigan to make it...mid-level will do, BUT you have to win them of course. You can't lose to Indiana, Pittsburgh, or any other non-elite P5 school and expect to get the Access Bowl.

+1

Very good analysis

(01-02-2016 09:12 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  I think Houston's trip was a good example to learn from. They were a very deserving G5 representative.

You not only have to be good, but your conference has to be pretty good as well. In the west, they beat, Memphis, Navy and Cincinnati, which upped their profile due to their good years. Even Tulsa, also in the west, was a bowl team. Tulane was not good, but it was only 1 of 6...not like our divisions. That hurts us. You can't control who you play in conference, but to get to the Access Bowl they can't be seen as walk-over wins either. Yes, they lost to Connecticut, but the good stuff in their side of the Conference offset that one injury mired game, plus Sherriffs had his best game, and he's a stud when healthy.

Their OOC schedule was also highly desirable. Scheduling and beating two mid to low rated teams in Louisville and Vanderbilt, was necessary. You don't need to schedule LSU, Alabama, Michigan to make it...mid-level will do, BUT you have to win them of course. You can't lose to Indiana, Pittsburgh, or any other non-elite P5 school and expect to get the Access Bowl.

This guys gets it. Plus, that's why it's important to get and keep both Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech on the schedule. If Marshall is going to be in CUSA then it's important to play the best teams in it.

I don't think we have a chance, but Skip has surprised me a few times. We will have Taylor and Henderson back, and the O-Line will be more experienced, but QB is a huge question mark. We get good play from Higgins, Wilson, or Smith, and we might make some noise in conference, but Access Bowl...no shot. Hope that I am wrong though. Defense should be good.

Don't pass on MT just yet. We have a schedule of Bama A&M, Mizzou, Vandy, and BGSU. Mizzou game isn't till the end of October and Vandy is in Nashville where we should have around 50% of the crowd at Vandy... I like our chances, BGSU game will be a challenge but we'll see... It could happen!

Who is the heir to Doughty @ WKU,and why are Topper fans so certain that there'll be no dropoff?

(01-02-2016 11:11 AM)polkhigh Wrote:  

(01-02-2016 09:12 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  I think Houston's trip was a good example to learn from. They were a very deserving G5 representative.

You not only have to be good, but your conference has to be pretty good as well. In the west, they beat, Memphis, Navy and Cincinnati, which upped their profile due to their good years. Even Tulsa, also in the west, was a bowl team. Tulane was not good, but it was only 1 of 6...not like our divisions. That hurts us. You can't control who you play in conference, but to get to the Access Bowl they can't be seen as walk-over wins either. Yes, they lost to Connecticut, but the good stuff in their side of the Conference offset that one injury mired game, plus Sherriffs had his best game, and he's a stud when healthy.

Their OOC schedule was also highly desirable. Scheduling and beating two mid to low rated teams in Louisville and Vanderbilt, was necessary. You don't need to schedule LSU, Alabama, Michigan to make it...mid-level will do, BUT you have to win them of course. You can't lose to Indiana, Pittsburgh, or any other non-elite P5 school and expect to get the Access Bowl.

This guys gets it. Plus, that's why it's important to get and keep both Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech on the schedule. If Marshall is going to be in CUSA then it's important to play the best teams in it.

this is what is disappointing with the way next year's conference schedule was developed

how ya like "her" now.....

another cusa 'wtfe' momento.....

what a stupid move by the leadershite....

southern miss should be playing 2 of MAR, WKU, or MT next year.....period.....

we have that ability to adjust.....nice passive flip flop move by 'her'.....

I like our chances considering how young we were on offense. Our schedule sets up nice as well.

(01-02-2016 04:46 PM)Artifice Wrote:  Who is the heir to Doughty @ WKU,and why are Topper fans so certain that there'll be no dropoff?

There will be a good competition between Nelson Fishback, who will be a senior and knows the offense really well; Mike White, the transfer from USF who has been able to study the offense during his year out due to transfer; Tyler Ferguson, another transfer from Louisville; plus we have 2 redshirt Freshmen QB's. I trust Brohm to give the keys to the right person!

Plus, we don't have to have a Doughty clone(would be nice, though). With our O Line back as well as our RBs, we will be more flexible on offense and the QB won't have to do as much!

(01-02-2016 04:39 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  Don't pass on MT just yet. We have a schedule of Bama A&M, Mizzou, Vandy, and BGSU. Mizzou game isn't till the end of October and Vandy is in Nashville where we should have around 50% of the crowd at Vandy... I like our chances, BGSU game will be a challenge but we'll see... It could happen!

Dude. Do you remember who our coach is? Mr. Bowl Eligible-Automatic Extension. We don't win the big ones.

(01-02-2016 06:20 PM)Psychored Wrote:  

(01-02-2016 04:46 PM)Artifice Wrote:  Who is the heir to Doughty @ WKU,and why are Topper fans so certain that there'll be no dropoff?

There will be a good competition between Nelson Fishback, who will be a senior and knows the offense really well; Mike White, the transfer from USF who has been able to study the offense during his year out due to transfer; Tyler Ferguson, another transfer from Louisville; plus we have 2 redshirt Freshmen QB's. I trust Brohm to give the keys to the right person!

Plus, we don't have to have a Doughty clone(would be nice, though). With our O Line back as well as our RBs, we will be more flexible on offense and the QB won't have to do as much!

time will play that one out.....next year is gonna be fonzies on this board....

(01-02-2016 07:03 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  

(01-02-2016 04:39 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  Don't pass on MT just yet. We have a schedule of Bama A&M, Mizzou, Vandy, and BGSU. Mizzou game isn't till the end of October and Vandy is in Nashville where we should have around 50% of the crowd at Vandy... I like our chances, BGSU game will be a challenge but we'll see... It could happen!

Dude. Do you remember who our coach is? Mr. Bowl Eligible-Automatic Extension. We don't win the big ones.

I'm beginning to enjoy another version of hatfield/mccoy inbred fighting......

I do like you guys' moxie.....I remember those days....

(01-02-2016 07:03 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  

(01-02-2016 04:39 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  Don't pass on MT just yet. We have a schedule of Bama A&M, Mizzou, Vandy, and BGSU. Mizzou game isn't till the end of October and Vandy is in Nashville where we should have around 50% of the crowd at Vandy... I like our chances, BGSU game will be a challenge but we'll see... It could happen!

Dude. Do you remember who our coach is? Mr. Bowl Eligible-Automatic Extension. We don't win the big ones.

It's not like we haven't done very well in OOC against tough opponents. We were 10-3 in 2009 with wins over Memphis and Maryland while also playing Clemson and MS State. Mizzou, Vandy, BGSU wouldn't be as bad of a stretch as those four.

(01-02-2016 06:20 PM)Psychored Wrote:  

(01-02-2016 04:46 PM)Artifice Wrote:  Who is the heir to Doughty @ WKU,and why are Topper fans so certain that there'll be no dropoff?

There will be a good competition between Nelson Fishback, who will be a senior and knows the offense really well; Mike White, the transfer from USF who has been able to study the offense during his year out due to transfer; Tyler Ferguson, another transfer from Louisville; plus we have 2 redshirt Freshmen QB's. I trust Brohm to give the keys to the right person!

Plus, we don't have to have a Doughty clone(would be nice, though). With our O Line back as well as our RBs, we will be more flexible on offense and the QB won't have to do as much!

.
I don't think any Topper fan is certain of anything next fall, there are too many variables to consider. Do we expect to be competitive and compete for the league title? Yes. Is the potential for a drop without Doughty? Yes. There is a ton of talent coming back though and we think Brohm develops QB's as good as any college coach.