want to say 6-6 with a bowl game but leaning more towards 5-7. Give Fickell a couple years to build up his team the Cats will be back at the top of the conference.

(09-05-2017 07:00 PM)digibrink Wrote:  It would be one thing if our DL and OL were just pushing the AP lines around but all were doing is sending 4 guys on D or running HB Dive on O, but our line wasn't getting any push at all. That is frightening and has nothing to do with calling plays.

We had 10 TFL and 1 sack in the game while running VANILLA coverage.

Last year against TN- Martin we had 8 TFL and 3 sacks, just for comparison sakes.

1998 we were 2-9
1999 we were 3-8
Of course Lyles first year was 4-8 and that unnamed coaches last year was 4-8.

I think we will challenge the Minter years records.

I was. out of town last week, and the ESPN 3 crapped in in my Canadian hotel room. So I missed the "joy" of watching the AP win.

I have to think back to Mike Gottfried's first game as coach. Early 80's, if I remember correctly. We lost to Youngstown State. I went a little nuts when we took a fair catch on a kickoff around the 10 yard line, and then had a delay of game when the guy tried to run. I think we started out 0 - 3 that year.

It did get better, however, and I think we finished 6 - 5 or something similar. (I know, different competition.)

My point is that teams change during the year, especially under new coaches. You need to be careful taking the first several games and basing everything on that.

The real prediction I want to hear about is whether the team will just shrug when things go bad (like the last 2 years with TT), or will they fight through it - win or lose. If they fight through, the win/loss record will work itself out.

Some of you guys need to try de-caff. Save the panic for October.

(09-07-2017 06:19 PM)ucbandguy Wrote:  I was. out of town last week, and the ESPN 3 crapped in in my Canadian hotel room. So I missed the "joy" of watching the AP win.

I have to think back to Mike Gottfried's first game as coach. Early 80's, if I remember correctly. We lost to Youngstown State. I went a little nuts when we took a fair catch on a kickoff around the 10 yard line, and then had a delay of game when the guy tried to run. I think we started out 0 - 3 that year.

It did get better, however, and I think we finished 6 - 5 or something similar. (I know, different competition.)

My point is that teams change during the year, especially under new coaches. You need to be careful taking the first several games and basing everything on that.

The real prediction I want to hear about is whether the team will just shrug when things go bad (like the last 2 years with TT), or will they fight through it - win or lose. If they fight through, the win/loss record will work itself out.

Some of you guys need to try de-caff. Save the panic for October.

Exactly!

the team that could have been really good with a coach with a pulse was 2013, ie, the Clown's first year here. That team would have been in a NY6 Bowl if BK was in charge

Should we revisit this thread again after our second game?

(09-09-2017 04:15 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  Should we revisit this thread again after our second game?

We should revisit this thread every week.

(09-09-2017 04:52 PM)crex043 Wrote:  

(09-09-2017 04:15 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  Should we revisit this thread again after our second game?

We should revisit this thread every week.

Should be able to make a pretty good guess 10 weeks from now.

I think the key to their record may be how they come out of their bye week after game 6 in mid Oct. It seems like a lot of team change character after a bye week, some up, some down. I don't expect this team to descend into sleepwalk mode like the last couple of years.

Most of the games after the bye seem winnable, so 4-2 or even 5-1 after the bye is easy to imagine. (Not a prediction, but easy to imagine.)

Obviously, Fick needs to work with his staff on game management issues. The OL looked serviceable at UM, maybe not as bad as we feared. Hayden still needs some genuine growth to really succeed (Yeah, I am a bit of a skeptic on him.)

My point, it is too early to despair. (I suffered through the 1970's, 1980's and early 90's teams - despair was quite appropriate back then.) The older guys on the board will understand.

Six wins is possible. Our defense is better than I thought they would be (at least against Michigan they were) and our schedule isn't really that tough.

(09-10-2017 08:35 AM)ucbandguy Wrote:  I think the key to their record may be how they come out of their bye week after game 6 in mid Oct. It seems like a lot of team change character after a bye week, some up, some down. I don't expect this team to descend into sleepwalk mode like the last couple of years.

Most of the games after the bye seem winnable, so 4-2 or even 5-1 after the bye is easy to imagine. (Not a prediction, but easy to imagine.)

Obviously, Fick needs to work with his staff on game management issues. The OL looked serviceable at UM, maybe not as bad as we feared. Hayden still needs some genuine growth to really succeed (Yeah, I am a bit of a skeptic on him.)

My point, it is too early to despair. (I suffered through the 1970's, 1980's and early 90's teams - despair was quite appropriate back then.) The older guys on the board will understand.

I'm really old, so I can remember when we were losing to the likes of Hardin-Simmons, College of the Pacific, and perennially losing to Miami.

(09-10-2017 03:36 PM)colohank Wrote:  

(09-10-2017 08:35 AM)ucbandguy Wrote:  I think the key to their record may be how they come out of their bye week after game 6 in mid Oct. It seems like a lot of team change character after a bye week, some up, some down. I don't expect this team to descend into sleepwalk mode like the last couple of years.

Most of the games after the bye seem winnable, so 4-2 or even 5-1 after the bye is easy to imagine. (Not a prediction, but easy to imagine.)

Obviously, Fick needs to work with his staff on game management issues. The OL looked serviceable at UM, maybe not as bad as we feared. Hayden still needs some genuine growth to really succeed (Yeah, I am a bit of a skeptic on him.)

My point, it is too early to despair. (I suffered through the 1970's, 1980's and early 90's teams - despair was quite appropriate back then.) The older guys on the board will understand.

I'm really old, so I can remember when we were losing to the likes of Hardin-Simmons, College of the Pacific, and perennially losing to Miami.

Agree completely. We're not in it for "moral victories" but the past 15 years or so have elevated UC to a much higher level competitively. As some have suggested a handful of plays yesterday could have turned that game into a stunning upset. But watching it in the Big House, UC wasn't manhandled as many of our teams were in the 70's and 80's. I really believe Fickell will build a program here.

(09-10-2017 03:59 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(09-10-2017 03:36 PM)colohank Wrote:  

(09-10-2017 08:35 AM)ucbandguy Wrote:  I think the key to their record may be how they come out of their bye week after game 6 in mid Oct. It seems like a lot of team change character after a bye week, some up, some down. I don't expect this team to descend into sleepwalk mode like the last couple of years.

Most of the games after the bye seem winnable, so 4-2 or even 5-1 after the bye is easy to imagine. (Not a prediction, but easy to imagine.)

Obviously, Fick needs to work with his staff on game management issues. The OL looked serviceable at UM, maybe not as bad as we feared. Hayden still needs some genuine growth to really succeed (Yeah, I am a bit of a skeptic on him.)

My point, it is too early to despair. (I suffered through the 1970's, 1980's and early 90's teams - despair was quite appropriate back then.) The older guys on the board will understand.

I'm really old, so I can remember when we were losing to the likes of Hardin-Simmons, College of the Pacific, and perennially losing to Miami.

Agree completely. We're not in it for "moral victories" but the past 15 years or so have elevated UC to a much higher level competitively. As some have suggested a handful of plays yesterday could have turned that game into a stunning upset. But watching it in the Big House, UC wasn't manhandled as many of our teams were in the 70's and 80's. I really believe Fickell will build a program here.

I'm not recalling too many beat downs in the 70's...I am getting up in years, perhaps this is the onset of dementia. Schedule was upgraded and I recall holding our own against some good teams--but losing often against The Redskins

(09-03-2017 07:13 PM)icecat21 Wrote:  Things are never as bad or as good as they seem. It was only one game. Lots of teams struggled in their first game. USF was mentioned. OSU was down to Indiana. Michigan was down to florida with two pick six's in the first half. Florida didn't have 10 players due to suspension. Stay calm it's a long season and we will improve. We will win more than we lose and go to a bowl.

Yea, maybe not so much.

(09-10-2017 08:55 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Six wins is possible. Our defense is better than I thought they would be (at least against Michigan they were) and our schedule isn't really that tough.

lol well I feel dumb now....


Maybe we can get to four wins?

UC is only the perfect storm of 90 seconds of the worst coaching decisions I've ever seen along with some questionable officiating calls in our favor from only being 1-5 with a solo nailbiter of a win against a FCS team.

(10-08-2017 10:21 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  UC is only the perfect storm of 90 seconds of the worst coaching decisions I've ever seen along with some questionable officiating calls in our favor from only being 1-5 with a solo nailbiter of a win against a FCS team.

perspective
painful

(10-08-2017 10:37 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(10-08-2017 10:21 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  UC is only the perfect storm of 90 seconds of the worst coaching decisions I've ever seen along with some questionable officiating calls in our favor from only being 1-5 with a solo nailbiter of a win against a FCS team.

perspective
painful

Truth. We look several notches below other teams talent and depth wise. The Michigan game was an aberration. The Miami game even more so. Sadly, the challenge of the Staff for the remainder of the season is not as much to win but to keep these kids from folding and giving up. 4-8 last year and looking even worse this year. The aftermath of the USF game will be like emotional triage.

No goal for rest of the year:

Suck Less


CLF should have this printed on the back of his jacket instead of T.E.A.M