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Guess I’ll just be honest and say it... not that there’s necessarily a magic number, but I would be pretty disappointed if we stayed healthy and only went 5-3 in-conference. Who would those 3 losses be victim to?

We should be better than that IMO.

(07-08-2018 10:41 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Need to get back to a bowl, which essentially would require a 7-5 or better season. Loosely assuming 2-2 OOC, it means winning 5 minimum of our 8 MAC contests. Anything less than this would be concerning, barring a ton of injuries. And if we did have another anamolous “injury bug” season, that’d also be concerning.

I’m more confident than pessimistic regarding our immediate future. Lester’s recruitment ratings have tended to be Fleck-like, and we’re getting more of ‘his guys’ in his system.

But again, hope there’s no injury spillover effect from last season. And hopefully our confidence doesn’t get too dinged if Harblow lays a beat down on us in Week 2.

Harblow will, because:

1. He has no class
2. The UM faithful are not happy with his losses against OSU, he must atone against weaker opposition
3. He hates WMU because we gave his daddy the ziggy.

We opened there in Hiller’s senior year, I was expecting we’d hang with them, nope, 30-3 at the half, third quarter puking in the toilet, fourth quarter taking abuse from 2 bit Walmart Wolverines.

As far as 5-3, it’s better than 3-5, technically.

As they say, I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor, I like rich better.

I have the ask - do you think fan expectations equate to onfield success? That coaches and players have their goals or efforts effected by fan's attitude? I'd say monetarily that may hold some truth through donations. But you better be a real big donor if you want your disappointment heard. But beyond that I'd like to think everyone is trying for their own pride and/or careers.

Exactly how do you demand more from your AD and what does that lead to?
[/quote]

Sorry, I've been away. Fair question.

In a word, YES.

If that fan base is vocal and active (or inactive) about those expectations. Dunn fired Cubit because of the fans/alumni who bombarded him with calls for change. He went so far as to stop KB from hiring Lester the first time because he wanted a different direction.

That was driven by fans and alumni. Especially in these times, when money is tight, if donors and fans threaten to stop donating and buying tickets changes will be made. It has happened everywhere.

Nearly every major coaching change that wasn't because a coach took another job was for performance. You think those coaches would still have their jobs if they under-performed AND still filled the seats AND brought in donor $$$? No way.

So yes, fan expectations can and does have impact on performance. If, that fan base takes it to power. In our case, that is the President's office. The Pres makes the change, not KB.

(07-09-2018 06:57 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  

(07-07-2018 09:47 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

I have the ask - do you think fan expectations equate to onfield success? That coaches and players have their goals or efforts effected by fan's attitude? I'd say monetarily that may hold some truth through donations. But you better be a real big donor if you want your disappointment heard. But beyond that I'd like to think everyone is trying for their own pride and/or careers.

Exactly how do you demand more from your AD and what does that lead to?

Sorry, I've been away. Fair question.

In a word, YES.

If that fan base is vocal and active (or inactive) about those expectations. Dunn fired Cubit because of the fans/alumni who bombarded him with calls for change. He went so far as to stop KB from hiring Lester the first time because he wanted a different direction.

That was driven by fans and alumni. Especially in these times, when money is tight, if donors and fans threaten to stop donating and buying tickets changes will be made. It has happened everywhere.

Nearly every major coaching change that wasn't because a coach took another job was for performance. You think those coaches would still have their jobs if they under-performed AND still filled the seats AND brought in donor $$$? No way.

So yes, fan expectations can and does have impact on performance. If, that fan base takes it to power. In our case, that is the President's office. The Pres makes the change, not KB.
[/quote]

And to be clear, I'm not advocating for change right now. Just explaining that the fan base does have power to make change happen.

(07-08-2018 07:28 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  We opened there in Hiller’s senior year, I was expecting we’d hang with them, nope, 30-3 at the half, third quarter puking in the toilet, fourth quarter taking abuse from 2 bit Walmart Wolverines.

As far as 5-3, it’s better than 3-5, technically.

As they say, I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor, I like rich better.

That rain-shortened 34-10 one in 2011 was tough.

Started out great. We got the opening TD. Tied 7-7 in the second quarter, we were in Michigan's red zone ready to score again. Pick 6 for 95 yards, and we just collapsed in a free-fall from there.

Granted UM had a really good season, finished 11-2. But we went toe-to-toe with them until that pick 6 really derailed our confidence.

(07-09-2018 11:42 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(07-08-2018 07:28 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  We opened there in Hiller’s senior year, I was expecting we’d hang with them, nope, 30-3 at the half, third quarter puking in the toilet, fourth quarter taking abuse from 2 bit Walmart Wolverines.

As far as 5-3, it’s better than 3-5, technically.

As they say, I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor, I like rich better.

That rain-shortened 34-10 one in 2011 was tough.

Started out great. We got the opening TD. Tied 7-7 in the second quarter, we were in Michigan's red zone ready to score again. Pick 6 for 95 yards, and we just collapsed in a free-fall from there.

Granted UM had a really good season, finished 11-2. But we went toe-to-toe with them until that pick 6 really derailed our confidence.

Agreed. That was a v-e-r-y tough loss.

We had the talent to hang with Michigan, and potentially, beat it and proved that early in the game. We did not have the mental toughness, however, and that is what hurt.

That pick-6 was a killer. It should not have been.

Great opportunity lost.