1. UAB
2. UTSA
3. UTEP
4. WKU
5. UNT
5. FAU
5. MTSU
8. Charlotte
9. La Tech
10. Rice
11. FIU

Nice to see UTEP near the top but the Miners need to win it this season.

Just speculating but betcha Phil Steele gets it right more frequently than Athlon does.

Yes he expends effort evaluating G5 schools, Athlon throws darts at a wall.

Doesn't seem to be a lot of faith by outsiders in LA Tech's new coaching staff, though I'm not sure why. I still think LA Tech will finish at least in the top half of the conference despite two prognosticators now putting them in 9th.

(07-12-2022 08:24 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Doesn't seem to be a lot of faith by outsiders in LA Tech's new coaching staff, though I'm not sure why. I still think LA Tech will finish at least in the top half of the conference despite two prognosticators now putting them in 9th.

I hope you're right.

I'm telling myself that recency bias is affecting our predictions this year. It's hard to look at 3-9 from last season and expect very much. But I think there is money in the banana stand as far as talent, and some fresh innovative (and hungry) coaches really ought to be able to get something out of what we already had on campus (much less the zillion transfers, some of whom almost certainly have to hit).

Not having a single QB return is probably also contributing to the unknown factor. We really need one of these unproven portal guys to end up being solid for us.

(07-12-2022 08:29 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 08:24 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Doesn't seem to be a lot of faith by outsiders in LA Tech's new coaching staff, though I'm not sure why. I still think LA Tech will finish at least in the top half of the conference despite two prognosticators now putting them in 9th.

I hope you're right.

I'm telling myself that recency bias is affecting our predictions this year. It's hard to look at 3-9 from last season and expect very much. But I think there is money in the banana stand as far as talent, and some fresh innovative (and hungry) coaches really ought to be able to get something out of what we already had on campus (much less the zillion transfers, some of whom almost certainly have to hit).

Not having a single QB return is probably also contributing to the unknown factor. We really need one of these unproven portal guys to end up being solid for us.

Louisiana Tech is going to live or die at the quarterback position. Whether that be Downing, McNeil or Lyddy. Tech has some serious talent in the skill positions.

Defensively, it is hard to judge because basically everyone is a transfer, but the defensive style is going to be Manny Diaz aggressive which is exciting.

Has UAB #21 in his preseason rankings.

(07-12-2022 09:13 AM)RustonBulldog Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 08:29 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 08:24 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Doesn't seem to be a lot of faith by outsiders in LA Tech's new coaching staff, though I'm not sure why. I still think LA Tech will finish at least in the top half of the conference despite two prognosticators now putting them in 9th.

I hope you're right.

I'm telling myself that recency bias is affecting our predictions this year. It's hard to look at 3-9 from last season and expect very much. But I think there is money in the banana stand as far as talent, and some fresh innovative (and hungry) coaches really ought to be able to get something out of what we already had on campus (much less the zillion transfers, some of whom almost certainly have to hit).

Not having a single QB return is probably also contributing to the unknown factor. We really need one of these unproven portal guys to end up being solid for us.

Louisiana Tech is going to live or die at the quarterback position. Whether that be Downing, McNeil or Lyddy. Tech has some serious talent in the skill positions.

Defensively, it is hard to judge because basically everyone is a transfer, but the defensive style is going to be Manny Diaz aggressive which is exciting.

We got all these P5 transfers (and I hope they're all great) but other than QB, the ones I may be most relieved that we got are the CBs from SFA. Both ought to know the system and their coach(es) obviously think they can play at this level.

(07-12-2022 08:24 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Doesn't seem to be a lot of faith by outsiders in LA Tech's new coaching staff, though I'm not sure why. I still think LA Tech will finish at least in the top half of the conference despite two prognosticators now putting them in 9th.

We don't have the jimmy's and joe's.

Roster looks really sub-par compared to what we saw between 2014-2019.

I'll be happy if we have a winning season. First year coaches usually don't do so well. I'll of course be happier with more.

At Middle our annual goal is "in the Middle", 6-6, Bowl Eligible, and "Bahamas Mamas"!!!

(07-12-2022 01:36 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  At Middle our annual goal is "in the Middle", 6-6, Bowl Eligible, and "Bahamas Mamas"!!!

Yep. 'Ole king Sidney (21 looong years at MT) can use the university and taxpayer dime to wine and dine all of his buddies in his native Bahamas.

Heard he really put on an aristocratic show this past time -- made the football team wait a long while on the plane until his entourage arrived (late) at the airport tarmac for photos and selfies.

His beloved China gifted the stadium where the Bahamas Bowl takes place.

https://www.bahamasbowl.com/the-game/tho...l-stadium/

The Bahamas Bowl is played in Nassau’s state-of-the-art Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, located in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

The 15,000-seat stadium, a gift to The Bahamas from the People’s Republic of China, was dedicated February 25, 2012 by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in ceremonies witnessed by thousands of Bahamians.

Will be impossible for us to duplicate last seasons offense but I think Doege will be serviceable. Think Ty Storey a few years ago. Nothing flashy but gets the job done. Defense we brought in Tyson Summers and changing defenses. I hope this leads us to not get gashed a million times up the middle. We lost a few stud DL to SEC and our best WR to Penn St. I think 8 wins though is doable. Will be hard to top UTSA and UAB.

Since both lists have Rice in the same position, hard to say who did more research.

(07-12-2022 09:52 AM)blazerjay Wrote:  Has UAB #21 in his preseason rankings.

I had written the list off when I saw UAB at #21 then I saw who wrote it. Also we seem to be getting a lot of hype from all directions

I know most of us had deflections on talent going into the portal and most of us has used the portal to recruit experience to fill those gaps. For Western I dont have any ideal of how good or how bad this season is going to be. I look at the schedule and once again I see one of the toughest in the conference.

Since UAB is picked 1st by I believe every link posted what am I missing because I honestly didnt think they were close to their level from the year before....had a lot of 5th or maybe 6th year players returning last year.

I haven't paid any attention to what UAB has coming back or loss to the portal. I assume the young QB is back and UAB had some good looking young RBS. To me the key to UAB is their OL and DL since they are a ground and pound and then long ball team. Rebuilding or are most of the OL and DL back?

Another thing that I believe will play out....same staff other than Bill Clark. On paper doesnt seem like a huge deal but most first time coaches even those on the same staff will make mistakes that cost you a game or two. Western had that with Jeff Brohm in his first year. The UAB game at Western was one of those coaching mistakes.

Dont need someone to spend 20 minutes on a scouting report...just key loses

(07-14-2022 11:18 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  I know most of us had deflections on talent going into the portal and most of us has used the portal to recruit experience to fill those gaps. For Western I dont have any ideal of how good or how bad this season is going to be. I look at the schedule and once again I see one of the toughest in the conference.

Since UAB is picked 1st by I believe every link posted what am I missing because I honestly didnt think they were close to their level from the year before....had a lot of 5th or maybe 6th year players returning last year.

I haven't paid any attention to what UAB has coming back or loss to the portal. I assume the young QB is back and UAB had some good looking young RBS. To me the key to UAB is their OL and DL since they are a ground and pound and then long ball team. Rebuilding or are most of the OL and DL back?

Another thing that I believe will play out....same staff other than Bill Clark. On paper doesnt seem like a huge deal but most first time coaches even those on the same staff will make mistakes that cost you a game or two. Western had that with Jeff Brohm in his first year. The UAB game at Western was one of those coaching mistakes.

Dont need someone to spend 20 minutes on a scouting report...just key loses

Spark notes version of what UAB is returning is 7 Offensive starters and 9 Defensive. Lost a good LB but got a 4* Alabama transfer who seems to be the starter already. We got the 4* Baylor QB transfer who will be in a QB battle. Big holes will be TE, depth at WR, and we have been spoiled by DL and DE so there will be a new face there or two

(07-12-2022 02:18 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 01:36 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  At Middle our annual goal is "in the Middle", 6-6, Bowl Eligible, and "Bahamas Mamas"!!!

Yep. 'Ole king Sidney (21 looong years at MT) can use the university and taxpayer dime to wine and dine all of his buddies in his native Bahamas.

Heard he really put on an aristocratic show this past time -- made the football team wait a long while on the plane until his entourage arrived (late) at the airport tarmac for photos and selfies.

His beloved China gifted the stadium where the Bahamas Bowl takes place.

https://www.bahamasbowl.com/the-game/tho...l-stadium/

The Bahamas Bowl is played in Nassau’s state-of-the-art Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, located in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

The 15,000-seat stadium, a gift to The Bahamas from the People’s Republic of China, was dedicated February 25, 2012 by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in ceremonies witnessed by thousands of Bahamians.

I still appreciate that Sidney congratulated our basketball team for winning the conference tourney, in the year of the football shutdown, when our own pustule on the ass of humanity, that pumpkin-headed moral coward, that sneering puppet of drunkenbear's vile spawn, feared to face them.

If you want to trade Sidney for Ray, let's get it done.

(07-14-2022 01:55 PM)58-56 Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 02:18 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 01:36 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  At Middle our annual goal is "in the Middle", 6-6, Bowl Eligible, and "Bahamas Mamas"!!!

Yep. 'Ole king Sidney (21 looong years at MT) can use the university and taxpayer dime to wine and dine all of his buddies in his native Bahamas.

Heard he really put on an aristocratic show this past time -- made the football team wait a long while on the plane until his entourage arrived (late) at the airport tarmac for photos and selfies.

His beloved China gifted the stadium where the Bahamas Bowl takes place.

https://www.bahamasbowl.com/the-game/tho...l-stadium/

The Bahamas Bowl is played in Nassau’s state-of-the-art Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, located in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

The 15,000-seat stadium, a gift to The Bahamas from the People’s Republic of China, was dedicated February 25, 2012 by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in ceremonies witnessed by thousands of Bahamians.

I still appreciate that Sidney congratulated our basketball team for winning the conference tourney, in the year of the football shutdown, when our own pustule on the ass of humanity, that pumpkin-headed moral coward, that sneering puppet of drunkenbear's vile spawn, feared to face them.

If you want to trade Sidney for Ray, let's get it done.

Ray's about the only one I wouldn't trade him for.

MT's good 'ole boy board (overseen by ut-obknoxiousville) has signed him to an extension to the end of 2026. King "7 Wood" will be in his early 70's by then, still spending hundreds of dollars per football game on luxury-suite liquor paid for by tax payers.

(07-14-2022 02:46 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(07-14-2022 01:55 PM)58-56 Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 02:18 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(07-12-2022 01:36 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  At Middle our annual goal is "in the Middle", 6-6, Bowl Eligible, and "Bahamas Mamas"!!!

Yep. 'Ole king Sidney (21 looong years at MT) can use the university and taxpayer dime to wine and dine all of his buddies in his native Bahamas.

Heard he really put on an aristocratic show this past time -- made the football team wait a long while on the plane until his entourage arrived (late) at the airport tarmac for photos and selfies.

His beloved China gifted the stadium where the Bahamas Bowl takes place.

https://www.bahamasbowl.com/the-game/tho...l-stadium/

The Bahamas Bowl is played in Nassau’s state-of-the-art Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, located in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

The 15,000-seat stadium, a gift to The Bahamas from the People’s Republic of China, was dedicated February 25, 2012 by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in ceremonies witnessed by thousands of Bahamians.

I still appreciate that Sidney congratulated our basketball team for winning the conference tourney, in the year of the football shutdown, when our own pustule on the ass of humanity, that pumpkin-headed moral coward, that sneering puppet of drunkenbear's vile spawn, feared to face them.

If you want to trade Sidney for Ray, let's get it done.

Ray's about the only one I wouldn't trade him for.

MT's good 'ole boy board (overseen by ut-obknoxiousville) has signed him to an extension to the end of 2026. King "7 Wood" will be in his early 70's by then, still spending hundreds of dollars per football game on luxury-suite liquor paid for by tax payers.

I paid more attention to Middle in the past - an ex-girlfriend's kid played WR there and she bombarded me with updates, and my daughter was interested in equine science - but I had the impression that good things had happened incl. acquisition of a law school, which seemed like a big deal.