The Broncos' Standard Operating Procedure in any football game is the following:
A. With a few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, 'urinate' a lead away with boneheaded turnovers or some other catastrophic collapse. (vs Illinois, EMU, CMU)
B. Get down by 3-4 TDs by halftime on the way to a woodshed loss. (vs Va Tech, BSU, NIU, Toledo)
I think we're out of 'A' for the season, so I expect back-to-back-to-back slaughters in the weeks ahead. Small children in the Bowling Green area should be accompanied by an adult to watch this carnage next Saturday. It won't be a pretty sight.
BGSU - 56
WMU - 10
I just want to say I was wrong for ever getting mad at WMU for backing out of that early season game with UConn. Darnell knew what he was doing with that move. One winless MAC team at this point in the season is enough.
Let's just be thankfull that the powers that be haven't got together to organize a bowl game to determine the worst team in the country.
The Sealy Pillow Bowl Game
2004 edition
UCF vs. WMU (MAC vs. MAC)
Rumor in UCF paper is that if Spurrier gets Florida job he will take our secondary coach. Rumor further states that Pruett will be taking Darnell, who is not expected to be retained, to replace the secondary coach. I guess they have talked about this. I don't know. BRB with link.
<a href='http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/orl-sptucfnotes31103104oct31,1,205653.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines' target='_blank'>Sentinel</a>
By Alan Schmadtke | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 31, 2004
Coming to Huntington, W.Va., is a trip UCF will continue making when both schools move to Conference USA in July -- and both schools will enjoy the fruits of C-USA's impending deal with ESPN.
Briefed a week earlier at a C-USA presidents gathering in Dallas, UCF President John Hitt told the UCF Athletics Association's board of directors that the league's negotiations with the network will surprise people who think the dollars are going to drop significantly.
"We're going to be close to the revenue that the league's at now," Hitt said. "There's a chance the television package could be worth more."
C-USA's current contract is worth $86.6 million over eight years. With seven current C-USA members leaving and five new members coming in, the conference and network agreed to renegotiate.
When UCF was considering moving from the Mid-American Conference to C-USA a year ago, C-USA put together two projections for the Golden Knights. According to the projections, obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, one was a TV contract worth 60 percent of the current value. The other was a deal worth 80 percent. Both projections were compiled before TCU decided to leave C-USA for the Mountain West.
Under the first plan, UCF's overall revenue share projects from $794,475 to $925,039 over the first four years. Under the second, the range is between $853,485 to $951,351
"It's too early to say [what the numbers are going to be]," said C-USA Britton Banowsky, who is negotiating the deal with two TV consultants the league has hired. "We're only about halfway into it."
UCF generates virtually no revenue from TV through the MAC and Atlantic Sun.
Hitting 3,000
RB Alex Haynes rejoined the starting lineup Saturday after missing two games with a slightly separated shoulder, and he worked for every one of the 72 yards he gained. The yardage pushed his career total to 3,006 yards, only the second back in UCF history to eclipse 3,000 yards. With three games left in his career, Haynes is 125 yards away from catching UCF career rushing leader Willie English (3,131).
No controversy
Backup Marshall QB Graham Gochneaur sparked Marshall in the second quarter with a 4-for-4 performance in relief of Stan Hill, but Hill returned a few series later and played all but the final series. Hill, who struggled with cracked ribs through most of the season, was 15-for-31 for 113 yards. "Graham came in and played well, but we don't have a quarterback controversy," Marshall Coach Bob Pruett said. "He comes in and gives us a lift, but there's no controversy."
Etc.
For the second game in a row UCF's defense held an opponent to no points in the first quarter. Winter Springs walk-on Tommy Kasper, a special teams demon, payed for the first time at linebacker. He was moved from fullback this week after Stanford Rhule (torn bicep) was declared lost for the season.
One of the juiciest rumors in Huntington is what happens if Steve Spurrier lands back at Florida -- that Spurrier will bring Marshall secondary coach Jim Collins back to Gainesville and that Herd Coach Bob Pruett will replace Collins with Western Michigan Coach Gary Darnell. Pruett is close friends with Darnell, who is not expected to be retained by the Broncos.
WMU's worst problem is defense. Why would Pruett want Darnell for his secondary coach??? :eek:
I don't know. Perhaps condensing a Head Coach's experience into a relatively minor coaching role is a good idea. Look what Blackney did for Maryland as a DC. I think I like the idea, though. Maybe we can re-awaken what was lost in Darnell. He is definitely not the same guy from a few years ago that was ripping up the MAC West. He IS one of only two MAC coaches to get a win in Huntington.
I have been saying this all along and will say it again and again. I hope that Coach Darnell will be brought back for at least one more year. He has had two top MAC football recruiting classes in the past couple of years and I sure hope he will get the chance to unleash them on the rest of the conference. Plus with how bad the economy and budget is here, they cant afford to pay off the rest of his contract. Finally, I dont think WMU could honestly find a better coach.
MUther Wrote:Rumor in UCF paper is that if Spurrier gets Florida job he will take our secondary coach. Rumor further states that Pruett will be taking Darnell, who is not expected to be retained, to replace the secondary coach. I guess they have talked about this. I don't know. BRB with link.
Well, it would be just like Gary Darnell to negotiate his next job in the middle of a season, so I wouldn't put it past him.
Bronco stampede Wrote:I have been saying this all along and will say it again and again. I hope that Coach Darnell will be brought back for at least one more year. He has had two top MAC football recruiting classes in the past couple of years and I sure hope he will get the chance to unleash them on the rest of the conference. Plus with how bad the economy and budget is here, they cant afford to pay off the rest of his contract. Finally, I dont think WMU could honestly find a better coach.
Four More Years! Four More Years! :D
Let's see, 24-21, 24-7, 4, 365. Yeah, that makes sense!
All smack aside, I/we know exactly what you're going through, Stamp. :(
Motown Bronco Wrote:The Broncos' Standard Operating Procedure in any football game is the following:
A. With a few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, 'urinate' a lead away with boneheaded turnovers or some other catastrophic collapse. (vs Illinois, EMU, CMU)
B. Get down by 3-4 TDs by halftime on the way to a woodshed loss. (vs Va Tech, BSU, NIU, Toledo)
I think we're out of 'A' for the season, so I expect back-to-back-to-back slaughters in the weeks ahead. Small children in the Bowling Green area should be accompanied by an adult to watch this carnage next Saturday. It won't be a pretty sight.
BGSU - 56
WMU - 10
Motown,
I couldn't believe when I saw the score on the board at the BG game. I'm thinking "WMU was up 21-7 with 3 min left...what happened"?
Sad to say it seems like the players have quit on Darnell. We saw the same thing in the last few seasons of Gary Blackney.
I think you're right about the BG/WMU game. If the Bronco D is as bad as you say, Omarvelous is gonna play one half of ball. The BG D did give up some pretty big passing yardage to EMU but we held teh Eagles to 45 yards rushing on 27 carries.
WMU has great facilities and just a few years ago, was a tough, physical team to play. The BG/WMU OT game of 2002 was a classic and the Broncs had our number thru the 90's.
I hate to say it but I think BG could put up some monster numbers this Sat.
If any WMU fans are making the trip, stop by our TG area over by the only hill in Wood County ( :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: )....the golf course hill and I'll have some grilled brats with stadium mustard and cold beer.
Cheers.
"Small children in the Bowling Green area should be accompanied by an adult to watch this carnage next Saturday. It won't be a pretty sight."
WMU's record under Darnell:
1997 - 8-3
1998 - 7-4
1999 - 7-5
2000 - 9-3
2001 - 5-6
2002 - 4-8
2003 - 5-7
2004 - 1-10?
I want to thank mako for posting our downward trend the past few years. Despite that personally I want to stick with the coach one more year. Plus I dont think they could find a better coach to run the program at this time. My own choice would have been Coach Kelly, but he is obviously employed at CEs school. I kinda knew this was going to be a long year when it started but didnt think it would be this bad. Our defense was supposed to get ranked 118 out of the 117 1-a schools. As for what happened last weekend, I was listening to the game and the Broncos fumbled a punt and a run on the 25 yard line to lead to both scores. And yes it is going to be ugly against Bowling Green. I do think it will be more than 56 but our offense should be able to get more than 10. Or at least I hope it will get more than 10.
I think it's significant that Darnell has not led WMU to a winning season since Al Molde's last class left. As for the current recruits, some of them took the field already this season, which supports those rankings a bit.
For next season, what Darnell would have to work with if he's retained:
Offense:
OL - 4/5 starters return to a unit that's a little better than last season's version. I would expect that to help bolster a lackluster running game.
QB - Cubit appears solid, when he has time to throw. However, he does have a bit of a gunslinger mentality and tries to force passes at times. He almost paid for it in the first half, when a CMU DB couldn't quite haul an interception in. Baggett has experience, and if he sticks around, will make a solid backup.
WR - WMU is loaded, with Jennings and several others returning. TE is also a bright spot.
RB - I think much depends on the OL here. Riley is dangerous in the open field but needs a hole to get going. The one time the field really opened for him, he burned CMU for a 40+ yard run that helped set up a TD. Marks appears to be a decent backup. Bonds is young, so the jury's still out. Experience should make the unit a little better.
Overall: I'd expect WMU's offense to be among the MAC's best next season, based on experience and talent only.
Special Teams:
BIG "?" as both the kicker and punter are graduating. Jennings is a dangerous punt returner. Kick coverage seemed pretty good to me, although it's hard to say, as the K & P have been outstanding and not given returners much to work with.
Defense:
DL - losing 6/8 on your two-deep and three of them starters spells trouble. A unit that's had trouble stopping the opposition this season will continue to struggle, unless this area is shored-up fast.
LB - This area has potential with Ismail and Tithof returning, but losing Giorgianni will hurt somewhat. Overall, I'd expect to see improvement.
Secondary - The loss of Robinson at QB hurts a little, but this unit is so young that improvement is almost a given.
Overall: I'd expect the back seven to be better, but an inexperienced front four may make everyone else's job too difficult for significant improvement to occur, at least early in the season. One thing that might help: scrap the 4-2-5 and go with either a 3-4 or a 4-3. Given the dearth of experienced linemen, maybe the 3-4 is the best option.
Gee, this is going to be tough to do, but I gotta agree with ya cmichfan.
But you pretty much hit everything right on the head. One minor thing I will disagree with though. I dont see Bagget leaving as a major problem. Haas was okay during the spring game and I think the future qb is going to be a freshman, Engram. I think our offense next year will be very good. The defense on the other hand really cant get any worse. What I am waiting for is to see what type of recruits Coach Darnell will end up getting. I do think and hope he will stay at least one more year.
Falconfreak90 Wrote:I think you're right about the BG/WMU game. If the Bronco D is as bad as you say, Omarvelous is gonna play one half of ball. The BG D did give up some pretty big passing yardage to EMU but we held teh Eagles to 45 yards rushing on 27 carries.
The defense did not give up big passing plays against EMU, Jailani Jordan gave up big pass plays to EMU. If Brandon was smart he would seriously look at others to replace Jordan, can't be anyone worse to replace him. Genyk was smart in picking on Jordan the entire game, at least BG could of switched defensive backs to cover Deslauriers.