Quote:TOLEDO
INSIDE SLANT
If the Rockets are for real, it is time to toss this monkey off their backs. During Toledo's extended run as one of the dominant teams in the MAC, the Rockets have had this undiagnosed difficulty when it comes to winning in Muncie. Quite simply, they can't.
The defending MAC champions are on the road heading to a game at Ball State that, on paper, they should dominate. At this juncture, Toledo is alone in first place in the MAC West with a 2-0 record but four teams, including the Cardinals, are right on their heels with just one loss. Muncie has been a very tough place for the Rockets in recent years, with Toledo losing there in 1997, 2001 and 2003, despite having superior talent to Ball State in each of those years.
There is no logical explanation for what has taken place in Muncie over the years. Ball State teams that were mediocre, at best, have had Toledo's number. If the disturbing trend continues, then the Rockets will allow themselves to fall back to the pack in the West. If they shake this ghost, then the Rockets move into a position of control in the West.
In its most recent outing, Toledo defeated Eastern Michigan with good, old-fashioned football, combining solid defense and a relentless running attack. The Rockets will have to have those basics working at Ball State, and not allow the Cardinals to have some success early and get excited about the prospects of pulling off yet another upset.
The true test of a championship caliber team is its ability to handle diversity. The Rockets have bounced back from a big loss at Fresno State, and rode out an injury to quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. Now they need to pound Ball State and put the so-called Muncie hex to rest.
Personally, I don't think Ball State will be able to pull it off this year. That game against WMU was a grueling, demanding, gut-wrenching game that will probably require more recovery time than the Cardinals have.
CMichFan Wrote:Quote:The true test of a championship caliber team is its ability to handle diversity.
:withstupid:
I think diversity is an old wooden ship from the Civil War Era.
Don't you love it when professional journalists rely too heavily on spellcheckers and grammar programs?
CMichFan Wrote:Quote:
Personally, I don't think Ball State will be able to pull it off this year. That game against WMU was a grueling, demanding, gut-wrenching game that will probably require more recovery time than the Cardinals have.
Yes, the game at Western Michigan was the first grueling, gut-wrenching, demanding expericene the Cards have had this year. Their previous games were pattycakes by comparison--Iowa, Bowling Green, Auburn and Boston College.
LongtimeFan Wrote:CMichFan Wrote:Quote:
Personally, I don't think Ball State will be able to pull it off this year. That game against WMU was a grueling, demanding, gut-wrenching game that will probably require more recovery time than the Cardinals have.
Yes, the game at Western Michigan was the first grueling, gut-wrenching, demanding expericene the Cards have had this year. Their previous games were pattycakes by comparison--Iowa, Bowling Green, Auburn and Boston College.
Which game was the longest game in conference history?
That was a great game, wasn't it? One for the ages.
LongtimeFan Wrote:That was a great game, wasn't it? One for the ages.
Two under .500 teams playing in a overtime game is not a instant classic. At least not to people outside of Muncie and Kalamazoo.
I can't say that I agree with VanDelay or anyone else who thinks that BSU will upset the Rockets this weekend...
msopher Wrote:Two under .500 teams playing in a overtime game is not a instant classic.
Especially since the good guys lost.
I wish nothing but the worst of luck to Toledo this weekend.
HuskiemobileMan Wrote:I wish nothing but the worst of luck to Toledo this weekend.
Well then the same to you.
msopher Wrote:LongtimeFan Wrote:That was a great game, wasn't it? One for the ages.
Two under .500 teams playing in a overtime game is not a instant classic. At least not to people outside of Muncie and Kalamazoo.
Western Michigan's record prior to the Ball State game was 3-2. I don't know about your school, but in most schools that record qualifies as above .500. Oh, and your grammar ("a overtime" and "a instant classic") is no better than your math. Most schools teach their students to use "an" when it precedes a word beginning with a vowel. You might want to try Owens Tech next time.