Against the odds you came through for the city of Toledo. Thank You! Your staff along with Coach Campbell have over the years created a top program. In fact you have put US in position to be ranked preseason next year. Have a great Xmas players and coaches for you have given Toledo a terrific gift.

If "against all odds" equates to being stacked with the most fully loaded roster of talent in the history of UT then I liked his odds going in.

Wasn't Candle out the door before being lured back with the biggest pay-check in UT history? If odds were stacked against him, he was one of the stackers. Wish him well. I'll gladly acknowledge and hopefully recognize when he does a good job, when he out-thinks his opposition and hope his overall performance is good enough that he can abandon his team on a moment's notice again in a year or two but unless he saves a wheelchair bound child from an oncoming bus, commendations are a bit much at this time.

(12-23-2015 10:22 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  Wasn't Candle out the door before being lured back with the biggest pay-check in UT history? If odds were stacked against him, he was one of the stackers. Wish him well. I'll gladly acknowledge and hopefully recognize when he does a good job, when he out-thinks his opposition and hope his overall performance is good enough that he can abandon his team on a moment's notice again in a year or two but unless he saves a wheelchair bound child from an oncoming bus, commendations are a bit much at this time.

He took the HC job didn't he?? I understand the annoyance with the Campbell transition, but Candle did what any coach would do. Gotta look out for yourself and make sure you have a job. I had issues with the play calling at times, but for the most part the offense was very good. He's UTs Head Coach now, and has my full support.

Regarding the Boca Bowl, I thought Candle, the staff, and especially the TEAM did a phenomenal job. I had no idea what to expect after the last month and they looked great. To me, that is another sign that Candle was a great hire. Loved the patience they showed throughout the game. And the last two TDs were a thing of beauty!

Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!!

Certainly was refreshing after losing two big ones we should have won at home. I lay those at Campbell's feet (and on some really bad decisions by players). Gotta lay this one at Candle's feet. Great start to his Rocket career.

(12-23-2015 06:02 PM)UT! Wrote:  Against the odds you came through for the city of Toledo. Thank You! Your staff along with Coach Campbell have over the years created a top program. In fact you have put US in position to be ranked preseason next year. Have a great Xmas players and coaches for you have given Toledo a terrific gift.

I am just hoping that the Rockets can end up ranked in the final polls THIS year. They should be there but it is by no means a "gimme" that they automatically will be there.

The preseason polls are usually made up of the perennial P5 power teams ("the usual suspects") who get the benefit of the doubt while the G5 (and even the lesser P5) team are always off the radar screen prior to the season every year and have to earn any ranking they receive by winning on the field as the season progresses. The Rockets will be lucky to even get a vote or two in the preseason AP poll next year much less a vote in the preseason coaches' poll.

Frankly with the extensive graduation losses on the defense (along with the current coaching uncertainties), I see the potential of next year's Rocket team being a few steps below where it was for this year. However, regardless of how good the Rockets may (or may not) be next year they do NOT have any marquee type games (such as Arkansas or Missouri) on the schedule in which a win immediately puts the team on the national radar screen---a pre-requisite for any ranking.

If we keep winning we will be there.

(12-24-2015 11:58 AM)Babes boy Wrote:  If we keep winning we will be there.

Without a marquee win, A G5 team usually has to get to around 6-0 or 7-0 to get on the national radar screen, but OTOH the out-of-conference schedule doesn't look that formidable, so who knows?

Maybe they can get there if the MAC continues to schedule the UT/NIU game (the annual guaranteed loss ) late in the season.

(12-24-2015 10:43 AM)T-Town Wrote:  

(12-23-2015 06:02 PM)UT! Wrote:  Against the odds you came through for the city of Toledo. Thank You! Your staff along with Coach Campbell have over the years created a top program. In fact you have put US in position to be ranked preseason next year. Have a great Xmas players and coaches for you have given Toledo a terrific gift.

I am just hoping that the Rockets can end up ranked in the final polls THIS year. They should be there but it is by no means a "gimme" that they automatically will be there.

The preseason polls are usually made up of the perennial P5 power teams ("the usual suspects") who get the benefit of the doubt while the G5 (and even the lesser P5) team are always off the radar screen prior to the season every year and have to earn any ranking they receive by winning on the field as the season progresses. The Rockets will be lucky to even get a vote or two in the preseason AP poll next year much less a vote in the preseason coaches' poll.

Frankly with the extensive graduation losses on the defense (along with the current coaching uncertainties), I see the potential of next year's Rocket team being a few steps below where it was for this year. However, regardless of how good the Rockets may (or may not) be next year they do NOT have any marquee type games (such as Arkansas or Missouri) on the schedule in which a win immediately puts the team on the national radar screen---a pre-requisite for any ranking.

I think possibly a win in Provo against BYU would put UT on the radar...

I don't think there is any chance of us being ranked in the preseason next year

If it weren't for the 2 losses to MAC teams there might have been a chance, but I think it's highly doubtful now.

You'd like to think we could slip in there this year after proving the Temple was over-rated but, again, thanks to the loss to WMU, there are a lot of teams between us and #25 now. I wouldn't assume the Temple win will get us in there.

Others Receiving Votes: (AP as of week 15)
Georgia (9-3) 67; Southern California (8-5) 57; Brigham Young (9-3) 28; Tennessee (8-4) 23; San Diego State (10-3) 22; Washington State (8-4) 20; Arkansas (7-5) 20; Memphis (9-3) 10; Bowling Green (10-3) 8; South Florida (8-4) 8; Mississippi State (8-4) 6; Toledo (9-2)

(I don't think Bowling Green will get in our way.)

(12-24-2015 12:40 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(12-24-2015 10:43 AM)T-Town Wrote:  

(12-23-2015 06:02 PM)UT! Wrote:  Against the odds you came through for the city of Toledo. Thank You! Your staff along with Coach Campbell have over the years created a top program. In fact you have put US in position to be ranked preseason next year. Have a great Xmas players and coaches for you have given Toledo a terrific gift.

I am just hoping that the Rockets can end up ranked in the final polls THIS year. They should be there but it is by no means a "gimme" that they automatically will be there.

The preseason polls are usually made up of the perennial P5 power teams ("the usual suspects") who get the benefit of the doubt while the G5 (and even the lesser P5) team are always off the radar screen prior to the season every year and have to earn any ranking they receive by winning on the field as the season progresses. The Rockets will be lucky to even get a vote or two in the preseason AP poll next year much less a vote in the preseason coaches' poll.

Frankly with the extensive graduation losses on the defense (along with the current coaching uncertainties), I see the potential of next year's Rocket team being a few steps below where it was for this year. However, regardless of how good the Rockets may (or may not) be next year they do NOT have any marquee type games (such as Arkansas or Missouri) on the schedule in which a win immediately puts the team on the national radar screen---a pre-requisite for any ranking.

I think possibly a win in Provo against BYU would put UT on the radar...

I forgot about BYU next year. You are probably right in that BYU, along with Boise and Navy, get more national press than a typical G5 type school.

(12-24-2015 08:46 AM)cincyrocket Wrote:  

(12-23-2015 10:22 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  Wasn't Candle out the door before being lured back with the biggest pay-check in UT history? If odds were stacked against him, he was one of the stackers. Wish him well. I'll gladly acknowledge and hopefully recognize when he does a good job, when he out-thinks his opposition and hope his overall performance is good enough that he can abandon his team on a moment's notice again in a year or two but unless he saves a wheelchair bound child from an oncoming bus, commendations are a bit much at this time.

He took the HC job didn't he?? I understand the annoyance with the Campbell transition, but Candle did what any coach would do. Gotta look out for yourself and make sure you have a job. I had issues with the play calling at times, but for the most part the offense was very good. He's UTs Head Coach now, and has my full support.

Regarding the Boca Bowl, I thought Candle, the staff, and especially the TEAM did a phenomenal job. I had no idea what to expect after the last month and they looked great. To me, that is another sign that Candle was a great hire. Loved the patience they showed throughout the game. And the last two TDs were a thing of beauty!

Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!!

You will see coach Candle in more bowl games then coach Campbell.

Yes, I do commend him for a bowl win over Temple. Getting a bowl win with a partial staff, minus a top receiver for the first half, and with a short time to prepare would be tough at any program. This will be where my congratulations end. This is still the guy who oversaw a floundering offense against NIU and WMU. Once the highest paid football coach in UT history wins the MAC, then I will be truly impressed. Until then, the jury is out.

Since I'm quick to call out my frustrations with an ugly offensive game, I have to say that I was definitely surprised and impressed with the results of the bowl game and that BG game was a thing of beauty. Both Candle and Heacock did an excellent job.