(12-29-2017 01:09 AM)Wmufan715 Wrote: The first 2 man team in the history of FBS football to make the Cotton Bowl. Even when Zach to Corey didn’t light up Wisconsin every play in the Cotton Bowl. Wsconon only won by 8 probably because they didn’t try hard or practice hard. They were held to 24 solely because of Keion. Had nothing to do with Spillane, Darius, etc.
The players on this year’s team deserve better than that. Lester will get his chance to prove it was one bad year. But don’t say the magical season was all because of 2 players no matter how great they were. The rest of the guys were more than talented enough to win the MAC as evidenced by the coaches poll at the beginning of the year where it was thought to be a 2 horse race with toledo.
My point isn't about a coach. The coach is simply a part of the story line.
It is about the simple undeniable truth of the impact of particularly 1 player, Davis. The 5th player taken in the entire draft with most yardage of a college receiver in his playing division. His departure and that of a 4 year starting 5th year QB had that much impact. It was the reason there was a coaching change. The departing coach knew this fact and it's importance. If the running game and the defense were more impactful why didn't he stay taking a pay bump and use this next season as his springboard to a much larger stage?
Because it wasnt going to happen. The defense would be on the field much more often. The running game would be forced to play against an even number of defenders challenging the new QB (whomever) and the new untested WR's to beat you.
Wisconsin was the only team on the schedule that season that going into the game was better than WMU. And it was proven out.
WMU never threatened to win the game. Whiskey was in control. The score was 24-10 with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the entire game.
WMU's last score came about when Corey Davis intercepted a desperation pass from a scrambling Terrell. Yes intercepted. The pass was thrown more to the Wisconsin DB. But in typical Davis fashion he made the play.
Wisconsin's plan was let WMU run up and down between the 20's. Take away Corey and try to impose their wider body will on WMU when Whisky had the ball. And they did.
WMU's defense played fine. WMU's running game was reasonably effective. But WMU lost. Why? A more talented team took away that talent for much of that game.
Move to this past season and WMU is minus this dynamic. The defense likely would be on the field much more. The RB's must tote the ball more. But there isnt anyone to even intercept an errant desperation pass. No one!
You tack on key injuries (that didnt occur the previous year) and over time things unravel. It isn't complicated to understand.
I've read the debate over depth. Quantity? Or quality? I argue the quality of depth was the issue. Davis and Terrell dictated how WMU ran the ball. Putting points up framed how the defense could play downhill in almost every game.
Without that quality despite the quantity elsewhere WMU was not going to over come that loss. Hence the coaching change.
Again, do you think a 6th year 5 year starter Zach Terrell would have reversed the tide if you substituted Donnie Ernsberger for Corey? No.
That's why there was a coaching change.