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I don't think we'll ever see a final-Darnell-year type of season from Lester. Doubt we'll field something that bad.

However, the NIU game (and the ending of the WKU bowl, to some extent) really boosted my concern about whether he'll win a key "signature" game during his tenure.

I think that since TL had to basically rebuild that bare cupboard he inherited on defense, this year will be the most telling.

This team is going to surprise. 8-4 with a surprise big time MAC "W".

Couple Football Season Preview Magazines were in. One was Athlon, the other I had never heard of.

1.) Both picked Western 4th in the Division, ahead of Northern Illinois & Eastern Michigan. One had final record 6-6, 5-3 in the MAC
2.) One had Central winning the West, the other Toledo. Both had Buffalo winning the East
3.) Both are have Skyy Moore, Jaylon Moore, Treshaun Howard, and Ali Fayad all MAC
4.) Both had Wisconsin winning the Big 10 West. One had Minnesota taking a giant step back, the other had them second. Both had Ohio St, Penn St, & Michigan 1, 2, 3.
5.) One had Syracuse second-to-last in their division, both had Cincinnati winning the AAC.

I'll say it again, I will not Believe Ball St is back till I see it.

Could come down to who handles the abnormal off-season the best, as well as anyway the crisis affects the season.

(06-05-2020 08:04 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Couple Football Season Preview Magazines were in. One was Athlon, the other I had never heard of.

1.) Both picked Western 4th in the Division, ahead of Northern Illinois & Eastern Michigan. One had final record 6-6, 5-3 in the MAC
2.) One had Central winning the West, the other Toledo. Both had Buffalo winning the East
3.) Both are have Skyy Moore, Jaylon Moore, Treshaun Howard, and Ali Fayad all MAC
4.) Both had Wisconsin winning the Big 10 West. One had Minnesota taking a giant step back, the other had them second. Both had Ohio St, Penn St, & Michigan 1, 2, 3.
5.) One had Syracuse second-to-last in their division, both had Cincinnati winning the AAC.

I'll say it again, I will not Believe Ball St is back till I see it.

6-6/5-3 seems very plausible at this point.

If we don't allow Syracuse to jump to an early 14-0/21-0 lead again, figure we have a puncher's chance at home.

But like you said, it'll be interesting how things progress during what's going to be a very "odd" season for all teams.

My prediction

0-0

(06-12-2020 09:35 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  My prediction

0-0

Pandemic looking like less of a threat, but now an outside chance of a general strike or uncomfortable national strife canceling the season.

It'll come down to how pro sports planned to play in July & August do

(06-12-2020 10:34 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  

(06-12-2020 09:35 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  My prediction

0-0

Pandemic looking like less of a threat, but now an outside chance of a general strike or uncomfortable national strife canceling the season.

Houston and Iowa State cancelling workouts due to athletes testing positive for COVID.

Still feels like a lot of uncertainty about this upcoming season.

(06-13-2020 08:13 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(06-12-2020 10:34 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  

(06-12-2020 09:35 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  My prediction

0-0

Pandemic looking like less of a threat, but now an outside chance of a general strike or uncomfortable national strife canceling the season.

Houston and Iowa State cancelling workouts due to athletes testing positive for COVID.

Still feels like a lot of uncertainty about this upcoming season.

Yep. Hate to say it, but I don't think we will have a college football season. We're screwed.

Add Texas to that. 15 student-athletes now in quarantine

I think the next time we see sports at the college level it will be AFTER a viable vaccine has been delivered.

I just don’t see the apparent risk being outweighed here by those making the call.

Only solution would be organizational testing and complete quarantine throughout the season. Nobody is going to sign off on that.

The 'Rank the Coaches' thread inspired this post. I was thinking about how lot of fans upset at Lester's overall record, and for sure it's nowhere near I'd like it to be, but MAC coaches record's usually aren't stellar.

Here's some of the current records of coaches who've been in the Conference a while.

Neu: 15-33
Liepold: 31-32
Martin: 30-45
Creighton: 28-47
Candle: 34-19
Solich: 113-81

Martin just won the MAC but has poor overall record. Candle & Solich have great records, but Solich hasn't won the MAC. Candle has, but had a meh 2019

Recent top alumni Fleck, Babers, Campbell, Carey finished w/ good, but I wouldn't say earth shattering, overall records.

Moral of the story is, I think in the MAC, you generally need to have a 'perfect year' (or two) where everything goes right to get that overall record way up. (usually ends up in a championship too :) )

I get some of the criticism is Lester inherited a reasonably stocked cupboard & these other coaches usually inherit train wrecks which destroys their overall record, & that's understandable, but w/ the exception of Candle, I'm not sure I'd want any of those other coaches. Would be interesting to see what Creighton could do here, but TL still 2-1 vs him. Jury still out on the league's newer coaches

Central could be looking at a 9-3 kind of season, w/ out-of-conference foes being poor San Jose St & Northwestern teams, as well as an underperforming Nebraska.

Northwestern brings back a good defense and got a big transfer at QB (Peyton Ramsey) that should mostly solve the passing game issues. Doubt they lose to CMU. Although even NW's better teams seem to play the MAC close.

(06-12-2020 10:34 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  

(06-12-2020 09:35 PM)WMU2013 Wrote:  My prediction

0-0

Pandemic looking like less of a threat, but now an outside chance of a general strike or uncomfortable national strife canceling the season.

It looked like less of a threat here in Arizona, until a few weeks after everything opened back up. Hope that doesn't become the case in Michigan (or anywhere else on the schedule).

(06-05-2020 08:04 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Couple Football Season Preview Magazines were in. One was Athlon, the other I had never heard of.

1.) Both picked Western 4th in the Division, ahead of Northern Illinois & Eastern Michigan. One had final record 6-6, 5-3 in the MAC
2.) One had Central winning the West, the other Toledo. Both had Buffalo winning the East
3.) Both are have Skyy Moore, Jaylon Moore, Treshaun Howard, and Ali Fayad all MAC
4.) Both had Wisconsin winning the Big 10 West. One had Minnesota taking a giant step back, the other had them second. Both had Ohio St, Penn St, & Michigan 1, 2, 3.
5.) One had Syracuse second-to-last in their division, both had Cincinnati winning the AAC.

I'll say it again, I will not Believe Ball St is back till I see it.

Saw another one in the store today. Lindy's, I think it's called. Something like that. They had us second in the West, behind Toledo, & ahead of Central, saying we could be 8 wins, could be 5 wins. Didn't really look at it too much, so can't say more about what they said about us, but I know they had Buffalo in the East, Miami second.

Everyone who predicted 0-0, you win.

Quote:Everyone who predicted 0-0, you win.

Undefeated season. For everybody! :)

Welp...

2021
09/04 - at Michigan
09/11 - Illinois State
09/18 - at Pitt
09/25 - San Jose State