Marshall's offense is going to be really good this year. Im excited to see our 3 explosive rbs in their sophomore year behind an improved O-line. If our defense makes even a small improvement we should have a great season.

Tulsa v. ECU

Everyone else is a looooooongshot.

(03-13-2013 03:15 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  But I also still get sick thinking about that Fronhapfel guy from Marshall tearing us up last year.

Blake could start at almost any school in CUSA, MAC or Sun Belt. He just happen to come to Marshall at the same time Cato did. I think Cato and Shuler were two of the most underated recruits in the country in 2011.

Fro was a higher rated QB coming out of HS than Cato. ESPN had Fro rated a 73 and the 104th best QB in the class of 11. Cato was rated 72 and the 116th best QB in 11.

Marshall/ECU
Vs
Tulsa/Rice

Not USM's year, but look for USM to play spoiler the latter part of the season. Offense won't be on track till at least midway of the season.

(03-13-2013 02:56 PM)BlueGoldTU Wrote:  Found this article on Rivals/Yahoo Sports...Thought I'd provide for some good Spring Football Fodder...Thoughts on the league.



http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...ncaaf.html

We return player of the year in Cato, Freshman of the year in Grooms as well as our stable of RBs plus what will be an improve defense and not to mention yet another talent rich recruiting class.

I'd say Marshall and Tulsa are the early East / West favs with no edge until after Spring.

USM wins East.

(03-13-2013 05:01 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Tulsa v. ECU

Everyone else is a looooooongshot.

What do you know? You said Houston would have no drop off after losing Keenum and your coaching staff. Also said that Marshall had no shot of beating you last year.

ECU beat Marshall last year in Greenville in a shootout only because they came through on a 4th and 10 late in the game. They will not beat Marshall in Huntington this year. If Marshall beats MTSU on the road they will win the east.

Rice will win the west. Marshall will host the championship game.

Honestly, if I look at it objectively it should be Tulsa hosting ECU for the title. However, UAB, Marshall and USM should all be good as well. Hell, don't discount MT either; they will be competitive.

I would say that ECU, Marshall, USM and UAB definitely go bowling fromt he East. In the West, Tulsa is the only one that I am willing to say the same about.

Holtz is a good fit for La Tech, but he will not go bowling his first year.

I predict that the final East standings look like this:

1. ECU
2. Marshall (Tie)
3. UAB (Tie)
4. USM (Tie)
5. Middle TN
6. FIU

Marshall beats USM but loses to UAB. USM beats UAB but loses to Marshall. UAB beats Marshall but loses to USM. It'll be a cluster...

ECU goes undefeated in conference play, beats NCSU and ODU to finish with 10 regular season wins. Truthfully, we should be able to beat VPI... UNC, not so much. They'll be really good.

We are a tough call. I think our offense will be as good as it was, but our defense will be a question mark because we lost so many starters. I know many have had playing time and we have some good athletes that will be stepping in, but one thing they will lack is experience. It may take part of the season for them to start to click. We had many close games last year so to me it isn't easy to say Tulsa should be the favorite. But I could care less if we are the favorite because the end of the season is all that matters.

(03-13-2013 07:49 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Honestly, if I look at it objectively it should be Tulsa hosting ECU for the title. However, UAB, Marshall and USM should all be good as well. Hell, don't discount MT either; they will be competitive.

I would say that ECU, Marshall, USM and UAB definitely go bowling fromt he East. In the West, Tulsa is the only one that I am willing to say the same about.

Holtz is a good fit for La Tech, but he will not go bowling his first year.

I predict that the final East standings look like this:

1. ECU
2. Marshall (Tie)
3. UAB (Tie)
4. USM (Tie)
5. Middle TN
6. FIU

Marshall beats USM but loses to UAB. USM beats UAB but loses to Marshall. UAB beats Marshall but loses to USM. It'll be a cluster...

ECU goes undefeated in conference play, beats NCSU and ODU to finish with 10 regular season wins. Truthfully, we should be able to beat VPI... UNC, not so much. They'll be really good.

you got that backwards. Marshall beats UAB but loses to USM and USM loses to UAB. Mississppi Southern does not beat UAB in football any more they now beat us in basketball.
Its a mixed up muddled up shook up wolrd except for Marsha

(03-13-2013 08:29 PM)r2pirate Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 07:22 PM)banker Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 05:01 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Tulsa v. ECU

Everyone else is a looooooongshot.

What do you know? You said Houston would have no drop off after losing Keenum and your coaching staff. Also said that Marshall had no shot of beating you last year.

ECU beat Marshall last year in Greenville in a shootout only because they came through on a 4th and 10 late in the game. They will not beat Marshall in Huntington this year. If Marshall beats MTSU on the road they will win the east.

Rice will win the west. Marshall will host the championship game.

FYI: You are right......ECU beat Marshall last year in overtime @ ECU and year before Marshall beat ECU in overtime @ Marshall. It should be a game of who makes the fewest mistakes or who's defense shows up will win. Both teams should have high power offenses (ECU returing 10 starters on offense and 9 on defense.) I do not think whoever win this game will win Cusa Championship because it is last game of season
(Nov. 30) and there are too many good conference teams to play before game number 12. Last two meeting (seasons) only determine if any school went to a bowl and no effect on Cusa Championship. Also ECU plays NCSU the week before (Nov 23 @ Raleigh) and ECU beat NC State in overtime (Wilson, QB) last time two teams played so that will be a very emotional game, too. I truly believe to be the man (Cusa Champs) you have to beat the man (Tulsa). I am picking Tulsa out of respect for what it did last season. Good luck to all Cusa teams but hoping ECU wins:) (opinion)

(03-13-2013 07:49 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Honestly, if I look at it objectively it should be Tulsa hosting ECU for the title. However, UAB, Marshall and USM should all be good as well. Hell, don't discount MT either; they will be competitive.

I would say that ECU, Marshall, USM and UAB definitely go bowling fromt he East. In the West, Tulsa is the only one that I am willing to say the same about.

Holtz is a good fit for La Tech, but he will not go bowling his first year.

I predict that the final East standings look like this:

1. ECU
2. Marshall (Tie)
3. UAB (Tie)
4. USM (Tie)
5. Middle TN
6. FIU

Marshall beats USM but loses to UAB. USM beats UAB but loses to Marshall. UAB beats Marshall but loses to USM. It'll be a cluster...

ECU goes undefeated in conference play, beats NCSU and ODU to finish with 10 regular season wins. Truthfully, we should be able to beat VPI... UNC, not so much. They'll be really good.

Granted, there are a lot of unknowns for us, but I think we will go bowling. Lost a lot but still loaded on offense. And the way the defense played, you can't be sad to see all of them go. Hard to be worse than dead last in defense. Our schedule is also very favorable. I see us as competing for division & conference championships at the end of year and no worse than 3rd in West Division and possible 1st.

(03-13-2013 03:40 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 03:12 PM)r2pirate Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:59 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  It's anybody's league next year. ECU will come back LOAAADDDDDEDDDD on offense.

Defense is still a question mark, but a new DC and some good JUCO guys should help.

I do like ECU chances especially playing both USM and Tulsa at home;
however, to be the man (Cusa Champs) you have to beat the man (Tulsa). I will be pulling for ECU first, Marshall second, MTSU third in east......USM first, Tulsa second, and UL third in west.

Well USM is in the east for at least one more year. UL plays in the Sun Belt or A-12, depending on the UL.

That's funny...who can keep up with this merry-go-round? Hell, I know I can't....

To OP....don't overlook Rice this year. It just may be their time to shine.

Yes, they are.

This is where I am putting my faith, Marshall gets UAB, USM and ECU all at home. If those 4 teams can all be debated on strengths and weaknesses then the fact we get all three at home gives us an advantage.

Rice takes the west, ECU takes the east IMO.

(03-13-2013 06:02 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  Marshall/ECU
Vs
Tulsa/Rice

Not USM's year, but look for USM to play spoiler the latter part of the season. Offense won't be on track till at least midway of the season.

Don't be surprised if we surprise (can't believe I just said that...but after last season). We have a backfield that is pretty damn good and we recruited well to help with OL/DL line substitution.

If Monken can figure out the qb issue (which I believe he will since I am a homer), we may get comeback player of the year (I know...it isn't an award, but you get it right?)

Our home in-conference schedule is favorable for wins. Granted, the away games will be tough both IC and OOC.

I can't wait to go the the first 'open' spring practice to see how the new staff handles the daily chores. I saw it with Fedora's first year, and EJ wouldn't have one...there you have it.

Monken ain't scared!

Marshall has ECU, USM, and UAB all in Huntington. Thank you schedule makers!

With Marshall having a LONG winning season streak (like USM), having a terrible coaching hire (like USM), and having a rebuild job (like USM), it really doesn't happen overnight. I think USM is looking at a longer road back that most are expecting (even with the new conference members),

I think Tulsa is the conference favorite and should be stronger than everyone in the east. The ECU@Marshall winner the last week of the season will win the East.

(03-13-2013 09:36 PM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  Marshall has ECU, USM, and UAB all in Huntington. Thank you schedule makers!

With Marshall having a LONG winning season streak (like USM), having a terrible coaching hire (like USM), and having a rebuild job (like USM), it really doesn't happen overnight. I think USM is looking at a longer road back that most are expecting (even with the new conference members),

I think Tulsa is the conference favorite and should be stronger than everyone in the east. The ECU@Marshall winner the last week of the season will win the East.

The difference between all other programs and what happened to us last year?? We fired dat sum biatch after ONE YEAR.

Our players are still solid with the QB being the major question mark. ...and it's a big one...

If Monken corp. can get us 6 to 8 wins (which I think he will), I think our fan base will be very pleased. If it is only 2 to 5, then okay and we wait it out.

The EJ hire/fire may become a case study for all programs in the future if Monken hits the 7+ win range.

(03-13-2013 05:01 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Tulsa v. ECU

Everyone else is a looooooongshot.

Just like Houston ever winning in 'Murica
Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooongshot.