It's looking like football is becoming more and more of a reality. Great news! Admittedly, I was skeptical a month or so back with guys like Herbstreit crying and saying football likely would not happen but the more we know, the more testing becomes available and with other sports finding a way to make it happen I am becoming convinced we can do this. Have to stay positive.

I bought the Athlon football preview and wasn't surprised with what they had to say about our team. Athlon never gives us love and I think at this point it's comical. I do tend to read these because we just don't have the coverage for our team that I want and will read what is available. (Man, I wish our athletic dept. and local media did more to give content.) I got tired of Hustlebelt because I thought the EMU articles were terrible and am left to read national publications.......

Athlon predicted the MAC West with the following
1. Toledo
2. Central
3. Ball State
4. Western
5. NIU
6. EMU

Depth Chart Key notes...
QB: Hutch then A Jack (No Helbig?)
RB: Boone (Isn't DJ Smith a transfer? Thought he would be plug and play)


The magazine is high on our WR's, Oline, Haney and specialists. Their prediction is 4-8 which is consistent with previous year's predictions which we have surpassed frequently.

I understand rankings mean NOTHING and you still have to play the games but content is entertainment and having some type of media surrounding this team is good to read.

I personally am really excited to see this team and think this is a bowl team with its roster. Again, I don't see a ton of holes on this team (perhaps at rush-end) overall and I think we have one of our more complete teams in terms of talent than we have seen in a while. A tough schedule, but we have a really good group that I think can compete.

Go Eagles!

(06-12-2020 02:14 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  It's looking like football is becoming more and more of a reality. Great news! Admittedly, I was skeptical a month or so back with guys like Herbstreit crying and saying football likely would not happen but the more we know, the more testing becomes available and with other sports finding a way to make it happen I am becoming convinced we can do this. Have to stay positive.

I bought the Athlon football preview and wasn't surprised with what they had to say about our team. Athlon never gives us love and I think at this point it's comical. I do tend to read these because we just don't have the coverage for our team that I want and will read what is available. (Man, I wish our athletic dept. and local media did more to give content.) I got tired of Hustlebelt because I thought the EMU articles were terrible and am left to read national publications.......

Athlon predicted the MAC West with the following
1. Toledo
2. Central
3. Ball State
4. Western
5. NIU
6. EMU

Depth Chart Key notes...
QB: Hutch then A Jack (No Helbig?)
RB: Boone (Isn't DJ Smith a transfer? Thought he would be plug and play)


The magazine is high on our WR's, Oline, Haney and specialists. Their prediction is 4-8 which is consistent with previous year's predictions which we have surpassed frequently.

I understand rankings mean NOTHING and you still have to play the games but content is entertainment and having some type of media surrounding this team is good to read.

I personally am really excited to see this team and think this is a bowl team with its roster. Again, I don't see a ton of holes on this team (perhaps at rush-end) overall and I think we have one of our more complete teams in terms of talent than we have seen in a while. A tough schedule, but we have a really good group that I think can compete.

Go Eagles!

As I've said many times, unfortunately being picked dead last is probably correct! Our defense isn't going to really good on paper.......If we look at our recruiting we're continuously lower then the teams picked above almost every class! Toledo, W Mich, C Mich, and N Illinois for sure! Ball St we're on par with the past few recruiting classes! Recruiting and coaching win championships! 5-7 is my prediction, and I hope I'm dead wrong, and we finish 7-5!

(06-12-2020 02:14 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  It's looking like football is becoming more and more of a reality. Great news! Admittedly, I was skeptical a month or so back with guys like Herbstreit crying and saying football likely would not happen but the more we know, the more testing becomes available and with other sports finding a way to make it happen I am becoming convinced we can do this. Have to stay positive.

I bought the Athlon football preview and wasn't surprised with what they had to say about our team. Athlon never gives us love and I think at this point it's comical. I do tend to read these because we just don't have the coverage for our team that I want and will read what is available. (Man, I wish our athletic dept. and local media did more to give content.) I got tired of Hustlebelt because I thought the EMU articles were terrible and am left to read national publications.......

Athlon predicted the MAC West with the following
1. Toledo
2. Central
3. Ball State
4. Western
5. NIU
6. EMU

Depth Chart Key notes...
QB: Hutch then A Jack (No Helbig?)
RB: Boone (Isn't DJ Smith a transfer? Thought he would be plug and play)


The magazine is high on our WR's, Oline, Haney and specialists. Their prediction is 4-8 which is consistent with previous year's predictions which we have surpassed frequently.

I understand rankings mean NOTHING and you still have to play the games but content is entertainment and having some type of media surrounding this team is good to read.

I personally am really excited to see this team and think this is a bowl team with its roster. Again, I don't see a ton of holes on this team (perhaps at rush-end) overall and I think we have one of our more complete teams in terms of talent than we have seen in a while. A tough schedule, but we have a really good group that I think can compete.

Go Eagles!

The good news is that Athlon is traditionally not very good.

More likely 5-7 or 6-6

I can’t argue with their prediction. We could finish ahead of NIU, but I don’t see us doing very well this season. 4-8 or 5-7 seems reasonable. As always, I hope I’m wrong about this. 2021 should be a much better year.