(08-21-2013 07:45 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 11:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I want to win the conference championship, not just be in it., and I want to win our bowl game, against a decent opponent.

I agree. The record doesn't mean that much to me this year. THIS is the year we need to win the conference championship. Unfortunately, the most important game of the year is AT Tulsa, and it comes after they have an off week.

Based on what I saw last year, IMO, we should be able to handle Tulsa. I know we have lost to them since DB showed up at Rice, but that shouldn't affect how this years team plays. We almost had them last year and likely are a better team this year.

Quote:I want to see more of him this year. I expect to see more of him this year, as Bailiff is not as stupid as legend says, and he knows he needs DJ ready for next year. But I expect McH to be the #1 for a variety of reasons. If DJ can play his way into the top spot, more power to him. But IMO it takes more than one good half to earn that nod.

Agreed. At the same time, I hope DB plays the better of the two players, with no regard to seniority. Whoever gives us the best chance to win based on practice and camp should be under center.

(08-21-2013 07:45 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 11:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I want to win the conference championship, not just be in it., and I want to win our bowl game, against a decent opponent.

I agree. The record doesn't mean that much to me this year. THIS is the year we need to win the conference championship. Unfortunately, the most important game of the year is AT Tulsa, and it comes after they have an off week.

I really want to know why we have to play AT Tulsa two years in a row, especially when Tulsa is leaving the conference.

(08-22-2013 09:26 AM)Memphis Owl Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 07:45 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 11:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I want to win the conference championship, not just be in it., and I want to win our bowl game, against a decent opponent.

I agree. The record doesn't mean that much to me this year. THIS is the year we need to win the conference championship. Unfortunately, the most important game of the year is AT Tulsa, and it comes after they have an off week.

I really want to know why we have to play AT Tulsa two years in a row, especially when Tulsa is leaving the conference.

It was foreseen as their parting gift from C-USA

(08-22-2013 09:26 AM)Memphis Owl Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 07:45 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 11:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I want to win the conference championship, not just be in it., and I want to win our bowl game, against a decent opponent.

I agree. The record doesn't mean that much to me this year. THIS is the year we need to win the conference championship. Unfortunately, the most important game of the year is AT Tulsa, and it comes after they have an off week.

I really want to know why we have to play AT Tulsa two years in a row, especially when Tulsa is leaving the conference.

(08-22-2013 09:26 AM)Memphis Owl Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 07:45 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 11:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I want to win the conference championship, not just be in it., and I want to win our bowl game, against a decent opponent.

I agree. The record doesn't mean that much to me this year. THIS is the year we need to win the conference championship. Unfortunately, the most important game of the year is AT Tulsa, and it comes after they have an off week.

I really want to know why we have to play AT Tulsa two years in a row, especially when Tulsa is leaving the conference.

It is how the new schedule shook out because of all the additions. Apparently C-USA didn't want to take the time to fix the problem after we filed our complaint.

(08-22-2013 09:13 AM)Antarius Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 07:45 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 11:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I want to win the conference championship, not just be in it., and I want to win our bowl game, against a decent opponent.

I agree. The record doesn't mean that much to me this year. THIS is the year we need to win the conference championship. Unfortunately, the most important game of the year is AT Tulsa, and it comes after they have an off week.

Based on what I saw last year, IMO, we should be able to handle Tulsa. I know we have lost to them since DB showed up at Rice, but that shouldn't affect how this years team plays. We almost had them last year and likely are a better team this year.

Quote:I want to see more of him this year. I expect to see more of him this year, as Bailiff is not as stupid as legend says, and he knows he needs DJ ready for next year. But I expect McH to be the #1 for a variety of reasons. If DJ can play his way into the top spot, more power to him. But IMO it takes more than one good half to earn that nod.

Agreed. At the same time, I hope DB plays the better of the two players, with no regard to seniority. Whoever gives us the best chance to win based on practice and camp should be under center.

Yeah. Some people might think us leading 24-21 with just a few minutes left was a fluke. I think their 80 yard run to pull out a 28-24 win was more of a fluke.

Practice, camp AND experience, should all be taken into consideration. I think McH will be the starter to begin the season, and deservedly so. Whether he is the starter at the end of the season depends on him and DJ, how they perform, and injuries. Regardless, I think DJ will get enough PT to be a very good #1 next year, if not sooner.

(08-21-2013 01:58 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 12:35 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Had bailiff put DJ in as you suggest, what do you think the reaction on this board would have been at that time? (emphasis on the last three words). Hurray for Bailiff for preparing DJ for the future or boo for Bailiff for giving up too soon and too easily?

I don't know what the reaction of the board would have been, but I know that my reaction would have been to applaud an approach that I've been calling for since long before DJ or even DB. Until we get to the point where we look to win 10+ every year, and maybe even after then, focus on winning conference games and use preseason games the way the NFL does--play to win, but plan to get 50-60 people meaningful playing time, because that's the best preparation for conference games.

I think you would have been in the minority, though probably right.
I would likely have been in the majority, and faulting him for being a quitter and not trying hard enough to win.

Quote:It would not have taken much for us to have been 10-2 last year. But we didn't get it and were 6-6. Will we be 10-2 or 6-6 this year?

yeah, I think Memphis , Marshall, and Tulsa all belong in the coudda/shoudda column, and there's your 10.

I think 10 and 6 mark the 75/25 percentiles for this year. I expect the 10 more than the 6.

I guess it is the nature of the optimist to hope more and suffer more if those hopes are dashed. But I just am incapable of taking the easy way of expecting little. I guess that is why I make reservations in Omaha every year.