(02-17-2015 10:01 AM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  It the same six teams plus rotating two that we play every year... Plus a P5... Here we go with the schedule bull$*#@

But you can't deny that it's a weak schedule. You get Purdue at home and then play Norfolk State, Kent State and Ohio. Marshall has better talent than all these schools. They should all be wins. You also avoid playing the two best teams in the West, Rice and Louisiana Tech. The only tough games are against MTU and WKU. At the very least, you have to admit that the OOC schedule is very unambitious.

Here we go with the schedule talk once again, sorry we don't pimp ourselves to Texas and Texas A&M every year and we strive to have atleast 6 home games every year. Sorry we demand 1 for 1 deals and don't accept the notion P5s don't make those deals.

Sorry we have dreams of going undefeated or close to it every year instead of the standard 8-4 record like Rice.

Am I happy about playing Norfolk State, No but I'm not going to sacrifice a 6th home game because of it either. And if WVU would have continued the series to play us, they would have been playing in Huntington this year and we would have played their last year

(02-18-2015 04:37 AM)Herd_fever Wrote:  Here we go with the schedule talk once again, sorry we don't pimp ourselves to Texas and Texas A&M every year and we strive to have atleast 6 home games every year. Sorry we demand 1 for 1 deals and don't accept the notion P5s don't make those deals.

Sorry we have dreams of going undefeated or close to it every year instead of the standard 8-4 record like Rice.

Am I happy about playing Norfolk State, No but I'm not going to sacrifice a 6th home game because of it either. And if WVU would have continued the series to play us, they would have been playing in Huntington this year and we would have played their last year

We have to admit that the schedule is weak. We should only be playing one Mac school a year and this year we play two Mac schools on the road.

(02-18-2015 04:37 AM)Herd_fever Wrote:  Here we go with the schedule talk once again, sorry we don't pimp ourselves to Texas and Texas A&M every year and we strive to have atleast 6 home games every year. Sorry we demand 1 for 1 deals and don't accept the notion P5s don't make those deals.

Sorry we have dreams of going undefeated or close to it every year instead of the standard 8-4 record like Rice.

Am I happy about playing Norfolk State, No but I'm not going to sacrifice a 6th home game because of it either. And if WVU would have continued the series to play us, they would have been playing in Huntington this year and we would have played their last year

You are gonna have to accept the fact that strength of schedule is more important than ever for G5 schools. I loathe to play Kanasas St. and Miss St next year but also understand that losses to those programs far exceed the benefits of wins against lesser G5 competition. Marshall was deserving of an Access Bowl slot even with 1 loss but their schedule gave the committee the excuse to place the Fair Haired Child that is Boise in your place. It is what it is and Marshall will have to adapt like the rest of us.

I don't think Marshall or La Tech make the CUSA Championship game this year. Too many strong teams (in the East & West) returning better players.

(02-16-2015 06:39 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Being that Marshall and Louisiana Tech both lost more than 21 seniors, I think it's safe to say that they'll have the biggest holes to fill. That's not good. They have more "questions" to deal with than anyone else. Having said that, they both have good coaches and have recruited well. Take that for what you will.

Yes we lost 21 seniors. However only 9 were starters. Most of our team is young. Several of our impact players on offense last year were freshman.

Were return our entire backffield which is huge. At WR we only lose Shuler. Yes that is a big loss but McManus, Jean-Louis, Foster, and Yurachek return along with some incoming freshman that have tons of potential and size.

We lost our starting center to graduation. He will be a loss that must be filled but our OLine is in grest hands.

Losing Cato is a big loss but we have some young guys ready to step up and they all have potential to pick up right where we left off.

On defense we have to replace DT James Rouse, MLB Jermaine Holmes, OLB Neville Hewitt, DE Ra'Shawde Meyers, DE Arnold Blackmon, and DB Darryl Roberts.


Our team will not be depleted by any stretch of the imagination. We played a lot of guys last year that were underclassman.

People can count us out all they want. As a matter of fact I hope they do. Keeps thst chip on our shoulder and fire in our bellies.

As long as someone steps up at QB we shouldn't miss a beat. We still have Devon Johnson at RB with Butler and Watson.

I think both divisions will be highly competitive. I think Tech has as good a shot as any to win the West with what they have coming back and with our new QB.

Tech and Rice are by far the best 2 in the West

And while WKU beat us by 1, we are still the best team in the east by far

How could Louisiana Tech only have lost 11seniors if it just signed 23 high school players on signing day? What am I missing? Did several underclassmen transfer out or something?

(02-18-2015 04:37 AM)Herd_fever Wrote:  Here we go with the schedule talk once again, sorry we don't pimp ourselves to Texas and Texas A&M every year and we strive to have atleast 6 home games every year. Sorry we demand 1 for 1 deals and don't accept the notion P5s don't make those deals.

Sorry we have dreams of going undefeated or close to it every year instead of the standard 8-4 record like Rice.

Am I happy about playing Norfolk State, No but I'm not going to sacrifice a 6th home game because of it either. And if WVU would have continued the series to play us, they would have been playing in Huntington this year and we would have played their last year

Rice does need the money. It's no secret that G5 programs are struggling, especially the private ones. Playing schools like Texas and Baylor every year is also attractive to recruits, who want to play some big names. Playing a tough OOC schedule also prepares our team for conference play. Finally, going 12-0 means nothing it you didn't beat anyone decent to get there.

(02-18-2015 11:09 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(02-18-2015 04:37 AM)Herd_fever Wrote:  Here we go with the schedule talk once again, sorry we don't pimp ourselves to Texas and Texas A&M every year and we strive to have atleast 6 home games every year. Sorry we demand 1 for 1 deals and don't accept the notion P5s don't make those deals.

Sorry we have dreams of going undefeated or close to it every year instead of the standard 8-4 record like Rice.

Am I happy about playing Norfolk State, No but I'm not going to sacrifice a 6th home game because of it either. And if WVU would have continued the series to play us, they would have been playing in Huntington this year and we would have played their last year

Rice does need the money. It's no secret that G5 programs are struggling, especially the private ones. Playing schools like Texas and Baylor every year is also attractive to recruits, who want to play some big names. Playing a tough OOC schedule also prepares our team for conference play. Finally, going 12-0 means nothing it you didn't beat anyone decent to get there.

There is nothing wrong with playing local p5 teams. Especially if they are old SWC rivals.

(02-18-2015 04:37 AM)Herd_fever Wrote:  Here we go with the schedule talk once again, sorry we don't pimp ourselves to Texas and Texas A&M every year and we strive to have atleast 6 home games every year. Sorry we demand 1 for 1 deals and don't accept the notion P5s don't make those deals.

Sorry we have dreams of going undefeated or close to it every year instead of the standard 8-4 record like Rice.

Am I happy about playing Norfolk State, No but I'm not going to sacrifice a 6th home game because of it either. And if WVU would have continued the series to play us, they would have been playing in Huntington this year and we would have played their last year

If 8-5 was standard for Rice we would not have slowly sunk to CUSA 3.0.

Undefeated or close to it every year?

My goodness you are the most delusional person I've ever seen on this board. At least you put "we have dreams" in front of it. Because obviously you are in some kind of deep dream-like state of consciousness.

People aren't ripping on Marshall's schedule because it's weak. They're ripping on it because for 2 years in a row it's probably the worst schedule in the country and among the weakest they've ever seen. Ever.

It's painful to read your posts, herd_fever.

Marshall in the last 5 years

2010- 5-7
2011- 7-6
2012- 5-7
2013- 10-4
2014- 13-1

Thats 40 wins and 25 losses equalling yes you guessed it 8-5 average over the last five years.

(02-19-2015 02:43 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  Marshall in the last 5 years

2010- 5-7
2011- 7-6
2012- 5-7
2013- 10-4
2014- 13-1

Thats 40 wins and 25 losses equalling yes you guessed it 8-5 average over the last five years.

IMHO, 8-5 should be the benchmark for any cusa school every year with a competitive schedule....last year, you guys did exactly what many thought you would....and the end result was exactly what the same predicted

having said that, I'm on record (regarding southern miss) that anything over 6-6 this year "exceeds expectations"

adding my 'homer comment o'day......look out boys.....here ours come

I don't understand this schedule talk. I get that our schedule last year received deserved criticism, but I don't think that's the case this year, or in most years.

1. Get over yourselves if you think that Ohio shouldn't be on our schedule. It is our biggest rival, a peer institution in EVERY respect and about 85 miles from Huntington. This is a game that we NEVER take for granted...just check out the last several years. It's a game that almost all Marshall fans want to see every year. Sadly, after this year, it's gone for a little while.

2. Almost all schools schedule a body bag game...ours, this year, is Norfolk State. I don't like them either, but its a practice that most schools take to get home games.

3. Purdue is a lower tier P5 school, the exact kind of school that we should be scheduling on a 1 on 1 basis from the P5. We played well on their turf a couple of years ago, but came up short. We have nothing to apologize for by scheduling Purdue, or in recent years, Virginia Tech, Kansas State and others.

4. I don't agree that an away loss to a top tier P5 team just to gain a few bucks is better than a win over any G5 member. They are about even, in my estimation in the eyes of the deciders and in the eyes of the casual fan. To the casual fan, seeing a Marshall - Alabama game is about as interesting as a Marshall - Kent State game. Both are mismatches. I grant you that Kent State is not a particularly desirable team on the schedule. But its the only game on the schedule that makes me cringe

Our goals are to win a conference championship every year ( very difficult achievement in its own right in any year), achieve a top 25 ranking, win in the best bowl game we can get invited to. Our goal is not to make the Access Bowl. If it ever happens, fantastic. But we know who we are and what our realistic goals are.

Even with our crappy schedule last year, we were in the national conversation from the beginning and ended up 22/23 in the polls after smashing a G5 power school (Northern Illinois). Other than Boise State and Memphis, who else among the 58 or so G5 schools can say they have those achievement, or the goals that we achieved last year.

Swear to Gawd, Fever must be a middle school girl posting as a knowledgable fan.

Our AD wants at least 6 home games for financial reasons. He won't whore out for one and done P5 games.
Next year Pitt and Louisville are on the schedule.

(02-19-2015 03:43 PM)SVHerd Wrote:  Swear to Gawd, Fever must be a middle school girl posting as a knowledgable fan.

Our AD wants at least 6 home games for financial reasons. He won't whore out for one and done P5 games.
Next year Pitt and Louisville are on the schedule.

He is really wearing you guys out. But we all have them and there isn't crap you can do about them either.

And for the record Marshall was very good last year and will probably be good this year, but this freaking guy.

I have no problem agreeing that Marshall will have a good season. I personally don't think they will win the East but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.