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(11-21-2017 06:08 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 12:20 PM)dunkface Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 10:09 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I hope we make a bowl for playing and practice time, as well as for obvious entertainment value.

But if for some reason we don’t, I won’t be broken up over it. When you’re 6-6 and lose your last 3 of 4, you’re not having a stellar season.

Not a good look, but it happens. Last year MSU went from CFB Playoff team to no bowl. BGSU went from MAC champs to no bowl. And so on. Just need to rebound next year with a new slate.

I hope we make it for the playing and practice time. An extra month of practice reps for young QBs would be huge going into next season.

I'd argue that there really isn't much entertainment value in playing another mediocre team in front of 500 fans at the Regional Grocery Store Chain Bowl though.

Not sure that the extra practice time is a good thing with this team. It seems that the more practices Lester and his staff have with this group, the worse they get. We have been regressing instead of progressing.

I was thinking maybe next year the group of coaches could just pick captains with the best football acumen and ask those players just to run practices for the year while the coaches hang out. It would be a very progressive approach, and if they allowed the players to also call the plays during games then we would really have something going.

That approach might work really well at the military academies. Give the class leaders increasing responsibility each year. Some HS programs are run this way. QBs call their own plays most of the time at some HS. They see football as a learning experience more than win at all costs. Valid if you are in the “not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game” camp.

(11-21-2017 06:08 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 12:20 PM)dunkface Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 10:09 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I hope we make a bowl for playing and practice time, as well as for obvious entertainment value.

But if for some reason we don’t, I won’t be broken up over it. When you’re 6-6 and lose your last 3 of 4, you’re not having a stellar season.

Not a good look, but it happens. Last year MSU went from CFB Playoff team to no bowl. BGSU went from MAC champs to no bowl. And so on. Just need to rebound next year with a new slate.

I hope we make it for the playing and practice time. An extra month of practice reps for young QBs would be huge going into next season.

I'd argue that there really isn't much entertainment value in playing another mediocre team in front of 500 fans at the Regional Grocery Store Chain Bowl though.

Not sure that the extra practice time is a good thing with this team. It seems that the more practices Lester and his staff have with this group, the worse they get. We have been regressing instead of progressing.

I was thinking maybe next year the group of coaches could just pick captains with the best football acumen and ask those players just to run practices for the year while the coaches hang out. It would be a very progressive approach, and if they allowed the players to also call the plays during games then we would really have something going.

Wassink and Goddard and the wideouts really regressed as the year went on, it's so apparent, a couple more games and Goddard is going to morph into a tackling dummy and the wideouts are going to be lumps of turf. Did you see how Goddard couldn't complete a pass last week? We're lucky his lungs still have the capacity to absorb oxygen at this point, really...

(11-21-2017 09:45 AM)RunningGame Wrote:  

(11-21-2017 06:08 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 12:20 PM)dunkface Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 10:09 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I hope we make a bowl for playing and practice time, as well as for obvious entertainment value.

But if for some reason we don’t, I won’t be broken up over it. When you’re 6-6 and lose your last 3 of 4, you’re not having a stellar season.

Not a good look, but it happens. Last year MSU went from CFB Playoff team to no bowl. BGSU went from MAC champs to no bowl. And so on. Just need to rebound next year with a new slate.

I hope we make it for the playing and practice time. An extra month of practice reps for young QBs would be huge going into next season.

I'd argue that there really isn't much entertainment value in playing another mediocre team in front of 500 fans at the Regional Grocery Store Chain Bowl though.

Not sure that the extra practice time is a good thing with this team. It seems that the more practices Lester and his staff have with this group, the worse they get. We have been regressing instead of progressing.

I was thinking maybe next year the group of coaches could just pick captains with the best football acumen and ask those players just to run practices for the year while the coaches hang out. It would be a very progressive approach, and if they allowed the players to also call the plays during games then we would really have something going.

Wassink and Goddard and the wideouts really regressed as the year went on, it's so apparent, a couple more games and Goddard is going to morph into a tackling dummy and the wideouts are going to be lumps of turf. Did you see how Goddard couldn't complete a pass last week? We're lucky his lungs still have the capacity to absorb oxygen at this point, really...

Hahahaha

(11-21-2017 07:56 AM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  

(11-21-2017 06:08 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 12:20 PM)dunkface Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 10:09 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I hope we make a bowl for playing and practice time, as well as for obvious entertainment value.

But if for some reason we don’t, I won’t be broken up over it. When you’re 6-6 and lose your last 3 of 4, you’re not having a stellar season.

Not a good look, but it happens. Last year MSU went from CFB Playoff team to no bowl. BGSU went from MAC champs to no bowl. And so on. Just need to rebound next year with a new slate.

I hope we make it for the playing and practice time. An extra month of practice reps for young QBs would be huge going into next season.

I'd argue that there really isn't much entertainment value in playing another mediocre team in front of 500 fans at the Regional Grocery Store Chain Bowl though.

Not sure that the extra practice time is a good thing with this team. It seems that the more practices Lester and his staff have with this group, the worse they get. We have been regressing instead of progressing.

I was thinking maybe next year the group of coaches could just pick captains with the best football acumen and ask those players just to run practices for the year while the coaches hang out. It would be a very progressive approach, and if they allowed the players to also call the plays during games then we would really have something going.

That approach might work really well at the military academies. Give the class leaders increasing responsibility each year. Some HS programs are run this way. QBs call their own plays most of the time at some HS. They see football as a learning experience more than win at all costs. Valid if you are in the “not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game” camp.

My son has played on two competitive club teams (Crew and Soccer) at West Point, and although they both have coaches, they have Cadets who lead the programs, and in the case of his soccer team the "Firstie" senior Cadet runs practice. My son also plays "company sports" where each of the companies in each Regiment compete against each other in different sports. My son's company sport is also soccer. The company teams are all coached by Cadets (player coaches). These teams are very competitive, well organised and run. The Cadet player-coaches, and the other players, take this extremely seriously (My son's team just played for the Brigade Championship). They are as capable as coaches as most high school coaches, if not better. Of course the academies take the NCAA sports seriously too, and get pretty high level coaches. The Army Football Coach, Jeff Monken, will be fairly sought after by P5 schools I think. He has done a very good job with an all-run offense (and you all know how I feel about predictable running. LOL).

We got some serious help yesterday, thanks to our friends at Georgia Southern.

They went on the road to Lafayette, LA and won straight up as +160 underdogs to keep the Ragin’ Cajuns at 5 wins. Lafayette still has a game left, but it’s against Appalachian State, who will be playing for a conference championship.

Out west, Nevada beat UNLV for the Fremont Cannon (one of the coolest rivalry trophies around, BTW.) as small home dogs, denying UNLV bowl eligibility as well. UNLV’s season is over.

EDIT: Nevada was actually a small (2.5 points) favorite.

What's left to determine 6-win teams? Isn't Florida State the last with a chance?

Not sure how it works with the cancellation situation and a possible waiver. Perhaps others more knowledgeable can comment.

It very well may matter too, as I believe the ACC is one of the tie-ins to the bowl in Detroit.

We need to root like hell for Appalachian State (will be big favorites) and South Alabama (will be big dogs) next week.

Florida State has a gimme vs. Monroe next week.

This projection has us in the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Virginia. Good team. They would destroy us.

https://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/bowls/predictions

(11-26-2017 12:46 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  This projection has us in the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Virginia. Good team. They would destroy us.

https://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/bowls/predictions

that would give us the most time to get healthy though. Could any of our running backs be healthy by Christmas?

(11-26-2017 01:03 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 12:46 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  This projection has us in the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Virginia. Good team. They would destroy us.

https://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/bowls/predictions

that would give us the most time to get healthy though. Could any of our running backs be healthy by Christmas?

No, Bellamy is busted up and Bogan and Tucker had foot issues. Maybe Falcon will be back? Jarvion vs. Everybody.

Lester said the only guys we might get back are Wassink and Ricci, where we need the help the most. Our line is good enough with a functional passing game that Davie can pick up 4 yards consistently.

Asantay Brown was playing safety at Toledo? How did I not notice that? He's probably going to stay there. Did Claiborne or Rucker get injured? No Tanner?

ESPN's 2 bowl projection guys have us in Detroit vs. Boston College or the Belk Bowl in Charlotte vs. Wake Forest. Personally, I see Detroit as our only likely option. Not sure what other 6-6 teams are getting left out under these projections so far. Must be WKU, MTSU and Buffalo. Saw one other projection this morning that had us left out. No idea what will play out. Really interesting watching all these coaches get axed. ASU's coach just got fired. Who will fill all these openings? Early signing period makes things even more interesting.

(11-26-2017 01:32 PM)RunningGame Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 01:03 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  

(11-26-2017 12:46 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  This projection has us in the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Virginia. Good team. They would destroy us.

https://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/bowls/predictions

that would give us the most time to get healthy though. Could any of our running backs be healthy by Christmas?

No, Bellamy is busted up and Bogan and Tucker had foot issues. Maybe Falcon will be back? Jarvion vs. Everybody.

Lester said the only guys we might get back are Wassink and Ricci, where we need the help the most. Our line is good enough with a functional passing game that Davie can pick up 4 yards consistently.

Asantay Brown was playing safety at Toledo? How did I not notice that? He's probably going to stay there. Did Claiborne or Rucker get injured? No Tanner?

I seriously doubt Wassink will be back for a bowl game. He landed on his throwing arm shoulder. If it were the other arm OK, I could see it. Even if the collar bone has healed, it'll take weeks to get his arm in throwing condition again.

Might be better to just commit to Goddard and get him ready. It'll be another opportunity to give him game experience.

Ohio just accepted a bowl bid to play UAB in the Bahamas bowl

Today's earlier predictions:
- SI.com doesn't have us in a bowl (although they picked NIU to go to Bahamas bowl)
- SBNation doesn't have us in a bowl (and they did pick UAB vs Ohio correctly in the Bahamas bowl)
- diehards.com doesn't have us in a bowl
- Yahoo Sports doesn't have us in a bowl (made a few days ago)

- NBC Sports DOES have us in a bowl (Quick Lane Bowl vs W. Virginia)

How many bowl eligible teams are there now?

There are spots for 78 FBS teams in bowls this season. There are currently 79, with Utah's win.

Florida State (5-6), New Mexico State (5-6) and Louisiana-Lafayette (5-6) are possibly bowl-eligible, too.

So if all 3 lose, maybe we could squeak in.

I think after next weekend, assuming Louisiana-Lafayette loses at App State (App State should be decent sized favorite) and assuming favorites New Mexico State and Florida State win, I think the final number would be 81 bowl eligible teams for 78 spots. As for other 6-6 teams, for us to get in, 3 teams would need to be left out. For those projections that have us in, I think MTSU, Western KY and Buffalo are the ones left out. If LA-Lafayette wins, I suspect we would be done. No idea how how things would shake out between MTSU, Western KY and Buffalo and us. Although, we did the Bulls head to head (not sure that even matters). Also, if MTSU and Western KY get in, I think that would make 10 teams in bowls from Conference USA which seems like too many from that conference. Who knows...OK either way (in or out).

The only other MAC team we’d beat out for a bid is Buffalo. So if it’s 79 for 78 spots, gotta figure Bulls stay home.

Another 1 or 2 eligible teams and we’re cooked. Although we’d miss out on added experience, I don’t think anyone will lose a second of sleep if we get passed over.

Not sure how these things work logistically but, since we are eligible and several things are still up in the air, I suspect the team can continue to practice for the next couple weeks while things shake out. Would be nice to get some extra reps out of this season at least. But, I know recruiting is full go for the next couple weeks until the early signing period as well.

Also, some projections I see have CMU at the Detroit Bowl. Nothing against Detroit (love it!) but it seems as if an 8-4 record and MAC West runner-up would garner a bit more desirable bowl location. Seems as if we would be a good fit for Detroit.