The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

.....and still lost 4 MAC games.

http://http://www.wmubroncos.com/news/20...tions.aspx

Anyone would be lying to say we didn't have food players

But but but... Lester lost the first 2 man team in history to make the Cotton Bowl from last year in Terrell and Davis!

It was 90 new players plus guys who didn’t really want to be here (according to the TL apologists)

Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

(12-16-2017 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

Phil Steele follows this stuff probably more than any other national publication for gambling purposes. He's good. The rest of them. Not so much.

(12-16-2017 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

Long snappers and punters are very important parts of a football team, even if grossly under appreciated. And you can look at Philips having multiple spots on the allMAC team as if it means we didn't really have thirteen players on the team, but Philips was actually on the field in those spots, and we had the advantage of being able to use him in multiple roles, so it does not diminish the significance of having all those allMAC players. We really did have an all star DB and returner, and had him for all the snaps in both capacities.

The real point here is that this team was loaded big time with tremendous players, most of whom stayed healthy enough to play all year long, and had a ton of other players who have not been recognized as all league, but who are also very talented. I have a feeling that this might be the most talented team that Lester will ever coach. And the season was pretty lousy anyway.

(12-16-2017 01:56 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(12-16-2017 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

Long snappers and punters are very important parts of a football team, even if grossly under appreciated. And you can look at Philips having multiple spots on the allMAC team as if it means we didn't really have thirteen players on the team, but Philips was actually on the field in those spots, and we had the advantage of being able to use him in multiple roles, so it does not diminish the significance of having all those allMAC players. We really did have an all star DB and returner, and had him for all the snaps in both capacities.

The real point here is that this team was loaded big time with tremendous players, most of whom stayed healthy enough to play all year long, and had a ton of other players who have not been recognized as all league, but who are also very talented. I have a feeling that this might be the most talented team that Lester will ever coach. And the season was pretty lousy anyway.

WHAT part of 22 players lost for most of the season don't you understand ? Also this upcoming class is once again the highest rated recruiting class in WMU HISTORY. He'll never have better talent ???

(12-16-2017 01:56 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(12-16-2017 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

Long snappers and punters are very important parts of a football team, even if grossly under appreciated. And you can look at Philips having multiple spots on the allMAC team as if it means we didn't really have thirteen players on the team, but Philips was actually on the field in those spots, and we had the advantage of being able to use him in multiple roles, so it does not diminish the significance of having all those allMAC players. We really did have an all star DB and returner, and had him for all the snaps in both capacities.

The real point here is that this team was loaded big time with tremendous players, most of whom stayed healthy enough to play all year long, and had a ton of other players who have not been recognized as all league, but who are also very talented. I have a feeling that this might be the most talented team that Lester will ever coach. And the season was pretty lousy anyway.

What exactly gives you the idea that this is the most talented team that Lester will ever coach.... Do you not see this year's class? Dude recruits extremely well.

(12-16-2017 04:04 PM)MRBUTTONS Wrote:  

(12-16-2017 01:56 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(12-16-2017 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

Long snappers and punters are very important parts of a football team, even if grossly under appreciated. And you can look at Philips having multiple spots on the allMAC team as if it means we didn't really have thirteen players on the team, but Philips was actually on the field in those spots, and we had the advantage of being able to use him in multiple roles, so it does not diminish the significance of having all those allMAC players. We really did have an all star DB and returner, and had him for all the snaps in both capacities.

The real point here is that this team was loaded big time with tremendous players, most of whom stayed healthy enough to play all year long, and had a ton of other players who have not been recognized as all league, but who are also very talented. I have a feeling that this might be the most talented team that Lester will ever coach. And the season was pretty lousy anyway.

WHAT part of 22 players lost for most of the season don't you understand ? Also this upcoming class is once again the highest rated recruiting class in WMU HISTORY. He'll never have better talent ???

I understand that it is a most likely inaccurate, but very much misleading statistic, which regardless is something that every football team in the country has dealt with every year. The question is never whether you team will have a ton of injuries during the season (this is football, and most players will have multiple injuries throughout the year), but rather how will the coaches and team deal with those situations. If injuries were a problem this year, shame on us for not either being more prepared for the injuries, or handling them better. But blaming injuries for the losses to Akron and CMU is ridiculous to say the least.

I honestly can't remember a year where people here didn't complain about the injuries we had. Every team make the same complaints, because every team has the same injuries.

How bout we stop making excuses for playing poorly and losing games we shouldn't have lost. Particularly when we overwhelmingly had better players than teams we lost to, even considering whatever injuries both teams had? This years team underperformed by a lot. Bad preparation, bad game plans, bad play calls, bad game decisions, etc.

As for our current recruiting prospects, that will be a huge score if Lester can secure a class consistent with how things look currently. Recruiting is an enormous part of the process in college football, and if it turns out that this staff is as great at recruiting as the last staff was I will certainly give Lester all the props he deserves in that department. I have concerns though, as Lester doesn't seem to have that personally, and it is tougher to convince kids they will win here when you couldn't win in a year you were supposed to be one of, if not the best team in the league. But if he secures these kids, then I'll delightfully give him credit for the same.

(12-16-2017 04:12 PM)Bronc33 Wrote:  

(12-16-2017 01:56 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(12-16-2017 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Of those 13 three were Darius Phillips (CB, KR, PR), one was our long snapper and another our punter.

Not sure how closely Phil Steele follows the MAC.

When you say "All-MAC" (or any other conference) that infers First Team. On the official All-MAC first team we had five (including Phillips as DB and KR). Which is pretty good representation.

Long snappers and punters are very important parts of a football team, even if grossly under appreciated. And you can look at Philips having multiple spots on the allMAC team as if it means we didn't really have thirteen players on the team, but Philips was actually on the field in those spots, and we had the advantage of being able to use him in multiple roles, so it does not diminish the significance of having all those allMAC players. We really did have an all star DB and returner, and had him for all the snaps in both capacities.

The real point here is that this team was loaded big time with tremendous players, most of whom stayed healthy enough to play all year long, and had a ton of other players who have not been recognized as all league, but who are also very talented. I have a feeling that this might be the most talented team that Lester will ever coach. And the season was pretty lousy anyway.

What exactly gives you the idea that this is the most talented team that Lester will ever coach.... Do you not see this year's class? Dude recruits extremely well.

See my post above. But, unless you are very new to following college football, you will know that kids who "commit" to a G5 team, don't always really "commit" to that team. Early commitments don't actually count. Signing a letter of intent does. Let's see where we are after signing days are done with.

One thing I do know is that in the three plus years prior to lesters arival we had some of the best recruiting classes in MAC history, and those players were all inherited by Lester; many of whom were developed, experienced and proven players who recieved many preseason honors. This was also full of players who had played on an undefeated regular season, and in the cotton bowl. Until forgetting this year, they all knew how to win in a big way, and played with great passion and aggressiveness. Lester had at his hands a tremendous bunch of talented and experienced players. He did nothing with them.

“The most talented team Lester will ever coach?”

Yeah........A true freshmen QB. A bunch of rookie DBs. A back up RB who was a redshirt WR. Four WRs who were starting their first season. Yeah, I’ll bet he never has that kind of talent again

(12-16-2017 09:47 AM)Wmufan715 Wrote:  But but but... Lester lost the first 2 man team in history to make the Cotton Bowl from last year in Terrell and Davis!

Yeah, no CFB team would be affected by losing a four-year starting QB and All-American WR.

Or 15 season-ending injuries including to the new starting QB.

At least our QB is coming back to school-team next year.

So much of this "Lester stuff" is based upon this year's record. And everyone's assessment of this year's "talent level".

Everyone has their reason as to why WMU won 6 games.

And there are differing opinions about the talent level and depth of the team.

How about using the "eye test".

Questions to consider:

Did the team appear to be well coached?

Were they fundamentally sound?

Were they disciplined?

Were they mentally tough?

Was there maximal effort at all times?

Did the players (individual) get better as the year went on?

Were the players on the sidelines "bought in" at all times?

From a coaching perspective:

Were the game plans sound?

Was the play calling good (on both sides of the ball)?

Were the "halftime" (and intra-game) adjustments good?

Were the strategic decisions (accept or decline the penalty, go for 1 or 2, punt or go for it on 4th down, etc) sound?

And finally

Is TL a LEADER of men (remembering that there are many different personality types) (Tony Dungy/Lenny Wilkins vs Bob Knight vs Bill Parcels)?

IMHO....if the answer to these types of questions is "yes", then this year's record doesn't matter very much.

(12-16-2017 05:01 PM)brovol Wrote:  See my post above. But, unless you are very new to following college football, you will know that kids who "commit" to a G5 team, don't always really "commit" to that team. Early commitments don't actually count. Signing a letter of intent does. Let's see where we are after signing days are done with.

Signed commitments count though! Great job by Lester and the staff! This is the best recruiting class in the history of the MAC and we still have 2 months to improve it!

Did any of the 13 All-Mac players happen to be a QB ???? Just look at the trouble Fleck had this year with no proven QB on his roster....
I don't give a crap about returning talent...Qb's are the most irreplaceable position on a team.....So Wassink goes down and were expecting a true Freshman to bail us out ??
I've never seen a bunch bigger whinners in my life....If this team is 6-6 this coming year, I might join the crowd, but not now...

Lester has his chance to prove if he’s Ron Zook (a recruiting master who couldn’t develop players once they got there) or MAC versions of Dabo/Urban/Saban who get the best talent and make it even better once they get there.

All of us have to be impressed with Lester’s haul and even those of us who have compared him to PJ. PJ never had a class like this according to the recruiting sites.

I still expect a 7-5/6-6 record this upcoming year because the majority of the incoming freshman class won’t be ready to contribute day 1. However Lester has a lot of pressure year 3/4. And he needs to be able stack these type of classes on top of each other. Keep the National ranking each year in top 5 of G5 schools.

(12-20-2017 08:31 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Did any of the 13 All-Mac players happen to be a QB ???? Just look at the trouble Fleck had this year with no proven QB on his roster....
I don't give a crap about returning talent...Qb's are the most irreplaceable position on a team.....So Wassink goes down and were expecting a true Freshman to bail us out ??
I've never seen a bunch bigger whinners in my life....If this team is 6-6 this coming year, I might join the crowd, but not now...

Bingo! We have a winner!

Thought it was all Fleck and his personality that got us top-ranked recruiting classes?

(12-20-2017 08:55 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Thought it was all Fleck and his personality that got us top-ranked recruiting classes?

And I will say to you what you said to us when Fleck was pulling in good classes. Now he has to prove he can coach it.

But great job by the staff, and a great day to be a Bronco! I think all Bronco fans can be happy today.