upgrade the OOC schedule too soon?

I am a believer in to be the best, you have to beat the best. So eventually I would love to see us taking on the OUs and Miamis of college football. But considering how soft our schedule was last year, did we upgrade the schedule too much this year?

Let me know your thoughts!!!

NO ... the fact that we played a tough OOC schedule has nothing to do with this Memphis Fiasco. The last 5 years we've played a relatively weak schedule and had the same results. In a BCS conference you build your program by scheduling easy wins, in a non-bcs conference you build your program by scheduling tough teams.

If by chance you do schedule easy in a non-bcs conference and win, once you lose to a tough team your reputation is forever that of an over-hyped cream puff. But, if you play a tough schedule, your program can earn respect even in defeat.

probably any other year and what you are saying would be true. but this year we have (had) Memphis, USM, TCU, UAB, and Louisville on the schedule. Those are the five best teams in the league. These teams also have the ability to earn national attention. I am not saying do not schedule the big boys. I am saying this year we should only scheduled one big boy. This year we could really use a confidence builder game to shake all of the rust out.

Now if we had La Tech's OOC schedule I would agree with you ... that's just insane

What is their OOC schedule? I can't see it being tougher that 2 top five programs and a rabid cross town rival bent on revenge..

uhmump95 Wrote:What is their OOC schedule?  I can't see it being tougher that 2 top five programs and a rabid cross town rival bent on revenge..

Houston's OOC
Rice - neutral site (rabid crosstown)
#2 Oklahoma- away
#5 Miami - home

Louisiana Tech's OOC
Louisiana-Lafayette - Home ( rabid state rival)
#5 Miami -away
#6 Auburn -away
#8 Tennessee - away

3 top 10's all AWAY ... and a UL team with a chip on their shoulder

I don't remember details off the top of my head, but I think LA Tech had a nasty schedule last year too. I know they got shellacked on national TV one Thursday night in '03 -- I want to say it was at Miami.

The Coogs' schedule is tough, but I don't think it's excessively or needlessly tough. Of course, I'd have rather have had Miami on campus (and it goes without saying that I think the Bucket belongs on the campuses, none of this Reliant BS!) but at least it wasn't at Miami.

I don't think this year's schedule is anything we shouldn't be able to handle. That Southern Miss game... jeez, that one hurt. :frown: So close. The important thing is that the team shouldn't let it get them down (and I don't think Briles will let that happen). The TCU game will tell us a lot, I think.

This can still be a not-terrible season (of course, as an Owl, I am used to looking for the silver lining!) And next year will be even better. There's a lot to be said for confidence-builders; but if Briles keeps 'em working, this schedule could turn out to be a hell of a character-builder.

(NOTE: Take all this for what it's worth, bearing in mind that I am dumb as hell when it comes to football!)

prettyricky Wrote:Houston's OOC
Rice - neutral site (rabid crosstown)
#2 Oklahoma- away
#5 Miami - home

Louisiana Tech's OOC
Louisiana-Lafayette - Home ( rabid state rival)
#5 Miami -away
#6 Auburn -away
#8 Tennessee - away

3 top 10's all AWAY ... and a UL team with a chip on their shoulder

I stand corrected on both accounts.

I do remember thinking when I first saw the schedule that we had a chance to do some damage. I guess I am letting the losses get to me. I just needed to biawtch slapped by my board buddies to make me realize that this schedule although tough is really what we needed to rebuild the program.