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So, what are you expecting? Or want to see?

I think this team could win a lot of games if the offensive line has a great offseason. But I think it's going to be a lot like the 2012 season: we had a good defense, we could run the ball, but we just didn't have enough great options to throw the ball and take control of games.

Cubit went 4-8 in 2012, but we easily could have gone 7-5 with a win over the Goofers. He ran out of gas.

Obviously, Taylor is going to be full of gas. But we're going to at least need a promising Jamie Wilson-type freshman, and some solid guys who can net 500 receiving yards. We also don't have a Dareyon Chance or Brian Fields or Antoin Scriven or even a Tevin Drake that we know of yet on the roster. But halfbacks are easier to mature.

And Bourguet and Salopek have yet to have an entire season under their belts, and neither has had games yet like Alex Carder and TVT had at that point in 2012.

What we all want to see is a team that wins big games and controls big moments—to do what Lester could not—but I don't know if we'll get to even have the opportunity for them to do that next season.

So, I guess at this point I would be pleased with 5 wins, and very happy with an outside chance at a bowl game. But if the offensive line doesn't progress, I could see a 2-10 season as well.

At the base level I want to see smart, disciplined football. No more terrible personal fouls. Smart game management from Taylor. A team that comes out with energy and never quits. No complacency.

As far as wins/losses, it's a crapshoot at this point especially considering how the transfer portal has changed things. We'll see how aggressive and savvy Taylor is with the portal. We NEED bodies at WR, TE, RB, DL, just about everywhere. Just look at the roster, it's very light right now. Let's go get some playmakers at the skill positions and maybe some grizzled veterans in the trenches.

I dunno what our expectations should be in year 1. Cubit had a great first year, but never got over the hump in his tenure. Fleck's first season was terrible and we all saw how that turned out. Lester inherited a team with a great deal of NFL talent and led them to a very pedestrian season. Year 1 is a big shrug, but there may be more expectations now with the ability to immediately bring in talent from the portal.

Anyway, I'm more concerned with how he builds the team and program and sets the foundation for success than with pure wins and losses. HOW he coaches is going to be more important than the wins.

Kinda the same thing I'm hoping to see with our basketball program under a new coaching staff: Progress as the season progresses and signs of promise for Year 2.

Just guessing here, but we've got to be among the youngest 2 or 3 squads in the MAC heading into next season.

(12-20-2022 02:31 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Kinda the same thing I'm hoping to see with our basketball program under a new coaching staff: Progress as the season progresses and signs of promise for Year 2.

Just guessing here, but we've got to be among the youngest 2 or 3 squads in the MAC heading into next season.

Regarding the youth point, I counted right around the time of the last game and I think we had a total of 57 freshmen/redshirt freshmen on the squad at that time. Likely plenty of changes have already occurred (Hawk in the portal I think I read?) and more to come before next year but that number struck as a pretty high number. Could be off by a couple but still a significant number.

Not terribly concerned about the W/L. Will be watching for improvement through the year and things like discipline as mentioned, and maybe most of all recruiting.

(12-20-2022 03:01 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Not terribly concerned about the W/L. Will be watching for improvement through the year and things like discipline as mentioned, and maybe most of all recruiting.

I'm the same. W/L record is likely to be pretty bad. I just want to see them going in the right direction the 2nd half of the season & some future contributors emerging.

The MAC is an atrocious football conference. Dan has made it clear the expectation is to compete for MAC titles.

(12-20-2022 04:11 PM)Doo Wrote:  The MAC is an atrocious football conference. Dan has made it clear the expectation is to compete for MAC titles.

Yes, but that's no ones expectation in year 1, except apparently yourself.

I have no expectations for year 1. I think we learned from PJ's first year that there's no shame or problem in getting boat raced for 12 weeks if that's what transpires.

Clearly we are not in rebuild mode if we are keeping half the staff.

My only expectation for next season is to beat Central.

(12-20-2022 05:22 PM)WesternDave Wrote:  My only expectation for next season is to beat Central.

Can't be losing to eastern every season either.

(12-20-2022 05:36 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  

(12-20-2022 05:22 PM)WesternDave Wrote:  My only expectation for next season is to beat Central.

Can't be losing to eastern every season either.

I'm making reasonable expectations.

With a new HC, mostly new staff, and the chaos caused by the portal, it's almost impossible to set expectations for next season.

Everyone has portal chaos. That is not an excuse that anyone in any fans base should be allowed to use (except maybe Jackson St). It’s your job as a staff to manage that new reality of college athletics just as you are expected to manage the free for all that is high school recruiting.

Just beat freakin Eastern is my only expectation

I hold no illusions or on the field expectations for Coach Taylor’s first season. Would love, however, to see us dominate the MAC in recruiting.

Well, expect us....

OOC (1-3):
- W St Francis (FCS)
- L @Syracuse
- L @Iowa
- L @Mississipi State

MAC WEST (2-3):
- BSU (55%)
- @EMU (30%)
- @NIU (35%)
- CMU (50%)
- @Toledo (25%)

MAC EAST (1-2/2-1): Depends who we play. We'll have 2 at home, 1 on the road though.

Essentially, IMO, we should expect to go 4-8 or 5-7 due to it being his first year.

Someone will post a Fire Taylor thread at some point. It will most likely be from a lonely basement

Absolute. No expectations first year.

Just build your staff… your expectations and get buy in.

Following year is where recruiting and Portal experience will be huge.

Year Two …. Just be dangerous. Don’t be fun to play against and leave bruises.

Year three …. Be in the running for the MAC west. Maybe a chance at the MACC game.

Year four …. You better be the new leader of the MAC west…. The shoe in…. The expected player in the MACC game.

3-4 years to compete for MAC titles?!?! That’s just old school thinking/mentality. With the portal, teams should be able to turn things around and compete immediately. Especially in garbage conferences like the MAC. It doesn’t take much.

PS - I hate the portal and everything associated to it, but it’s the new reality now.