Greendylan

If you're going to mathematically analyze the situation you may need to make allowances for situations such as Ball State that has a new coach only because the previous one was so successful that he had better offers. That is quite different from a school that fires a coach and hopes for more from someone new.

Well, hopefully he won't get the field goal blocked after the two consecutive timeouts.

Ok, that makes sense. So, in a lot of ways he would be far more affordable than Bower?

Just out of curiosity, why do a lot of you believe we could afford either of these two? Don't get me wrong, I certainly hope you're right, and I would consider either of them to be amazing opportunities. I just don't see how we will now be able to afford several times the amount we were ever able to pay a coach in the past--all while collecting stadium funds.

This is just painful. I don't know if I can even listen to the rest of this.

We've turned it over at least four times?! Wait, is the football team playing?

Here's what I don't understand: Why don't we "have the horses"? For several years now, we've all seen the defensive line just get manhandled by everyone. However, it's not like ULM is recruiting all four and five star players on their line. Someone please help me figure out how year after year we have what appears to be vastly inferior talent on defense--even when compared to other SBC teams (who don't all have higher rated recruiting classes).

Despite the supposed difference in conference strength, TCU has beaten more currently ranked teams than UT. Also, speaking of conferences, Colorado State is 0-6 and tied for last place in MWC play, yet they beat Colorado...on the road. Maybe it's UT that couldn't survive a schedule against BYU, Utah, Air Force, and the like. Ha!...just something to think about.

Not to bash the athletic department, because I'm sure they have good reasons for everything they do/don't do, but it seemed like back when I was in school (early 00s) that all things athletic were a secret, smoky backroom, word-of-mouth promotion amongst only a select few. I do think things have improved in the last several years. However, the exhibition between Wichita State and Newman drew 10,228 (in fairness they are cross-town schools), and I would be amazed if we had 2,000 against Newman tonight. I mean no disrespect to Wichita State, a quality program, but it seems like the visibility of athletics on our campus is in serious doubt if we are desperately striving to accomplish one fifth of what Wichita State can do--at what is currently our best and most consistent sport.

Bingo!

Believe me, I can certainly see your point, and it is frustrating. However, the reality of the situation in which we currently find ourselves may dictate some less than lofty goals. Now, how we placed ourselves in this situation is another discussion entirely.

There is really no excuse to lose at home to WKU. However, even with a victory, I would think one or two more wins and no blowout losses would be necessary the rest of this season.

I actually thought Tune performed quite well, given the situation. He was clearly not the problem.

In some ways, I'm more concerned about who will breakthrough as a great role player off the bench. I feel like the starting lineup is outstanding, but the depth is a little weaker than last year--especially now with Hogans out.

Break-out performance: Todd Ford.

Does anyone happen to know if any Fort Worth locations will be showing the game? I can call around, but if someone's already done so, I would appreciate the info.

Yes

Sounds good. Thanks for the info!

Does anyone know if the Fox and Hound in Fort Worth will actually have the sound on for the game? I can't make it to Denton in time, but I'm worried that other locations will simply have the game on one tiny screen in a corner somewhere, which will be promptly switched off if only a handful of UNT supporters are present.

I consider wins over any conference opponents within the realm of possibility, but I have to say that we don't seem to match up well with MTSU at all. I think the closest we've come in the last three years is 20 points. Even though ASU may be one of the two most talented teams in the Sun Belt, that game seems more winnable simply because we've played them very close the last two years.

If the team is at least respectable this year, then this might be a very realistic prediction for 2010.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like teams rarely improve by more than three games from one season to the next. However, I can think of a few exceptions: Ball State 07-08 (7 to 12), Alabama 07-08 (7 to 12), FIU 07-08 (1 to 5), and TCU 04-05 (5 to 11). I'm sure there are several more examples, but this is all I could think of at the moment. So, it's hard for me to predict more than 4 wins, but 6 is not impossible.

This is what confuses me. That was an eight win Navy team with wins against programs such as Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Air Force. They did give up a lot of points that season, but their next highest amount surrendered after 62 was 45 in a 2OT game against Pitt. It's easy to write off the game as a fluke, but it wasn't like the opponent was some FCS scrub. They were a legitimate bowl team with some impressive road wins. One has to admit that the Dodge offense worked that day (I'm ignoring the defense for purposes of this discussion). Why was it able to work so effectively on one occasion and then sputter against substantially worse opponents? Does anyone else think that a lack of confidence from either the players, coaches, or both could be partially to blame for some of the less impressive offensive performances? I don't know the answer, but there has to be a reason why the offense clicked that day.

Just to shift the perspective a bit, here's another angle on areas of improvement: If this season's defense improves to a point where it matches the median 2008 FBS scoring defense, then it will surrender about 25 points per game. That would have meant that we had finished last season at 4-8. So, as we all know, defense is the glaring problem, but there's certainly room for improvement on offense as well. Regarding the offense, here are my reasons for optimism: We will possibly have a Rivals three star recruit at QB, RB, and WR. Furthermore, as previously noted, the offensive line will be one of the most experienced in the nation. I realize I'm completely negating important factors such as classification for QB, RB, and WR, and yes, the rating for the QB was as an athlete. Regardless, I expect to at least see flashes of brilliance out of the offense this season. They may not be consistent, but their talent should at least show.