CurveItAround

...and did not look comfortable shooting the ball from 10'+ either (or in the ECU game for that matter). After a while, Creighton was not even playing tough D and we were either bricking wide open shots, or not even looking to take them. Coleman will need to be able to work himself into steady minutes and provide a steady inside presence. We seem to have a couple of capable shooters. Hopefully, they will respond in the next few games. Did not expect a win, but I expected Tony to have a few teammates get off the bus with him. Hopefully, this will provide a nice reality check that Benford can use to his advantage.

ArkSt game was his 7th or 8th game in a row of 200yds + passing, for the QB of a run oriented team. ArkSt game DT through for 300yds +. The USA game was definitely subpar. I am not trying to say he has been a superstar, but he's been serviceable. Two of our 4 wins have come in his two worst statistical games (TSU/USA).

The same South Alabama team that ArkSt had trouble with at home (36-29), SEC team Miss St only beat by 20 at home (30-10), that beat FAU (who just beat WKU)? We not only beat an improving USA team today, but also covered the point spread (-9.5). Let's face it, the Belt is pretty competitive from top to bottom and that can make for some ugly games.

Too bad it looks like we will not get to see them the next two years in their current state (assuming the reported schedules are accurate).

Whether or not we get in a bowl is way down my list. First, we would have to win next week (we will not be favored). Second, we would have to win the week after that (we will not be favored). Third, see what happens at that point. But hey, it sure is nice to still be talking about it in mid November for a change! Back to back home winning records. Nice.

Progress = grading our WINS?

Bynes had managed to create a whole 6" of separation from the defender. DT threaded a needle to get it to Bynes and before he tucked it away, the defeneder took it away from Bynes. DT sucked plenty today, but I would put most of that INT on Bynes. It isn't like the pass was bad or thrown directly to the defender. Of course, DT could just throw it away when the receivers don't get themselves open, but that generates a different set of complaints.

I was hoping to try to get a chance to go to the UH homecoming game, but went to the UNT game instead and haven't had a chance to check scores. How did the coogs do today?

Yep, that is my understanding also. We do currently have an open date in 2014 so you never know...

So you are saying they were crippled and had short hands? Our recruiting has significantly improved since then.

It's almost as if Creighton knew to stack the box to keep us from dunking and made us try to be them deep. Is Coach Benford's gameplan too conservative and predictable? Oh wait, which sport are we talking about again?

Slow (for small forward at next level), biggish, white guy that can't elevate and will struggle to create his own shot off the dribble against top defenders? There have been many that came before him with similar skills. He cannot play down low at the next level, but hey, great college player and has a great stroke. Can't take that away from him. I hope he goes in the first round and gets some guaranteed money. I have nothing against the guy and hope he proves me wrong.

We do have players that can shoot the ball (and make it) from beyond 5 feet, not named Tony Mitchell, right? Hopefully, just an off night.

Fair enough. It seems to me there is plenty of dislike on our side towards them. Maybe one day they can develop an intense dislike for us too. SMU/TCU Louisville/Kentucky South Carolina/Clemson Florida/Florida St Texas/OU (pre Big XII-II) Many, many more, but off the top of my head these are a few rivalries that do not/did not involve conferenc foes (although some were once or are now) I think you just start out scheduling a series and hope that eventually some bad blood develops. Of course, we will have to start being more competitive than we have in the past. I can already tell that it won't take long for me to dislike LaTech and their arrogant messageboard fans, so we got that working for us.

...A rivalry is based on geography, a competition for the same goals, and history... Just for grins, which of your three required components do you feel we don't satisfy with SMU?

The way CUSA has operated in the past is that teams play the same crossover oppenents in back to back years in a home/home, but I guess there is no guarantee they would continue this. ODU cannot officially join the football conference until 2015 so the conference schedules should not be impacted. ODU will play as an FCS independent in 2013 and as an FBS independent in 2014, although they have asked for some help from CUSA with some games there is no guarantee that they will get games. North Texas is a potential opponent because we have an open date on our calendar in 2014. If any CUSA teams play ODU in 2013, it will count as an FCS game. If anyone plays them in 2014 it will count as an FBS game (but OOC for CUSA teams). It would certainly help our schedule out if we are able to get ODU to play at Apogee in 2014, but it would probably cost us a lot more to pay them to come to Denton than a local FCS team, unless they are willing to play an away game for cheap.

It's not that uncommon to have a rival that is not in the same conference so it could work. SMU would be at the top of the list for me too in terms of who I would rather see us beat. All time records against teams listed: SMU ------- 4-28-1 UTSA ------ 0-0 UTEP ------ 13-5-3 LaTech ---- 5-6 Rice -------- 1-2 Tulane ----- 0-0 Tulsa --------6-17 Add'l TX schools TxSt --------28-6-3 UH ----------7-7 TTech ------4-4 TCU --------2-16 Texas ------0-9 Tx A&M ----0-7

Regional rivalries develop because the fans of the teams work together, know each other, etc... It would be nice to develop an in state OOC rival in addition to conference foes with teams that have alumni in the area. Hopefully the upcoming series with smoo can turn into something long term. The other usual suspects would also work (UH, TT, BU, TCU, TxSt). I am not sure how far the Tulsa, LaTech, Tulane rivalries will grow even if they are in conference. We have had ArkSt, ULM and ULL on the schedule for a while now and nothing really significant developed. The 3 new teams are probably better known, but I am not sure how many alumni are in the area. Two of them are small private schools that don't have a ton of alumni to begin with and LaTech can't have a ton of alumni around DFW (but maybe more than the other two). As discussed many times before, a rivalry with TxSt could easily be renewed (they are the team UNT has played most in our history), but there seems to be some hesitency on our part, their part, or both. It may be that we (and others) want to try to freeze them out of additional in state games since they are about to experience what we just went through for the last decade (being the outlier in a conference with no instate conference mates for football). Either way, between our expected conference schedule, plus OOC games already on the schedule, the next several years look great.

and if we buy a game with an FCS school, we could be looking at 1 more in state game that year. Wow.

Like I said, a lot hinges on Terrell stepping up on one side so that we only have to find one from Schrapps, Lancaster, Smith, Pleasant, Sampson, plus recruits to play opposite Terrell. I think we are reasonably deep at the slot. If we are not going to have burners on the outside, I like the idea of them at least being big and being able to be physical with the DB's. Of course big AND fast is preferable.

Smoo played Memphis last season and one of the posters said that latech would take Memphis' schedule, and that this year was the end of the two year crossover rotation, meaning we (smoo's schedule) would not play latech (I.e.Memphis). Confused yet? Edit: following additional logic, we should have smoo's 2009 conference schedule (substitute UTSA for Houston) http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-09/conf-usa/2009-smu-mustangs-football-schedule.php

Using the logic they are presenting, that we will take over smoo's schedule, we will play Vs Idaho @ Ohio Vs Ball State @ Georgia Vs UTEP Vs Tulane Vs Rice Vs ECU @ UTSA @ Tulsa @ UAB @ Marshall Edited to include OOC schedule

Woah. I thought I accidentally typed in organgebloods.com All this talk about wishbones is making me hungry. And nice to see a shout out to Barry Horn.

It remains to be seen, but I think the receiving corp is in pretty decent shape for next season. Some of our potential will depend on whether or not Terrell is capable of stepping in and providing an upgrade over an already solid Delgado. Schrapps and Lancaster seem to the speed to provide a deep threat to go along with Smith, Pleasant, and Sampson on the other side, and things are actually getting crowded at the slot. Schrapps and Lancaster going down early left a big question mark about what we actually have, but the depth seems to have irmproved so there should be some good battles come spring. And we still don't know for sure what this year's signing class will look like.

I trust Mac's assessment on that, but hopefully that was just coach speak because they were so thin at OL. Either way, he is a good looking player that I hope figures out a way to contribute.