wardly

There is a reason we are ranked preseason between UTEP and UTSA in CUSA/West,and in the bottom 10% in the nation and it's not because of below average QB play or just average O line play.It's because we are a bad TEAM .Orr and Lemon may be stars for the Eagles,but didn't even make 2nd team all conference..I see little difference in the 2a, 3a& 4a kids coach Mac is bringing in than those recruited by coach Dickey.And if Thompson is so bad,how come we have no one who can take away his starters role ? .Mac is in his 3rd year, and we are hoping for 4 to 6 wins. I have been following Eagle football since 61', and while we are certainly better than when coach Dodge was losing games,we are not nearly as good as when coach Dickey was winning them.Bottom line: are we as good a TEAM as we were when we won 4 Sun Belt championships in a row,because that is my gold standard.

Lack Of Friging Talent

I guess you are right. Any team ranked in the bottom 10% of 1a teams in the nation must have a great O line. That's why we rank so high in rushing.If you can't run, you can't pass.By the by,when both 1a and 1aa rankings are combined,we will wind up somewhere between 150th and 175th.Without a winning season in 10 years, we have become the New Mexico State of Texas. In golf, it's called L.O.F.T., as noted by the number of Eagles picked preseason all conference,none.

I think you can make up for "some" lack of talent with pure guts.Riley Dodge was not the most talented QB we have ever had,but had more guts that any Eagle that I can recall. Thompson is,in my opinion, an average QB who for the 1st time in his career is healthy and has a decent O line. In addition,he appears to be the "pick of the litter ",so how about some support for our starting QB.

In order for us to have a true rival,such as La. Tech.,we are going to have to travel as well as Houston does.[note tongue in cheek]

my bad

Didn't he make 2nd team all district at a 2a school?

Proves that you must have a good QB to win, but just because you have a good QB doesn't mean you will win.Thompson is,in my opinion, a good QB,not an exceptional one, who has a lot of heart.

I was looking at it as a mini Texas/OU game, which as you know is played in Dallas, but because of the Sooner's following is basically at a neutral site .Looking at La. Tech's average attendance I don't think many fans from Shreveport make the drive to Ruston..We just need an annual game that as fans we plan our season around. Shreveport is a fun destination city with excellent entertainment.However,R.V. agrees with you, so its not going to happen.Just a thought.

I still don't know who it would be. The UTEP/NMSU game is big in El Paso area,and UTSA/TSU should become a good one as well. I would like to see us play La. Tech. in Shreveport every year,but that's not going to happen.

When D.D. was coach we seemed to recruit "the best of the rest". I don't think we are even at that level of recruiting now,but could be wrong. We must throw a wider net,which increases the cost to do business.

UTSA has good rival in Texas State,UTEP has New Mexico State. I was hopeing we could finally establish one with Tulsa, but that door has closed,and I see no other real opportunity.

They picked them 6th of 12 1A football programs in state,ahead of SMU and Houston.We were picked 9th, ahead of UTEP,UTSA, and Texas St.

I could have sworn that I saw So.Miss. wear such a helment in the past few seasons.

The "Big 5" will and should split off at some point to create a Tier 1 Division.The MWC,CUSA,MAC,ACC,and Sun Belt would remain as a Tier 2 Division, and existing 1aa conference would comprise Tier 3. Think of high school football.[5A,4A,3A,2A,and 1A]

The SPUDS are in Big Sky for all other sports, while the Aggies stayed in WAC except for football.

plus1

Southern Mississippi announced the firing of A.D. Jeff Hammond. My bet is that they make a strong run at R.V.

I assume you are refering to our new conference,not our team.

Its like scheduling a 1AA program such as Stephen F. Austin for a "W" and ending up with an "L".

If we lose to Idaho,the season is over before it begins.

I have been staying at Marie Antonites in the Quarter since 1971. Small 4 star hotel,with excellent reatraunt.Acme Oyster Bar is tough to beat for beer and oysters.

Big difference between Denton and San Antonio. Also,my son is UAB graduate, and according to him both the Blazers and So. Miss. are not happy about going west. Problem is that there are no large cities in west for expansion,so a move to 16 schools would probably add two more east coast probgrams.

Even so,the exposure has to help recruiting.

Not much difference in talent regarding the bottom numbers, 4 thru 7.