Rising Expectations

[Mean Green Matt]

Look at in one year how high the expectations have been raised, which is a great thing. I would assume that if most of our fan base had been told that after 11 games, with any combination of wins and losses that we would be 7-4, most would be ecstatic. Yet, it is hard not to be extremely disappointed with where we aren't.. We should be playing for a division title next week, but bad losses happen. At the very least, this season has raised the expectation level, and hopefully the bar will stay high.

[meangreener]

Look at in one year how high the expectations have been raised, which is a great thing. I would assume that if most of our fan base had been told that after 11 games, with any combination of wins and losses that we would be 7-4, most would be ecstatic. Yet, it is hard not to be extremely disappointed with where we aren't.. We should be playing for a division title next week, but bad losses happen. At the very least, this season has raised the expectation level, and hopefully the bar will stay high.

I know!

I'm so ecstatic for this season. We should be playing for the championship. The UTSA loss hurts. But it is what it is. This is just a precursor to better times ahead for the Mean Green. I don't see this team dropping off any time soon. It's a good time to be green.

[SSP]

Good post. Exactly what the doctor ordered, especially since I just watched Beyond the Green vs UTEP. "1st in the conference baby, don't you forget " ..... *tear*

[Green Mean]

I think the core fan base has always had high expectations even when this program was the worst in the nation. I just hope the expectations continue to rise from the people that matter a lot and have a lot of say and influence of what goes on in athletics land and that is the school president, administration, and all other parties involved in that level.

[Mean Green Matt]

Good post. Exactly what the doctor ordered, especially since I just watched Beyond the Green vs UTEP. "1st in the conference baby, don't you forget " ..... *tear*

That is on my DVR but I can't bring myself to watch it quite yet.

[PlummMeanGreen]

The 'Nation has taken to winning quite admirably. This grumpy ol' alum who won't be completely fulfilled until the Apogee Experiences means sellout after sellout and a bad attendance (rain or snow) game would be 26K--yet I still love seeing this excitement among those who've not seen it in MG Country.

UTSA---just "ONE" more time? If anyone would have watched their game or some video of their game against a Top 10 ranked Okla.State (who just slaughtered Baylor); well, even a novice college football fan would have probably made the comment that that team from San Antone' would give us a run for the money (so to speak) and they did.

We are on the right road with the right HFC, folks, but please---no detours will be allowed!

Right HFC? Think about how you felt and how you posted after we beat Rice U and then after we hit win #7 and don't gravitate from that feeling. Just sayin'...

GMG!

Edited November 26, 2013 by PlummMeanGreen

[BillySee58]

Good post. Exactly what the doctor ordered, especially since I just watched Beyond the Green vs UTEP. "1st in the conference baby, don't you forget " ..... *tear*

Exactly. Don't forget to think about it from the players' perspectives too.

If you told Coach Mac before the season, or these seniors who've been through 3 or 4 losing seasons here, would they take a 7-4 start, would they say yes just like all of us would? Probably. But they felt the division lead and chance at a conference championship slip away first hand. So of course they're pissed too.

They worked hard and weren't just settling once they hit 6. They wanted more and worked their tails off for it. But they have for sure earned everything they've accomplished and that is definitely something to be proud of.

[cogido]

The fun's not over yet boys, a win over Tulsa and a bowl win to boot !

[GrayEagle]

I think that most everyone has been happy with this season. The team has been praised for their wins and criticized to some extent for losses. Mostly though, the losses were just disappointment at what could have been.

I don't believe that the problem last week was losing to UTSA. To me, it was coming out (and staying) flat with so much at stake. Even worse, we had two weeks to prepare. The disappointment is mostly aimed at the coaching staff. It's their job to prepare the team with a game plan and see that it is executed to the best of the player's ability. UTSA did that. UNT did not.

We cannot be West Division champions or play for the conference championship and that's disappointing. There is no do-over. We can still beat Tulsa and win a bowl game. That would make it a great season. Even if we lose both, at 7-6 we would still have a winning season. Certainly acceptable but you have to feel a little sad for the seniors especially, who might have won a conference championship,

[outoftown]

Yes people not being eniterly happy with 7-4 is rising expectations and a sign of progress.

The general meltdown after the UTSA game on the other hand I am not so sure.

The UTSA game is the only game where some people before the season said that they don't care what the record would be, this was a must win game. And it was. This defeat will haunt the program for some time.

[Mean Green Matt]

Yes people not being eniterly happy with 7-4 is rising expectations and a sign of progress.

The general meltdown after the UTSA game on the other hand I am not so sure.

The UTSA game is the only game where some people before the season said that they don't care what the record would be, this was a must win game. And it was. This defeat will haunt the program for some time.

It was definitely a kick to the nuts, but I'm not buying a significant amount of long term ramifications. It's not going to hurt our recruiting directly. That's not how kids make their decisions. Us breaking our streak of losing seasons is the most important thing. Hopefully we take a big crowd to San Antonio next year because without soza it will be a fun time.

[houstonmeangreen]

Yes people not being eniterly happy with 7-4 is rising expectations and a sign of progress.

The general meltdown after the UTSA game on the other hand I am not so sure.

The UTSA game is the only game where some people before the season said that they don't care what the record would be, this was a must win game. And it was. This defeat will haunt the program for some time.

So why is this a must win game?.....because it tells us what kinda of coach we have....We have played some bad teams this year...idaho...Southern Miss, UTEP and we have lost a couple of games that could have been won with good coacing IMO...Tulane and yes,,UTSA. You have Larry Coker take a non existant program , without facilities, no hx, and not near the funding and in 3 years he is beating us. with our x Iowa State coach (whatever that means) and a new stadium in a great location and funding....so the reason it was a must win was because it is a benchmark of where this program really is....and this leaves big questions....Well we also beat Ball State and Rice..both pretty good., but IMO we should have had 2 more wins at this time.

[VideoEagle]

We are in year three of a major rebuilding program. Year three was supposed to be "compete for a bowl game." Year four is "compete for a conference title." FIrst note the word "compete," then notice we are on schedule.

This time last year there was a study of coaching changes that I've linked here. Coaches who come into poorly performing teams rarely get better for several years. The article from the NYTimes of Nov 28, 2012, was titled "firing a coach, at a price, with little evidence the move pays off" referenced the study. Yes, you can sometimes get a coach who will win faster, just as you can sometimes draw to an inside straight or win the Lotto. Basic math will tell you not to expect that result often.

[Cerebus]

I don't believe that the problem last week was losing to UTSA. To me, it was coming out (and staying) flat with so much at stake. Even worse, we had two weeks to prepare.

This is exactly right.

To me the defense especially seemed very, very flat. UTSA came out and ran that short WR screen over and over and over. You know who else did that? Rice.

The difference was during the rice game the defenders blew up or avoided the WR block and made the tackle. That didn't happen against UTSA.

Everyone seemed pensive, waiting for the play to happen or the ball to come to them, instead of attacking, on both sides of the ball.