if things wind down like they appear to be, the Sunbelt is wide open. I believe that FIU could be above everyone else but not sure how good UNT is. Anyone that belittled the WKU game performance needs to backdown some. Yes, I like every other WKU fan, knows that Jakes is not going to be the answer for us but our D will keep us in most games. A choke is a choke and a loss is still a loss. I have rooted for all the Sunbelt teams today but it just wasn't meant to be. Hoping for better results here on out.

(09-03-2011 05:19 PM)Agtopper Wrote:  if things wind down like they appear to be, the Sunbelt is wide open. I believe that FIU could be above everyone else but not sure how good UNT is. Anyone that belittled the WKU game performance needs to backdown some. Yes, I like every other WKU fan, knows that Jakes is not going to be the answer for us but our D will keep us in most games. A choke is a choke and a loss is still a loss. I have rooted for all the Sunbelt teams today but it just wasn't meant to be. Hoping for better results here on out.

While I agree that WKU's defense is stronger than ever, Jakes may be the only QB in the conference worse than Marcus Newton, so I'd pump the brakes before saying that your D will keep you in most games. I think WKU still takes it on the chin in a few conference games this year.

I don't think FIU is as far ahead as the scores appeared. I think UNT just is off to a slow start.....and that is understandable.

I definitely agree that Jakes is gotta be one of, if not the worst starting qb in our league, but we didn't get blown out much last year with the same starter. I think we definitely have the potential for a .500 season.

All I can say is Geaux Louisiana and PLEASE score over 64 pts between y'all and OK. State!!!!

(09-03-2011 06:41 PM)airtroop Wrote:  All I can say is Geaux Louisiana and PLEASE score over 64 pts between y'all and OK. State!!!!

If the Cajuns can find the endzone twice, you'll definitely hit your over, and maybe even if they don't.

Rough weekend for the conference, I think it gets a bit easier next week. Hopefully we can pull our weight against UL. Go F I U!

I had a feeling the other day that this was going to be the breakout year for the Sun Belt.
'Guess not. Still better than the MAC, WAC and USA, we just don't seem to have the heart top pull off the big one on any regular basis.

(09-03-2011 07:55 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Still better than the MAC, WAC and USA, we just don't seem to have the heart top pull off the big one on any regular basis.

We're the only conference to come out of the first week without an OOC win. Hard to argue that we're better than any other conference.

(09-03-2011 05:22 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  While I agree that WKU's defense is stronger than ever, Jakes may be the only QB in the conference worse than Marcus Newton, so I'd pump the brakes before saying that your D will keep you in most games. I think WKU still takes it on the chin in a few conference games this year.

Jakes has got some work to do that's for sure. But Sunbelt teams have not really blown us out since we joined. Maybe once or twice have Sunbelt teams really blown us out (MTSU two years ago and UNT last year are the only two I can think of).

So are you saying that now that we have upgraded our size depth and talent that NOW Sunbelt teams are going to start blowing us out? And this based on one game against an SEC defense?

Sorry. Just don't buy it.

Ask WKU about how the first couple of Sun Belt years went.

WKU and MT probably should have won their games. Troy's defense was dominating Clemson but Troy never could muster up anything on offense, or at least take at advantage of good situations... kept it close for most of the game. and ASU played well for a little while.

It's the same thing every year with this conference... play BCS teams well, then lose it in the 4th quarter. The SBC should just be renamed the Almost Conference.

(09-03-2011 08:23 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 05:22 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  While I agree that WKU's defense is stronger than ever, Jakes may be the only QB in the conference worse than Marcus Newton, so I'd pump the brakes before saying that your D will keep you in most games. I think WKU still takes it on the chin in a few conference games this year.

Jakes has got some work to do that's for sure. But Sunbelt teams have not really blown us out since we joined. Maybe once or twice have Sunbelt teams really blown us out (MTSU two years ago and UNT last year are the only two I can think of).

So are you saying that now that we have upgraded our size depth and talent that NOW Sunbelt teams are going to start blowing us out? And this based on one game against an SEC defense?

Sorry. Just don't buy it.

I didn't say WKU will still get dominated in a few games, I said "take it on the chin", and in conference I'd consider losing by 17 or more points taking it on the chin.

You had four such losses in 2009 and one in 2010. If Jakes doesn't improve, I'd expect at least one such loss in conference this year.

How do we explain the total defensive collapse in the third and (especially) fourth quarters? Why were the D-backs playing 5 to 10 yards off that one receiver who would catch the left out pass a dozen times? Not in good enough shape? (Looked like it.) No second half adjustments? (That's typical of Troy.) Horrendous, constant penalties. (Troy was the most penalized team in the NCAA last year and is off to a bang of a start in 2011.) Why can't special teams ever be good?

What's common to these issues? Coaching.

The offense will get better as Corey gets used to the new receivers and the running backs get going (lots of promise with them). The O-line will gel.

But will the coaching errors get fixed?

(09-03-2011 08:13 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:55 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Still better than the MAC, WAC and USA, we just don't seem to have the heart top pull off the big one on any regular basis.

We're the only conference to come out of the first week without an OOC win. Hard to argue that we're better than any other conference.

The WAC's last hope is La Tech at Southern Miss, not only that but they got hammered by two MAC teams.

(09-03-2011 10:24 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 08:13 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:55 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Still better than the MAC, WAC and USA, we just don't seem to have the heart top pull off the big one on any regular basis.

We're the only conference to come out of the first week without an OOC win. Hard to argue that we're better than any other conference.

The WAC's last hope is La Tech at Southern Miss, not only that but they got hammered by two MAC teams.

Hawaii may just give the WAC a win. They are up 17-7 on Colorado right now.

(09-03-2011 11:15 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 10:24 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 08:13 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:55 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Still better than the MAC, WAC and USA, we just don't seem to have the heart top pull off the big one on any regular basis.

We're the only conference to come out of the first week without an OOC win. Hard to argue that we're better than any other conference.

The WAC's last hope is La Tech at Southern Miss, not only that but they got hammered by two MAC teams.

Hawaii may just give the WAC a win. They are up 17-7 on Colorado right now.

Yep, but remember Hawaii moves to the MWC next season.

(09-03-2011 11:30 PM)MG61 Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 11:15 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 10:24 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 08:13 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:55 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  Still better than the MAC, WAC and USA, we just don't seem to have the heart top pull off the big one on any regular basis.

We're the only conference to come out of the first week without an OOC win. Hard to argue that we're better than any other conference.

The WAC's last hope is La Tech at Southern Miss, not only that but they got hammered by two MAC teams.

Hawaii may just give the WAC a win. They are up 17-7 on Colorado right now.

Yep, but remember Hawaii moves to the MWC next season.

Would still be a WAC win...

The WAC5 on the other hand...

(09-03-2011 10:19 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  I didn't say WKU will still get dominated in a few games, I said "take it on the chin", and in conference I'd consider losing by 17 or more points taking it on the chin.

You had four such losses in 2009 and one in 2010. If Jakes doesn't improve, I'd expect at least one such loss in conference this year.

You said take it on the chin. You're splitting hairs. By the way... MTSU has lost 3 conference games by more than 17 points in the last two years also. So you guys have taken it on the chin only twice less than WKU.

The only prediction I will make is no team leaves Jonesboro with a WIN this year. Not sure what that means in the overall scheme of things.