(07-28-2014 05:05 PM)EddieThePirate Wrote:  Marshall will be a victim of their own schedule. And they should serve as a lesson to any team in the AAC, MWC, CUSA, MAC and SunBelt. OOC scheduling will be crucial. They only play four good teams (Rice, MTSU, FAU and WKU) in conference. Their OOC games have one team that might go to a bowl game (Ohio).

The lesson? If you want a shot at the brass ring...Miami (OH), Rhode Island, Ohio and Akron are not going to deliver that for you.

They could very well go 13-0...they still won't make the access bowl. With that said, if any of the new teams have never seen Cato play, he's outstanding. Top-self talent....

Baylor's ooc schedule was just as bad last year.... Moreover, Baylor only played three good schools last year: OSU (was blown out), OU (lost to Texas), and UCF (lost). Texas was not good last year, and the rest of the B12 was worse than the Long Horns. Consequently, Marshall has a slim chance, but it must blowout every school on its schedule and hope the AAC (should happen), MWC (could happen), and MAC champs have multiple losses....

As should always, always be noted about Rhode Island: Louisville was scheduled to come to Marshall this year, but asked their trip be moved back a couple of years. They chose to keep a game at FIU this year rather than their scheduled trip to Huntington.

Frankly, it goes back to Marshall winning at Louisville in 2011... with a group of freshmen playing offense (Cato outplayed Bridgewater, just like he always did in HS).

Louisville saw the writing on the wall and dipped out at almost the last minute. There was no one else available on such short notice for a sixth home game.

Basically, an ACC team refused to honor its end of a home and home this year. Go figure. Blame them for Rhode Island.

(07-23-2014 01:54 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  If Conference USA was undefeated in OOC, and all the East teams were bowl eligible and then Rice, USM were bowl eligible and Marshall went undefeated with an average winning margin of 30 points and all P5 were not undefeated. We still wouldn't get CONSIDERATION.

You sir. Are an idiot.

(08-02-2014 02:07 PM)Underdog Wrote:  

(07-28-2014 05:05 PM)EddieThePirate Wrote:  Marshall will be a victim of their own schedule. And they should serve as a lesson to any team in the AAC, MWC, CUSA, MAC and SunBelt. OOC scheduling will be crucial. They only play four good teams (Rice, MTSU, FAU and WKU) in conference. Their OOC games have one team that might go to a bowl game (Ohio).

The lesson? If you want a shot at the brass ring...Miami (OH), Rhode Island, Ohio and Akron are not going to deliver that for you.

They could very well go 13-0...they still won't make the access bowl. With that said, if any of the new teams have never seen Cato play, he's outstanding. Top-self talent....

Baylor's ooc schedule was just as bad last year.... Moreover, Baylor only played three good schools last year: OSU (was blown out), OU (lost to Texas), and UCF (lost). Texas was not good last year, and the rest of the B12 was worse than the Long Horns. Consequently, Marshall has a slim chance, but it must blowout every school on its schedule and hope the AAC (should happen), MWC (could happen), and MAC champs have multiple losses....

We have no worries for the MAC. We have a slight worry about ucf if they are also undefeated (only ucf ranked higher than MU in coaches poll), but ucf lost bortles and defense can win games. But not all of them. They lose at least 2.

Marshall controls its own destiny. Going undefeated is a rare and powerful accomplishment that will land us in the access bowl if its done. Period. End of story.

Will that happen? I doubt a coach that is 8-18 in 4 years on the road, with better talent in almost every game, is going to put up a 6-0 record in a single season. Its not the players, but the preparation, or lack there of, that will bite this team. Talent alone at this level is not enough for greatness.

Case and point, OU and MTSU last season (rice arguably as well). Neither of those teams were even in the same division, talent wise,yet we handed them games. 1 cost us a home game in the championship, and the title to boot. We will see how I turns out.

(08-04-2014 12:55 AM)goherd24herdfans Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 01:54 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  If Conference USA was undefeated in OOC, and all the East teams were bowl eligible and then Rice, USM were bowl eligible and Marshall went undefeated with an average winning margin of 30 points and all P5 were not undefeated. We still wouldn't get CONSIDERATION.

You sir. Are an idiot.

Ok? What's your deal? I'm just saying no chance we get in the playoff

(08-02-2014 02:07 PM)Underdog Wrote:  

(07-28-2014 05:05 PM)EddieThePirate Wrote:  Marshall will be a victim of their own schedule. And they should serve as a lesson to any team in the AAC, MWC, CUSA, MAC and SunBelt. OOC scheduling will be crucial. They only play four good teams (Rice, MTSU, FAU and WKU) in conference. Their OOC games have one team that might go to a bowl game (Ohio).

The lesson? If you want a shot at the brass ring...Miami (OH), Rhode Island, Ohio and Akron are not going to deliver that for you.

They could very well go 13-0...they still won't make the access bowl. With that said, if any of the new teams have never seen Cato play, he's outstanding. Top-self talent....

Baylor's ooc schedule was just as bad last year.... Moreover, Baylor only played three good schools last year: OSU (was blown out), OU (lost to Texas), and UCF (lost). Texas was not good last year, and the rest of the B12 was worse than the Long Horns. Consequently, Marshall has a slim chance, but it must blowout every school on its schedule and hope the AAC (should happen), MWC (could happen), and MAC champs have multiple losses....

This thread has completely lost all common sense once you start comparing Baylor's Big 12 schedule with Marshall's. Seriously, beyond ridiculous!

(07-23-2014 08:33 AM)JDTulane Wrote:  I don't think Marshall's SOS is worthy of the bid sorry. I think they'd deserve an outstanding bowl slot but not the bid. Maybe if Marshall had won CUSA last year I'd of reconsidered.

Amazing you already know the SOS yet a single down of football hasn't been played. I'm hoping you use your powers for good over evil.

I'm not sure they'll go undefeated and even if they do -- I think a G5 with one loss and a tougher schedule could be just as worthy of the access spot!

8-12 months ago marshall should have adjusted their ooc to include at least 1 tough OOC game especially knowing an access spot is on the line. Marshall needs to throttle all the teams on their schedule. If Marshall losses 1 game don't see a way into the access spot. Going undefeated will get a serious conversation though.

So we have a weak schedule, and might not get the Go5 spot even if we're undefeated. I hadn't heard that yet.

Not even once in the last 8 months.

(08-05-2014 08:14 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  8-12 months ago marshall should have adjusted their ooc to include at least 1 tough OOC game especially knowing an access spot is on the line. Marshall needs to throttle all the teams on their schedule. If Marshall losses 1 game don't see a way into the access spot. Going undefeated will get a serious conversation though.

12 months ago we had a probable top 15 Louisville team coming to Huntington. What worthwhile team could we have gotten to replace them while preserving our 6 home games?

The biggest problem with college football scheduling is that it is done 3 to 10 years down the road with some short term deals primarily with FCS teams.

When I read this thread, I feel like I'm on the AAC board.

The cartel has manipulated us into fighting over table scraps and it's disgusting. If there are two undefeated G5 schools at the end of the year, BOTH should get into major bowls. There are 6 at-large spots available and there's no reason we should be limited to one of them except for corruption in the selection process.

(08-04-2014 01:54 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(08-02-2014 02:07 PM)Underdog Wrote:  

(07-28-2014 05:05 PM)EddieThePirate Wrote:  Marshall will be a victim of their own schedule. And they should serve as a lesson to any team in the AAC, MWC, CUSA, MAC and SunBelt. OOC scheduling will be crucial. They only play four good teams (Rice, MTSU, FAU and WKU) in conference. Their OOC games have one team that might go to a bowl game (Ohio).

The lesson? If you want a shot at the brass ring...Miami (OH), Rhode Island, Ohio and Akron are not going to deliver that for you.

They could very well go 13-0...they still won't make the access bowl. With that said, if any of the new teams have never seen Cato play, he's outstanding. Top-self talent....

Baylor's ooc schedule was just as bad last year.... Moreover, Baylor only played three good schools last year: OSU (was blown out), OU (lost to Texas), and UCF (lost). Texas was not good last year, and the rest of the B12 was worse than the Long Horns. Consequently, Marshall has a slim chance, but it must blowout every school on its schedule and hope the AAC (should happen), MWC (could happen), and MAC champs have multiple losses....

This thread has completely lost all common sense once you start comparing Baylor's Big 12 schedule with Marshall's. Seriously, beyond ridiculous!

Please disprove the fact that Baylor's ooc schedule last year is just as bad as Marshall's.... Moreover, name more than three good schools that Baylor played last year. I can't help it if you think the B12 is all that. The bottom half of the B12 would struggle in CUSA. I'll be waiting for your response.......

Btw... I named three good schools and Baylor lost two games out of three, so name #4 and beyond....

G5 schools are fighting an uphill battle and one that probably can't be won.
Electronic and print media is biased toward P5 schools and always will be, because of the people that are hired to protect their interests.
There was an interesting commentary by Bob Gilbert, former AP writer and UT Knoxville news director, in Sunday's M'Boro Daily News Journal. Mr. Gilbert is bitter old man and has been since Fulmer left UT, he loves to throw UT under the bus and in doing so doesn't care who else happens to get hurt in the process, part of his article reads as follows:
In recent years, Tennessee has INSULTED and ABUSED its fans by forcing them to buy season tickets that included games with Austin Peay,WKU, South Alabama, AKRON, Troy, Montana, Buffalo,UT-Martin, UAB and OHIO. Chattanooga is one of the offerings this season.
The trouble with playing opponents of that caliber is this: If you beat them, you haven't ACCOMPLISHED much, while losing to them can be HUMILIATING.

These are strong words, especially to build up a football team that has won a total of 28 games the last five seasons, but this is the perception that everyone is going to have deal with going forward, all P5 schools are equal in the eyes of the media.

MT is the only team in Tennessee to have a winning record in FBS football the last 5 seasons and the only team to be bowl eligible 4 times in that time frame, it rarely gets mentioned and when it does, it gets very little play on Nashville radio or TV.

For MT, it's 'what have you done lately', for UT, its 'look what you did in the past'.

The teams that were mentioned above, some have been or are currently on MT's schedule, while one-third of Marshall's schedule this season has been named.

It's going to be tough for any G5 to overcome this perception, Bob Gilbert may the only one to say it, but he is not the only one that feels this way.

If Marshall is up to the task, I wish them well, you have a huge challenge.

(08-05-2014 09:44 AM)ARandomHerdFan Wrote:  When I read this thread, I feel like I'm on the AAC board.

They are worried. We have programs that have growth potential, and Marshall falls outside the rhetoric of their self-appointed, untouchable, programs. We can compete, and they and the pollsters know it. Look at this as fan mail--from Tweens.

I heartily agree with BigSkyGuy in regard to perception for G5 universities versus P5 schools. The Nashville Tennessean (PRIMARY NEWSPAPER IN GREATER NASHVILLE) has designated a fulltime reporter to cover UT, already has one writing on Vandy daily; and begrudgingly reprints Daily News Journal reporter Adam Sparks columns only occasionally. Sadly, the Sparks articles are usually buried on Page 6 or worse if they are picked up at all.
Ironically, MTSU has a greater Alumni Base in Nashville than any other University at any level. And, we are celebrating our 100th year of Football! WE HAVE ALL GOT TO PROMOTE, PROMOTE, AND PROMOTE! If WE DON'T, NO ONE ELSE WILL! From Marshall to UTEP it is our responsibility to improve perception!

Marshall goes to one conference game, and they're all world. My gosh.

(08-05-2014 03:07 PM)WEARE Wrote:  

(08-05-2014 09:44 AM)ARandomHerdFan Wrote:  When I read this thread, I feel like I'm on the AAC board.

They are worried. We have programs that have growth potential, and Marshall falls outside the rhetoric of their self-appointed, untouchable, programs. We can compete, and they and the pollsters know it. Look at this as fan mail--from Tweens.

Marshall will have to win by bigger digits before we get "worried"....