Say we win out and win our bowl game. That's a 10 - 3 season. I know we will have Paxton back but losing some RB's. We also lose Ifedi on the defensive line. I'm not as sure how many players we lose off the other units. BUT, with the great season we could have this year (already very good season), who thinks we will be ranked to start the season next year?

Nope. The voters need to fill at least 14 spots with sec teams. That way when they beat each other they can say, "but we lost to a top 25 team!"

I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

(11-19-2014 05:00 PM)Rob Wrote:  I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

Anyone know exactly how much we are losing on D?

(11-19-2014 05:01 PM)memphis mania Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:00 PM)Rob Wrote:  I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

Anyone know exactly how much we are losing on D?

Ifedi, McCain, Jakes, Harris, and Etienne are all seniors. That's huge.

don't know, but they are in the discussions for this year according to the CA - see Jeff Long's quote

http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/c...-jeff-long

Defense is losing 7 starters, probably more lettermen. I didn't look that far into it. Offense loses Hayes, Malone, and Bond. Who am I leaving out?

(11-19-2014 05:05 PM)thegoodlife92 Wrote:  Defense is losing 7 starters, probably more lettermen. I didn't look that far into it. Offense loses Hayes, Malone, and Bond. Who am I leaving out?

Adrian Henderson, Joe Craig

It all depends on whether the head coach heads to $reener pastures.

(11-19-2014 04:53 PM)memphis mania Wrote:  Say we win out and win our bowl game. That's a 10 - 3 season. I know we will have Paxton back but losing some RB's. We also lose Ifedi on the defensive line. I'm not as sure how many players we lose off the other units. BUT, with the great season we could have this year (already very good season), who thinks we will be ranked to start the season next year?

It's certainly possible. Good thread!

Coach has had a good chance to play a lot of underclassmen this year. I am quite encouraged by what we have coming up, very talented and motivated young men.

Wouldn't that be wonderful, especially considering how far down we were a few years ago. If Coach stays another couple of years and has sustained success, the coaching world would be his oyster, and by then we could make another good hire because this program would be so much more desirable. This is heady stuff for me, I remember the years when we went ofer for a few seasons.

(11-19-2014 05:03 PM)Rob Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:01 PM)memphis mania Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:00 PM)Rob Wrote:  I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

Anyone know exactly how much we are losing on D?

Ifedi, McCain, Jakes, Harris, and Etienne are all seniors. That's huge.

Yeah, but our offense should be better.

(11-19-2014 05:03 PM)Rob Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:01 PM)memphis mania Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:00 PM)Rob Wrote:  I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

Anyone know exactly how much we are losing on D?

Ifedi, McCain, Jakes, Harris, and Etienne are all seniors. That's huge.

Do not think the issue is how many we are losing as much as it is WHO we are losing. A LOT of play makers on each side of the ball.

(11-19-2014 05:05 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  don't know, but they are in the discussions for this year according to the CA - see Jeff Long's quote

http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/c...-jeff-long

Yeah, at least we're building a name. Ranking is a long process. If we would win out I'd expect at least receiving some votes.

(11-19-2014 08:51 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:03 PM)Rob Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:01 PM)memphis mania Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:00 PM)Rob Wrote:  I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

Anyone know exactly how much we are losing on D?

Ifedi, McCain, Jakes, Harris, and Etienne are all seniors. That's huge.

Do not think the issue is how many we are losing as much as it is WHO we are losing. A LOT of play makers on each side of the ball.

We don't have any irreplaceable guys on offense. The d might be a different story.

We lose some playmakers on D but we also had some younger guys getting reps as well this year and not just in blowout wins. I liked what I seen from young guys like Witty, Brady, Avery, White, Robinson, Crosby, Deshaughn Terry, Morley, Peagus, and Suttles.

Those guys are pretty damn good themselves and will become playmakers next year or by most their junior years.

Great thread. I think that our future is bright. A pre-season ranking for next year would be a big boost for recruiting and for others looking at our program.

Coach Fuente will get some opportunities based on this season. I hope that we keep him. But, if he gets "an offer he can't refuse", I think that Tom Bowen and Fed Ex are committed to excellence in U of M football regardless. I hope that we have turned the corner and can look forward to more great football in upcoming seasons.

Football will determine the future for the University of Memphis athletically. I still believe that there will be more P5 expansion, and this time we have to be ready to strike while the iron is hot.

Let's talk about this year. I think there is a reasonable chance for us to finish ranked 24 or 25 in the final polls if we win out, win the conference championship, and win a bowl game. That would make us 10-3.

(11-19-2014 08:07 PM)tnzazz Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:03 PM)Rob Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:01 PM)memphis mania Wrote:  

(11-19-2014 05:00 PM)Rob Wrote:  I'm a little worried about next season's defense. Look at what we're losing. Woof.

Anyone know exactly how much we are losing on D?

Ifedi, McCain, Jakes, Harris, and Etienne are all seniors. That's huge.

Yeah, but our offense should be better.

Losing Dorloand Dorceus and Sam Craft REALLY hurt our offense. And we don't have any game breaking receivers.