(11-28-2016 07:22 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 03:34 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 12:59 PM)TheEagleWay Wrote:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/26785...16-seasons

Georgia Southern

Quote:Georgia Southern looked like an up-and-coming program in its first two seasons of FBS play. Under coach Willie Fritz, the Eagles went 18-7 in two seasons and led the FBS in rushing both seasons. It looked like an easy transition for Colorado State offensive coordinator Tyson Summers to walk into.

But somewhere along the way, something went wrong. Entering the regular-season finale against 9-2 Troy, the Eagles have gone from 9-4 to 4-7. After rushing for 1,608 yards as a junior, Matt Breida has 580 through 11 games, averaging 3.8 yards per carry after going for 7.9 a year ago.

Georgia Southern is 1-7 following a 3-0 start, including an embarrassing loss to a Georgia State team that has already fired its coach. The Eagles still average 224.7 yards rushing per game, but that’s No. 28 nationally.

If Summers doesn’t get the issues surrounding his program figured out quick, his stay in Statesboro could be short.

Grade: F

Tyson gets the only F on the list. Guess he can add it to his other 4 F's of his program.

ULM

Quote:If there are tougher FBS jobs than Louisiana-Monroe, there aren’t many of them out there. The Warhawks have just one winning season since 1994 and play in the Sun Belt, considered the worst FBS league. They were coming off a 2-11 season when Matt Viator arrived from McNeese State, where he went 78-33.

In that sense, Viator’s debut at ULM has to be considered progress. Entering Saturday’s season finale vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, the Warhawks are 4-7, meaning they’ve already doubled 2015’s win total. And losses to Georgia Southern and Idaho came by a combined five points, meaning a bowl game was just out of reach this fall.

The arrow is clearly pointing up for Viator in Monroe.

Grade: C+

Texas St

Quote:Under Dennis Franchione, Texas State inched close to relevance but never quite got there. The hope was that Everett Withers, coming off a successful stint as head coach of FCS James Madison, would change the equation. It hasn’t happened yet.

Entering Saturday’s season finale vs. Arkansas State, the Bobcats are 2-9 and struggling. They’re riding a seven-game losing streak and each of their last four losses have come by at least 25 points. Texas State averages 19 points per game (third-worst nationally) and allows 41.5 points per game, also third-worst nationally.

Simply put, this is a bad football team that has regressed and not shown improvement in Withers’ first season at the controls.

Grade: D-

Withers was recently asked in a Presser what grade he'd give himself and his staff. His reply was an: A.

Personally, I didn't like his response . . . After all, we field a dreadful product and the Coaches have to take some ownership for that.

In the end, I don't care if he gives himself a delusional "A". . . If some writer gives him a "D-," .. . or our Fan base wants to give him something more reflective of our season, like an "F."

Coming into this season, I knew it was going to be bad. I was actually shocked that we won week one at Ohio. I'll give the man a pass on this year. But next year, He owns it . . all of it. If a year from now he wants to grade himself and staff an "A," then he'd better produce "A" results.

Wither's is following his process. Within that, there are goals that must be completed i'm sure and if those goals have been met, and their arrow internally is pointing up, good for them. The results may not show throw on the field yet but if he is going to build a program (as Blake Anderson and countless others are incapable of doing as they rely on JuCo's), it may be two more seasons before Texas State sniffes 7-5. However they will have the players and processes in place to have a break out season.

It's call a foundation, without it, you have a house of cards.

Did Anderson run over your dog or something?

(11-28-2016 04:33 PM)T2003 Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 02:54 PM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  But everyone keeps saying that Southern fans are overreacting

It's the typical 1A/1AA transition phase effect...we all experienced it. You guys will be fine.

There is ups and downs while getting your feet wet in the FBS and then there is getting worse at almost everything in one year. This is squarely on the coaching staff and has little to do with transition. We have been at the top of the Belt in recruiting the last three years as well so it should not be a talent issue at this point. But it will be as this coach is also going to drag our recruiting ranking from the low 70's last year to possible as low as the 120's in one year as well.

That chart is likely to get worse after the Troy game as well. Also keep in mind we played SSU this year and not a decent FCS team like the Citadel last year.

(11-28-2016 11:27 PM)LouisianaHawkFan Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 10:04 PM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I think if we beat ULL this weekend, I would give Viator a B.

Agree, a win over UL-L would be 5 wins. Much better then expected.

This has already been a good turnaround season in Monroe. Remember that ULM was predicted by everyone to finish last in the league this season. That's not happening. We could end up as high as fifth. With luck and a handful of points we could have been a bowl team this year. And, at this time, we have the #1 recruiting rank in the SBC.

I'd give Viator a B-minus at worst.

(11-29-2016 11:51 PM)SOT1977 Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 11:27 PM)LouisianaHawkFan Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 10:04 PM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I think if we beat ULL this weekend, I would give Viator a B.

Agree, a win over UL-L would be 5 wins. Much better then expected.

This has already been a good turnaround season in Monroe. Remember that ULM was predicted by everyone to finish last in the league this season. That's not happening. We could end up as high as fifth. With luck and a handful of points we could have been a bowl team this year. And, at this time, we have the #1 recruiting rank in the SBC.

I'd give Viator a B-minus at worst.

Per 24/7 you're #4.

We are #1 per Rivals.

(11-29-2016 11:51 PM)SOT1977 Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 11:27 PM)LouisianaHawkFan Wrote:  

(11-28-2016 10:04 PM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I think if we beat ULL this weekend, I would give Viator a B.

Agree, a win over UL-L would be 5 wins. Much better then expected.

This has already been a good turnaround season in Monroe. Remember that ULM was predicted by everyone to finish last in the league this season. That's not happening. We could end up as high as fifth. With luck and a handful of points we could have been a bowl team this year. And, at this time, we have the #1 recruiting rank in the SBC.

I'd give Viator a B-minus at worst.

You guys can still end up in a bowl this year if you beat ULL and South loses to NMSU.

I know. Really interesting situation. Would also need Texas to turn down bowl, which I think could happen since already fired prior staff.

(11-28-2016 07:34 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  Two positives coming out of this mess and article.

1. We've found a home in the Sun Belt.

Despite the constant hate spit balls flying around on this board it's apparent that, for the most part, fans are disappointed that one of the programs we're hoping to leverage to elevate the conference has been benched. This is different and keeps folks like me digging in for conference mates OOC more and more. Surely Texas state fans feel the same.

2. Media finally helping.

With media pointing out the incompetence of this staff in no uncertain terms GS's internal fan revolt looks slightly more reasonable. You have to see it to truly understand how bad it's become. ULM and New Mexico state know how incredibly lucky we've been this season to pull a w on them.

We do know how you feel. We came in and were bowl eligible twice. Had some great wins int here too. But now its a reboot. I hope it works. Withers saw what most of us Bobcats have said for a long time, there is no culture of winning in San Marcos. He decided to start from scratch and I hope it pays off. Something needed to happen.

(11-30-2016 02:34 AM)Arrowhead Wrote:  We are #1 per Rivals.

24/7 includes Rivals, Scout, ESPN and their own ranking. It is a composite of all four. At our level sometimes some of our kids only get three out of the four so 24/7 has become probably the most reliable. Smooths out the highs and lows from all four sites.

FYI the little red dots below the star rating represents how many out of the four major sites has ranked the recruit. At this point it is usually two but most will end up with atleast three with a handful with just two or one.

http://louisianamonroe.247sports.com/Sea...ll/Commits

Technically you are behind the per recruit average last year but some kids have not been evaluated yet but will. Most kids getting FBS offers get a look by the major sights. FCS it is hit or miss.

Also until the kids actually make it to campus it does not matter we had some every year lower our ranking due to not making it to campus after signing day. Still got to pass that last semester of High School or JUCO.

Thanks for the explanation. I didn't know that.