For in game comments.

Small improvement last week.

I predict another step in improvement.

EMU 33
Ball State 17

I'm watching the game on ESPN+. They several great overhead shots of West Campus. Nice crowd on both sides and end zones. Parking lots looked full, too.

Where has this play calling been all season?

The punt returner signaled Fair catch then started running with the ball!

The guys from Muncie are not very good, but a W is a W nonetheless.

Personally, I love the defense. Honestly, we probably not have an elite guy like Maxx, Ramirez, etc... but we have a bunch of guys flying to the ball, unlike in the past.

Kind of a testament to CC is that even his slightly disappointing teams will likely end up in a bowl game. So far, not a lot of thrills this season and next week will probably be another ugly W.

(10-07-2023 06:25 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Kind of a testament to CC is that even his slightly disappointing teams will likely end up in a bowl game. So far, not a lot of thrills this season and next week will probably be another ugly W.

Very well said! The MAC east is significantly stronger then the MAC West except Toledo this season! Buffalo beat CMU by 24! Ohio U, Miami Ohio, and Toledo look to be the best 3! EMU will finish probably 7-5!

Dear Friends,
Always nice to come away with a win. However, I thought the fourth quarter we just couldn't score like we were earlier. Smith, who looked sharp at times earlier. but in the fourth quarter seemed mesmerized by the Ball State rush, and took sack after sack, and wasn't sharp in his passing.
Why don't we run Jackson on sweeps to the wide side of the field?
Just my observations of the game.

This team will win ugly and lose ugly. Haney and Merritt are back

Presser


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QoT0R41yxH...e=youtu.be

I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

Kicking? Gomez has NFL range! In fact, the only major weakness I see is the QB. We all agree that CC should have delved into the portal this season for a QB and Smith is best utilized as a change up QB, not a full time signal caller. Other than that, this is a well constructed MAC team.

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

That’s a great summary’79!

I think Smith is a fine back up QB for the MAC level but I’m not certain he will be good enough to get this team to a championship level even next year. He still takes unnecessary sacks and at times is inaccurate.

I am most disappointed in our DL that I felt would be able to stop the run better than we have shown.


We should be able to beat Kent and Akron but NIU, WMU and Toledo will be huge challenges. Fortunately all three of those teams are not dominant either in my humble opinion.


I believe we took another small step in improvement but not as big as I thought we would take.

A lot of football to be played and in November whoever runs the ball the best may win our division. We are still in it

(10-08-2023 06:52 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

That’s a great summary’79!

I think Smith is a fine back up QB for the MAC level but I’m not certain he will be good enough to get this team to a championship level even next year. He still takes unnecessary sacks and at times is inaccurate.

I am most disappointed in our DL that I felt would be able to stop the run better than we have shown.


We should be able to beat Kent and Akron but NIU, WMU and Toledo will be huge challenges. Fortunately all three of those teams are not dominant either in my humble opinion.


I believe we took another small step in improvement but not as big as I thought we would take.

A lot of football to be played and in November whoever runs the ball the best may win our division. We are still in it

Wait. You think kicking is a problem too?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1708190322876994000

(10-08-2023 07:13 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:52 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

That’s a great summary’79!

I think Smith is a fine back up QB for the MAC level but I’m not certain he will be good enough to get this team to a championship level even next year. He still takes unnecessary sacks and at times is inaccurate.

I am most disappointed in our DL that I felt would be able to stop the run better than we have shown.


We should be able to beat Kent and Akron but NIU, WMU and Toledo will be huge challenges. Fortunately all three of those teams are not dominant either in my humble opinion.


I believe we took another small step in improvement but not as big as I thought we would take.

A lot of football to be played and in November whoever runs the ball the best may win our division. We are still in it

Wait. You think kicking is a problem too?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1708190322876994000

Would have been good from 60+

(10-08-2023 06:49 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

Kicking? Gomez has NFL range! In fact, the only major weakness I see is the QB. We all agree that CC should have delved into the portal this season for a QB and Smith is best utilized as a change up QB, not a full time signal caller. Other than that, this is a well constructed MAC team.

Last two games Gomez is hitting 50%. Honestly Bob thats atypical of him. You don't make the NFL by making 50% of your FGs.

(10-08-2023 06:52 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

That’s a great summary’79!

I think Smith is a fine back up QB for the MAC level but I’m not certain he will be good enough to get this team to a championship level even next year. He still takes unnecessary sacks and at times is inaccurate.

I am most disappointed in our DL that I felt would be able to stop the run better than we have shown.


We should be able to beat Kent and Akron but NIU, WMU and Toledo will be huge challenges. Fortunately all three of those teams are not dominant either in my humble opinion.


I believe we took another small step in improvement but not as big as I thought we would take.

A lot of football to be played and in November whoever runs the ball the best may win our division. We are still in it

Why do we struggle to get a consistent running game early every year under CC? This year is no different although we two very talented RBs.

(10-08-2023 07:59 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:52 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

That’s a great summary’79!

I think Smith is a fine back up QB for the MAC level but I’m not certain he will be good enough to get this team to a championship level even next year. He still takes unnecessary sacks and at times is inaccurate.

I am most disappointed in our DL that I felt would be able to stop the run better than we have shown.


We should be able to beat Kent and Akron but NIU, WMU and Toledo will be huge challenges. Fortunately all three of those teams are not dominant either in my humble opinion.


I believe we took another small step in improvement but not as big as I thought we would take.

A lot of football to be played and in November whoever runs the ball the best may win our division. We are still in it

Why do we struggle to get a consistent running game early every year under CC? This year is no different although we two very talented RBs.

Only once in the 28 years I've been attending have a true running game to begin the season. We just can't get good running backs. It has almost always come down to a running quarterback.

(10-08-2023 06:34 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I sense a less interest in football to some degree on this board. The crowd sizes this year have been very good with real people in the stands. I think thats because we were lead to believe we had a dominant team this year and were going to take a huge step forward. Instead we've been treated to a team that struggles at times with every aspect of the game: kicking, passing, catching, tackling, running. I kinda find myself wondering will the light finally turn on.

I think we are seeing more traffic on Twitter/X than here.

There are posters there who have newsletters and a lot more inside information than we have here..