Tweet
On the QB side Gundy is now at ESU and I would presume the starter? Pedigree doesn't always mean success but as someone said in another thread the returning HH winner barely touched the field at SIU and look at him now, and Gundy got some PT at OK State. Say what you want about nepotism, that still playing time in the Big12 or 7 or 16.
UCM, they reloaded on O including some massive D1 OLine transfers. Maybe I missed it but doesn't seem they did much on defense? Maybe they are betting on some of their younger players to make a big leap. O is fun but doesn't win Natty's ask Dick Vermeils Chiefs.
Pitt. Even with changes hard to rank the back to back MIAA champs lower than this. Depth on both lines and new system on offense will have to be navigated. Tough Week 0 game could put Pitt on thin ice and make it where we almost have to win out or only have 1 more loss.
MW . They came on last year and look like a team heading in the right direction. In an earlier thread I had NW higher but maybe I'm buying the NW sandbagging, maybe I'm jaded because of our Tim Beck experience but I think MW finishes ahead of NW this year.
NW. Almost put them one lower and if they slide back this year then you have basically only next years seniors who will have been to the playoffs plus some redshirts. The end of last year was a cupcake schedule, hope your younger guys got some playing time.
MoSo. I'm an Atiba fan. The man and the coach. After roughly 3 billion poor hires and a dumpster fire of an athletic department, they got this one right. He built this team the way he wanted and has shown improvement every year. Now he has to get over the hump. If Pitt's O falters, if MW backslides or NW continues their slide to Lincoln status MoSo could easily move up.
FH. After a disastrous 2022 Brown righted the ship last year and played almost everyone closely in their losses. Still a gap but played better. They have a tough start to the season and could easily be 0-3. If they are 2-1 watch out!
ESU. Too much inconsistency to put them higher, even with a D1 QB coming in. Have no idea what else they lost or gained and haven't taken the time to look. They open with what should be a win, then they play Angelo State who Hays played in week 1. Not that the transitive property works, but it could tell us a few things about both teams. After Angelo State its Pitt, MW and NW. Will ESU be 1-4 or 5-0? The answer is probably 2-3 or 3-2. Their season could be done before it starts.
UCO. I rate them higher every year and every year I get burned. So between my low ranking and Jimbo Slice's humbleness and Dorrell having his guys now as upperclassman maybe this is the year. But based on last years qb play and some of the other skill player gaps I just can't go any higher.
WU this was a bad team last year and I'm not sure what going out and scheduling Colo school of Mines as your OOC opponent accomplishes. Maybe there were limited options? Schurig has shown himself to be a competent but not great coach or maybe its a recruiting issue. Either way, another bad year and that seat is getting hot. He has been there since 2002!!
UNK. Sorry Lopers someone has to be last and maybe you are better than Washburn. But Schurig has proven more over 22 years in the MIAA than Held has in one at UNK. You have 2 winnable OOC games and your schedule towards the end of the year is doable. If you get drilled by Chadron and Directional MN State then you know there is a lot of work to do. I know you got a transfer qb in from MW and he's probably a better passer than TJ but I'm not sure a running qb works in today's MIAA. Maybe if you have a true shutdown D which UNK does not.
UCM, they reloaded on O including some massive D1 OLine transfers. Maybe I missed it but doesn't seem they did much on defense? Maybe they are betting on some of their younger players to make a big leap. O is fun but doesn't win Natty's ask Dick Vermeils Chiefs.
Pitt. Even with changes hard to rank the back to back MIAA champs lower than this. Depth on both lines and new system on offense will have to be navigated. Tough Week 0 game could put Pitt on thin ice and make it where we almost have to win out or only have 1 more loss.
MW . They came on last year and look like a team heading in the right direction. In an earlier thread I had NW higher but maybe I'm buying the NW sandbagging, maybe I'm jaded because of our Tim Beck experience but I think MW finishes ahead of NW this year.
NW. Almost put them one lower and if they slide back this year then you have basically only next years seniors who will have been to the playoffs plus some redshirts. The end of last year was a cupcake schedule, hope your younger guys got some playing time.
MoSo. I'm an Atiba fan. The man and the coach. After roughly 3 billion poor hires and a dumpster fire of an athletic department, they got this one right. He built this team the way he wanted and has shown improvement every year. Now he has to get over the hump. If Pitt's O falters, if MW backslides or NW continues their slide to Lincoln status MoSo could easily move up.
FH. After a disastrous 2022 Brown righted the ship last year and played almost everyone closely in their losses. Still a gap but played better. They have a tough start to the season and could easily be 0-3. If they are 2-1 watch out!
ESU. Too much inconsistency to put them higher, even with a D1 QB coming in. Have no idea what else they lost or gained and haven't taken the time to look. They open with what should be a win, then they play Angelo State who Hays played in week 1. Not that the transitive property works, but it could tell us a few things about both teams. After Angelo State its Pitt, MW and NW. Will ESU be 1-4 or 5-0? The answer is probably 2-3 or 3-2. Their season could be done before it starts.
UCO. I rate them higher every year and every year I get burned. So between my low ranking and Jimbo Slice's humbleness and Dorrell having his guys now as upperclassman maybe this is the year. But based on last years qb play and some of the other skill player gaps I just can't go any higher.
WU this was a bad team last year and I'm not sure what going out and scheduling Colo school of Mines as your OOC opponent accomplishes. Maybe there were limited options? Schurig has shown himself to be a competent but not great coach or maybe its a recruiting issue. Either way, another bad year and that seat is getting hot. He has been there since 2002!!
UNK. Sorry Lopers someone has to be last and maybe you are better than Washburn. But Schurig has proven more over 22 years in the MIAA than Held has in one at UNK. You have 2 winnable OOC games and your schedule towards the end of the year is doable. If you get drilled by Chadron and Directional MN State then you know there is a lot of work to do. I know you got a transfer qb in from MW and he's probably a better passer than TJ but I'm not sure a running qb works in today's MIAA. Maybe if you have a true shutdown D which UNK does not.
Comment