Topic: cusa 2005

[billybob]

I have been looking at our schedule for 2005 and I don't think we will be as bad off as many people think. While I don't see us running the league like in the MAC -I don't think we will get blown out either. Here's my reasoning by team.

UCF - 2004 was a horrible year for them and the future doesn't look much better. In the last 2 months they have had 5 people from the 2004 recruiting class quit and 6 from the returning class quit. That's 11 players plus the seniors they lost to graduation. WIN

ECU - Much the same as UCF. Lots of turnover and the hire of a new coaching staff that is average at best. Holtz own father fired him so how does he even get this job? WIN

Southern Miss - Complete new staff but returning some good talent but rebuilding. Will be a tough game but not impossible. Team to watch in a couple years. This game is played in huntington so that is a plus. WIN

SMU - Need I say more. WIN

Tulane - Looks to have a good team but lacking receivers. At tulane won't be fun especially following a long trip to UTEP. This could go either way. EVEN

UTEP - A program on the rise. This will be the toughest CUSA game we play. And it is in texas. EVEN

UAB - Looking strong but I am not sold. WIN

MEMPHIS - Good team that is starting to put together some good recruiting classes. This is a rebuilding year as they lose the starting QB among others. EVEN

Any thoughts. I am saying 8-3 overall.

[herdfreak2008]

I have to agree with you. Also if you really think about are non-conference shed. K-State is not just looking for a new runningback but they never came close to finding half a replacement for Roberson. We beat them in Manhattan and thats when they had Sproiles so we should be able to do the same since this time it's in HUNTINGton! Tech we have a shot since they have less of clue at who their qb is than we do. Plus aren't they having to replace key positions for their off and deff system/scheme. I say we have a legitiamte shot at going 3-0 in non.-conference. We do have playing experience coming back along with some starting experience. Our o-line could possibly be compared to last years deff. front 7 in terms of success. I really think this years conference shcedule is harder than our non-conference schedule. We might be able to do what last years team couldn't and that was pull off upsets but last year Ohio State and Georgia would have been would be upsets since they weren't really that good.

[biggreenthunder]

I have been looking at our schedule for 2005 and I don't think we will be as bad off as many people think. While I don't see us running the league like in the MAC -I don't think we will get blown out either. Here's my reasoning by team.

UCF - 2004 was a horrible year for them and the future doesn't look much better. In the last 2 months they have had 5 people from the 2004 recruiting class quit and 6 from the returning class quit. That's 11 players plus the seniors they lost to graduation. WIN

ECU - Much the same as UCF. Lots of turnover and the hire of a new coaching staff that is average at best. Holtz own father fired him so how does he even get this job? WIN

Southern Miss - Complete new staff but returning some good talent but rebuilding. Will be a tough game but not impossible. Team to watch in a couple years. This game is played in huntington so that is a plus. WIN

SMU - Need I say more. WIN

Tulane - Looks to have a good team but lacking receivers. At tulane won't be fun especially following a long trip to UTEP. This could go either way. EVEN

UTEP - A program on the rise. This will be the toughest CUSA game we play. And it is in texas. EVEN

UAB - Looking strong but I am not sold. WIN

MEMPHIS - Good team that is starting to put together some good recruiting classes. This is a rebuilding year as they lose the starting QB among others. EVEN

Any thoughts. I am saying 8-3 overall.

I agree that we SHOULD win the UCF, ECU, UAB, SMU, and William and Mary games.  That's 5 wins I feel really confident about.  I think we should win the K State and USM games but you never know what kind of team we're going to have.  I'd put Memphis, Tulane, and UTEP as even money.  After the thrashing we got the last time in blacksburg, I'm not willing to even come close to calling that one even.

If the Herd gets the 5 wins I think it should, that means it only needs to go 1-4 in the games I classify as "even."  I think they should be able to take one from either Memphis, Tulane, UTEP, K State, or S. Miss.  A 6-5 record in CUSA WILL get the Herd a bowl game.  Maybe a really crappy bowl.  But I don't see them having a losing record.

Best (realistic) case scenerio  9-2.
Worst (realistic) case scenerio  5-6

My prediction
W&M-W
K State-L
UCF-W
SMU-W
Va Tech-L
UAB-W
UTEP-L
Tulane-W
USM-L
ECU-W
Memphis-L

I think the herd might go 6-5 with an outside shot a 7-4.  Still, considering all the talent we have to replace, a new conference, and a new head coach, I think that is acceptable.

[Thunders]

My prediction

W&M-  W
KST-  W
UCF- W
SMU- W
VT- L
UAB- L
UTEP- L
Tulane- W
USM-W
ECU- W
Memphis- L

Record    7-4

[M.U.Titan]

I am hoping for 7-4, but see the opposite as more likely:

W&M- W
KST- L
UCF- L
SMU- W
VT- L
UAB- L
UTEP- L
Tulane- W
USM-L
ECU- W
Memphis- L

The hiring of a confident coach, the announcement that we are getting some of the improvements we need, and the addition of some surprise recruits could get me more upbeat.  The simple fact is that we haven't seen anything other than the win at KSU and the win over Miami of Ohio to be upbeat about for the past two seasons.

[Big City]

I hate to be the pessimist but don't bank on anything with this team. Until the HERD gets some stability as well as leadership nothing is a sure thing. I can't help but remember how I thought the HERD was going to DESTROY  :-? Troy. Man was I wrong. Then I remember celebrating in the 4th qtr. at Akron...  :shock: major shock.
There are to many skill position question marks on offense, what defense will show up??? Who in the heck is the coach going to be?

I just hope this team somehow manages to surprise me and I am sure alot of other people feel the same.  Get the killer instinct back and put teams away early!  GO HERD!

[DJdaHERDfan]

You guys act like CUSA will be like playing in the SEC.

Face the facts, the new CUSA will be watered down with the best teams all in rebuilding mode.
Marshall might not be the best team but they sure as hell won't be the worst team either.

This is alot like the summer before MU began play in the MAC. Everyone kept predicting the worst.
That whole "fear of the unknown".

What you all need to do is take a look around some fellow member boards and see what they are saying about Marshall. They are just as much afraid of Marshall as some of you are afraid of them.
We have never played each other.

But I tell you what, this talented rich Marshall team can come in and compete for the CUSA title right away if some pieces come together in time.
And if they don't, MU still goes bowling.

This is not the end of the world people.
4-7?! PLEASE.................
At worst I can see this team going 6-2 in conference and 7-4 overall and probably the winner of the league will be 8-3.
I don't give a $hit who is coaching, this program still knows how to win and is one of the better football programs in this watered down CUSA.
Sure we have money problems. What school doesn't?
Sure our facilities need some improvements. It will come eventually.
But we still have something special here in Huntington. Something about how these kids feel when they put on that Green and White jersey brings the best out of every football player.
Marshall is a winner. That's why Kueck and staff are busting a$$ now in spring practices, because they all know 6-6 last year is not acceptable.

Shame on you all for predicting 4-7 and "worst record in 20 years" and such.

Fear of the unknown is getting the best of some of you.

[biggreenthunder]

I hate to be the pessimist but don't bank on anything with this team. Until the HERD gets some stability as well as leadership nothing is a sure thing. I can't help but remember how I thought the HERD was going to DESTROY  :-? Troy. Man was I wrong. Then I remember celebrating in the 4th qtr. at Akron...  :shock: major shock.
There are to many skill position question marks on offense, what defense will show up??? Who in the heck is the coach going to be?

I just hope this team somehow manages to surprise me and I am sure alot of other people feel the same.  Get the killer instinct back and put teams away early!  GO HERD!

I'm with you on that one.  I too thought we would beat Troy by at least 20.  I also was celebrating a little too early in Akron last year.  Luckily, 90% of the Akron well wishers (no way you can call them fans) had already left the building at that point.

Nothing is guaranteed.  On paper, I think we should do no worse than 5-6.  Of course, if you asked UCF fans last year, I doubt any of them would've guessed a 0-11 season lay before them.

[carolinaherdfan]

There are so many blank questions to fill, and we do not even know who the HC is going to be.  If he comes in, and puts in a new program, all the players will have a lot of work to do in very little time. If the players we have do not stepup to the plate, and fill the rolls that have been left open via graduation etc. than we could be in a world of trouble. On the other hand if everthing would fall into place then it could be Kattie bar the door. i.e., our record right now could be anywhere from 2-9 to 9-2.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :grin:

[biggreenthunder]

This is alot like the summer before MU began play in the MAC.

With all due respect, this is nothing like the summer before we joined the MAC.  For one We knew who our coach was and more importantly the team knew who their coach was.  Not only did we know who our starting QB was going to be, he had proven himself to be capable of running the team.  We not only had our WR corp intact, we knew we had RANDY FREAKIN' MOSS.  None of that exists this time.  Not only do we not know who our coach is going to be with only 5 months until the season starts, we don't even know for fact who's on the short list.  Not only have the returning QB's from last year never started a game, they've completed less than 10 passes combined.  We're hoping that a JUCO QB that came from a run-first offense can jump start our program but none of us have seen him in a game.  Our only productive WR from last year now looks like he'll have to take a red shirt for the season.  We have to replace  almost our entire starting front 7 on defense.  

I'm not trying to say the sky is falling.  Just pointing out that there are some huge question marks out there.  Despite that, I still look for the herd to have a winning record.

[carolinaherdfan]

It all revolves around the final, and ultimate decision of the great AD at MU, K. O. Marscum.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 8)

[Mako]

What can I say?  I'm an eternal optimist - especially when it comes to the Herd.  I always think we can go undefeated.  Now, I'm realistic enough to know it's not likely but I always think its possible.

Having said that, I think there is a renewed dedication among this year's players.  They did not particularly care for going 6-6 and they seem to know the dedication it's going to take to avoid a repeat.  The HC job doesn't worry me so much because whoever gets the job will get it right after spring practice and, even if its not Kueck, will have plenty of time to install his system.  Even then, I don't look to see it modified greatly.  Quite frankly, I don't think we'd hire a coach with a Big 10 offensive philosophy.

So, my prediction is 8-3.

[carolinaherdfan]

We'll Mako I hope you are right, and I like your spirit!

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :smile:

[2xBison]

whoever gets the job will get it right after spring practice and, even if its not Kueck, will have plenty of time to install his system. Even then, I don't look to see it modified greatly.

your kidding right?

the only way you are possibly correct is if we hire kueck.

other than that, we have no idea on the next HC but we are pretty sure whoever it is won't want to change the current system??

and if he changes it.....about 20 august practices is plenty of time to install???

I do think you'll end up being right...only because our HC is already there.

[Mako]

Seriously.  We are not going to hire someone that wants to go to a 2 back set primarily run oriented offense.  Just won't happen and that's definitely a question that would be asked of anyone we hired.  Moreover, anyone we hire with a lick of sense is going to know that he can't make drastic changes.  He's going to take a look at the old playbook and insert some of his own stuff but he'll wait until after the season to really install  his system.