Topic: Someone tell ESPN CFB Daily, Louisville was on our schedule...

[cincyherd]

CFB Daily (ESPN #208 DIRECTV, at around 2:45 pm) just insinuated Marshall has weak schedule on purpose. And said a 2 loss ECU should go to an Access Bowl a head of us.  One is WVU explayer. It will be on again later today.
Unbelievable !!!

[The E-Man]

CFB Daily (ESPN #208 DIRECTV, at around 2:45 pm) just insinuated Marshall has weak schedule on purpose. And said a 2 loss ECU should go to an Access Bowl a head of us.  One is WVU explayer. It will be on again later today.
Unbelievable !!!

They wish! if ECU loses again and we run the table, we will get an access bowl game. 3 times is a charm! we where robbed in 99, and last year CUSA championship game. It doesn't surprise me the eerdiot is wanting to keep us out. This is why I don't trust Ollie "camel nose" Luck.

[luvherd]

AAC is an ESPN conference. We are not. Marketing their own. 

[svherd]

This is where Hammy and the AD need to tweet daily nuggets about us and this teams dominance. They also need to send daily emails and press releases. We have to be proactive and do a massive PR campaign in addition to winning big on the field. Put a positive spin on it in every way. These things cost very little and don't take much time. jmho.

If they just sit on their hands and we go undefeated and still get no love - no one to blame but ourselves.

[jstherd]

Absolutely, svherd, absolutely. Also, our conference leaders need to do a better job, IMO.

[svherd]

Absolutely, svherd, absolutely. Also, our conference leaders need to do a better job, IMO.

 I just hope Mike has something cranking. I'd be shocked if he didn't. We gotta beat our own drum 'cause no one else is beating it for us.

[go1970herd]

 This whole week schedule thing is pissing me off period!! We have to play the teams on our schedule and these games were scheduled years in advance plus no one knew at the time that 80% of the conf. was gonna jump ship at the same time and leave us hanging, and then of coarse there is Loiusville aka. (MARSHALL'S BITCH) ;D decides to move their game with us yet keep another conf.USA team on their schedule, GEE wonder why they did that!!! Then of coarse there is always wvu that would not sign a new contract last year with us and again GEE I wonder why there also, so we were stuck with what we have this year.
 Now about it being week well that argument would hold some water if were winning by only 3,4, or 5 points a game but *_+! we have the largest winning margin per game in the country and are beating these teams way worse than the so called P5 conference teams are beating these same teams, hell for that matter some of the teams we have destroyed are beating the P5 teams i.e. Akron over Pitt !!!!!! Hamrick really does need to smack this crap down before it gets to close to the end of the season, and i still dont get the ecu thing, I mean good God we beat the living hell out of them last year and we both have the same team and if we played them again we would do the same again!!!!!

Come on Hamrick lets get this crap under control please !!!

[whf]

For the life of me, I don't understand why this is even a subject.  It is what it is.  It started the day C-USA broke up and we got left behind.

Let's just be thankful we're getting players who want to win and hope the conference is working their collective tails off to change it in the future.

By the way, I don't think anyone who is speaking publicly about the pecking order of teams most likely to get that spot have A SINGLE VOTE in the matter.  Just saying.........what who you follow on this issue. ESPN won't support C-USA, so why get aggravated about it.

[_sturt_]

First, whf is a voice of reason here... ESPN or Fox or anyone else can lampoon us all they want... all that will matter is what the Chosen 13 12 decide... and yes, the computer numbers almost all seem to be lining up pro-Marshall, so you have to feel pretty good about how their analysis will shake out, or at least I think so.

That said... ready the rotten tomatoes, boys. I think there are some serious misconceptions here, so prepare to hurl them my way...

Fact number one, even had Louisville remained on the schedule, we still had not one but TWO Mid-American schools plus an FCS... so the scheduling template, regardless, was already inferior to what almost ANY other FBS school had for 2014. We should own our decisions and not pretend otherwise.

Fact number two, we weren't any more advantaged or disadvantaged time-wise than any of the other left-behinds (UAB, USM, UTEP and Rice)... we all learned our fate simultaneously... and yet ALL of them had at least two contract OOC games lined up... so the whole "these schedules are set years in advance" as-if we had no time to adjust is just a CYA claim. We took a risk in getting into the routine of scheduling two MAC teams, and only one contract school... and it backfired. So, again... own our own decisions. Fans might be, but no one who is in any position of authority is fooled.

But set all that aside and let's look at the glass half-full... if it all works out for us this year, shouldn't we want to continue scheduling 3 MAC schools and an FCS? If not, why not?

[ThunderingHerdFan]

First, whf is a voice of reason here... ESPN or Fox or anyone else can lampoon us all they want... all that will matter is what the Chosen 13 12 decide... and yes, the computer numbers almost all seem to be lining up pro-Marshall, so you have to feel pretty good about how their analysis will shake out, or at least I think so.

That said... ready the rotten tomatoes, boys. I think there are some serious misconceptions here, so prepare to hurl them my way...

Fact number one, even had Louisville remained on the schedule, we still had not one but TWO Mid-American schools plus an FCS... so the scheduling template, regardless, was already inferior to what almost ANY other FBS school had for 2014. We should own our decisions and not pretend otherwise.

Fact number two, we weren't any more advantaged or disadvantaged than any of the other left-behinds (UAB, USM, UTEP and Rice)... and yet ALL of them had at least two contract OOC games lined up... so the whole "these schedules are set years in advance" as-if we had no time to adjust is just a CYA claim. We took a risk in getting into the routine of scheduling two MAC teams, and only one contract school... and it backfired. So, again... own our own decisions. Fans might be, but no one who is in any position of authority is fooled.

But set all that aside and let's look at the glass half-full... if it all works out for us this year, shouldn't we want to continue scheduling 3 MAC schools and an FCS? If not, why not?

The FCS game this year wasn't on original schedule. That is the game that replaced Louisville.

When this schedule was done, except throwing in URI to replace Louisville, ECU and UCF were still in our division.

Our fans had a very limited number of driveable games at the time. That changed after the fact.

[dshoe]

AAC is an ESPN conference. We are not. Marketing their own. 

Doesn't work that way, I know everybody thinks it does, but it doesn't.......... in 20+ years at ESPN there was NEVER a company position on this kind of thing, in fact they built a wall between News and Opinion and the Live Event (game production/Entertainment) sides just for this kind of thing.  ESPN hires several Journalism professors and former Newpaper Editors and an Omsbudsman who are all insulated from Marketing and Corporate just to insure that the Corporate interest NEVER is allowed to infiltrate the News and Opinion side.

Again, I know you guys won't believe that, but it is a HUGE priority within the company.

That said, They do pay people to have opinions and state and argue those opinions and they want some of them to be controversial......Many of their opinion talking heads are elitists with respect to schools.

There is, in my opinion, NO FREAKING WAY a 2 loss ECU though displaces an undefeated Marshall, just can't see that happening at all.

As to the schedule, we should have asked CUSA/Britton to get involved with the FIU/MU situation relative to Louisville.  Had we been able to retain Louisville, the entire league would have benefited, not just MU, beyond that FIU has 8 home games, the league should have enticed them (even if it took an additional Bowl share) to move the UofL game down the road and insist on keeping the Marshall schedule intact....at least that is my opinion.

[luvherd]

That is like saying CBS will speak up for NBC's The Blacklist.

[luvherd]

Plus

http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2011/03/31/Media/ESPN-CUSA.aspx?

[_sturt_]

The FCS game this year wasn't on original schedule. That is the game that replaced Louisville.

Does nothing to the fundamental point. We had one contract school scheduled when everyone else had two. Our schedule was already inferior, and we can't hide from that fact.

When this schedule was done, except throwing in URI to replace Louisville, ECU and UCF were still in our division.

Does nothing to the fundamental point. We had the same situation as everyone else left from CUSA 2.0.

[_sturt_]

There is, in my opinion, NO FREAKING WAY a 2 loss ECU though displaces an undefeated Marshall, just can't see that happening at all.

I'm less inclined to think there's a freaking way today, but give ECU some convincing wins down the stretch and give Marshall one or two squeakers, and I won't completely dismiss it.

Of course, in about a week, we'll have a very clear idea about all of that.

My question for you, though... is there a freaking way that a 2-loss Boise (one being to Ole Miss) displaces an undefeated Marshall? How about a "somewhat"  :P freaking way?

[HerdHead]

Doesn't work that way, I know everybody thinks it does, but it doesn't..........
Again, I know you guys won't believe that.

You're right, I don't believe that. 

a.  There doesn't have to be an official company line.... that would be stupid (besides risking exposure), and
b.  You are also referencing a time prior to MAJOR, across-the-country conference re-alignments and re-shuffling of network affiliations.

Think about it:  I've never seen a Ford commercial touting Chevys.

[ThunderingHerdFan]

Does nothing to the fundamental point. We had one contract school scheduled when everyone else had two. Our schedule was already inferior, and we can't hide from that fact.

Does nothing to the fundamental point. We had the same situation as everyone else left from CUSA 2.0.

Never said it did. But you were wrong so I corrected you. That was the fundamental point of my post to you.

[_sturt_]

Please don't read any sarcasm into this when I say that I appreciate the correction. Accuracy is good, regardless of whether the point still remains.

[herdman]

I am a Marshall fan and I believe we did dumb down our schedule. I am not saying that is wrong either.   Why wouldn't you? Use the rules the big boys put in place against them. Do you see us going to Georgia and Ohio State in one year again? In years past we played Florida, Clemson, South Carolina, Kansas State, and Tennessee. I don't see us doing that anymore. I don't have an issue with it. But, there is no doubt we are playing the NC State's of the world and the Purdues of the world and not the SEC East. And, never getting a return out of it.  I don't blame Hamrick one bit.

In addition, this is going to be the downside of the new CUSA. Unless you pop a big boy in the mouth or two people are going to doubt you. This new CUSA is like the old Sunbelt.  You are always going to have those who doubt you.  

The down side to it is that if you don't have a name win it may cost you. This year it could cost us. We could go undefeated and be left out because of it. That is the odds you play.

[parshall2marshall]

Same person had half the board believing Texas Cowards that wanted no part of Firin' Byron had other reasons for not accepting our offer to travel to THEIR place instead for the first game on their open date.

Agenda's, agenda's. Always agenda's.

p2m

[parshall2marshall]

I am a Marshall fan and I believe we did dumb down our schedule. I am not saying that is wrong either.   Why wouldn't you? Use the rules the big boys put in place against them. Do you see us going to Georgia and Ohio State in one year again? In years past we played Florida, Clemson, South Carolina, Kansas State, and Tennessee. I don't see us doing that anymore. I don't have an issue with it. But, there is no doubt we are playing the NC State's of the world and the Purdues of the world and not the SEC East. And, never getting a return out of it.  I don't blame Hamrick one bit.

In addition, this is going to be the downside of the new CUSA. Unless you pop a big boy in the mouth or two people are going to doubt you. This new CUSA is like the old Sunbelt.  You are always going to have those who doubt you.  

The down side to it is that if you don't have a name win it may cost you. This year it could cost us. We could go undefeated and be left out because of it. That is the odds you play.

You are correct, much of our weak schedule was our own doing. Week in and week out in 2014 we hold our respective breath just a little until the game is over. The real questions are who will be our Bowl opponent and what the result will be, followed by any conference membership or coaching announcements.

Day in and day out it is the same old stuff on the boards. Hardly anyone else who knows Marshall WILL NOT be left out is not saying it.

Posters ask me, "How do you know this?" and "What are the 'Specific Reasons' ?"

I answer them the same : "One day I stopped beating my head against the wall ( Dec. 2008 ) over MU / college sports things I could not understand and opened my eyes".

p2m

[muherd]

Donnan talked about it on the broadcast a little bit on Saturday if anyone was listening closely........We can't do anything about our scheduling just win our conference is weak everyone knows that! Dont they know if the ACC or Big Ten or just about anyone invited us we would join them.....yeah but no one is or we would be gone!

[FlyHawk98]

All it takes is for us to get in there and actually win one of them. When that happens, people will not downplay our schedule near as much.

[dshoe]

You're right, I don't believe that. 

a.  There doesn't have to be an official company line.... that would be stupid (besides risking exposure), and
b.  You are also referencing a time prior to MAJOR, across-the-country conference re-alignments and re-shuffling of network affiliations.

Think about it:  I've never seen a Ford commercial touting Chevys.

You don't get it............. and it's not about an official company line..... in almost 25 years there I never once saw or heard of what is in the Corporate best interest being taken into consideration by News and Opinion.... just doesn't happen, there is no influence........ in the BCS days when Fox owned the BCS Bowls, many ESPN "talent" called for a playoff, but some spoke against it......... when ESPN owned the BCS games and Bowls, many talent still called for a playoff........... now that said, the Network "advertised, promoted and marketed the Hell out of the BCS Bowls and games, just as anyone would expect, but they never asked talent to change an opinion or opine about how great the BCS as a "playoff" process was.

NEWS and editorial positions are not shaped by the Company, they are shaped by the News editors who have total freedom in their positions.

So its not the Ford/Chevy situation..... It's not advertising, its News and Opinion.... when Jay Leno and Dave Letterman were "fighting it out" for the Tonight Show, CBS and ABC both covered the story, when something newsworthy Good or Bad happens at CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC, along with CNN all cover it as news..........thant's how news works.

Best examples I have EVERT seen of this...... When TCU was in the Mountain West and ESPN had NO access to their games, but they were the talk of the country, ESPN did GameDay from TCU's stadium even though the Game itself was on FOX, who had purchased a license from CSTV for the national rights to the game.

ESPN has done GameDay from Oregon on several occasions when the game that day was on FOX, same for Big XII games and sites.

The fact is, many of the "talking heads and editors" just truly believe at this point that MU's schedule doesn't merit their consideration..........I disagree, all of us on this board disagree, ALL Marshall fans disagree, but much National opinion is on their side on this point........... We need to keep winning and do the best that we can and hope that the things we can't control will take care of themselves.

[herdgadfly]

For those who were not around when we went to Manhattan - Kansas, that is -  to beat the #6 rated K-State Wildcats in 2003, the Manhattan Miracle that put K-State on the football map was largely Bill Snyder's scheduling formula.

KSU lost all seven of its conference games in 1989 (average score: Opponent 36, KSU 12) and finished 1-10. But Snyder's scheduling began to pay off in 1990. For a program in need of confidence, so desperate for reasons to feel good about itself, Snyder scheduled the weakest possible opponents in non-conference slots. The tests would come in the Big 8, but the confidence would come in September.

In 1990, KSU beat Western Illinois, New Mexico, and New Mexico State, fell again to NIU, then beat Oklahoma State and Iowa State in conference play.

In 1991, the Wildcats took down Indiana State (barely) and Idaho State and got over the NIU hump. They beat Kansas, 16-12, to start Big 8 play (it was their first win over KU in five tries), and following a competitive loss at Oklahoma, they turned the first of many corners: they won three in a row. They knocked out Iowa State, Missouri, and Oklahoma State by a combined score of 105-33. Sure, the three would combine to go 6-24-3 that season. But the fact that KSU was beating the sacrificial lambs was indisputable progress.

http://tinyurl.com/pyh8ftb