Post by AztecWilliam on Nov 1, 2009 12:03:45 GMT -8
Yes, it was great to get the win, but this program has a long way to go. Frankly, I was disturbed by how well NMU did in the third quarter. (On the other hand, the loss of V. Brown did not seem to handicap the team much.)
Clearly, it was never reasonable to expect a complete turnaround in less than a season.
A "complete turnaround" in terms of this year's schedule, would look something like this.
a) A close win over an obviously mediocre UCLA team.
b) A score of 49-10 against So. Utah.
c) A fairly easy win against Idaho, regardless of the improvement that program has achieved this year (The Vandals are now 7-2).
d) A score on the order of 42-14 against New Mexico State.
e) With an improved Aztec running game capable of 150 net yards, possibly a win over AFA. After all, S.D.S.U. committed numerous turnovers yet gave up no offensive TDs. And held AFA to about 100 fewer yards than they normally gain.
f) With a questionable offense, the Aztecs came close to BYU. Here again, a decent running game might have given us a W. As it was, the score was very close. (Does anybody else think that BYU peaked some years ago and will likely have a decent to strong program in the future while at the same time seldom dominating as in the 80s and 90s?)
g) A win over CSU from opening KO to final play.
h) A 20 pt or greater margin of victory over NMU.
Final analysis; if this were the 1991 or 1992 team, or perhaps even the 1995 or 1996 teams, we would be, AT WORST, 6-2, and perhaps 7-1 or undefeated. Remember, I am assuming an improvement to the level of football that was once considered an average season.
So far the opposition has not been earth-shaking. In other words, it does not take a Top-10 team to do well in this conference. If the program is to survive, we must improve to the point where we seldom lose to the likes of Idaho, CSU, Wyoming, or New Mexico. Hope that is soon.
On another note, one has to wonder whether more 15,000 to 20,000 fans would show up to see the Aztecs even if the team were rated in the Top-25. I realize that interest has waned as the program has declined, but last night's crowd was beyond embarrassing, even if it was Halloween.
I am reminded of schools such as Oregon State (28 losing seasons beginning in 1971) and South Carolina that saw consistently strong fan support despite almost always finishing near the bottom of their respective conferences. Here, even one or two losses kills attendance for the rest of the season. It will take, I'm afraid, a very long string of 8 or 9 win seasons before we can expect 30,000 or more in attendance on a regular basis. Sad.
AzWm
Clearly, it was never reasonable to expect a complete turnaround in less than a season.
A "complete turnaround" in terms of this year's schedule, would look something like this.
a) A close win over an obviously mediocre UCLA team.
b) A score of 49-10 against So. Utah.
c) A fairly easy win against Idaho, regardless of the improvement that program has achieved this year (The Vandals are now 7-2).
d) A score on the order of 42-14 against New Mexico State.
e) With an improved Aztec running game capable of 150 net yards, possibly a win over AFA. After all, S.D.S.U. committed numerous turnovers yet gave up no offensive TDs. And held AFA to about 100 fewer yards than they normally gain.
f) With a questionable offense, the Aztecs came close to BYU. Here again, a decent running game might have given us a W. As it was, the score was very close. (Does anybody else think that BYU peaked some years ago and will likely have a decent to strong program in the future while at the same time seldom dominating as in the 80s and 90s?)
g) A win over CSU from opening KO to final play.
h) A 20 pt or greater margin of victory over NMU.
Final analysis; if this were the 1991 or 1992 team, or perhaps even the 1995 or 1996 teams, we would be, AT WORST, 6-2, and perhaps 7-1 or undefeated. Remember, I am assuming an improvement to the level of football that was once considered an average season.
So far the opposition has not been earth-shaking. In other words, it does not take a Top-10 team to do well in this conference. If the program is to survive, we must improve to the point where we seldom lose to the likes of Idaho, CSU, Wyoming, or New Mexico. Hope that is soon.
On another note, one has to wonder whether more 15,000 to 20,000 fans would show up to see the Aztecs even if the team were rated in the Top-25. I realize that interest has waned as the program has declined, but last night's crowd was beyond embarrassing, even if it was Halloween.
I am reminded of schools such as Oregon State (28 losing seasons beginning in 1971) and South Carolina that saw consistently strong fan support despite almost always finishing near the bottom of their respective conferences. Here, even one or two losses kills attendance for the rest of the season. It will take, I'm afraid, a very long string of 8 or 9 win seasons before we can expect 30,000 or more in attendance on a regular basis. Sad.
AzWm
