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Post by HighNTight on Sept 15, 2014 10:42:28 GMT -8
There is no doubt that 2014's home schedule is a real yawner. Even if we were in the Top-25, one has to wonder whether our attendance would rise above mediocre. With no invitation to a P5 conference in sight, this is what we are stuck in. I would call the MWC a small pond indeed. But, let's not forget, we (and Boise) had a chance to do better with respect to conference scheduling. Had the two aforementioned schools not bailed out of the Big East/AAC deal, we would be in our second year of playing in that conference. Now, take a look at the members of that conference and tell me that playing these schools would not be better than playing the dregs we now have on our plate. (And, of course, Boise would be on that list.) University of Central Florida University of Cincinnati University of Connecticut East Carolina University University of Houston University of Memphis University of South Florida Southern Methodist University Temple University Tulane Tulsa AzWm PS: Oh, yes, didn't East Carolina just beat Virginia Tech? Adjusting for the West Division of an AAC: Tulsa, Tulane, Houston, SMU , Memphis, Boise St. & San Diego St. -- still mostly dregs in a 14-team league, would there be a 8 or 9 game conference schedule? BTW, what jacknut(s) is/are voting for Memphis in the coaches poll?
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Post by sdcoug on Sept 15, 2014 10:55:08 GMT -8
There is no doubt that 2014's home schedule is a real yawner. Even if we were in the Top-25, one has to wonder whether our attendance would rise above mediocre. With no invitation to a P5 conference in sight, this is what we are stuck in. I would call the MWC a small pond indeed. But, let's not forget, we (and Boise) had a chance to do better with respect to conference scheduling. Had the two aforementioned schools not bailed out of the Big East/AAC deal, we would be in our second year of playing in that conference. Now, take a look at the members of that conference and tell me that playing these schools would not be better than playing the dregs we now have on our plate. (And, of course, Boise would be on that list.) University of Central Florida University of Cincinnati University of Connecticut East Carolina University University of Houston University of Memphis University of South Florida Southern Methodist University Temple University Tulane Tulsa AzWm PS: Oh, yes, didn't East Carolina just beat Virginia Tech? Adjusting for the West Division of an AAC: Tulsa, Tulane, Houston, SMU , Memphis, Boise St. & San Diego St. -- still mostly dregs in a 14-team league, would there be a 8 or 9 game conference schedule? BTW, what jacknut(s) is/are voting for Memphis in the coaches poll? I'm with you. I don't see that list as that much more appealing than the MWC. The AAC is probably deeper, but as far as having an appealing team that'll jack attendance - don't really see it. Overall, ESPN rates the AAC #6 thus far & the MWC #8, but the gap isn't that great.
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Sept 15, 2014 10:57:13 GMT -8
Perhaps you could use your influence as a WSU Coug to get us in the Pac??
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Post by haroldskilley on Sept 15, 2014 11:30:33 GMT -8
Lot of talk about "garbage" scheduling. Here is SDSU's future home schedules: www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/mtn-west/san-diego-state-aztecs.phpSome of the future schedules have 1 home PAC12 opponent. If SDSU can't get more quality home-and-homes, then there is the skeleton in the closet: schedule BYU home-and-home every year. This game would excite the fickle fans. This is what Boise has had to resort to in order to get a good annual home game, and BYU is probably their best home game every year. Other MWC schools are sort of lucky, in that they have a built in annual P5 opponent: Colorado-CSU; Stanford-San Jose. Here is Boise's future schedules for comparison: www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/mtn-west/boise-state-broncos.php
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Post by myownwords on Sept 15, 2014 11:39:15 GMT -8
The pitiful schedule is in direct proportion to our HC's and AD's abilities and ambitions.
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Post by HighNTight on Sept 15, 2014 12:19:02 GMT -8
The pitiful schedule is in direct proportion to our HC's and AD's abilities and ambitions. we don't make the conference schedule ... OoC we have Pac-12 home games every other year until 2022 We scheduled a HnH with NIU I don't see this year's schedule as any indication of any weakness in our HC or AD
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Post by haroldskilley on Sept 15, 2014 13:05:53 GMT -8
The pitiful schedule is in direct proportion to our HC's and AD's abilities and ambitions. we don't make the conference schedule ... OoC we have Pac-12 home games every other year until 2022 We scheduled a HnH with NIU I don't see this year's schedule as any indication of any weakness in our HC or AD The HnH with NIU isn't bad, but looking at Boise's future schedules, they look a lot more challenging than SDSU's. SDSU should follow their approach.
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Post by zurac315 on Sept 15, 2014 14:27:50 GMT -8
Anyone but UCLA and/or BYU. No interest for me, anyway.
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Post by gocoaztec on Sept 15, 2014 15:14:45 GMT -8
The pitiful schedule is in direct proportion to our HC's and AD's abilities and ambitions. Wow. A real "Pow". From MOW. Gow Aztecs!
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Post by myownwords on Sept 15, 2014 15:16:38 GMT -8
The pitiful schedule is in direct proportion to our HC's and AD's abilities and ambitions. we don't make the conference schedule ... OoC we have Pac-12 home games every other year until 2022 We scheduled a HnH with NIU I don't see this year's schedule as any indication of any weakness in our HC or AD You and I have very different takes on what our fans are forced to stomach.
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Post by The Aztec Panther on Sept 20, 2014 21:25:21 GMT -8
Well, after tonight it's pretty clear that we are (still) not ready for prime time players.
No more scheduling Michigan or Penn State or Ohio State. Maybe an Oregon State type (mid level Pac 12) for a home/away deal so we do get a bump in attendance, but until we start winning these games we need to stop signing contracts to be sacrificial lambs. It's not helping our program, and it's consistently hurting the perception of the team among local football fans who keep seeing losses to good teams.
We should focus on winning 10 games per regular season (not counting conference championship or Bowl games), and schedule accordingly until we start beating those mid level Pac 12 teams as often as we lose to them. We can be the big fish in the MWC pond, or we can be a mid sized fish in that pond if we keep scheduling games we have no chance of winning (our guys just get beaten up physically and mentally in those big game losses).
The last two losses have been really deflating. I just hope that those in charge aren't willing to schedule games that are almost automatic losses for the sake of big paydays anymore. The long term harm to the program's perception in this community is greater than the immediate financial benefit.
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Post by myownwords on Sept 20, 2014 21:41:20 GMT -8
Well, after tonight it's pretty clear that we are (still) not ready for prime time players. No more scheduling Michigan or Penn State or Ohio State. Maybe an Oregon State type (mid level Pac 12) for a home/away deal so we do get a bump in attendance, but until we start winning these games we need to stop signing contracts to be sacrificial lambs. It's not helping our program, and it's consistently hurting the perception of the team among local football fans who keep seeing losses to good teams. We should focus on winning 10 games per regular season (not counting conference championship or Bowl games), and schedule accordingly until we start beating those mid level Pac 12 teams as often as we lose to them. We can be the big fish in the MWC pond, or we can be a mid sized fish in that pond if we keep scheduling games we have no chance of winning (our guys just get beaten up physically and mentally in those big game losses). The last two losses have been really deflating. I just hope that those in charge aren't willing to schedule games that are almost automatic losses for the sake of big paydays anymore. The long term harm to the program's perception in this community is greater than the immediate financial benefit. We will continue to focus on what we have been since Rocky Retread took over as head coach: Mediocrity. Stay the course. Don't lose more than you win. And with our pusillanimous administration, which is obviously happy with that status, we will remain in the torpor of the MWC doldrums.
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Post by AztecWilliam on Sept 20, 2014 21:55:13 GMT -8
Well, after tonight it's pretty clear that we are (still) not ready for prime time players. No more scheduling Michigan or Penn State or Ohio State. Maybe an Oregon State type (mid level Pac 12) for a home/away deal so we do get a bump in attendance, but until we start winning these games we need to stop signing contracts to be sacrificial lambs. It's not helping our program, and it's consistently hurting the perception of the team among local football fans who keep seeing losses to good teams. We should focus on winning 10 games per regular season (not counting conference championship or Bowl games), and schedule accordingly until we start beating those mid level Pac 12 teams as often as we lose to them. We can be the big fish in the MWC pond, or we can be a mid sized fish in that pond if we keep scheduling games we have no chance of winning (our guys just get beaten up physically and mentally in those big game losses). The last two losses have been really deflating. I just hope that those in charge aren't willing to schedule games that are almost automatic losses for the sake of big paydays anymore. The long term harm to the program's perception in this community is greater than the immediate financial benefit. We will continue to focus on what we have been since Rocky Retread took over as head coach: Mediocrity. Stay the course. Don't lose more than you win. And with our pusillanimous administration, which is obviously happy with that status, we will remain in the torpor of the MWC doldrums. Well, it's easy to dump on Rocky Long. Or on Quinn Kaehler. In fact, I was going to do the latter until it became clear that Oregon State (my god! Oregon State, a school that had 28 straight losing seasons between 1971 and 1998! A school we used to beat without too much difficulty!) was simply better . . . much better . . . in just about every phase of the game. Mannion was the biggest factor, but we did have TWO WEEKS to prepare for the game. Also, one of Mannion's top receivers went out of the game early on and could not return. Too many Aztec fans (and, I suppose, Lobo fans and Wyoming Cowboy fans, and CSU Ram fans) are in denial. The gap between the Power5 conference teams and even the best of the rest is simply huge and getting even greater. This loss pretty much kills the 2014 season as far as boosting our brand is concerned. Short of running the table (8-0 in conference, MWC champion ship win, and bowl win) we are not going to move the needle. This loss to Oregon State was truly embarrassing. It will not do our recruiting any good. Any four star player who might have been giving SDSU at least a bit of consideration will get over that idea fast if they watched the game. The one thing we absolutely could not afford to do was to be embarrassed by the Beavers. But that's what happened. Yep, I am a pessimist. If you think my pessimism is not warranted, explain to me where my reasoning is faulty. And please, don't talk to me of faith in the program. Only those who choose to ignore facts will rely on that. AzWm
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Post by AztecWilliam on Sept 20, 2014 22:08:07 GMT -8
Addendum: Thanks to Rocky Long for stepping in and doing a creditable job as HC. But we seriously need to bring in someone who can juice the program. I will always think that we made a horrible mistake in not hiring Terry Bowden. Or, before him, several other excellent head coaches who were at the time unemployed and eager to take the job.
We may never again be in a position to grab a program changer capable of doing for FB what Steve Fisher did for basketball. Or, for that matter, someone who could save football the way Don Coryell did in the '60s.
But I think it's time to make the effort to find such a person. Let me be clear, this is not a blanket broadside aimed at Rocky Long. He's done a lot, to be sure. But this is his fourth year as HC and his sixth year in the program. I don't see much chance that Aztec football is going to become a frequent member of the Top-25 with the current staff. Maybe nobody can reach that goal, but if there is a possibility that there is somebody capable to getting the job done as Fisher has done with hoops, we should be looking for him now!
My fear is that the administration is content to let things slide as long as we stay above, even if just above, the .500 level. That's not going to separate us from the pack of also-rans that are outside the P5 conferences looking in.
AzWm
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Sept 20, 2014 22:38:52 GMT -8
Pond?? More like quick sand!
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