Messages

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YSU Penguin Athletics / FCS Football playoffs

« on: November 25, 2017, 06:34:02 PM »

UNI up 33-0 over Monmouth (9-2) at halftime. The Big south is garbage... UNH only beat CCSU 14-0. Colonial not nearly as deep as the Valley. In other news, SD having a tight one with Nichols and Weber Stte and WIU duking it out. Here’s hoping those two can hold on/ turn it around and help MVFC great to 3-0 in Round 1

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: 2017 Playoffs

« on: November 20, 2017, 08:55:22 PM »

Maybe not a title contender but healthy and in this year’s bracket could have been a quarterfinal team (Wofdord, SDSU, Sam houston, Jacksonville all beatable by a healthy YSU). And I suppose that’s the frustration. Outside of the MVFC in a conference like the OVC, YSU would have been in the playoffs at least 7-8 times in the passed 15 years as opposed to just 2. And out of those 7-8 times would have probably gone quarters or even semis 2 or 3 times. Overall our reputation would be so much better in the later scenario. Our only losses every year are to a top conference FBS team, an fcs championship contender and typically 2 other 2-round playoff contenders... and several seasons those games have been close.

Trust me, no excuses and there have been 3-4 other years where we shot ourselves in the foot when we had a clear playoff berth even with being in the MVFC. I just can’t believe so many hold onto the MVFC helps us recruit and then say we should play a better OCC strength of schedule. Without even scheduling non conference games our scihedule is already stronger than 3 years worths of games for 65% of FCS. I would love to see the MVFC go to two sides of the conference and be treated as two conferences and lose the NEC, Patriot and Pioneer autobids (if one of the schools out of those 3 conferences passes the eye test, they can be an at large). It would probably help the FCS in general even more than YSU!

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: 2017 Playoffs

« on: November 20, 2017, 08:14:46 PM »

This won’t be popular but all that college kids care about these days is winning... outside of the FBS Power 5, they give very little credence to Conference prowess. And I speak from being part of a collegiate conference transition change, as well as coaching players who are going on to the next level. They would rather come back for winter break and tell their friends they went 9-2 than say “We went 6-5... but it was in a really good conference.” All that to say if YSU went to a smaller conference and dominated, it would probably actually  help recruiting. As long as we still had the same facilities and the amenities we have now.

Honestly, FCS would benefit from spreading the wealth. There are two conferences inside the MVFC and almost every season 6 or 7 teams in the conference are playoff caliber. It is just deflating for the division when you don’t have a real quality game until the quarterfinals. That’s when the true playoff begins.

Listen, I like the MVFC but as proud as I am of the fact that we play in a tough conference... no one outside the people on this board and those in the stands at stambaugh care about that. Their bottom line is did you win a lot of games and what did you do in the playoffs.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Vs. JMU In Game Thread

« on: January 07, 2017, 03:48:01 PM »

Honestly didn't have much  to do with Wells... he was who he has been at QB throughout the entire postseason. Just average... Not every team can have a future NFL player in the backfield. This is a little more on our OC and special teams. OC is phenomenal when everything goes as planned but not very good  when he has to jump off script.. And for the love of all things holy, you can do a speed package out of our offensive set... I've played in one and all you do is take out the second look to the sideline... rely on the QB to make some decisions. Comebacks don't happen when you snap the ball at :03 every play.

Special teams is really on the players not executing. Mental Game in that corp. has been crap since the late season missteps.

JMU dominated and they are a more talented team but to say this game was in the bag before it started is bogus and frankly let's us off the hook for the responsibility we had in losing it. If JMU had 3 turnovers, a missed FG and a blocked punt they would have lost too. Would love to see what the game was like with an even turnover margin. But you can't go play a team with more talent AND shoot yourself in the foot and expect to win.

Overall you have to appreciate that they kept playing. There are no moral victories but 28-14 is about as good as we could have hoped for given how things went down. It really was a great season and the Penguins overachieved... don't lose sight of that in the frustration of the loss. Good year. Congrats JMU

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Top 15 FBS/FCS match ups for 2016

« on: July 22, 2016, 08:26:55 PM »

I thought this was an interesting read... YSU v. WVU listed as #12 with a shoutout to the Pitt game last season...

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/15-best-fbs-vs-fcs-football-games-2016

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU/MVFC Preseason Rankings

« on: July 19, 2016, 11:13:29 PM »

Not sure that I agree with the Duquesnes and Daytons dragging us down. In fact, in some cases I think they might (unfairly as it is) drag us up (the perception that Dayton is a playoff team but is, in actuality, equivalent to a lower level MVFC team). The reason people have talked about, say, Ohio State's OOC schedule in the past, is because their conference didn't offer them a lot of ranked games... the idea being that they played weak OOC AND weak conference opponents. OOC has little to do with YSU's specific playoff situation... it is entirely based on our conference. We are guaranteed 4 or 5 ranked games a year in conference games alone. Why play 1 or 2 more when they can only hurt us?

You're pretty much guaranteed to go 2-1 against an FBS and 2 medium/low teams and you will have to go at least 5-3 in conference to have a chance at playoffs. On a good year, you MAY go 2-1 OOC games against an FBS and 2 ranked teams and you STILL have to go 5-3 in conference to have a chance at playoffs. And as far as preparation for MVFC football, there are pros and cons to playing both Dayton/Duquesne and Montana/McNeese St.

The problem isn't the OOC. We have to perform better in-conference... plain and simple.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / YSU/MVFC Preseason Rankings

« on: July 17, 2016, 09:09:38 PM »

This board has to liven up a bit here...

What's everyone's thoughts on some of the predictions for the season. I just made my annual trip to Barnes and Nobles to nab the season preview magazines and here's what they're saying...

-Sporting News; YSU 6th in the MVFC, unranked nationally. Derek Rivers listed as the Top NFL Prospect in the League. (Rest of MVFC - #1 NDSU, #4 UNI, #10 Illinois State, #12 SDSU, #16 W. Illinois)

-Lindy's Sports; YSU 6th in the MVFC, ranked #24 nationally. Sites YSU as possibly being able to slink from the middle of the pack to the upper tier of the league. (Rest of MVFC - #1 NDSU, #4 UNI, #6 SDSU, #17 W. Illinois, #20 Illinois State)

-Compughterrankings.com; YSU ranked #22 nationally. (Rest of MVFC - #1 NDSU, #3 UNI, #5 SDSU, #6 Illinois St, #14 W. Illinois)

I also saw a couple individual posters (that were not YSU faithful haha) at various sites that had YSU as a Top 10 contender! The funny thing is based on 1 or 2 big games we honestly could go anywhere from Top 5 to completely unranked... I guess its like that when 5 or 6 of our conference teams are in the Top 25.

I know Game 1 is a month and a half away but Duquesne is ranked #22 in Lindy's Sports Preseason Rankings and seems to be a continually improving program (coming off close playoff loss to William & Mary after making the FCS postseason for the first time in program history). Was listed as a Top OOC matchup on another site (I cant remember which). Also, they gave us a game a couple years ago (34-23). I think it may be a little overhyped if you actually know about the disparity between the MVFC and any mid-major FCS conference but its an intriguing matchup nonetheless. And the biggest thing is that it should give us at least some indication of how the season will go.

On a side note, Illinois State and North Dakota State were listed as the #3 and #5 FCS recruiting classes respectively... the rich keep on getting richer I guess.

Any thoughts?

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Time for a QB change!

« on: October 24, 2015, 09:04:40 PM »

Normally, I'd think this is way too early to say change QBs but Wells is just super mediocre and mediocre doesn't get it done in our conference. Unfortunately, I really don't think there is a QB on our roster yet that fits the bill so... We just go with it. Maybe he'll win the game for us today and I can rescind my statement... Doubt it

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Stats FCS Poll

« on: September 28, 2015, 06:59:20 PM »

I am going to sound like a complete conference homer but im actually disappointed we didn't have 7 teams ranked after Liberty got smacked by SIU. I watched that game and honestly for as bad as the score was it could have been worse (proba to the Salukis for sportsmanship and kneeling the ball on Liberty's half yard line with a minute something to go).

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: 7 pm Saturday at The Castle: Robert Morris

« on: September 12, 2015, 08:27:21 PM »

Even if they come back from this... I will live in fear the remainder of the season knowing that we are capable at any time of playing this bad...

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: In Game Embarassment Thread

« on: September 12, 2015, 08:25:28 PM »

Ricky Davis anybody? But hey, let's keep trying to run 5-8, 170 pound Jody Webb up the middle lol. Laughable Montgomery, laughable.

Totally correct.  We lack a feature back who can grind it out when we come out like this.  I get that you cant run stretch plays with this guy all day but how can you justify the repeated runs up the middle with a guy who weighs less than most players on a high school field.  I love Webb, but what the heck?

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: In Game Embarassment Thread

« on: September 12, 2015, 08:23:36 PM »

Yeah... this is horrific.  I'm usually more on the optimistic side, but wow.  I don't care if the conditions are bad... you're a Division 1 college athlete; catch the ball. This is a boring brand of football... I have always stood in the middle with the whole Montgomery conversation but man... someone has to be responsible for this complete lack of passionate play on offense.  There are so many "football" things I could say that are wrong but I'm sensing a heart issue above anything else.  Hopefully, somebody decides to come out and play the 3rd and 4th quarters...

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: 7 pm Saturday at The Castle: Robert Morris

« on: September 12, 2015, 01:02:03 PM »

What kind of person would think being the only MVFC team with two 1AAA OOC games was acceptable?

The OOC schedule is improving in MBB.  However for FB, I hope we stop fielding a BIG/NFL HC and BIG transfers against consecutive NEC games.

Nearly one month will pass since the Pitt game that we will again face a team w/ more than 40 scholarships.  Unreal.  That leaves us vulnerable for MVFC play.

Well given the fact that our S.O.S ranks higher than everyone in the MVFC except NDSU, Ill St. and SDSU, I would say it doesn't matter who the other teams in our conference are playing.  In addition, our schedule rankes better than a lot of other big FCS programs like UNI, Coastal Carolina, Montana, James Madison, McNesse St, etc. Why would you take a risk on 2 out of 3 non-conference games (since the FBS game is basically like playing a high-ranked FCS)?  We're not Ohio State here where we have to prove that we are good in our OOC games because our in-conference games suck.  We win the MVFC or end with 1 or 2 losses in it, we easily deserve to be in the playoffs... heck probably at least the quarterfinals.  Adding a heap of strength to the OOC schedule is unwise and unnecessary... Two options I'd rather see though: Maybe a high-ranked FCS school like Montana rather than an FBS like Pitt?  The FBS games are intriguing but I'd rather know where we stand in our division.  As far as Robert Morris, I wish we played maybe a "little" bit better of a team... I agree this is just a stat stacker game.  Maybe another St. Francis where we win easily but actually break a sweat doing it...

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: MVFC Non-Conference Schedule Comparison

« on: July 26, 2015, 12:39:02 PM »

Yes, to be honest I don't think OOC has had anything to do with YSU not making the playoffs the last four years.... Substitute St. Francis for a win over an E. Illinois or SE Missouri St and we still sit out all four. On the other side, had YSU beaten Missouri St (2011), any of the October losses (2012) or any of the November games (2013, 2014), they would have been in despite their OOC. Right now, YSU needs to focus on winning in the conference (and that's a tough enough task). Once they can establish that for a couple years, then they can start bringing in top tier OOC teams. Otherwise, they run the risk of losing a shot at the playoffs before they even get to week 4.

Now, with that said I would rather them play a top conference mid-level or bottom dweller than SFU and Robert Morris... A game they should win but not by 30 points and taking out starters mid 3rd Quarter. That's no fun for the fans and, honestly, not even a great tune up game. I think a good matchup would be Southern Utah (Big Sky) or Towson (CAA).

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YSU Penguin Athletics / MVFC Non-Conference Schedule Comparison

« on: July 25, 2015, 01:46:45 PM »

It's always fun to see those first few weeks of the season and put our guys out there on a more national stage.  The last several years have demonstrated the MVFC's dominance in the FCS world... but that's a badge that must be earned every season and I know there are some teams on the conference's OOC schedule that would love to see that happen. Here's a comparison of each teams' non conference schedule...

North Dakota State:
8/29 - @Montana (Big Sky)
9/12 - Weber State (Big Sky)
9/19 - North Dakota (Big Sky)
*three Big Sky match ups?! I wonder if they could just decide to give NDSU two conference championships 

South Dakota State:
9/5 - @Kansas (Big 12)
9/12 - Southern Utah (Big Sky)
9/26 - Robert Morris (NEC)

Youngstown State:
9/5 - @ Pittsburgh (AAC)
9/12 - Robert Morris (NEC)
9/19 - Saint Francis (NEC)

Northern Iowa
9/5 - @Iowa State (Big 12)
9/12 - E. Washington (Big Sky)
9/19 - Cal Poly (Big Sky)

Illinois State:
9/5 - @ Iowa (Big Ten)
9/12 - Morgan State (MEAC)
9/19 - @ E Illinois (OVC)

Indiana State:
9/5 - Butler (Pioneer)
9/12 - @Purdue (Big Ten)
9/19 - SE Missouri State (OVC)

Southern Illinois:
9/5 - @Indiana (Big Ten)
9/12 - @SE Missouri State (OVC)
9/26 - Liberty (Big South)

Western Illinois:
9/3 - E Illinois (OVC)
9/12 - @Illinois (Big Ten)
9/19 - @Coastal Carolina (Big South)

Missouri State:
9/5 - @Memphis (AAC)
9/12 - Chadron State (Div 2 - RMAC)
9/19 - @Arkansas State (Sun Belt)

South Dakota:
9/5 - @Kansas State (Big 12)
9/12 - @UC Davis (Big Sky)
9/19 - Drake (Pioneer)

Now that looks like 7 Big Sky, 4 Ohio Valley, 4 Big Ten, 3 Big 12, 3 NEC, 2 AAC, 2 Pioneer, 2 Big South, 1 Sun Belt, 1 MEAC, 1 RMAC (Div 2). So...

(1) What's everyone's thoughts on the overall strength of the MVFC non-conference schedule and implications on playoff picture...

(2) Thoughts on any specific team's OOC schedule?

(3) Also, what OOC matchups is everyone looking forward to? My personal list goes like this:
I. 9/12 - Northern Iowa vs. Eastern Washington
EWU had a great season last year and should prove to be a tough task for the Panthers.  Will be an earlier season feeler of whether UNI will be the team that "just makes the playoffs" or is poised to make an actual deep run in the post season.

II. 9/19 - Western Illinois @ Coastal Carolina
I like this matchup because WIU seems to be a team on the rise in the conference and I've heard a number of people call them the Dark Horse of the MVFC. CCU on the other hand has been a Big South power and considered to be a team on the rise nationally, playing a competitive 32-39 game against NDSU in the playoffs last season.  If WIU somehow managed to go down to Conway, SC and compete (dare say it win), what a boost for that program... and the conference.

III. 9/26 - Southern Illinois vs. Liberty
I put this one down mostly because I can't stand the Big South (long story...) nor Liberty for that matter (longer story.....).  But last season's playoff berth (and first round victory) has given the Flames fans a ton to brag about this offseason.  It would be nice to see a mid-level MVFC team (one that lost 5 conference games last season) beat em up to prove a point.

Runner-up: YSU @ Pitt... 2012 worked out well... don't think this second go around will be as easy but still excited to see the matchup again... and contrary to 2012, I have had a lot of Pitt fans telling me that they are actually keeping a close eye on this game.