Yes, correct. All happened just before we celebrated the loss with a poorly negotiated fireworks display.Quote:
Originally Posted by stodgdog
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Yes, correct. All happened just before we celebrated the loss with a poorly negotiated fireworks display.Quote:
Originally Posted by stodgdog
I know that after NSU tied the game the next play from scrimmage was an interception. Then of course the field goal as time expired.
I think we had 7 turnovers against Michigan State...maybe more...and still won that game, 20-19, on the road.
But, yeah, that NWST game was the perfect storm. It's not just turnovers, but what they are and when they occur. If you throw a long bomb on 3rd and 10 and it gets intercepted 40+ yards downfield, it's a turnover, yes, but just as good as a punt. We had "killer" turnovers that night. And their FG kicker was a perfect 3 for 3, all over 40 yards, and finished that year something like 9 of 30, and was lousy beyond 40 yds....except that night.
While all of that is true, it's not the only reason we lost. Fact is, the Demons played well, and we were, at best, mediocre. Our defense could not make a play in the 2nd half, and especially in the 4th Qtr.
That was three years ago. This year everything is new. I can tell you, Demon Nation likes its chances. They think they can (will?) win this game straight up, by being the better team. And don't tell me it can't happen. We beat Bama in 1997 and then returned in 1999 for rematch. They circled our game as a revenge game for them. They were SEC Champs in 1999. We beat 'em again, nonetheless.
Per the official game summary 3 of our 5 giveaways to NSU were in the 4th Qtr. They were-
a devastating fumbled punt by young Trent Taylor at the Tech 35 that led to an NSU TD and got them back in the game (Tech 20-17),
then a Kenneth Dixon fumble at the Tech 35 that led to another NSU TD (Tech 27- 24),
then a Cody Sokol INT at midfield that gave them the 3 point win.
Three 4th quarter giveaways on our end of the field led to 17 4th quarter points for our inferior opponent.
After that the team went 7-3 the rest of the way, lost the CUSA Championship at Marshall by 3 points, then hammered Illinois in the HOD Bowl.
The major flaw of our team in 2014, at least to me, was that our offense was high dependent upon the big play. We were not great at slowly grinding out yards (which is what allowed NSU, ODU, and Marshall to come back, as we couldn't effectively eat up clock). I felt we were greatly improved in that category last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by DogsWin
Last time Miss State played in Ruston their fans didn't travel very well. I also had a few that we invited into our tailgate that were thoroughly amzed by our great tailgates and such. I wouldn't worry too much about the cowbells.
Are State fans allowed to ring their cowbells in SEC venues other than Starkville? I work with many State grads and will handle the game result with dignity and class. I do remember when we played and won at Starkville when Sherrill was their coach and I think Tech had the "Oak Grove Trio" as some of our better players. Game week I endured many "we are going to kick ya'lls butt" and variations of same, to which I politely responded that you folks may be surprised. I attended the game and if I remember correctly, State's final 2 TDs were in quick succession and after the game had been decided. The next week there was no talk about the game from these folks, i.e., good game by your team and the like. I never mentioned the game either except to other Tech, Ole Miss, or USM fans I worked with at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by marketdawg
The hurricane bearing down on New Orleans that weekend had a lot to do with that. Many State fans and our fans, as well, stayed home and gave up their hotel rooms to evacuees.Quote:
Originally Posted by marketdawg
Now, I wasn't there so I don't know what the crowd looked like, but y'all are making it sound like the crowd was small. According to Wikipedia the crowd was 25,224, which is the 7th best crowd in the Joe's history by my count. It was also almost 5000 more people than the next largest crowd that year, homecoming vs Fresno State.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Historian
Considering how much larger our typical crowds are nowadays (our game against Idaho that year only had 12,400), we should have a packed house for this game! I feel like NSU and MSST should be sell outs or close to it. If we win some games, we could see great crowds all year! Southern Miss travels well so another great crowd should be on hand for that one, at the least.
Ugh my ears still hurt from that game, Southern's band was awful imo, just loud and noisy, and that guy wasn't to far from me so i had the "plesantness" in my ears to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tech52
I knew we were in trouble berofe the game started!!! The Demons came onto the field, were jumping up and down, and were really fired up. The TECH players came onto the field and walked around as if it was another day at the office. The Demons had the "eye of the tiger" and I could see they wanted to win. I turned to my brother, and said...OH NO!!Quote:
Originally Posted by techdawg28
This seems to happen a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by 70TECHGRAD
We seem to be "big chillin" before games--unfocused at times. Besides key starters, it's like the other guys either don't expect to play or expect it to matter
All that matters to Holtz is getting into (not winning) the championship game, and getting into a bowl. If the game we're playing doesn't advance us towards one of those goals, it's irrelevant how we play, to him. I remember his comments after the MSU game, saying "this game doesn't really matter anyway." Or something to that effect. At USM, we'd already locked the championship game up, so no need to strain ourselves on a "meaningless" game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dixonfor6
LA Tech needs to break its early season curse, and make sure we don't start this season off 1-4, or 2-3. We've done that far too often in our last 20-year history.
YEAR Record over 1st 5 games:
2016 2-3
2015 3-2
2014 2-3
2013 1-4
2012 5-0
2011 1-4
2010 1-4
2009 2-3
2008 2-3
2007 1-4
2006 1-4
2005 2-3
2004 3-2
2003 2-3
2002 2-3
2001 3-2
2000 1-4
1999 3-2
1998 1-4
1997 4-1
1st 5-game Record = 42-58 (over 20 years)
It's a wonder that LA Tech can draw any fans at all to JAS with a average starting season record of 2 wins and 3 losses each year. Imagine how much more interested north Louisiana fans would be in LA Tech football if we could start off 4-1 or 5-0 every year....Simply put, LA Tech has got to quit digging itself a hole early each season. Yes, we've been slightly better the last 5 years, but 2-3 just doesn't cut it.
The message here is, the FIRST 5 GAMES COUNT TOO! If we can start winning more of our first 5 games than we lose, I believe we'll draw bigger crowds at home, and likely finish some seasons with double digit (10+) wins.