Week 1: Northwestern State (9/2)

[DogsWin]

I agree with those pointing out that when Almond had to leave the game, that's when we took over. He was playing a very good game.

Almond (their senior starting QB) going out injured really shut down their offensive production. That was a huge break for us.


But the turnovers... Just like last time TURNOVERS gave our opponent several easy TDs. We've given the ball away 8 times in our last two games vs Northwestern State. We've given the ball away 10 times over our last two games vs USM. There is just something about playing these long-term opponents that causes our players to lose focus on the basics of securing the football.

We are 1-3 combined in those games and giving the football away 18 times is the consistent and primary reason.

[dawg80]

If we are to play in-state FCS teams, we should at least get to enjoy good visiting bands, and get some boost to attendance. Nicholls State and SLU just don't cut it. McNeese? Maybe. Not for their band, but I think they might travel well as a fan base. We had a pretty good rivalry with McNeese in the old SLC of the late 70's. I think between the two schools we won every conference championship for a run of about 10 years or so. Tech and McNeese were the only schools to represent the SLC in the Indy Bowl when our conference champ earned the host slot. (oops! just remembered, Arkansas State won the SLC title in 1975, undefeated, and had no bowl to play in, thus the Indy Bowl was formed for the SLC)

Southern is #1 on the invite list. But, even they have to be every 5+ years or so, else it gets stale. NSU is #2 on the list. But, even with them, it has to be 5+ years between dates. Maybe even 10 years.

The truth is, blessed their souls, the BOP is not the best band in the state. And don't get me started on that annoying Nancy announcer person.... Anyway, NSU has a strong music department, with real music majors. Jeff Matthews is their new band director and they haven't missed a beat since Bill Brent retired.

Someone posted some years ago, in defense of the BOP, that our band is composed in large part of non-music majors. We have a lot of engineering majors who play in the band for the small 'ship and because they have a background in music (from high school). I think they do a good job, and I am NOT knocking them. But, other schools emphasize their music departments and their marching bands, and it shows.

[qng001]

They will make more money vs NSU grads.

[dawg80]

Almond (their senior starting QB) going out injured really shut down their offensive production. That was a huge break for us.


But the turnovers... Just like last time TURNOVERS gave our opponent several easy TDs. We've given the ball away 8 times in our last two games vs Northwestern State. We've given the ball away 10 times over our last two games vs USM. There is just something about playing these long-term opponents that causes our players to lose focus on the basics of securing the football.

We are 1-3 combined in those games and giving the football away 18 times is the consistent and primary reason.

Not just turnovers, but KILLER turnovers, at the absolutely most inopportune time! 18 TO's in those 4 games. That's 4.5 per game.

Last night....wow! Go into halftime having scored late, ahead 24-10 after a crappy start, receiving the 2nd half kickoff. I'm thinking at the half, while enjoying the bands, if we take the 2nd half kickoff and put together a good, 8-play type drive, even a FG, and a 27-10 lead looks pretty good. I knew our defense would play better in the 2nd half, and I figured if NSU had to go on LONG drives to score, our D would make it tough on them.

But noooooooooo! We can't stand prosperity! Oh no! let's just give it away!

I still laugh when I remember an old friend, we played on a softball team and in a tourney we carried an 11-0 lead to the bottom of the 3rd inning, which meant the 10-run rule would have kicked in, if we held them to just one run. Nope! They scored 11 runs. So, we are trotting in to the dugout, now tied, and he shouts out, Hot damn! Now we got ourselves a ballgame!

That's us with NSU. Make it a game....give 'em a couple of cheap TDs!

[dawg80]

They will make more money vs NSU grads.

Yes, granted. Blah, blah, blah...

[BruceWillisDawg]

Our D gives up 400 yds mostly through the air against an FCS team demonstrating once again how bad we will be against the pass this yr. but w/o an offense that will keep us in big games.
In comparison & of course I know they have more talent - LSU gave up a total of 97 yds. against BYU.
Not only do they have athletes try attack. Our D sits back on its heels running around clueless.
We had NW on their 1yd line & basically sit back & give them 30 yds instead of attacking. The guy had to throw the ball out of the end zone & we gift them an easy 10 yd pitch & catch while our DBs play 10-15 yds deep. We play perhaps the best QB in the SEC next week & unless we improve by like 1000% - it's gonna be a long night.

[dawg80]

Precious beat Moo State! Surely Skip can too!

I understand the concerns about our pass coverage, which looks more like "pass observance," but we've been here before. In fact, we have never not been here going back to the days of Precious. We have sucked on defense every year under Sonny, and now Skip.

But, as we sit here today, looking ahead to the season as a whole, I am not overly concerned. In 2014 we lost to NSU, but still won 9 games and a bowl game. In 2017 we beat NSU, so no reason to think we won't have some kind of successful season. The Moo State game is the key to will it be another 9-win, bowl game type season, or something more special?

(granted, after last night, the "something more special" seems like a pipe dream)

[stodgdog]

We don't really have a weapon on Offense like we did last year in Calos and Trent. From the choppy epsn stream, our receivers couldn't get open in the first 3 quarters against FCS team.
Our D couldn't stop the run and our 2ndary will be picked apart against decent to goo QBs.

I haven't looked at the stats, but I think that NSU probably had about 120 yds rushing. We gave them 2 TDs on TOs in or close to the red zone.

[JuBru]

I haven't looked at the stats, but I think that NSU probably had about 120 yds rushing. We gave them 2 TDs on TOs in or close to the red zone.

133 rushing yards

[Houston Techsan]

I knew that someone would point out the loss of their QB, but it was their/his fault for poor conditioning and preparation. It wasn't a late hit or malicious injury. It was "body cramps" due to dehydration. I didn't see any of our players go out because of cramps etc, but I may have missed one. Let's give our strength and conditioning coach a thumbs up this week.

[dawg80]

Hey, Coach Jay Thomas, a word of advice: pickle juice

[Tech52]

I haven't looked at the stats, but I think that NSU probably had about 120 yds rushing. We gave them 2 TDs on TOs in or close to the red zone.

Turnovers gave them at least 2 scores, and trick plays helped them early. I also felt we were playing it kinda slow earlier in the game, instead of the faster tempo like I'd expect us to play. Punting didnt seem bad yesterday.

[Jacksonian]

I knew that someone would point out the loss of their QB, but it was their/his fault for poor conditioning and preparation. It wasn't a late hit or malicious injury. It was "body cramps" due to dehydration. I didn't see any of our players go out because of cramps etc, but I may have missed one. Let's give our strength and conditioning coach a thumbs up this week.

We were sitting in the Young Alumni seats right behind their bench. They were pouring table salt into powerade bottles. In a terribly misguided attempt to remedy their cramping problem they made it much worse.

[Houston Techsan]

As Teddy and Nitzer pointed out last night you have to start hydrating a day or so before. Of course IV's help, but even they take a little while to work. Almond was out for the rest of the third quarter and most of the fourth.

[PawDawg]

How many times have we bitched and moaned about the BoP not being at "drivable" games? Answer is every game. The bands being there is absolutely part of the atmosphere and what college football is all about.

We've had fans discuss bands going to bowl games or conference championship games. Only a few times have we been upset about not taking the whole band to close games (help me remember which games) Personally, I never have bitched and moaned about our band not traveling and it is certainly NOT part of the college football experience for a home team to have to listen to the visiting team fans fight songs and alma mater. The whole bogus band deal for Southern and Grambling is ridiculous. This ain't the SWAC, SLC, or high school.

What big time games have you attended where both bands were fully represented at a non-neutral venue?