The Road Ahead

[g-mann17]

After looking at our final 5 games of the season, there is quite a good possibility (though with the youth we have we can't take anything for granted) that we can finish with a a winning record.First is EMU (2-5, 1-2 MAC). Their one MAC win is over BGSU, which they promptly followed up with a loss to Army. The other win on their schedule is to FCS Indiana St.Then we have our long by semi-month. And come home to face Toledo.Toledo (2-4, 1-1 MAC) Has a huge upset against Michigan (likely this year's Minnesota, they are going through a huge shake in the systems they run). Their other huge win is EMU. Next up is probably the consensus toughest opponent. Buffalo (2-4, 1-2 MAC). While they only have wins over Temple and UTEP, they have played two MAC West opponents in WMU and CMU. Buffalo's next three weeks will really tell us if the team has any potential at all or is just what Buffalo has always been. They face Army, Ohio, and Miami, and if Buffalo is not 5-4 when they come into the Rubber Bowl we know the preseason expectations were a whole lot of hype. To our benefit they will be coming to close the Rubber Bowl, and hopefully we have a bit of pride in trying to close her down on a good note.Next up is Ohio (2-5, 1-2 MAC). With wins over VMI Can't. We finish with Temple (2-5, 1-2 MAC), They have beaten Army, and Miami (Oh). Temple who is very much down this year with key injuries. It is possible, none of the teams are better then we are, Buffalo is the only team that scares me (other then ourselves by letting teams back into the game). We can finish 7-5, and very easily 8-4.

[skip-zip]

Ahhh....well...I don't like to try to predict what will happen in MAC football, but the stars certainly seem aligned for us to possibly win 7 or 8 games. Thanks for taking the time to review our remaining opponents.

[Buckzip]

Ahhh....well...I don't like to try to predict what will happen in MAC football, but the stars certainly seem aligned for us to possibly win 7 or 8 games. Thanks for taking the time to review our remaining opponents.

Not meaning to sound negative, but every year we have these exact same threads. We lost some games we shouldn't have, but always think all of the remaining games are winnable.However, JD always seems to have this team ready to play down to or below the level of the competition.Sorry to be such a downer, but we go through this every year it seems.Yes, we will win some more, but we will also lose some that we have no business losing.

[RootforRoo44]

I'm just gonna say it right now...We WILL win at least 7 games this year. There, now i can truly say ive said it every year.

[MDZip]

Every game that is left is winnable, but each of them could also be a loss. There's not a single one that I feel strongly about either way. I'm a little more worried about Buffalo and a little less about EMU but they're still both in that same situation. That's what makes the MAC fun too, you're never really out of it unless someone is running away with the division or you get more than three losses. Our record is not good, but somehow we're still in second in a weak division. There is certainly a season left to play for even with the disappointing BG loss. A loss at EMU would really put a damper on things but even if that happens, it's still not over yet. If someone did the same sort of review for us as an upcoming opponent I think it could look like this: Akron (3-4, 1-2 MAC). Up and down team, scores a lot of points but also gives up a lot of points. Their one MAC win is over awful Can't State, and their other two wins were over almost equally awful Sracuse and Army. But all of their wins have been on the road. This is a winnable game but also a dangerous one. See?

[johnnyzip84]

It's sort of obvious, but I'll state it anyway. As the EMU game goes, so goes the rest of the season.

[Valpo Zip]

It's sort of obvious, but I'll state it anyway. As the EMU game goes, so goes the rest of the season.

I couldn't disagree more. We MUST win at EMU and that still doesn't mean anything for the rest of the season. EMU is a horrible team and beating them isn't a reason to pat our backs.

[johnnyzip84]

It's sort of obvious, but I'll state it anyway. As the EMU game goes, so goes the rest of the season.

I couldn't disagree more. We MUST win at EMU and that still doesn't mean anything for the rest of the season. EMU is a horrible team and beating them isn't a reason to pat our backs.

You're just feeling the heat because I'm closing in on you in total number of posts Seriously, I guess we'll find out who is more correct in due time. I'll clarify with some specifics. If we lose this weekend, we will finish UNDER 0.500. If we win, we'll finish OVER 0.500. It looks like I'm ruling out a 0.500 record, but I'll take that risk.

[ZachTheZip]

What I want to see happen is the Zips break the pattern of L W L W L W L that we currently have. That means winning at EMU and then winning against Toledo.This team is so up and down it's driving me crazy. Winning games we shouldn't have, losing games we could have won, I can't take it.

[bigzipguy]

It does not help that: 1.) You have had some absolutely horrible offensive red zone play-calling. 2.) CJ's up and down play. Especially on deep throws.I think that the two items are related. With his play, perhaps causing the coaching staff to out-smart themselves in the red zone - lack of confidence in him.

[Valpo Zip]

It's sort of obvious, but I'll state it anyway. As the EMU game goes, so goes the rest of the season.

I couldn't disagree more. We MUST win at EMU and that still doesn't mean anything for the rest of the season. EMU is a horrible team and beating them isn't a reason to pat our backs.

You're just feeling the heat because I'm closing in on you in total number of posts

Damn it Johnny zip! you caught me there . I agree that if we loose to EMU then we are definitely a sub .500 but if we win it (which we should), it still doesn't mean anything.uakronkid, which games are the ones that we won and we shouldn't have? aren't all the teams we've beaten terrible bottom 10 teams?

[ZachTheZip]

We were very lucky to have beaten Can't with the way we played. We had every oppurtunity in the world to beat Cinci and BG, but both games were blown due to a combination of stupid mistakes by the coaches, offense, and defense.

[johnnyzip84]

The Zips are a 3 to 4 point favorite this Saturday against the largest bird native to Australia. The one thing that bothers me about this game is the fact that EMU QB Andy Schmidt is only now getting back to around 100% and he has the ability to do some of the same things that Sheehan did in the 4th quarter last week. We can't let this guy get into a rhythm. They have a couple of decent RBs too. While this may seem an unlikely event to many here, the defense is going to HAVE to step up, I believe, or this will likely be another disappointing loss. I haven't decided just yet whether I think the defense is going to rise to the occasion or not.

[Zippysgotagun]

We were very lucky to have beaten Can't with the way we played. We had every oppurtunity in the world to beat Cinci and BG, but both games were blown due to a combination of stupid mistakes by the coaches, offense, and defense.

At least you aren't pointing fingers at specific people Seriously though...you're right. I think the entire team (staff included) shares the blame for both losses.