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Gauging Team Improvement Beyond Record


MaxZIP

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When assessing the "are the teams we beat that bad" theory, as it states in the title of the thread, I can't help but to notice that a very mediocre Central Michigan team destroyed UMass over the weekend.

I'm hoping we can be very mediocre next season.

The very mediocre Central Michigan team will be bowl eligible after Friday.

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ULL is now up to 21 in the AP poll. There were some people on her kind of trashing them at the time, but they're having a great season. UCF is 17, which could be a little low for them. Throw in NIU and that's a pretty tough schedule. scUM is not having a great year, but that's still a pretty good team. Only one of those games was out of hand. If we're a little better on the road next year, that could be the best sign of improvement.

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When assessing the "are the teams we beat that bad" theory, as it states in the title of the thread, I can't help but to notice that a very mediocre Central Michigan team destroyed UMass over the weekend.

.500 is the definition of very mediocre isn't it? The only real difference in CMU's and the Zips schedule this year was that CMU got to play WMU and EMU (and didn't get BGSU or Can't). They even both played at Michigan in wildly different games (to account for the wildly different game each had with Ohio and UMass). If the Zips had CMU's scheule they might well be sitting at bowl eligibility too.

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I'm hoping we can be very mediocre next season.

The very mediocre Central Michigan team will be bowl eligible after Friday.

So, what impresses you the most about their 5-6 record? The narrow win over a horrible WMU team the week before they played UMass? The other "impressive" victories over Miami or New Hampshire (narrowly) perhaps? That covers 4 of their wins right there.

But, define it however you want. Regardless, they crushed UMass 37-0, and the comment was meant to address whether UMass could be considered formidable competition for Akron (per the thread). It wasn't meant to start a debate over the quality of CMUs season.

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I'm hoping we can be very mediocre next season.

The very mediocre Central Michigan team will be bowl eligible after Friday.

I don't know (or care) who CMU plays that will make them bowl eligible this week. All I know is "bowl eligible" and "going-to-a-bowl" are two very different things. Ohio is also bowl eligible, and like CMU, will be sitting home for the holidays. This is a year where there will be several more 6-win teams than bowl slots, thanks in part to the ACC having 11 of 14 teams awaiting opponents in Dec/Jan.

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I don't know (or care) who CMU plays that will make them bowl eligible this week. All I know is "bowl eligible" and "going-to-a-bowl" are two very different things. Ohio is also bowl eligible, and like CMU, will be sitting home for the holidays. This is a year where there will be several more 6-win teams than bowl slots, thanks in part to the ACC having 11 of 14 teams awaiting opponents in Dec/Jan.

I agree, but note that the probability of going to a bowl increases dramatically if the team is bowl eligible. This year, for example, no team that is not bowl eligible will be competing in a bowl game.

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Do you also agree with the golf saying, "100% of the puts that come up short of the cup don't go in."?

No, I do not.

I think you were referring to another old investment adage that says, "100% of all puts with a strike price less than the price of the underlying asset at the time the option expires are worthless."

I would agree with the golfing adage that asserts, "100% of all putts that come up short of the cup don't go in."

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@skip-zip, I'd say that the CMU score alone doesn't prove how formidable or bad UMass is, as every team can have good and bad games. I'd say that a team's total season results prove how formidable or bad they are.

Absolutely. I just thought it was a very notable event for discussion.

However, I would ask you to point out the "good" UMass games this season.

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I'm hoping we can be very mediocre next season.

The very mediocre Central Michigan team will be bowl eligible after Friday.

'Mediocre' at 6-6 is fine for next year. Average,mediocre,the words are meaningless for this program. They really need to get to'medocre' next season. At Akron,that would most definetly be progress. That may not be as easy as some might assume,unfortunately. 5-3 in the MAC makes you at least competitive. Its not going to win the division most likely but you will be in the hunt in November. As stated previously,next season is critical for this program.

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1.) Is this success evidence of moving in the right direction or is it a function of competition

2.) What are your projections for next year with a solid recruiting class coming in

3.) How big of a role do the MAC schedulers play in determining success

4.) Where have the Zips shown the most improvement and is it sustainable?

Winning 2 road games this year is a huge boost for the program.

I know Bowden will build keep building on success. Very excited for our OOC games against Penn St and Pitt next year. I hope many fans will try and make at least one of those games (I'm planning to go to the Pitt game) A lot of fun bars and places to eat in Pittsburgh.

The success can be sustainable- I heard or read something the other day that one of the most difficult things to do, maybe in life, is to change a culture of losing to winning. And I think that is exactly what Bowden has accomplished this year, the culture and habit of Zips losing games ad nauseam is over.

Let's take care of Toledo on Friday!

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1.) Is this success evidence of moving in the right direction or is it a function of competition
If we can celebrate wins over a bunch of crappy mac basketball teams, why can't we do the same with crappy mac football teams? The answer to your question is, both. Akron football fans can be hopeful for next season. Beating Toledo would go a long way in the offseason. Columbus State losing by more than four to UM would be an even bigger boost for this Zips fan. Unfortunately, I think Akron had a better chance of beating UM, than UM has of beating CS.

I hope many fans will try and make at least one of those games (I'm planning to go to the Pitt game) A lot of fun bars and places to eat in Pittsburgh.
Agreed. I'm in!
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Absolutely. I just thought it was a very notable event for discussion.

However, I would ask you to point out the "good" UMass games this season.

Not exactly good, but THIS was probably there best. They somehow actually hung with Vandy until the 4th quarter. Next best is probably the 1 point loss to the Zips. I don't think the win over Miami was all that impressive :D

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