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Post by Yotes on Aug 2, 2023 6:19:33 GMT -6
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Post by kiyoat on Aug 2, 2023 7:27:24 GMT -6
...... That's how you know this poll is basically a crystal ball. no sarcasm whatsoever.... LOL the thing that always mystifies me about these preseason polls is that they aren't just slapped together by some internet hack with no vested interest and very little knowledge about the teams, .... ...And yet the result is the same. Lazy.
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Post by Yotes on Aug 2, 2023 10:41:52 GMT -6
...... That's how you know this poll is basically a crystal ball. no sarcasm whatsoever.... LOL the thing that always mystifies me about these preseason polls is that they aren't just slapped together by some internet hack with no vested interest and very little knowledge about the teams, .... ...And yet the result is the same. Lazy. Yeah, I loathe preseason polls. I get why they exist but they are absolute trash. Especially the national polls. Those bother me more because all future polls are partially weighted by those preseason numbers.
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Post by geoffjellic on Aug 2, 2023 11:55:57 GMT -6
no sarcasm whatsoever.... LOL the thing that always mystifies me about these preseason polls is that they aren't just slapped together by some internet hack with no vested interest and very little knowledge about the teams, .... ...And yet the result is the same. Lazy. Yeah, I loathe preseason polls. I get why they exist but they are absolute trash. Especially the national polls. Those bother me more because all future polls are partially weighted by those preseason numbers. Remember, we were 17-10 at half vs NDSU during a season of implosion….. I don’t think we are that far off
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Post by fightsd on Aug 4, 2023 6:14:52 GMT -6
After taking a good look at the roster, I feel like we should be able to compete with most of the conference. If you base your predictions solely on the roster, we lose to both xDSUs. For me, it will really come down to how the new offensive staff gets their guys to play for them. I'm not as connected in Vermillion as I used to be, but by the end of the season it sure seemed like Bob and the rest of the staff had lost the locker room. Just uninspired play all over the field.
I need to see 7 wins this year to feel like we're moving in the right direction. The schedule is in our favor. Win the games you're supposed to and pick up a couple of the games that could go either way. Bottom line, I'm optimistic but extremely cautious. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget that UNI game.
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Post by captaincoyote on Aug 4, 2023 8:42:19 GMT -6
I agree about the roster, especially if a few transfers pan out as expected. Our D should be extremely stout as long as the offense can allow them proper amounts of rest.
The way I view the schedule is that the first 5 games are an interesting mixed bag. 3 blow out opportunities and 2 blow out threats. If we can take care of business and avoid demoralizing losses to Mizzou and NDSU, the offense should have confidence heading into the homestretch. If we struggle, the wheels could once again fall off pretty easily.
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Post by artvandelay on Aug 4, 2023 9:27:45 GMT -6
Some of you guys are being way too dismissive of St. Thomas. They may be undersized but they are quick, fast, clever, totally fearless and superbly coached. Better not look past the Tommies!
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Post by fromthetailgate on Aug 4, 2023 10:21:34 GMT -6
We shouldn't look past anybody. Based on recent history we are fully capable of losing to any team. 7-4 will have me dancing in the streets.
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Post by Yotes on Aug 4, 2023 11:02:32 GMT -6
Some of you guys are being way too dismissive of St. Thomas. They may be undersized but they are quick, fast, clever, totally fearless and superbly coached. Better not look past the Tommies! I don't care how good they are, it would be an utter embarrassment for any MVFC team to lose to a non-scholarship program.
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Post by captaincoyote on Aug 4, 2023 11:39:35 GMT -6
All due respect to the Tommies. I’m sure they are well coached and they have transitioned well to the basement of FCS football. However, I would expect a team with STU’s aspirations to look great against the likes of Michigan Tech, Marist, Presbyterian, Valpo, and Stetson. Last year, the Tommies won relatively close games against Drake, Davidson, San Diego, and Butler. We may not be the cream of the FCS crop (yet), but I’d expect a more functional version of last year’s team to steamroll those programs.
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Post by artvandelay on Aug 4, 2023 13:49:34 GMT -6
I watched the Tommies host Davidson last season because I wanted to see how they were doing in their new Division and new conference. At the time Davidson was undefeated and leading the conference and were the much larger team in the trenches. I expected they would beat St. Thomas decisively. Instead the Tommies outplayed them all day with a quick, swarming, gang tackling defense and an offense built on speed, imagination and execution with every gadget play ever designed solidly in the playbook. Any play can be called at any time including fake punts and onside kicks. By the way there are plenty of legitimate D1 players on that roster, lots of former Minnesota Gopher players have made the five mile drive to St. Thomas to play for the Tommies. While they technically are non scholarship players, St. Thomas can make them comfortable. They have unlimited financial resources.
This is the most intriguing game on the USD schedule this season for me, since I have been watching MIAC football for over sixty years. I'm so anxious to see how the Tommies measure up!
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Post by geoffjellic on Aug 4, 2023 16:27:16 GMT -6
I watched the Tommies host Davidson last season because I wanted to see how they were doing in their new Division and new conference. At the time Davidson was undefeated and leading the conference and were the much larger team in the trenches. I expected they would beat St. Thomas decisively. Instead the Tommies outplayed them all day with a quick, swarming, gang tackling defense and an offense built on speed, imagination and execution with every gadget play ever designed solidly in the playbook. Any play can be called at any time including fake punts and onside kicks. By the way there are plenty of legitimate D1 players on that roster, lots of former Minnesota Gopher players have made the five mile drive to St. Thomas to play for the Tommies. While they technically are non scholarship players, St. Thomas can make them comfortable. They have unlimited financial resources. This is the most intriguing game on the USD schedule this season for me, since I have been watching MIAC football for over sixty years. I'm so anxious to see how the Tommies measure up! I wouldn’t have wanted to play them last year with the issues and uninspired play especially at the end of the year. I agree, the Tommies are very well coached, but even with all the turmoil and turnover these past months that would be a home game that we must win.
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Post by yoteforever on Aug 5, 2023 7:37:38 GMT -6
I watched the Tommies host Davidson last season because I wanted to see how they were doing in their new Division and new conference. At the time Davidson was undefeated and leading the conference and were the much larger team in the trenches. I expected they would beat St. Thomas decisively. Instead the Tommies outplayed them all day with a quick, swarming, gang tackling defense and an offense built on speed, imagination and execution with every gadget play ever designed solidly in the playbook. Any play can be called at any time including fake punts and onside kicks. By the way there are plenty of legitimate D1 players on that roster, lots of former Minnesota Gopher players have made the five mile drive to St. Thomas to play for the Tommies. While they technically are non scholarship players, St. Thomas can make them comfortable. They have unlimited financial resources. This is the most intriguing game on the USD schedule this season for me, since I have been watching MIAC football for over sixty years. I'm so anxious to see how the Tommies measure up! I wouldn’t have wanted to play them last year with the issues and uninspired play especially at the end of the year. I agree, the Tommies are very well coached, but even with all the turmoil and turnover these past months that would be a home game that we must win. No question. And decisively.
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Post by Yotes on Aug 5, 2023 12:03:46 GMT -6
The 2 times that I recall USD playing a Pioneer team (Drake) resulted in wins of 70 and 52 points. Drake finished 6-2 and 4-4 in conference those years.
The playoff team from the Pioneer last year lost 41-0 in the first round. In 2022 the league went a collective 1-17 in non-conference FCS competition, with the lone win being by 2 points over 0-11 Robert Morris.
I hope St Thomas gets enough momentum to start scholarship football and maybe even join the MVFC someday. We had better not have a close game with them until then.
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Post by artvandelay on Aug 8, 2023 18:34:55 GMT -6
Boy that is some good information about the Pioneer League!
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