bt71
Sophomore Member
Posts: 107 
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Post by bt71 on Nov 1, 2016 7:51:23 GMT -6
Nice try....that's not the word here. Go stir up trouble elsewhere. Disappointing that WIU fans would go trolling - that seems so... SDSU-ish. I thought better of WIU folks. Interesting that the WIU fans can't be as classy as their players who from what I saw and heard were very sportsman like - go trolll somewhere else and let's talk in a year or so and see who's feeling good about their program and who's not. The State of Illinois is broke which means as other teams in the Valley continue to improve facilities, WIU will be stuck with what they have right now. There is no lifeline coming. Good luck with that...... |
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Post by stlawson on Nov 2, 2016 12:27:52 GMT -6
I wasn't going to really say anything but felt the need to chime in. Just for clarification, I'm pretty sure that's just one (maybe 2, tops) fan(s). I don't really know what the deal is with him/them showing up here trying to stir up trouble.
Those of you that have seen my posts here before are probably aware that I generally don't throw comments around unless I feel like I have something of substance to add to the conversation (like when your new coaching staff first came in and I was posting messages here when I saw guys who'd verbally committed to us originally who were flipping to you guys). I try to encourage the folks over at our message board to be courteous and civil...ie not a troll...but every fanbase has one or two of "those" guys who feel like they need to go make noise on other people's boards.
If you'd like any of my thoughts on the actual game, feel free to ask. Otherwise I'll just be back in the corner keeping my mouth shut.
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Post by Cousin Eddie on Nov 2, 2016 13:00:56 GMT -6
I wasn't going to really say anything but felt the need to chime in. Just for clarification, I'm pretty sure that's just one (maybe 2, tops) fan(s). I don't really know what the deal is with him/them showing up here trying to stir up trouble. Those of you that have seen my posts here before are probably aware that I generally don't throw comments around unless I feel like I have something of substance to add to the conversation (like when your new coaching staff first came in and I was posting messages here when I saw guys who'd verbally committed to us originally who were flipping to you guys). I try to encourage the folks over at our message board to be courteous and civil...ie not a troll...but every fanbase has one or two of "those" guys who feel like they need to go make noise on other people's boards. If you'd like any of my thoughts on the actual game, feel free to ask. Otherwise I'll just be back in the corner keeping my mouth shut. I, for one, would be interested in your take on the game. I would also like to hear your personal take on how the coaching change has impacted WIU. Not in the form of mud slinging, but more in the changes that you have witnessed - understanding, of course, that it would be coming from the bias of a WIU fan, much in the same way our comments would be coming from the bias of USD fans. |
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Post by stlawson on Nov 2, 2016 15:34:10 GMT -6
Well, for one thing, I'm pretty sure my Leathernecks are trying to give me a heart attack this season. We've had 4 of our wins come down to essentially the last minute of the game, either requiring a late drive to go ahead, or a huge defensive stop to hold the other team from coming back against us. I lost track of how many times I had to remind myself to breathe during last Saturday's game. So, there were a few things going on this game that I can mention. The first one was emotion. Our guys went out there hyped up to do well against roughly half of their former coaching staff (who were mostly the guys who recruited them to Western) and they spent the first half overblowing coverage, missing blocks, trying to "overdo it" rather just doing what they know how to do. They were able to get calmed down during halftime though and get things turned around. Second...luck. Some was good play and being in the right place at the right time, but the goal-line fumble...having our guy be in the right place to fall on it rather than one of yours...you can't really plan on that kind of stuff. The best kicker in the FCS missing a FG?...now, to be fair to him, he was going for a 54-yarder...but your kicker...in the dome...even from that far out, I did not like our chances. Something just didn't line up perfectly well and he pulled it left and I don't think that had much to do with anything our defense did on that play...although they were able to keep your offense from getting any closer. Streveler is really good, but thankfully (for me) we were able to slow him down enough and our offense was able to put up enough points to win. If our offense is clicking, we can outscore just about anyone. If not, you see a couple of pick-6's, like we had when we played SDSU. But damn...373 yards and 2 TDs through the air plus 102 yards and 1 TD on the ground...and no interceptions...he was a beast and made it a very difficult game for our defense. And about the coaching staff...so, regarding our situation, I think that it's worked out pretty well for us. Coach Fisher really seems to connect well with the players, the alumni, the fans, and the community. He's a really good fit for this type of program. Of course, the majority of the players he's coaching are Nielson's kids, but he's also brought in some quality transfers, and some freshmen who have contributed right away, that have all added quite a bit to the program. Plus, he's very good at getting the players to keep fighting until the end. Sometimes we do "let up" a bit during games, but he's always been able to get them to buckle down and play to the final whistle, and that shows in how we've been able to keep games close or fight back later in a game and come away with the close wins...like they say "good teams find a way to win". Regarding Coach Nielson and his staff. He is a good coach and a great recruiter. Western just wasn't the best fit for him. To his credit, he helped build up a program that was really not doing well and get us back to "respectability"...he brought in some great players who have really contributed over the last few years. But...it just didn't feel like he really belonged here. Maybe USD is that place that is the right "fit" for him, I don't really know. In regards to his playcalling and how he seems to "let up" in the second half of games. I don't know what it is..."drive"..."energy"...just plain old playcalling style...I'm not sure what, but that's just how it seems like games go with him and his staff. When Nielson was here we were almost always a first-half team. It was always a situation of "can we get enough points in the first half to not lose it in the second half...or more often, the 4th quarter". Sometimes we got so far ahead that it wasn't a problem, even if we got severely outscored in the second half...but others, like against Illinois State and NDSU back in 2014...were some of the most disappointing and disheartening losses I've ever witnessed. But we always knew that our opponents would come back and make it a closer game near the end. Hopefully that answers a few questions for you guys. I've gotta get going, but if you have any other questions or anything for me, I'll be back around later. |
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Post by Yote 53 on Nov 4, 2016 8:09:06 GMT -6
You know, it could just be that this conference is tight. You hit on it in the first part of your post, that every game for WIU is tight and heart-attack inducing. We've gone through the same thing over here. Looking across the conference at game results a majority of the conference games are close. My point is maybe it's not the coach, maybe it's the conference environment. Maybe its just as simple as this conference is so competitive and the coaches, athletes, teams so good that you can only keep them bottled up so long, adjustments are made and teams will battle back. Nobody just lays down and dies.
I'll say this, I'm much happier with USD competing every game and every minute of the games being important. We've been in too many games in the past where we were not competitive at all.
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Post by stlawson on Nov 4, 2016 8:49:07 GMT -6
You know, it could just be that this conference is tight. You hit on it in the first part of your post, that every game for WIU is tight and heart-attack inducing. We've gone through the same thing over here. Looking across the conference at game results a majority of the conference games are close. My point is maybe it's not the coach, maybe it's the conference environment. Maybe its just as simple as this conference is so competitive and the coaches, athletes, teams so good that you can only keep them bottled up so long, adjustments are made and teams will battle back. Nobody just lays down and dies. I'll say this, I'm much happier with USD competing every game and every minute of the games being important. We've been in too many games in the past where we were not competitive at all. Both points are very true. This is a damn tough conference to play in, but if you can make it to the playoffs, you'll be battle-tested and ready to face off against anyone. When you've played at (and in your case last year, won at) the Fargodome in one of the toughest FCS environments to play in, gone against the YSU defensive line, and been run ragged defending SDSU's offensive weapons, there's not a lot that the rest of the division can throw at you that you haven't already seen and are better prepared for, outside of maybe a good triple-option like Cal Poly or something. There are no cupcakes in this conference, especially this year with some of the usual "lower half" teams being better...MSU is much improved, SIU still has one of the best passing attacks in the conference and their D is a little better than last year (despite what their record shows), and you guys have really stepped up this year. You're playing some really close games against some really good teams, you have a QB that is probably the best multi-dimensional threat at that position in the conference, and you have THE best overall kicking game in the FCS. I think you guys should be happy with where you're at at this point. Things are looking up for the Coyotes and with Nielson bringing in quality players every year, that should only continue to get better. It's very quickly getting to the point where most of the rest of the conference is not at all looking forward to playing any conference team with "Dakota" in their name. |
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