Illinois State week

[sdyotefan]

Coyotes are at Illinois State next. It is their homecoming. They are 3-2 and 1-1 in the Valley after edging UNI on the road yesterday 23-21.

[yoteforever]

Let’s get the ship sailing the right direction. Time to get a huge road win.

[elcoyote]

Being pragmatic about our record so far these are my thoughts (before the season even began) for whatever they're worth:
Kansas State- really wasn't expecting a win but did expect us to be more competitive than we were. However, didn't realize they'd be as good as they are.
Montana- really wasn't expecting a win especially on the road, also wasn't expecting them to be so good. To me they're the best fcs team we've played.
Cal Poly- completely expected a win especially seeing it was at home
NDSU- really wasn't expecting a win, but at home thought we'd make it competitive, and we did...for a half
SDSU- really wasn't expecting a win especially in Brookings, but also thought we'd be competitive

There's a trend here. I'm not really surprised by the 1-4 record, although I had hoped we'd pull off one upset; no team could go through the absurdly ridiculous gauntlet the 'Yotes have faced. Can you imagine any FBS team opening their season with Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson in their first five games? In essence this is what we've faced on an fcs level. That being said I am extremely disappointed in how we've looked, particularly the offense. In my mind the defense has perform well. Statistics probably won't back that up, but no defense can shine being on the field as much as they have been and in the situations they've been put in. Special teams have actually been pretty good overall even though there was a field goal attempt blocked yesterday. That leaves the offense which seems really strange because if there was one thing a fan could always count on with Nielson teams was an offense. What gets me is that it's mostly the same players, minus Samson and Vanderesch(sp), as last season. I'm not going to blame the offensive line either. In games it seems to me painfully obvious when the other team is going to blitz. Against Montana second and nine or more or third and five or more here came the house. They even had safetys or corners coming many times. I'm not going to fault a unit for having five or six players trying to block seven or eight rushers. Other teams seem to be following that model. Play calls to combat that? Are we putting our players in positions to be successful and running schemes that take advantage of our talent? Or are we trying to put square pegs in round holes? Is out QB ever supposed to pull the ball or are those play calls straight handoffs? I honestly think we have the talent to be successful, but it isn't showing up in results.

So, after rambling on about the past games, it doesn't seem to get a whole lot easier coming up. I think we can beat any team left on the schedule but could also lose to any of them. Also don't like how the home/away games fall as far as opponents. I just hope the coaching staff can right the ship and finish this season out on a positive note starting with Illinois State this weekend. I'm just really tired of mediocrity and getting a playoff spot once every four years or so. Probably enough of these random thoughts for now.

[Yotes]

I'd wager that no one is happy with how this team has looked this year, but also that our record is pretty much in the spot that most expected. Funny how that works. Curse and a blessing really. We've looked bad enough that it is hard - as a fan - to have much hope for the rest of the year, but the team also has ample opportunity to turn things around and make the playoffs still.

It all starts at Illinois State. Homecoming for Carson Camp, who is from neighboring Bloomington. We found a way to win last time we visited. We all know Camp will be ready to compete in this one. If anyone is ready to show up it will be him.

Win that and I really like our odds in the following 3 games. SIU will be very tough, but we got them on D Days. Youngstown has been quite lackluster this year. Missouri State has fallen way short of expectations, and we got them at home.

Who wouldn't be excited about our odds if we take the next 4? If we find ourselves sitting at 5-4 with games against UND and UNI remaining, I know I'd be expecting a playoff push.

It all starts against Illinois State. Win this one and the season is still very much alive.

[GoYotes]

THIS GAME IS A MUST WIN!!

[nccyote]

This can't help our offensive woes

[yoteforever]

Anybody that’s an athlete knows there are highs and lows for everyone. No one escapes it. Some people have more lows, others have more highs. Right now the Coyotes are at rock bottom. They have (2) choices. They can lay down and feel sorry for themselves and blame whomever. Or they can suck it up and find a way. We have (6) games remaining. Every stinking one of them is winnable. Every stinking one is losable. If we have any character whatsoever, we finish hard. Stop blaming teammates. Stop blaming coaches. If you want to blame someone look in a mirror.

Last night I watched an ESPN documentary on what the Olympic basketball team referred to as the REDEEM TEAM. The previous Olympics are so called NBA superstars got throttled by Greece. We won the bronze. People questioned their hearts. Questioned their love of country ahead of their personal gain. I could go on but I’ll say the supposed best of the best went through a low. Humiliating low. At that point the Olympic basketball reigns were handed over to Jerry Colangelo. His first move was convincing Coach K to take the head spot and run it as he saw fit the next 4 years culminating in the next Olympics. Coach K put together a team of NBA guys mostly and started doing it the Coach K way. He mentored them. Convinced them to be Patriots first and individual second. As they went through the 4 year cycle they to had highs and lows. They were coming together as a team but still had that individual flare. Then they got beat in the World games. Something was still missing. Coach K then reached out to Kobe Bryant. And after some cajoling he convinced Kobe to do it. To be patriotic and play for his country. What happened next was life transforming. Kobe brought a work ethic that no one had anything close to. When players were out all hours of the night and coming back to their rooms between 4-5 am they would meet Kobe in his sweats going to work out. They were stunned. But soon there were 2 guys doing it. Then 3. Then the whole darn team. It showed Coach K along with Kobe’s work ethic weaving this group of NBA superstars into a team. They proceeded to win the gold and how elated and pumped they were to do so.

I tell that story because it can happen. Someone or something happens that turns it on their heads. They catch fire. They become confident. They put it back together and play it with passion. I personally know it can happen. I experienced it in 1978. Started 1-3 and everyone wrote us off. We had a player / coach meeting that lasted into the early morning hours. People made concessions. We agreed not to exhibit behaviors that could dampen our efforts to be the best. We ran the table. Our offense wasn’t real good but our defense was off the charts. But we stayed together. No finger pointing. Nothing but great leadership from multiple individuals. That is why 100% I support Coyote athletics. It can transform your life. I’m not in the position I am today had I not had 1978. I learned so many valuable lessons. I applied them to the businesses I ran. I teach young people today what’s possible and how to overachieve to get results.

That’s why I won’t bash coaches or players in a public forum. I think we have the chance to play ourselves out of this start. Maybe not, and if that’s the case, then at the end of the year decisions have to be made. Firing coaches or fans chanting that now will never make sense unless it involves a violation of ethics. This team is our team. I will back them till the day I die. Do I want to win? Yes of course. But we have to understand in all sincerity we are not a rich traditioned team. SDSU wasn’t either, but they are now. We must earn that. Bob Nielsen has ethics and is a proven winner. If he’s got mistakes on his staff or roster, it’s his to fix. We can do far worse.

Please don’t give up. I mean never even as frustrating as it is.

[yoteforever]

Oct 13, 2022 9:57:14 GMT -6 nccyote said:

This can't help our offensive woes

I disagree

[yoteforever]

Respectfully so by the way

[nccyote]

Not giving up, nor bashing any players or coaches, just seems that the most important position on the field who happens to really be struggling right now doesn't have a position coach any longer. Maybe this change will breathe some life into the QB position and offense in general. hoping for the best for Coach Schlafke and the Yotes. This is a game we need to win to bring some swagger back to the team and fanbase.

[GoYotes]

This video is worth the one minute it takes to listen to and is a good message for all Coyote players, coaches and fans, myself included. It is time to tighten the lug nuts and get the wheels rolling in the right direction.

[Yote 53]

Does that video apply if you are an Iowa fan? Asking for a friend.

I could have said Nebraska fan but they have hope in sight.

[yoteforever]

Oct 13, 2022 20:22:05 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

Does that video apply if you are an Iowa fan? Asking for a friend.

I could have said Nebraska fan but they have hope in sight.

Lol

[easmus]

Oct 13, 2022 9:57:14 GMT -6 nccyote said:

This can't help our offensive woes

Non-issue to me. He’s been gone a month now, and had been off the coaching page for at least a week before the media caught on to it.

[coffeedrinker11]

Anyone going to the game?