ISU at Eastern Michigan

[country123a]

... I know Eastern Michigan is no push over, but it's not like we were playing Oklahoma there...

That's what I was thinking last night about the game. 52-0 versus a major Div I school would be acceptable... but wow. Will be very hard to keep these young players motivated after being pounded a whole season like this. We'll just have to see how things go from here I guess.

 

[bluestreak]

I'm disappointed, but not surprised. Neither has my support for coach Miles or this young squad diminished in the least. Its gonna be a long hard road. But I believe if we can avoid too many injuries, there will be a few pleasant surprises later in the season.

Keep the faith.

 

[SalukiMan]

Take it from me, things get better. Seven years ago SIU won one game. Last year the made the final four in FCS. It takes time, bodies and wins. Hope ISU doesn't take on a losing mentality following that stomping.

Saw some good stuff on the jank Bally cast last night, but there are tons of holes. That offensive line let the d-line right through. QBs rolling out and bombing it down field? Ugly. They'll get better, but this will be a hard year physically and mentally for Miles and company.

 

[ISUCC]

various comments on last night's game

it's really frustrating to read comments like this:

from a William and Mary grad on AGS:
"I was at the Indiana State at Eastern Michigan game last night. ISU is probably the most hapless team I have seen at the D-I level. They have no meaningful pass defense, inadequate run defense (giving 400 yds), and an ineffective offense. Perhaps they will fair better against EIU if their starting QB returns from suspension. Evenso, it's going to be another very long season for Sycamore fans."

From the EMU board:
"I didn't like that we did not get tested at all. A good high school team could beat Indiana St. I like that we beat such an inferior opponent by 50 points.

and even Ong Hops comments aren't very encouraging.

We had veteran players throw everything out the window and play like it was last year.
Seniors know better than to give a receiver a 9 yard cushion at the line.
We had Freshman receivers let themselves be ran out of bounds before receiving the ball.
We had receivers not look back and / or slow up on a pattern resulting an interception.
It was a rough introduction of boys into a man's world. They are learning they are not the High School stud anymore. They will learn and adapt. --Some of the veterans are another story ..they practice like the new staff requires BUT play like last year's team (this is a problem).

I really, really, really hope they give a better effort against EIU here in 2 weeks. My oh my does Miles have alot to work on with these players.

 

[bent20]

From the EMU board:
"I didn't like that we did not get tested at all. A good high school team could beat Indiana St. I like that we beat such an inferior opponent by 50 points.


I'm not sure you can argue with that. Can anyone say with all confidence we'd beat Rose Hulman? They had a decent team last year. I don't blame Trent or the players. It's early and I still hope they can turn things around, but I certainly blame the administration. They deserve all of the shame for where the team is at right now.

 

[bluestreak]

that administration is gone.

 

[bent20]

that administration is gone.

Which is great if and when we start competing well, never mind winning games. The current administration is under the gun as well. I will certainly support Trent and company even if we go win less this season, but show signs of improvement. West NEVER DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm tired of it being thrown back in the face of the fan base and alums like me. Give me something better than a team that won one game in three years by one point with controversy! Don't call me a bang wagon jumper when I voice some frustration. I'm one of the few people in my family (which is filled with ISU grads) still willing to pay attention to the program. And that is entirely ISU's fault!!!! The administration better be ashamed. They better give Trent overwhelming support and we as a fan base better demand it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SalukiMan]

Can't believe what some people's expectations were. ISU is 3-4 years away from competing at EMU. It's going to take awhile.

 

[bent20]

Can't believe what some people's expectations were. ISU is 3-4 years away from competing at EMU. It's going to take awhile.

What expectations are you talking about? No one here was expecting a win or a close game. I was hoping our D would be a little better, that we wouldn't help them set a school record. I guess you have to cut the D some slack since the inexperienced offense didn't keep them off the field in the second half, but what is so hard to believe about those expectations?

My point is it's time to start expecting more now. Last time we cut the coach and administration some slack it won us one game in three years and the coach was canned early in his third season. He left the program in worse shape than when he started. We've been the worst program in division one for almost half a decade now. Signs of improvement have to come this year, not necessarily wins but we have to compete, otherwise we lose our program.

I'll be here all season pulling for the team, just like I was last fall on this forum. I had a Tribstar picture of the celebration from the Missouri State win a couple of years ago set as my desktop background. Seeing ISU with a good football team matters to me and I finally want to see some improvement. Again, not with wins right now, but with some offensive production and a defense that doesn't give up an average of 40 points every game. We've waited long enough!

 

[bluestreak]

time to take a deep breath

As usual, Golden's blog sums it up pretty well..

http://blogs.tribstar.com/downinthevalley/?p=83

Particularly pertinent for some of the posters on this forum is this paragraph from Golden's blog:

"Pragmatism and realism almost always fly in the face of fan’s emotions, who want to win yesterday, but fan’s emotions are no way to judge a program’s progress. Often, it’s just the opposite, because fans very often check their brains at the door.

Some of the message board reaction I saw was evidence of that. A few of the things I read there lacked perspective to the point of being laughable. Maybe its just the nature of those who post on message boards, I don’t know, but it’s amazing, sometimes, what people think they know about a program based on 1/12th of a sampling. When it comes to fans, of any team, perspective always takes a vacation much more permanent than mine currently is."