BullsFanInTX

I would have to agree that 8-2 is more realistic.  We can hope, but there probably be at least one or 2 slip ups.

Also, we know we will have a good D, but why is everyone so sure the offense will be "bad".  This is a new year, they might surprise us.  Let's at least wait 3 or 4 games before we come to that conclusion.  I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and think they will move the ball.  Remember, our offense is practicing against one of the best defenses in the country.  Alot of the defenses they will see will be much worse.  That has got to help.  We have an exciting fr. RB and a large group of capable recieves.  If we get any improvement from the qb, this offense will surprise some people.  Let's wait and see what they do for a few games.  

Yes.  that is the only way I get to watch bulls games, on gameplan.  They have shown a lot of bulls games the last 2 years.

I hope you're wrong.  We need to start putting butts in seats like other big time programs always do.

Yes, but remember the TCU game a couple years ago, when he was on absolute fire.  Hopefully, with the level of competition this year, we will see more of that and less of the USM like performances.

Well the schedule isn't as good, but the record should be better, so I am hoping it will even things out.

Nicholas would have to be one, and I wouldn't be surprised if P. Julmiste is one.

First of all, we averaged close to 40K last year so you guys are way too low.  We should have a better record this year, so we should at least match last year.

McNeese 37,500.  Good showing for 1AA opener.

FIU 35,000.  Decent crowd as FIU also brings some fans.

Rutgers: 43,000.  Great crowd as the bulls start to go on a run.

UConn: 41,000.  Again, crack 40K.  USF on a roll.  Band wagon jumpers start to get on board.  USF could be close to cracking top 25.

Pitt:  46,000.  Biggest crowd of year as USF starts to contend for BE title and hangs with UL and WVU.

Syracuse:  45,000.  Another big crowd as the last one of the year, to send them off strong for their final push in the bowl pecking order.

If McNeese is a playoff caliber I-AA team, 20 or so points might not be a bad spread to choose.  Since the BCS started in 1998, the average outcome for games between BCS league schools and schools that have gone on to make the I-AA playoffs is BCS league team winning by 22.8 points.

In all games between BCS leagues and I-AAs over the period, the average outcome has been BCS league team by 28.7.

Another consideration is the fact that the Big East is now a "tweener" league.  It doesn't represent the kind of overall caliber of play as all six of the BCS leagues did prior to 2004.

McNeese has usually been a playoff caliber team since 1991, but was obviously not in 2004 and 2005.  

In previous games against BCS league squads, McNeese played fairly respectably at Texas A&M (24-38) in 2001 and Nebraska (38-14) in 2003 but was knocked out of games early by Miami (14-61) in 2000 and Kansas State (14-55) in 2003.  Of course, 2000 was the year there was controversy over Florida State being in the BCS title game over Miami and Kansas State won the Big 8 Championship by beating previously undefeated Oklahoma 35 - 7 in 2003.

Against Texas A&M, McNeese led 24 - 10 in the third  quarter and was tied 24 - 24 at the end of the third quarter.  The game was in doubt until Texas A&M returned an interception for a TD to bring the score to 38 - 24 with 4:42 to go.

If McNeese has a playoff caliber team, I think the Cowboys have a decent chance to make this a competetive game.  I don't think USF is of the caliber of Miami in 2000 or Kansas State in 2003.  But whether or not McNeese is back to being a playoff caliber team is open to question.

We should have a top15 or 20 defense.  I hardly see us giving up 24 points to UL or WVU, let alone Mcneese, like they scored on Texas A&M in 01.  I would be shocked if McNeese scored more than 10 or 14 points.  The big question is, will our offense put the game away early or will they struggle and let them hang around for a while.  

We are by far alot better than Southern Piss

Not according to last season! ;D

How many top ten teams did southern miss beat last year??? (answer: none)  The CUSA level of competition is terrible.  NOWHERE NEAR the level USF played: Penn State, Miami, WVU, UL, even Rutgers and Pitt.  ALL above any competition in CDOA.  ALL of the above teams would have rolled in CDOA competition.  You can't compare the schedule (see above) that USF played and went to a bowl with with a CDOA schedule.  

Oh, and one other thing, are you REALLY telling us that Southern Miss would have beaten UL by 30+ and stayed within 10 points of a top 5 Penn State, or even stayed within 2 TD's of a WVU team that beat SEC champ Georgia (all of which USF did).  If that is what you believe then I have some land I want to sell you.

USM only lost to Bama by 9 and that Bama team was one of best all year till they lost their best receiver near the end of the year, then they lost to LSU and Auburn to end the year. They certainly hung with them and the SEC is arguably the toughest conf in I-A.  You can claim the big east is better, but a win by WVU over Georgia doesn't make you better, nor does it make USM worse because of more bottom feeders in their conf. As i said,  when you look at your common opponents last year, USM faired better.. Plain and Simple.

Still didn't answer my questions.  Would they have beaten UL by 30 and loss to a top 5 one loss Penn St, at Penn St., by 10.  The answer to those questions is no.  I am not saying USM is a bottom feeder, but the level of competition faced last year between USF and USM is night and day.  They are within striking distance of USF, but USF is clearly better.  Look at just about every preseason poll and they are significantly higher in some for what the polls are worth.

I was more impressed with the other RB they had, Ray Rice.  Don't know if he's even the best RB on his team, let alone a "Heisman candidate".

We are by far alot better than Southern Piss

Not according to last season! ;D

How many top ten teams did southern miss beat last year??? (answer: none)  The CUSA level of competition is terrible.  NOWHERE NEAR the level USF played: Penn State, Miami, WVU, UL, even Rutgers and Pitt.  ALL above any competition in CDOA.  ALL of the above teams would have rolled in CDOA competition.  You can't compare the schedule (see above) that USF played and went to a bowl with with a CDOA schedule.  

Oh, and one other thing, are you REALLY telling us that Southern Miss would have beaten UL by 30+ and stayed within 10 points of a top 5 Penn State, or even stayed within 2 TD's of a WVU team that beat SEC champ Georgia (all of which USF did).  If that is what you believe then I have some land I want to sell you.

We are by far alot better than Southern Piss

Not according to last season! ;D

How many top ten teams did southern miss beat last year??? (answer: none)  The CUSA level of competition is terrible.  NOWHERE NEAR the level USF played: Penn State, Miami, WVU, UL, even Rutgers and Pitt.  ALL above any competition in CDOA.  ALL of the above teams would have rolled in CDOA competition.  You can't compare the schedule (see above) that USF played and went to a bowl with with a CDOA schedule.  

call me crazy but i think pat is going to have a good year

Same here... third year is the charm.

PJ, if named the starter, will have a very good year.  look at some other qb's that just clicked after medocre careers.  Plus, look at the schedule.  The schedule is pretty week the first 10 games.  There are plenty of games to rack up nice numbers.  PJ also has serious skills running the football and a lot of athletic ability. He could have 500 yards rushing with this schedule.  He had what 300+ yards last year.  Will he ever be a superstar - no.  Could he be a very good qb this year that could lead the bulls to 8-10 Ws, I think the answer is yes.  Don't be surprised if he plays all 12 games if he throws for 2000+ and runs for 500+.  A decent year by any standards. Not trying to compare, but it seems Carson Palmer a few years ago had an up and down career, and everything came together his senior year.  You just can't replace the game knowledge, situational awareness, the experience, and having seen just about everything that a senoir brings.  I don't have a problem going in with PJ, unless MG is clearly better right now.  If he is clearly better, then go ahead and play MG, but we don't know that yet.  The first 2 games both should see plenty of action.   Plus you're going to have to live with a year of freshman mistakes out of MG.  Will this cost us any W's.

carson paLMER HAS one of  the best arms in the nfl game

top high school qb

he put it all together when norm chow came to town

he put up monster numbers against top teams

comparing pj to carson  is like comparing apples to nuclear bombs

I specifically said I wasn't comparing them - I'm not that stupid.  My only point was there is precedence for putting it together a senior year.  You can't replace the experience and game knowledge that a senior has and think a freshman is going to step in and have that.

call me crazy but i think pat is going to have a good year

Same here... third year is the charm.

PJ, if named the starter, will have a very good year.  look at some other qb's that just clicked after medocre careers.  Plus, look at the schedule.  The schedule is pretty week the first 10 games.  There are plenty of games to rack up nice numbers.  PJ also has serious skills running the football and a lot of athletic ability. He could have 500 yards rushing with this schedule.  He had what 300+ yards last year.  Will he ever be a superstar - no.  Could he be a very good qb this year that could lead the bulls to 8-10 Ws, I think the answer is yes.  Don't be surprised if he plays all 12 games if he throws for 2000+ and runs for 500+.  A decent year by any standards.  Not trying to compare, but it seems Carson Palmer a few years ago had an up and down career, and everything came together his senior year.  You just can't replace the game knowledge, situational awareness, the experience, and having seen just about everything that a senoir brings.  I don't have a problem going in with PJ, unless MG is clearly better right now.  If he is clearly better, then go ahead and play MG, but we don't know that yet.  The first 2 games both should see plenty of action.   Plus you're going to have to live with a year of freshman mistakes out of MG.  Will this cost us any W's.

Why even bother.  He's a decent running back and nothing more.

Get specific people.  Why is Ponton, Julmiste, and a WR missing 2 games.  We have to know.

He could be just flat out getting beat out, which is a great thing.  Shows the depth at RB.  We saw what Ponton could do last year, if MP is beating him out, it means he has talent.  I am not worried about the RB position, I think we will be fine there.  I am more concerned about getting good play at the qb position.  

Let's say UL makes the national championship game.  Does the BE still get to keep it's BCS bid (for example WVU to the Sugar bowl).  Or is the NC game considered our BCS game.  

But are we sacrificing W's if MG starts over PJ.  Do we win 8-9 with PJ and 6-7 with MG.  I just have a hard time sacrificing 1-2 W's even if it does build for the future.  Every year you rack up big win numbers, you rack up recruits.  Not saying MG isn't the answer, just something to think about.  I have no problem  with MG starting if he is better, I just think maybe PJ finally develops after 4 years in system and gives best chance to win now.  Then again, I've never seen MG play.

Never schedule an annual series with a NON BCS member school.  Quick, besides Colo. and Colo State, name one annual series played every single year between a BCS and non BCS school.  IT DON'T HAPPEN FOLKS.  Why would we want to be the first.  BUILD RIVALRIES WITH BCS SCHOOLS.  Build one OOC rivalry with UM or another BCS school, and on in conf rivalry with UL or another conference team.  We don't need more than 2 "rivalries"

To name a few:

Cincinnati/Miami(OH) (signed forever)

LSU/Tulane (signed til 2016)

Tennessee/Memphis (Signed til 2010...more games to come after)

Notre Dame/Navy

Notre Dame/BYU (starting back up in 2010)

Your right they don't exist.

(Sorry didn't see KL's thread above)

If we can get Miami in an annual series and we're beating UCF regularly, then I'm all for getting rid of teh game. However, economically, the UCF game is very good for the University. Further, it was a game that the students actually buzzed about on campus. Miami would definitly cause more of a stir, but it really doesn't hurt having those games on the schedule.

Cinci/Miami OH - who cares its cinci/Miami oh

LSU/Tulane - not really a rivalry, Tulane will take a whipping every year. and no gaurentee it will continue every single year (forever), like I said in my post.

Tenn/Memphis, only until 2010, see LSU/Tulane.

ND/Navy.  Yes, that is a special arrangement, they are both independents and have been playing forever.    When is the last time Navy actually beat ND

ND/BYU - again, is this every year.  Not an on again/off again series.

If we can find a way to win at UL, think of the showdown this will set up on the final week.

Nice thought, but it won't happen.  TCU won't take a football-only position and BE won't add a 17th.  Power in BE conf. still resides with hoops programs.

Don't be so sure.  TCU bolted out of CUSA as soon as they could when they saw it going down the tubes, and I bet they would jump ship from MWC for chance at BCS conf.  They would take a football only, if they thought they might eventually get full membership, and maybe even without full membership.  Don't add any teams that don't immediately bring something to the table.  I'd rather see us stay at 8 teams.

I don't have a problem with 2 for 1 or 1 for 0 with the little 3.  No one for ones with non BCS teams.  DW is doing a fantastic job, bringing in 1 for 1 series with BCS teams.

Never schedule an annual series with a NON BCS member school.  Quick, besides Colo. and Colo State, name one annual series played every single year between a BCS and non BCS school.  IT DON'T HAPPEN FOLKS.  Why would we want to be the first.  BUILD RIVALRIES WITH BCS SCHOOLS.  Build one OOC rivalry with UM or another BCS school, and on in conf rivalry with UL or another conference team.  We don't need more than 2 "rivalries"

The only 2 teams I think should be considered for future expansion are TCU and Navy.  Navy probably wouldn't be interested.  Teams like ECU, Memphis, UCF, USM, GTown, VNova.  Fuhgedaboudit.  They don't add anything to the league football wise.  The only team that will instantly add credibility would be TCU.  DON'T EXPAND JUST FOR EXPANSION'S SAKE.  Oh, one other thing.  UCF will never, ever, ever be a member of a BCS conference.  HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa....