Ghost
Baby Bear
Posts: 37 
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Post by Ghost on Aug 1, 2017 10:14:26 GMT -5
Carl is awesome and a great Strength coach. he's a great addition to the staff. Losing Doolittle to Presby will be hard to replace but I'm happy for him. as for the season, I'm not as optimistic as some on this board but I think a 7-4 8-3 is very doable barring any significant injuries. The quarterback position is going to be interesting to watch. Tanner is very capable and I don't know much about Riley. As for the reason for playing both bama and auburn... well its all about the $$$. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Unfortunately the athletics department probably needs the money both for budget and the new expansion of the football stadium which should be coming soon(new pressbox etc) and the football team is offered up as a sacrificial lamb(pun very much intended) to meet the needs. There is a reason KSU isn't playing a p5 until 2021(GT). They don't need the money. Just thought I'd drop in and check on you guys  |
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Ghost
Baby Bear
Posts: 37
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Post by Ghost on Aug 1, 2017 10:21:56 GMT -5
I will say this though. one of the games mercer was probably sought out to fill. My guess would be Auburn since its earlier in the season. Alabama schedules its warm up for the iron bowl every year with an FCS team. so the situation might have arose that after already scheduling one P5 that the other came in later and the offer was too good to turn down. This has nothing to do with stepping up competition. you don't schedule 2 former national champ power houses in the same season as a coach or AD without the price tag making it worth while. The other less likely scenario was that someone backed out of a game with Mercer and they had to find a game. If you have to scramble for a game you might as well get paid for it. Charleston Southern did it back in 14. they played Vandy and UGA. Savannah State did it in 2012 when they played OSU and FSU back to back.
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Post by mercerfan on Aug 1, 2017 15:47:54 GMT -5
Quarterbacks:
With John Russ leaving after starting every game for Mercer there is quite a hole to fill behind center. I would guess that Riley ends up with the job, but Tanner should push him as he has some game experience and a deeper knowledge of the playbook. Robert Riddle might also push both of them as he was highly recruited prospect, but all the Freshman QBs will end up as scout team guys this year. Offensive Line:
Probably the biggest question mark after QB is how is the OL going to do after losing 3 solid starters in Kirby, Avery, and Bret. Marchman and Yates are most likely locked in at LT and RG respectively. David May was a Freshman All-American at Valdosta State at center so he will most likely take over that position. Austin Sanders probably would have started for us last year, but had to sit out and will now probably end up as a guard. That leaves RT open for competition and I believe it will between Flath, Robinson, Brigham, and Allen. Hard to say who the 2s will be, but most guys will get reps at multiple positions. Thoughts: I'm in complete agreement that QB and OL are the biggest question marks. Defense "should" lead the team early in the season until the offense can catch up. This is the main reason the Wofford game concerns me. It is very difficult to bring in a new QB and be successful right off the bat. It can happen, but it is not the norm. I suspect that Riley is the designated QB1. Simply due to the lack of playing time that Tanner received last year. If Lamb was planning to play Tanner in 2017, he would have given him more snaps in game situations. He did this for several other positions in 2016, but not for QB. My speculation is that he was planning on Riley for 2017. |
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Post by mercerfan on Aug 1, 2017 15:59:35 GMT -5
As for the reason for playing both bama and auburn... well its all about the $$$. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Unfortunately the athletics department probably needs the money both for budget and the new expansion of the football stadium which should be coming soon(new pressbox etc) and the football team is offered up as a sacrificial lamb(pun very much intended) to meet the needs. There is a reason KSU isn't playing a p5 until 2021(GT). They don't need the money. Just thought I'd drop in and check on you guys Speculation here: I would bet heavily that Mercer only agreed to play Alabama in 2017 to get Alabama again in 2021. The Auburn game has been on the books for quite some time. I believe that Alabama probably would not agree to the 2021game without Mercer agreeing to schedule 2017 as well to fill their need. I am sure the money will be nice, but I seriously doubt that Mercer set out to schedule Auburn and Alabama in the same year. If you look at all the future schedules, they all have only 1 FBS team each year. So if your Mercer and negotiating with Alabama for 2021 but have to schedule a second FBS game in 2017 with Alabama to get 2021, is there anyone who would turn this down? I think not. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Aug 1, 2017 21:11:51 GMT -5
1) FCS Players are no more likely to sustain an injury in a game vs. an FBS Team than they are in a game vs. another FCS. I will view that as a FACT until I am presented with substantial empirical evidence otherwise. It is my opinion they are actually less likely, but I have no evidence to support that opinion. What I do have is the frame of reference of my own experience, which includes playing head-to-head vs. future NFL Hall-of-Fame Players such as Lawrence Taylor and others of that caliber in these types of games, as well as Coaching in FCS vs. FBS games, and observing such matchups closely for 36 years. We each have our own experiences which provide us with our context. I would be interested in understanding more about the context from which those who disagree with my conclusions speak. Maybe they've done exhaustive research into the matter or maybe they've been even closer to these types of games more often & more recently than I have. Or maybe they are just spitting out what they've heard morons such as Colin Cowherd spewing on the matter; though I doubt anyone would admit the latter.
2) The size difference of the individual matchups in FBS vs FCS games is negligible. The cumulative difference in sizes of all players is more meaningful, but is still usually not that significant. Davidson had a 250 lb FB in 1979 & he was an outstanding player. He was hard to tackle. So was UNC's 250?lb FB in 1980. Did you see the size of TTU's QB last year? How about Villaniva's DE. Big people play football at all levels and it helps to be big, but 305 ain't much bigger than 285 when you're on the field. Both Cats are Big. Size matters, but it doesn't matter as much as most people seem to believe and the size differences between the 2 divisions just are not that significant. Mostly just hype & perception - as I've shown can be done in this thread by lightly 'massaging' actual metrics to fit the narrative I want them to fit. The bigger and more germane difference to the outcomes of these games is speed - overall team speed of the FBS defenses and, in some cases, speed of WR's. They say "speed kills" and it can in these situations. It 'kills' on the scoreboard, but it doesn't injure players.
3) We all know that JaxSt was a shanked punt away from beating Auburn in 2015, right? We all know that Nicholls State dang near cut Georgia last year, right? We all know that an AppSt not too far removed from FCS Football should have beaten Tennessee last year, right. We all saw Samford take MissSt to the wire last year, right? I could go on and on citing examples of FCS Teams matching up with SEC & other P5 Schools, but somehow the general public 'forgets' about those each new season. Look, Alabama is a different kettle of fish right now; we all know that...but is Auburn really a world-beater this year? Heck, 1/2 of their players are playing for JaxSt & Chattanooga! I don't know - maybe they are - I REALLY don't follow FBS Football. Are they ranked? Whatever...UNC was ranked #5 in 1980 & almost the entire 2-deep ended up playing in the NFL. They finished 11-1...but we (FU) played with them STRONG for a half. Had a chance to take the lead going into halftime, but fumbled the 3rd down QB Exchange on the 1 going in. (QB's fault, of course; don't remember who was playing Center...), but it was 108 degrees on the Field that day & their DEPTH came into play BIG-Time in the 2nd half - I faced 5 different NG's (oops...mighta told on myself there) that day...and they were all very good. We lost 35-13, I believe...and then won 8 straight & and another SoCon Championship. No 'hangover' from that UNC loss. Instead, we just got complacent after beating Davidson in game 9 & allowed an NAIA Wofford Team to tie us in game 10.
IT'S ALL ABOUT DEPTH, FOLKS...and a little bit about Team Speed; the rest doesn't really matter all that much. I promise.
I feel like John Blutarsky today. (Language NSFW)
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Post by jackal on Aug 2, 2017 8:00:48 GMT -5
As for the reason for playing both bama and auburn... well its all about the $$$. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Unfortunately the athletics department probably needs the money both for budget and the new expansion of the football stadium which should be coming soon(new pressbox etc) and the football team is offered up as a sacrificial lamb(pun very much intended) to meet the needs. There is a reason KSU isn't playing a p5 until 2021(GT). They don't need the money. Just thought I'd drop in and check on you guys Speculation here: I would bet heavily that Mercer only agreed to play Alabama in 2017 to get Alabama again in 2021. The Auburn game has been on the books for quite some time. I believe that Alabama probably would not agree to the 2021game without Mercer agreeing to schedule 2017 as well to fill their need. I am sure the money will be nice, but I seriously doubt that Mercer set out to schedule Auburn and Alabama in the same year. If you look at all the future schedules, they all have only 1 FBS team each year. So if your Mercer and negotiating with Alabama for 2021 but have to schedule a second FBS game in 2017 with Alabama to get 2021, is there anyone who would turn this down? I think not. I suppose we can disagree on this. Yes, there is some marketing aspect to playing the "big boys." You get your name out there a bit. It's a nice pitch to the players coming into the program. Don't let anyone fool you, though. It's always about the money. When you play two such games, it is unquestionably about the money. Smaller programs need these funds. It isn't uncommon to see an FCS program schedule two such games in a season. I just don't like it because it blows a huge hole in Mercer's playoff chances before they take their first snap in a conference game. |
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ursus
Spires Bear
Posts: 222
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Post by ursus on Aug 2, 2017 9:03:05 GMT -5
I just don't like it because it blows a huge hole in Mercer's playoff chances before they take their first snap in a conference game. Fake News! Wofford is before Auburn. When will the failing Amazon Jackal repeal and replace his imploding Furman fandom for the much more beautiful and successful Mercer Bears? FUBeAR drained his swamp and now he wins bigly. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Aug 2, 2017 9:42:22 GMT -5
I just don't like it because it blows a huge hole in Mercer's playoff chances before they take their first snap in a conference game. Fake News! Wofford is before Auburn. When will the failing Amazon Jackal repeal and replace his imploding Furman fandom for the much more beautiful and successful Mercer Bears? FUBeAR drained his swamp and now he wins bigly. You have to understand Jackal's mindset, ursus. In Jackal's mind, the Auburn & Alabama games became losses for Mercer as soon as they were officially scheduled. Jackal thinks Mercer is 0-2 before kickoff vs. Jacksonville. Jackal is an FCS upset deny-er. Despite annual evidence to the contrary, the Cowherd Doctrine on this topic cannot be overcome in the mind of the Jackal. Also, you lost me with your current political metaphor, so I feel compelled to reiterate that I love my Furman Paladins and I live our Mercer Bears. Now, there is a 'swamp' down in Charleston that I would like to drain, if that's what you meant. 😆 |
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Post by jackal on Aug 2, 2017 9:56:53 GMT -5
Fake News! Wofford is before Auburn. When will the failing Amazon Jackal repeal and replace his imploding Furman fandom for the much more beautiful and successful Mercer Bears? FUBeAR drained his swamp and now he wins bigly. You have to understand Jackal's mindset, ursus. In Jackal's mind, the Auburn & Alabama games became losses for Mercer as soon as they were officially scheduled. Jackal thinks Mercer is 0-2 before kickoff vs. Jacksonville. Jackal is an FCS upset deny-er. Despite annual evidence to the contrary, the Cowherd Doctrine on this topic cannot be overcome in the mind of the Jackal. Also, you lost me with your current political metaphor, so I feel compelled to reiterate that I love my Furman Paladins and I live our Mercer Bears. Now, there is a 'swamp' down in Charleston that I would like to drain, if that's what you meant. 😆 That is what I meant. If Mercer beats Alabama or Auburn, I will be happy to eat a healthy serving of crow. Having watched enough of these games, the odds are something greater than 0%, but quite small. I am no FCS-upset denier, but Alabama and Auburn are not your average FBS teams. The last two years Alabama has played two top ten FCS teams (UTC and Charleston Southern) and beaten them by a combined score of 87-9. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Aug 2, 2017 10:22:03 GMT -5
The last two years Alabama has played two top ten FCS teams (UTC and Charleston Southern) and beaten them by a combined score of 87-9. Sure...and in 2015, a JaxSt Team, that should have been beaten by a Chattanooga Team, that WAS beaten by a bunch of walk-on's from Mercer, was a shanked punt away from beating Auburn. I can probably do this all day, y'know... You go ahead and count every FCS vs. FBS game as a loss for the FCS Team before the game is even played and I'll go ahead and view every one of those games as a great opportunity for each FCS program and each Player on each FCS Team. I just hope that each of those FCS Players & Coaches take the field in those games TRULY EXPECTING to WIN. I've seen FIRSTHAND just how much of a difference that can make. I believe it was Coach Henry (not John) Ford who said, "Whether you think you can or you can't; either way, you're right."...and he IS right! |
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Post by jackal on Aug 2, 2017 12:07:55 GMT -5
The last two years Alabama has played two top ten FCS teams (UTC and Charleston Southern) and beaten them by a combined score of 87-9. Sure...and in 2015, a JaxSt Team, that should have been beaten by a Chattanooga Team, that WAS beaten by a bunch of walk-on's from Mercer, was a shanked punt away from beating Auburn. I can probably do this all day, y'know... You go ahead and count every FCS vs. FBS game as a loss for the FCS Team before the game is even played and I'll go ahead and view every one of those games as a great opportunity for each FCS program and each Player on each FCS Team. I just hope that each of those FCS Players & Coaches take the field in those games TRULY EXPECTING to WIN. I've seen FIRSTHAND just how much of a difference that can make. I believe it was Coach Henry (not John) Ford who said, "Whether you think you can or you can't; either way, you're right."...and he IS right! We will agree to disagree. You can expect to beat Alabama and Auburn. I'll assume those are going to be losses. I have that luxury, I'm not playing. |
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Post by jackal on Aug 2, 2017 12:16:18 GMT -5
I just don't like it because it blows a huge hole in Mercer's playoff chances before they take their first snap in a conference game. Fake News! Wofford is before Auburn. When will the failing Amazon Jackal repeal and replace his imploding Furman fandom for the much more beautiful and successful Mercer Bears? FUBeAR drained his swamp and now he wins bigly. I would debate you on that, but that would have me leaving here in handcuffs. You wait. Our wandering in the wilderness will soon be over. We'll be back soon enough Won't we, Bear? |
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Post by FUBeAR on Aug 2, 2017 12:35:24 GMT -5
Sure...and in 2015, a JaxSt Team, that should have been beaten by a Chattanooga Team, that WAS beaten by a bunch of walk-on's from Mercer, was a shanked punt away from beating Auburn. I can probably do this all day, y'know... You go ahead and count every FCS vs. FBS game as a loss for the FCS Team before the game is even played and I'll go ahead and view every one of those games as a great opportunity for each FCS program and each Player on each FCS Team. I just hope that each of those FCS Players & Coaches take the field in those games TRULY EXPECTING to WIN. I've seen FIRSTHAND just how much of a difference that can make. I believe it was Coach Henry (not John) Ford who said, "Whether you think you can or you can't; either way, you're right."...and he IS right! We will agree to disagree. You can expect to beat Alabama and Auburn. I'll assume those are going to be losses. I have that luxury, I'm not playing. I didn't say what I'm expecting as I also am not playing, but I certainly would hate to be an FCS fan & face the world with your pessimism. BTW - would you like to know the date of the 1st FU Football game I ever attended? 9/4/76 - look it up - perhaps that helps to explain why I think the way I do...and it's even relevant to the 2017 season. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Aug 2, 2017 12:41:28 GMT -5
Fake News! Wofford is before Auburn. When will the failing Amazon Jackal repeal and replace his imploding Furman fandom for the much more beautiful and successful Mercer Bears? FUBeAR drained his swamp and now he wins bigly. I would debate you on that, but that would have me leaving here in handcuffs. You wait. Our wandering in the wilderness will soon be over. We'll be back soon enough Won't we, Bear? Lots of Bears here, but if you meant me, my vision is that Mercer & Furman end up in Frisco this season battling it out OT after OT (just as they did in the earlier regular season game) until the NCAA calls the game a tie (just as the SoCon did in the earlier regular season game) and declares them Co-FCS-Champions to add to their undefeated SoCon Co-Championships. |
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Post by mercerfan on Aug 24, 2017 18:20:53 GMT -5
Quarterbacks:
With John Russ leaving after starting every game for Mercer there is quite a hole to fill behind center. I would guess that Riley ends up with the job, but Tanner should push him as he has some game experience and a deeper knowledge of the playbook. Robert Riddle might also push both of them as he was highly recruited prospect, but all the Freshman QBs will end up as scout team guys this year. Offensive Line:
Probably the biggest question mark after QB is how is the OL going to do after losing 3 solid starters in Kirby, Avery, and Bret. Marchman and Yates are most likely locked in at LT and RG respectively. David May was a Freshman All-American at Valdosta State at center so he will most likely take over that position. Austin Sanders probably would have started for us last year, but had to sit out and will now probably end up as a guard. That leaves RT open for competition and I believe it will between Flath, Robinson, Brigham, and Allen. Hard to say who the 2s will be, but most guys will get reps at multiple positions. Thoughts: I'm in complete agreement that QB and OL are the biggest question marks. Defense "should" lead the team early in the season until the offense can catch up. This is the main reason the Wofford game concerns me. It is very difficult to bring in a new QB and be successful right off the bat. It can happen, but it is not the norm. I suspect that Riley is the designated QB1. Simply due to the lack of playing time that Tanner received last year. If Lamb was planning to play Tanner in 2017, he would have given him more snaps in game situations. He did this for several other positions in 2016, but not for QB. My speculation is that he was planning on Riley for 2017. Not to say "I told you so". Well maybe a little. But Riley was named starting QB today by Bobby Lamb. |
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