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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 7, 2014 14:40:43 GMT -5
A tough loss for the Bears last night.
I have to say, more than anything, I was incredibly proud of our guys. They gave max effort and believed they could win. That was the #17 ranked team in FCS and we gave them all they could handle.
A couple of takeaways:
I thought our defensive line and interior linebackers were terrific. We handled their OL and did a great job against the run holding them to 3.2 yards per rush.
The offense executed well in spurts. Again, Furman's defense is really good. The DE's are players and their DB's are fast and athletic. When we stuck to our guns, I thought we did a pretty good job moving the ball against top tier defense.
We gave up big plays in the passing game and we have to sort that out. When their QB had time, he got yards in big chunks with his arm.
The crowd was great and the environment was awesome.
Lots of film to look at lots of places to get better, but if last night is any indication, I certainly don't think we will be the conference doormat like others seem to think we will be.
Go Bears!
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Post by puprock on Sept 7, 2014 17:55:26 GMT -5
Overall, I thought we played well. Our front seven played great most of the time and except a few plays, the DBs covered well. Maybe it's because we haven't had to punt much, but failing to gain field position killed us. Plus the line drive kick from the end zone led to a TD. All in all, I was pleased with the effort, but we made too many mistakes to beat a good team.
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Post by MUfan on Sept 7, 2014 18:10:09 GMT -5
I'm thinking the Bears might could pull off a win or two in the SoCon this year.
Got to limit the mistakes on both sides of the ball.
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Post by FUBeAR on Sept 7, 2014 19:30:39 GMT -5
A tough loss for the Bears last night. I have to say, more than anything, I was incredibly proud of our guys. They gave max effort and believed they could win. That was the #17 ranked team in FCS and we gave them all they could handle. A couple of takeaways: I thought our defensive line and interior linebackers were terrific. We handled their OL and did a great job against the run holding them to 3.2 yards per rush. The offense executed well in spurts. Again, Furman's defense is really good. The DE's are players and their DB's are fast and athletic. When we stuck to our guns, I thought we did a pretty good job moving the ball against top tier defense. We gave up big plays in the passing game and we have to sort that out. When their QB had time, he got yards in big chunks with his arm. The crowd was great and the environment was awesome. Lots of film to look at lots of places to get better, but if last night is any indication, I certainly don't think we will be the conference doormat like others seem to think we will be. Go Bears! Great breakdown BearDown! I would amend one point you made... Mercer's players not only "believed" they could win, the EXPECTED to win. IMHO, there is a key difference in these terms in the sport of Football. Faith, as most of us know, can be tested and we (me, at least) often waver when it is. Expectations do not waver when they are tested. The test is viewed as a bump in the road and just another thing to be dealt with along the way to realizing what you expect to happen. So, when you throw a pick 6 in the 4th quarter and go down by multiple scores, you still EXPECT to win the game. Mercer Football has played that way since Day 1...and I EXPECT that will continue as the season unfolds. |
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Post by 9voice9 on Sept 7, 2014 20:10:49 GMT -5
While all of the comments about our Bears' expectations, and execution (for good and for ill) are very true, one thing I've seen little to no comment about, either here or in other online venues, nor in the local coverage in Macon: the officiating. I know that it's "bad form" and all, and I know that Coach Lamb is too fine a gentleman and coach to EVER say anything publicly, but for Pete's sake - how much harder can you make life than to have to be not only the opposing team, but the officials too?
I'll be the first to admit (and turn in my Man Card if necessary) that I didn't grow up playing the game, and am less-than-a-novice when it comes to the finer points, but the "pass interference" call in the first quarter? From my vantage point, at least, that was a terrible call. And there were several calls that lent themselves to the idea that some of the officials (especially the Referee?) had it in for the Bears.
I know - you play the hand you're dealt, and the officiating is what it is, for better or for worse. But jeez!
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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 7, 2014 20:23:54 GMT -5
It's an interesting discussion 9voice9. I've been milling around on some of the other teams message boards and just about the only thing people seem to consistently agree on is that SoCon refs suck. lol!
It's really hard for me to say since this is my first experience with FCS football, but I think the referees sucking situation seems to come up fairly often. Be, in all seriousness, people hate the refs at every level, even in the NFL.
BearNow was a college football player and has been following this a lot more closely than me over the years. I wonder what his take is on the general level of officiating in FCS/SoCon games?
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Post by bear38 on Sept 7, 2014 22:49:54 GMT -5
One stat that really stood out for me was that Mercer out gained Furman 191 yards to 141 yards in the second half.
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Post by 9voice9 on Sept 8, 2014 9:08:51 GMT -5
I know - officiating is an unwelcome and unloved job. And fans can easily be blinded by their love of their team to true objectivity. But if there's consensus that the refs are not good, shouldn't that prompt some action by the Conference to either improve them or to show that they're actually capable and doing it right?
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Post by pappabear84 on Sept 8, 2014 12:39:42 GMT -5
Wow!!!! Great seeing the level of Bear Fan response, on this site. The Socon site was not very active. Love all the comments about the game, and really enjoyed being a part of the Maniacs out their cheering the bears on. My thoughts was like many others in that it was a hard fought game, and we truly played like we Expected to win. Looking at it on Monday Morning, I only wish that we could have managed to save at least one time out. I thought the last one we burned on defense, cause the coach thought we were out of position, was critical. with one more possession and a time out, we could have made it closer.
The other comment was perhaps as we get further into the season, I would like to see us go for those 4th and 1 or 2 yard situations, This will allow us to build even more confidence, and retain key offensive
possessions. The one we ran and coach called the time out, then we sent the punt team in on 4th and 2, gave Furman possession and they scored.
other than that, I am excited to be a bear!!!! Heading to Stetson this weekend.
Go Bears!!!!!!!
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badnewsbear
Penfield Bear
"May they defend this house like and angry bear defends its den." - C. McMahon
Posts: 51 
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Post by badnewsbear on Sept 8, 2014 12:57:12 GMT -5
First of all, I am pumped about this forum seeing how I had to read Furman's forum all last week and see them projecting a 60-0 blowout. By the way I loved your commenting beardownmu. What is even funnier than their projections is the disdain they are showing this week towards thier current team, and the respect that they gave ours (and also our amazing band). I love what we saw out of our boys Saturday night and one thing became obvious, they aren't backing down from anyone. Furthermore,after reading the after game quotes of there being no such thing as a "moral victory," I have to agree with BearNow and say these boys expect to win. I'm encouraged, Go Bears.
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Post by bear38 on Sept 8, 2014 13:02:03 GMT -5
A little more color on my favorite stat from the game as mentioned above (i.e. Mercer out played/out gained Furman in the second half). I enjoyed reading the Furman Fan page before the game last week and the almost unanimous opinion from the Furman faithful, was that Mercer might keep it close for a quarter or two, but then the Palidins would blow the game out in the second half. After all, they reasoned, they were mostly Juniors and Seniors playing against Freshmen and Sophomores and they were the SoCon defending champs. This perception was confirmed after the game, when one of the Furman players was heard to remark that they were impressed with Mercer and thought that "they were going to come in and beat the Bears by 60". Maybe Mercer didn't win, but I think they earned some respect Saturday night, especially they way they played in the second half of the game. The Bears not only "held their own" in the second half, they actually were better than Furman in the second half.
Although there are some complaints on the Furman page that range from ticket availability to the pre-game prayer, my Furman friends were extremely complimentary about Mercer, the Mercer fans, facilities, and the football team. One of my good friends said that he was "blown away". He even enjoyed the SoCon Fest on Friday night on Mercer's campus.
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badnewsbear
Penfield Bear
"May they defend this house like and angry bear defends its den." - C. McMahon
Posts: 51
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Post by badnewsbear on Sept 8, 2014 13:05:29 GMT -5
Second of all, here are my 7 biggest takeaways that I jotted down this morning. They pretty much reiterate everything on here; however, I decided not to talk about the referees, but I don't remember having any problems with the refs last year (when we obviously weren't in SOCON) so I really hope this isn't a sign of things to come or else its going to be like basketball season where I'm yelling obsenities the entire time. I might submit this to the telegraph so feel free to give any input and to be critical.
1) What a game and SOCON opener! Predictions ran rampant from a possible close game, to a 60-0 blowout by Furman. Furman’s defense was trying to throw their first shutout and the Furman faithful wanted a blowout, obviously neither occurred and it was a close game with a couple of lead changes.
2) What an effort! Some might argue that we beat ourselves and that there were some immature mistakes, particularly with the use of time outs, but that has to be expected when we are still playing youngsters against some juniors and mostly seniors. One thing that was apparent though is that our boys came to play and gave it all they had.
3) We didn’t get manhandled at the line as many expected. Furman’s boys were big, much bigger than ours; yet, we still managed to put up a great rushing offense and defense, running for many first downs and stopping their run almost the entire game. There were times where their quarterback had too much time in the pocket, but overall we didn’t lose this game in the trenches.
4) We have the best atmosphere in the SOCON! The few Furman fans I talked to said that this was the harshest environment they will play in all year besides when they go to Columbia to play South Carolina. Another Furman fan said that give Mercer three years and they’ll be the best in the conference.
5) Our band is a show in itself! What a great job and I love the “Pirates Life for Me” song at halftime. Very Impressive.
6) Even though all fans are proud of the Bears effort, the after game quotes indicate that the players and the head coach do not believe in moral victories. They were there to win and are extremely upset that they didn’t pull out a victory, and this should be extremely encouraging to all Mercer faithful.
7) Mercer v Furman was not, is not, and will never be a “friendly rivalry.” These two schools are similar, almost eerily so, and the skirmishes between the players on almost every drive set a precedent for an amazing and exciting rivalry for many years to come.
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badnewsbear
Penfield Bear
"May they defend this house like and angry bear defends its den." - C. McMahon
Posts: 51
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Post by badnewsbear on Sept 8, 2014 13:09:40 GMT -5
Although there are some complaints on the Furman page that range from ticket availability to the pre-game prayer, my Furman friends were extremely complimentary about Mercer, the Mercer fans, facilities, and the football team. One of my good friends said that he was "blown away". He even enjoyed the SoCon Fest on Friday night on Mercer's campus. I unforunately missed the prayer, and Craig has given some good ones, but I heard it was a little odd. Although my Furman friends thought it was odd, they also thought it was awesome that we would allow someone to pray for our team and they wish they had that. Also, job well done by Mercer's staff at the SOCON event Friday, they were on their A game. |
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Post by bear38 on Sept 8, 2014 13:19:08 GMT -5
The prayer complaints made me laugh. To complain about someone else's prayer takes a lot of hubris in itself. But thinking about it more, if that is all that they can come up with to gripe about, then just "Bless Their Souls"……..
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badnewsbear
Penfield Bear
"May they defend this house like and angry bear defends its den." - C. McMahon
Posts: 51
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Post by badnewsbear on Sept 8, 2014 13:20:50 GMT -5
The prayer complaints made me laugh. To complain about someone else's prayer takes a lot of hubris in itself. But thinking about it more, if that is all that they can come up with to gripe about, then just "Bless Their Souls"…….. When they all got their tickets and pretty much had their own section, they had to come up with something new to complain about. |
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