It is likely we will be 2-0 going into that game and should we be able to win, would put us in good position to be 4-0 going into MINN game and in good position for a bowl bid. (Saw the guy from the Citrus bowl on Sat after the game) . It is also a potential win against one of the academic institutions (our equals) and would have us with wins in our last games against all of them. Vandy, ND. Stanford, BC and DUKE. A loss would set us back a bit.
How big will the DUKE game be?
- Thread starter hdhntr1
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I hate this bottom line thinking. Equal to purple kool-aide. It's like MRCat said in the BTN special on the Rose Bowl year that was on last night--"the goal should have been to win the Rose Bowl, not go to the Rose Bowl."
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I think it will be big, because it is a quality opponent on the road. Duke has been better than NU the last 2 years, and is sending guys to the NFL now. It will be a good test. But I disagree that a loss sets nu back "quite a bit". I think NU will be more resilient this season. And the belief among those who follow it is NU will be the underdog.
Never said quite a bit. Just said a bit. Just saying that it is now a big game for a lot of reasons that a win would help us with
It will be a lot bigger if we take care of business against EIU.
I think you are right about the possibility of going 4-0 if we win. Such a start puts a real positive spin on the rest of the season. After beating Minny, there would be no reason to think we couldn't beat UM. Hargaugh may be a big sensation but most teams don't thrive in the first year of a new coach and UM didn't look like a world beater on Thursday. Now we are 6-0 with Iowa coming to our house so 7-0. Nebraska is going to be tough but Thorson now feels the offense and it's our turn with them. PSU and Purdue at home will be nothing as PSU will have imploded by then. Wisconsin is always a battle but they too are under change. Illinois was kind to give us this home game in a larger venue for or undefeated regular season. Pfew, that was a fun season recap!
The real issue is, we don't know how highly over rated Stanford was or how the early start time messed them up.
We will run the table then meet OSU in the title game! OSU is the best team in college right now,and pretty much unstoppable! Why? Great mobile QBs who can run! Three of em for Goodness sakes! Football factory extraordinaire! OSU will shut down our offense to 14 points while scoring 28 on us. I just can't see how we can beat the Buckeyes at this point. We are second best team in the BT however! I see us at 12-1 and in the BCS playoff.
The Duke game is on the ACC Network which is a distribution package and can also be found online on espn3.
As an example: http://www.theacc.com/news/acc-football-on-the-acc-network-wake-forest-at-syracuse-09-12-2015
As an example: http://www.theacc.com/news/acc-football-on-the-acc-network-wake-forest-at-syracuse-09-12-2015
Let's just enjoy the process and watching this relatively young team grow and not get too far ahead of ourselves. A dominating win Saturday with lots of guys seeing action would be a nice second act.
There was virtually no way that Duke was not going to be a huge game for us:
1. Had we lost to Stanford (and assuming that we do not trip up against EIU or Ball State) then Duke would have been desperately needed for a 3-1 OOC and a chance at a bowl.
2. Since we won over Stanford (and still assuming no trip ups against EIU or Ball State) then we need Duke to be 4-0 non-conference with two Power 5 wins and solid momentum going into the B1G season and a run for the division.
The only way that Duke was not going to be huge for us would be losing to both Stanford and EIU. That is in the rear view mirror.
Duke is huge.
But right now, EIU is what is looming.
Also remember that the Rose Bowl team blew a game to Miami, Ohio, after a big first-game win against Notre Dame.
They didn't even receive votes this week after getting thumped by unranked Western Illinois, who now receives 12 votes. http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/20
If early rankings are meaningless for power 5 teams, even more so for FCS teams
That would make it even worse were we to not perform the way everyone is now expecting.
I think you're thinking of the 2013 version of the EIU Panthers, which went 12-2 with Garoppolo at the helm. One of those losses coming in the FCS quarterfinals and the other coming in a close game with NIU... that was a pretty good football team and amongst the best at the FCS level.
EIU took an understandable step back without Garoppolo. The 2014 version went 5-7 and the 2015 version started their year by receiving a thumping at the hands of WIU.
Everyone talks about Fitz, and his responsibility to keep the team focused on the next opponent, but it really comes down to the players, right?
Does this crop of Wildcats have the ability to bring the same intensity to the EIU contest, under decidedly less exciting conditions than the Stanford game? Or will we see another classically lackluster effort, playing down to Eastern's level, allowing them to stay in the game? Is this Wildcat team 'for real', or are they another up and down squad destined to be nothing more than spoilers for the real Big Ten championship contenders?
I can't tell. This week should reveal a lot about the 2015 Wildcats.
I hear the players using the word 'championship' in their interviews, and I like it. I hope the team leaders will push up the intensity this week. True champions should be able to completely break the will of opponents like EIU.
No muddling through a few quarters of uninspired play this week, Cats! Take it to Eastern like you're playing the Crimson Tide, starting from the first snap of the game. Leave no doubts.
Does this crop of Wildcats have the ability to bring the same intensity to the EIU contest, under decidedly less exciting conditions than the Stanford game? Or will we see another classically lackluster effort, playing down to Eastern's level, allowing them to stay in the game? Is this Wildcat team 'for real', or are they another up and down squad destined to be nothing more than spoilers for the real Big Ten championship contenders?
I can't tell. This week should reveal a lot about the 2015 Wildcats.
I hear the players using the word 'championship' in their interviews, and I like it. I hope the team leaders will push up the intensity this week. True champions should be able to completely break the will of opponents like EIU.
No muddling through a few quarters of uninspired play this week, Cats! Take it to Eastern like you're playing the Crimson Tide, starting from the first snap of the game. Leave no doubts.
Great motto: "Leave No Doubts!" As good or better than "Expect Victory", which does have a potential downside, which as you say is too much expecting and not enough victory.
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Our offense has to look good this week. I know Fitz doesn't like it, but a 40+ point performance would be a nice boost to our confidence.
I hope Fitz has changed. Things I see and hear are encouraging; however, I imagine that we will see mostly vanilla on offense unless challenged.
