Well, that’s a wrap!

Yes, it will be very interesting. Do we lose quality players or just those that are not content. I think recruiting will be positive. But what about special teams changes? I would like A DC upgrade but not happening.

We should be really good next year. But the defense has to be improved by whatever means necessary.

Nice to end the season with a win. We own two of our three rivalry trophies now. Need to get the bell back from Indiana State.

I was wrong with my thoughts about us going to a bowl game. I’ll own that. I can definitely say that the team has improved since we came in 3 years ago. I am proud of these seniors, and the efforts of all of the players. We can only hope for the continued improvement for this team.

Funny story you guys might like...

Last night the wife and I went out with friends and some how ended up back on campus drinking at brothers.. Around midnight the door opens and in comes Jacob white carrying the red bird trophy. Most of the o line and linebackers were there. Well since its break it was basically our group of 40 somethings and the team. This led to us all drinking together and playing with the trophy everyone was passing it around like it was the stanley cup. I became the subject of much ridicule and scorn because its the one time in the last month I was wearing Notre Dame clothes lol.. it ended up being a pretty fun evening. We did not talk much football but the extension was mentioned and it was obvious thats what they wanted.. The love the have for NEU was very easy to see

I wish I could have been there rm. I miss celebrating in The Village. It brings back many good memories.

It was great to see our seniors go out with a victory, and I hope they'll all be finishing up their degrees in May, if they haven't already.

I feel like our losses, while significant, shouldn't be overwhelming to replace in terms of numbers.

On defense we return most of our defensive backfield and linebackers. We lose some of the line, but that's maybe also where we need the biggest upgrades. If there's nothing in the pipeline there and no help comes via recruiting, we better come up with something else to get some pressure on opposing QBs.

Offensively, always tough to lose experienced linemen, but if the kids and the coaches have been doing their job, we should have some decent ones waiting in the wings. I would hope Tyler would step right in a WR, but I thought he would have done that this year. He had 5 TDs on just 27 catches, compared to team leaders Hall (6TD/61catches) and Miller (6/43), so I hope whatever issues kept him from more snaps get solved. Fletcher was such a great surprise you do have to wonder if there's someone who will be able to step in at RB and fill those shoes.

I feel like our kickers under Neu have been adequate but neither Rimmler this year nor Hagee in years past have been real advantages. If you got them inside 40 yards they were pretty good, but beyond that it was a guessing game. I'd love to have someone you could have faith in up to 45 yards and who could reach the end zone on kickoffs.

Anyway, I think the personnel is basically there to have an improved year, but will be coaching get them there?

Slightly off topic: Anybody else think the Scheu needs some help facilities-wise? You walk up into the stands in some sections and the steps aren't attached and shift under your feet. That seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen. I see a lot of trash that just seems to linger from game to game, like some areas of the stadium aren't even picked up between games. Some of the railings are just peeling paint and rust. And the conference team flags on the student side look like they're been there since I was in school. Are we that broke that we can't get new ones? Probably cost us a couple hundred bucks.

Slightly off topic 2: I sure hope we get to the point where we can draw a few more students who can run out the opposing team fans who've started sitting behind the visitor's bench. I liked them stuck over in the corner.