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Post by cardfan on Sept 21, 2023 6:50:43 GMT -6
We are going to know the goal of this team Saturday. If hunt plays you know the goal is getting as many wins as possible and they are trying for six. If Hunt sits then you can assume the staff feels like they have a real shot in the mac and burning a loss to GA southern is ok I don’t understand why not playing our best players if they are medically cleared to play indicates we are focused on winning the MAC, but if we play our best players in this game we are not? This game matters. Why can’t we beat Georgia Southern and also compete in the MAC? Play our best players who are physically capable of playing. Maybe give Hunt more rest than usual his first game back, but I will never criticize a coach for trying to win a football game. Some of these comments criticizing a coaching staff’s desire to reach bowl eligibility is baffling to me. We should all desire that result (not counting the non-football fans who only care about $). No head coach is going to come to Ball State and turn us into a powerhouse, so I hate the tank for a new coach perspective from fans. If Neu fails to make a bowl I understand moving in a different direction, but I certainly won’t be rooting for that outcome. Back to Hunt, a player could get injured in any football game on any play, so I say let’s come out with our best players with our best game plan (I know, cue the criticism of the play calling) and beat Georgia Southern! What Calhoun was getting at was, how willing is Neu to take a chance on Hunt not being physically ready to play (you can be cleared but not ready for the violence of the sport) to try to win a non conference game OR, hold him out one more week just to make sure Hunt is really ready to go and focus on the MAC season, which, is more important than one non conference game. The point being made is, is Neu in 'fighting to keep his job" mode and this one game is make or break in terms of getting to that "magical" six wins because we're gonna be super mediocre in the MAC season, OR, "we aren't going take a chance of losing Hunt for the MAC season just to try to win this one non conference game because we think we can win a MAC championship with him." (which would make losing this game NOT a deal breaker in terms of the success of the season and Neu keeping his job) I'm translating Calhoun speak here...... Nutshell - if Neu thinks 6 wins saves his job and he thinks we're only going 4-4 in the MAC so beating Ga. Southern is crucial to job safety and therefore he's going to run Hunt out there, ready or not, vs. Neu thinks we have a really good shot at 5+ MAC wins, which gets us to that bowl game eligible six wins and therefore saves his job and so Hunt is far more important in the MAC season vs. taking the chance of losing him again in a non conf. game that won't necessarily keep us from hitting six wins if we lose it. Now, no, BSU isn't going to regularly be a powerhouse in football. We just aren't. We don't have the resources, recruiting reach, and coaching quality that a Toledo or Ohio U. do, for example. It kinda sux that reaching 6 wins is our big goal most of the time but the fact is, if we can average 6 wins a year under ANY coach and get to a bowl game every year it keeps people somewhat happy and at BSU we don't fire coaches who regularly win even just 6 games a year, as mediocre as that is. It's understood we're going to get paid to hammered in at least 2 games a year so that leaves just two other non conf games that are winnable, and it seems most years we only split in those. So, then you're looking at going 4-4 in the MAC leaving you with only 5 wins, which in general seems to be Neu's ceiling. He's pretty much a 5 win coach and surely to goodness our new AD won't be willing to settle for that forever. So, we're NOT hoping we tank so Neu gets fired. We just know the limitations he has as a head coach and in the big picture that hasn't been good enough and we probably need a change if he comes up short of a bowl again this year. How last year finished was inexcusable. Had he gotten a 3rd bowl in a row, as low as a bar as that is these days with how bowls are handed out like candy at Halloween, he'd have probably even secured another extension. Now it seems like he SHOULD be fighting for his job but Aiming low for 6 wins, which is what we're talking about here because that's probably the most wins we can can get, is not great. |
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Post by 00hmh on Sept 21, 2023 7:29:25 GMT -6
The part about the staff playing Hunt "ready or not" makes it seem the coach would gamble when there's high risk level. I don't buy that. If he knows he's not ready Neu will sit Hunt.
I do think the decision may be one where there is some uncertainty. I can't blame a coach playing a kid medically cleared who has practiced full speed. Some risk then, still, but that's the doctor's call and reasonable risk.
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Post by BSUMike on Sept 21, 2023 8:17:22 GMT -6
The part about the staff playing Hunt "ready or not" makes it seem the coach would gamble when there's high risk level. I don't buy that. If he knows he's not ready Neu will sit Hunt. I do think the decision may be one where there is some uncertainty. I can't blame a coach playing a kid medically cleared who has practiced full speed. Some risk then, still, but that's the doctor's call and reasonable risk. Yep, this is my point. I understand the MAC games are more important if we think we have a chance to win our division, but I don’t think trying to win this game will negatively impact our chances to win those MAC games. We should all want Neu to fight to keep his job because that means he is trying to win. 7 wins is better than 6 and 6 wins is better than 5 and 5 wins is better than 4. Not saying we try to win at all costs, but if Hunt wants to play and doctors feel like he can play why not? |
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Post by cardfan on Sept 21, 2023 9:06:53 GMT -6
Hunt hasn't even had contact in practice yet, so this might all be a moot point if he doesn't get any contact/team work in early enough this week. Which is MY point. If Hunt doesn't even get to contact or team work till say, tomorrow, is he really "football" ready to play this week? He's considered questionable at this point so why rush him now? But, if he does play, I hope he stays healthy, and catches 3 TD passes.....
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Post by BSUMike on Sept 21, 2023 10:35:27 GMT -6
If Hunt plays, it is because the coaches and doctors think he is football ready. This isn’t about Neu risking the health of his best player for his own career security. I want to see Hunt play. I want to see us win. If Hunt isn’t ready to play, then of course we play with the players we have available. The only area where we disagree is what it means if Hunt plays or does not play. I really think it is as simple is that he plays if he can, and that’s how it should be.
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Post by rmcalhoun on Sept 21, 2023 12:04:04 GMT -6
My opinion is Brady while cleared will still not be in game shape he has missed a month and did not run until this week, The extra week could be huge for him. I want us to win every game but Im not sure rushing him bACK to go for a non con win is the best move with conf looming. Like everything posted on here its just ones opinion my opinion could be entirely wrong. I dont talk to anyone on the staff just try and make educated guesses
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Post by rmcalhoun on Sept 21, 2023 12:07:15 GMT -6
I don’t understand why not playing our best players if they are medically cleared to play indicates we are focused on winning the MAC, but if we play our best players in this game we are not? This game matters. Why can’t we beat Georgia Southern and also compete in the MAC? Play our best players who are physically capable of playing. Maybe give Hunt more rest than usual his first game back, but I will never criticize a coach for trying to win a football game. Some of these comments criticizing a coaching staff’s desire to reach bowl eligibility is baffling to me. We should all desire that result (not counting the non-football fans who only care about $). No head coach is going to come to Ball State and turn us into a powerhouse, so I hate the tank for a new coach perspective from fans. If Neu fails to make a bowl I understand moving in a different direction, but I certainly won’t be rooting for that outcome. Back to Hunt, a player could get injured in any football game on any play, so I say let’s come out with our best players with our best game plan (I know, cue the criticism of the play calling) and beat Georgia Southern! What Calhoun was getting at was, how willing is Neu to take a chance on Hunt not being physically ready to play (you can be cleared but not ready for the violence of the sport) to try to win a non conference game OR, hold him out one more week just to make sure Hunt is really ready to go and focus on the MAC season, which, is more important than one non conference game. The point being made is, is Neu in 'fighting to keep his job" mode and this one game is make or break in terms of getting to that "magical" six wins because we're gonna be super mediocre in the MAC season, OR, "we aren't going take a chance of losing Hunt for the MAC season just to try to win this one non conference game because we think we can win a MAC championship with him." (which would make losing this game NOT a deal breaker in terms of the success of the season and Neu keeping his job) I'm translating Calhoun speak here...... Nutshell - if Neu thinks 6 wins saves his job and he thinks we're only going 4-4 in the MAC so beating Ga. Southern is crucial to job safety and therefore he's going to run Hunt out there, ready or not, vs. Neu thinks we have a really good shot at 5+ MAC wins, which gets us to that bowl game eligible six wins and therefore saves his job and so Hunt is far more important in the MAC season vs. taking the chance of losing him again in a non conf. game that won't necessarily keep us from hitting six wins if we lose it. Now, no, BSU isn't going to regularly be a powerhouse in football. We just aren't. We don't have the resources, recruiting reach, and coaching quality that a Toledo or Ohio U. do, for example. It kinda sux that reaching 6 wins is our big goal most of the time but the fact is, if we can average 6 wins a year under ANY coach and get to a bowl game every year it keeps people somewhat happy and at BSU we don't fire coaches who regularly win even just 6 games a year, as mediocre as that is. It's understood we're going to get paid to hammered in at least 2 games a year so that leaves just two other non conf games that are winnable, and it seems most years we only split in those. So, then you're looking at going 4-4 in the MAC leaving you with only 5 wins, which in general seems to be Neu's ceiling. He's pretty much a 5 win coach and surely to goodness our new AD won't be willing to settle for that forever. So, we're NOT hoping we tank so Neu gets fired. We just know the limitations he has as a head coach and in the big picture that hasn't been good enough and we probably need a change if he comes up short of a bowl again this year. How last year finished was inexcusable. Had he gotten a 3rd bowl in a row, as low as a bar as that is these days with how bowls are handed out like candy at Halloween, he'd have probably even secured another extension. Now it seems like he SHOULD be fighting for his job but Aiming low for 6 wins, which is what we're talking about here because that's probably the most wins we can can get, is not great. Thanks captain you nailed better than I did laying in bed at 3am this morning |
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Post by BSUMike on Sept 21, 2023 12:07:48 GMT -6
My opinion is Brady while cleared will still not be in game shape he has missed a month and did not run until this week. The extra week could be huge for him. I want us to win every game but Im not sure rushing him bACK to go for a non con win is the best move with conf looming. Like everything posted on here its just ones opinion my opinion could be entirely wrong. I dont talk to anyone on the staff just try and make educated guesses Yep. All good. More interesting when there are different opinions. If Hunt isn’t in game shape I don’t think he’ll help us win, so in that case we sit him this week and hope he is ready to go next week. |
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Post by sdacardinal on Sept 21, 2023 14:17:03 GMT -6
I think it was said that Hunt had a broken bone in is foot rather than a spained foot or ankle I think he should sit out this game and continue to get back in game shape even if the foot is healed. NOt playing him in a non con game and saving him for the MAC is not the issue here but rather his effectiveness and his confidence level
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Post by williamtsherman on Sept 21, 2023 16:16:09 GMT -6
I don’t understand why not playing our best players if they are medically cleared to play indicates we are focused on winning the MAC, but if we play our best players in this game we are not? This game matters. Why can’t …..etc. etc…….. …,. Calhoun speak here...... Nutshell - if Neu thinks 6 wins saves his job and he thinks we're only going 4-4 in the MAC so beating Ga. Southern is crucial… ..etc. etc. etc…… …… be fighting for his job but Aiming low for 6 wins, which is what we're talking about here because that's probably the most wins we can can get, is not great. Jeez I’ll bet Herman needed a recharge to his head electrodes after that lengthy screed |
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Post by cardfan on Sept 21, 2023 16:31:22 GMT -6
Jeez I’ll bet Herman needed a recharge to his head electrodes after that lengthy screed Accidentally stuck my finger in a socket and it turbo charged me. |
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Post by lmills72 on Sept 21, 2023 18:19:02 GMT -6
In terms of winning games ... it's not like if Hunt doesn't play we're bound to lose because we're stuck with some scrub at TE.
Kozoil seems extremely competent. I don't think we lose a lot if Hunt doesn't play, except maybe the ability to throw some 2 TE sets out there, which would be great if effectively utilized ... but I have already expected doubts about the coaching staff's ability to effectively utilize players, so ....
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Post by coastalcard on Sept 21, 2023 20:14:38 GMT -6
6 point dogs to GS
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Post by rmcalhoun on Sept 21, 2023 20:43:34 GMT -6
In terms of winning games ... it's not like if Hunt doesn't play we're bound to lose because we're stuck with some scrub at TE. Kozoil seems extremely competent. I don't think we lose a lot if Hunt doesn't play, except maybe the ability to throw some 2 TE sets out there, which would be great if effectively utilized ... but I have already expected doubts about the coaching staff's ability to effectively utilize players, so .... Hunt coming back lets us move Koziol to the outside more almost using him as A Wr. Not having Robinson for awhile is going to kill us. We desperately need a WR to step up. Problem is Robinson was tge only option with a little size |
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Post by cardfan on Sept 22, 2023 6:58:36 GMT -6
OK, GS 38 - BSU 20
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