[Jonathan Carone]

There was a member of the coaching staff before the season who said we could go 0-5 to start the year and still be where we needed to be. They didn't mail in those games, but their priority was to figure out what they had for conference season, not put together an at large resume. I hate our program has fallen to where we are in that position, but it was the right mindset given where our program is.

[BJWilliams]

I don't see it as a sign of our program falling necessarily, but more an idea that we shouldn't leave our fate in the hands of the selection committee. I also don't think that they were necessarily mailing in those first five games with that idea in mind, but I don't think that having that mindset means the program was flushed down the proverbial toilet last year or this year. We will have a very good young nucleus on offense at the skill positions with SBC, Hickson and AGG as the "triplets" to build around, and a schedule that on it face isn't super sexy from a committee standpoint with three openings remaining, but does lend itself to a good bit of success. Depending on how we fill those remaining dates, I could see another 7-9 win season to build on from here

[olldflame]

There was a member of the coaching staff before the season who said we could go 0-5 to start the year and still be where we needed to be. They didn't mail in those games, but their priority was to figure out what they had for conference season, not put together an at large resume. I hate our program has fallen to where we are in that position, but it was the right mindset given where our program is.

As far as that coach's statement is concerned, it is something better left unspoken IMHO, but is nonetheless true Fact is, we could have lost the first 6 and still had an excellent shot at it if we win the next 4 I highly doubt that the fact our staff understood that reality affected their preparation for those first 5 games in the least

I do think that, regardless of the outcome of the next 3 games, we need to reevaluate our scheduling strategy Not saying we should take the Moglia approach, but this year I think we took it too far in the other direction

[Purple Haize]

There was a member of the coaching staff before the season who said we could go 0-5 to start the year and still be where we needed to be. They didn't mail in those games, but their priority was to figure out what they had for conference season, not put together an at large resume. I hate our program has fallen to where we are in that position, but it was the right mindset given where our program is.

Not Program but Team. Regardless of what happened last year, this years Team was going to be a 'rebuild' year. If the Program had declined then you would be talking about waiting a year or two before LU could compete for a Championship. But being able to compete for a Championship the year AFTER competing for a Championship is not a sign of a Program in decline.
Your point would be valid if LU had recieved any let alone multiple At Large bids in the past.

[Jonathan Carone]

There was a member of the coaching staff before the season who said we could go 0-5 to start the year and still be where we needed to be. They didn't mail in those games, but their priority was to figure out what they had for conference season, not put together an at large resume. I hate our program has fallen to where we are in that position, but it was the right mindset given where our program is.

Not Program but Team. Regardless of what happened last year, this years Team was going to be a 'rebuild' year. If the Program had declined then you would be talking about waiting a year or two before LU could compete for a Championship. But being able to compete for a Championship the year AFTER competing for a Championship is not a sign of a Program in decline.
Your point would be valid if LU had recieved any let alone multiple At Large bids in the past.

Let's be honest with ourselves: If Coastal was still in the league, we wouldn't be competing for a championship this year. If we were in a league worth two craps, we wouldn't be competing for a championship this year.

Also, while we've never gotten an at large, we were a touchdown or less away from locking up an at large in 08, 10, 11, 13, and 14. We shot ourselves in the foot each year, but we competed for an at large in those year.

Lastly, this year never should've been a rebuilding year. That in and of itself is one of my major problems with this staff. Year five should be when you're clicking as a program, not rebuilding.

[BJWilliams]

I agree with your sentiment on the scheduling philosophy olldflame.

If I was the AD and looking at how to fill the remaining three games, I would want two home and one away, with one of the home games a mid-upper tier FCS and the other a lower tier (but not terrible) FCS to probably close the schedule to send the team into (hopefully) the playoffs on a high note, and the away game with a upper level FCS on the front end with the bye week after Indiana State

[Purple Haize]

I know. 'If it's not Rocco it's crap ' with you.

How do you 'compete' for an At Large?
If Coastal was still in the League LU would still be competing for a title this year.
The frustration should be, IMO, 'Why isn't LU a consistent player on a National level'. I think it can be and I think it's on the right track. Not saying a tweek here or there isn't needed but we are light years ahead of where we were and yes, in a better spot then we were 5 years ago

[Purple Haize]

There was a member of the coaching staff before the season who said we could go 0-5 to start the year and still be where we needed to be. They didn't mail in those games, but their priority was to figure out what they had for conference season, not put together an at large resume. I hate our program has fallen to where we are in that position, but it was the right mindset given where our program is.

As far as that coach's statement is concerned, it is something better left unspoken IMHO, but is nonetheless true Fact is, we could have lost the first 6 and still had an excellent shot at it if we win the next 4 I highly doubt that the fact our staff understood that reality affected their preparation for those first 5 games in the least

I do think that, regardless of the outcome of the next 3 games, we need to reevaluate our scheduling strategy Not saying we should take the Moglia approach, but this year I think we took it too far in the other direction

Well it's also a matter of who is willing to play LU. Can't just snap your fingers and have an opponent on your schedule

[Jonathan Carone]

As for scheduling, we are playing three ranked FCS opponents this year. We played the same amount of ranked opponents in 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2011. In 2012, we played four ranked FCS schools.

Since 2013, we've played two FBS schools each year. Those have generally been one regional P5 school and a lower tiered G5.

Why are we saying the schedule is too hard this year when we didn't say it in 2013, 2014, and 2015?

[Jonathan Carone]

I know. 'If it's not Rocco it's crap ' with you.

You realize I included two Gill years in my post about competing for an at large, right?

How do you 'compete' for an At Large?

You play good teams and beat them. In the years I mentioned, we were a touchdown or less away from beating teams that would've locked up an at large bid for us.

[thepostman]

There was a member of the coaching staff before the season who said we could go 0-5 to start the year and still be where we needed to be. They didn't mail in those games, but their priority was to figure out what they had for conference season, not put together an at large resume. I hate our program has fallen to where we are in that position, but it was the right mindset given where our program is.

Fallen? When did we ever really get out of that mindset? We have been stuck in this mode for years now where the only thing that really mattered was the Big South.

I think it is sad we haven't moved passed this by now.

[Jonathan Carone]

As recently as 2014 (and every year since 08) we went into the season knowing we had an at large chance. We knew we had no chance of putting together that opportunity this year. That's the definition of fallen.

[Purple Haize]

I know. 'If it's not Rocco it's crap ' with you.

You realize I included two Gill years in my post about competing for an at large, right?

How do you 'compete' for an At Large?

You play good teams and beat them. In the years I mentioned, we were a touchdown or less away from beating teams that would've locked up an at large bid for us.

I know. But the statement is still true. And LU has never beaten the teams they needed to be 'competing' for an At Large. Saying who LU lost to should be good enough has always been the flaw in fans thinking. Not yours but most

[Purple Haize]

As recently as 2014 (and every year since 08) we went into the season knowing we had an at large chance. We knew we had no chance of putting together that opportunity this year. That's the definition of fallen.

No it is not

[olldflame]

As recently as 2014 (and every year since 08) we went into the season knowing we had an at large chance. We knew we had no chance of putting together that opportunity this year. That's the definition of fallen.

No it is not

If we had beaten SMU, we would have more than a chance right now We would be a lock at 8-3 We came a lot closer to winning that game than the final score indicates I don't believe for a minute our coaches didn't think we could beat SMU or that they and the team didn't believe we had a chance at an at large this year

[thepostman]

As recently as 2014 (and every year since 08) we went into the season knowing we had an at large chance. We knew we had no chance of putting together that opportunity this year. That's the definition of fallen.

But we have never put ourselves in a position to be anything more than a bubble team. Which is my point.

We have never been a program taken too seriously in the at large discussion.

I'm kind of surprised to see you trying to argue otherwise

[Jonathan Carone]

Those wins would've put us squarely in the playoffs and not on the bubble. In 2014, had we not pooped away multiple wins, we would've possibly been in line for a seed even as an at-large.

We never took the next step, but we were good enough to do it. I don't know that we are even good enough to do it given the opportunity anymore.

[thepostman]

Exactly. IF

We may have flirted with the next step but we never took it. We have been stuck hoping we win the Big South title pretty much since Rocco's 2nd year. Has there been some spikes in performances from time to time? Yes. But overall we have been stuck here for years now.

[BJWilliams]

I was expecting a rebuilding year this year regardless...not because we have fallen as a program (IYO), but because we were graduating a ton of seniors at a lot of positions and we would be a very young team. We noticeably struggled in the first part of the year and now our young guys are stepping up and rounding into pretty good players. These guys (especially Calvert, Hickson and AGG) will be the nucleus of our team heading into 2017.

[Purple Haize]

Exactly. IF

We may have flirted with the next step but we never took it. We have been stuck hoping we win the Big South title pretty much since Rocco's 2nd year. Has there been some spikes in performances from time to time? Yes. But overall we have been stuck here for years now.

I take back 3 bad things I've ever said about you

However, at least LU has finally made the Playoffs and won a game. And I think have a good shot at making the playoffs again this year

[thepostman]

Don't get me wrong I am frustrated with the lack of progress the program has made. Of course the frustration has grown as the years drag on and the loads of money is poured into the program with little to no returns on the investment.

[rtb72]

Don't get me wrong I am frustrated with the lack of progress the program has made. Of course the frustration has grown as the years drag on and the loads of money is poured into the program with little to no returns on the investment.

I've asked before and not really yielded much feedback. So let me try to inquire again. What is the vision of LU's program for most of you on this board? I'm not talking about FBS necessarily, but as a respected, consistent contender? I hear many of you discuss how we've improved, but then see where many opine about the frustrations year after year. The money and facilities are not the issue, so what will it take besides time? And what amount of time is reasonable? I don't know all of the history, but I do recognize passion. And it would appear the passion is not aligned with the tolerance. Let me add, I'm not looking for coaching staff bashing.....I'm asking for genuine reflection on what the vision is and reconciling that with reality.

[Jonathan Carone]

Top 20 program year in and year out
Constant presence in the playoffs

[Dalegarz1]

The vision as it correlates to money spent and the stated objectives of the athletic administration would look something like this: Win the BSC 8 out of the next 10 years and ADVANCE in the playoffs at least half of those years. Additionally, make a serious run at the national championship a couple of times.

[olldflame]

Well, I guess we have our answer Clearly the safe way to go from a PR standpoint