What record would you be happy with after the first six games? Gives you the impression the program is headed in the right direction? I think 4-2 would give me warm and fuzzies. ND Rice Cal OSU TCU Oklahoma
4-2 with those 6 teams - I think most of us would have to have some level of being pleased - heading the right direction feelings. In this optimism, I see ND and TCU as the 2 L's. Like Dion, I REALLY want to beat the land thieves this season. I think 3-3 is probably more likely. .
We won't be any better than 3-3, and I won't be happy about it. I guess 4-2 like everyone else is saying would make me happy. But that's quite a stretch.
I hope for 3-3 with strong competitiveness in every game. 3-3 will tell me we are performing to par, assuming we take the 3 losses because the other teams are simply lining up older, superior talent to ours. 3-3 with a demonstrated learning curve will be OK. However, I see where people are headed with their thinking, because if we go into the OU game at 3-2, having lost to ND and TCU, and having shown the learning curve and competitiveness I was talking about, then we should be able to beat the land thieves. Of the 3 tough games, OU presents the lowest hurdle to clear. So why not? I can see the fans interpreting a 4-2 mark being a sign of progress tempered by realistic expectations. Of course, all this could be thrown out the window if we get bit by the injury bug again.
My thinking is if we are 3-3 then we are no better or worse than last year assuming the three losses are ND, TCU and OU. Cal, OSU and Rice are not supposed to be all that good, but still D-1 talent. Not really a reason for serious concern, but certainly something to pay attention to. Starting at 4-2 means we beat a team most counted as a probable loss which is a sign of forward progress. Starting 2-4 would be a disaster in my book and those warm and fuzzies come from the bottom of a bottle.
I'd be super happy with 4-2. The second half of our schedule is not as loaded so if we start off 4-2 against that gauntlet, then who knows what we're capable of on the back 9. Watch out! If we go 3-3 we could still very easily end up with 8 wins which is about where I predict this team ending up (But with a bowl win to top it off this year). So 4-2 would be a very pleasant surprise. I'll be OK with 3-3 as long as we show well in the losses. No lop-sided blow-outs and we'll come out of the gauntlet a better team for it. If we get destroyed or lay down in any of those losses I would be very disappointed.
After the ND tilt, we should have a much better idea of our chances in those first 6 games. So many questions / concerns starting off: The team is SO young New Offense A lot of Frosh will start / play 6 players gone on D NO SHIPLEY (or Harris) Will Heard be heard from The Swoopes saga continues Will Daje step up for his Sr. year Etc. etc.
I can see and would ecstatic for 5-1, but that has a low probability of happening. 4-2 is probable, but 3-3 to me is my most realistic thought. Anything less would be disappointing.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say our record in the first six games will range from 0-6 to 6-0, depending on how good we are and how many games we win.
6-0 would make me happy you said, happy, not satisfied, right? Ok State is ranked ahead of us in the ESPN pre-season poll in "others receiving votes." I see 3-3 and am ok with that if all games come down to the wire. Fight to the finish with a chance to win.
The only definite loss I see is TCU and the only sure win I see is Rice. The others could go either way, but some are more winnable than others. ND will be tough, playing on the road, but something keeps telling me we have a shot. Being the opening game, we might surprise them. Edge to ND. Cal has a very good offense, and a top qb, but their starting center quit. Their defense is not good and the game is in Austin, so advantage Texas. OSU is improved and their defense is supposed to be better, but again the game is in Austin. OSU is picked ahead of Texas in every prediction I have seen of the Big 12. Slight edge to OSU, but easily could be a pick'em game. OU is supposed to be better, but it's the OU-Texas game and hopefully by this game, the Horns will have gotten better too. Edge to OU. Hopefully we can get three of those games with ND, Cal, OSU, and OU That would be 4-2, but 3-3 is certainly a real possibility. So hoping for 4-2, but 3-3 isn't that bad really.
losses to ND, TCU, OU and probably Cal and Okie State. Rice should be a win. Maybe we beat Cal or OSU. Not optimistic. I can see us going 4-8 if things are real bad. The article in the SA EXpress-News on our qb situation gives me some hope but I would be real happy with an 8-4
Dammit, we better not lose to OU again, especially after our self-immolation against them last year even though for the 2nd straight year they didn't even seem up for the game and tried to play as ****** against us as they could.
Aggy never loses, they just run out of time, it's what they say. I asked an Aggy once, where that was in the standings. I see wins, losses, and ties. Show me the "ran out of time" column.
4-2 would be great for this young team. It's possible, but I just don't see it happening. I'm leaning heavily with 3-3, yet also knowing 2-4 is just as realistic as 4-2 would be. In this brutal 6 game stretch, I think it's imperative we come away with one program defining victory to propel Strong's team past doing what it's supposed to do. By that I mean we need to upset a team like ND, TCU, or OU. While OU would be a huge win, that game is always up for grabs and winning wouldn't be that out of the ordinary. I'd like to see the upset of either ND or TCU on their field. Both will be Top-10 ranked when we meet. Now that would really put a shot of life into this team and elevate Strong's program to a new level.
If given a choice to pick only one upset in those 2 games - ND or TCU, even though TCU is a conference game, I would pick upsetting ND. I think it would have a much bigger impact on the team, program and would build some serious momentum from the get go. I want to win both of those games but this YOUNG team kicking ND in the nuts in South Bend, first game of the year on national TV, a team we owe some payback to... well it would give me GREAT pleasure and it would sit well with me!
WM, I agree 100%. I'd rather beat ND and get Strong's first trademark win to get the ball rolling asap. Losing game one destroys a lot of hope right out of the gates. Every year is a clean slate full of unknown potential. Opening with a gut punch is an agonizing dose of reality that comes too abruptly. Especially since we are used to beating cupcakes in the opener. We all know the realistic limitations on this team, but one is not a diehard Horns fan without this deep down, foolish fantasy of immediate transformation into national relevance. Losing in South Bend would knock that out instantly. However, beating a touted Irish team at their house would drastically inflate that crazy notion of being a contender. We'd have at least 2 weeks to relish in the coming possibilities since Rice is a win...maybe 3 or 4 until reality shows up at TCU.
Gosh I remember that play like it was yesterday. I so wanted the Horns to win that game in Austin in Sept. 1996.
For those who remember those 2 ND losses in the 90's, I'm sure this game takes on a different revenge aspect than just a premiere match-up with a big name opponent. After the beatdown we took in South Bend in 95, the home fans were pumped for the rematch. We all wanted it so badly, and the electricity in the air before and during the game was awesome. It was pure agony losing that second one. 20 years later we return to the scene of the 95 crime. It's time to finally give some payback to these Leprechauns.