TSU88

I don’t think he’s coming either. Just for clarity, when you say “we are adding another PG,” does that simply mean “we only have 1 PG on this years roster who will return next year, so we’ll have to add another” or are you intimating that something is imminent in terms of an announcement about a specific PG?

Bickham committed to U of Denver

Tre Wood supposedly announcing this Friday

Yeah, I was going to mention that as well. At least we’re not linked to him on his verbal commits webpage

His twitter reads he’ll be announcing tomorrow at 6:30pm, Minnesota time.

First, & most importantly, I hope the TU player who got taken off on a stretcher is okay (couldn’t tell who it was from the stands). An injury like that puts everything in perspective. At the end of the day, these are 18-21 year olds, playing a game. Nothing more. As for the game itself, what is there to say about the offense that hasn’t already been said. In a word, it is inept, likely one of the worst in the country. While I see some glimmers of hope in Stover, he seems susceptible to turnovers, which I guess is to expected from a freshman QB. In defense of him, we have no running game whatsoever. I saw Simpson on the sidelines in a walking cast; he ain’t coming back anytime soon. Not that it would necessarily matter with this OL. As for the receivers, I counted what, 4-5 drops tonight. The rest of the time they had no discernible separation. As for the D, for the most part they played well, albeit against a backup QB who isn’t much of a passer. When Nova had its starting QB in for the 1st drive of the game, he went through us like a hot knife through butter, including an inexplicable 3rd & 28 conversion. Even the normally reliable FG kicker was bad tonight, with a missed XP & FG. As I’ve asked before, other than maybe Rhode Island, where is there another W going to come from this season? We need a new coaching staff, but that’s not happening. I wonder if maximum 4 win seasons are now the norm?

At least basketball is right around the corner. I understand they had a point guard recruit on campus yesterday, so not sure what that means regarding Tre Wood.

Undoubtedly. Alas, the difference is that a good team will find a way to get W’s, even with a freshman backup who tried to set the forward pass back by 100 years, while a bad team will, well, we can figure out the rest. Don’t know about you, but I’ve seen this movie many times the last 3+ seasons, & it has the same unhappy ending

Couldn’t agree with you more. When Nova’s starting QB went out, the door was opened for us to get a W. The backup they put in threw 3 pics & our inept offense frittered them away. Does anyone honestly doubt if there starting QB hadn’t gone down that Nova would have scored 40-50 points?

Maybe we can take a page out of the Ravens offensive playbook. No, wait.... Watched one of the worst offenses in college football Saturday night (we’ve scored 7 TD’s in 5 games, one of which was a 2 yard drive following an interception return) & then watched the worst offense in the NFL today. Maybe it’s something in the water. Ironically, both teams lit up the scoreboards with 9 points each.

Poor X & O game decisions (idiotic wildcat play, just one example) combined with not developing the players being recruited, and/or not recruiting the right players to begin with. An OC who, IMHO, is not competent, but has the job through nepotism. Mix & stir & pop it in your easy bake oven & what comes out when the timer goes off is a litany of tired excuses & most likely a third losing season out of the last four. Maybe Mahalak comes back & resurrects the season, but, absent that, we’re looking at 3-8 or 2-9.

Program is going backwards, plain & simple. What should have been great momentum on the heels of the 2013 season has been completely squandered. By my count, we’re 17 W’s & 21 L’s since then, with losses to Central Connecticut State, Rhode Island & Dartmouth, & squeaker wins against such powerhouses as Rhode Island, Morgan State, Delaware State & St. Francis. Granted, there have been injuries, but the one constant is the coaching staff.

And Jeff Miller will probably redshirt next season, assuming he doesn’t reconsider his verbal commitment

Frankly, if I were Mahalak, if I am able to graduate before next season, I’d forego my last season of eligibility, at least here, and try to find an FCS or D-II program closer to home where maybe I won’t get knocked out in the 1st game of the season.

You raised a point I neglected to mention in my initial post...the ridiculous wildcat play call with Williams. It didn’t work against Morgan State, it didn’t work tonight, & it won’t work in the future. Can you also explain to me why we’re attempting a FG down by 8, in the 4th Q? (Which naturally we missed). Even if he makes it, we still need to score a TD to win. Maybe we’d be 4-1 with Mahalak at QB, but obviously we’ll never know. After 2 straight years of suffering serious injuries in the first game of the year, what was an exciting transfer when announced now just appears to be potential that might never be realized. Meanwhile, my patience with Stover is wearing thin. But plenty of blame to go around-receivers who treat the football like they’re Superman & it’s Kryptonite, OL who can’t seem to open a hole. Round up the usual suspects.

Wonder if we have a shot at PG Tre Wood?

well, I guess my question is do you have any sense from someone connected with the program that we're seriously in play on Wood? Not asking for source. Or is it more akin to merely a wish/hope?

I recall you said you "heard things."

Does your intimation last week that some good news was brewing on the recruiting front still apply, or was that based exclusively on some belief that Higgs was coming to Towson?

In no particular order: (1) Our O-Line is no good; (2) this is particularly problematic because we're now basically reduced to a 5'7 freshman RB; (3) doesn't seem like our WR's are getting separation. Every catch seems strained, and very few cases of hitting a receiver in stride; (4) our freshman QB has potential, but given that he's a freshman, & combined with factors 1, 2, & 3 mentioned above, is it any wonder that after 4 games our highest point output is 17; (5) with Simpson out for an extended period, & no idea if/when Mahalak is going to play again (who unfortunately seems to be made of porcelain) the offense will likely continue to sputter; (6) the D doesn't get enough pass rush. We basically got carved up tonight by a so-so QB; (7) does anyone see any significant schematic difference from this (with a new coordinator) vs last year?; (8) we have some serious deficiencies in the secondary with JPD & Boals; (9) Elon & RI, the usual conference bottom feeders, appear to be improved. Given that, where, REALISTICALLY do we get any more W's this season?; (10) 2013 is a million years ago-a season that was somewhat of an aberration, fueled by a once in a generation player in T West (who last time I checked is out of college eligibility). Bottom line-the elephant in the room, whether anyone likes it or not, is that we are relegated to 4 win seasons until there is a coaching change, which, for contractual reasons, is perhaps several years away, depending on when RA's contract expires.

Good analysis, IMHO. I'm already on record for advocating a regime change.

?

What does your crystal ball show?

Jake LaMotta just passed, at age 95 I believe. I've never seen Raging Bull, but what a great actor DeNiro is...Godfather, Casino, Goodfellas. I also liked him in Bang the Drum Slowly, even though he looked ridiculously scrawny to be a MLB player

Ok Mat, you can't dangle that out there & just leave it. I'm too emotionally fragile after tonight's game?. Are you suggesting a basketball commit, possibly? Not asking for a name or your source-just give me a yay or nay.