He also had 4 OCs while he was there. Hard to develop any type of system like that. The only longer term OC gave CDM his best years at Vandy.

14 Karl Dorrell (fired as HC of Colorado in '22)
15-18 Andy Ludwig (OC at Utah since '19)
19 Gerry Gdowski
20 Todd Fitch (currently OA at LSU)

I do like the fact we were considered. If we can continue with post season success, we can continue to build up our name.

As somewhat expected Reese Beaty on to Iowa State. Hard to imagine her & Jada Harrison sharing the ball for 3 years at point. Still a great attempt. To be included in final 7 out of 50 offers not bad.

No doubt CDM is a defensive specialist coach. His players at Vandy were always tough & hard nosed. Tennessee will tell you that.
But looking at MT offensively last year to this year will we be better or worse?
The O-line has to be better, there's no way it could be weaker. But will we be way more conservative overall? I don't necessarily want to see run on 1st & 2nd, & pass on 3rd all year long. From what I remember Vandy under Mason wasn't known as a highly creative offense.

Hop45 said:

Minor? That thing got tossed around like a rag doll! I assumed it was destroyed.

EDIT: Just watched the video again. Wasn't as bad as I initially thought. Rolled it over and then it just slid along the grass. A little duct tape and some Elmer's and it'll be ready to roll again!

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I was surprised by that statement too but that’s what was said

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RaiderDoug said:

My only concern is that there's a very real possibility we open up 1-4 and blunt a lot of the positive vibes and momentum.

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I'm calling 2-3. Which will hurt, but a win over WKU or Duke will help. Memphis is a legit contender for the AAC crown to me, so that is a tall order, especially in the Liberty Bowl.

The main key for the season is to start Nov. no worse than 4-4. That gives us 3 games to grab those last two needed wins.
Even with me thinking we could finish 3rd, I still think that is at 7-5, which to me is the absolute cap this year.

This conference is the total opposite of top heavy right now. With Walden/UTEP and Sanchez/NMSU in full rebuild mode, then KSU and SHSU still in over their heads (though I do think SHSU will win a few more this year). And I dare say FIU and LaT will be in the new coach market after this season.

Part of me could even see WKU dropping Helton, especially if they drop us, Jax, and LU. They already will lose at Bama and probably to Toledo.

RaiderDoug said:

My only concern is that there's a very real possibility we open up 1-4 and blunt a lot of the positive vibes and momentum.

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Pretty much a guarantee. And the one W isn't. With Mason's desire to play games in the 30's and 40s' in total points we'll keep Tech in it way longer than we should with all new systems in place and a TO late could swing that game. Won't be surprised with a 24-13 type, with a late 4th Qtr TD sealing it.

No idea what the rest of the conference is going to look like other than Liberty is probably untouchable. I don't think wkcc has that good of a coaching staff. They just look good next to Rick and against a relatively bad league. It will be interesting to see how the coaching change effects the outcome of that series.

Matt Dossett said:

Need to come out of the OM game with no injuries

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💯

I'm not saying go down there and throw in the towel off the bat. Absolutely give it your all. But if by half time or 3rd it is obvious we aren't gonna win or close a gap, play some other guys. Try some new stuff.

Now if we are close, within a TD or so, different story. But honestly, I don't see that happening. Ole Miss will make the CFP this year as an at-large. They don't play Bama, UT, or TX, and they have UGA and OU at home.

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RaiderDoug said:

My only concern is that there's a very real possibility we open up 1-4 and blunt a lot of the positive vibes and momentum.

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Need to come out of the OM game with no injuries

RaiderDoug said:

No way to tell what we'll look like. I'll be optimistic and say we finish 3rd.

But even with Stock, there was always enough talent to never be really bad. We did get a coaching upgrade, and the rest of the conference has a couple of real dog programs in it.

Liberty is a 800lb Gorilla, so forget that. WKU is always better than us 🤮. After that, who knows.

I think we have a very good QB, I think we upgraded coaching wise, and I think we have landed some real portal talent (relative to CUSA).

So, that game vs Jax State is going to be for bowl eligibility and 3rd in CUSA.

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An elite QB can mask a TON of deficiencies. LOL I'm talking myself out of my prediction

My only concern is that there's a very real possibility we open up 1-4 and blunt a lot of the positive vibes and momentum.

No way to tell what we'll look like. I'll be optimistic and say we finish 3rd.

But even with Stock, there was always enough talent to never be really bad. We did get a coaching upgrade, and the rest of the conference has a couple of real dog programs in it.

Liberty is a 800lb Gorilla, so forget that. WKU is always better than us 🤮. After that, who knows.

I think we have a very good QB, I think we upgraded coaching wise, and I think we have landed some real portal talent (relative to CUSA).

So, that game vs Jax State is going to be for bowl eligibility and 3rd in CUSA.

MTFAN61 said:

I would take 2-2 in a heartbeat. Memphis is preseason ranked #36 by Lindys, & will be a very tough team to be there. Much better chance at home against #70 Duke.
We are coming into the season with a brand new coaching staff, but so is Duke. I like our chances at home with Nick at QB.

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Duke is my "upset" pick, as of right now.

Matt Dossett said:

Obviously not CUSA related, but I'm interested to see how OOC plays out.

Tennessee Tech at Floyd
Ole Miss on the road
Duke at Floyd
Memphis at Liberty Bowl

Thinking 2-2

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I would take 2-2 in a heartbeat. Memphis is preseason ranked #36 by Lindys, & will be a very tough team to be there. Much better chance at home against #70 Duke.
We are coming into the season with a brand new coaching staff, but so is Duke. I like our chances at home with Nick at QB.

Obviously not CUSA related, but I'm interested to see how OOC plays out.

Tennessee Tech at Floyd
Ole Miss on the road
Duke at Floyd
Memphis at Liberty Bowl

Thinking 2-2

I'm calling 3. No idea if it'll be Jax or WKU at 2. I'm not all in on the goats with a new (co) OC and new QB with Finley coming in from TX St.

I think we will split our WKU/Jax games.
The rest of the league is fairly even and I think we can hit a groove and win at least 4 of the final 6.

I wish we had a conf test before WKU (even a G5 test) but at least we finally open with an FCS to get our feet wet.

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sWiley said:

Second place

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Interesting. Behind Liberty?

Second place

JohnDavidBlue said:

Looks staged to me.

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No one ever got hurt from a little insurance fraud. Haha