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UNLV NIL Fiasco

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MidTennMtneer said:
Honest question.

How are these kids graduating?

I transferred a measly 12 credit hours for college classes I took in high school and that was a pain. I can't see how these kids are getting the classes they need and not losing credits during multiple transfers. Some players are at four schools during their career.
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As someone who transferred 2x in undergrad and again in graduate school, I figured out how to find the programs that took the MOST credits and didn't fall behind. Unfortunately that program was the standard, meaningless Interdisciplinary Studies degree. My guess is the athletic advisors are doing the same. I could be wrong.

I'd like to know what percentage of athletes (and students) graduate with a meaningful degree that they don't have to explain in every job interview.
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BASKETBALL Season Preview Rough Draft

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Been to a few practices and talked to a few people the last few weeks. I plan on publishing something of a season preview column this week but figured I’d drop the more spontaneous, less filtered, extremely detailed rough draft for our subscribers on this year’s team. Probably more than you would ever want to know.

To recap and preface, I was really happy with the roster as the portal window closed. I thought the staff did well finding a balance of proven producers, flyers on talent, building depth, and adding roles and skillsets that paired well with the guys returning. See my article from last spring here for a more statistical breakdown of the portal additions here.

All that said I am still being cautious in expectations. The practices have shown me some positives and some negatives. I think their placement in the preseason coaches poll (fourth) is fair but I also understand we as fans have a standard for more, and I think we are entitled to that standard to some degree. The good news: its October 28th and I do believe in the ingredients this year.

Alright lets get to the fun part.
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UNLV NIL Fiasco

MidTennMtneer
JohnDavidBlue said:
......A large silver lining according the NCAA, however is that 91 percent of D1 athletes are graduating with a diploma.
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Honest question.

How are these kids graduating?

I transferred a measly 12 credit hours for college classes I took in high school and that was a pain. I can't see how these kids are getting the classes they need and not losing credits during multiple transfers. Some players are at four schools during their career.
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FOOTBALL FBS coaches hired in 2024

sWiley
MTTim said:
The red zone is where you see differences in talent. We don't have FBS level talent.
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Definitely part of it. Defenses don't have to cover much depth anymore when you get down in the red zone. This is where we really get exposed from a talent and coaching standpoint because we don't have the muscle to punch it in. Lack of a running game and a bad OL really show up here
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LADY RAIDER BB Middle Tennessee vs. Tennessee Southern. Exhibition Game: Friday Sept. 5th, 6:30 pm Murphy Center

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Stats from the previous exhibition:

UniNamePMinFGFG%3P3P%FTFT%RebORebDRebAstTOBlkStlPFPts
1C. BLAKELYG307-1353.81-333.36-6100.02118105021
10J. GREGORYG241-425.01-333.33-742.9707200016
15T. SCOTTG289-1947.43-650.03-475.06330051224
2A. BOLDYREVAC288-1457.10-20.02-2100.011382111018
21E. ARIKEF196-785.73-475.04-666.73123411219
11E. MONSONG71-250.01-250.00-00.0110100003
12G. HAMBYG50-00.00-00.00-00.0000010100
14S. DAVISG161-911.10-40.00-00.0550120112
22J. GRANNUMF152-366.70-00.00-00.0606201024
23J. HARRISONG92-2100.02-2100.00-00.0202100016
3G. DODGENG50-00.00-00.00-00.0000100010
40M. MASONC50-00.00-00.00-20.0110010010
42S. KABERNICKF80-10.00-10.01-250.0523020111
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LADY RAIDER BB MIDDLE TENNESSEE VS LINDSEY WILSON, Wed. OCT 30 6:30 pm Murphy Center

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Will be the battle of Blue Raiders vs Blue Raiders Wednesday night as MT awaits its final exhibition game for the 2024-25 season.
Lindsey Wilson an NAIA participant finished the 2023-24 season 19-12. They have received 13 votes in this year's preseason NAIA Top 25 polling. Last year Lindsey Wilson outscored their opponents by a 74-68 scoring average.
MT should have the definite size advantage once again as Lindsey Wilson has only 1 player over 6' 0" in height. In an early season D1 game last year Murray State & LW had a matchup with Murray winning comfortably 102-45.
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FOOTBALL FBS coaches hired in 2024

sWiley
MidTennMtneer said:
I agree too. Scoring is what is killing us (obvious but there are specific reasons why)
We are moving the ball, zero doubt on that. Things just aren't clicking in the red zone as Austin and Shayne said, due to drops, INTs, fumbles, etc. Not to mention a few questions of play calls now and then.

We are 4th in CUSA yards per game, have a QB leading the conference in yards by over 600, the top two receivers (incl TE) by yards, a RB who is nearly in the top10 in the league, and a top6 returner in Stewart. Our leading scorer though is Zeke. Hence FGs instead of punching it in.

We are ranked dead last in conference in scoring with only 17 TDs in eight games. Jax has 36 in seven games and even Liberty has 24 in six games.

Lack of scoring isn't for lack of moving the ball.
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These are all classic signs of a bad team. Bad teams throw INT's, fumble the ball, turn it over, drop passes, and don't finish drives.

Stats are for losers. It doesn't matter how many yards or first downs or whatever we have. Bad teams frequently have decent stats because they end up with more opportunities after they give up a short field to the opposing team who capitalizes with 7 points after only having to go 30 yards. Opposing defenses also play way off after they build 3 or 4 TD leads which allows said bad team to pile up those pointless yards between the 20's.

It doesn't matter what you do between the 20's. Football is all about finishing drives and scoring TD's. You're either doing that or you're a loser. We are losers.
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FOOTBALL FBS coaches hired in 2024

A
MidTennMtneer said:
I agree too. Scoring is what is killing us (obvious but there are specific reasons why)
We are moving the ball, zero doubt on that. Things just aren't clicking in the red zone as Austin and Shayne said, due to drops, INTs, fumbles, etc. Not to mention a few questions of play calls now and then.

We are 4th in CUSA yards per game, have a QB leading the conference in yards by over 600, the top two receivers (incl TE) by yards, a RB who is nearly in the top10 in the league, and a top6 returner in Stewart. Our leading scorer though is Zeke. Hence FGs instead of punching it in.

We are ranked dead last in conference in scoring with only 17 TDs in eight games. Jax has 36 in seven games and even Liberty has 24 in six games.

Lack of scoring isn't for lack of moving the ball.
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It's not uncommon for the leading scorer on any football team to be a kicker, but your point is spot on. Moving the ball (as @Shayne_Pickering pointed out) but not turning possessions into 7 points.

Add in the turnovers and its compounds so many issues.

You drive to the 10 and kick FG. Opposing team scores TD. Down 7-3
Ensuing possession ends with a fumble. Opposing team gets good field position & converts with TD. Down 14-3.
Third drive ends with a punt, but you manage to hold them to a FG. Down 17-3.

It's halfway through the 2nd quarter and it's already a 2 score game & you're one dimensional on offense which makes you predictable. In football, issues compound. Gotta stop making mistakes.
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FOOTBALL Middle Tennessee (2-5, 1-2) @ Jacksonville State (3-3, 2-0) (ESPN2), 6:30, Wednesday, October 23, 2024

MidTennMtneer
MT01 said:
If they are spending excessive amounts of time on tackling and they miss the most tackles they've missed all season (and we’re talking into the dozens) and allowed 400 yards rushing maybe a sign we have the wrong coaches.
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Not gonna disagree, but could be wrong players as well. I don't know one way or the other.
But even Saban can teach a Safety what to do, but if they don't listen then he'd just bench them. Problem is we don't have the depth to bench anyone.
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FOOTBALL FBS coaches hired in 2024

MidTennMtneer
AustinLewis said:
Agree completely.

I did not state this in the original post, but I was using scoring offense, not YPG. You can't win games in CFB scoring 17 a game. You need to put 7 on the board when you get in the red zone (Crite's dropped pass) & stop fumbling / turning the ball over when you're in scoring position. Makes it MUCH harder.
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I agree too. Scoring is what is killing us (obvious but there are specific reasons why)
We are moving the ball, zero doubt on that. Things just aren't clicking in the red zone as Austin and Shayne said, due to drops, INTs, fumbles, etc. Not to mention a few questions of play calls now and then.

We are 4th in CUSA yards per game, have a QB leading the conference in yards by over 600, the top two receivers (incl TE) by yards, a RB who is nearly in the top10 in the league, and a top6 returner in Stewart. Our leading scorer though is Zeke. Hence FGs instead of punching it in.

We are ranked dead last in conference in scoring with only 17 TDs in eight games. Jax has 36 in seven games and even Liberty has 24 in six games.

Lack of scoring isn't for lack of moving the ball.
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FOOTBALL Middle Tennessee (2-5, 1-2) @ Jacksonville State (3-3, 2-0) (ESPN2), 6:30, Wednesday, October 23, 2024

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Shayne_Pickering said:
They have been going over tackling more and more each week in addition to what they usually do. Only so much one coaching staff can do
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If they are spending excessive amounts of time on tackling and they miss the most tackles they've missed all season (and we’re talking into the dozens) and allowed 400 yards rushing maybe a sign we have the wrong coaches.
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FOOTBALL FBS coaches hired in 2024

A
Shayne_Pickering said:
I think they’ve mixed some things up the last couple of weeks and found ways to expose the opponent of the week’s defense in a couple of ways to be honest. They’re just not a complete at all offensively and can’t punch it in whether that’s due to turnovers, Omari having to deal with physicality in the red zone and Holden being a focal point to take out, or whatever. They just aren’t to where they can capitalize when the windows tighten. And then you have the small things like penalties, missed assignments, and stuff like Crite dropping a pass in the end zone that loom large in the bigger picture. I say that to say Bodie has adjusted lately and the offense has been moving the ball with Omari/Holden thru the air and Middlebrook/Credle on the ground
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Agree completely.

I did not state this in the original post, but I was using scoring offense, not YPG. You can't win games in CFB scoring 17 a game. You need to put 7 on the board when you get in the red zone (Crite's dropped pass) & stop fumbling / turning the ball over when you're in scoring position. Makes it MUCH harder.
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FOOTBALL FBS coaches hired in 2024

Shayne_Pickering
AustinLewis said:
Bolded and italicized for emphasis.

The reset was really a rebuild. And I don't know why I was surprised. There are a couple of contributing factors

1) Recruiting seemed to fall off the last 3-5 years under Stock (to be sure, he seemed to land just enough guys, but the depth for his system wasn't there).
2) Mason decided to overhaul both sides of the ball. New systems needed new personnel. MT was built for the Air Raid / spread, Mason wants to run power / pro-style.
3) S&C wasn't FBS level after Spray left (compare the W/L under Spray to after Spray) and it's hard to make that up in one offseason, especially if you need bigger, stronger, more explosive guys.

What has surprised me :
1) The lack of discipline : MT continues to shot itself in the foot with turnovers and penalties.
2) Lackluster offense : Defense hasn't been terrible since conference play started, but the offense is still MIA. It's one of the lowest scoring offense (bottom 10 IIRC in FBS). Offensive struggles & turnovers have made life harder for defense
3) Defense has been good, but hasn't been as good as I thought it could be. DBs seem to be out of position and chasing more than I'd expect from a Mason / Stewart defense. Busted play? Personnel?

I've been impressed with Mason's recruiting and MT fans need to that 2025 / 2026 will bear some fruits or that seat will get REALLY hot.
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I think they’ve mixed some things up the last couple of weeks and found ways to expose the opponent of the week’s defense in a couple of ways to be honest. They’re just not a complete at all offensively and can’t punch it in whether that’s due to turnovers, Omari having to deal with physicality in the red zone and Holden being a focal point to take out, or whatever. They just aren’t to where they can capitalize when the windows tighten. And then you have the small things like penalties, missed assignments, and stuff like Crite dropping a pass in the end zone that loom large in the bigger picture. I say that to say Bodie has adjusted lately and the offense has been moving the ball with Omari/Holden thru the air and Middlebrook/Credle on the ground
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