AH1971

People will compare Rourke’s first game to Mendoza’s first game. I don’t buy it. Mendoza’s ability to process just didn’t seem there.

He’ll put up numbers in this system no question. But the difference between 9-10 wins and 6-7 wins is going to be the three things I listed. It is one game thankfully.

I get the Mendoza hype, but his pocket presence, decision making, and accuracy left a lot to be desired. His footwork also needs a ton of work. Mendoza going to have to reach his ceiling to replicate last year; his floor is exponentially lower than Rourke’s, that’s my concern.

Did not look like a team ready to sustain success today. And that starts at the top.

No clue if the NCAA will give this guy a 5th year (played sparingly as a true freshman albeit in 5 games but is listed as a R-Jr), but I hope the staff pursues Buffalo MLB Red Murdock as a potential replacement to Fisher should he enter the portal. Was second in the nation in tackles last year with 156 behind his own teammate who had 168. Also lead the nation in FF last year with 7. He was all over the field last night and in on 16 tackles for a pretty staunch Buffalo defense that gave Minnesota all they could handle. Is from Petersburg VA which is right in the this staffs wheelhouse and could have potentially been recruited to JMU. https://ubbulls.com/sports/football/roster/red-murdock/8408 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/khalil-murdock-1.html

IU 38 ODU 13

Cignetti may not have too, but IU as a football program most certainly does. Most pundits chalk last season up to a gift B10 schedule and a cake non-conference slate. They're still talking about future non-conference schedules to this day. It's been a longgggg time since IU has seen any kind of sustain success on the gridiron and that success typically only lasts a few seasons. The last time IU was in this position to start the year, and it wasn't that long ago, it was over before it started. Winning 9-10 games this year will go a long way. IU is not going to get the benefit of the doubt until they start winning at consistently at a high-level. I'm sure Cignetti understands this.

Respected Fife as a player. The way he's acted since being fired isn't a good look. Also, probably why he isn't coaching anymore.

I still find it incredulous that Fife and all his infinite wisdom is still selling insurance to this day. Those "yes man" on staff all landed on their feet and at P2 institutions no less in a matter of months.

They still play at Oklahoma, at USC, and at Nebraska during the first half of the schedule. Their second half schedule leading up to The Game is a travesty but very real chance they are 3-3 and out of playoff contention before the conference season really gets going.

Quite opposite https://x.com/peterburnsespn/status/1954946487756157203?s=46&t=w6QCfPv_ohX9q670DTqgcA

Cannot for the life of me understand the Michigan love and/or hype. Illinois I get; 20 returning starters from a team who won 10 games last year....but Michigan makes no sense.

Looks like they had 4 kids on last years team leave for D1 schools that included Auburn, Kentucky, Illinois, and Miami. One of their starters on this years team played at Georgia last year before turning pro. One of their current players was also just drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks back in June. No clue where this years version stacks up but am guessing you're going to see more and more of these middle tier clubs hurt by the NCAA and revenue sharing.

They're exhibition games. How many of the early deficits can be attributed to tinkering and toying with different lineups and rotations? I wouldn't read too much into anything this week other than this is a very resilient bunch.

It's a middle-tier Serbian team known for producing good, young talent. I don't think they have the funds or resources to keep these guys long term so they develop them as 17-18-19 year olds until they are sold to the bigger clubs or go to the NBA draft. I believe I read this team had 4-5 guys go D1 from last years team and another kid drafted by the Bucks. The Italian 7-3 kid we are recruiting is currently on the team but don't believe he played this week.

A bunch of young talent is always going in and out of Mega. It's a good spot for the young Serbian players to get early playing time before they either test the NBA waters or they are shipped off to the Serbian giants Partizan or Crvena Zvevda.

I enjoyed our back and forth. Nothing but civil. Post was taken entirely out of context by the same 2-3 posters.

Who is being combative? Certainly not the guy being ganged up on by the mob for making a matter of fact statement.

Oh good effing Lord, this from you of all people?

Not a chance

Coming off a national title win, the loss of their head coach, and a win at the Shoe? Every Michigan fan I know is still breathing.

Michigan won 8 games last year despite total ineptness at the QB position and the loss of an All-American corner for the majority of the season. Teams who are as deep and as talented as Michigan can survive injuries and inefficient play without having their season derailed. Thanks for proving my point about depth?

Yes? We lack depth in those groups. What was your question?

Of course

Which is exactly what I inferred yesterday lol. And here we are 3 pages and a day later with the mob out in full force. I made an innocent comment about lacking depth and experience (which is obvious) yet here we are.