West is open

[mustang_horsepower]

It is shameful for yesterday's loss and last weeks heartbreak. But the west teams arrive starting next week. As the threads here go into so many issues, I won't try to, but we can win the west. I stop and think: Can we, really? I'd like to think so. Wisc or nw didn't look like studs, but nor did we... By a mile. I can speculate better recipes as we've all done, but better execution would be a start. But we could...
Then I think: Should we deserve to? No. Probably not. But I wouldn't mind a shot at these east teams again. I don't think these past two teams where slouches, and furthermore think Michigan state is coming up hill. Time will tell for them, as it will for us.
I'm not a coach, but spectator. We have work to do. Offense has tools but don't seem to know how to use them to the fullest yet.. Better find some ways... These are student athletes and we hope for nothing but wins, but that isn't real. New wrinkles? That would be great. A shift in coaching philosophies? Sure why not. (And many of you will say get a new coach). But Lsu against Troy? Under new coach? Ouch. The staff needs to take care of business, and I think we will.
TCOB.

Bottom line...
The west is still open...

As a fan, which are you?

 

[larrygreenwallswildride]

 

[The_Joker13]

I just don't see this team being a legit contender to win the west. They would need way to many things to go their way for them to win it. We just don't have the horses to win the race this year.

 

[Suterman]

Heres the deal. As of now, there is ONE good team in the West. Then you have Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota & Northwestern and maybe even Purdue as decent, non championship teams with talent but too many issues to contend. Then you have Illinois

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Heres the deal. As of now, there is ONE good team in the West. Then you have Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota & Northwestern and maybe even Purdue as decent, non championship teams with talent but too many issues to contend. Then you have Illinois

With the exception of purdue stepping up more than expected, the west isn't far from most preseason predictions. There's wisky as a top 10-15 team, then a lot of mediocrity.
Sure, Iowa's not out of it. Mathematically. Yet.
Hawks seem more likely on track to go 4-3 the rest of the way.

 

[ISPHawk]

If we get the o line straightened out, we'll be ok. I don't see that happening right now.

 

[mvhomerj]

I agree, the west is open for Wisconsin. It's their's to lose.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

Heres the deal. As of now, there is ONE good team in the West. Then you have Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota & Northwestern and maybe even Purdue as decent, non championship teams with talent but too many issues to contend. Then you have Illinois

This is correct, and is exactly why it frustrates me to no end that we could not put a good enough team together these past 2 seasons to compete for the division. For crying out loud, ONE good team in the division, just ONE. If we could be just good enough to take care of business with everyone else and essentially just have ONE team to shoot for.

This isn't going to last. I know everyone hopes that Nebraska will be bad forever, but guess what - they are a sleeping giant, and once they accidentally hire the right coach, look out! I know we all like to poke fun at P.J. Fleck, but Minny might have the right guy, too, as does Purdue. KF's record against NW isn't exactly stellar. Plus, we get Penn St as a cross-over game for the next 4 seasons.

Hate to say it, but if this program doesn't figure things out pretty quick, KF could be on a crash course for his own 1998 season.

 

[wcbtee]

I agree the west is wide open, but 2 losses essentially takes us out of the race, Wisconsin has a ridiculously easy schedule.

I do think we still have a decent chance to make some noise and turn the year into a good season.