First winning season in 12 years!

[Beardown]

Congrats to the Bears! Even with a weak schedule we were picked to finish last and exceeded all expectations. Way to go UNC!. We have lots of momentum heading into the off season. Here's to a good recruiting class and even more momentum going into 2016.

 

[Brian]

Not sure finishing 10th, ahead of three 1-6 teams with a 3-5 record in the Big Sky is too much to crow about but it is a step forward. 4-2 at home is really nice.

 

[Blofeld]

I'm conflicted by this... yes, 6-5 is technically a winning season and they can hopefully let that them help in recruiting but to be honest I really only look at the conference record because counting a D2, a program that's only been around 3 years, and a recent move up is a little bush league. They were 3-5 in conference and that seems fair...

They did improve this year but don't forget a couple years ago they had a similar season and responded to that by going 0-11 in what 2013 or whatever it was...

So let's not start getting all cocky now and patting each other on the back talking about how great we are... do that and just watch they come out next year and shit the bed.

 

[Footballfan15]

Sure it was 6-5, but the schedule was so so weak. Western St, Abliean Christian, and Houston Baptist were nbad teams. Not to mention UC Davis. It is what it is 6-5 is 6-5 but this was Collins plan most likely by not scheduling a big D1 team. Well another year most likely with Collins. not that he can boast his winning record.

 

[mountainbear]

Regardless of schedule, ebbs flows of the season, obvious (yet ignored) deeper issues afflicting this program, the record speaks for itself. No moral victories needed. It's good to win more often than not. ....in this case, it may even be great!
If this event clouds the fact that the head coach carries an overall record of 14-40 (per wikipedia...feel free to correct)...so be it.
Players....enjoy the victory, take pride in your work for your teammates and program.....you have a place in Bear history !

 

[Miguel]

Yea! We can desperately fight to beat terrible injury-ridden football teams like Abilene Christian! 10th in the conference instead of last!

Talk about low expectations.... at this rate we will compete for the conference title in 20 years. National champions in DII to celebrating 10th place in a mediocre Big Sky Conference as some kind of victory will guarantee mediocrity for years to come. A place in Bear history?...

If Collins puts enough atrocious teams on his schedule, he will have job security because all of you just don't care enough to demand more from this team...

 

[Beardown]

During the preseason many on this board had us at 1-3 wins even with the weak schedule. It's fair to say this team exceeded most expectations. I don't like a lot of the losses we had - UND, SUU, Weber State, but we did have some decent wins.

 

[mountainbear]

I've got to admit, I'm not real adept at sarcasm, so let me restate:
• Players. ....thanks. As I have stated over and over,
athletes give their best efforts regardless of the
opinions of onlookers. There is simply to much
work and pride (individual and collective) involved
with this sport.
• There are, however, some deep and sincere issues
afflicting (yes....afflicting, not effecting) this
program that cannot be overlooked
based on this season. I suppose I take a longer
view than the"what have you done for me lately"
group. Please tell me were more concerned with
excellence than fleeting mediocrity.

 

[McCandyman]

Not sure finishing 10th, ahead of three 1-6 teams with a 3-5 record in the Big Sky is too much to crow about but it is a step forward. 4-2 at home is really nice.

The fact that you look at the league standings and think that the Bears finished 10th instead of 8th (where they actually finished) sums up the unfortunate pessimistic view of too many of the posters on this board. I'm so relieved that the opinions expressed on this board are just opinions, and have NO actual value or merit with regards to the future of the program. Go Bears.

 

[oldbear]

McCandyman first learn how to read standings. If there is a tie in the W/L column, then it moves to points scored for the tie breaker, in which we scored 89 points less than the next 3-5 conference team. Second the pessimistic view of this board comes from the years of distrust with the leadership (Which comes from actual results exhibited by the team leadership.) and regarding you last comment

"I'm so relieved that the opinions expressed on this board are just opinions, and have NO actual value or merit with regards to the future of the program."

The same can be said for your rose-colored view of this coaching staff! Don't get it twisted either, I am extremely happy that this team has a winning record and the players are well deserving of the success' they have gotten this year! But, does this come at a cost of the overall and future health of the football program at UNC? Because, with the extreme inconsistency that has been exhibited by the coaching staff, I will be shocked if this year's success transfers into success next year.

 

[Brian]

Not sure finishing 10th, ahead of three 1-6 teams with a 3-5 record in the Big Sky is too much to crow about but it is a step forward. 4-2 at home is really nice.

The fact that you look at the league standings and think that the Bears finished 10th instead of 8th (where they actually finished) sums up the unfortunate pessimistic view of too many of the posters on this board. I'm so relieved that the opinions expressed on this board are just opinions, and have NO actual value or merit with regards to the future of the program. Go Bears.

In the end, we finished better than 3 teams in a 13 team league and were 2 games below .500.

Yes, this season was an improvement over last season and more successful than most of us thought. It reminds me a bit of Kansas State in the early Snyder seasons (in the 90's) when they loaded up on really bad DI non-conference teams to get bowl eligible and in the end, that plan worked for them.

 

[Brian]

And to follow up, I think my frustration of realizing that Collins will be here to stay for another year is outweighing my happiness for the players that have come so far. In the long run, I really think the program would have been better had we lost 2 more games, forcing the AD to fire Collins.

It's really a mixed feeling. :?

 

[mountainbear]

Or, we could "grow a pair" and part on relatively decent terms. What are the chances?

 

[mountainbear]

Because.....what's that saying?
The true definition of insanity. ....continuing to do the same things and expect different results. I believe, that in retrospect (although there has been slight uptick in w-l......it's basically a similar result.

 

[beardevil39]

I really don't think that McCandyman has been around this program for very long or he would understand why most of us on this board are posting mostly negative due to 12 years of a program being mismanaged. We are happier than hell for the kids on this team to finally have a winning season but some on here think 6-5 is like winning the title. Yes its an improvement but why are we settling for mediocrity. I have problems with FBS teams going 6-5 and being called "bowl eligible " and plays in a meaningless bowl game !! You get rewarded for just being so-so ? Everyone gets a trophy mentality? What has happened to striving to achieve excellence ? And why I am at it. Why in the hell is the BIG SKY BB letting everyone be in the Conference tournament ? Yea we are 3-18 and playing in the tournament--woohoo. What a slap in the face to the teams that earned the right to play in the tournament. Getting back to football, After 5 years I just don't think this coaching regime is the one to take us into the future. Maybe Collins will prove me wrong and we are on our way to better football but after 12 years of losing, one gets a little gun shy.

 

[McCandyman]

McCandyman first learn how to read standings. If there is a tie in the W/L column, then it moves to points scored for the tie breaker, in which we scored 89 points less than the next 3-5 conference team.

I think you might want to let the people who run the Big Sky Conference website know about your tie breaker theory. (http://www.bigskyconf.com/standings.aspx?standings=63" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false As you can see, they clearly have UNC in the 8th position. I'm happy for the Bears and all the hard work they put in this year. A winning season is a winning season, and that's a whole hell of a lot better than a losing one. Go Bears!

 

[oldbear]

McCandyman, these are also the same people who are making SUU play in a playoff play in-game, who are the conference champs, where as Portland State gets a first-round bye, even though they finished second in the conference.

Ok, even with the 8th ranking in the conference, we scored 89 and 97 points less than the other 3-5 conference teams and this was done with the worst strength of schedule in the conference.

 

[Bearfan15]

Its obvious by looking at the Big Sky Standings that they go first by conference record and then second by overall record regardless of strength. Not by points.

 

[oldbear]

That's fine. What ever the metric, while yes the team did much better than in years past, it is in my opinion that this staff needs to go because they, in the long run, will do more harm than good. For this to happen the level of expectations needs to be raised, and UNC should not be content with a coach that has a record of 15-41(.244) Which does include a 0-11 and 1-11 seasons.

 

[mountainbear]

If not now. .....when?
How much does it take before the obvious becomes visible?