Future Schedules

[LDopaPDX]

It sucks that our b-ball program doesn't carry it's weight anymore. Hopefully, that'll change soon. I don't think it would take a lot of success to get us back to drawing good support, but we need to be competing for conference championships.

 

[kalm]

It sucks that our b-ball program doesn't carry it's weight anymore. Hopefully, that'll change soon. I don't think it would take a lot of success to get us back to drawing good support, but we need to be competing for conference championships.

:nod:

 

[marceagfan5]

St. Mary's School for the Blind. Why sandwich a tough one in between road games at Washington and Montana? Especially, why schedule a road game? For no money? In a dome? With old school turf?

You come off winning a national championship and don't play at home until week #4 when you're already 0-3. Talk about a total buzzkill. We could've scheduled Whitworth at Roos on week #2 and probably drawn 10,000. Eastern has always drawn well in September (or at least better than any other time of the year), regardless of whether school is in session.

:nod: :clap:

I'm sure you two know more than Chaves, have crunched all the numbers, and he hasn't even considered SMFTB or Whitworth. Brilliant!

I am 100% on Dopa's side when it comes to this subject. Chaves has been great, but our schedules are a complete joke.

Playing 2 FBS teams in one year is ridiculous. I understand we need the money, but they are completely going about it the wrong way. Playing 2 FBS games absolutely puts you behind the 8 ball to start the season. If you lose both, which will happen more often than not, you pretty much have to run the table or go 8-1 to be considered for a seed (and seeded teams win championships) you have to go 7-2 just to make the playoffs.

People don't seem to understand, the money will come with success, not with body bag games every year. I don't care what anyone says, our schedules suck and if we have another 6-5 year this year because of a shotty schedule, then the stands will be 1/2 full again in 2013. We have done NOTHING to capitalize on the national championship. We played 4 home games last year, we started last year, and this year, with 3 straight on the road, its a complete joke and the problem is the more people defend it, the more it will continue to happen. Has anyone seen the 2013 schedule, it also sucks, at Montana, at Sam Houston, at Toledo, at Oregon State, we have one non conference home game and it is against a D2.

Its a simple scenario. You win more games when you play at home. More fans come to games when you win. Fans then buy tickets and donate to the program when the program is winning. Schedules like 2011, 2012, and 2013 don't show me that we are trying to put our players, team, and program in the best spot to succeed.

Last year we should have never played South Dakota. It wasn't just a loss, it hurt us going into the weeks following the game. I would have rather had a bye and 1 less game last year then playing the South Dakota game. We shouldn't be playing Idaho this year and Toledo next year, those are games we just should not play, we have bigger FCS schools already scheduled in those years.

I guess my biggest problem is that our schedule doesn't put our players and program in the best possible situation to succeed. We need to focus on winning games and playing a schedule that sets up well for our team from week to week, and I don't think we do that. If we continue to win games and have successful programs, the money will come in. Look at every successful team in the FCS, there is a formula that works, we just don't use it.

 

[kalm]

St. Mary's School for the Blind. Why sandwich a tough one in between road games at Washington and Montana? Especially, why schedule a road game? For no money? In a dome? With old school turf?

You come off winning a national championship and don't play at home until week #4 when you're already 0-3. Talk about a total buzzkill. We could've scheduled Whitworth at Roos on week #2 and probably drawn 10,000. Eastern has always drawn well in September (or at least better than any other time of the year), regardless of whether school is in session.

:nod: :clap:

I'm sure you two know more than Chaves, have crunched all the numbers, and he hasn't even considered SMFTB or Whitworth. Brilliant!

I am 100% on Dopa's side when it comes to this subject. Chaves has been great, but our schedules are a complete joke.

Playing 2 FBS teams in one year is ridiculous. I understand we need the money, but they are completely going about it the wrong way. Playing 2 FBS games absolutely puts you behind the 8 ball to start the season. If you lose both, which will happen more often than not, you pretty much have to run the table or go 8-1 to be considered for a seed (and seeded teams win championships) you have to go 7-2 just to make the playoffs.

People don't seem to understand, the money will come with success, not with body bag games every year. I don't care what anyone says, our schedules suck and if we have another 6-5 year this year because of a shotty schedule, then the stands will be 1/2 full again in 2013. We have done NOTHING to capitalize on the national championship. We played 4 home games last year, we started last year, and this year, with 3 straight on the road, its a complete joke and the problem is the more people defend it, the more it will continue to happen. Has anyone seen the 2013 schedule, it also sucks, at Montana, at Sam Houston, at Toledo, at Oregon State, we have one non conference home game and it is against a D2.

Its a simple scenario. You win more games when you play at home. More fans come to games when you win. Fans then buy tickets and donate to the program when the program is winning. Schedules like 2011, 2012, and 2013 don't show me that we are trying to put our players, team, and program in the best spot to succeed.

Last year we should have never played South Dakota. It wasn't just a loss, it hurt us going into the weeks following the game. I would have rather had a bye and 1 less game last year then playing the South Dakota game. We shouldn't be playing Idaho this year and Toledo next year, those are games we just should not play, we have bigger FCS schools already scheduled in those years.

I guess my biggest problem is that our schedule doesn't put our players and program in the best possible situation to succeed. We need to focus on winning games and playing a schedule that sets up well for our team from week to week, and I don't think we do that. If we continue to win games and have successful programs, the money will come in. Look at every successful team in the FCS, there is a formula that works, we just don't use it.

:notworthy: :clap:

Deja vu. I think you changed my mind the last time we had a big tussle over this issue. :lol:

 

[spaceap6pack]

I remember distinctly stating back in early August of 2011 - we could possibly go 0-4 due to our scheduling. Cross-country to SD after an emotionally draining FBS match-up with the Huskies, Montana away, and MSU @ home? Grueling. Injury-plagued season or not, just plain grueling. However, we can't even blame scheduling for that season either. We can only look back to our 2nd half implosion to PSU at home with a a 2TD lead. Win that game and who really cares about scheduling after that. We go 7-4 and make playoffs after all those injuries?! That's a storybook season in itself.

However, Bill Chaves simply has done more than any AD period -- not because of the 2010 NC (that's credited more to Beau) -- but because of the scheduling, as well as marketing, the Inferno,etc. I certainly hate the scheduling - it really sucks, but EWU is a different breed of Eagle since Bill and Beau have been together and it's working. Doesn't Beau have some say in the scheduling or is at least consulted? ( I don't know - asking if he does) It's been fun noticing we are in the conversation as a top FCS program - we get mentioned with Montana, APP St, G. Southern, Delaware, and the like -- all of the time. Hell, who was the AD before again? Bill puts himself and EWU out there (before the NC and after). In the big picture, 7-4 will get us in. It won't give us a home game though, but it will get us in.

To me, Idaho is such an important game. We win that game - it makes our FCS games easier. We lose that one and it's a hard climb the first 4 games again, especially Weber St after WAZZU. Honestly, we stay healthy I see 7-4 as the lowest possible record we can have this year. If lose the two FBS, and two conference games somewhere in the schedule, we will still be fine. How important are those home games? We just can't lose them.

Just rambling off . . . . I can't even remember why I am responding. I am so damn excited for EWU Football to start. Winning a NC has changed us forever - it is just so dang hard to get there! I have one wish for this season -- to make a big media splash across the national outlets in either early fall or early January. That means we did something big and unexpected. I will take either!

 

[marceagfan5]

Space,

You make some valid points and I agree our AD has done a great job, i am just frustrated with the scheduling, everything else is fine. I'm also sure there is a lot more that goes into scheduling than I know, but I just have some frustrations.

Your point about Idaho being a big game for us is absolutely right, and that is my biggest point, it shouldn't be. We shouldn't be in a position where we have to beat an FBS team on the road to pretty much make or break a seed for us in the playoffs. If we don't beat Idaho (and we will be at least 10 point dogs) we will most likely be 0-2 to start the season (although we do have a shot at both FBS schools). That means we have to go 7-2 the rest of the way just to make the playoffs and we have 4 really tough conference road games this year, including MSU, who will most likely be undefeated when we go there.

I've voiced my concerns enough, I just hope we start to schedule games which puts us in the best position to win, not just that week, but the entire season, but enough with the schedule, I think we have a championship caliber team this year and I can't wait for the season to start, it can't get here soon enough.

 

[spaceap6pack]

Space,

You make some valid points and I agree our AD has done a great job, i am just frustrated with the scheduling, everything else is fine. I'm also sure there is a lot more that goes into scheduling than I know, but I just have some frustrations.

Your point about Idaho being a big game for us is absolutely right, and that is my biggest point, it shouldn't be. We shouldn't be in a position where we have to beat an FBS team on the road to pretty much make or break a seed for us in the playoffs. If we don't beat Idaho (and we will be at least 10 point dogs) we will most likely be 0-2 to start the season (although we do have a shot at both FBS schools). That means we have to go 7-2 the rest of the way just to make the playoffs and we have 4 really tough conference road games this year, including MSU, who will most likely be undefeated when we go there.

I've voiced my concerns enough, I just hope we start to schedule games which puts us in the best position to win, not just that week, but the entire season, but enough with the schedule, I think we have a championship caliber team this year and I can't wait for the season to start, it can't get here soon enough.

marceagfan5, I definitely agree about Idaho with you. The game should not have been scheduled for 2012. Same with Toledo - scary, useless game match-ups that don't anything for our program (well, unless we win) when there is already a strong FBS on the schedule. It can be mentally draining on our players too - the kids know Idaho is beatable, very beatable. If they don't come through victorious however, it's a harder bounce mentally to the next, yet stronger, opponent. (I really do not know how they will contain our receivers though, our QB play is so key to this game). We know 0-2 is a likely scenario, but 7-2 in Conference can be done. Need to win the 4 @ home - no if's, and's, or but's. How key is Weber and Montana now after those FBS games? I can't imagine the experienced players and coaches letting a start similar to last year happen. We need to go at least 2-2, 1-3 or 0-4 will not be good at all. Of course, beat Idaho and we can relax a little . . . I am worried about our DE's for Idaho, we needed Paul Ena to be healthy. They got a new running QB and a decent RB.

 

[Spoeagle]

Defensive end looked to be a team strength when the preseason depth chart came out. Then we lost Anthony Larry to grades, probably Paul Ena will miss the Idaho game with an arm injury (I'm sure he will try to be out there), I don't think David Gaylord has practiced much with back problems, and Jordan Pulu, who was going to be moved from linebacker to D line, hasn't been in pads yet because of a freak injury, Evan Day and Jerry Ceja will be tough, Jacob Pugsley will be used as a pass rusher. and I don't know who else is on the depth chart at DE? The defensive interior line should be strong with Andru Pulu, Evan Cook, Dylan Zylstra, and Will Katoa probably the two deep. I think they are going to redshirt frosh Wimberly, I don't know about frosh Lira, and Hunt? Can any of the other d lineman be moved to end: Chapman, Delgado (no!), Boothroyd, or the two o lineman who just moved to defense, Schmidt and Johnson?

 

[clawman1]

On my way to Bozeman yesterday I listened to "Cat Talk" featuring Coach Ash. The Bobcats play Stephen F Austin Saturday. When asked about playing FBS schools and non league games he said his perfect schedule is 6 home games consisting of conference games plus 1 home and away series with another FCS school, and 1 body bag game at home. The key is 20,000 fans to generate the revenue to pay the DII school and the FCS school. We are a ways away from 20k fans per game. He elaborated on what we already know, how important a top 4 seed is to have home field advantage through the playoffs... as we did in our NC year.

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

FUUCK THAT IS TERRIBLE


2013 (12 game year)

AUG 31 - @ OREGON STATE - WHY?
SEP 07 - Western Oregon -WHY?
SEP 14 - @ TOLEDO -WHY?
SEP 21 - BYE
SEP 28 - @ SHSU -COULDNT FIND ANYBODY ELSE TO DO A H&H WITH?
OCT 05 - vs. Weber
OCT 12 - @ UND
OCT 19 - vs. SUU
OCT 26 - @ Montana
NOV 02 - @ ISU
NOV 09 - vs. MSU
NOV 16 - @ Cal Poly
NOV 23 - vs. PSU


We finally get 12 games and you schedule 3 away games and a d2 game? Why??????????????????

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

Odds are EWU starts conf play with 0 D1 wins. Thats excellent scheduling.

 

[marceagfan5]

Odds are EWU starts conf play with 0 D1 wins. Thats excellent scheduling.

Next years schedule may be one of the worst ever. We have an extra game next year and play ZERO non-conference games (that count) at home.

I am fine with the Oregon State, Western Oregon, and even Sam Houston (as we get a return game in 2014) but the Toledo game is a complete waste. What the hell would we schedule that game for??? We should have an FCS home game instead of playing at Toledo, I don't care what the costs are. I think teams will have to win 8 games to make the playoffs next year and we could literally start conference season having to run the table to make the playoffs.

Wazzu and Idaho was one thing this year (they are a combined 2-6 with one win over us) but Toledo and Oregon State is a joke next year (they are a combined 5-1 this year).

We could go from having a completely shotty schedule next year to having a pretty good one if we just swapped one game. I just don't get the scheduling sometimes....can someone help me out on this???

 

[LDopaPDX]

In the meantime, North Dakota State is scheduling Prairie View A&M and beating them 66-7. Those types of teams need to play someone... it sure would be nice if it was EWU.

 

[kalm]

On my way to Bozeman yesterday I listened to "Cat Talk" featuring Coach Ash. The Bobcats play Stephen F Austin Saturday. When asked about playing FBS schools and non league games he said his perfect schedule is 6 home games consisting of conference games plus 1 home and away series with another FCS school, and 1 body bag game at home. The key is 20,000 fans to generate the revenue to pay the DII school and the FCS school. We are a ways away from 20k fans per game. He elaborated on what we already know, how important a top 4 seed is to have home field advantage through the playoffs... as we did in our NC year.

As I've mentioned before, it's not a coincidence that the most favorable OOC schedules in FCS come from places like Missoula, Fargo, Bozeman, Newark, and Boone. This is why NDSU can get PVA&M. We would have to pay enough for an FCS to travel to Cheney and lose when they have other options or venues that will pay them more.

But as much of a Chaves apologist as I've been on this issue, now that I see the entire 2013 schedule layed out...WOW is Toledo a really bad game for us. I'd rather get a 2nd D2 in Cheney or go back USD than that.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

As least we're not Austin Peay

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/news/news.aspx?id=4536926" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Clarksville, TN (Sports Network) - Austin Peay will play three FBS schools, including the University of Tennessee for the first time, in 2013, the Ohio Valley Conference school announced Thursday.

Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Ohio U.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Couple of things; in 2014 and 2015, we have Montana State scheduled as a non-conference opponent. My understanding is that these games count as official games in every way except they aren't conference games. But that is based on a clause that expires after a set number of years. I believe the Pac-10/Pac-12 was allowed to have members play new members in non-coference games for 2 seasons after they adjusted their conference to include new members. After that time, those games would not be counted by the NCAA toward being bowl eligible.

If we made the same assumption of 2 years in the Big Sky, those Montana State games wouldn't count toward playoff eligibility. Maybe the NCAA has extended it for a while longer, I don't know. That said, just for the sake of keeping everything understandable, I'm sure the Big Sky is discouraging their members from doing this.

Also, I heard a little rumor that Oregon State may be trying to buy out of our game next year. That would literally be a huge turn of events, andmay even be a season saver. If the buy-out is $100k (it's probably more), we could get a non-con FCS opponent to Cheney for that amount. How big would that be? I have no problem playing an FBS "bodybag" for cash, but 2 in one year is ridiculously dumb. This is especially true for Toledo who isn't even paying us a large sum... why bother?

 

[LDopaPDX]

Interestingly, it looks again this year like a team will need 8 wins to get into the playoffs. This 7 win bit is sort of an old wive's tale. Very few 7 win teams have ever gotten in historically, so really you need to aim for 8... maybe even 9 next year with the 12 game sked. If you put 2 FBS teams on your schedule as lose to both, you've suddenly created a situation where you need to run the table on your remaining games to get a home playoff game and probably force yourself to go 8-1 over the remaining 9 games just to taste the playoffs. I just hate it when we don't put the odds in our favor.

I'd rather schedule a roady with Duquesne for $50k than go to Toledo for 3x that amount just because one is a very probable win and the other a very probable loss.

 

[MLEagle]

I agree, the scheduling sucks. It also shows the importance of the gateway project and increasing capacity so we are in the position to schedule more home FBS opponents.

As far as scheduling Big Sky teams as non-conference opponents, I read that it would be an option due to the lack of FBS teams out west. It seems like that was one of the positives for the expanded conference.

 

[marceagfan5]

Interestingly, it looks again this year like a team will need 8 wins to get into the playoffs. This 7 win bit is sort of an old wive's tale. Very few 7 win teams have ever gotten in historically, so really you need to aim for 8... maybe even 9 next year with the 12 game sked. If you put 2 FBS teams on your schedule as lose to both, you've suddenly created a situation where you need to run the table on your remaining games to get a home playoff game and probably force yourself to go 8-1 over the remaining 9 games just to taste the playoffs. I just hate it when we don't put the odds in our favor.

I'd rather schedule a roady with Duquesne for $50k than go to Toledo for 3x that amount just because one is a very probable win and the other a very probable loss.

We have 2 FBS and a D2 next year, followed by a road game to Sam Houston. Next years schedule may be one of the worst ever. The odds of us winning either FBS game will be slim (toledo/osu are worlds better than Idaho/wsu), if we don't win at Sam Houston next year, we would most likely have to win the conference auto bid to make the playoffs.

Not sure what is behind the scheduling and why in the world we are playing at Toledo. We should have scheduled a home and home with South Dakota and the return home game should have been in place of going to Toledo.

Maybe one of the FBS teams will buy us out...

 

[LDopaPDX]

Interestingly, it looks again this year like a team will need 8 wins to get into the playoffs. This 7 win bit is sort of an old wive's tale. Very few 7 win teams have ever gotten in historically, so really you need to aim for 8... maybe even 9 next year with the 12 game sked. If you put 2 FBS teams on your schedule as lose to both, you've suddenly created a situation where you need to run the table on your remaining games to get a home playoff game and probably force yourself to go 8-1 over the remaining 9 games just to taste the playoffs. I just hate it when we don't put the odds in our favor.

I'd rather schedule a roady with Duquesne for $50k than go to Toledo for 3x that amount just because one is a very probable win and the other a very probable loss.

We have 2 FBS and a D2 next year, followed by a road game to Sam Houston. Next years schedule may be one of the worst ever. The odds of us winning either FBS game will be slim (toledo/osu are worlds better than Idaho/wsu), if we don't win at Sam Houston next year, we would most likely have to win the conference auto bid to make the playoffs.

Not sure what is behind the scheduling and why in the world we are playing at Toledo. We should have scheduled a home and home with South Dakota and the return home game should have been in place of going to Toledo.

Maybe one of the FBS teams will buy us out...

Agree with what you said. If this year's performance is indicative of next year's, then it is safe to say that road games against Oregon State, Toledo, and Sam Houston State make this the hardest non-con sked we've ever had. This is just terrible scheduling and an atrocious schedule.