Season outloook-Good or bad?

[bigskyconf]

Simply put, now that we are only a week before the start of the season, how does everyone think about the team going in? Tough home games with Montana and Montana State and tough road games with Cal Poly and EWU, as well as one right at the start at Idaho State. Talking with a few of my friends around the conference, the idea is that we look really good on paper, if that comes to fruition on the field remains to be seen. I think a good showing (possible win?) at Idaho State to start would definitely turn some heads around the conference (could happen, ISU has been hit with the injury bug all during fall camp).

What does everyone think?

 

[Alan1]

We have WSU and ISU on the road. Both probable Viking losses. OK, we come home to play D2 Western Oregon. Really tough game last year, but the Vikings should win again. If we don't, season over. Three games in and we're 1 and 2. Next N. Dakota in Hillsboro. Last year we lost in Grand Forks. A possible win here. Make it a tentative 2 and 2. Now we travel to Denton for N. Texas for a loss. Vikings 2 and 3. Home to Providence Park to face Montana State. Expect another loss. We're 2 and 4. Then off to Cal Poly. We return home at 2 and 5 to play Montana. Miracles can happen but it is highly likely to be one more loss. The Viking's season stands at 2 and 6. Off to Greeley for a date with N. Colorado. If we are not too demoralized by our record, this one could well be in the win column. Vikings 3 and 6. Buoyed by a road win in Colorado we come home to face a favored S. Utah and prevail. Viks sport a 4 and 6 record. Finally EWU in the Inferno. Final record 4 and 7, 3 and 5 in the Sky.

 

[scooter1]

We have WSU and ISU on the road. Both probable Viking losses. OK, we come home to play D2 Western Oregon. Really tough game last year, but the Vikings should win again. If we don't, season over. Three games in and we're 1 and 2. Next N. Dakota in Hillsboro. Last year we lost in Grand Forks. A possible win here. Make it a tentative 2 and 2. Now we travel to Denton for N. Texas for a loss. Vikings 2 and 3. Home to Providence Park to face Montana State. Expect another loss. We're 2 and 4. Then off to Cal Poly. We return home at 2 and 5 to play Montana. Miracles can happen but it is highly likely to be one more loss. The Viking's season stands at 2 and 6. Off to Greeley for a date with N. Colorado. If we are not too demoralized by our record, this one could well be in the win column. Vikings 3 and 6. Buoyed by a road win in Colorado we come home to face a favored S. Utah and prevail. Viks sport a 4 and 6 record. Finally EWU in the Inferno. Final record 4 and 7, 3 and 5 in the Sky.

Ouch - pretty brutal assessment. Two glaring flaws from last years campaign; turnovers and getting beat deep in the secondary. The vast majority of the turnovers originated from the QB position. That won't happen this year with Kuresa. When you lose a lot of close games because of ball security issues it means you probably should have won those games. Playing "bend don't break" on the defensive side of the ball and preventing the big play will help as well.

A few other encouraging things - a mature and seasoned team (more upperclassmen in the lineup than we have seen with real leaders emerging) and an overall positive environment. Combine these attributes with what has been acknowledged by many opposing coaches as one of the most athletic rosters in the conference and we would be remiss to discount their ability to meet the challenges.

 

[BroadwayVik]

Always keep a good and biased-optimistic thought in our favor. What we have isn't bad, in fact, it is very good.

We need to be thinking of not only simply being a big-shouldered contender but ourselves as developing and emerging champions. Our mission is to turn the conference on its proverbial ear. Our mission is to be change agents that upset the heretofore order of things and to make the old guard wretch in their gatorade coolers.

 

[Alan1]

We have WSU and ISU on the road. Both probable Viking losses. OK, we come home to play D2 Western Oregon. Really tough game last year, but the Vikings should win again. If we don't, season over. Three games in and we're 1 and 2. Next N. Dakota in Hillsboro. Last year we lost in Grand Forks. A possible win here. Make it a tentative 2 and 2. Now we travel to Denton for N. Texas for a loss. Vikings 2 and 3. Home to Providence Park to face Montana State. Expect another loss. We're 2 and 4. Then off to Cal Poly. We return home at 2 and 5 to play Montana. Miracles can happen but it is highly likely to be one more loss. The Viking's season stands at 2 and 6. Off to Greeley for a date with N. Colorado. If we are not too demoralized by our record, this one could well be in the win column. Vikings 3 and 6. Buoyed by a road win in Colorado we come home to face a favored S. Utah and prevail. Viks sport a 4 and 6 record. Finally EWU in the Inferno. Final record 4 and 7, 3 and 5 in the Sky.

Hmm, maybe I should re-evaluate my prediction for the Viking's season.