Is it possible?

Can a Tiger fan be happy about the success of the football Tigers going to a their 4th bowl game out of the last 5 seasons, and still question the overall caliber of football being played?

I say yes.

Here's why...

Every year, the stated goal of TW and the football program is to win C-USA East, win the conference title, and play in the Liberty Bowl. If we do not win the conference title (and hence play in the LB), but instead play in another bowl, the season is still a success, but it did not live up to the team's expectations.

I am very happy that our Tigers are going to a bowl. Let no one misunderstand this, no one.

I am not happy with the overall caliber of football being played by the Tiger football program. Is it better than some of the previous 40 years I've been a fan? God yes...!!! Am I happy about that? Absolutely. I want the Tigers to be able to compete at the highest levels of C-USA and beyond.

This was supposed to be the year for double-digit wins. The schedule was setup for it. But for some reason or set of various reasons the Tigers did not gel soon enough. We lost non-conference games we should have won. But then something strange happened, we won 5 of our last 6. How? By playing better football? Maybe, maybe not. I think offensively we played better. Defensively, we didn't improve dramatically. All the while, the strength of our competition diminished (USM being the exception and season highlight by far).

I am happy about the New Orleans Bowl, I see improvement. I also want and expect more. Just as I'm also sure TW does.

Good things await our Tigers. Now we need to seize upon them, turn them to our advantage, and win a conference football title that has eluded us for oh so many years.

In mid-season, I promised to quit negative football posts. and did so. Now I can be negative if I want to be.

Am I happy with the football program? Let's talk:

> At the first scrimmage in August, Caulkins asked me what kind of record I expected. I said 6 to 8 wins. We got there.
> Am I happy with our OOC losses to 2 Sunbelt teams? no.
> Am I happy with a 6-2 record in C-USA? yes.
> Am I happy with losing to Ole Miss? no
> Am I happy with breaking the UAB streak? yes
> Am I happy with recruiting? Will let you know in Feb. on signing day

Bottom line- I can live with where we have improved to this year. I'd like to see us challenge for the conference title real soon, though. We do get UCF at our place next year, so that helps.

covingtontiger Wrote:In mid-season, I promised to quit negative football posts. and did so. Now I can be negative if I want to be.

Am I happy with the football program? Let's talk:

> At the first scrimmage in August, Caulkins asked me what kind of record I expected. I said 6 to 8 wins. We got there.
> Am I happy with our OOC losses to 2 Sunbelt teams? no.
> Am I happy with a 6-2 record in C-USA? yes.
> Am I happy with losing to Ole Miss? no
> Am I happy with breaking the UAB streak? yes
> Am I happy with recruiting? Will let you know in Feb. on signing day

Bottom line- I can live with where we have improved to this year. I'd like to see us challenge for the conference title real soon, though. We do get UCF at our place next year, so that helps.

Makes sense to me.

This entire thread makes perfect sense. I don't know how anyone can be happy with our defense and special teams. I don't know how anyone can be unhappy with our record in CUSA and bowl trip.

I do think our expectations, mine included, were out of this world for 2007. A lot of us were predicting 9, 10, or 11 wins for this season. We took one look at our schedule, convinced ourselves that we were world beaters, and expected the Tigers to sweep through 2007.

Maybe we've learned to respect the Sun Belt a little bit more, I don't know. That conference had an unbelievable season.

I do know that as crappy as the losses made me feel, I was sky high with our wins. I don't think I once said something along the lines of, "so what? It's only Rice.."

If I did, then I truly apologize.

Our boys won seven games in 2007 after a disastrous 2006 campaign, and that is the ONLY thing that matters. We are in a bowl game, one year removed from a two win season.

We ain't gonna bust the BCS anytime soon, folks. Some of those expecations should probably be tempered.

Now on the same level, I do fully expect to contend for a Conference USA championship in 2008. Coming off a 6-2 season, with two of the three toughest conference games at home, (UCF and Southern Miss) there is no reason not to believe we can't be hosting the CUSA title game in 2008. If we fall back to another 4-4 or 3-5 finish in the conference.....well, yeah..I do think some questions need to be asked about whether we're heading in the right direction.

TigerBill Wrote:This entire thread makes perfect sense. I don't know how anyone can be happy with our defense and special teams. I don't know how anyone can be unhappy with our record in CUSA and bowl trip.

I'm happy with the bowl trip.

I'm incredibly disappointed with the record. We should've won two or three more.

Based on the statements I'm hearing, some people think we should be grateful that we won at least six games. We should be grateful we're going to one of the tiniest bowls. We should be grateful to get the chance to go 1-2 against the Sun Belt.

Screw that. I want more.

Let's win C-USA, and go BCS busting.

TigerBill Wrote:This entire thread makes perfect sense. I don't know how anyone can be happy with our defense and special teams. I don't know how anyone can be unhappy with our record in CUSA and bowl trip.

simple, succinct, I agree

the other Greg Childers Wrote:

TigerBill Wrote:This entire thread makes perfect sense. I don't know how anyone can be happy with our defense and special teams. I don't know how anyone can be unhappy with our record in CUSA and bowl trip.

I'm happy with the bowl trip.

I'm incredibly disappointed with the record. We should've won two or three more.

Since I specified CUSA record, not overall, winning 3 more would have been tough, since we only had 2 more conference games. 6-2 in conference is very good, now I look for us to take the next step and win the conference.

1. I'm very happy that we're going to a bowl game.

2. I said before the season that Tommy should be fired if he couldn't go at least 6-6 with this schedule.

3. This team should have gone 10-2 with this schedule.

4. Tommy deserves the benefit of the doubt. This team could have easily quit, but didn't.

I am happy at the bowl trip, 6-2 in the league, and rebounding from last year's horrible outcome. While not thrilled at the Sunbelt losses, I am more upset at the decision to play the ASU game when it was played. That cost us that game and then the Bradford murder hindered the effort against MTSU, if you believe what many of the players said...they were drained. The three games is close proximity and that tragedy cut a hole in the middle of this season that looked like the team might never recover from. The offense is fine while the defense and place kicking needs work but, in the end, a bowl game is a far better end to a year than sitting home like some schools close to us.

The MTSU, Ole Miss, ECU, and UCF losses don't bother me in the least. MTSU can be chalked up to a bad night for our offense. Ole Miss was the opening game, and anything can happen on the first day. ECU and UCF were just flat better than us.

But I will definitely say that the meltdown in Jonesboro should have never, ever, EVER happened. That one hurt.

HornLakeTiger Wrote:The MTSU, Ole Miss, ECU, and UCF losses don't bother me in the least. MTSU can be chalked up to a bad night for our offense. Ole Miss was the opening game, and anything can happen on the first day. ECU and UCF were just flat better than us.

But I will definitely say that the meltdown in Jonesboro should have never, ever, EVER happened. That one hurt.

I can't remember now, but did TW ever say anything about seeing that one coming? Did he sense something at halftime that they guys thought the game was over? Just curious.

This was supposed to be the year for double-digit wins.

You would have to be incredibly optimistic to think this team would turn 2-10 into 10-2 or better. Considering the level of support afforded to the football program by the university and its supporters 7-5 and a bowl game is a near miracle. I would wager to guess that the university football program is held in a lower national esteem than any other in C-USA.

because "phil steele said so". please.

we won TWO dang games last year folks. the soul of this message board is DEAD.

tigerjeb Wrote:the soul of this message board is DEAD.

Yep.

tigerjeb Wrote:because "phil steele said so". please.

we won TWO dang games last year folks. the soul of this message board is DEAD.

yea, but last year we only lost one game to a sun belt team.

this year we lost two. well, from what i've seen of troy, three.

People!! Be happy!! We are going to a bowl game!! This team started out 2-4 and most here gave this team and coaching staff last rites, and were planning their funeral.
These young men that represent "our " university did not listen to the constant negative BS from here and the loacal fish wrap. Instead they went to work every week and tried to get better AND DID! Is there another team in the country that started 2-4 and is going to a bowl game?? Is there another team that was 2-10 last year and is going to a bowl game?? Live life and be happy! This team has gotten better over the season and yes, as Coach West says this would not have happened with players with less character!
Quit whining and celebrate what is good!!!!!

Dylan Wrote:

tigerjeb Wrote:because "phil steele said so". please.

we won TWO dang games last year folks. the soul of this message board is DEAD.

yea, but last year we only lost one game to a sun belt team.

this year we lost two. well, from what i've seen of troy, three.

i rest my case. good night - God Bless

tigerjeb Wrote:because "phil steele said so". please.

we won TWO dang games last year folks. the soul of this message board is DEAD.

Not because of Phil Steele. Because of having a senior QB, great receivers, what was expected to be a much improved defense, and mostly because of playing a schedule ranked DEAD LAST out of 120 schools.

Maybe Tommy should consider winning only 2 games next season. That way folks like you can reprimand folks who aren't gushing and doing cartwheels when we go 7-5 and lose to 2 Sunbelt schools in 2009.

I haven't given up on Tommy or this program. I'll be in New Orleans for the bowl game. That doesn't mean that I think this program is on top of the world or that we played to our full potential this season. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations and maybe some folks are content with mediocrity.

I've got faith that this program can step up to the next level and compete for the C-USA championship. However, I do have doubts and I don't think there is anything wrong with asking the question how long it will take. I don't see anything wrong with Derby's initial post or most of the responses.

The goal is to compete for conference championships. We went 6-2 in conference the BEST ANY tiger team has done! Yes we lost BIG to UCF the east chanp and to ECU also in the east. Next year we have all of our receivers returning and ad Cam Baker. The problem will be with defense and I beleive the staff is working to recriut "D" side players. The new coaches have deep roots in Fla and LA. to look for talent. Also what you saw with Will yesterday as a running and passing QB (the thing that has killed us) MIght be what we look like on "O" next year!

Come on BE HAPPY we turned it around and I am ready for spring practice the HH BBQ contest the spring game and raedy to kick off next FB season. Lets get behind this FB program as most of you do the boys in shorts and the sky is the limit!