What are your early expectations for this fb season?

[GoPokes83]

I realize there's still 6 to 8 months of NBA playoffs left, but I'm just ready for football season to begin.... Or at least the pre-season speculations.

I got this from College Football News.
Looking Ahead
Why to get excited: The one positive out of all the issues of last year was the experience several players received. Now there shouldn’t be too much of a transition problem with Brandon Weeden logging in time at quarterback in the hope to replace Zac Robinson. Kendall Hunter is back for another year and should be the key to the running game, while Hubert Anyiam is coming off a decent year catching 42 passes for 515 yards and three scores. The offense might not be devastating, but it should be at least as good as it was last year.

Why to be grouchy: The defense will undergo a major overhaul. The loss of nine starters including big-hitting safety Lucien Antoine, ball-hawking corner Perrish Cox, and playmaking linebacker Andre Sexton will hurt. This won’t be nearly as good a defense as it was at times last year, while the offense isn’t going to be special. It all adds up to a potentially mediocre season.

The number one thing to work on is: Passing. The loss of Bryant killed the air attack last season, and it’s not like it’s going to suddenly get healthy this year after finishing tenth in the Big 12 averaging just 179 yards per game. Anyiam is good, but he needs help around him. 26-year-old junior Brandon Weeden might have an inside track to the starting job, but he’s not a lock, and it’ll officially be a rebuilding season if it’s true freshman Johnny Deaton under center.

Thoughts? What's your early gut feeling for next season?

[Vulgar Display of Orange]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - L
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - L
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - L
10/30/10 at Kansas State - L
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W
11/13/10 at Texas - L
11/20/10 at Kansas - W
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L

[GoPokes83]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - L
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - L
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - L
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - L
10/30/10 at Kansas State - L
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - L
11/13/10 at Texas -W (Why the hell not? We always have that one game)
11/20/10 at Kansas - W
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L

5-7 or 6-6 Baylor's a trap game that could go either way. You can trade the TX win for any other team that's supposed to drill us. We always play one game way over our heads. Just enough hope to make the losses tougher.

For some reason I'm pretty pessimistic about this season. I'll snap out of it in a couple of months.

[bleedorange]

11/13/10 at Texas -W (Why the hell not? We always have that one game)

I've made a vow to not expect wins against Texas and Oklahoma until they prove me wrong. I've given them optimism and benefit of the doubt too dang many times.

Henceforth, all of my preseason predictions will begin with expectations of losses in those two games. Which is sad, cause I'm a pretty dadgum optimistic guy.

[FalseGod]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - L
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - W
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - L
10/30/10 at Kansas State - L
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W
11/13/10 at Texas - L
11/20/10 at Kansas - W
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L

[CaliforniaCowboy]

6-0 going into the Nebraska game... it shouldn't be all that hard to accomplish (sans @ Lubbick)

We should go at least 3-3 from there out... IMHO

I'm going with 9-3...

worst case (for me) 8-4

[BigBadBen]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W (Hard fought game)
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W (They will still stink)
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - W (New HC & system)
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - Toss/Up
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W (New Old HC & system)
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W (Tough game, but home game win)
11/13/10 at Texas -L (what bleed said)
11/20/10 at Kansas - W (New HC & system)
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L (what bleed said)

If they can string along some wins early, get the momentum on their side & build confidence, it could be a good season.

Stub their toe against a early season opponent, it might be a long season.

[Pokevette]

Interesting question. I had not really taken the time to think about it yet this year.

Without giving it a lot of thought or research, my off the cuff expectations would be:

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - L
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - L
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W
11/13/10 at Texas - L
11/20/10 at Kansas - W
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L

Looks to me like an 8-4 type season:
4-0 = Nonconference
2-2 = Home Conference (Losses to Nebraska, Oklahoma).
2-2 = Road Conference (Losses to Tech, Texas).

Going 8-4 with another Bowl appearance should keep the heat off Gundy given the number of losses from last years team. Anything less than 8 wins will start the Suites grumbling (and rightfully so).

[Ostreak]

With the new offense and the losses on D, I have no real expectations at all. I am going to just see what happens.

[OSU-DNA]

We return the fewest number of starters in the Big 12. While the offense is viewed as an upgrade, I remember TT struggling in several non-conference games after having run the offense for several years.

6-6 seems realistic, 7-5 is possible. An incredible upgrade in our D-Line would solidify a 7-5 and potentially give us an upset chance at 8-4.

[cowboystover]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - toss-up
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - W
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska -L
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W
11/06/10 vs. Baylor -toss-up
11/13/10 at Texas - L
11/20/10 at Kansas - W
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L

losses to ut, norman community college, and nebraska
A&M and baylor both have qb's that could have a breakout season so i say we win one or the other

so i say 8-4 is my prediction but anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3 is what im expecting

[Pokevette]

Looking at the 2009 records of the eight teams i think we'll beat in 2010:

Team, W-L
Troy, 9- 3
@ULL, 6-6
@ Tx A&M, 6-6
@ Kan St, 6-6
Kansas, 5-7
Tulsa, 5-7
Baylor, 4-8
Wash St, 1-11
Combined, 42-54, (44%)

Troy on paper looks tough. However, 8 of their 9 wins last year came against teams with a BCS ranking of #85 or above. They got throttled in games against Florida and Arkansas.

Tulsa has not won in Stillwater since like 1959. That's half a century ago! NO WAY do they come to Boone Pickens and beat us.

Washington St was TERRIBLE last year. ULL was .500 in a bad conference.


Vs Baylor, 13-1 in Big-12 play, including 7 straight in Stillwater.
Vs Kansas, 5-1 in Big-12 play.
Vs A&M, we've won two straight.
Vs Kansas St, sure we've lost some vs KSU, but that was a different KSU.


I know we lost a bunch of nice players last year, but why do we think we've lost that much ground to the likes of Baylor, Kansas, A&M and Kansas State? We should still with who we have taking the field this year be able to win those games. Yes?

Beating an improving Nebraska, Texas, OU, or Tech on the road is probably unlikely given the inexperience on our team this year. BUT, winning 8 should be entirely doable....

[FalseGod]

I'm just waiting for Mr Orange Power to get on and give his undefeated prediction.

Why do you assume Tech is improving? They have a new coach in town and there is going to be either an improvement or a dropoff with him there. I'm betting the first year will be a dropoff just like A&M did when they changed coaches.

Snyder already seems to have KSU improving, so I think they'll improve on last year. It is on the road and young teams struggle on the road too.

Kansas will be bad. They lost all the decent players from their team I believe.

A&M is returning everyone good on offense and we barely beat them last year. I think they'll be a tougher team than last year, but still won't overcome the top teams in the South.

Baylor will depend on the health of Griffin. If he makes it through a season, they'll be dangerous. Without him they're pretty hopeless.

[OrangePhish]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W (They just aren't very good)
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W (We still have the taste of revenge in our mouths)
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W (This one won't be close)
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W (Sherman's last year?)
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W (No explanation needed)
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - W (New coach, players from old system that are tired of being in Lubbock)
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - W (Home field advantage)
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W (Have no reasoning behind this one other than gut feeling)
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W (Griffin is fragile, won't finish the season healthy)
11/13/10 at Texas - L (they have our number)
11/20/10 at Kansas - W (the implosion in Lawrence continues)
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - W (Bob who?)

How's that for drinking some Orange Koolaide? ;)

[pistolpete2002]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W (They just aren't very good)
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W (We still have the taste of revenge in our mouths)
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W (This one won't be close)
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W (Sherman's last year?)
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W (No explanation needed)
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - W (New coach, players from old system that are tired of being in Lubbock)
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - W (Home field advantage)
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W (Have no reasoning behind this one other than gut feeling)
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W (Griffin is fragile, won't finish the season healthy)
11/13/10 at Texas - L (they have our number)
11/20/10 at Kansas - W (the implosion in Lawrence continues)
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - W (Bob who?)

How's that for drinking some Orange Koolaide? ;)


Looks reasonable to me!!!

[JonforOSU]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W-Gimme
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W-Should win, but you never know
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W-Tulsa-The only in state team we can beat conistently
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W-Aggies are still struggling
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W- At ULL? Guess we owe them this one from Les' era?
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - L-Not likely to break the Lubbock lull
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - L-Huskers are improving-Could be a toss up
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W-Snyder still has work to do
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W-Poor Baylor
11/13/10 at Texas - L-Damn them Horns. Expect us to be close though
11/20/10 at Kansas - L-Not sure if KU can replace several starters, could be the difference in a better bowl game for us-toss up
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - W-OU is rebuilding, we have to beat them at home.

I'm saying 8-4 is totally doable. Gotta keep the momentum going, a 7-6 season would slow what we've gotten goin the last 3 years

[wood911]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W Defense wins this one
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W This will be tough!!!
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W Our defense should be the difference
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W It's at home. Sherman hasn't proven anything, yet.
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W Should outclass these guys
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - L New coach, but we are running their old system and probably their new AT their place
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - W Home field advantage and a better offense
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W Snyder no longer has the magic touch11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W At home against a mediocre team
11/13/10 at Texas - L No comment
11/20/10 at Kansas - W new coach, no better
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - W Because they are jerks

Is our recruiting and talent good enough that we re-load or do we still get 2 bad years for each good year? :huh2: I think we re-load:koolaid:

[orangeo]

6-6 is acceptable, 7-5 would be good, anything better is just gravy

[MajorMike]

6-6 is NOT acceptable.

[orangeo]

So, I guess you will be apoplectic if we go 5-7? I'm not saying we might not go 9-3 again, just that with as much change as this team is going through it will be a real surprise if they do better than 6-6. The schedule is not the easiest this year either. Is it realistic to think this year's team will be better than last year's? Of course, some of the other teams in the big 12 are also undergoing a lot of transition, so who knows?

[MajorMike]

I'm glad you are wishing a stroke upon me; thanks for that.

I guess it is ok for you to settle for mediocrity, if you are used to that sort of thing. I'm not.

[pistolpete2002]

6-6 is acceptable, 7-5 would be good, anything better is just gravy


6-6 is not even close to acceptable. And in my opinion, is not only pessimistic, but unrealistic too!!!

[GoPokes83]

I said before for some reason I'm pessimistic about this season. Hopefully we win n 8-9 but I'm just not feeling it, YET. I'm sure I'll come around to drinking heavily from the Kool Aid trough come August or so. But if the worst case scenario comes to pass and we stay home post season; does Gundy get a pass for a "rebuilding" year?

[bleedorange]

I said before for some reason I'm pessimistic about this season. Hopefully we win n 8-9 but I'm just not feeling it, YET. I'm sure I'll come around to drinking heavily from the Kool Aid trough come August or so. But if the worst case scenario comes to pass and we stay home post season; does Gundy get a pass for a "rebuilding" year?

I just remember the first year the offense tried to run Fedora's newfangled system. Looked like a bunch of monkeys trying to hump a football. So I'm bracing myself for what might happen this year, especially with a suspect number of suspect receivers in a pill-chunkin' offense.

[Verb]

Here's what I always wonder: how, exactly, does one demonstrate one's lack of acceptance of an "unacceptable" football season? A blindfold, earplugs, and chanting "La la la la la la" from August until December? :D

[CaliforniaCowboy]

interesting question... it's hard to "demonstrate" one's lack of acceptance of an "unacceptable" football season.. especially without adversely affecting the PLAYERS for next year, who may not have had anything to do with the past "unacceptable" season.

I'd say generally speaking, one does not "demonstrate unacceptance" of a poor season, but it sets the hot-seat clock ticking for future seasons.

one 6-6 season (at this point in our program developement) doesn't give much to "demonstrate"... but two consecutive poor showing would be cause to start the "demonstrating" by sending email to Holder, etc., etc.

[Tokyoken]

I don't see any losses yet. Good thing the record is made on the field. Our defense is going to surprise a lot of people it looks like, and our offense is going to be unstopable. Go Pokes!!!!

[wood911]

Here's an old thread some may find interesting.

[OSUBarkeepr]

Nice!

I was in the camp that would have been thrilled at 8 wins, given our graduations after 2009. Frustrated we couldn't do the deed, but a Big XII South championship wasn't in many folks' expectations until 2011. I think we come out loaded for bear next season.

[BigBadBen]

Comparing some of the posts in this thread to some of the ones made today by the same people is entertaining.

[FalseGod]

Hopefully I wasn't one of those entertaining you because I wasn't that far off on my assessment as some people were. I felt we'd have a winning season (7-5), but didn't think it was going to be this much of a winning season. If I had known the offense was going to click as well as it did, I would have flipped the A&M and KSU games in our favor. I still don't think we'd have beaten the 2009 version of the UT team that we usually expect them to reload with, so of course that UT win was completely unexpected even by the orange kool-aid crew I think. I considered KSU and A&M toss ups when I posted this.

I think I was pretty close on my assessment of the other teams though. Texas Tech had a bit of a fall off, KSU continued to improve under Snyder, A&M was good and while we overcame them head to head, we still tied with them in the standings. Baylor I was most off on because they weren't even that good with Griffin, but there is only so much one guy can do. They better hope they have some really good recruits in the pipe when he is gone or it is back to the cellar for them.

[BigBadBen]

Heck its all entertaining.

I expected 7-8 wins with the possibility of up to 9-10 (but didn't really expect it). The better we played the higher my expectations got and the more upset I was with each loss. If you would have told me then we'd be 10-2, I'd have asked for some of what you were smoking.

So, comparing the comments then to now, is interesting and entertaining.

[pistolpete2002]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W (They just aren't very good)
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W (We still have the taste of revenge in our mouths)
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - W (This one won't be close)
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W (Sherman's last year?)
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W (No explanation needed)
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - W (New coach, players from old system that are tired of being in Lubbock)
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - W (Home field advantage)
10/30/10 at Kansas State - W (Have no reasoning behind this one other than gut feeling)
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W (Griffin is fragile, won't finish the season healthy)
11/13/10 at Texas - L (they have our number)
11/20/10 at Kansas - W (the implosion in Lawrence continues)
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - W (Bob who?)

How's that for drinking some Orange Koolaide?

Looks reasonable to me!!!

Was this the closest pick??

[FalseGod]

In terms of wins/losses I think so. However it was completely off by picking OU and Nebraska to not beat us. At least getting one of the losses right would have helped make it a better pick. And home field advantage did squat for us and Bob seemed to show us who.

[Vulgar Display of Orange]

09/04/10 vs. Washington State - W
09/11/10 vs. Troy - W
09/18/10 vs. Tulsa - L
09/30/10 vs. Texas A&M - W
10/08/10 at Louisiana-Lafayette - W
10/16/10 at Texas Tech - L
10/23/10 vs. Nebraska - L
10/30/10 at Kansas State - L
11/06/10 vs. Baylor - W
11/13/10 at Texas - L
11/20/10 at Kansas - W
11/27/10 vs. Oklahoma - L

The crow is delicious!

[OrangePhish]

Was this the closest pick??
When I made my predictions last May, it was originally a bit tongue in cheek. After writing, and before posting, I studied my predictions and then changed my mind and decided it wasn't tongue in cheek and stuck with my predictions as being my honest assessment of the program. I am not going to go into detail here with my explanation of the 'how and why' I felt the way I did...but I gave a pretty damn good argument to several that thought I was nuts ;-)

I am just as frustrated as everyone else in regard to the outcome of bedlam, and thoroughly embarrassed myself with my foul language when OU threw the second touchdown pass toward the end of the game, but tickled to death that we ended the regular season 10-2.

[pistolpete2002]

Sunday morning/afternoon, I was pretty disgusted with the way I handled myself a time or 2 as well. This morning looking back at the season, where I really thought we'd win 7 or 8 tops, I'm pretty satisfied how our season went. Now we just need a bowl victory!!!!

I really don't mind losing when we've had so much success, especially in a "rebuilding" year. The main reason I got so mad Saturday wasn't ALL about the game, it was more about having to deal with all the JACKASS goons today!!!! Fortunately, I've only had to deal with 1.