There's no way to sugar coat it !

[HuggyBear]

Was it me or was the ghost of Dick Tomey's offense on the field tonight? What a boring lack luster effort.

The U of A was very lucky NAU turned over the ball or this game could have been a lot closer then you think!

The Cats look fundamentally sound, but what I think the real issue here is a lack of talented, experienced football players across the board.

I think this season is in the tank already.

HuggyBear

[ByJoveByJingle]

Woot!!!

Huggy Bear . . . SuperFan!

[MustafaNation]

Too harsh to be negative about the team at this point. I'll admit to mentioning about the Tomey-like play calling to people during the game. However, the coaches went on record before this game as saying they were only going to use a limited offensive set intentionally to have a little bit of surprise left when we face a very talented Utah team next week. My feeling is: if we can get it done without giving up our whole package, more power to us. It's the same strategy USC is using. Hold some of your cards for awhile if you can win without using every play in your book for other teams to scout.

[brianphx]

So, the idea was to let NAU hang around into the 4th quarter? Then, let them drive down inside the 10 yard line with the score 7-3? After that, the coaches were to rely on them receiving a personal foul and fumbling the ball?

If NAU did not get that foul and turn the ball over, the score most likely would have been 10-7 NAU. U of A had not moved the ball since the 1st quarter. NAU would have been pumped up and the defense would have been flying all over the field.

I really don't think Stoops counted on a close game... don't kid yourself.

[lofty]

Who said that? Who said Stoops or AZ was counting on a close game? You read too much into mustafa's post.

But yes, huggy bear's right, even with the score 21-3 this game was close. Yardage was very comparable, and I haven't looked, but it's probably within 20-25 yards. NAU is a very good Div. I-AA team and surely would have beaten UTEP, for example, but still, NAU is still Div I-AA, and we've obviously got alot of work to do. Hell, anybody who thought we'd be playing winning football overnight (winning games) needs to step back and see it realistically and objectively. It will take time.

I don't think the "season is in the tank" at all, though. (Heck, last year we opened with a blowout and THAT season really was in the tank.) I guess because I DO have realisitc expectations. I just want to see consistent effort, attitude and intensity out there on the field. The rest will come in time over the next few years.