We are one week out for the season opener for Youngstown.
Youngstown comes off a 7-4 season last year with their annual PFL win coming over Dayton 49-16. They return their leading QB and WR.
From the season preview at Hero Sports they return 4/5 OL and 8/11 starters on defense. All in all to have a preseason no. 23 rankings.
This is a very good MVC team.
Prediction: 38-7 YSU
The 2 deep lists a backup OL at 195 pounds. I assume this is a typo.
Quote from: IndyValpo on August 28, 2023, 12:27:27 PM
The 2 deep lists a backup OL at 195 pounds. I assume this is a typo.
Nope.
Correct typo. Probably 295 he's a large guy in pictures. Listed at 270 in recruit bio
Two deep on offense created a bit of concern. 5 freshman eligibility in the two deep at OL.
Our average margin of defeat at Youngstown is 50+ points.
Defense will need to play very well to keep it in the 30s.
This is no slight at all to current Valpo team either. They could shock us all which I believe everyone involved will be thrilled
Quote from: valpofb16 on August 28, 2023, 02:18:40 PM
Our average margin of defeat at Youngstown is 50+ points.
Defense will need to play very well to keep it in the 30s.
This is no slight at all to current Valpo team either. They could shock us all which I believe everyone involved will be thrilled.
I don't think this'll be an Illinois State kind of result, but I would love to see something like the Montana game. We scared the heck out of them at half time. But they took some No Dose in the locker room and woke up for the second half. I was at that one and the Griz folks around us were uneasy throughout and said some very complementary things about our team (some were amazed that we were a non-scholarship D-I program).
Tuxedo Birds 42
Valpo 14
Al Bundy U 49
Crusaders 10
Tressel Univ. 41
Valparaiso 13
Screaming Eagles 53
Barking Beacons 3
330 - 42
219 - 17
🐧 41
🗼 14
Unpopular opinion- Valpo keeps it close with defense and special teams but loses 24-17. Fingers crossed for an upset! 🤞🏼
Looking forward to watching what plays Valpo uses on Youngstown :popcorn:. Crossing fingers its alot closer than you guys think.
Spelman Annis and the boys stand tall on defense, Matthes turns the field all night showing why's he's the best in the FCS and Tyler's feet keep him away from that YT defensive front allowing us to sneak one out!
Or
42- 7
59 Penguins
10 Freakin' Beamin' Beacons
As long as it's not 86-7 or whatever from a decade+ ago I'm good , still gonna get ugly IMO. If we score 2+ touchdowns that's a "moral victory"
54-3 YSU
Valpo in new away Unis
YSU is biiigggg
3 and out for Valpo D on first series ! Real NICE !!
YSU penalties and a big pass from Appel leads to a Valpo 4th and goal from the 1 but they were stood up . YSU leads 7-0
At the end of 1 Valpo is down 7-0 but driving in YSU territory close to the redzone , Appel is very composed !
Valpo with a FG , YSU leads 7-3!
7-3. Nice!
What a terrible spot. Can't believe that the review didn't give us the first down.
17-3 Valpo has got out athleted a few times as expected but they look very well coached. Defense holding their own physically. Offense very well paced
TOUCHDOWN VALPO !! Big time 2 minute drill drive !! Down 10–17 going into half !!
If there is any NIL money in the program it should got to Mikey Appels tuition. That man would annihilate any Valpo records with 5 years here.
Fox has built the program defensively. Let's talk extension.
And what a first half for the Valpo OL and Coach Symmes
Ring the Moral Victory Bell! Valpo to get the ball to start the second half.
Quote from: VUSWIM08-12 on August 31, 2023, 05:33:50 PM
As long as it's not 86-7 or whatever from a decade+ ago I'm good , still gonna get ugly IMO. If we score 2+ touchdowns that's a "moral victory"
54-3 YSU
Good thing your were a swimmer and not a football talent analyst!
Observations:
We are one busted play from a tie at half. YSU is suppose to be one of the best in the Football Valle
Mickey Appel will not finish his career at Valpo.
A fregging exciting game--SO FAR!! Go Beacons!!
Pretty solid performance. We'll know more when the Penquins play the Bucleyes next week!
Rogerwilco. Youngstown State has 85 scholarships and returns the vast majority of the roster from a 7 win MVC team.
Valpo has 0 scholarships and 40 new players.
Hell yeah we're gonna ring it
Haha VU72, at least I made a prediction , glad I'm wrong so far , you thought the OL guy at 195 wasn't a typo. Funny.
Let's see if we can tie it up or cut into the lead. Valpo is softening up the Penguins for Ohio State in week two.
Here comes human nature
Ughhhhh, we ran out of gas !
Throwing in a blowout and letting your starting QB get tee'd off on. Haven't seen this since Dale
Last Rant: disregarding garbage time Valpo was 75-25 Pass-Run. The two leading RBs averaged 4 & 4.5 ypc. Completely abandoned it in the second half
USC4Valpo was the most accurate per his score prediction of 49-10.
Well, there were positive waves for the flashlights but it turned the way we thought at the end.
Fox is doing a very good job at Valpo. That being said, the extension talk should cease until we see above average results. I also wonder if Fox would want it, I would presume he will want to find bigger challenges at other schools.
The extension talks scare me after Valpo gave Lottich one based on better than expected result in the MVC tourney. slow down and think these things through.
Well stats say Valpo ran 26 times to gain 40 yrds... Appel did look good but he seems to stay rigidly with the play instead of taking advantage of whose open (i know he only has 3 seconds or so). Can't count how many times Vircher/Jernegan were wide open further down the field, yet Apple threw to WR who Pen covered. Thought 1st half was amazing, then halftime.... What the heck happened? It felt like our guys were invaded by body snatchers, lol. I hope Valpo coaches took notes on some of the pens plays, saw them line up 3 WR on right then passed successfully left to their TE I think it was. Lots to dissect on that game film. All in all it felt like New Mexico all over again. Looking forward to next game. Oh and #8 is a baller, he never gave up. :twocents:
Sacked five times for -31. Actually had about 70 rushing. Two lead RBs went for 45 in first half
The third quarter happened due to a blocked punt, and a fumbled kick off. Then instead of putting drives together Valpo dropped back 3 straight times , took no time off clock, and resulted in 2 sack fumbles. Game very easily could have been 31-10, 38-10
I thought drive before half was Appels best of his career. He's coming along. Still only 12 games under belt (split time first 5-6 LY)
Yes, I was overly exited based on a very strong first half. Guilty as charged! Having said that, if you take out a few, obvious miscues and look at the game play overall, I would take off a couple of TD's for them (busted 60 yard TD in the first quarter and the blocked punt (should probably include the muffed kick return as well) and you get YSU back to, say, 38, while we add one score for us being on the 1/2 line and getting nothing, so a final looking more like 38-17, as an indication of the overall performances of the two teams.
Lots of guys who had never played a college snap did very solid jobs. I expect a win v. Indiana Wesleyan
I was overly excited over first half too, lol. Then someone popped my dang balloon. I mean Y made so many penalties and lost their best player CB due to targeting Solomon in first half. So to come out in 2nd half looking like a different team was disappointing. If Valpos O line can't block for QB long enough for Solomon to go long, then they need to find ways to go for first downs. Running game against a larger opponent doesn't seem to work. Its crazy how Valpo wasn't able to take advantage of Y penalties & losing their CB. Considering how Valpo got within 7 in first half shows they have what it take! ;)
Its good to have football back! :popcorn:
Appel looked really solid and vs. teams with the same level of talent I think it bodes well for the team as the defense is likely pretty good. 3 fumbles and a blocked punt in the second half really cut down on the chances for offensive goodness. If you want to say run the ball so the QB doesn't get killed I get it but there was no chance they were going to run the ball effectively vs. YSU as they'd just wear down Valpo's OL.
12 Carries for 49 yards isn't exactly in effective from the top 2 backs
Quote from: valpofb16 on September 01, 2023, 04:44:55 PM12 Carries for 49 yards isn't exactly in effective from the top 2 backs
The play distribution in the second half wasn't all that bad now that I looked at it. There was a run the play prior to Appels first fumble and multiple runs prior to his second. The drive that they threw the ball exclusively didn't amount to much but there were no disasters there.
As I say to my students, there are no dumb questions. But I may have one!
Is it necessary for Valpo to include a ranked, full-scholarship team in its non-conference schedule? Is it a financial thing to be someone else's tune-up cannon fodder?
Because otherwise, it seems like an exercise in not getting completely stomped. It also puts pressure on the team to win the next game, for if you lose, doubts can start to creep in and a season can start to spiral quickly.
David by no means is it necessary. Several PFL teams have opened up with NAIA and D2 non conferences.
However going back through the schedule the "pay game" has been something Valpo has accepted since at least 2000 and scheduled to do so until 2028.
In my era we had two pay games twice
Youngstown State - Duquesne
Eastern Kentucky - Sacred Heart
With Valpos current state of financials. And long term investment in PFL football. This is not something I see changing.
The players want to try against these teams as well. Sure, on the surface one might think--Why would you want to get your butt kicked--but then there is the first half where guys start to think that they "belong". And coaches would add that the players need to know that if we win the PFL that these type of teams are who we will be facing.
The more obvious reason is a LOT of money. Particularly last year with the New Mexico State bonus game which brought is what? $400,000? These funds don't go strictly back into football but rather support the entire athletic department.
Quote from: valpofb16 on September 03, 2023, 08:54:40 PMDavid by no means is it necessary. Several PFL teams have opened up with NAIA and D2 non conferences. However going back through the schedule the "pay game" has been something Valpo has accepted since at least 2000 and scheduled to do so until 2028. In my era we had two pay games twice Youngstown State - Duquesne Eastern Kentucky - Sacred Heart With Valpos current state of financials. And long term investment in PFL football. This is not something I see changing.
Seems like all "lower division" schools play a game vs. a school a division or two higher even if it is not the first game. The "pay game". We see Portland State play Oregon. Portland State would crush any PFL squad yet lost to Oregon...which played at least down to the 3's....81-7 or something like that.
The football and athletic program(s) have to be funded somehow.
Thank you, valpofb16, vu72, and JD24 for these responses to my question.
I had a feeling that money was the main thing, and I also understand that our players might want to see how the team compares against the next level programs.
It is a shame that we have to approach these games by speculating on how badly the team will lose. But if scheduling these schools brings needed cash into the athletics dept. coffers and serves as an incentive to play at VU, then maybe it's necessary to put us on a path towards competing for the conference title.
Quote from: vu72 on September 01, 2023, 08:28:07 AMYes, I was overly exited based on a very strong first half.
Not sure it's possible to be overly exited by this Valpo football team. You only live once and there are only so many Valpo teams to cheer for.
For the record, USC has never faced an FCS opponent. Maybe an FBS ham and egger, but never an FCS.
I think it's wrong to have FBS- FCS matchups, especially for top ranked teams. Total waste of time and energy.
Yeah but they just beat a team which lost to a FCS school last year.
Even the top dogs use these FCS games as ways to get some of the depth chart action early in the season, so they can put some of their "practice squad" work to use in a game to get reps. It equates in the same way as Valpo playing Trinity Christian in non-conference basketball scheduling, a chance to get the depth chart some playing time, even though they know they aren't going to be more than practice squad the rest of the season. The FCS schhools use it to help pay for the non-revenue sports travel needs. It isn't just to destroy the opponent, otherwise the NCAA might have made a rule years ago that FBS schools couldn't contract games with FCS or non-scholarship and NAIA programs.
You become better when you face better competition and not playing gimmes. Fans don't really want to see this.
Quote from: usc4valpo on September 10, 2023, 12:34:31 PM
You become better when you face better competition and not playing gimmes. Fans don't really want to see this.
When the fans start to put the pads on, and play the games, let me know, since they'll all want to play the gimmies so the record looks better. The teams play the gimmies to get players some breaks or more playing time for the depth chart in September, so they can be better body prepared for games that matter in conference in November. We played Youngstown St. to help the swim team pay for buses to meets, not so the fans would be happy about who we played and how.
That may work for D3 but not D1.
I appreciate explanations above about the need to play a money game to bring $$$ into a cash-starved athletics department. And I realize that teams at every level schedule gimme games, which also means that there's an opponent on the receiving end of that rout.
But building a winning program also includes avoiding beat-down losses, because it stinks for morale and there are very few lessons to be learned other than understanding that you were totally outclassed.
VU had to pump itself up to be ready for a team like Youngstown State, and that showed in their first half performance. But obviously Youngstown reckoned at halftime that they weren't going to blow this game, and the second half was what we might've expected with this matchup.
Next game is not a gimme, to be sure, but a winnable one against a team in a lower division. Our emerging star quarterback tosses 5 interceptions and we lose by 2.
So, after being run over by a ranked FCS full scholarship opponent and losing to a beatable NAIA opponent, you're really not sure what kind of a team you have two games into the season, and doubts may be forming. It doesn't mean the season is lost, but it's not a great place to be psychologically.
Quote from: David81 on September 11, 2023, 09:36:14 AM
I appreciate explanations above about the need to play a money game to bring $$$ into a cash-starved athletics department. And I realize that teams at every level schedule gimme games, which also means that there's an opponent on the receiving end of that rout.
But building a winning program also includes avoiding beat-down losses, because it stinks for morale and there are very few lessons to be learned other than understanding that you were totally outclassed.
VU had to pump itself up to be ready for a team like Youngstown State, and that showed in their first half performance. But obviously Youngstown reckoned at halftime that they weren't going to blow this game, and the second half was what we might've expected with this matchup.
Next game is not a gimme, to be sure, but a winnable one against a team in a lower division. Our emerging star quarterback tosses 5 interceptions and we lose by 2.
So, after being run over by a ranked FCS full scholarship opponent and losing to a beatable NAIA opponent, you're really not sure what kind of a team you have two games into the season, and doubts may be forming. It doesn't mean the season is lost, but it's not a great place to be psychologically.
David, if it makes more sense, consider 2003, the last time we won the PFL Championship and were quarterbacked by Hall of Famer David Macchi. That year, we opened the season playing FCS Murray State--no doubt, for a buy game. We lost that one 34-0.
Quote from: vu72 on September 11, 2023, 09:54:00 AM
Quote from: David81 on September 11, 2023, 09:36:14 AM
I appreciate explanations above about the need to play a money game to bring $$$ into a cash-starved athletics department. And I realize that teams at every level schedule gimme games, which also means that there's an opponent on the receiving end of that rout.
But building a winning program also includes avoiding beat-down losses, because it stinks for morale and there are very few lessons to be learned other than understanding that you were totally outclassed.
VU had to pump itself up to be ready for a team like Youngstown State, and that showed in their first half performance. But obviously Youngstown reckoned at halftime that they weren't going to blow this game, and the second half was what we might've expected with this matchup.
Next game is not a gimme, to be sure, but a winnable one against a team in a lower division. Our emerging star quarterback tosses 5 interceptions and we lose by 2.
So, after being run over by a ranked FCS full scholarship opponent and losing to a beatable NAIA opponent, you're really not sure what kind of a team you have two games into the season, and doubts may be forming. It doesn't mean the season is lost, but it's not a great place to be psychologically.
David, if it makes more sense, consider 2003, the last time we won the PFL Championship and were quarterbacked by Hall of Famer David Macchi. That year, we opened the season playing FCS Murray State--no doubt, for a buy game. We lost that one 34-0.
vu72, I hear you and appreciate that reference to the last league championship season.
I guess I'd feel a little better about that kind of season narrative if our present potential star QB didn't follow the money game with a 5-interception effort and a loss against an NAIA team (even though a strong one).
That said, I'm not giving up on the season. From what guys in-the-know are saying here, there's real talent and potential on this team, and the conference schedule hasn't even started. And there's no reason to think that Appel can't pull it together and build on last season's enormously promising debut.
I still expect Mikey to have a strong season despite the 5 Ints. Was pretty efficient against YSU.
With Fox being a defensive guy, I will bet a lump sum of money the gimmicks and motions we saw against IWU will be scrapped against Marist
David, I agree. There is alot of talent on this team.