Welcome to EKU

[covufan]

Improved, but not in same league as EKU. 

EKU  - 38
VU    -  13

[VULB#62]

Not sure how EKU would compare to Western Illinois, but assuming they are at a similar status, we lost to WIL 45-6.  I expect a similar result.  We will be better then last year as this is Coach's second year.  New quarterback etc so don't expect an improvement over last year's score.  I'll go will 45-10

Technically we went into last season without a "returning QB" as well.  However, 3 of our 2015 QBs have been in the system one full year as opposed to last year when Cecchini just started to install the offense in the spring with a bunch of strangers on the field and a staff that the kids didn't know before the winter.  Both Scott and Dalton have been running this offense since last fall -- what they lack is implementing it under the pressure of game conditions.   Once Ben was given the job, it still took him a few games to get comfortable in the role and then the game slowed down for him.

However, I don't think that WIU and EKU are that comparable -- I think EKU is more talented and more experienced coming into this game by comparison.  WIU was 5-7 last year and EKU was 9-4 (but WIU did lose to Indiana State by a similar margin as EKU).

[valpochgo]

EKU is a much better program than WIU. I personally don't see any benefit to playing highly competitive scholarship programs as all it does is put our kids in a situation where it's a higher probability of them being injured.  There is great non-scholarship football played in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference which most teams would be a really good early season challenge for Valpo. I know FBS and FCS schools play each other early in the season but it's a big difference between the programs at scholarship and non-scholarship football programs.

If our kids stay healthy after our first 2 games than I call that a success no matter what the final scores are.....

[vu72]

EKU is a much better program than WIU. I personally don't see any benefit to playing highly competitive scholarship programs as all it does is put our kids in a situation where it's a higher probability of them being injured.  There is great non-scholarship football played in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference which most teams would be a really good early season challenge for Valpo. I know FBS and FCS schools play each other early in the season but it's a big difference between the programs at scholarship and non-scholarship football programs.

If our kids stay healthy after our first 2 games than I call that a success no matter what the final scores are.....

Not sure where you came up with that fact.  Sagarin had Western ranked 118 at the end of last year as part of the Missouri Valley, ranked as the 12th best conference.  By contrast, EKU was ranked 157 in the 25th best conference.  To start this season, Sagarin has EKU ranked 146 while Western is ranked 148.  The Valley is ranked 17th versus the other Valley at 24th.

[VULB#62]

............... I personally don't see any benefit to playing highly competitive scholarship programs as all it does is put our kids in a situation where it's a higher probability of them being injured.  There is great non-scholarship football played in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference which most teams would be a really good early season challenge for Valpo. I know FBS and FCS schools play each other early in the season but it's a big difference between the programs at scholarship and non-scholarship football programs.

If our kids stay healthy after our first 2 games than I call that a success no matter what the final scores are.....

Clearly the WIU, EKU, (2016?), and Montana games are guarantee games that help the program financially.  But it does go a bit farther -- 1) these games help us attract good football players who want to challenge themselves, 2) it helps Valpo define itself an a "real" FCS program, and 3) The kids WANT to play these games (just like WIU kids want to play the Wisconsins and Illinois and EKU kids want to go against the NC States and Floridas).  And every now and then an Appalachian State upsets a Michigan or, maybe, a Valpo up-ends a Montana. Ya nevah know.

SHU, on the other hand, is a home and home (no guarantee) and though the NEC is FCS scholarship, they are much closer to being beatable.

I do hope that the Missouri Baptists and College of Faiths find their way off the schedule soon. (BTW, I would not have said that 2 years ago    )

I certainly agree with your last statement though -- be crazy not to.

[VULB#62]

Not sure where you came up with that fact.  Sagarin had Western ranked 118 at the end of last year as part of the Missouri Valley, ranked as the 12th best conference.  By contrast, EKU was ranked 157 in the 25th best conference.  To start this season, Sagarin has EKU ranked 146 while Western is ranked 148.  The Valley is ranked 17th versus the other Valley at 24th.

FYI

Here's all the Sagarin Pre-season FCS Ratings of the 33 D-I conferences (ones in bold are of interest to Valpo and the Pioneer league)
  17  MISSOURI VALLEY     (AA)
  18  CONFERENCE USA-EAST (A)
  19  MAC-EAST            (A)
  20  SUN BELT            (A)
  21  COLONIAL            (AA)
  22  BIG SKY             (AA)
  23  SOUTHERN            (AA)
  24  OHIO VALLEY         (AA)
  25  SOUTHLAND           (AA)
  26  PATRIOT             (AA)
  27  BIG SOUTH           (AA)
  28  IVY LEAGUE          (AA)
  29  NORTHEAST           (AA)
  30  MID-EASTERN         (AA)
  31  SWAC-EAST           (AA)
  32  SWAC-WEST           (AA)
  33  PIONEER             (AA)

Sagarin PFL Team Ratings
  211 JU
  222 USD
  229 Dayton
  232 Drake
  241 Butler
  243 Marist
  245 Campbell
  247 Morehead
  250 Stetson
  251 Valpo
  253 Davidson

Sacred Heart, BTW, is 200

[vu72]

Just heard the Valpo Football Preview and a couple of things stood out for me.  First, Coach said the five fastest players on the team are all freshman.  Quite a bit was said about the success of getting athletic kids from Florida, Texas and California.  The troubling thing that was mentioned near the end was that there are some kids who won't be suiting up because of suspensions.   

[valpochgo]

I don't know much about Sagarin rankings but I know EKU is ranked #17 in the FCS NCAA Coaches Poll and I don't see WIU anywhere on that list either this year or last year so I'm not the only personthat thinks EKU is better than WIU.

[VULB#62]

Valpochgo, WIU gets added cred just because they belong to the MVFC.  Kind of like a mid SEC team is thought equal to, say, teams in the top 3 in the AAC.  But, definitely,  EKU is legit. 

  The troubling thing that was mentioned near the end was that there are some kids who won't be suiting up because of suspensions.   

I recall Grayson Bastin is one of them.

[vu72]

Valpochgo, WIU gets added cred just because they belong to the MVFC.  Kind of like a mid SEC team is thought equal to, say, teams in the top 3 in the AAC.  But, definitely,  EKU is legit. 

  The troubling thing that was mentioned near the end was that there are some kids who won't be suiting up because of suspensions.   

I recall Grayson Bastin is one of them.

[/b]

any idea how many or what for?

[valpochgo]

Valpochgo, WIU gets added cred just because they belong to the MVFC.  Kind of like a mid SEC team is thought equal to, say, teams in the top 3 in the AAC.  But, definitely,  EKU is legit. 

  The troubling thing that was mentioned near the end was that there are some kids who won't be suiting up because of suspensions.   

I recall Grayson Bastin is one of them.

[/b]

any idea how many or what for?

They were at a party and alcohol was present....  approximately 17 suspended. 

[vu72]

Valpochgo, WIU gets added cred just because they belong to the MVFC.  Kind of like a mid SEC team is thought equal to, say, teams in the top 3 in the AAC.  But, definitely,  EKU is legit. 

  The troubling thing that was mentioned near the end was that there are some kids who won't be suiting up because of suspensions.   

I recall Grayson Bastin is one of them.

[/b]

any idea how many or what for?

Valpochgo, WIU gets added cred just because they belong to the MVFC.  Kind of like a mid SEC team is thought equal to, say, teams in the top 3 in the AAC.  But, definitely,  EKU is legit. 

  The troubling thing that was mentioned near the end was that there are some kids who won't be suiting up because of suspensions.   

I recall Grayson Bastin is one of them.

[/b]

any idea how many or what for?

They were at a party and alcohol was present....  approximately 17 suspended. 

[/b]

Oh crap.  I presume most if not all were upper classman, which means we will lose several starters and we are screwed.

[valpotx]

EKU 52
Valpo 7

[VULB#62]

If you haven't watched it on the Valpo Athletics site, here's the link to the Game 1 preview video. It will help in determining predictions.  Lots of respect for EKU by Cecchini.  Cody Cotton gets a lot of props.  I can't imagine going from a safety to a LB and then DE on the D-I level.  He's under-sized for that, but if you listen to other things he is saying, they are loading up on speed and strength over just size (Duh, of course it's best to have all three.)

http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2015-16/14798/valpo-football-preview-week-1/#.VeWnBrS4ko8

[FGColonel]

17 suspended ? I hope you mean from school and NOT the football team.

[VU2624]

17 was the number from the football team last year. Not sure if they all came back but however many it is currently, they are all sitting out this game. At the very least players who would have seen significant time whether starters or contributors.

As far as I know it is just this game.

[usc4valpo]

EKU 55

Saders 13

[vu72]

17 suspended ? I hope you mean from school and NOT the football team.

As background, there was a big party off campus last year where a whole mess of kids were arrested for underage drinking.  The party was held at a football players house. A couple of basketball players were caught as were athletes from others teams.  The football players involved are sitting out this game as punishment.

[VU2624]

44 VU athletes in all IIRC.

[historyman]

17 suspended ? I hope you mean from school and NOT the football team.

As background, there was a big party off campus last year where a whole mess of kids were arrested for underage drinking.  The party was held at a football players house. A couple of basketball players were caught as were athletes from others teams.  The football players involved are sitting out this game as punishment.

That is the same infamous party on Lind Lane that several VB players, women's bb players and Jubril and Hammink were at.

[usc4valpo]

oh my goodness there was beer at this event - where is this world coming to!!

[VULB#62]

ESPN reports that Coastal Carolina got the bid to the FBS Sun Belt Conference.  Condolences FGColonel. We know what it is like to get passed over like that. We had hopes of getting a bid to the Valley a couple of years ago but lost out to Loyola 

[VULB#62]

The Two-Deep has been released as  a part of the pre-game notes.  Some observations:

18 true freshmen among the first 44 -- 11 on O, 7 on D
4 freshmen starters on O -- RT, LG, TE and FB
0 freshmen starters on D

Missing are familiar some names from last year who are on the active roster: Ryan Shea (WR), Sam Matternack (OL), Grayson Bastin (RB), Tim Foley (DB), Jay Slone (LB)

Stokes and Stall are jointly listed as QBs (as expected)

From the write-up:
Scouting Eastern Kentucky: Fresh off a 9-4 season where they averaged 31.2 points per game, the Colonels project to be an offensive juggernaut again in 2015. Redshirt senior Dy'Shawn Mobley is the straw that stirs the drink for Coach Hood and the EKU Colonels. The running back averaged 5.8 yards per rush en route to a junior season that saw him finish nine yards shy of 1,500 while racking up 20 touchdown carries. He was compensated to the tune of OVC Offensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. 2014 was Mobley's first season in Richmond following his departure from University of Kentucky in 2013.

Eastern Kentucky operated under a two-QB system last season. Redshirt junior Bennie Coney is a holdover from the 2014 tandem. The former Cincinnati Bearcat threw for a team-high 1,185 yards a year ago and displayed the ability to allude pressure when necessary. Jeff Glover and Devin Borders pack a 1-2 punch as good any in the Ohio Valley Football Conference at wide receiver. Glover, listed at 6'5'', recorded team watermarks in catches (43) and receiving yards (746) while the 6'6'' Borders snagged 38 passes for 533 yards and a team-most five TDs. The average offensive lineman on EKU's two-deep is just over 287 pounds.

Noah Spence will make his long-awaited debut for the Colonels on Thursday. The 2013 First Team All-Big Ten defensive end transferred to EKU from Ohio State following a sophomore campaign that yielded 14.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks (2nd in Big Ten). Senior defensive back Stanley Absanon received a Pre- season All-OVC Team nod after picking off four passes and breaking up nine in 2014. He garnered National FCS Defensive Player of the Week accolades in Week 2 as he spearheaded the Colonels to a 17-10 upset of the Miami (OH) RedHawks with a pair of picks, including one for a 55-yard TD. He's expected to pull double duty for Coach Hood as Absanon is slated to return punts and kickoffs.

Redshirt junior Zack Burgy-VanHoose is the heir apparent to Andrew Lloyd at kicker. Burgy-VanHoose's lone attempt last season was blocked from 20 yards out.

Here's the link:

http://files.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/9DB11E6F-3F84-43E9-884D-91E1862A0213/Wk1EKU.pdf

[VU2624]

True Freshman starting and backing up at RT and LT and TE. Tough assignments vs. EKU. Some of the names mentioned would clearly be at least on the field a lot without some circumstances.

I also hope they don't stick a player in there and lose a potential redshirt year because they are short some veterans. I'm not sure how that all works.

[valpotx]

We are 1-0 against EKU this year, so the worst that can happen to us after this game is to be 1-1 now