Finish the season ranked?

[ChosenChildren]

Iowa State on their message boards is going on and on about the bad referees and replay calls in their bowl game. And Chris Williams, their Cyclone Fanatic guru who does a radio show on KXNO 1460, went on and on the other day about bring "transparency" to the replay process, apparently implying that the Ohio States and Oklahomas of the world get favorable calls because of their "big bucks."

That fan base is completely, 100% delusional.

 

[karras]

!!!!

This is my reaction to ESPN and the others buckling to the Amway poll. They kept us in both polls for about a week and then made the spineless choice.

 

[karras]

10 wins. I’m interested to see your projected Ws and Ls.

vs Miami(Ohio) - W
vs Butgers - W
at ISU - W
vs Mid Tenn State - W
at Michigan - L
Penn State - L
vs Purdue - W
at NW - W
at Wisky - L
vs Minn - W
vs Illinois - W
at Nebby - W

Hey, you forgot a team, I got your back.
The 10th win would be the bowl game. I think we got nice players to work with next year.

 

[karras]

Here's something to blow your mind

We'll start next season ranked with a starting DL of:
Nixon
Epenesa
Gholston
Nelson

If stanley can be just average we win the west easily

 

[Mrke1]

Hey, you forgot a team, I got your back.
The 10th win would be the bowl game. I think we got nice players to work with next year.

What gives you confidence in the Purdue/NW games?

 

[karras]

What gives you confidence in the Purdue/NW games?

Good question. I feel we're pretty deep at QB/RB. Stanley's game-manager ability should be able to get us wins in those games. What's behind him makes me even more optimistic. RB? I see improvement next year with more competition at the position. I also feel even though TE is unproven the players we have will prove themselves. O-line? We lose a couple guys but I'm high on Kallenberger and think someone else will surprise us. Maybe Lindebaum or Paulsen. WR? Smith is coming along and ISM seems to be improving. Maybe Lockett and Tracy will be given a chance. Depth is improving at WR imo.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
I like Duncan and am hopeful Gersonde will finally be given a fair shake. ISM is the reigning B10 returner of the year. Should be fine in this area.

DEFENSE:
D-line should worry me but it doesn't. Unless the staff really believes AJ should only be in on passing downs. KF recently said we won't have an 8-man rotation so I am optimistic. Or maybe I'm naive. LBs? We have 17 linebackers on the roster BEFORE the freshmen arrive. Parker will figure something out. DB? Hankins/Ojemudia/Brents/Stone - an impressive lineup and we still have guys like DJ Johnson/Craddieth/Castro/Belton waiting in the wings.

The talent is there to wins 10 games imo. Just need to make sure we utilize what we have most effectively. Fant was a pre-season AA who got 55% of the offensive snaps this season vs 63% the year before. We absolutely need to find a spot for our best players and then work them to death, figuratively of course.

I'd be interested in your take on 2019