Honest Opinions...

[EastStang]

JJ has shown that he sticks with QB's once he's made up his mind. He stuck with Timmy Chang for five years(including an injury red-shirt). Chang had 85 career picks, I think I read on this board. That's an average of 20 per year. Then came Colt Brennan who JJ rescued from Colorado after Brennan's assault conviction. But notice that Brennan had a year or two at Hawaii before he assumed the reins of the offense, and it was with Brennan that the team went further than it did with Chang. So, the formula is to throw one QB to the wolves for four years, then his successor will move the team to even greater heights.

[kull]

JJ has shown that he sticks with QB's once he's made up his mind. He stuck with Timmy Chang for five years(including an injury red-shirt). Chang had 85 career picks, I think I read on this board. That's an average of 20 per year. Then came Colt Brennan who JJ rescued from Colorado after Brennan's assault conviction. But notice that Brennan had a year or two at Hawaii before he assumed the reins of the offense, and it was with Brennan that the team went further than it did with Chang. So, the formula is to throw one QB to the wolves for four years, then his successor will move the team to even greater heights.

You are right, JJ will stick with his guy until he goes into the tank (to protect their psyche). He benched Timmy in favor of Rolo. Rolo was partying his butt off (football wasn't his top priority, drinking and scoring with wahines was), he was demoted. Timmy got the job back by default. Rolo had potential, he lead the O and crushed #9 ranked BYU 72-45 in December of 2001.

Brennan came to Hawaii in 2005, and was running the offense (beat out Graunke, came in during the USC game even though the option was giving southern call fits) early that season. The light went on for Brennan in the third game of 2006. The rest is history.

The best play, period. The only way for QB's to develop in the RnS is with live game reps. This is not a plug and play offense (a knock on the RnS), and it is a matter of talent available. If Josh Nunes came here, he'd probably be starting already (IMO), and that isn't to say that Bo is bad. These guys aren't protected with horizontal screens like the the Edwards-esque spread and shred offenses (not like that has to be a bad thing). At least another three paragraphs are needed to elaborate on this, but don't have the energy. Go Stangs!

[Stallion]

I think the NCAA Record set for Ints turned out to be 80 not 85- I remembered it wrong.

[RedTapestry]

I went to the game; I can see that my view is a lot different from the radio listeners.

From my perspective SMU was in complete control of this game for about 2.5 quarters. The defense got an excellent push into the backfield on running plays and frequently hit and disrupted the quarterback. WSU had good size and yet we matched up with them physically. I can't remember another game, ever, where we won at the line of scrimmage. Defense had a very solid game. Opposing QB had trouble finding receivers for all but the last drive of each half.

On offense, we were efficient, we were organized, and most of the time WSU could not handle our passing game. 3rd down conversions came readily. WRs sat down in giant open pockets of space in the WSU defense. Sanders, Beasley and BLM were very crisp. BLM actually ate the ball when needed and threw it away - clear improvement. And even after the first pick-6, the O responded and confidently marched down the field as if nothing had happened.

Frankly, I was astonished at how good they looked.

Things finally unraveled when BLM's arm was hit (from behind) on that same drive and the ball found its way to the MLB, who unfortunately had a clear path to the end zone. Hard to fault him for anything other than a lack of awareness as the pocket was breaking down. The running game was too inconsistent to salt the game away; Shawnbrey's default is to bounce things outside and use his speed rather than find space between the tackles.

The OT pick was irresponsible, but the team was already mentally broken by then, it was fait accompli. And as we are learning, not so easy for this formation to score from inside the 20. Those open pockets compress. Overtime is not our wheelhouse.

This loss was gutwrenching - but the progress tangible. Obviously WSU is no great shakes so hard to translate this performance to C-USA. But I am encouraged. Things are moving in the right way.