What's lost in all of this discussion

[CalallenStang]

is that we DOMINATED a BCS team. Our O-Line was better. Our D-Line was better. Our skill players were better.

But Bo Levi had to make sure that we didn't "steal" the game.

[redpony]

Yes, the D and O played much better than I expected. However the 'team leader' was totally MIA. Would it be illegal if we collected funds to pay for an eye exam for BLM? He is obviously color blind. He keeps throwing it to the wrong team. Embarrasing to be the leader in both turnover categories.

GO PONIES!!!.

[mrydel]

Calallen, you always have such good insight but I have to take issue with this one aspect on which you continue to harp. Any team of decent ability, should expect to win their home games. That is why it is called a home field avantage. Anytime a team goes into another school's stadium and wins a games, as we did at UAB for the first time since I was old enough to legally have sex, it is considered stealing a game. It is just plain old football speak. Anytime any team in any sport goes to another venue and wins it is considered stealing a game. It is not an attitude thing. We should hopefully go with the expectation of a win, but it would still be a steal. Any team that beats us at our place should be thought of as stealing a game from us. That is the attitude that is most important. Protect your home turf and "steal" the games form the other schools at their place.

Bash on Bo all you wish. I personally do not believe in bashing young kids on a chat site. I got down on John Killeen once and said a few things negative and all of a sudden he started lighting up the scoreboard and I felt very foolished and embarassed. But it is certainly the right of others to speak their minds. But I would not harp on this "stealing a game" syndrome you have developed because it detracts from the good points you have had.

[CalallenStang]

Calallen, you always have such good insight but I have to take issue with this one aspect on which you continue to harp. Any team of decent ability, should expect to win their home games. That is why it is called a home field avantage. Anytime a team goes into another school's stadium and wins a games, as we did at UAB for the first time since I was old enough to legally have sex, it is considered stealing a game. It is just plain old football speak. Anytime any team in any sport goes to another venue and wins it is considered stealing a game. It is not an attitude thing. We should hopefully go with the expectation of a win, but it would still be a steal. Any team that beats us at our place should be thought of as stealing a game from us. That is the attitude that is most important. Protect your home turf and "steal" the games form the other schools at their place.

Bash on Bo all you wish. I personally do not believe in bashing young kids on a chat site. I got down on John Killeen once and said a few things negative and all of a sudden he started lighting up the scoreboard and I felt very foolished and embarassed. But it is certainly the right of others to speak their minds. But I would not harp on this "stealing a game" syndrome you have developed because it detracts from the good points you have had.

Mrydel, I have great respect for you and your opinion, and I think Bo has a few qualities that a QB needs to possess.

Since you played college ball, I'll take your word on the "stealing a game" terminology.

My issue with Bo is whether or not he has the attitude that it takes to win games. This is the second week in a row where we have gotten out to a big lead, and then the interception parade comes.

Maybe it's not that he doesn't expect to win. Maybe he gets overconfident and starts to force throws that aren't there. I don't know, I couldn't really tell anything from the fuzzy video from the UAB game and there was no video for the WSU game, but perhaps it's overconfidence.

What is frustrating is that we've seen Bo grow into a player who understands how to run this offense, and he's still throwing INTs like there's no tomorrow. We would be one of the best teams in this conference this year if Bo simply cut himself down to 15 INTs for the season.

For the record, I've met Bo a couple of times and I have no issues with him - as a person - whatsoever. Despite the "Gunslinger" tattoo, he doesn't seem to have any sort of ego. Very humble and down to earth. However, from what I've seen on the football field, I question if he has what it takes to lead this team to victory on a consistent basis.

[jimhagle]

And from what we are being told BLM hasn't been completely healthy in any game this year-so why so many snaps if that is the case? Is Smith that bad?

[ponyte]

Bo had an All-American first half in two games. Then the second half starts and things fall apart. That isn't a kid struggling (or the first half would suck as well), that is better coaching by our opponents. They are making the adjustments and we are not.

I am not happy about our loss to WSU but I recognize that we did things right one half and didn't after WSU had time to make changes. That indicates coaching is more the issue than the player.

[HB Pony Dad]

Bo had an All-American first half in two games. Then the second half starts and things fall apart. That isn't a kid struggling (or the first half would suck as well), that is better coaching by our opponents. They are making the adjustments and we are not.

I am not happy about our loss to WSU but I recognize that we did things right one half and didn't after WSU had time to make changes. That indicates coaching is more the issue than the player.

When you make a logical argument it is very difficult to properly "RANT"

[mrydel]

I cannot blame all of the Bo bashers. What I am saying is that I have made a personal decsion not to belittle our athletes on a chat board regardless of what happens. First, I do not know all of what really happened since I am not there. And second, I am old but not too old to remember when I played, and when I made mistakes and that I felt worse than anyone when that happened. Unitl I learn that Bo did things intentionally to lose the game (and I would never be convinced of that), then I feel like he is doing the best he can. If the best is not good enough then it is up to the coaches to change that.

[Charleston Pony]

I cannot blame all of the Bo bashers. What I am saying is that I have made a personal decsion not to belittle our athletes on a chat board regardless of what happens. First, I do not know all of what really happened since I am not there. And second, I am old but not too old to remember when I played, and when I made mistakes and that I felt worse than anyone when that happened. Unitl I learn that Bo did things intentionally to lose the game (and I would never be convinced of that), then I feel like he is doing the best he can. If the best is not good enough then it is up to the coaches to change that.

I'll second that

[CalallenStang]

I feel like he is doing the best he can. If the best is not good enough then it is up to the coaches to change that.

No arguments from me on this.

[San Antonio Mustang]

Great Post Mrydel

[Sam I Am]

We were not the only team that got upset in Washington on Saturday. USC changed QB's and he threw some picks that cost the Trojans too. The difference is that USC lost a top ranking with thier loss. We merely lost confidence at time when we were begining to believe that we could come back form the dead. The conversation in L.A. is about QB's too this morning. That is what happens when you lose.

[mr. pony]

[quote="ponyte"]Bo had an All-American first half in two games. Then the second half starts and things fall apart. That isn't a kid struggling (or the first half would suck as well), that is better coaching by our opponents. They are making the adjustments and we are not. ...[quote]

Interesting that Bo only threw about 15 passes per game in high school and now throws 40-50 per.
Is it arm fatigue? When asked about this before the season, Jones said it wasn't/wouldn't be an issue - that since Bo was accurate 15 times a game in high school, it would translate to 40-50 times a game in college.

[J.T.supporta]

we dominated a horrible BCS team and in the end, we still lose

[SMU89]

Curious.

I was stuck at a wedding reception for the last quarter and OT.
Was following via ESPNs game tracker on IPhone (which I recommend).

As I recall (and am somewhat asking), weren't we up 7 points in the 4th qtr with 3 - 5 minutes left and within FG range?

Yes, your QB needs to be able to throw, but does anyone question the play calling?

Hindsight is great, but why not run the ball and worst case run the clock down and have a 10 pt lead?