So, it was my week to host the blogger roundtable...this was awarded on a coin flip between us and Let's Go Rockets in recognition of the rivalry game last night. So, in the sophomoric and possibly ironic attempt to answer my own questions...here's what I have to say.
1. Northern Illinois is having a nice season and appears to be getting stronger. Do you think NIU is a Top 25 team as of today?
I have them ranked as #25 in my Blogpoll, though they are ranked outside the overall Top 25 in the blogpoll. They are really playing well, and they dismantled a pretty good UT team and have already beaten Temple. Every 2-loss team is ranked in my poll except Temple, in fact. The Illinois and Iowa State losses are a real shame. This team could easily be unbeaten.
2. We talk a lot about skill players, but the game of football is often won and lost on the front line. Evaluate your offensive and defensive fronts, including your best players.
Well, the BG offensive front has really struggled. There is just a lack of players, and then injuries hit on top of that. Two of the most seasoned offensive lineman were injured for parts of the season, and at one point we were playing two former defensive lineman and a true freshmen. So, it is safe to say we were struggling in every game on the front line. Ben Bojicic, when healthy, is a very good lineman, and we were much more stable when he was in there.
As for the defensive line, I think they played reasonably well. They had the most returning players on the defense, which wasn't saying much. Chris Jones can be a really good player, and Darius Smith had a really nice season at D-End, and is a senior.
3. Similarly, special teams are an often overlooked part of football. Evaluate your special teams thus far this season and what contribution they have made to winning....or losing.
Special teams for Bowling Green are probably a C. Placekicking has been simply dreadful with no consistent FG threat. But the punting and kicking games have been adequate, we have made some big plays on punt returns, including 2 TDs. The kickoff return game started off well, but ended up being average to below average.
4. To date, what is your best memory of this season? And what memory are you currently seeing therapy to block from your memory.
I think that in future years, the memory I will most have of this season is that crazy fog game at the Doyt against Miami. As for a good memory, I'd say Marshall just because it was the only time I saw the team win in person. Therapeutic and possible pharmacological solutions are being sought for the UT and Michigan games.
5. BG and Toledo have their rivalry game this week, and your team has has one on the schedule somewhere. Do you think rivalries are important to the quality of play in the MAC, or are they a distraction that make it harder to get up for other games.
Rivalries are good for the sport. One thing is that given the division format, there are teams you see every year, and they all turn into a rivalry of their own, with a consistent narrative that extends from year to year. I have always said that the UT rivalry is part of what makes it fun to be a Falcon fan.
6. Rank 'em.
1. NIU
2. OU
3. UT
4. Temple
5. Miami
6. WMU
7. Kent
8. Ball State
9. Buffalo
10. BG
11. CMU
12. EMU
13. Akron
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