BocaCoop said

I think we would be better off finding a new school to rival ours. FIU is horrible! I had this discussion with my buddy "Teambeer" and  he said that UCF talks alot of trash about us. Another friend brought up that Troy is our new rival. I personally think USF is a healthy rivalry, although they have WVU.

What do you all think???

Go Owls!

I think UCF and USF will become a true rival, as for USF and WVU, not the case, WVU has Pitt - every year the backyard brawl, when your school is that close and you have kids that have to choose between the 2 it gets pretty heated, just look at FSU and UF over the years…

dusky256fc said

SigEp77 said

As far as a rival being in conference, that is nonsense.  Some of the greatest rivalries are OOC tilts.  Two examples here in state would be UM vs. UF and FSU vs. UF.  Neither school in either matchup are conference opponents.

The reason it's not nonsense is all of those teams have a history and decades of football behind them.  We have neither.  I agree you can't force a rivalry, it has to just occur but it doesn't happen if you play once every 3-5 years at our infancy.  From what I have heard from the players side, MTSU has become a big deal to them, after the LaMonroe game that might heat up as well.  I think we will just have to wait and see.  Personally, I can't stand MTSU fans.

I hear what you're saying and you make a good point in terms of how long some of these schools have been playing vs. how long we have been.  With that said, with us still being in our infancy as you say, why the rush to identify a rival then?  Shouldn't we just let the rivalry naturally happen as our athletic department schedules more OOC opponents regularly?  Or as our in conference games take on more meaning?

As I said in the beginning of my first post, I would look more towards MTSU being the true rival at this point in our programs history, with a rivalry being borne out of the upcoming Troy game should we beat them and take the conference crown.  FIU is just not a good program right now.  We may end up rekindling this rivalry with FIU if Pete Garcia and Mario Cristobal can turn the program around down there and they take us to task for the beatdowns we've passed out recently.

I also think we will make a conference progression similar to USF's.  CUSA would be the next step followed by the Big East.  As our football program becomes better and better, the rest of the sports will follow as more attention is drawn to FAU.  Men's basketball has had its ups and downs but should start to become stronger, which would be attractive to the Big East in the future.  However, depending on what the BCS commissioners decide to do after this season, considering the absolute mess the MNC game will be this year, I could see the conferences forced to realign in the next few years and possibly some schools move down to the Bowl Subdivision (IAA) or whatever it's called due to competitive reasons (In fact, that might help FIU out a bit), which would help FAU's cause in moving to a better conference.

SigEp77 said

Now, about the Big East talk.  Notre Dame will stay Independent as long as they have that RIDICULOUS TV contract.  I'm not sure how many of you realize this, but they have no reason to join a conference when they get a ridiculous amount of money from the TV network, only need 9 wins to go to a BCS game and have one of the softest schedules in IA.  They play all 3 service academies every year, have a following that is unheard of in terms of fans that aren't alums and rake in the $$$.

Seriously?  Have you looked at Notre Dames schedule?  This year they played Georgia Tech, Penn State, Michigan, Purdue, UCLA, Boston College, USC, Navy, Air Force, Duke, and Stanford.  I agree that the last 4 games a pretty weak, but their first 8 games put their SOS in the top of all 1A teams.  Last year they ended their season playing USC and LSU.  I know this is off topic, but give them credit where credit is due!

Baller07 said

Seriously?  Have you looked at Notre Dames schedule?  This year they played Georgia Tech, Penn State, Michigan, Purdue, UCLA, Boston College, USC, Navy, Air Force, Duke, and Stanford.  I agree that the last 4 games a pretty weak, but their first 8 games put their SOS in the top of all 1A teams.  Last year they ended their season playing USC and LSU.  I know this is off topic, but give them credit where credit is due!

I totally agree with SigEp…BUT just to be objective, here are the facts:

Here are the records of Notre Dame opponents, and the W or L for Notre Dame:

GTU 7-5  L 33-3
PSU 8-4 L 31-10
MU  8-4 L 38-0
MSU 7-5 L 31-14
PU 7-5 L 33-19
BC 10-2 L 27-14
UCLA 6-5 W 20-6
USC 9-2  L 38-0
Navy 7-4 L 46-44
AF 9-3 L 41 - 24
Duke 1-11 W 28-7
SU 3-8 W 21-14

Totals:

Opponents W to L = 80-58 = 58% Winning percentage

They were 3-9 against those teams…

Now all credit has been given…

They went 3-9 against a moderate, to slightly below moderate, average competition level…

Congratulations Irish… :P

Florida_Owl said

Baller07 said

Seriously?  Have you looked at Notre Dames schedule?  This year they played Georgia Tech, Penn State, Michigan, Purdue, UCLA, Boston College, USC, Navy, Air Force, Duke, and Stanford.  I agree that the last 4 games a pretty weak, but their first 8 games put their SOS in the top of all 1A teams.  Last year they ended their season playing USC and LSU.  I know this is off topic, but give them credit where credit is due!

I totally agree with SigEp…BUT just to be objective, here are the facts:

Here are the records of Notre Dame opponents, and the W or L for Notre Dame:

GTU 7-5  L 33-3
PSU 8-4 L 31-10
MU  8-4 L 38-0
MSU 7-5 L 31-14
PU 7-5 L 33-19
BC 10-2 L 27-14
UCLA 6-5 W 20-6
USC 9-2  L 38-0
Navy 7-4 L 46-44
AF 9-3 L 41 - 24
Duke 1-11 W 28-7
SU 3-8 W 21-14

Totals:

Opponents W to L = 80-58 = 58% Winning percentage

They were 3-9 against those teams…

Now all credit has been given…

They went 3-9 against a moderate, to slightly below moderate, average competition level…

Congratulations Irish… :P

I didn't say they were good, I said they dont play a cake schedule as SigEp indicated.  According to CBS Sportsline, they have the 24th most difficult schedule in the country.  LSU an SEC school has the 27th most difficult schedule.  Again, not saying the Irish are a good team, because they aren't, just stating facts.

Let's really break down that schedule.

First of all, NO ONE should be allowed to go to a BCS bowl game when they schedule THREE (3) service academies every year.  That's the only reason they had the privelege of getting their asses handed to them in the Sugar Bowl last year by the Tigers.

Second, Meeeeshagan is a joke.  School steeped in history that has been living off of it far too long. App State showed up and beat them and they practically shat the bed to start the season.  With Lloyd Carr gone, the Wolverines should be respectable again, unless of course they hire Les Miles.  However, this is a winnable game for ND and they got blasted.

2A, BC - Battle of the Catholics.  Notre Dame has OWNED BC and they should have had the psychological edge and won a close game just on emotion alone.  And don't get into the talk of how great Matt Ryan is because he's not.  VTech exposed him and if Bud Foster doesn't go prevent they beat BC.  Kyle Wright of Miami, who never lived up to his Gatorade AA status made Ryan look like a JV QB.  ND should have won this as well.

2B, Navy - Seriously?  They owned Navy for 50+ years and they lose this game?  Enough said.

2C, They should feel good they beat The Tree that beat USC.

Third, strength of schedule is such BS.  Similar to preseason rankings, you have no idea how difficult your schedule is until you actually play it.  Many teams are perceived to be better because of their history, not for who is on their depth chart or how well they've played recently.

All we can talk about before the biggest game in our school's history is Notre Dame's schedule? Are you F'ing kidding me?

Fledgling said

All we can talk about before the biggest game in our school's history is Notre Dame's schedule? Are you F'ing kidding me?

THANK YOU! C'mon who cares about this right now… You want to talk about the upcoming game that's fine but let's save this convo for after the big game

I'm glad I logged onto the one topic only message board.  I swear, some of you take things WAY too seriously on here.  Sure the game is this week and it's important.  If you don't want to participate in one of the SEVERAL topics on the FORUM, then don't.

Maybe the mods should lock every thread that doesn't pertain to Troy, that would sure spur on some discussion.

>:(

You're not even talking about FAU football! You're arguing over Notre Dames schedule… Honestly, right now who cares about them?