Houston Was Foolproof

[Eric]

I don't care if they are losing 21-0 to Texas San Antonio in the third quarter, they were a lock to win 10 games

Wow, so I picked Bowling Green and Houston in our fantasy conference challenge and look what they are doing to me. It's a long season and they will win still win their share of games, but I was thinking more along the lines of double digits

UTSA is a vastly improving football team, but I thought for a moment that Houston is taking the dive or something. As poorly as they are playing right now, it makes you think they are doing it on purpose. I don't know how common cheating is and I don't know if it is more conspiratorial to think that it happens or naive if it doesn't, but this seems pretty fishy.

[Cane from the Bend]

Well a conspiracy is the act, so conspiratorial would suggest something nefarious.

I had a hunch on UTSA because all of their recruiting was basically depth.
They returned a lot from last season, and I banked on their being coached up.

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[Eric]

Houston was the exact same way, except for their offensive line which had to replace a couple of guys. All of the skill players and a good chunk of the defense came back. So I guess those three players on the offensive line was the difference between 59-28 last year and 24-0 this year? I know it's a different game and not all of the players progress at the same rate, but there is no way you have -10 yards rushing (discounting the 40 lost on a botched punt) and your "superstar" QB throws three picks and you're getting shut out at home if you're actually trying. UTSA's defense isn't stellar. They're solid. But Houston has a boatload of talent at the skill spots. Something smells. It's not really sour grapes on my part. The only other game ever where I was suspicious was I think the 2011 matchup between UNLV and Hawaii when Hawaii got blown out in Las Vegas against the Rebels who were one of the worst teams in the country that year.

The things that would set my alarm bells ringing are: Totally out-of-the-norm result, a lack of effort, a lack of enthusiasm, and then not even looking mad or upset while you're getting trounced. I mean Houston getting shut out against a mediocre defense after three quarters is one of those things on the probability distribution that approaches zero

If they lost this game, I'd be very surprised, but I wouldn't be stunned. This is absolutely stunning.

[warrriorsfan808]

Well a conspiracy is the act, so conspiratorial would suggest something nefarious.

I had a hunch on UTSA because all of their recruiting was basically depth.
They returned a lot from last season, and I banked on their being coached up.

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I'm sorry I left USTA out one round too long! Good job Cane!

[Eric]

A lot of the Houston fans are bemoaning this loss as one of the worst in the last decade. I can't say I'd argue with that. A lot of them dislike Tony Levine (who I never thought was a very good coach). They are also upset with their offensive coordinator who was hired this year. I had my doubts about Levine after his sluggish 2012, but I figured with how close Houston was last year that he must have turned a corner or something. I'm beginning to think this wasn't a fluke and that it will be a toiling kind of season.

They and Bowling Green will be my 2014 version of Louisiana Tech and TCU in the fantasy conference challenge . On the bright side, they get Grambling State next week and Bowling Green gets VMI. If anything, maybe those can start as confidence builders. But even if it does, it's not going to last since Houston goes to BYU and Bowling Green gets Indiana. If Western Kentucky, who does have a good offense, can hang 700+ on the Falcons, then I'd hate to see what Indiana could do. But it is a new week and maybe Bowling Green's offense can show some more life against the Hoosiers than they did tonight. Who knows, but they have obviously forgotten how to play defense. Houston will have no chance against BYU if tonight was any indication, which is a shame since their tightrope game last year was one of the best of the season.

[WoVeU]

Gooooo Roadrunners!

Coker sent an email out to the alumni, wherein he stated UTSA returned more starters than any other FBS school. "...21 returning startes and 37 seniors."

[Cane from the Bend]

Yep, and with the decent play they had last year, I figured with another off season of development, UTSA had a solid shot at doing something special this season.

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[WoVeU]

I have watched the whole process and yet I am still rather astonished at the level of success they have had and the rate at which they have done this!

My son is entering his junior year at UTSA, so we are both Roadrunners...and it has been a great experience. (But I miss my football buddy when he goes to a game and I ride the couch. I won't go to a RR game if I am going to miss more than a quarter and a half of the WVU game.)

[Cane from the Bend]

just don't go and burn that couch in his absence

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