UCA vs Austin Peay

Gready

Well Bear fans, what do we see happening Saturday against Austin Peay? Barring no new injuries having occurred since our EKU game, I think we lose by 20. Austin Peay is a very balanced offensive. And if our defense doesn't figure out how to out scheme (or if our defensive players haven't figured out how to overcome their lack of athleticism) Austin Peay's offense, it'll can be a long night. At best if everything comes together like we all wish it would, we limp away with a 7 point win. However whatever, we need a win to stay on pace to not have a losing season. Go Bears!!!!

MountainBear

Yeah Myers will have to get his mojo back and the defense will have to actually make some stops. Not sure what happened against EKU but the bears just didn’t click on either side of the ball, but offense just couldn’t pass it at all.

Bigpurplebear

That EKU team was spanked by North Alabama the team we spanked. We gave their Qb a record game this year. What I think we are struggling with the most offensively is that we don’t make good adjustments. 4th qtr game against West Georgia we fell apart on both sides of the ball. Prior to that we dominated the game. All the sudden they were in the backfield every single play. 1st qtr against EKU we moved the ball and passed it with fairly good protection then it was like Eku knew our routes and the weak spot in blocking for said route. We were outpassed by 50 yards and outrushed by 100. They kept Myers uncomfortable all night. If we keep Myers off the dirt we have a chance. If we don’t then it will be a long game tomorrow. We do have to find a way to win the battle of the trenches with down and distance. I know we have the guys for it. Also for once I’d like to see us win the battle of the field position with special teams. It is a way bigger achilles heel than folks realize. We can’t keep gifting teams the ball on the 50 and us starting back at the 15-20.

JoshUCA

THIS ^^^^^^^

Bigpurplebear

Makes 2 weeks in a row we have downed a ball inside the 10 on a kickoff. We are losing the field position game and with that goes the actual game. The adjustment AP has made is every deep ball we call Myers has had a defender in his face within 2 seconds.

JoshUCA

We can’t adjust to anything!

Bigpurplebear

JoshUCA do we ever slip a tight end out???

Bigpurplebear

Gonna give credit where credit is due. Great adjustment in the last 2 drives. O line went to work. Gave myers time and he delivered. LC is a workhorse.

JoshUCA

Better effort but that 2nd quarter did us in.

Bigpurplebear

JoshUCA our 2 minute game plan is bad. That was a heartbreaker. Came back take the lead then give it right back.

woosterbear

I’m shocked

JoshUCA

For sure!

DownWithBrown

Time to fire Nasty Nate. Y’all talking about good adjustments in a game you’re losing to Austin Peay during a 3-7 season.

6-5, 9-4, 5-4, 5-6, 5-6, 7-4, 6-6, 3-7…

What exactly are we waiting for? Two game winning streak to end the season so everyone can talk about momentum for next year? CRAZY! 31-33 last 6 seasons.

This year was going to be different because NB was going to be in control of the offense…

Bigpurplebear

DownWithBrown I post on this forum during the game. My wife doesn’t want to discuss football so I do it here. I don’t wait til after the game to air my grievances about NB. I still root for the program and mostly the kids. Yes we finally for once in 3 games made good adjustments and took the lead, but then we went back to major protection issues with the game on the line. I don’t think we have gotten 1 sack in the last 2 games. You are welcome to look at my analysis from last week. We have lost 3 conference games by a total of 7 points. Lost to number #18 Lamar by 3. I hate it for the kids. I’m anything but a fan of NB. I think we have been outsmarted several times this year. I still think we have some really good football kids on this team and I’ll keep rooting for them. I said we won’t win another game after last week and I thought we had it tonight. The kids showed up to play. They could’ve just laid down but they did not.

U-C-A-BEAR

That was the most points scored on Austin Peay this entire season including the Georgia Bulldogs. Can’t believe we found a way to lose it.

DownWithBrown

If changes aren’t made, those good kids will find another place to play.

There is no silver lining when you have a combined losing record over the last 6 seasons. It’s just foolish.

It’s time to move on before it’s too late. This program can thrive under the right leadership. Too many excuses and close calls.

U-C-A-BEAR

DownWithBrown someone mentioned it before, but our school has a bigger problem than Brown. From what I understand we have little to no players making any NIL $$$. There are some who get a small payout every semester, but it is small change compared to other schools. No matter who you replace him with (if you get your wish) the community will have to start paying out. If we want a David Walker type player we are going to have to pay for it. That is a way bigger elephant imo. There is $ in town, but they better start spending it. Welcome to the new NIL era. You are going to love it here.

Gready

U-C-A-BEAR It's an opinion and myth that NIL is what guarantees wins or keeps teams from losing. UCA is no different. I believe it comes down to getting more out of whatever players you have on the team. UCA's roster has plenty of 3 STAR talent to compete with EVERY FCS school and many of the bottom 1/3 of FBS schools. As I've said before, our rosters aren't the problem over the last 5 or 6 years. We put more than our share of players in the NFL comparably to other top tier FCS programs and many FBS programs. Respectfully, NIL isn't the biggest problem. I think it's lack of quality position coaches who can development players. Which ultimately comes to paying those coaches more AND expecting more out of them by measuring how well players perform. UCA has an underperforming problem more than a not having money for NIL problem. Once that gets fixed, UCA will be back to consistent 8-10 win seasons and regular playoff appearances. Additionally, I also think fans/supporters need to realize that the UAC isn't the Southland or Gulf South Conferences. So part of us not winning like we're use to is because we're playing in the 3rd maybe 2nd best conference in FCS.

UCABEARS75

The overall problem is lack of support which results in lack of .$$$

This is a new world and we can’t get by on reputation, nice campus, location, or nice uniforms. We lag behind the better programs in all things money related: facilities, overall budget, recruiting budget, coaching salaries (head coach and asst coaches), and, yes, NIL.

Short of hiring Nick Saban, although Ms Terry would love Conway, we will be in the bottom half of our conference, no matter what it’s called, and outside the top 30 in the FCS unless our funds for football go up by an amount well into 6 figures.

It’s a free country and you can disagree but I’m pretty confident this is the way it is.

I think the days of top 10 rankings and planning playoff trips are over without serious increases in funds!!

woosterbear

Talent isn’t the issue.

Gready

woosterbear You are correct. So this whole "we gotta get more money for NIL" is nonsense. I wish more people would understand that and not just gobble up the narrative that NIL equals better players which equals more wins. It just isn't true. SMH.