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Am looking for more/less objective evaluation of UNC's chances to improve its record in the Big Sky Conference next year & even beyond. I avoid local press & booster boards, as they always say UNC will be improved. What's the reality? Did it have a good recruiting class? If so, how is it better than before?
Are returning players more experienced & ready to compete with the Griz? Where will UNC wind up this year in the final standings? Ok, you don't have to be objective entirely, but is there hope?

I remember the days of UNC dominance in D-II & know football has a storied tradition. After it went into the BSC, things have reversed. Is there progress? I'd like to see UNC compete for the BSC championship with the Griz, one day.

Obviously, advances have been made beyond ISU, PSU, & Sac.
UNC may be ready to challenge NAU & Weber for 3rd place, contingent on
retaining the coaching staff continuity. The community is still fast growing
and that is promising for support. Bears easily could have won 5 conference games
last year. This year of course much depends on play of new QB and getting
defense to stop the run better. A winning season is possible, but more possible in 2011.
Until then, no one touches the Griz.

Keeper wrote:Obviously, advances have been made beyond ISU, PSU, & Sac.
UNC may be ready to challenge NAU & Weber for 3rd place, contingent on
retaining the coaching staff continuity. The community is still fast growing
and that is promising for support. Bears easily could have won 5 conference games
last year. This year of course much depends on play of new QB and getting
defense to stop the run better. A winning season is possible, but more possible in 2011.
Until then, no one touches the Griz.

Beyond ISU and PSU yes, but I'd disagree with Sac. Sac State has been making some big strides in the last 2 years.

We had a ton of injuries last season to some key players. Three starting offensive linemen and a starting receiver were lost for the entire season in game 2 against San Diego. We lost a lot of games by a touchdown or less the past couple seasons, meaning we were in need of a playmaker. I think we have one in our projected starting QB Dylan Orms. The guy can run and that's his strength. A dual threat QB.

We also just fired our offensive coordinator and QB coach (father and son actually). He had a lot of experience but his play calling was soooo predictable. I think we will really improve in that area.

Downing has been stockpiling on lineman so we should be pretty deep on that. All being said, I see us competing with NAU and Sac St for 3rd or 4th in the conference.

Glad to see you guys are staying positive and i hope you have a great season in 2010 . However i honestly just think that maybe you should get rid of Downing, no offense but i have not been impressed with him so far, he has brought in recruits but still you guys are sitting at the bottom of the Big Sky.

Also if you guys are getting a new OC i would honestly strongly recommend running an offense like the triple option or either the Delaware Wing-T just because you guys seem to be smaller and not up to par with alot of other teams in the Big Sky or FCS and running something like that could give you guys a better shot, i think Idaho State could benefit from this as well.

I also think you should come back to the GWC and help us get an autobid

UNC has progressed with wins but is it because they have gotten better or is it that ISU, is in having a couple of bad years? The only BSC wins in the last two year were against ISU. I think that NCU is still going to need a couple more years before they move from the bottom of the conference into the middle.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

Keeper wrote:Obviously, advances have been made beyond ISU, PSU, & Sac.
UNC may be ready to challenge NAU & Weber for 3rd place, contingent on
retaining the coaching staff continuity. The community is still fast growing
and that is promising for support. Bears easily could have won 5 conference games
last year. This year of course much depends on play of new QB and getting
defense to stop the run better. A winning season is possible, but more possible in 2011.
Until then, no one touches the Griz.

Beyond ISU and PSU yes, but I'd disagree with Sac. Sac State has been making some big strides in the last 2 years.

Thanks SE. UNC has yet to beat Sac State so there is no way they have "advanced beyond" us. I will say that they are improving and did have the best statistical secondary last season which is vital in the pass happy BSC. I'm not sure how many of their DB's are returning but it will be interesting to see if they can find a rush defense to go along with that. They did give us quite a scare last season and probably would have won if there were 5 more minutes left in the game. Fortunately our on-side kick coverage team saved the day.

A QB with wheels can be dangerous if they continue to run the spread offense. It will be interesting to see how they do, hopefully they won't do well when they come to Sac next year.

SDHornet wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:
Beyond ISU and PSU yes, but I'd disagree with Sac. Sac State has been making some big strides in the last 2 years.

Thanks SE. UNC has yet to beat Sac State so there is no way they have "advanced beyond" us. I will say that they are improving and did have the best statistical secondary last season which is vital in the pass happy BSC. I'm not sure how many of their DB's are returning but it will be interesting to see if they can find a rush defense to go along with that. They did give us quite a scare last season and probably would have won if there were 5 more minutes left in the game. Fortunately our on-side kick coverage team saved the day.

A QB with wheels can be dangerous if they continue to run the spread offense. It will be interesting to see how they do, hopefully they won't do well when they come to Sac next year.

That game wasn't even close until late thanks to a Sac State defensive collapse in the second half. It was 31-0 at one point if I remember right. The Bears showed great determination and never gave up though and made it interesting.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Thanks SE. UNC has yet to beat Sac State so there is no way they have "advanced beyond" us. I will say that they are improving and did have the best statistical secondary last season which is vital in the pass happy BSC. I'm not sure how many of their DB's are returning but it will be interesting to see if they can find a rush defense to go along with that. They did give us quite a scare last season and probably would have won if there were 5 more minutes left in the game. Fortunately our on-side kick coverage team saved the day.

A QB with wheels can be dangerous if they continue to run the spread offense. It will be interesting to see how they do, hopefully they won't do well when they come to Sac next year.

That game wasn't even close until late thanks to a Sac State defensive collapse in the second half. It was 31-0 at one point if I remember right. The Bears showed great determination and never gave up though and made it interesting.

You are right, there is no excuse for blowing that type of a lead, but the fact that it happened is still unsettling. I remember watching it all unfold on BSTV, I was downing a beer every 30 seconds...thank goodness the Hornets held on.

SDHornet wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:
That game wasn't even close until late thanks to a Sac State defensive collapse in the second half. It was 31-0 at one point if I remember right. The Bears showed great determination and never gave up though and made it interesting.

You are right, there is no excuse for blowing that type of a lead, but the fact that it happened is still unsettling. I remember watching it all unfold on BSTV, I was downing a beer every 30 seconds...thank goodness the Hornets held on.

Yeah, I was definitely surprised when I tuned back into it in the 4th to see UNC that close. I think UM was hosting Weber so that game took precedent... until the beginning of the 4th when the game was firmly in hand...

We still owe Sac State from that Hail Marry in Greeley a few years ago. That still makes my blood boil when I think about it.

SDHornet wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:
Beyond ISU and PSU yes, but I'd disagree with Sac. Sac State has been making some big strides in the last 2 years.

Thanks SE. UNC has yet to beat Sac State so there is no way they have "advanced beyond" us. I will say that they are improving and did have the best statistical secondary last season which is vital in the pass happy BSC. I'm not sure how many of their DB's are returning but it will be interesting to see if they can find a rush defense to go along with that. They did give us quite a scare last season and probably would have won if there were 5 more minutes left in the game. Fortunately our on-side kick coverage team saved the day.

A QB with wheels can be dangerous if they continue to run the spread offense. It will be interesting to see how they do, hopefully they won't do well when they come to Sac next year.

Most of the secondary returns.