BlackNGoldR3v0lut10n
May 20th, 2021, 10:23 PM
ETSU released its fall schedule a few days ago. We lead off against Vandyland in Nashville and then UVA Wise and Delaware State at home before going into conference play. We will be in the fourth year of Randy Sanders' reign in Johnson City and it looks like we bring almost everyone back. I will start my analysis different than seasons past.
Sept. 4 @ Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt kicks off the Clark Lea era against a veteran Buc squad. The Commodores appear to return a senior-laden team. If this was Middle Tennessee State, the Commodores could potentially start the season with a headache on their hands. But they're not and it's not the end of the world if the Bucs lose.
Conclusion - Loss (0-1)
Sept. 11 UVA-Wise - ETSU kicks off their home slate against a D2 not far from there. The Cavaliers had a 1-2 record last spring and a 2-9 record from the previous full season. The Bucs should be able to win this one and win it handily.
Conclusion - Win (1-1)
Sept. 18 Delaware State - ETSU faces off against a first-time opponent from the MEAC. The Hornets had a not so bad season at 2-3, which matched their win total from the previous full season. The Bucs will face a better opponent as opposed to the previous week but I think the Bucs will win this one.
Conclusion - Win (2-1)
Sept. 25 @ Samford - ETSU kicks off the conference slate against a Samford side they beat a few months ago. Samford was one of three conference teams that played seven conference games (VMI and Furman were the other). This has all the makings of a slobberknocker that will go either way.
Conclusion - Lean Win (1-0 SoCon, 3-1)
Oct. 2 Wofford - ETSU gets the first of two opponents who chose not to play the Bucs this past spring. Wofford appears to be on its last legs with Josh Conklin if you believe all the chatter coming out of there. I look for the Bucs to play the Terriers with a chip the size of Neyland Stadium on their shoulders and get their first win vs. Wofford since the team's resurrection.
Conclusion - Win (2-0 SoCon, 4-1)
Oct. 9 The Citadel - ETSU squares off against hopefully a tougher The Citadel side than the one they faced a few months ago. The Bulldogs had a lot of players unavailable for awhile which led to their poor start but recovered quickly. Like Samford, this has all the makings of a slobberknocker that will go either way.
Conclusion - Lean Win (since this is a home game, 3-0 SoCon, 5-1)
Oct. 16 @ Chattaquitta - ETSU faces off against the other team who chose not to play the Bucs this past spring. The Mocs had a great start after their game vs. VMI got cancelled but then they lost to Mercer and shortly folded faster than Jarrett Guaranquitter did vs. Kenturkey a few days later. Like Wofford, I look for the Bucs to play the Mocs with a chip the size of Neyland Stadium on their shoulders and bring the Rail home.
Conclusion - Win (4-0 SoCon, 6-1)
Oct. 23 @ Furman - Furman has been the bane of ETSU's existence since the Bucs returned to the SoCon. Furman also had a great start but since last spring's win vs. ETSU, they lost three straight before their season got cut short (thanks a hell of a lot, Wofford). I think Furman's luck against the Bucs will run out.
Conclusion - Win (5-0 SoCon, 7-1)
Nov. 6 VMI - VMI had a season for the ages last spring, culminating in their first conference title since I still don't know when and first ever playoff bid. VMI got their first win vs. ETSU in a long time in 2019 only to have that win streak short-lived this past spring. With Reese (St)Udinski off to greener pastures at Maryland, VMI has a capable QB in Seth Morgan and should give the Bucs a fight to the finish.
Conclusion - Lean Win (6-0 SoCon, 8-1)
Nov. 13 @ Western Carolina - Since ETSU last played the Catamounts, Western Carolina thought a coaching change was necessary. Enter Kerwin Bell, a certified head coaching stud (see Jacksonville and Valdosta State). Although Bell's resume is impressive (it is), I think the Catamounts are a year to two away from amounting to something.
Conclusion - Win (7-0 SoCon, 9-1)
Nov. 20 Mercer - ETSU will conclude its conference slate against the Bears for the third season in a row. The Bears look much improved from previous seasons but the question is can Drew Cronic overcome a sophomore slump that befell many a SoCon coach over the past several years (raises my hand and says guilty). This game could decide the SoCon champion.
Conclusion - Lean Win (8-0 SoCon, 10-1)
As you can tell, I have ETSU going undefeated in conference play and 10-1 overall. I believe ETSU should be able to win four conference games (minimum). Split the others, ETSU finishes the season at 6-2 and quite possibly a playoff bid. This is based on if you had to ask me today. The biggest threats to ETSU having an undefeated conference season are VMI and Mercer with Samford and The Citadel not far behind. I would not be shocked if Western Carolina surprises a few teams. I don't know about you but I am just not buying the hype around Chattanooga.
Sept. 4 @ Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt kicks off the Clark Lea era against a veteran Buc squad. The Commodores appear to return a senior-laden team. If this was Middle Tennessee State, the Commodores could potentially start the season with a headache on their hands. But they're not and it's not the end of the world if the Bucs lose.
Conclusion - Loss (0-1)
Sept. 11 UVA-Wise - ETSU kicks off their home slate against a D2 not far from there. The Cavaliers had a 1-2 record last spring and a 2-9 record from the previous full season. The Bucs should be able to win this one and win it handily.
Conclusion - Win (1-1)
Sept. 18 Delaware State - ETSU faces off against a first-time opponent from the MEAC. The Hornets had a not so bad season at 2-3, which matched their win total from the previous full season. The Bucs will face a better opponent as opposed to the previous week but I think the Bucs will win this one.
Conclusion - Win (2-1)
Sept. 25 @ Samford - ETSU kicks off the conference slate against a Samford side they beat a few months ago. Samford was one of three conference teams that played seven conference games (VMI and Furman were the other). This has all the makings of a slobberknocker that will go either way.
Conclusion - Lean Win (1-0 SoCon, 3-1)
Oct. 2 Wofford - ETSU gets the first of two opponents who chose not to play the Bucs this past spring. Wofford appears to be on its last legs with Josh Conklin if you believe all the chatter coming out of there. I look for the Bucs to play the Terriers with a chip the size of Neyland Stadium on their shoulders and get their first win vs. Wofford since the team's resurrection.
Conclusion - Win (2-0 SoCon, 4-1)
Oct. 9 The Citadel - ETSU squares off against hopefully a tougher The Citadel side than the one they faced a few months ago. The Bulldogs had a lot of players unavailable for awhile which led to their poor start but recovered quickly. Like Samford, this has all the makings of a slobberknocker that will go either way.
Conclusion - Lean Win (since this is a home game, 3-0 SoCon, 5-1)
Oct. 16 @ Chattaquitta - ETSU faces off against the other team who chose not to play the Bucs this past spring. The Mocs had a great start after their game vs. VMI got cancelled but then they lost to Mercer and shortly folded faster than Jarrett Guaranquitter did vs. Kenturkey a few days later. Like Wofford, I look for the Bucs to play the Mocs with a chip the size of Neyland Stadium on their shoulders and bring the Rail home.
Conclusion - Win (4-0 SoCon, 6-1)
Oct. 23 @ Furman - Furman has been the bane of ETSU's existence since the Bucs returned to the SoCon. Furman also had a great start but since last spring's win vs. ETSU, they lost three straight before their season got cut short (thanks a hell of a lot, Wofford). I think Furman's luck against the Bucs will run out.
Conclusion - Win (5-0 SoCon, 7-1)
Nov. 6 VMI - VMI had a season for the ages last spring, culminating in their first conference title since I still don't know when and first ever playoff bid. VMI got their first win vs. ETSU in a long time in 2019 only to have that win streak short-lived this past spring. With Reese (St)Udinski off to greener pastures at Maryland, VMI has a capable QB in Seth Morgan and should give the Bucs a fight to the finish.
Conclusion - Lean Win (6-0 SoCon, 8-1)
Nov. 13 @ Western Carolina - Since ETSU last played the Catamounts, Western Carolina thought a coaching change was necessary. Enter Kerwin Bell, a certified head coaching stud (see Jacksonville and Valdosta State). Although Bell's resume is impressive (it is), I think the Catamounts are a year to two away from amounting to something.
Conclusion - Win (7-0 SoCon, 9-1)
Nov. 20 Mercer - ETSU will conclude its conference slate against the Bears for the third season in a row. The Bears look much improved from previous seasons but the question is can Drew Cronic overcome a sophomore slump that befell many a SoCon coach over the past several years (raises my hand and says guilty). This game could decide the SoCon champion.
Conclusion - Lean Win (8-0 SoCon, 10-1)
As you can tell, I have ETSU going undefeated in conference play and 10-1 overall. I believe ETSU should be able to win four conference games (minimum). Split the others, ETSU finishes the season at 6-2 and quite possibly a playoff bid. This is based on if you had to ask me today. The biggest threats to ETSU having an undefeated conference season are VMI and Mercer with Samford and The Citadel not far behind. I would not be shocked if Western Carolina surprises a few teams. I don't know about you but I am just not buying the hype around Chattanooga.