Bulldogs capture huge road victory
Conor Nicholl
Twenty minutes saved the Bulldogs.
After suffering two straight defeats to mid-level MIAA teams in Pittsburg State University and Missouri Western State College, the men’s basketball team captured an important road win over Emporia State University Saturday afternoon.
After shooting 28 percent in the first half, the Bulldogs finally found the bottom of the net in the final 20 minutes, sinking 61 percent of their shots en route to a 61-58 victory.
The victory gives the ’Dogs a 4-3 conference record and, more importantly, will probably keep them in the top eight in the region when the next rankings come out. Currently, the purple and white reside seventh – with the top eight teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
But after a disheartening 20-point loss to Mo. West (then-1-4 in the MIAA) on Wednesday (and a matchup against nationally ranked Northwest Mo. four days from now), the ’Dogs needed a victory.
The win gives them a 14-4 overall record and guarantees a .500 record through the first half of MIAA play. A .500 overall mark in the conference – plus one win in the conference tourney – will probably be enough for a NCAA berth.
Had the ’Dogs lost today, it would have marked their fourth straight loss in conference play and further eroded the team’s confidence.
But, after tallying only 104 points in their previous two games (and shooting less than 35 percent), the shots started falling in the second half, allowing the purple and white to escape from Emporia with the victory.
The win also boosts an impressive road resume, as the ’Dogs have won at Quincy, at then-No. 11 Central Missouri State, lost in overtime to nationally ranked Southwest Baptist in Bolivar and now own a road win at White Auditorium, where Emporia had won 41 of their previous 47 games entering Saturday.
Recruiting Notebook-Could Truman replicate Penn State's turnaround?
Shannon Currier could be a lot like Joe Paterno in 2006.
Except he won’t be wearing coke bottle glasses and is about half JoePa’s age.
But the coaches have multiple similarities when it comes to their football teams.
Their teams play in arguably the highest conference in their respective Divisions – JoePa’s Penn State University in the Big 10 and Currier’s Bulldogs in the MIAA.
Before this season, JoePa had nearly lost his job, as Penn State fell to the bottom of the conference. This past season, the Nittany Lions – led by all-purpose QB Michael Robinson and an airtight defense, shocked the college football world by winning the Big 10 and the Orange Bowl and finishing the season 11-1 – three more wins than they had in the previous two seasons combined.
With Currier, he took over an awful program at Concordia-St. Paul, became the architect of an offensive machine that went 32-12 in four years and then went to south to Kirksville where he’s combined for four wins over the previous two falls.
Sitting in his office Wednesday afternoon, Currier was taking a break from recruiting. Dressed in a suit coat and tie, he began talking about the recent American Football Coaches Convention he attended over the holidays.
“In this profession, you can go from the outhouse to the penthouse and vice versa based on situations and wins,” Currier said. “But that’s not how it works. Coach Paterno isn’t a different coach when he won National Coach of the Year then he was the previous two seasons. His teams probably did a better job, but he’s not a different coach. He’s not suddenly gotten a lot worse or a lot better.”
The same line can be applied to Currier. Currier was one of the best coaches in Div. II at Concordia, but his teams at the University are some of the worst in our school’s history. Is he still a good coach? Can he pull a Paterno and become National Coach of the Year?
A lot of people don’t think so, but no one thought the Nittany Lions were going to finish anywhere near the top five in the country at this time last season.
A look back at Penn State’s model of success reveals a few keys: a willingness to play freshman (signed a year ago in February) – especially young, talented wide receivers that can make play, an athletic quarterback, a solid offensive line that will protect the pocket, a smashmouth defense that will keep their team in every game, lots of home games (Penn State had seven games at Happy Valley) and an easy non-conference schedule.
All-MIAA center Mike Shelden believes a turnaround is possible. Like Penn State, as this past year’s squad was junior- and senior-laden. The ’Dogs will return 18 starters – nine each on both sides of the ball.
“I think we are going to surprise some people,” he said Thursday afternoon. “I can’t wait for spring ball. The spring is going to be very competitive this year since we are losing only three starters.”
Can the Bulldogs pull a dramatic turnaround and accomplish what Penn State did this past year?
Yes. And no.
Offensively, the purple and white will have 10 returning starters, including their QB and all five lineman.
“It will be really nice to have who will already know the system,” Shelden said. “Last season, we had a lot of young players who didn’t know the system.”
Sophomore Michael Long will probably start again. He’s still one of the youngest quarterbacks in the conference and will mix good and bad plays. He’s an upgrade over Jonathan Duffy, the running quarterback who started the first four games last season.
The wide receiver position is critical – especially with Signing Day approaching. Jeff Amundson will probably resort to his 2004 form (76 catches), but the team needs a playmaker like James Walton to stretch the field. Can Currier sign a player who can step in and fill a Walton-like role?
If he does (and if offensive coordinator Aaron Vlcko gives running back Michael Patnode 15 touches a game), the offensive could double its scoring output – something the Nittany Lions did last season.
Defense is also critical.
“We constantly looking for defensive players,” Currier said. “Teams need talented, athletic players that can run around and make plays and keep their teams in every game, like the Chicago Bears did this season.”
Penn State did the same thing. Led by lineman Tamba Hali (a probable high first round draft pick), cornerback Alan Zemaitis and Butkus Award-winner linebacker Paul Posluzsny, the Nittany Lions allowed only 25 points or more in two games last season and only 17 points per contest.
The season before, though, the Nittany Lions allowed only 15 points a contest – and lost seven Big 10 games by 14 points or less – meaning the personnel on the defensive side of the ball was still outstanding during their 4-7 2004 season.
The ’Dogs don’t have that kind of defense, as they’ve allowed over 30 points a game the last two years. Signing Day could bring some playmakers, but upgrading must come from within.
Four senior all-MIAA players return, including lineman Steve Holman, one of two returning seniors-to-be all-conference D-lineman, cornerback Josh Mayson, one of two senior-to-be defensive backs, linebacker Larry Giglio, one of five senior-to-be linebackers and sophomore Andy Swedenhjelm, one of the program’s top talents.
It’s unlikely 2006 will mark the revitalization of the Bulldog defense, but Signing Day, coupled with returning all-conference selections and some rising talents (like DE Les Hammers), and the ’Dogs should allow less than 38 points a contest.
Finally, Penn State had a really easy non-conference schedule and many preseason magazines said they would probably start the season 5-0.
They also didn’t have to play Iowa and had road games at Northwestern (in a game PSU barely won), at Michigan (a loss by a point), at Illinois (the worst team in the Big 10) and at Michigan State. Every other game was at home – including a matchup versus Ohio State.
The Bulldogs will have a easier home schedule than last year, but they will still play at Pitt. St. and Emporia State. If past seasons are any indication, they also won’t have an easy non-conference schedule (though they should), as they played two ranked teams last fall.
So, it’s unlikely the purple and white will match the seven-win turnaround the Nittany Lions enjoyed this past fall.
But, if the staff can sign some key talents on the all-important Signing Day, I believe the ’Dogs will do one thing Penn State accomplished this fall: win more games than the last two years combined.
Twenty minutes saved the Bulldogs.
After suffering two straight defeats to mid-level MIAA teams in Pittsburg State University and Missouri Western State College, the men’s basketball team captured an important road win over Emporia State University Saturday afternoon.
After shooting 28 percent in the first half, the Bulldogs finally found the bottom of the net in the final 20 minutes, sinking 61 percent of their shots en route to a 61-58 victory.
The victory gives the ’Dogs a 4-3 conference record and, more importantly, will probably keep them in the top eight in the region when the next rankings come out. Currently, the purple and white reside seventh – with the top eight teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
But after a disheartening 20-point loss to Mo. West (then-1-4 in the MIAA) on Wednesday (and a matchup against nationally ranked Northwest Mo. four days from now), the ’Dogs needed a victory.
The win gives them a 14-4 overall record and guarantees a .500 record through the first half of MIAA play. A .500 overall mark in the conference – plus one win in the conference tourney – will probably be enough for a NCAA berth.
Had the ’Dogs lost today, it would have marked their fourth straight loss in conference play and further eroded the team’s confidence.
But, after tallying only 104 points in their previous two games (and shooting less than 35 percent), the shots started falling in the second half, allowing the purple and white to escape from Emporia with the victory.
The win also boosts an impressive road resume, as the ’Dogs have won at Quincy, at then-No. 11 Central Missouri State, lost in overtime to nationally ranked Southwest Baptist in Bolivar and now own a road win at White Auditorium, where Emporia had won 41 of their previous 47 games entering Saturday.
Recruiting Notebook-Could Truman replicate Penn State's turnaround?
Shannon Currier could be a lot like Joe Paterno in 2006.
Except he won’t be wearing coke bottle glasses and is about half JoePa’s age.
But the coaches have multiple similarities when it comes to their football teams.
Their teams play in arguably the highest conference in their respective Divisions – JoePa’s Penn State University in the Big 10 and Currier’s Bulldogs in the MIAA.
Before this season, JoePa had nearly lost his job, as Penn State fell to the bottom of the conference. This past season, the Nittany Lions – led by all-purpose QB Michael Robinson and an airtight defense, shocked the college football world by winning the Big 10 and the Orange Bowl and finishing the season 11-1 – three more wins than they had in the previous two seasons combined.
With Currier, he took over an awful program at Concordia-St. Paul, became the architect of an offensive machine that went 32-12 in four years and then went to south to Kirksville where he’s combined for four wins over the previous two falls.
Sitting in his office Wednesday afternoon, Currier was taking a break from recruiting. Dressed in a suit coat and tie, he began talking about the recent American Football Coaches Convention he attended over the holidays.
“In this profession, you can go from the outhouse to the penthouse and vice versa based on situations and wins,” Currier said. “But that’s not how it works. Coach Paterno isn’t a different coach when he won National Coach of the Year then he was the previous two seasons. His teams probably did a better job, but he’s not a different coach. He’s not suddenly gotten a lot worse or a lot better.”
The same line can be applied to Currier. Currier was one of the best coaches in Div. II at Concordia, but his teams at the University are some of the worst in our school’s history. Is he still a good coach? Can he pull a Paterno and become National Coach of the Year?
A lot of people don’t think so, but no one thought the Nittany Lions were going to finish anywhere near the top five in the country at this time last season.
A look back at Penn State’s model of success reveals a few keys: a willingness to play freshman (signed a year ago in February) – especially young, talented wide receivers that can make play, an athletic quarterback, a solid offensive line that will protect the pocket, a smashmouth defense that will keep their team in every game, lots of home games (Penn State had seven games at Happy Valley) and an easy non-conference schedule.
All-MIAA center Mike Shelden believes a turnaround is possible. Like Penn State, as this past year’s squad was junior- and senior-laden. The ’Dogs will return 18 starters – nine each on both sides of the ball.
“I think we are going to surprise some people,” he said Thursday afternoon. “I can’t wait for spring ball. The spring is going to be very competitive this year since we are losing only three starters.”
Can the Bulldogs pull a dramatic turnaround and accomplish what Penn State did this past year?
Yes. And no.
Offensively, the purple and white will have 10 returning starters, including their QB and all five lineman.
“It will be really nice to have who will already know the system,” Shelden said. “Last season, we had a lot of young players who didn’t know the system.”
Sophomore Michael Long will probably start again. He’s still one of the youngest quarterbacks in the conference and will mix good and bad plays. He’s an upgrade over Jonathan Duffy, the running quarterback who started the first four games last season.
The wide receiver position is critical – especially with Signing Day approaching. Jeff Amundson will probably resort to his 2004 form (76 catches), but the team needs a playmaker like James Walton to stretch the field. Can Currier sign a player who can step in and fill a Walton-like role?
If he does (and if offensive coordinator Aaron Vlcko gives running back Michael Patnode 15 touches a game), the offensive could double its scoring output – something the Nittany Lions did last season.
Defense is also critical.
“We constantly looking for defensive players,” Currier said. “Teams need talented, athletic players that can run around and make plays and keep their teams in every game, like the Chicago Bears did this season.”
Penn State did the same thing. Led by lineman Tamba Hali (a probable high first round draft pick), cornerback Alan Zemaitis and Butkus Award-winner linebacker Paul Posluzsny, the Nittany Lions allowed only 25 points or more in two games last season and only 17 points per contest.
The season before, though, the Nittany Lions allowed only 15 points a contest – and lost seven Big 10 games by 14 points or less – meaning the personnel on the defensive side of the ball was still outstanding during their 4-7 2004 season.
The ’Dogs don’t have that kind of defense, as they’ve allowed over 30 points a game the last two years. Signing Day could bring some playmakers, but upgrading must come from within.
Four senior all-MIAA players return, including lineman Steve Holman, one of two returning seniors-to-be all-conference D-lineman, cornerback Josh Mayson, one of two senior-to-be defensive backs, linebacker Larry Giglio, one of five senior-to-be linebackers and sophomore Andy Swedenhjelm, one of the program’s top talents.
It’s unlikely 2006 will mark the revitalization of the Bulldog defense, but Signing Day, coupled with returning all-conference selections and some rising talents (like DE Les Hammers), and the ’Dogs should allow less than 38 points a contest.
Finally, Penn State had a really easy non-conference schedule and many preseason magazines said they would probably start the season 5-0.
They also didn’t have to play Iowa and had road games at Northwestern (in a game PSU barely won), at Michigan (a loss by a point), at Illinois (the worst team in the Big 10) and at Michigan State. Every other game was at home – including a matchup versus Ohio State.
The Bulldogs will have a easier home schedule than last year, but they will still play at Pitt. St. and Emporia State. If past seasons are any indication, they also won’t have an easy non-conference schedule (though they should), as they played two ranked teams last fall.
So, it’s unlikely the purple and white will match the seven-win turnaround the Nittany Lions enjoyed this past fall.
But, if the staff can sign some key talents on the all-important Signing Day, I believe the ’Dogs will do one thing Penn State accomplished this fall: win more games than the last two years combined.
posted by Anonymous at Saturday, January 21, 2006
1 Comments:
Geez, could this be any longer? Honestly, I can't read this much Conor!
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