Keep It In Perspective For Next Week...

by wsmontano1994 on Sep 13, 2009 8:11 AM PDT Comment 16 comments

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

Now that we're 2-0 and have momentum on our side -- esp. as we face a team like Kansas St. -- it is VITAL that we take one game at a time. Yes, that means taking KSU seriously next week, even if we are at home and even if
KSU lost today to the likes of Louisiana-Lafayette. Next week is important because it allows us to do the following: 1) win a game and pad our stats; 2) win a game in SERIOUS fashion, and that means taking them to the cleaners, by pretending this is SC or Cal or some other tough team we'll be facing; 3) creates a setting where Prince and our bevy of sophomores and freshmen can gain some added confidence.

If we take KSU lightly, we may lose our momentum, and God forbid, we may even lose. These types of upsets happen all the time.

After beating TN, we may even crack the top 25 this week... that's important for our program... if we build this type of momentum, this not only helps recruiting, but it begins to build this one-game-at-a-time momentum we need... our schedule won't get any easier as we enter conference play where anyone can unseat anyone on any given Saturday.

This was a GREAT win for the program and it could and should be one that changes our perspective and even creates higher expectations -- hopefully across the country. Like most of us in Bruins Nation this morning, I found myself brooding a bit this morning seriously pondering the thought about being 1-1 after today and about having to toil away as a program that is forever 'rebuilding'.... I found myself going back 20 years to when Troy Aikman was here and when even then we had a difficult time defeating teams like Nebraska and even a mediocre $C team... Over the years we always seemed to lose to teams in the 'east' (TN clearly being the exception last year) and this seemed to be a perpetual curse (thinking ND three years ago in south bend esp.) and I began comparing us to SC who always seems to win BIG games especially on the road (they did it again tonight)...

But that all changes after today's big win in TN! This should be one game that gradually shifts our program in the right direction. Obviously, one key win alone can't do this, but this is one of those wins that SHOULD and could have that kind of impact.

Great win, gentlemen. Coach Neuheisel, kudos to you and your staff for a stellar victory and excellent preparation. Bruins Nation is grateful... and we can officially say that 'we're back on the map, baby!'... Go Bruins!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I'm glad

you wrote this. A lot of people on here are getting ahead of themselves. Anyone remember 59-0? For our sakes, I really hope we improve our offensive production next week, and as the season goes along. Much of this improvement rests on the OL and KP. We’ll see what happens!

by 13-9 on Sep 12, 2009 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

IF they keep their win in perspective,

there is a chance next week’s game will be a blowout.

And if that were the case, I would like to see Brehaut out there again taking snaps. The defense looks like they’re for real – I like how our defense made Crompton look bad. There were times when he seemed to have calmed down, only for the defense to tip off his balance. Loved the defensive effort.

by UCLAngels on Sep 12, 2009 9:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point about our defense.

Crompton came into the game averaging 21 for 28 per game, 233 yards per game, and 5 TD passes a game. He was 13 for 26 for 93 yards against us, with zero TD’s. I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves, because it is still early in the season. But at the same time, we’re sitting at 2-0, and it does not look like we’re winning by luck. Our defense looks to be for real. Our rushing offense had its moments, too.

Anyway, let’s celebrate the rest of the day, then get ready to take care of business against Kansas State.

by Fox 71 on Sep 13, 2009 5:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good read

by dodgers2009 on Sep 12, 2009 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good points

Next week has potential to be a big blowout in our favor. I don’t think last years fiasco at BYU was us getting ahead of ourselves, I think we were just seriously outmatched. This year is different. We matured and got better as a team today. RN and the coaches are really fostering the mentality that we can’t take anyone lightly because of our 4-8 record last year.

by dhuang90 on Sep 12, 2009 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Still a lot of work

CRN mentioned the freshmen mistakes. The team still has a lot of work to do, but this is one of the most mentally tough young teams I’ve seen in a while.

by UCLA4Life on Sep 13, 2009 1:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Too Soon to Tell

We really don’t have a touchstone to use in deciding just how good we are. It will take a few more games.

And, we will have to see whether the teams we beat can beat the other teams they play.

Last year’s victory over Tn proved to be a victory over an overrated team.

I watched sc v. OSU. Equally matched great teams? Or two mediocre teams? I actually think both will prove to be overrated.

The other OSU, Okla State — lost to what I think was an underrated Houston team. But, until we get deeper in the season, we’ll not know.

If memory serves me right, we lost a bowl game to a Kansas State team we were supposed to handle.

So, I agree with the message — let’s just focus on and play one game at a time.

CRN is absolutely right — we have work to do.

We scored one touchdown. We ran for 85 yards. We were penalized for 70.

It was a great win, a character win, the kind of game we probably would have lost a couple of years ago. But, this one win did not make the season.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Sep 13, 2009 6:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's what struck me about Tennesee...

One of the interview bits with a Vol player done before the game (played during a break) said that the loss to us LAST YEAR ruined their whole season.

We can’t let ourselves be ruined or artificially inflated by thsi one game, no matter how great it feels this weekend.

Enjoy it today, but CRN and the coaching staff know there’s a lot to learn from and improve upon.

Learn as you go, grow every week, make yourself a little bit better every game, even if you can’t cure all the ills at once.

We’ll get there, but we’re not there yet. The season’s a 26-mile marathon, and we’re only at the 4-mile marker.

"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008

by Meriones on Sep 13, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The bowl game loss

was againt Kansas.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Sep 14, 2009 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great to see the Bruins win on the road!

That was a character win. As opposed to last week, the offense came out in the third quarter and moved the football. I really hope to see the offense put up touchdowns in the red zone on Saturday, as that will really build confidence in their unit.

Reading comments in the Tennessee internet newspapers, and wow are those “fans” angry! They are treating Crompton poorly to say the least (he was playing against one of the best defenses in the country), and many are already asking for Lane Kiffin’s job. I feel bad for Crompton, as he has had 4 Offensive Coordinators in 4 years. It makes me respect Kevin Craft more all the time, as I have never seen a quarterback take such a beating as he did last year (from opponents, fans, and media), and he kept coming back. To see KC on the sidelines offering encouragement assistance to Kevin Prince shows me that he is a true team player.

There were lots of recruits in the stands yesterday, and lots more watching at home. I am hoping that they are seeing what a program on the rise looks like.

by sam_in_hb on Sep 13, 2009 9:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Work in progress

The W was satisfying considering the opposing HC and a young team going into hostile territory. However, if we come out next week and lay an egg, the goodwill built upon this victory will be flushed away.

This is still a “young” team. And young teams are known for being inconsistent. We have senior leadership but the majority of our roster consists of underclassmen. It is the job of the coaching staff and our leaders to ensure that we are able to handle success. Don’t be satisfied but stay hungry and focused. Otherwise, you’ll be upset just like other teams throughout the country because the gap between BCS teams and Mid Majors continues to shrink.

Some Bruin fans are taking this victory a bit too far. We are still a long ways from where we envision our program to be. Our O is still struggling with a RS FR QB, young RB’s and an OL that is still jelling. We’re lucky to have a D that we can lean on. This team will continue to improve as guys like Prince, Jet Ski, Milton, Nelson, Morrell, Randall, Damien, etc. gain more experience and find their niche within the offense. The talent is there but they lack the experience at this time. We also have to keep in mind that we are not a deep team and heaven forbid, we sustain an injury to a key cog on either side.

It’s a very exciting time. I saw David Carter make plays (especially on the goal line stand), Dye improving from last week, X Man holding his own, KP showing the guts and leadership that the team needs and will feed off of, etc.

Lets enjoy this victory but keep in mind that nothing worth cherishing is built in a day. Hopefully, our team is focused and comes out against K State as if they were playing a Top 5 team. Afterall, the team wants to go to “Black Tie Events”. If so, they need show it on the field.

by BlueReign on Sep 13, 2009 9:19 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

BR

You should put your post in a separate fanpost … b/c the points you make … we need to amplify them.

by Nestor on Sep 13, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The defense...

…is for real, I think that was evidenced by the goal line stance with the two back-up tackles in. However, the defense needs to learn to not commit stupid penalties. For the second week in a row stupid penalties extended a drive by our opponent when they were on the verge of 3 and out.

Another issue that needs to be resolved is the center to QB exchange, 3 times yesterday and 2-3 last week is crazy.

We are not at the point where we can look past anybody. We need to come out every game ready to play.

UCLA - Champions Made Here

by seernst on Sep 13, 2009 9:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on all points!

Thanks for this.

October 28th couldn't come soon enough.

by JETisKing on Sep 13, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Preparation is key,

I’m sure that somewhere in Tenessee there is a schedule with the UCLA game circled as a must win. Bigger than Florida, because not many people would expect them to beat Florida after last season, while most though they would beat UCLA by about 10 points.

Last year their loss to UCLA did ruin their season. Things might not have been very different for Tenessee if they had won but losing to UCLA must have hurt.

This year it’s going to be very hard to recover from this loss. Beating Florida would save their season but after losing to UCLA, I’m sure they are a huge underdog.

Last year it’s possible that Tenessee did not prepare for UCLA like they should have, this year there is no such excuse.

What UCLA needs to take from this victory is to prepare for every game and take every oponent seriously.

I don’t expect UCLA will finish this season undefeated but I expect them to be bowl eligible if they prepare and do not allow any upsets. I hope that they can be in the PAC-10 championship race, anything better than fourth place would be great.

Next year, I’ll be disapointed if we don’t win the PAC-10.

by layout on Sep 13, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BYU last season

Taught me to be humble and not look ahead. However, there is something different about this team. We should, God willing, be able to win our next game. That makes us 3-0, one more win gives us our total from last year. We are in a better place this year. I don’t want to jinx us but I feel things are looking-up.