Is it possible

[RV]

I thought the timing of putting Barker in was irresponsible. This EKU almost beat us last time, so why would we throw in our backup QB when we're losing early in the game? It just doesn't make sense....unless Stoops felt Johnson was ineffective and we needed a boost. Problem is, Barker's no boost.

That was their plan which was to go two series and on the third and fourth series Barker would come in. Coaches that coach for a living are less likely to push the panic button than those that don't.

[40bill]

Real world is we may have need of either Drew Barker or Hoak before this season ends. The injury bug shows no favorites. The thing is this coaching staff showed before they aren't afraid to change plans based on personnel. They just have to figure which pieces fit together the right way.

Could be intriguing before it's all said and done.

[Joneslab]

I thought the timing of putting Barker in was irresponsible. This EKU almost beat us last time, so why would we throw in our backup QB when we're losing early in the game? It just doesn't make sense....unless Stoops felt Johnson was ineffective and we needed a boost. Problem is, Barker's no boost.

I don't mean to be a jerk, but once again I'm not sure why folks keep saying this.

The quarterback change was planned. They were going to do it regardless. Had nothing to do with giving anyone a boost.

[Lighthouse]

^ Bingo!

[Brasslock]

I've heard the coach say more than a few times he intended to get someone in the game. It just never seemed to the the right time, or bullets were flying and other issues were being addressed. Makes sense that one "work around" is just to put it in the game plan ahead of time. This may have been a really important move. Now the coaches and Drew know what to work on in practice. It's really tough coming back from that kind of injury, or any kind of injury for that matter. It seems to me, and I could of course be wrong, that the O line started blocking better when they were blocking straight ahead, down hill. When someone had to pull things got a bit dicey. The SC game should tell us more about what we need to do. South Miss may not lose another game. Well they play Tennessee later I think. The transfers playing at Eastern are the real deal. It may take them several games to start meshing as a team. Neither of these teams are patsy's.

[boomdaddy]

It is a good thing to play the 2nd string guy before you absolutely have to have him. It didn't work out this game, but he can work on what happened and be ready the next time.

On the positive side: The RBs seemed to be a bit more patient and waiting a beat to find the holes, instead of running right into traffic and Blake Bone made some really nice plays. Mr Bone is a senior, I believe, and it is good to see him making plays. .

[Matt Dillon]

On the positive side: The RBs seemed to be a bit more patient and waiting a beat to find the holes, instead of running right into traffic and Blake Bone made some really nice plays. Mr Bone is a senior, I believe, and it is good to see him making plays. .

Blake is one of my favorites. He has stuck it out and never complained, that I know of, and hasn't jumped ship. I hope he has a big season, not just for the team but for himself as well.

[Lighthouse]

We have all been pleased with not only the talented recruits we have, but also the talented Coaches. I think they all are working hard to make this a successful season.

[Blue Heaven]

... because he wants to go somewhere that they WON'T need a QB?!?!

Folks need to chill a bit. In college football the teams are never the same from one year to the next. Seniors graduate, others leave, get injured or just give up their football dream. It's always a work in progress and hardly ever is the team that starts the season the same as the team that ends the season.

Did we improve as the season went on last year? If your answer is yes then why would you think we can't/won't do the same this year?

Last year we had little defense and a disjointed offense to begin the year. The defense improved and the offense found its identity and we went to a bowl. This year the defense seems to be much better and we have a disjointed offense but I suspect we somewhat found our footing and our identity in the second half yesterday. So it's on to Columbia to open our next package of a scheduled 12 and see what that brings us.

Absolutely we improved. My comment wasn't really coming from "panic mode". He has already decommitted once. Never know what's going on in the minds of youngsters these days. Attention spans aren't as large as they used to be. That's why I said what I said. I KNOW what transpired last year and this season seems no different.

[VirginiaBlue]

Any time you put a backup player in - in any sport - where he knows he only has x number of chances to prove himself, you really can't expect much. If Coach Stoops had handed Drew the keys to the game up front and said, "this one is yours", I think we would have seen a much better overall performance.