Hopefully this was a wake up call today and this team realizes good teams stay focused throughout games. Should be a motivator to get back on track, but we'll see how this group responds next Saturday.
I still have no idea how we lost this game today. I maintain that UNI looked like trash.
They did. And I have no clue how UNI beat SDSU.
Salukis have all this talent. They really do. But they haven’t looked great all season.
I can see why Stone Labanowitz left the program after losing the starting job at Qb, considering last season.
That Stone never had a chance coming into this season.
All that being said, this is one of the most frustrating teams in SIU history. They can be good, but like others have said, something is clearly missing.
Smarter people than me can take a guess as to what that is.
Really liked the way the defense played in the first half. It was some of the best tackling and hard hitting that I have ever seen a Saluki D dish out. UNI made some good adjustments at half-time and that first drive of the 2nd half really took the wind out of our sails. Loss of Notree obviously hurt us. Anybody know the details of that second unsportsmanship call? We have some talented players and this is a good team. As far as Coach Hill's play calls, I am not throwing him under the bus. No play looks good when it doesn't work and every play call looks good when it does. Players also have to execute. I thought Javon Williams could have easily made that 4th down run if all he does is RUN the ball, instead of hesitating to fake the pass. The execution is on him, not Hill. This team has a lot of fight and I don't think the season is a disaster by any means. After having suffered many years with a lot worse teams, these guys are a treat to watch. There is a lot of good football left in the season and I think the Dawgs are gonna be just fine.
SIU hasn't posted Hill's postgame with the media but here's him with Mike Reis postgame:
This was the Nic Baker that made me confident Hill was going to peg Stone L as the guy to begin the season. I think Nic is a good QB, but he makes too many bad decisions, and he just doesn't have the moxie that Stone L had. For as many weapons as this offense has, Hill and Nic needed to win that game yesterday.
I hope we regroup and squeak out a win versus Missouri State next weekend. Not only for our playoff hopes, but because I resent that that program has improved so quickly under Petrino. I'd love to put a beating on them.
We did not play well. Too many mistakes, certainly not in rhythm or sync on offense most of the day. Coming off bye weeks can help and it can also hurt, sometimes you come out stale. UNI defense is very good and that had a lot to do with our malfunctions. The most important thing is what do we do with the loss. What do we learn, and how do we go forward? Next week will tell that tale. The last two games are winnable but right now next week is the biggest game of the season. Hopefully we come out ready to go. Will help if we have a big crowd.
You can talk all you want to about Stone vs Nic, but the bottom line is you can only have one starting QB and if any lesson could have been said about last season, you never know when it may be your turn to take over the reins. I get it, Stone thinks he deserved to be starting over Nic and that is the kind of attitude he should have. But when somebody walks off the team because he isn't named a starter at the beginning of the season, I would just as soon not have that player play for me. He isn't in it for the team, just himself. And that is too bad, because I think Stone could have helped this team.
QB room took a hit mid August when SL quit and Lindauer had shoulder surgery. I really think that room was going to be dynamic with Baker, SL, and Lindauer.
You can talk all you want to about Stone vs Nic, but the bottom line is you can only have one starting QB and if any lesson could have been said about last season, you never know when it may be your turn to take over the reins. I get it, Stone thinks he deserved to be starting over Nic and that is the kind of attitude he should have. But when somebody walks off the team because he isn't named a starter at the beginning of the season, I would just as soon not have that player play for me. He isn't in it for the team, just himself. And that is too bad, because I think Stone could have helped this team.
You couldn't be more wrong IMO. Stone already had his degree and a job waiting. Should he waste another year here sitting on the bench or get his life started. He made the decision most young men would/should have made. Life is short.
You can talk all you want to about Stone vs Nic, but the bottom line is you can only have one starting QB and if any lesson could have been said about last season, you never know when it may be your turn to take over the reins. I get it, Stone thinks he deserved to be starting over Nic and that is the kind of attitude he should have. But when somebody walks off the team because he isn't named a starter at the beginning of the season, I would just as soon not have that player play for me. He isn't in it for the team, just himself. And that is too bad, because I think Stone could have helped this team.
You couldn't be more wrong IMO. Stone already had his degree and a job waiting. Should he waste another year here sitting on the bench or get his life started. He made the decision most young men would/should have made. Life is short.
So in other words, if he had been named the starter his "life" would have waited a year, but since he wasn't named the starter then it made sense to go punch the time clock? Life is short, and those college experiences should be treasured. Sure, you can look at it your way and I hope Stone is happy with his decision, but I wouldn't say my way of thinking is totally wrong.
You can talk all you want to about Stone vs Nic, but the bottom line is you can only have one starting QB and if any lesson could have been said about last season, you never know when it may be your turn to take over the reins. I get it, Stone thinks he deserved to be starting over Nic and that is the kind of attitude he should have. But when somebody walks off the team because he isn't named a starter at the beginning of the season, I would just as soon not have that player play for me. He isn't in it for the team, just himself. And that is too bad, because I think Stone could have helped this team.
You couldn't be more wrong IMO. Stone already had his degree and a job waiting. Should he waste another year here sitting on the bench or get his life started. He made the decision most young men would/should have made. Life is short.
+1
“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody has decided not to see.”
― Ayn Rand
@mr_woogers That certainly puts a different perspective on it.
I don't blame Stone for leaving. Also don't blame Hill for choosing Baker over him. SIU is sitting at 6-2 this year and Baker is still a Sophomore. Not only is SIU benefiting now but he'll have 2 more years to get better. I generally don't think SIU would have a better record with Stone at QB. They'd still lose at Kansas State and probably lose the South Dakota State game. Maybe the Northern Iowa game would have flipped, who knows.
You can talk all you want to about Stone vs Nic, but the bottom line is you can only have one starting QB and if any lesson could have been said about last season, you never know when it may be your turn to take over the reins. I get it, Stone thinks he deserved to be starting over Nic and that is the kind of attitude he should have. But when somebody walks off the team because he isn't named a starter at the beginning of the season, I would just as soon not have that player play for me. He isn't in it for the team, just himself. And that is too bad, because I think Stone could have helped this team.
You couldn't be more wrong IMO. Stone already had his degree and a job waiting. Should he waste another year here sitting on the bench or get his life started. He made the decision most young men would/should have made. Life is short.
So in other words, if he had been named the starter his "life" would have waited a year, but since he wasn't named the starter then it made sense to go punch the time clock? Life is short, and those college experiences should be treasured. Sure, you can look at it your way and I hope Stone is happy with his decision, but I wouldn't say my way of thinking is totally wrong.
Sitting on the bench maybe feeling under appreciated after playing very well in the playoffs and having great QB efficiency numbers doesn't sound like a treasured college experience to me. Up to the individual of course but I don't blame him and I certainly don't question his loyalty. He was a good teammate and I'm sure he still roots for the Dawgs. I would feel different if he had not yet graduated. (And as I've stated before, I question NH's decision, and I think we would likely be 7 - 1 right now.)
I mean I could have stayed at SIU for a year after I graduated and audited some classes just to give my department another year of brag time about having such a brilliant student, but I needed to get out and make a buck! 😀
Stone doesn't play for this team everyone has made their decision time to move on you can speculate all you want it changes nothing and no one will ever know because it or won't happen. You make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time and move on no regrets
