How important is the Kansas game?

[BigTenRutgers_rivals663048]

Some of the board's most dedicated Ash optimists insist that despite computer models showing otherwise, Rutgers is a heavy favorite at Kansas. So my question is this: if Rutgers were to lose to Kansas, how would that impact the current level of support for the coach?

It seems to me like this game, perhaps more than any other on our 2018 schedule, will dictate whether progress is truly being made in the Ash era. A win would be encouraging, while a loss would be close to devastating.

 

[ImBadRU]

That would be a bad loss.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

Some of the board's most dedicated Ash optimists insist that despite computer models showing otherwise, Rutgers is a heavy favorite at Kansas. So my question is this: if Rutgers were to lose to Kansas, how would that impact the current level of support for the coach?

It seems to me like this game, perhaps more than any other on our 2018 schedule, will dictate whether progress is truly being made in the Ash era. A win would be encouraging, while a loss would be close to devastating.

No individual game is important. We do not have a QB. We need to develop a QB, so that we can pick games as wins or losses. If Ash cannot show that he can recruit and develop a QB, he should be fired. Its not rocket science. I think by the end of this year, you have to have the "QB of the future" on the roster. If they aren't, we need to take a good long look at the plan. OC failures may not be all on Ash, but the bottom line is that the revolving door at OC and lack of any offensive ability (let alone consistency) has continued unchecked under his tenure.

 

[RUwoz]

It would be the worse loss of the Ash era, not strictly on a team basis but on a perception basis. Casual fans don’t typically know how good/bad G5 teams like EMU are, so losses are bad but meh they happen every year to P5 teams... Kansas is well known as a bottom 5 P5 team EVERY YEAR, losing to them would make people think we are too. Also, they haven’t had 85 scholarship players in YEARS. That’s insane, a team like PSU even got hurt by having fewer than 85 players during 2 years of sanctions, so a team like Kansas is screwed

 

[chrisru99]

It’s so important that I’m booked. Friday and Saturday in Kansas then fly from Kansas City to Dallas Sunday morning to see the cowboys giants game Sunday night. Got my cowboys tickets already just have to get the Kansas seats. As soon as Kansas sells il buy no fun flying that far for crappy seats in visitor section.

 

[MADHAT1]

Seeing that it's right after the OSU game, it might set the tone for how RU fans think the season will go and if they should plan on attending home games.
Texas St should be an easy win ( a loss and forget about RU fans having hope for season)

If RU plays the Buckeyes tough , the Kansas game could show RU has a good team and fans might start planing to make home games a must do by beating Kansas. A close win will damper hopes a bit, but the way RU played OSU might overcome any worry and have game put as the result of that hard fought Ohio St game

If Kansas wins, 0SU game will be looked at as a fluke and attending home games might not be on some must do lists.

So the Kansas game will set the tempo on how RU fans think the season will go and if they should plan to attend Home games or even travel to some of the ones planned on.

 

[sherrane]

It is important.

9/1 Texas State
9/8 at Ohio State
9/15 at Kansas

1. An EMU-like effort against Texas State followed by a loss at Ohio State, an 0-3 start would sink the season.
2. Assuming a win over Texas State and a loss to Ohio State, a win at Kansas would be a good bounce-back with the next three against Buffalo, Indiana, and Illinois. We might start talking bowl games on this board again.
3. A win over Texas State and an exhilarating upset win in Columbus, a loss to Kansas would be deflating.

 

[gmay8]

It would be the worse loss of the Ash era, not strictly on a team basis but on a perception basis. Casual fans don’t typically know how good/bad G5 teams like EMU are, so losses are bad but meh they happen every year to P5 teams... Kansas is well known as a bottom 5 P5 team EVERY YEAR, losing to them would make people think we are too. Also, they haven’t had 85 scholarship players in YEARS. That’s insane, a team like PSU even got hurt by having fewer than 85 players during 2 years of sanctions, so a team like Kansas is screwed

At home to EMU who had never in their history beaten a P5 team would still be a worse loss than on the road against (a very bad) P5 team in Kansas.

I disagree with the worst loss in Ash's tenure.

I am very hopeful EMU remains the worst loss in his tenure for a long long time.

 

[DJ Spanky]

If we were to lose the Kansas game, that means we'd have one less win for the season. So it's direly important.

 

[Abro1975]

It’s the first true litmus test. RU will be a big favorite for Tex St, a big underdog for Ohio St, and then Kansas should be a toss up.

Need to win almost all the toss ups to be bowl eligible.

 

[drewbagel423]

It is important.

9/1 Texas State
9/8 at Ohio State
9/15 at Kansas

1. An EMU-like effort against Texas State followed by a loss at Ohio State, an 0-3 start would sink the season.
2. Assuming a win over Texas State and a loss to Ohio State, a win at Kansas would be a good bounce-back with the next three against Buffalo, Indiana, and Illinois. We might start talking bowl games on this board again.
3. A win over Texas State and an exhilarating upset win in Columbus, a loss to Kansas would be deflating.

An 0-1 start to the season against Texas State and the season will already have been sunk. No need to wait for Kansas.

 

[BigTenRutgers_rivals663048]

If we were to lose the Kansas game, that means we'd have one less win for the season. So it's direly important.

Do you think you're funny or something?

 

[BigTenRutgers_rivals663048]

It is important.

9/1 Texas State
9/8 at Ohio State
9/15 at Kansas

1. An EMU-like effort against Texas State followed by a loss at Ohio State, an 0-3 start would sink the season.
2. Assuming a win over Texas State and a loss to Ohio State, a win at Kansas would be a good bounce-back with the next three against Buffalo, Indiana, and Illinois. We might start talking bowl games on this board again.
3. A win over Texas State and an exhilarating upset win in Columbus, a loss to Kansas would be deflating.

Great post.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Do you think you're funny or something?

No, I was just explaining why it was important.

 

[JMORC2003]

It’s the most important game of the year for that week. 1-0, baby.

 

[G- RUnit]

A loss would set us back years. Doubt Ash ever recovers.

 

[G- RUnit]

At home to EMU who had never in their history beaten a P5 team would still be a worse loss than on the road against (a very bad) P5 team in Kansas.

I disagree with the worst loss in Ash's tenure.

I am very hopeful EMU remains the worst loss in his tenure for a long long time.

EMU better than Kansas.

 

[RU2055]

You are setting up a hypothetical on the outcome of a game against a team we are supposed to beat.

Will you also set up a hypothetical against a team we are supposed to lose to? What will you do as an Ash basher if we beat a team that is favored against us?

 

[Doctor Worm]

Maybe I'm too old school, but IMHO it is at best our tenth most important game of the season.

 

[RUwoz]

At home to EMU who had never in their history beaten a P5 team would still be a worse loss than on the road against (a very bad) P5 team in Kansas.

I disagree with the worst loss in Ash's tenure.

I am very hopeful EMU remains the worst loss in his tenure for a long long time.

That’s why I said perception, nobody outside of our sad fans knew that about EMU (about never beating a P5 team)

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

If we lose to kansas its a sign of bad things to come. If we lose to kansas then i doubt Ash is the coach here come December 2019

 

[RU1977]

I'll be there....

 

[DJ Spanky]

I'll be there....

Jackson 5

 

[koleszar]

It’s the most important game of the year for that week. 1-0, baby.

Kyle? I thought your posting privileges were revoked.

 

[RC1978]

Some of the board's most dedicated Ash optimists insist that despite computer models showing otherwise, Rutgers is a heavy favorite at Kansas. So my question is this: if Rutgers were to lose to Kansas, how would that impact the current level of support for the coach?

It seems to me like this game, perhaps more than any other on our 2018 schedule, will dictate whether progress is truly being made in the Ash era. A win would be encouraging, while a loss would be close to devastating.

Time and time again, us fans think the computer models and Vegas lines are a joke with some of our games. We can go back over the years and find threads that ripped the models only to realize the number makers are very good at what they do. We do it because we are fans which comes from fanatics. They have no care in the world other than make money. I really hope they are wrong for Kansas but I have been one of those fans that think the models are nuts to realize they had numbers almost perfect.

 

[Source]

Best Chances for Six Victories and Bowl Eligibility:

9-1-2018 Rutgers vs. Texas State Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium
9-15-2018 Rutgers vs. Kansas Lawrence, KS Memorial Stadium
9-22-2018 Rutgers vs. Buffalo Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium
9-29-2018 Rutgers vs. Indiana Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium
10-6-2018 Rutgers vs. Illinois Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium
10-13-2018 Rutgers vs. Maryland College Park, MD Maryland Stadium

And an outside shot with:
10-20-2018 Rutgers vs. Northwestern Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium Homecoming Game

The Rest of the Schedule:
9-8-2018 Rutgers vs. Ohio State Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium
11-3-2018 Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Madison, WI Camp Randall Stadium
11-10-2018 Rutgers vs. Michigan Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium
11-17-2018 Rutgers vs. Penn State Piscataway, NJ High Point Solutions Stadium
11-24-2018 Rutgers vs. Michigan State East Lansing, MI Spartan Stadium

The "pain" of a Kansas loss would really be IF Rutgers won five games in 2018 and the Kansas game left them out of the post season.

 

[RUich]

While many talk about perception with Kansas, how about Rutgers' perception? Ido think we are a better program, but I wish we didn't have OSU the week before. It's not the probable loss to OSU, it's the physical part that has me worried. The difference in depth and talent may mean us being pretty beaten up for Kansas.

I think a loss in this game would be devastating.

 

[BigTenRutgers_rivals663048]

It's not the probable loss to OSU, it's the physical part that has me worried. The difference in depth and talent may mean us being pretty beaten up for Kansas.

Good point. Very important for Ash to get most of the starters out of the OSU game as soon as the score gets out of hand. You don't want any preventable injuries heading into what looks like this season's swing game.

 

[RU#1fan]

We are not going to lose so this Thread is worthless IMHO.
A loss would be worse than Eastern Michigan last year. This is Year 3 in the Ash era. No more BS excuses. Kansas is the absolute floor of all FBS programs.
If we lose this game we win maybe 2 or 3 games max in 2018 ( including the FCS cupcake).

 

[WhiteBus]

It's year 3 for Coach Ash. Progress needs to to be seen by recruits and more importantly the people who spend big $ to support the team. Losing to Kansas would not be a sign of progress. It's as simple as that.

 

[RU#1fan]

It’s so important that I’m booked. Friday and Saturday in Kansas then fly from Kansas City to Dallas Sunday morning to see the cowboys giants game Sunday night. Got my cowboys tickets already just have to get the Kansas seats. As soon as Kansas sells il buy no fun flying that far for crappy seats in visitor section.

Sit with us in the RU section. We will make it a sea of red. Need you there.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Some of the board's most dedicated Ash optimists insist that despite computer models showing otherwise, Rutgers is a heavy favorite at Kansas. So my question is this: if Rutgers were to lose to Kansas, how would that impact the current level of support for the coach?

It seems to me like this game, perhaps more than any other on our 2018 schedule, will dictate whether progress is truly being made in the Ash era. A win would be encouraging, while a loss would be close to devastating.

What “computer models”? We finished 98th and they 156th in Sagarin last season. Tells me (almost) all I need to know.

 

[koleszar]

If we lose this game we win maybe 2 or 3 games max in 2018 ( including the FCS cupcake).

One problem with your methodology, we don't play an FCS game this year.

 

[RU#1fan]

We don't play an FCS game this year.

Sorry thought Texas St. was an FCS game. Feels like one.

 

[BoroKnight]

Sorry thought Texas St. was an FCS game. Feels like one.

It was, until fairly recently. I can still remember it as Southwest Texas State, and, for you history buffs, Southwest State Teachers College, the alma mater of one Lyndon Johnson.

To the point, beating Kansas is imperative. Don't kid yourselves. Does it matter much? No. But mentally it would be devastating to this fan base. People assuming we clobber Kansas need to realize that we, in fact, suck. As in moose balls. Kansas is worse. We cannot lose to them, home or away. We just can't. A good chunk of Rutgers fans will tune out the entire rest of the season if we're 1-2 (probably) with a loss to god-awful Kansas.

 

[WhiteBus]

It was, until fairly recently. I can still remember it as Southwest Texas State, and, for you history buffs, Southwest State Teachers College, the alma mater of one Lyndon Johnson.

To the point, beating Kansas is imperative. Don't kid yourselves. Does it matter much? No. But mentally it would be devastating to this fan base. People assuming we clobber Kansas need to realize that we, in fact, suck. As in moose balls. Kansas is worse. We cannot lose to them, home or away. We just can't. A good chunk of Rutgers fans will tune out the entire rest of the season if we're 1-2 (probably) with a loss to god-awful Kansas.

I agree with most of what you say except it will matter a lot beyond the fan base. This game is a must win on so many fronts. No excuses.

 

[RUSK97]

It matters to the fanbase. That’s about it. Two of the nation’s worst teams chucking down pillows at each other. Until proven otherwise, they’re the worst P5 school in the nation. We’re the 3rd worst. Both are supposedly on the upswing.

 

[CrazyfoRU]

Lose to Kansas and we might not win 4 games next year. So yeah it is extremely important. I hope whoever is the starting QB has his **** together by the 3rd game of the season. I have Texas State, Kansas and Buffalo as the absolutely MUST wins and then Illini, MD and Indiana as the HOPE to wins with an outside shot at Northwestern.

 

[Pils86]

RU needs to score on OSU and beat Kansas. Every game is important this year, need to win 5 games to show recruits we are trending up. Unfortunately I am not optimistic we win 5 or more.

 

[anon_ivydyf0amkzay]

RU needs to score on OSU and beat Kansas. Every game is important this year, need to win 5 games to show recruits we are trending up. Unfortunately I am not optimistic we win 5 or more.

Wow...when “scoring” on osu is a goal...sad...so sad