Week 1: Tyler (0-0) Vs. Marshall (0-0)

Tyler should be favored, but I think we can pull the upset.  The Lions aren't settled at quarterback and their defense isn't stellar.  If our defense can play a good game and out offense just grind it out with JQ running the ball, we can get the upset.  Really just comes down to how well our offense plays.

Marshall wins 21-14 if the offense plays smart.  If they don't, then Tyler wins 17-7.

Everyone is worried about the offense, but I think they are going to be a lot better than people think they will.  And they will get better and better as the season progresses.  Coach Alvarez is a master of getting his offense off the ground.  The Mavs are going to be fun to watch this season.  Be patient and by the time things really count we will be in good shape.

When was the last time Marshall and Tyler played each other?  It's been a while.  I'm guessing 2010 or 2011?

We've lost the last 5 games to Tyler.

2011, 2010, 2001, 2000, 1999

Last Marshall win was in 1998.

I'll have more historical stuff closer to the game week.

Looking forward to seeing the Alvarez version of Maverick football. Marshall wins close one 17-14.

No doubt Tyler should be favored.  They are a 5A division 1 school.  They are significatly bigger than us.  They have a big group of players coming back from a playoff team last year.  I have no doubt they will be favored to win by most.  But I think it's winnable for us.  Tyler isn't Longview.

First games of the season are tricky to predict.
Some kids are getting their first glimpse of varsity
Action. Marshall will be breaking in a New Coaching
Staff plus a new offensive system. I see this one being
Close and competitive I’m actually going with Marshall by 3.

The Mavs will certainly be battled tested by the time district play arrives.

I think consensus is that the defense should be pretty good this season.

It's going to come down to how quickly the offense comes together.

Mainly the offensive line.

Obviously having a QB that understands the new system is HUGE. And that's a lot to ask of a young junior.

I think it's going to be a close game.

Sure...the divisions matter. They are a much bigger school than us.

They have a stable coaching staff for the last few years.

They have a lot of returning starters....some of them blue chip players.

I understand their confidence.......

But all that being said..... I still think we can win.

I agree we could use a little revamping of our non-district schedule..... but there is more to consider than just deciding to do it.

1. Playing those schools you listed.....Corsicana, Ennis...Poteet... those are all schools in our region now..... we could potentially be playing those schools in the second round of the playoffs. Generally speaking... coaching want to avoid playing schools in September that they could possibly face early in the playoffs. of course...the odds of you drawing the same school you played early on in the playoffs is small....but it's definitely not impossible.

2. Finding 5A Div II teams willing to come to Marshall to play won't be easy. All of the 5A Div II schools in East Texas are in one single district. That means if we want to face another 5A Div II school....we have to look outside of our immediate area. That creates problems. Lots of schools in the metroplex, or along the I-35 corridor, or even Houston area schools see no reason to drive all the way out to Marshall when they have 5A Div II schools all around them....with much closer drives. No reason to force your fanbase to drive 2....3...or 4 hours to Marshall when you can play someone just a few miles down the road.

3. The Longview game is all about $$$ for both programs. The end. Period. Doesn't really serve any football purposes for either.

4. Do we resume playing Louisiana and Arkansas schools? Sure there are some good ones..... Neville, Ouachita, Byrd, Bossire Parkway.... all of which we have histories with. Arkansas was always hit or miss with Benton, North Little Rock, and Arkansas High.

My idea of a great non-district schedule:

Week 1: Shreveport Byrd
Week 2: Carthage
Week 3: Ennis
Week 4: Mesquite Poteet or Bossire Parkway

Call me a "Homer" if you will,but let me be the first to step into the deep water. I know that many will probably write me off as insane, but Marshall over Tyler (not even close). I won't stop there, Marshall over Longview by at least 10. Yes, I am drinking the "Red Kool Aid." Maybe after this year we will put a stop to all the "Take Longview off the schedule" talk. The scores of the recent (M/L) games were Not a true and real reflection of Marshall's ability to play with the "Green Machine." We have never lacked the talent, we've just been waiting on the right Coach. Let me share this one last thing with you. Don't be so hard on your team when they get rolled over by Big Red." It's just a sign of the times, things to come, and the changing of the guard. Don't worry, you can lose to Marshall, and still have a good team. I will reserve my other thoughts, and opinions until after the game. I'm not going to apologize, this is what I believe, and I'm sticking with it.

Make no mistake about it, this not the offense of the last two years. I won't say anything negative about our previous coaches (grateful for what they did), but Alvarez is a better fit for Marshall. Based on what I know about this team, I expect them to come out in mid season form. Buckle your seat belts, and get ready for the ride of your life. Most of the time I'll sit back, read the post, and say nothing. But, I decided to speak out now, because anyone can jump on the wagon once it gets rolling. I promise you, they won't see this coming. I've read all the comments about how Longview played one of their worst games last year (14-0), but normally there is a reason for a team playing bad. The score was only 14-0, and we had no offense at all. If Longview is the number one team in the state, and I'm not saying they aren't (5A DI), go ahead and make your reservations for "Jerry World." Let me say this. This team is not afraid of Longview, or anyone else. These kids beat Longview in the 8th grade. They came to within a couple of plays of beating them in the 9th. We lost at the end of the game, on a play to Hale. But this was only after our starting DB was out of the game due to injury. Buckle up, and get ready for the ride.