Football Optimism

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12-09-2025, 05:39 PM
Cowbell

Football Optimism

I'm more optimistic today than I have been all year for our football program. Most of us knew what we were getting at QB and knew we would be limited by that, along with all our other talent level issues. We already have a better QB and a much better DC headed into portal season. We have several position groups that can only be upgraded from here. I'm actually optimistic for the first time in years.
12-09-2025, 05:42 PM
msstate7

Love KT, but really need him to clean up accuracy this offseason.
12-09-2025, 05:47 PM
gtowndawg

This gift of a bowl game is a real opportunity to bring some true optimism going into next year. I sure hope we prepare properly and take advantage of this.
12-09-2025, 06:48 PM
Quaoarsking

If we look good against Wake Forest, I'll upgrade from "extremely pessimistic" to "cautiously wait and see." It's great for our program that we got this game.
12-09-2025, 06:51 PM
Brobi-wan

I’m optimistic. 6 or more wins next year. I would honestly be a little upset with 6 if it doesn’t include the egg.
12-09-2025, 09:57 PM
Cowbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by msstate7

Love KT, but really need him to clean up accuracy this offseason.

Yeah he has a lot of room to grow, but I knew Shapen was not an SEC QB. He went into the fetal position when it mattered much like the last starting qb we had that was overrated.
12-09-2025, 10:27 PM
parabrave

I'll feel more optimistic when we see what our OLine looks like.
12-09-2025, 10:34 PM
DownwardDawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by parabrave

I'll feel more optimistic when we see what our OLine looks like.

Me too. And D line. But supposedly we have money for those positions. We shall see.
12-09-2025, 11:21 PM
Brobi-wan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowbell

Yeah he has a lot of room to grow, but I knew Shapen was not an SEC QB. He went into the fetal position when it mattered much like the last starting qb we had that was overrated.

Who?
12-09-2025, 11:23 PM
Todd4State

We're definitely trending in the right direction. BUT we also haven't quite filled out our coaching staff. I'm guessing that will be complete by the end of this week.

But here's the REAL opportunity and why the Mayo Bowl is going to be potentially VERY big for MSU.

We get to showcase KT and his talent basically right when the portal officially opens with only one other game opposite us on a Friday night.

I respect Wake Forest but at the same time I feel like we have a very good chance to win this game.

If we can show promise and couple that with the fact that we have a future Heisman contender at QB we could certainly attract the talent we need to continue to trend upward.

And let's be honest- Ole Miss losing Kiffin has helped MSU fans morale tremendously.
12-09-2025, 11:28 PM
Todd4State

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowbell

Yeah he has a lot of room to grow, but I knew Shapen was not an SEC QB. He went into the fetal position when it mattered much like the last starting qb we had that was overrated.

Well, there will be no QB controversy next year and I'm thankful. I get tired of our fans blaming the QB for everything- especially fumbling after our LT completely whiffs on a DE/EDGE and gives someone a full blindside shot at the QB.

Shapen isn't as talented as KT. But he was also a big reason why we beat Arizona State and Arkansas and helped us get into the position we are now. And yes, KT helped us win the Arkansas game too but Shapen was the one who came up with the clutch winning TD pass on 4th down no less IFIRC.

KT is special and is going to win a lot of games for us- but Shapen gets a lot more hate than he deserves. And yes, I know about the instagram post of whatever it was that he put out.

It's fascinating to me to see who MSU fans like and don't like.
12-09-2025, 11:31 PM
BuckyIsAB****

Unless wake forest moves to the SEC it dont mean that much
12-10-2025, 12:47 AM
1eyedog

From the old DOG....upgrade def and off lines......clean up stupid penalties....Our Coach growing older and making better in game decisions......If everything else remains roughly the same I see a yuge? improvement next year. JMHO
12-10-2025, 06:42 AM
BigDawg81

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckyIsAB****

Unless wake forest moves to the SEC it dont mean that much

Technically, no but from a PR perspective it means a lot. If KT goes off, that’s a portal recruiting tool. Womack even said that he committed because of KT.
12-10-2025, 02:45 PM
Jarius

We need KT to have a big game and on national tv have the announcers talk about him being a darkhorse Heisman contender going into next year. That can do nothing but help us with recruits in the portal. Good players want to play with other good players. It needs to be a recruiting tool.
12-10-2025, 03:06 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarius

We need KT to have a big game and on national tv have the announcers talk about him being a darkhorse Heisman contender going into next year. That can do nothing but help us with recruits in the portal. Good players want to play with other good players. It needs to be a recruiting tool.

We got good receivers to come play for Shapen 2 years in a row. WRs want to come play for Lebby. Whether Kamario does good or bad won't matter. Kamario is still probably 12 months away from unlocking everything. The accuracy part is the biggest part. But WRs want to come play in this system. We now have 2 straight years of a receiver in the top 5 of the SEC in receiving yds. We've now shown that you can come here and if you can play, you're going to catch AT A MINIMUM 50/600/4. And that's on the low end.

Also, I hate to tell people this, there's not going to be many people, outside of Mississippi State and Wake fans, watching the Duke's Mayo Bowl at 8 PM on January 2nd. Bowl games, outside of the playoffs, are meaningless to fans not of teams playing in the game.
12-10-2025, 03:15 PM
TrapGame

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

We got good receivers to come play for Shapen 2 years in a row. WRs want to come play for Lebby. Whether Kamario does good or bad won't matter. Kamario is still probably 12 months away from unlocking everything. The accuracy part is the biggest part. But WRs want to come play in this system. We now have 2 straight years of a receiver in the top 5 of the SEC in receiving yds. We've now shown that you can come here and if you can play, you're going to catch AT A MINIMUM 50/600/4. And that's on the low end.

Also, I hate to tell people this, there's not going to be many people, outside of Mississippi State and Wake fans, watching the Duke's Mayo Bowl at 8 PM on January 2nd. Bowl games, outside of the playoffs, are meaningless to fans not of teams playing in the game.

Hold up SVS. This will be on in every Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebees in the country. We may get more eyes than you realize.

Win this game convincingly, KT looks great and people start thinking differently about next season. This game makes KT better in the spring which will make him better in the fall.
12-10-2025, 03:24 PM
Political Hack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

Well, there will be no QB controversy next year and I'm thankful. I get tired of our fans blaming the QB for everything- especially fumbling after our LT completely whiffs on a DE/EDGE and gives someone a full blindside shot at the QB.

Shapen isn't as talented as KT. But he was also a big reason why we beat Arizona State and Arkansas and helped us get into the position we are now. And yes, KT helped us win the Arkansas game too but Shapen was the one who came up with the clutch winning TD pass on 4th down no less IFIRC.

KT is special and is going to win a lot of games for us- but Shapen gets a lot more hate than he deserves. And yes, I know about the instagram post of whatever it was that he put out.

It's fascinating to me to see who MSU fans like and don't like.

The 2nd string QB shall forever be the best in StarkVegas.
12-10-2025, 03:42 PM
Tbonewannabe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

Well, there will be no QB controversy next year and I'm thankful. I get tired of our fans blaming the QB for everything- especially fumbling after our LT completely whiffs on a DE/EDGE and gives someone a full blindside shot at the QB.

Shapen isn't as talented as KT. But he was also a big reason why we beat Arizona State and Arkansas and helped us get into the position we are now. And yes, KT helped us win the Arkansas game too but Shapen was the one who came up with the clutch winning TD pass on 4th down no less IFIRC.

KT is special and is going to win a lot of games for us- but Shapen gets a lot more hate than he deserves. And yes, I know about the instagram post of whatever it was that he put out.

It's fascinating to me to see who MSU fans like and don't like.

Shapen is the modern day Kevin Fant. It is crazy that Shapen didn't throw a crazy amount of interceptions but when he did, they scored points.
12-10-2025, 04:02 PM
Jarius

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

We got good receivers to come play for Shapen 2 years in a row. WRs want to come play for Lebby. Whether Kamario does good or bad won't matter. Kamario is still probably 12 months away from unlocking everything. The accuracy part is the biggest part. But WRs want to come play in this system. We now have 2 straight years of a receiver in the top 5 of the SEC in receiving yds. We've now shown that you can come here and if you can play, you're going to catch AT A MINIMUM 50/600/4. And that's on the low end.

Also, I hate to tell people this, there's not going to be many people, outside of Mississippi State and Wake fans, watching the Duke's Mayo Bowl at 8 PM on January 2nd. Bowl games, outside of the playoffs, are meaningless to fans not of teams playing in the game.

I'm not talking about wide receivers. I'm talking about good players in general. If guys think KT can be a big time heisman type player they are more likely to give us a look, no matter their position group. That is how it works in sports. You see it in pro sports all the time. And even if they don't watch the game, our coaches will use it in the recruiting process. The highlights will be online. The safety from Hartfield literally mentioned KT on signing day as someone he thought could lead us to much bigger things.
12-10-2025, 04:25 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarius

I'm not talking about wide receivers. I'm talking about good players in general. If guys think KT can be a big time heisman type player they are more likely to give us a look, no matter their position group. That is how it works in sports. You see it in pro sports all the time. And even if they don't watch the game, our coaches will use it in the recruiting process. The highlights will be online. The safety from Hartfield literally mentioned KT on signing day as someone he thought could lead us to much bigger things.

Yea that Ford Raptor we dropped off in his driveway had ZERO to do with him signing with us. He mentioned Duece Knight when he committed to Auburn. Kamario did not hurt our pursuit of Womack, but he was not the deciding factor.
12-10-2025, 04:26 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrapGame

Hold up SVS. This will be on in every Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebees in the country. We may get more eyes than you realize.

Win this game convincingly, KT looks great and people start thinking differently about next season. This game makes KT better in the spring which will make him better in the fall.

He is going to look great unless he just self destructs out there. We will have receivers running wide ass open. Thompson may threaten the single game receiving yds record.
12-10-2025, 04:38 PM
Jarius

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Yea that Ford Raptor we dropped off in his driveway had ZERO to do with him signing with us. He mentioned Duece Knight when he committed to Auburn. Kamario did not hurt our pursuit of Womack, but he was not the deciding factor.

I never said anything about it being the deciding factor, but it 100 % matters. We are not poor, despite what some people say. If all things money wise are equal (and it will be for the most part in our pursuit of portal players), KT having a really big time showing can help swing things in our favor.
12-10-2025, 07:02 PM
Maroon Glasses

I'd love for KT to get 25-30 pass attempts in. We all know he can run and of course use it if he has to. But I wanna see him in the pocket and scrambling around working on passing the ball. He should be able to complete over 50% of his passes against WF defense.. he will get pressured because our O Line sucks, but it should be easier than what they have faced in conference play all year.