But, to balance things out, here are reasons why EWU will have no problem beating the Griz, as observed through my red colored glasses:
1) Kyle Padron is head and shoulders, both literally and figuratively, above Bo Levi. More passing TDs, more passing yards, half the INTs in roughly the same amount of games at SMU. He's also 6'4, 233lbs, not some barely-six-foot, 205/210lb twink. In a year and a half there, he had 7 rushing TDs... he's not afraid of lowering his shoulder and getting the yardage. And for a big QB, he's just as mobile as BLM.
2) We have all of our WRs back. Two 6'3, 1000+yard guys from last year in Edwards and Herd who had a combined 26 TDs, plus 6'5 Kaufman who had 1000+ and 15 TDs in 2010. In fact, we have all of our offense back except our LT and Center. But we also have a lot of depth on the OL with 3 guys from last year getting a ton of playing time because of all the injuries. All of our RBs back... Mario will be a Junior, and like Mario, both Quincy Forte and Jordan Talley played as true freshmen last year, and will undoubtedly be better. Nowhere to go but up for the running game.
3) Our DL is deep and nasty. We lost Renard who was unstoppable when he brought his A game, but often didn't bring his A game. In his place, we have Andru Pulu, a transfer from UW who sat out last year because of academic transfer issues. He's got a mean streak, and will be a force on the line this year. We also have a bevy of upperclassmen DEs who have only gotten bigger and stronger, along with a few really talented RS freshmen and possibly a true freshman who could be seeing action. DL, by all accounts, is our most talented and deepest position outside of WR. Zach Johnson qualified for a medical RS, and will be back this year, probably at OLB instead of MLB.
4) We retain all of our coaches, and actually have gained a couple because we are no longer under probation by the NCAA for the BS from Wulff's years.
5) Our players will be hungrier and more motivated than ever before, after having won a NC, then failing to make it back to the playoffs to defend it last year. Hearing from the WRs and Padron... there is only one thing on their mind, and that's another National Championship for EWU.
6) We won 6/7 down the stretch last season despite playing without a lot of key guys on both sides of the ball because of injury.
7) We get the Griz at home on the red turf, where we're 10-2, and undefeated against the Griz.

:lol: