Greeetings, Lion fans, and apologies are in order for the delay in the Five Wide column, but this took some time to think on. We are fans, just like you, and we can be just as happy after a win, or upset after a loss as any of you. We are a site for you, the fans, and we share our opinions here. However, they are opinions based in fact. In other words, “we bring the receipts.” Sometimes, especially after a game like last week, things can get particularly heated, and we have found it best to take some extra time, and collect our thoughts before sharing them.

First of all, the loss to Nicholls was an embarrassing a outcome as we have seen in all our time covering Lion football. That not just coming from the staff here at The Wire. That was overheard from a fellow media member, various fans, and overheard in a conversation between coaches.

This game had all the makings of a good one. Two evenly matched teams. A large, raucous, crowd. Members of Coach Ernest Hawkins’s final conference championship, the 1983 squad in attendance. The game was broadcast around the country on ESPN Plus. To top it off, the Lion offense had their best drive of the season after the opening kickoff, and got a touchdown. Then……nothing.

This wasn’t just a game lost. This was a good, but not great Nicholls team that came in to Commerce last Saturday, took the Lions behind the proverbial woodshed, and spanked them. AT HOME. In a word, pathetic. Everything the Lions had built up to….the supreme effort at Old Dominion. The big win over McNeese. The valiant effort against Incarnate Word. Gone, in just 60 minutes of a total team failure.

So, where did it all go wrong? To begin with, Penalties. 10 for 110 yards total, 9 for 95 in the first half alone. Example: The Lions make a key fourth down stop near midfield, only to be called for a face mask penalty that killed any momentum. The offensive struggling yet again with pre snap penalties that put them behind the sticks. Averaging a weak 2.8 yards per rushing attempt, and the leading rusher on the day was THE PUNTER on a bobbled snap. The Blue Gang couldn’t stop anyone in the first half. To their credit, though, the made adjustments at halftime, like they have all season, but could not sustain the effort when the offense continues to struggle. Inconsistency at quarterback reared its ugly head yet again, and a change was made at the half, with modest improvement, but three interceptions IN NICHOLLS TERRITORY killed any hopes of a comeback.

The only bright spot was special teams, with outstanding coverage and finally, a big kick return. It wasn’t enough, though, when this team struggled as mightily as they did in the other two phases of the game.

The question is now, how can this be fixed? Are there changes needed? The answer is a resounding yes. Whatever it may be- changes to the depth chart, players that were further down moved up, and given an opportunity, those further up moved down to the bench. Are there changes due to the coaching staff? Who knows? One thing is for certain, though. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. Things like this can’t continue to go on. It would be a different issue if they were very young and inexperienced. That’s not the case here. This team has some talent, and they have shown it a little on occasion. Games like last week, though, have to stop.

Now.