A-State vs. Gawja Suthun discussion

[ComebackShack]

Anyone have thoughts on this game tonight? I was reading up on this game and apparently they are expecting less than 3000 fans in attendance. Here is what an A-State fan said about their season so far and their struggles:

1. Beginning in 2014, we began to slowly feel the effects of all of the coaching changes. In Both 2011 and 2012, we did not manage to recruit an offensive lineman and keep them on campus. Ditto for the defensive line. Freeze and Malzahn inherited teams with a STRONG OL, and chose instead to recruit for the skill positions, where we were lacking a little more. Most of those skill players were around through last season when they all graduated out. Harsin came in for 2013 realizing that the offensive and defensive lines were in urgent need of fresh bodies, and he started to recruit them to campus, but again left after a year, so some of his recruits never showed up. Anderson saw the consequences of this in 2014 when our DLine couldn't stop Troy's marching band, much less an average football team. He began to recruit for the OL, but chose to fill much of the holes on both sides of the line with JUCO Players, leading to point 2.

2. The extreme inbalance of recruiting classes by position, and a desire to try and do what everyone else had done here, led to Anderson recruiting the JUCO ranks heavily, and signing multiple Blue shirts (Players who don't sign in February, and show up in August and count towards the next recruiting class) The downside of Blueshirts and JUCO's is they often are in those positions for a reason. We took risks on character issues, took risks on grade issues, and took risks on kids with little football experience. We signed kids that other teams didn't want, and trusted Anderson's ability to recognize talent. We then went behind them and recruit large numbers of FBS transfers, who again, transferred for a reason. In 2015, we signed more players out of Canada than we did out of the entire state of Arkansas. While Arkansas talent will never win awards, it's a sign that we were after the kids no one knew about.

3. In the offseason, we lost 3 critical coaches on the offensive side of the ball. OL, RB, and QB/OC. We hired replacements at OL and RB, and both immediately jumped ship less than a week after reaching campus for other jobs. The OC was our first choice, but left Middle when there were rumors that he might be fired anyway. All three positions happen to be our biggest weak spots right now. That's simply not a coincidence. The players have simply yet to really come to an understanding with their position coaches, and worse, an understanding with their team leaders. We've got players pointing fingers at each other, coaches who often look dazed and confused on the sideline, and angry fans

4. These players believed their own hype. Blake Anderson said publicly this season that he thought this team could go 12-0. He actually stated the team's goal was to play in the Cotton Bowl. The players talked about winning another championship, like it was going to be handed to us. What this managed to do was alienate the fans. Now you don't just have frustrated fans, you have fans who were specifically promised greatness, and are getting the opposite, and the anger is real. There have been a lot of very pointed questions asked of Anderson during his sessions with fans. There have been arguments between players and fans over social media, and the booing has been rampant, to the point that it's actually led to Anderson changing his mind mid game on a play call.

This isn't a wounded animal. Georgia Southern is sort of like the hiker who comes across a pack of Wolves in the wilderness, and rather than attacking the hiker, the Wolves all turn and attack each other over who gets to eat the hiker first, leading to no one getting the food.

[NoLongerLurking]

I hate to say it.... but I'm leaning towards pulling for Southern on this one. I'd hate to see fakeasu sweep the conference after losing to UCA.

[ASUGrad2014]

Georgia State played us tough last week... Minus their QB I thought they matched up well with us. Looking forward to watching the game since the Apps don't play for another week!

[AppDawg]

I hate to say it.... but I'm leaning towards pulling for Southern on this one. I'd hate to see fakeasu sweep the conference after losing to UCA.

We actually should pull for the stink since we play them head-to-head. Need stAte with an L so we can control our own destiny.

[biggie]

Don't think there's a chance a-state wins. They been bad this year.

[NoLongerLurking]

That crowd...... what an embarrassment.

[ASU-FTW]

Jawjuh Southern has avoided playing st@te for 2 years now. Time for them to take a whooping.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

That crowd...... what an embarrassment.

Wouldn't look too much better if we played at home tonight.

[MAD Doctor]

Even if Stink doesn't get them tonight, Troy will on 11/17.

[ASU85Grad]

I expected GSU to run on stAte, but stAte is also running on GSU fairly easily. stAte keeps shooting themselves in the foot (turnovers).

[mountaineerman]

There is something missing with this southern team not sure? They are not as dynamic as previous from what I see

[asutrnr81]

Actually the crowd is not bad....the A-State side is respectable.

TROY is going to be a hand full!

[asutrnr81]

Prediction: A-State down 7 at the 5:40 mark of 2nd.....A-State Wins!

[Rekdiver]

Tied 3:29 left in the half

[huskie3]

Neither can stop the other, they are only stopping themselves with turnovers, penalties.

[AppOrange]

GSU throwing the ball a lot

[Yosefus]

This does not look like as strong a GASo team as in the past. Something does seem to be missing

[Saint3333]

Why don't any of their offensive lineman have jersey big enough for their bellies.

Neither team looks good thus far.

[EastHallApp]

I have a sort of morbid curiosity about this game. I am not at all worried about needing someone to beat stAte "for us" - they are terrible and I can't imagine them being a factor in the conference title race.

GS has not looked as good as they did the past couple years. I think some of that has to do with tweaking the offense, but I don't know if that's the whole story.

Bottom line is somebody's going to take a damaging loss tonight, and I won't be shedding any tears either way.

[AppFan11]

GASO has changed their offense. They are trying to pass more. They also relegated Breida to running between the tackles. They have taken a guy who was averaging 8.5 yds per carry to less than 4 yds per carry. GASO also has commited for the 2017 class a 6'3'' 236 lbs pro-style QB.