Bowl game thread

[appchicago]

One more quick note about last night’s game:

Did anyone else get flashes of last year’s game against Toledo, where in the early part they just wanted to talk about the other team’s QB’s dominance and NFL potential, until we completely frustrated and embarrassed that vaunted QB?

I love when that happens. I call it the “Flacco Effect.”

[ASU3432Mi]

Olivia Dekker.....Wow!!

[WASU 93]

Anyone else feel like there were several things that happened last night which simply would not have happened had Satt still been here:

The two trick plays, the on-side kick (I kind of questioned that one), actually putting Peoples in the game.

I loved Satt but dang it got frustrating many times thinking that we are so loaded with weapons but don’t unleash them. Last night showed it.

In fairness, (and they did a helluva job) the coaching staff last night was playing with house money. They could open up the playbook with no regard to saving plays for the next game.

As great as the staff was last night, the players flat out wanted it. They responded to the challenges defensively, they responded to the MTSU cheap shots and they wanted it in the second half. Evans wanted to break it, everytime he touched the ball. Sutton took it up a notch. The blocking downfield on Peoples run was spectacular, Duck was not going to fair catch a ball in traffic on the targeting play, the kicking game was confident.

The onside kick play just wasn’t executed. One of our coaching staff spent a long time with Duck heading into the huddle. Rubino hit a good ball, it just didn’t work out.

If you are reading this and you are not a Yosef Club member, join for $25. Ask for it as a Christmas gift. Be a part of something special.

[appgrad]

Olivia Dekker.....Wow!!

Kevin Harlan's daughter, and married to NBA player Sam Dekker. I'm sure it was real hard for her to break in with those looks and connections!

[appgrad]

That is where Satt really f**ked us, all the rest of this is expected, but insisting on the low buy out was a screw job. He knew he was going to take the first offer he got and wanted to look as attractive as possible with no buy out baggage. Now is when it hurts, if we’d had a contact buy out clause we would have a couple million to use as enticement. This is where he threw us under the bus not trying to take staff, that’s normal.

Satt was an attractive candidate BECAUSE of his low buyout, for sure. If he had the same buyout as Neal Brown, I think he's still here for a few more years and they hire Mike Norvell or someone like that (who, incindentally has the same agent, and same low buyout)

Obviously, I wouldn't complain...but I don't think Lville was going to pay a big buyout for anyone except Brohm.

Louisville, to me, is a Top 15-20 job in the right guy's hands. P5, big donors, decent recruiting turf, etc. It's the exact kind of job I was worried about losing Satt to. Still can't believe UNC didn't even kick the tires.

That said - we have a good buyout in place for Drink that will likely keep him here 3-4 years even with big success. He has no obvious ties to big programs, so no one is going to "come get him and bring home". I think they can pay to keep the guys he wants to keep around - we just may have to get creative.

[Rekdiver]

Some props to the announcers. Very complementary on the program and the community. Nice job of changing pace after we took charge of the game.

[AppStFan1]

The best thing that could have happened, happened. And that was annoucing Drink just before this game and allowing him to meet the fanbase, the team and coaches during the week then see how the players responded.

Drink graduated summa cum laude and was the student body president in both HS and College. This was the perfect introduction to the Mountaineer family.

It was also great to see Coach Moore bending his ear on the sidelines just before kick.

Given this, his pregame interview and his experience in Boise, I get the sense he understands “culture”.... we are in good hands & I am stoked for next season. #RankAppstate & #PreSeasonTop25

We did all we can for this year but we have to take it one game at a time next year. If we do that, stay focused, healthy, and continue this improved playcalling then there is a shot for something special that 90% of our fanbase thought could never happen and I believe 60% still don't think can happen. Go 1-0 every week in 2019 and stay healthy and I think most here would be very surprised at what can happen.

[AZAppGrad]

I thought the announcers did a good job last night, especially their positive comments about the university and the Boone area. It was also great to see Alvin Gentry speaking to the team. I am excited for next year and could not be more proud to be a Mountaineer. I’m also looking forward to increasing my contribution to the Yosef club! Let’s pay whatever it takes to keep as many of these great coaches as we can.

[ASU85Grad]

I'm with you chicagoapp. First part of the game I wondered if the announcers knew who MTSU was playing. I admit the coach and his son was a good story, but I felt like it took App taking MTSU to the woodshed before they starting talking about App. After that it was very positive.

[appstatealum]

Bowl folks saying official attendance was just shy of 24k..... I’m not buying it. I’d say MTSU had 3k, we had 3x to 4x more, so at the most, we had 12k App Fans. Can’t wait to get home and check out the broadcast.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

There was some sort of fun run mentioned pre game that was giving away free tickets. Maybe those were counted wether they were claimed or not.

[appstatealum]

There was some sort of fun run mentioned pre game that was giving away free tickets. Maybe those were counted wether they were claimed or not.

Yeah, there was a decent contingent of “neutral” observers via that fun run, local organizations and the local cheerleader teams that were there, but not 10k worth.

[Yosefus]

I will be driving 7 hours tomorrow. Looking forward to listening to ESPNU radio and what the talking heads have to say on the First Team, Full Ride and Playbook. We got a lot of love this season from Rick Neuheisel on Full Ride. Last week was a mixed bag on all their picks in our game. Proud to be a Mountaineer!

[appfanz]

I will be driving 7 hours tomorrow. Looking forward to listening to ESPNU radio and what the talking heads have to say on the First Team, Full Ride and Playbook. We got a lot of love this season from Rick Neuheisel on Full Ride. Last week was a mixed bag on all their picks in our game. Proud to be a Mountaineer!

I sent a tweet to Childers last night. He’s a MTSU grad and was talking about having a big party to watch the game. I guess we ruined that??

[Yosefus]

Ha. Forgot the show pony was MTSU grad. Hope he catches a bunch of crap over it.

[WASU 93]

One more note:

MTSU fair caught all of our kickoffs except for the failed onside kick.

For the season, they only returned 4 Kickoffs (and 8 punts). Thankfully, we do not follow this practice with athletes like Evans, Duck and Hennington! (ASU returned 23 Kickoffs and 28 Punts this season)

[Rekdiver]

Herbstreit missed again.

[appstate77]

Herbstreit missed again.

And this is a surprise?.....

[Rekdiver]

Herbstreit missed again.

And this is a surprise?.....

No... but it’s fun to keep mentioning it!!!

[PennywiseEsquire]

Herbstreit missed again.

I’m just glad he’s finally learning how to pronounce Appalachian.