Next season's Wake game

[asu66]

Trust me. This will be a Ron Wellman show. Wake will treat it like going to a third-world nation to bring a little culture to the natives. They'll come in arrogant and aloof, expecting to get an easy win and pig-out at The Peddler afterward.

It'll be interesting for T-Dog to dig into the contract to see if Wake demanded ACC refs. That one thing could be the difference in a close contest.

[Yosef84]

A lot of folks seem to believe we are going to manhandle Wake. Although I certainly HOPE we do, I think this game could be very tough. Wake's D has played very well and they shut down Temple's running game. Their O was mediocre but they don't lose any key players and a year can make a huge difference for a college player. I just hope we show up and play focused, Mountaineer football!

Wake's Offense played well in the first half against Temple and lost steam when the QB went down early in the 3rd. I don't see how you discount that injury as the primary cause for their second half woes. We all know first hand what happens to a D when the O can't stay on the field for more than 3 plays so this impacts both sides of the game.

Scheduling App seems to be the best thing a P5 can do. We put them on the schedule and suddenly negative trends reverse and they start playing at a higher level (Tennessee and Miami both fit that description this year).

[Rick83]

Trust me. This will be a Ron Wellman show. Wake will treat it like going to a third-world nation to bring a little culture to the natives. They'll come in arrogant and aloof, expecting to get an easy win and pig-out at The Peddler afterward.

It'll be interesting for T-Dog to dig into the contract to see if Wake demanded ACC refs. That one thing could be the difference in a close contest.

I'm sure there will be some arrogance but the Wake fans I've been around in the past 30 years all have respect for App football. They are fully aware that we won roughly a third of the games we've played, and which were all played on their home field and all played with us being at the FCS level...and they always seemed amazed at the amount of people that "came down the mountain" to support the Mountaineers. Even most of the games we lost to Wake were by close margins that went down to the wire. They are also fully aware that, despite the close proximity and natural rivalry that had developed, that it was Wake's decision to stop the series and they started scheduling less challenging FCS teams that they knew they could beat. I am very close friends with a Wake fan and he keeps up with App also (because of me) and we've actually attended the App/Wake games in the past where we've won and he's already brought up how worried he is about the game in Boone. So...I doubt they're going to be too aloof...BUT they're not going to be a push-over, they are beatable for sure but they're going to give us all they've got because of the history if nothing else.

[EastHallApp]

Scheduling App seems to be the best thing a P5 can do. We put them on the schedule and suddenly negative trends reverse and they start playing at a higher level (Tennessee and Miami both fit that description this year).

Not really. Tennessee was 9-4 last year, 8-4 this year. Miami was 8-5 last year, 9-4 this year.

In reality the only team in recent years that's had an unusually good year when we've played them was Clemson.

[Yosef84]

Scheduling App seems to be the best thing a P5 can do. We put them on the schedule and suddenly negative trends reverse and they start playing at a higher level (Tennessee and Miami both fit that description this year).

Not really. Tennessee was 9-4 last year, 8-4 this year. Miami was 8-5 last year, 9-4 this year.

In reality the only team in recent years that's had an unusually good year when we've played them was Clemson.

Tennessee wasn't 8-4 when we scheduled them. In 2014 they were 7-6 overall but only 3 conference wins. 2013 they were 5-7 overall with 2 conference wins. They hadn't been a factor in the SEC East for a while before 2015. Miami had been an underachiever for years as well and the trend wasn't considered to be reversing. That's why they now have Mark Richt. Maybe I overstated a bit since I was mostly joking from an App perspective. Clemson certainly fits that patterns though....and possibly now Wake.

[Yosef84]

Scheduling App seems to be the best thing a P5 can do. We put them on the schedule and suddenly negative trends reverse and they start playing at a higher level (Tennessee and Miami both fit that description this year).

Not really. Tennessee was 9-4 last year, 8-4 this year. Miami was 8-5 last year, 9-4 this year.

In reality the only team in recent years that's had an unusually good year when we've played them was Clemson.

Tennessee wasn't 8-4 when we scheduled them. In 2014 they were 7-6 overall but only 3 conference wins. 2013 they were 5-7 overall with 2 conference wins. They hadn't been a factor in the SEC East for a while before 2015. Miami had been an underachiever for years as well and the trend wasn't considered to be reversing. That's why they now have Mark Richt. Maybe I overstated a bit since I was mostly joking from an App perspective. Clemson certainly fits that patterns though....and possibly now Wake.

[hapapp]

You made your point!

[WVAPPeer]

I view the WF game as a totally different situation than the Miami game. APP was basically in a "no-lose" situation with Miami - 1. No one really expected us to win - 2. Historically Miami is football powerhouse with multiple national championships - 3. Anyone who knows football knows the quality of players they have with all the high school talent in Florida - 4. They were bringing an NFL QB and NFL receivers to Boone and certainly some defensive players who will be in the NFL - 5. It's THE U

WF is almost the opposite and boarders closely to a "no-win" situation - 1. DISCLAIMER - We as APP fans know this not to be true, we know the history of this series, we, unlike the rest of the nation, know that WF is NOT a sorry, low-level P5 program as a whole and this would be a huge win for the program - 2. they are not Kansas, Iowa State, Rutgers, etc. level although many perceive them as that - 3. The game is in Boone where we should win - 4. APP is becoming known through out the FBS as a program on a rapid rise - 4. APP should have all the motivation and certainly should win this game - 5. it's a football game against WAKE FOREST

I tried to make these generalized perception points, not necessarily how you and I feel - However, with that being said - THIS IS A MUST WIN FOR THE GROWTH OF APP FOOTBALL - or it's going to be perceived as - "COME ON MAN, YOU COULDN'T BEAT WAKE FOREST IN BOONE - DON'T TELL ME HOW GOOD YOU ARE, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T"

[89gradX2]

I agree. We have to start winning these games or at least some of them. And the fact that we are getting these games in Boone makes it even more necessary to WIN! I had a UT fan in Knoxville ask me on Friday after the game, "Did you guys really expect to Win?" I said "YES!" I love those expectations. Can't wait for the season to start!!!!

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Wake was 6-6 going into the bowl. A win against them is not going to get attention from anybody. They are a P5 in name only. The game will be fun due to our history and proximity.

See Western Michigan's season for disproving this point.

They ran the table and beat two P5 teams. I realize that one was Illinois but the fact is that they also ran the table. Now if we ran the table with Georgia being one of the wins that is a different story. My comment is that beating Wake is just no big deal outside of NC.

Agree that beating Wake alone wouldn't be considered a big deal nationally. But I do think if we went, say, 11-1 with a loss to UGA, at least having a win over a P5 (and maybe a respectable one if this season is any indication) would put us in the running for the NY6 if there's no unbeaten G5 team.

Regardless, beating Wake would be very important for a number of reasons beyond rankings/bowl games for next year.

Replace one of Western Michigan's victories with a loss to Ohio State, you still think they get in?

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Trust me. This will be a Ron Wellman show. Wake will treat it like going to a third-world nation to bring a little culture to the natives. They'll come in arrogant and aloof, expecting to get an easy win and pig-out at The Peddler afterward.

It'll be interesting for T-Dog to dig into the contract to see if Wake demanded ACC refs. That one thing could be the difference in a close contest.

Miami game had ACC officials if I remember correctly. I would think Wake would make a similar demand. Didn't think the calls were that bad against the Miami game, but then again the game wasn't really close. Could be a different story if we have ACC refs in a close game with Wake.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Wake has no finished plugging their schedule for next year. Wonder if they will schedule a tune up game before ours? I also wonder if we will have an open date, or if we will play that early season conference game.

[WataugaMan]

"Could be a different story if we have ACC refs in a close game with Wake."

You can be guaranteed that it will, but, to our favor there will be video replay this time. Hopefully the refs (whoever reviews plays from the booth) will call the game fairly.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

"Could be a different story if we have ACC refs in a close game with Wake."

You can be guaranteed that it will, but, to our favor there will be video replay this time. Hopefully the refs (whoever reviews plays from the booth) will call the game fairly.

Questionable pass interference can't be reviewed. Or phantom holding calls. Only penalty that can be reviewed is targeting.

[EastHallApp]

Wake was 6-6 going into the bowl. A win against them is not going to get attention from anybody. They are a P5 in name only. The game will be fun due to our history and proximity.

See Western Michigan's season for disproving this point.

They ran the table and beat two P5 teams. I realize that one was Illinois but the fact is that they also ran the table. Now if we ran the table with Georgia being one of the wins that is a different story. My comment is that beating Wake is just no big deal outside of NC.

Agree that beating Wake alone wouldn't be considered a big deal nationally. But I do think if we went, say, 11-1 with a loss to UGA, at least having a win over a P5 (and maybe a respectable one if this season is any indication) would put us in the running for the NY6 if there's no unbeaten G5 team.

Regardless, beating Wake would be very important for a number of reasons beyond rankings/bowl games for next year.

Replace one of Western Michigan's victories with a loss to Ohio State, you still think they get in?

This year... probably so, only because there were no other really good options. Most years, I doubt it.

[WataugaMan]

"Could be a different story if we have ACC refs in a close game with Wake."

You can be guaranteed that it will, but, to our favor there will be video replay this time. Hopefully the refs (whoever reviews plays from the booth) will call the game fairly.

Questionable pass interference can't be reviewed. Or phantom holding calls. Only penalty that can be reviewed is targeting.

How about things such as: spotting of the ball, false start vs encroachment, fumble recovery, was the pass caught or not, etc?

[T-Dog]

As much as I hate to admit it, the hold on Meadors on Cox's injury run vs Miami was legit. Ron "He was giving him the business" Cherry was the head official.

Usually the refs in a home and home are supplied by the away team, so unless App's series with Wake has different language in the contract, I would expect ACC refs.

[TheMoody1]

Usually the refs in a home and home are supplied by the away team, so unless App's series with Wake has different language in the contract, I would expect ACC refs.

So, we should expect Sun Belt refs for our return visits to Miami and Wake?

[WVAPPeer]

As much as I hate to admit it, the hold on Meadors on Cox's injury run vs Miami was legit. Ron "He was giving him the business" Cherry was the head official.

Usually the refs in a home and home are supplied by the away team, so unless App's series with Wake has different language in the contract, I would expect ACC refs.

I was watching that game a few years ago when Ron Cherry came out with that line - "He was giving the QB the business" - I remember laughing out loud ---

[9Steelman]

This series makes so much sense, guarantees sellout, low travel time and costs, players don't have to miss any classes, local economies reap the benefit of 30,000 to 35,000 at both places spending money, coaches families from visiting schools can attend. This scheduling close series with teams in other conferences who are within 100 to 150 miles is way to easy, simple, cost effective - what am I missing? Makes so much sense!!!