Apparently App has legitimately been considered in Belk Bowl talks.

[AppStFan1]

Oh and Boise have to lose as well ^^^

Boise is not that good this year, who knows. Also, we have to consider that the CFP committee reevaluate things each week--with our stud WR going down and a few less than stellar performances, maybe the committee was waiting to see if we can string two big wins together. If we pound ULL and Boise looks like they have all year, we will pass them. If Cinci beats Memphis in a dud game where both teams look like they have at times this year, maybe we pass them too. Who knows? Let's just win baby!

Go read the ULL board. They feel confident they are going to beat us for sure. They admit we have been the man but they say they are taking it from us. I really want to beat them down in a big way. Sadly, I don't think the SBC cares that we win but it would benefit the league greatly for us to win. #BeatLaLa #1-0

[Yosefus]

Would love to see App put on an absolute perfect game Saturday!

[AppStFan1]

Would love to see App put on an absolute perfect game Saturday!

We really need to. They are a good team. If we could win by 50 I want to but I don't think we can. I am expecting a 3-14 point game either way. I really hope I'm wrong and we can pull off a perfect game and force them to make some mistakes.

[appstatealum]

We have to get out on them early and take their will away. Our team is perfectly capable of that.

[AppStFan1]

We have to get out on them early and take their will away. Our team is perfectly capable of that.

We are for sure. They have a good team but we definitely can. They are running some things that they did not run when we last played them. Both teams are better right now. I don't expect the same exact type game and score that we saw before. This will be interesting.

[asu7]

Hoping for a win and a Belk Bowl invite. I went to Nola last year but can’t make it this year due to my in-laws scheduling our Christmas trip at a different time without consulting the App State potential bowl scenario chart I gave them. However, the Belk Bowl is a go if we get there! Fingers crossed! #freeappstate

[ASUTodd]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

[BTK2000]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

“We”? I didn’t realize the forum members had been promoted to the starting lineup. Put me in coach!

[ASUTodd]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

“We”? I didn’t realize the forum members had been promoted to the starting lineup. Put me in coach!

If it's not "we"... Then none of us need to come to the games.....

[diehardapp18]

I think App will win because Louisiana is not as good as App is

[appstatealum]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

“We”? I didn’t realize the forum members had been promoted to the starting lineup. Put me in coach!

If it's not "we"... Then none of us need to come to the games.....

Agree. App State has always been a "We", that's why our culture is so special.

[appstatealum]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

I am hearing that they aren't really bothered by it all and "they have been through it before". I think us fans get more caught up in the Bowl stuff, senior bowl, NFL, staying going and coaching stuff more than the kids do. This group is pretty resilient. There was a lot of "distraction" going on earlier in the year and they overcame it and won a lot of games.

One of my thoughts too, is if Eli is truly interviewing for a job, he is going to want to showcase what he can offer Saturday. So if anything, he should be fired up and be projecting that on to this locker room.

[hotrod2001]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

I am hearing that they aren't really bothered by it all and "they have been through it before". I think us fans get more caught up in the Bowl stuff, senior bowl, NFL, staying going and coaching stuff more than the kids do. This group is pretty resilient. There was a lot of "distraction" going on earlier in the year and they overcame it and won a lot of games.

One of my thoughts too, is if Eli is truly interviewing for a job, he is going to want to showcase what he can offer Saturday. So if anything, he should be fired up and be projecting that on to this locker room.

If you take Drink at his word, it’s almost as if the locker room culture lives in a bubble and they only focus on what’s next on the calendar. Even with Drink’s interview on SiriusXM the other day he wasn’t biting on questions regarding bowls, everything was about “Ring Week” as he’s apparently calling it.


If that’s the case, all of the distractions and concerns fall on the pundits and message board residents, which is a good thing.

[bigdaddyg]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

I am hearing that they aren't really bothered by it all and "they have been through it before". I think us fans get more caught up in the Bowl stuff, senior bowl, NFL, staying going and coaching stuff more than the kids do. This group is pretty resilient. There was a lot of "distraction" going on earlier in the year and they overcame it and won a lot of games.

One of my thoughts too, is if Eli is truly interviewing for a job, he is going to want to showcase what he can offer Saturday. So if anything, he should be fired up and be projecting that on to this locker room.

I am amazed that teams like Clemson, Ohio State and LSU can maintain their focus. They all have guys who will get drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL, will be invited to the premier All-Star games, will be in the final 4, etc.

Granted we have achieved new heights but if we have gone this far and lay an egg tomorrow due to the "outside noise" we didn't deserve it anyways. I believe this team will be hyper-focused and will whip some tail.

[ericsaid]

Oh and Boise have to lose as well ^^^

Boise is not that good this year, who knows. Also, we have to consider that the CFP committee reevaluate things each week--with our stud WR going down and a few less than stellar performances, maybe the committee was waiting to see if we can string two big wins together. If we pound ULL and Boise looks like they have all year, we will pass them. If Cinci beats Memphis in a dud game where both teams look like they have at times this year, maybe we pass them too. Who knows? Let's just win baby!

Go read the ULL board. They feel confident they are going to beat us for sure. They admit we have been the man but they say they are taking it from us. I really want to beat them down in a big way. Sadly, I don't think the SBC cares that we win but it would benefit the league greatly for us to win. #BeatLaLa #1-0

Go check out their twitter. They have this cool-ish feature on every weeks game. Basically an edited highlight tape but it offers some insight into the pre-game motivational and halftime speech given by Napier. He told them at the end of our game to keep their heads high as that's the type of games they prepared to play all offseason. He concluded by saying that as long as they finished the season the right way, they would get another shot.

I don't usually take personal looks at what other schools do with their teams but I came away with a healthy respect for their coach and team.

That said I hope App wins by 40.

[ericsaid]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

I am hearing that they aren't really bothered by it all and "they have been through it before". I think us fans get more caught up in the Bowl stuff, senior bowl, NFL, staying going and coaching stuff more than the kids do. This group is pretty resilient. There was a lot of "distraction" going on earlier in the year and they overcame it and won a lot of games.

One of my thoughts too, is if Eli is truly interviewing for a job, he is going to want to showcase what he can offer Saturday. So if anything, he should be fired up and be projecting that on to this locker room.

I am amazed that teams like Clemson, Ohio State and LSU can maintain their focus. They all have guys who will get drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL, will be invited to the premier All-Star games, will be in the final 4, etc.

Granted we have achieved new heights but if we have gone this far and lay an egg tomorrow due to the "outside noise" we didn't deserve it anyways. I believe this team will be hyper-focused and will whip some tail.

As Herm Edward's is quoted as saying, it's not really about the game itself, it's about the work you put in. The game cannot be fooled. If you don't put in the work in preparation, you will get beat.

The players understand that. It happens often when you see upsets as it's oftenrelated to lack of preparation. Michigan players were reported to have been out drinking the night before the App game in 2007 and some were hungover. That's what happens when you don't focus on the process.

Schools like Ohio State (now, not under Meyer), Clemson, and Alabama have a hyper focus on the process. Arizona State is undergoing that change and with Herm and his shiny new QB I'd expect them to take over the Pac 12 South next season for the foreseeable future.

[ericsaid]

I think App will win because Louisiana is not as good as App is

Solid take friend. They lack the depth that App has at the moment. All else being equal, App should win, but that's not how football works.

[mountaineerman]

Where has Doug been in our push for the Cotton Bowl bid? Since our conference Commissioner has been non existent ,I did expect a louder Doug to push for us little harder. Maybe he is behind the scene with this Belk bowl thing? If so it would be a brilliant move on his part especially if it comes true.

[MAD Doctor]

Be calm and beat ULL.
In 48 hours or so, everything should be crystal clear.

[ericsaid]

Just like I said in my prediction post....if we don't overcome the distractions and everything else....we lose this game. If you thought GASouth was motivated when it came in and beat us, you ain't seen anything yet.

I am hearing that they aren't really bothered by it all and "they have been through it before". I think us fans get more caught up in the Bowl stuff, senior bowl, NFL, staying going and coaching stuff more than the kids do. This group is pretty resilient. There was a lot of "distraction" going on earlier in the year and they overcame it and won a lot of games.

One of my thoughts too, is if Eli is truly interviewing for a job, he is going to want to showcase what he can offer Saturday. So if anything, he should be fired up and be projecting that on to this locker room.

One of the perks of being in Boone really. It is somewhat insulated from the noise in that there is no huge media outlet touting or watching their every move. The locals and students likely make a big deal about it but it's not like being in a big city.

Kudos should also be given to the senior leadership on the team. Those guys have been in this position before and seen their ranking and accolades slip away in the blink of an eye. No one cared that Thomas was injured of Fehr ejected, only that App lost, ugly and to a rival, on national TV.

If anything, trying to stave off the embarrassment of that loss is likely a bigger motivator than believing you are too good. It's all in game prep which is a daily process beginning during bowl prep each season that Carries over into the next calendar year. Complacency could set in if not for running the risk of being that group that regresses.

They push just as hard because the coaches of both staffs knew that to get to a point of being considered for a Belk Bowl or Cotton Bowl, each year is a block. You haven't accomplished anything that wasn't already attainable. Go out and work for what you want because if you don't, I can think of two programs in Georgia Southern and Louisiana that will.