Since this is off-season and we need stuff to talk about I was thinking about what would be the bar for the 2020 Football season. We have a lot of returning offensive players, especially skill players. The Defense will have some challenges reloading in several places. We have a new coaching staff, again. However, we are App State and we expect to win championships and I would expect this new staff, especially with Shawn Clark at the helm to be satisfied with nothing less.

I am listing what I believe would be an expectation (My Bar) for this season. I realize several things have to happen to achieve each of these. Some are in our control and others may be dependent on outside factors (injuries, other team's performances, etc.). All of the following are within our reach at this point so I don't want to hear people talk about why any of these are beyond our reach.

Must achieve (basic)
1) Make bowl - no brainer, season would be a disaster if we don't make it to a bowl
2) Win Sun Belt East which gets us to SBC Championship Game

Should achieve - would be disappointed if we don't achieve
3) Win Sun Belt Championship game (this is an expectation at this point, I would be disappointed if we do not win SBC game)
3) Top 25 rating during season. Ideally ranked at end of season.

Could achieve - would mean season is exceptional (again)
4) Undefeated regular season
5) NY6 bowl (likely require #4 as pre-requisite)

Fantastic season - best ever but achievable
6) NY6 bowl win (result would mean highest ranking ever at end of season)

Tough to say.

I’d measure it in realistic goals vs expectations. I say “realistic” goals because while I get goals are stretches, I’m also not going to sit here and say “our goal is to win the National Championship in 2020”. Because that’s just not possible. Yet.


Expectations - 9+ wins
I see 6 games on the calendar that are wins barring a catastrophic season.
I see 6 games that when I see the opponent, could understand a loss. Doesn’t mean I expect to lose all 6, just that we could lose any of them.

So my expectation is we win the 6 we should and win half of the games we could. 9+ wins. The plus is because we’d get a bowl game for sure and maybe a conference championship game with 9 wins.


The goal is easy. Beat “P5 team XYZ” in a NY6 game. All the other accolades will come with that and the prerequisites to even be there would be insane.

Beating “P5 team XYZ” would become the biggest win in program history and do at the FBS level what Michigan did for us at the FCS level.

Minimum - 7 regular season wins

Ok Season that people won't accept - 8 wins with close losses to Wake and ULL, and a couple of losses due to injury or just poor showings

Good Season - 9 wins with a P5 win

Great Season - One P5 win and trip to SBC title game

Awesome Season - 12-2 or better, winning SBC title and bowl game

Anything above that is world class.

Last year was great, but I think it was the perfect storm. Great team coming off of great leadership with a very winnable P5 schedule. We were 2-3 minutes away from the pinnacle of G5 football, a NY6 bowl game.
Both P5’s are going to be more difficult this year. Wake is going to be a good measuring stick for our program next year, and can be winnable, but it’s no gimmie.
Wisconsin will be very tough, more like our Penn st matchup. We can compete and even win, but we have to play perfect and maybe even above our heads.
A win at wake and Wisconsin will solidify us as the toughest G5 school and prove to many doubters where we are at as a program.
A win at wake and competitive loss to Wisconsin shows potential and that we are among the top G5 teams.
A loss to both isn’t a reason to panic or think Clark isn’t the right choice for HC, but will definitely ding our perception as a top tier G5 school.
This is the toughest schedule we have had in a while, with expectations higher than ever.
An undefeated or 1 loss season will be a major accomplishment. 2-3 losses won’t be a reason to panic, but rather a reflection of a tougher season when compared to last season.
We need to be realistic in our expectations for the season as a whole. Yes I expect to win all games, but this season is much tougher than years past

I agree with 9 wins and one of those over a P5. Very doable.

Going to be interesting to see how the new coaching staff works out and how our team responds to two years in a row of having to deal with that. Throw in the loss of Evans, ADG, and other seniors and we could be humbled. I'm hoping reload with superior senior leadership this year.

You mean Where is the Bar for 2020?

Rekdiver wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 10, 2020 3:07 pm

You mean Where is the Bar for 2020?

English never was my strong suit. I am just a redneck country boy that did okay for himself despite my rais'n. I was a Physics guy. Facts are all that matter to me.

AtlAppMan wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:09 pm

Rekdiver wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 10, 2020 3:07 pm

You mean Where is the Bar for 2020?

English never was my strong suit. I am just a redneck country boy that did okay for himself despite my rais'n. I was a Physics guy. Facts are all that matter to me.

I was trying to be clever as “Bar” as in Pub....

My bar is set at the SBC Championship, whatever record that requires, knuckle dragging the Stink, and a bowl win.

Lets get down to brass tacks here...

- Morgan St: Win
- Wake Forest: Win
- Wisconsin: Winnable but probably a loss. Feels like Penn St
- UMass: Win
- ULL: Toss up
- Georgia Southern: Win
- ArkSt: Win
- ULM: Win
- TXST: Win
- GS: Win
- CCU: Win
- Troy: Win. Probably close but its cold in Boone in late November

Switch the Wake and UL games and you have it. We should beat Wake and will beat UL.

As much as I want to split hairs, I think the OP pretty much reflects my view.

I want to beat Wake badly. I'd be happy with 9/10 wins.

appfanjj wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:44 pm

Switch the Wake and UL games and you have it. We should beat Wake and will beat UL.

ZT & Hennegan are going to want to put points on Wake given how the last game ended. I don't disagree with you but I think the guys have this one circled on the schedule. Lots of App fans in the stands with a new Wake QB gives me confidence on this one.

ULLLLLL is going to get one sooner or later. Honestly I'd rather it be in October and not December.

Good topic and discussion. If we dig up basically the same thread from last year the overwhelming bar level was to win the Belt and championship along with beating the Heels and obviously the bowl win. The win at USC was hopeful but really not expected by the realists on the board. We hoped for the undefeated season and the NY6 win and really came close to the chance. We were cautiously optimistic due to the coaching change.

This next season I see a ridiculous offense that should light up the scoreboard but we might have to win a few shootouts. Hopefully we fill the holes on defense and just roll on. I put the bar at a 14-0 season coupled with a NY6 victory but that is my heart talking. My head says 10-2 regular season with a Wake win and another conference stinker. A win at Wisconsin would be crazy awesome and who knows. Can’t wait.

Saint3333 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 10, 2020 1:51 pm

Minimum - 7 regular season wins

Ok Season that people won't accept - 8 wins with close losses to Wake and ULL, and a couple of losses due to injury or just poor showings

Good Season - 9 wins with a P5 win

Great Season - One P5 win and trip to SBC title game

Awesome Season - 12-2 or better, winning SBC title and bowl game

Anything above that is world class.

I agree with all of this. I would also add an undefeated conference season would be Great. It is about the only thing left for us to accomplish.

We are definitely replacing some key players on D but that seems to be the norm these days. I'm amazed at how consistently good we've been on D despite the loss of major talent over the past few years. I'm hopeful that the trend continues! Based on our recruiting and what I believe to be an EXCELLENT coaching staff, I believe it will.

Offense is loaded but we are replacing a couple of very good OLs. Again, we have some young talent and I'm optimistic.

Replacing the players leaving is always a concern but my nature is to assume success until proven otherwise. No, I'm not delusional but there is no benefit for me (as a fan) to dwell on the negative. I'm here because I love the ride!

GO APPS!

Expectations
9 or 10 win season
Top 30 all season, mostly Top 25 for back half of season
Big year for Zac/Sutton/Henning - I feel like Zac was battling some anxiety with Drink and never got back to the form we saw the year prior. We all saw the cuffs Drink put on Sutton.
Bowl victory and a Top 20 finish

I just have some lower expectations from the RB group, but hope they are better than I expect.

I'm glad no one, (at least, so far) is saying "G5 Access Bowl or bust".

I think we are in a great situation again this year, with some toss up games. But as long as we have a winning season overall I will be happy. 9-4 could happen with (Wis. ULL, WF, and GaSo). Shawn is 'an App guy' but I hope he's ready. I know I'm ready for September 5th to get it rolling! Lots of potential this year if the cards fall in our favor.