For the first time decades, Appalachian State is anxious. There's that losing season to deal with, the program's first since 1993. The Mountaineers went 4-8 last fall, starting 1-6 before finding a rhythm late in Southern Conference play. There's the anxiety of a coaching change entering its second season: Scott Satterfield, a former ASU assistant, was the second first-year coach in the last 50 years to win fewer than five games in his debut.

And there's the anxiety involved with reaching uncharted territory, one shared by fellow Football Bowl Subdivision newcomers like Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion. Like Georgia Southern, the Mountaineers will slot into the Sun Belt Conference as a multiple-time national champion on the Football Championship Subdivision level.


Appalachian State led the FCS in average attendance in each of the last seven seasons. Last fall, the Mountaineers averaged 24,894 fans for its six home games. The highest average during this span was in 2010, when ASU hosted an average of 29,449 per game. One note: ASU's last two seasons – 24,450 in 2012 joining last fall – is the program's lowest two-year average since 2005-6, when it averaged 23,169 and 22,589, respectively.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... r/8710131/

This was an interesting read. Like the guy who wrote for the Orlando Sentinel, they have a pretty "big picture" view. They know the highlights and stats. Maybe a C+ or B- effort. I do think he's right that Ga So. will be behind us. I also think at the end of the day you have to compare us to whom we play. And I think when you do that, we have more answers than the majority of the SB (not UL-L maybe not UL-M) This is assuming no major injuries to key people. Comparing us against our FBS losses means little when they were all BCS teams. It would have been a lot different if our losses came to lets say, MAC teams for instance.

At least there is the chance to beat expectations when they are this low:

"Now, 2014: I'm thinking three or four wins, thanks in heavy part to the two games against FCS competition and home dates with Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Idaho. Given this team's personnel – which isn't totally awful – the Mountaineers should escape from the bottom of the Sun Belt, though not from the bottom 10-15 teams in the FBS. For starters, let's think about the weaknesses. One is the offensive line; there's no escaping the idea that this group will struggle in the transition. The secondary is a mess, one fueled by the lack of a proven pass rush. The receiver corps is in bad shape, the return game is an unknown and the team as a whole must adjust to the stronger schedule. It's not a terrific combination."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... r/8710131/

I agree hap, there certainly is a big chance to exceed this kind of expectation. I think he used some gross generalizations to support his ranking. I will say though, I do like the fact that at least people from all over are writing about us. That's a big plus in the marketing your brand column.

hapapp wrote:At least there is the chance to beat expectations when they are this low:

"Now, 2014: I'm thinking three or four wins, thanks in heavy part to the two games against FCS competition and home dates with Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Idaho. Given this team's personnel – which isn't totally awful – the Mountaineers should escape from the bottom of the Sun Belt, though not from the bottom 10-15 teams in the FBS. For starters, let's think about the weaknesses. One is the offensive line; there's no escaping the idea that this group will struggle in the transition. The secondary is a mess, one fueled by the lack of a proven pass rush. The receiver corps is in bad shape, the return game is an unknown and the team as a whole must adjust to the stronger schedule. It's not a terrific combination."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... r/8710131/

Well first we play Southern in Statesboro. We might be bad for our record, but a lot better than 2013. I really think our Secondary will be fine, there might be a surprise or two there....The OL is not deep but it I think they are playing a lot better. I think offensively we will play to our one obvious strength....the running game.

I actually see the QB play the real unknown and question mark!

....I go back to one important...our ENTIRE coaching staff is in tact. They had opportunities and they all stayed.....coaches with options do not stay with a sinking ship.

For a national outlet, I'd say that's actually a very nice, in-depth team profile. Markedly better than the Sentinel one, IMO.

FWIW, while his assessment of the OL is probably fair, it sounds like the staff expects the redshirt freshmen to help out there, especially Beau Nunn.

I think it's a fair assessment. Pretty much sums up what we all know in our hearts. 4 to 5 wins are attainable, good season would be more, disaster would be one or two. Line, receivers and secondary are all question marks at this point.

Good overall review as mentioned. It was obviously written only taking into account what was on the roster NOW in the spring and not who is coming in the fall and can make an immediate impact.

I think he grossly underrated the size of our LB corp too.

It's time to get back some sorely missed SWAG. Go Apps!

Yep, we did to beat some other FBS teams.
Especially after GaSo beat Florida late last year.

Thought I'd check back in with these rankings, if for no other reason than to have something to read besides more Michael Jackson jokes on the recruiting thread. As of this writing, they're up to team #81.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... 7fyBIBCl2w

Teams of note:

Opponents:

87. UL-Monroe
113. Southern Miss
121. Idaho
124. Georgia Southern
125. Georgia St.

Still to come:

Michigan
South Alabama
Troy
Arkansas St.
UL-Lafayette

Sun Belt teams App doesn't play this year:

91. Texas St.
115. New Mexico St.

Future opponents:

94. Akron
106. Old Dominion

I would have to say that this assessment is pretty well done and it is hard to disagree with most of his concerns for 2014. He appears to agree with my opinion that 2015 is when the team will really start showing improvement as this years recruits and a few freshmen from the 2015 class start to bring App up to the next level. It also remains to be seen if the current coaching staff is up to the task as they are unproven on the FBS level and last year was not a great indicator. Also both the OL and DL must play better to allow the skill position players to reach their potential.

I agree 4 wins would be "okay" and anything better than 5 would be very good in this transition year.

[quote="SpeedkingATL"]I would have to say that this assessment is pretty well done and it is hard to disagree with most of his concerns for 2014. He appears to agree with my opinion that 2015 is when the team will really start showing improvement as this years recruits and a few freshmen from the 2015 class start to bring App up to the next level. It also remains to be seen if the current coaching staff is up to the task as they are unproven on the FBS level and last year was not a great indicator. Also both the OL and DL must play better to allow the skill position players to reach their potential.

I agree 4 wins would be "okay" and anything better than 5 would be very good in this transition year.[/quote]

Exactly. Campbell and Liberty should be automatic, and then Ga State & Idaho were both combined 3-23 last season. Anything more, we should be thanking God. Go App!

Oh all you of little faith. 6 wins

I always think like our players SO I am going to say 12 and that number would be 13 if we were bowl eligible this year! GO APPS!!!!

Update: USA and Troy both check in in the 70s.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... 7fyBIBCl2w

Teams of note:

Opponents:

72. South Alabama
77. Troy
87. UL-Monroe
113. Southern Miss
121. Idaho
124. Georgia Southern
125. Georgia St.

Still to come:

Michigan
Arkansas St.
UL-Lafayette

Sun Belt teams App doesn't play this year:

91. Texas St.
115. New Mexico St.

Future opponents:

94. Akron
106. Old Dominion[/quote]

Old Dominion is ranked ahead of us? Ahead of anybody? They're the worst team I've ever seen. UNC had them 80+ in the 3rd quarter or early 4th and they had to call the game early.

Looks like we're going to have to prove ourselves worthy.

AppAttack wrote:Old Dominion is ranked ahead of us? Ahead of anybody? They're the worst team I've ever seen. UNC had them 80+ in the 3rd quarter or early 4th and they had to call the game early.

And yet they blew out Idaho. Gives you an idea of how weak the bottom of the Sun Belt is.