Football picked fourth by Sun Belt coaches

[T-Dog]

South Alabama, who is replacing all but five returning starters, got a first place vote but not App State.

Fire = Lit

[EastHallApp]

Wow. I'm not shocked at being picked fourth, but a little surprised at no 1st place votes and more surprised at how distant we are behind the others.

Guess it's hard to argue with picking Southern to win the "championship" again. Their schedule is (again) basically the equivalent of starting out with a 10-yard head start in a 40-yard dash.

[AppFan11]

Yea... The coaches better keep their day jobs. I guess old allegiances die hard. They all better hope they can coach better than they can prognosticate . This is to them .... Really dimwits...the team that went 6-2 (third place) Returns more starters than anyone else and plays anyone of consequence AT HOME.... can you spell delusional??

[firemoose]

The good news is we will see 8 of those coaches across the field this year. Just more blackboard material and motivation for the team. Respect is earned. Who's number 1 is decided on the field, not on a piece of paper. Only we can control what we do. Win and the rest will work itself out.

[Gonzo]

I'd like to invite these coaches to join my Fantasy Football League and our bracketology group this March.

Then I can take their money after App goes unbeaten in the Sun Belt this year.

[sixtoes9134]

One thing is for sure, we have a tougher road to a conference championship than Southern

[SpeedkingATL]

With all the glorious predictions written about App over the last few months I'm glad to see a couple that aren't so glowing. This is a VERY young team and bad things can happen when everyone keeps telling you how good you are. I expect any of the top 4 teams have a great shot at winning the Belt and admittedly GaSo likely has the easiest schedule of the 4. This can be the year that App reestablishes The Rock as being "Hell on Earth" for visiting teams and it needs to be with ArkST, GaSo and ULL all coming up the mountain.

Go Apps!

[Yosef84]

This 4th place pick is really irritating, but at the same time I'm actually glad (like others have said) that EVERYONE is not picking App to run the table. Our team is loaded but they are also still young. This can be that shot of reality that they need in order to go into the pre-season with something to prove. This could be a well times slap in the face to stoke the fire in the bellies of our young Apps!

Go Get 'Em Apps! Make them ALL believe!!!!

[T-Dog]

The three teams picked above App all have to come to Boone.

[moehler]

tells me the coaches believe we are closer to the team that started 1-5 than the team that finished 6-0. Still, for team to finish 1st in defense and third in offense, returns almost everyone, and all our toughest games are at home, this is somewhat of an insult. But, I love it, I'm sure the coaches are grinning from ear to ear, great bulletin board material.

[AtlAppMan]

rodney.jpg (8.45 KiB) Viewed 6301 times

Put this list up in the locker room.

[WVAPPeer]

Fine with me!!! - Weren't we 8th or 9th last year? --- GaSo won it last year and deserves to remain there until they are knocked off - UL-L has been good for several years - Ark State is a ? ---I think 4th is a perfect spot to begin the season, it shows a level of respect while still giving the guys/coaches plenty to use as motivation!!!

[luvyosef]

I am so glad the three teams above us come to Boone. Man, 50 more days! Go Apps!

[JTApps1]

We have seen this type of treatment since day 1 in the conference. The old guard has stuck together in every preseason poll the past 1.5 years. The only exception is GS being #1 this year, but they didn't have much of a choice after the Eagles won last year and dodge ULL and stAte. I think the Cajuns and Red Wolves are still in denial over the beatings we gave them last year.

Just more motivation for our guys to go out and prove themselves.

[moehler]

ya, it was kinda weird when we beat both ULL and Ark St. last year, barely any acknowledgement by either fan base, no anger, surprise, disappointment. They just put the games behind them as quickly as possible, and by Monday acted like it never happened. I'll say this, after only one year, GS seems to be the most hated team in the conference, and I don't think its all because they finished first in the conference, their fan base, to put it nicely, has been pretty vocal since joining (surprise, surprise).

[APPdiesel]

One thing is for sure, we have a tougher road to a conference championship than Southern

Would you want it any other way? I for one would rather win a championship and have people say "they ran the gauntlet" instead of "yeah but they didn't play anybody".

[proasu89]

Pre-season polls matter how?

[sixtoes9134]

One thing is for sure, we have a tougher road to a conference championship than Southern

Would you want it any other way? I for one would rather win a championship and have people say "they ran the gauntlet" instead of "yeah but they didn't play anybody".

My primary point was that Georgia Southern is an easy pick for the #1 spot. 8-0 last year and same easy conference schedule. Even though they lost their entire O-line, except 1 guy I think, I don't see any reason they won't still be really good.

If we win conference, we have really accomplished something and that would be knocking off the Sun Belt's elite two years running.

[Saint3333]

I don't think any team finishes 8-0 this year, and given the schedules GS has a good chance to go 7-1.

[moehler]

I dont think it will be as easy for GS this year. Texas St should have beat them last year, and their offense is going to be really good, and I'm still don't think its going to be easy to replace 4 starters off the offensive line.