'17 APP Football - IF WE KNEW THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW ---

[WVAPPeer]

Simple question I posed earlier --- I had said that I felt this team could go 10-2 with a legitimate chance to go 11-1 and that anything less than 9-3 would be disappointing - I stated that prior to the beginning of the season - Here's my question to you guys using the old reliable - If we knew then what we know now -
1-If we had known that Meadors and Evans would not play a down
2-If we had known that Moore would essentially miss half the season (so far)
3-If we had known that Upshaw would miss over half the season
4-If we had known that we would be starting 3 freshman WRs
5-If we knew we would be using the early pre-season #5 true freshman RB (that is counting Josh Boyd who eventually decided he just wasn't healthy enough to continue playing football)
6-If (by my count) we are playing at least 22 freshmen
7-If we had known that Devin Stringer would have missed close to half the season (so far)
8-And any others you guys want to add ---
My thoughts would have been - WE WILL BE FORTUNATE TO GO 9-3, MOST LIKELY 8-4 or worse
Give me your thoughts ---

[ncman071]

I certainly think...given the injuries that an 8-4 would be solid. But with the injuries 6-6, 7-5 would be somewhat disappointing. I think that we will squeak by Georgia Southern @ home...then get healthIER after the bye week and beat Georgia St hopefully and beat LLU @ home....then we'll see what happens in the bowl

[samplessjs]

I don't disagree. 8-4 would be very respectable. That would of course assume a great improvement in play over the past few weeks. But it may happen. Clearly that's a step back from last year, but not bad under the circumstances.

[Yosef84]

I wouldn't have expected that Stringer's absence would hurt us more than Meador's absence but I believe Stringer being out has hurt us more than just about any other single player. I still think we are capable of winning the last three games but having him back on D would be a HUGE lift!

[AppinATL]

Given all that information, I would have been very happy with 8-4, no doubt. But I am going to postulate, that had we not lost to Wake, and lost the way we did, We still might have made it to 11-1 or possibly 10-2. I think that loss took all the fight out of us. I don't think it should have , but just look at the way the team has looked on the field since that game.

[Yosef84]

I don't know what impact the Wake game had on the team psychologically. I stood on the hill and watched the team walk into the tunnel and I thought they would come out with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove. It obviously doesn't seem to have played out that way. I doubt that loss by itself deflated the team, but it is hard to deny that there seems to be a lack of "fire in the belly" this year.

Hopefully a home game against Georgia Southern will be what the doctor ordered. Whatever the attendance number winds up being, I hope they are loud and proud so that we can get the fire back! I will be there!

[AppSt94]

I think that I would have abandoned my record expectations altogether and focused on how the young guys progressed through the season. I doubt that I would have predicted s loss to UMass, but all in all I would be OK where we are this season, but a bit nervous for next year as we will be breaking in a new QB with a still relatively young team.

[Longrifle28]

Also, if you knew more about the other teams we have played. Almost everyone of them have improved offensively.

I would have definitely predicted a different outcome.

Thursday night game might be the turning point of this team at this point in the season. Win and we might change our direction. Lose and we might not win another game.

[dp42828]

I wouldn't have expected that Stringer's absence would hurt us more than Meador's absence but I believe Stringer being out has hurt us more than just about any other single player. I still think we are capable of winning the last three games but having him back on D would be a HUGE lift!

I totally agree. You can't replace 2-3 years of film study, preparation, chemistry with "next man up," especially if that next man up is 18 years old and played in HS last year.

[appstate24]

Any chance we see Stringer Thursday? With his experience and speed, he is always vital for us against Southern. Fingers crossed. GO APPS!!

[AppSt94]

Totally agree with you on Stringer. He is our best open field tackler and is such a gamer.

[AppSt94]

I totally agree. You can't replace 2-3 years of film study, preparation, chemistry with "next man up," especially if that next man up is 18 years old and played in HS last year.

Bingo!

[WVAPPeer]

Also, if you knew more about the other teams we have played. Almost everyone of them have improved offensively.

I would have definitely predicted a different outcome.

Thursday night game might be the turning point of this team at this point in the season. Win and we might change our direction. Lose and we might not win another game.

I think you are 100% correct on this !!!
And I will add my typical "glass half-full/rose-colored glasses/Lollipop-Guild-Land/ reasons why we will win ---
1. Who better to play when looking to correct the course than the most-hated rival on ESPN national coverage on a Thu night in Boone = Win #1
2. Probably the toughest game of the 3 - at GaSt - however I have heard there is some hard feelings between our staff and theirs and the idea that you don't let your little brother kick your butt = Win #2
3. Senior Day against LA-L - these guys who have meant SO MUCH to this program WILL NOT lose on Senior Day = Win #3
4. AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT!!! - I washed my lucky APP shirt that I only wear to watch games - First time to wash it in 2 1/2 years --- Washed out the bad and will be ready to close out the season with 4 wins

[NoLongerLurking]

Simple question I posed earlier --- I had said that I felt this team could go 10-2 with a legitimate chance to go 11-1 and that anything less than 9-3 would be disappointing - I stated that prior to the beginning of the season - Here's my question to you guys using the old reliable - If we knew then what we know now -
1-If we had known that Meadors and Evans would not play a down
2-If we had known that Moore would essentially miss half the season (so far)
3-If we had known that Upshaw would miss over half the season
4-If we had known that we would be starting 3 freshman WRs
5-If we knew we would be using the early pre-season #5 true freshman RB (that is counting Josh Boyd who eventually decided he just wasn't healthy enough to continue playing football)
6-If (by my count) we are playing at least 22 freshmen
7-If we had known that Devin Stringer would have missed close to half the season (so far)
8-And any others you guys want to add ---
My thoughts would have been - WE WILL BE FORTUNATE TO GO 9-3, MOST LIKELY 8-4 or worse
Give me your thoughts ---

Fortunate will be bowl-eligible with a win in the bowl.

[Longrifle28]

Also, if you knew more about the other teams we have played. Almost everyone of them have improved offensively.

I would have definitely predicted a different outcome.

Thursday night game might be the turning point of this team at this point in the season. Win and we might change our direction. Lose and we might not win another game.

I think you are 100% correct on this !!!
And I will add my typical "glass half-full/rose-colored glasses/Lollipop-Guild-Land/ reasons why we will win ---
1. Who better to play when looking to correct the course than the most-hated rival on ESPN national coverage on a Thu night in Boone = Win #1
2. Probably the toughest game of the 3 - at GaSt - however I have heard there is some hard feelings between our staff and theirs and the idea that you don't let your little brother kick your butt = Win #2
3. Senior Day against LA-L - these guys who have meant SO MUCH to this program WILL NOT lose on Senior Day = Win #3
4. AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT!!! - I washed my lucky APP shirt that I only wear to watch games - First time to wash it in 2 1/2 years --- Washed out the bad and will be ready to close out the season with 4 wins

You have more confidence than I do right now. However, I won't lose faith until the clock is on 00:00.

[WVAPPeer]

COME ON GUYS --- THERE IS NO WRONG ANSWER HERE --- WHY WOULD YOU NOT PUT FORWARD A SIMPLE ANSWER TO THIS (HELL, IT COULD BE AN EXTENSIVE ANSWER) - OH, I SEE, IT MIGHT MAKE YOUR CURRENT ARGUMENTS LOOK LESS DIRE ---

[Goapps15]

Id argue Josh Thomas has been just as big of a loss as Stringer. Look pre and post Idaho pass defense stats.

[DaphneUrquhart]

"Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." ~ Bob Seger

At the end of the day I'll always take hard work, drive, commitment, and heart over any number of victories. If I can have the former and the latter, that's superb, though I know there are times I must be content with one or the other.

In 2013, I made a point of being at every single game - home and away - for every single play. It was my own "Farewell to the SoCon" tour. The whole purpose of the "tour" was to support those players who had worked so hard to get us from FCS to FBS and who were playing for nothing more than the love of the game and the "A" on their chests. We wouldn't be where we are now without that 2013 team.

Now it's 2017. The media - based on nothing more solid than our reputation and a list of returning players - said we should win the Sun Belt. They said Jalin Moore was a beast and that our defense was phenomenal. Guess what. They were right and they were wrong. The game is still played on the field. No one wins or loses with press clippings. Jalin has been hurt (yes, he's still a beast). Our defense has key holes in it from injury. Players we thought would make solid contributions decided they wanted to play elsewhere. We are not now who we thought we would be when the season was nothing more than a promise.

I'm convinced enough that we will become bowl eligible that I've already made hotel reservations in Orlando, Montgomery, and Mobile. I'll just cancel the ones I don't need when December rolls around. In the meantime, knowing what I know now, I'll be at KBS on Thursday cheering for guys who haven't given up, who are committed to being the best they can be, who make me proud to be part of the App Family. I'll be at KBS because I am a Mountaineer. I'll be at KBS because the game and the players in it are far more important than any scoreboard. I hope to see you there for the WIN!

#BeatSouthern

[WVAPPeer]

Daphne - you are the best!!! ---

[AppSt94]

Yes Daphne. You are the Best!