Four losses by a combined 20 points

[Stonewall]

Today you build your roster year by year.I hate it but that's the way it is.We will have a lot of new players in'23.

[WVAPPeer]

"We are clearly on a multi year downward trajectory. It is not an isolated one year situation. And they just keep saying week after week after week “we just have to address it”. And the next week it is Groundhog Day, again. That is the BIGGEST concern."

Hell Man - you do remember we finished the regular season last year 10-2 - yes we lost 2 games after that but we only played those games because we had a great regular season and 9 games the season before --- And you think we are on a "Multi-year downward trajectory" - Are you serious???

[BambooRdApp]

This is basically what Shawn Clark said in his press conference today. Are you Shawn Clark!?!?

Seriously though, moral victories are still losses, and this team has some major issues to iron out, but looking at stuff like this does help a fan see that the sky isn't necessarily falling. App has a lot of young guys who made a lot of young guy mistakes. Ideally, the team and coaches are so good that you can make mistakes and still win games. App isn't that team this year.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm more than willing to give SC another year IF there are some staff changes below him. Next year's schedule should be a little easier.

You never can tell with the transfer portal. Could benefit us as well, but as it stands unless we hit the portal, we will have an inexperienced starting QB next year. Pre-portal fiasco days it was a lot easier to kind of gauge where a team would be next year as well as their competition. Now it's tough to tell. JMU isn't 6-3 without landing Centeio at QB.

It will be better for our program to develop guys - especially QB - than to hit the portal every year.

I agree, but do the coaches?

Huesman had way more experience than the current back ups, yet they still went after Brice in the portal. Circumstances may have been different then, and maybe at some point they thought ZT would have returned before he decided not to, but the mindset was still there at the time to hit the portal. Does SC want that seat getting warmer with a young inexperienced QB?

Huesman wasn’t coming back. He only decided to come back after Brice was signed.

I like the guy. If H were our QB last year, we would have been a .500 FB team.

[Bootsy]

Your original point is correct that from pure points on the board we are not far off. However one person posted on one of the many threads that this is the same story that many middle of the road teams could claim. “We are so close”. However that is the difference between the winners and the rest.

This quote reminded me of UNC. They've won a lot of very close games this year.
But they do find a way to win.

[AppSt94]

Your original point is correct that from pure points on the board we are not far off. However one person posted on one of the many threads that this is the same story that many middle of the road teams could claim. “We are so close”. However that is the difference between the winners and the rest.

This quote reminded me of UNC. They've won a lot of very close games this year.
But they do find a way to win.

All fair. And some of that comes from the leadership on the field. That was lacking this year to me.

[appdaze]

"We are clearly on a multi year downward trajectory. It is not an isolated one year situation. And they just keep saying week after week after week “we just have to address it”. And the next week it is Groundhog Day, again. That is the BIGGEST concern."

Hell Man - you do remember we finished the regular season last year 10-2 - yes we lost 2 games after that but we only played those games because we had a great regular season and 9 games the season before --- And you think we are on a "Multi-year downward trajectory" - Are you serious???

Yes.

9-3 (6-2) -5.95 SOS Bowl W
10-4 (7-1) -2.43 SOS Bowl L
5-5 (2-4) -2.35 SOS Bowl ?

What is happening in the losses column each year? Everyone can cherry-pick bits and pieces of everything. The whole solid numbers are the truth. This whole debate on here is turning into a LeBron vs Jordan debate where everyone is cherry-picking stats. Let's just go 7-5 and hope we get a bowl to win and go from there.

Season stats
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/sc ... index.html

2022
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/sc ... /2022.html

2021
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/sc ... /2021.html

2020
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/sc ... /2020.html


Also, for the Brice bashers, please look at his stats. He is putting up great numbers in spite of our situation.

[Saint3333]

One way to measure coaching is your record in close games.

[WVAPPeer]

One way to measure coaching is your record in close games.

Yes - that is one way, however other factors come into play in close games -
I know many on here love Mack Brown - last year his team lost every close game and this season they are winning them all - ???

[AppinATL]

This is basically what Shawn Clark said in his press conference today. Are you Shawn Clark!?!?

Seriously though, moral victories are still losses, and this team has some major issues to iron out, but looking at stuff like this does help a fan see that the sky isn't necessarily falling. App has a lot of young guys who made a lot of young guy mistakes. Ideally, the team and coaches are so good that you can make mistakes and still win games. App isn't that team this year.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm more than willing to give SC another year IF there are some staff changes below him. Next year's schedule should be a little easier.

You never can tell with the transfer portal. Could benefit us as well, but as it stands unless we hit the portal, we will have an inexperienced starting QB next year. Pre-portal fiasco days it was a lot easier to kind of gauge where a team would be next year as well as their competition. Now it's tough to tell. JMU isn't 6-3 without landing Centeio at QB.

It will be better for our program to develop guys - especially QB - than to hit the portal every year.

I agree, but do the coaches?

Huesman had way more experience than the current back ups, yet they still went after Brice in the portal. Circumstances may have been different then, and maybe at some point they thought ZT would have returned before he decided not to, but the mindset was still there at the time to hit the portal. Does SC want that seat getting warmer with a young inexperienced QB?

If we bring in an experienced QB via the portal, we will still have inexperienced QB the next year. If we continue to bring in QBs via the portal the soph then junior QB will still be inexperienced. I say play him next year as the starter and bring in a QB as backup. Just my opinion.

We don’t have to bring in a backup. McBride will still be here.

[AppState89]

You never can tell with the transfer portal. Could benefit us as well, but as it stands unless we hit the portal, we will have an inexperienced starting QB next year. Pre-portal fiasco days it was a lot easier to kind of gauge where a team would be next year as well as their competition. Now it's tough to tell. JMU isn't 6-3 without landing Centeio at QB.

It will be better for our program to develop guys - especially QB - than to hit the portal every year.

I agree, but do the coaches?

Huesman had way more experience than the current back ups, yet they still went after Brice in the portal. Circumstances may have been different then, and maybe at some point they thought ZT would have returned before he decided not to, but the mindset was still there at the time to hit the portal. Does SC want that seat getting warmer with a young inexperienced QB?

If we bring in an experienced QB via the portal, we will still have inexperienced QB the next year. If we continue to bring in QBs via the portal the soph then junior QB will still be inexperienced. I say play him next year as the starter and bring in a QB as backup. Just my opinion.

We don’t have to bring in a backup. McBride will still be here.

If he stays, which I hope he does. Looked pretty good when he did get in and played. I forgot he was a R-Jr.

[WataugaMan]

Unfortunately almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

[AppSt94]

I am comfortable rolling with McBride/Burger in whatever combination. McHugh is a very mature kid for a true Freshman and will be here for Spring Ball. And of course there is Tabscott.

[311neers]

This is basically what Shawn Clark said in his press conference today. Are you Shawn Clark!?!?

Seriously though, moral victories are still losses, and this team has some major issues to iron out, but looking at stuff like this does help a fan see that the sky isn't necessarily falling. App has a lot of young guys who made a lot of young guy mistakes. Ideally, the team and coaches are so good that you can make mistakes and still win games. App isn't that team this year.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm more than willing to give SC another year IF there are some staff changes below him. Next year's schedule should be a little easier.

You never can tell with the transfer portal. Could benefit us as well, but as it stands unless we hit the portal, we will have an inexperienced starting QB next year. Pre-portal fiasco days it was a lot easier to kind of gauge where a team would be next year as well as their competition. Now it's tough to tell. JMU isn't 6-3 without landing Centeio at QB.

It will be better for our program to develop guys - especially QB - than to hit the portal every year.

I agree, but do the coaches?

Huesman had way more experience than the current back ups, yet they still went after Brice in the portal. Circumstances may have been different then, and maybe at some point they thought ZT would have returned before he decided not to, but the mindset was still there at the time to hit the portal. Does SC want that seat getting warmer with a young inexperienced QB?

If we bring in an experienced QB via the portal, we will still have inexperienced QB the next year. If we continue to bring in QBs via the portal the soph then junior QB will still be inexperienced. I say play him next year as the starter and bring in a QB as backup. Just my opinion.

There are always going to be a ton of QB's in the portal. There are 300+ qbs on D1 rosters for 100 starting spots. If the coaches feel that there is a better QB option in the portal, and said kid can get into app and wants to play for app, they will offer him a spot. (Ex- Chase Brice). Burger can still win the job from a transfer. QB competition doesn't hurt, just ask Kirby Smart. It does suck that Burger has spent his time and waited his turn and we can just go to the portal to find someone, but that's todays age of CFB. I say bring someone in and let them compete! If Burger wins it, lets ride with him!

[311neers]

Not sure next year's schedule is any easier. Next year UNC is probably better than early this season UNC. ECU may be as good as Texas A&M considering the trajectory of the two. Wyoming is better than The Citadel, Gardner Webb is better than Robert Morris. We still have to play the East Division and will probably face someone in the West better than Texas State.

At Wyoming is not going to be easy at all. They are well coached, physical, and Laramie is 3,900 feet higher than Boone. Our out of conference schedule is harder next year. And a new QB, and who knows what RBs. Next year is scary.

Thanks for this post, looking at flights now! End of September out there should be amazing! Especially with a W.

[WVAPPeer]

One way to measure coaching is your record in close games.

Yes - that is one way, however other factors come into play in close games -
I know many on here love Mack Brown - last year his team lost every close game and this season they are winning them all - ???

And I could add Nick Saban to that list - His team has lost 2 games by a total of 4 points with both losses on the last play of each game --- this is the guy with the most National Championships -

[bigdaddyg]

From a fan perspective we just want wins. From a coaching perspective he wants wins and job security. How many reasonable schools look at a coach with an average record (but does things the right way) and is happy? Very few. In the old world a staff recruited, brought in and developed the guys they had. You had competition for positions and playing time with your roster and at QB went with the best guy available. It's great that kids can make choices and go where they hope to be happy but it's also a shame that guys on a given roster (mainly QB) have to hope some perceived stud doesn't want to transfer in and take the job.

[ASUFan4863]

From a fan perspective we just want wins. From a coaching perspective he wants wins and job security. How many reasonable schools look at a coach with an average record (but does things the right way) and is happy? Very few. In the old world a staff recruited, brought in and developed the guys they had. You had competition for positions and playing time with your roster and at QB went with the best guy available. It's great that kids can make choices and go where they hope to be happy but it's also a shame that guys on a given roster (mainly QB) have to hope some perceived stud doesn't want to transfer in and take the job.

You are right and I have to think that a large reason for signing so many key transfers in recent seasons is because we had a championship contending team with key pieces already in place. A year like this may be better in the long run to show how unreliable the portal can be. Obviously everyone knows development is important but our recruited players have performed better than every transfer we have received in the past 5 years except for maybe Sutton. I am excited to see our young guys make an impact - I just hope it is for us next season. I am worried about a few guys.

[Mjohn1988]

Since the team has had to DRIVE to Marshall and Coastal how much "change" should we have expected to see in those 2 games given how long it takes to get too and from both places? Its not an excuse but the travel aspect of this season cannot be ignored.

I think any road game presents a set of challenges regardless of the distance. I'd say by time they loaded the buses, arrived to the airport, boarded, fly, un-board, load the buses and head to the hotel say for the Texas A&M game it's probably about the same amount of time as a trip to Huntington, Conway, or in a couple weeks GASo.

Are we really talking about 20 year old guys being so bothered by a 4hr bus ride that they can’t play football?

[AppStateNews]

You never can tell with the transfer portal. Could benefit us as well, but as it stands unless we hit the portal, we will have an inexperienced starting QB next year. Pre-portal fiasco days it was a lot easier to kind of gauge where a team would be next year as well as their competition. Now it's tough to tell. JMU isn't 6-3 without landing Centeio at QB.

It will be better for our program to develop guys - especially QB - than to hit the portal every year.

I agree, but do the coaches?

Huesman had way more experience than the current back ups, yet they still went after Brice in the portal. Circumstances may have been different then, and maybe at some point they thought ZT would have returned before he decided not to, but the mindset was still there at the time to hit the portal. Does SC want that seat getting warmer with a young inexperienced QB?

If we bring in an experienced QB via the portal, we will still have inexperienced QB the next year. If we continue to bring in QBs via the portal the soph then junior QB will still be inexperienced. I say play him next year as the starter and bring in a QB as backup. Just my opinion.

There are always going to be a ton of QB's in the portal. There are 300+ qbs on D1 rosters for 100 starting spots. If the coaches feel that there is a better QB option in the portal, and said kid can get into app and wants to play for app, they will offer him a spot. (Ex- Chase Brice). Burger can still win the job from a transfer. QB competition doesn't hurt, just ask Kirby Smart. It does suck that Burger has spent his time and waited his turn and we can just go to the portal to find someone, but that's todays age of CFB. I say bring someone in and let them compete! If Burger wins it, lets ride with him!

Wait.. In another thread you were convinced we don't even pursue transfer portal guys but we need to go after every single one. Now all of a sudden you're convinced we will offer several QBs?

[311neers]

It will be better for our program to develop guys - especially QB - than to hit the portal every year.

I agree, but do the coaches?

Huesman had way more experience than the current back ups, yet they still went after Brice in the portal. Circumstances may have been different then, and maybe at some point they thought ZT would have returned before he decided not to, but the mindset was still there at the time to hit the portal. Does SC want that seat getting warmer with a young inexperienced QB?

If we bring in an experienced QB via the portal, we will still have inexperienced QB the next year. If we continue to bring in QBs via the portal the soph then junior QB will still be inexperienced. I say play him next year as the starter and bring in a QB as backup. Just my opinion.

There are always going to be a ton of QB's in the portal. There are 300+ qbs on D1 rosters for 100 starting spots. If the coaches feel that there is a better QB option in the portal, and said kid can get into app and wants to play for app, they will offer him a spot. (Ex- Chase Brice). Burger can still win the job from a transfer. QB competition doesn't hurt, just ask Kirby Smart. It does suck that Burger has spent his time and waited his turn and we can just go to the portal to find someone, but that's todays age of CFB. I say bring someone in and let them compete! If Burger wins it, lets ride with him!

Wait.. In another thread you were convinced we don't even pursue transfer portal guys but we need to go after every single one. Now all of a sudden you're convinced we will offer several QBs?

We do pursue transfer portal guys to an extent-was unaware about the strenuous transfer rules we have in place as a University. If we feel there are App character guys, who can make us a better team, and get accepted with the transfer rules, we most certainly should offer those kids. If the coaches feel there is a better qb in the portal and he fits the App mold and can get accepted, they might offer him. Not saying it's going to happen, sounds like Burger is the guy according to you and those within the program. QB competition never hurt anyone!