App State picked 7th in Sun Belt Coaches Poll

[EastHallApp]

If things go according to expectations (which we know they rarely do), we might wind up with the following:

Losses vs. 1-4
Wins over 9 and 10
Toss-ups at home vs. 5 and road vs. 8.

Assuming a split of the toss-ups, that would put us at 3-5. How many would take that scenario right now? I think I would.

[WVAPPeer]

Here, in my opinion, is the difference between "expecting" to win vs. "hoping" to win --- as a fan it really doesn't matter, a fan can think anything he/she wishes --- those thoughts are not based on watching hours and hours of film, going through days and days of practice and developing game plans, etc. I used to tell my team that when we went on the field EXPECTING to win and our opponents took the field HOPING to win that the battle was half won --- Now that doesn't come overnight, it takes a history of winning - think back to the streak of home victories our team had between 2004-2007 (I think it was) --- Surely the APPs took the field expecting to win and our opponents took it hoping to win - It was justified --- Kids/players are smart, they know AND YES, a coach must instill the belief in winning BUT it just can't be thrown out there without a "history" and a "plan" to back it up - It will fall flat ---

Going into Michigan this year I wouldn't be telling my team "I expect to win" - I would tell them that we "can" win - it has been done and here is how we do it --- coming off a bad season for APP the players don't yet believe they are world beaters (is my guess) and a coach must be honest with his/her players about expectations ---