SB Nation team preview App State

[MDaniels84]

I think that our SunBelt contingent will give us a much tougher game than Southern Miss who is still trying to get its legs back. However, I , like you, see 6 wins as certainly possible.

[JTApps1]

I am a little disappointed to see people already making excuses. I expect us to win every game we play every year regardless of the opponent. Now, I know that isn't going to happen, but I am never going in to the start of the season trying to figure out ways to explain losses.

The fact is, another season like last year will be very damaging to our football program. People can sit on their pedastals and pass judgement on the uneducated masses all they want, but it isn't going to change the facts.

I don't think it's "making excuses" to recognize that several of our opponents this year are likely to simply be better than we are.

You can certainly take whatever approach you like, but I don't think you need to be "disappointed" in fans who choose to ground their expectations in reality.

Methinks they're choosing to ground their expectations in their opinions, at best. I also think some (only a bitter few I hope) are actually grounding their hopes in wanting our team to "crash and burn" so they can crow about how they saw it coming months and months ago.

The reality, as you call it, is simply that we have a very young team and a very new head coach. It's not knowable this far in advance how our team/staff are going to respond to what's thrown at them.

Thank you, Chuck! That is the point I was trying to make early in this thread. We have so many unknowns that I think it is unreasonable to EXPECT 6 wins next year.

[JTApps1]

We will be heavy favorites against Campbell & Liberty. A toss up with Ga So, S Alabama and Texas State. Big underdog to Michigan, underdogs to S Miss and the remaining SB schools primarily due to their years of FBS recruiting and App's depth issues at several key positions. MOST IMPORTANTLY the fact ASU has never had to endure an entire season playing a FBS schedule. Another thing, don't be fooled into thinking getting on planes 5 times this season won't be a major adjustment.

Why would we be a toss-up with S. Alabama who went 6-6 last year, but underdogs to Georgia State (0-12) and Idaho (1-11)?

I'm with you on FBS being tougher overall, but I do think we will be home favorites in those two games.

I may be wrong but isn't S Miss something like 1-23 over the last two years? Again I don't mean this as a slam to the Sun Belt, just my honest opinion. We are moving from the top of FCS to the lower level of FBS. I just don't see it as big a jump as some indicate. Yes it is a jump but not that huge. I still see 6 wins.

The SoCon hasn't been the best FCS league in years. I would say the bottom 2 or 3 teams in the Sun Belt are on par, but the rest of the league is a big jump up in competition. Especially over the course of an entire season.

[bcoach]

We will be heavy favorites against Campbell & Liberty. A toss up with Ga So, S Alabama and Texas State. Big underdog to Michigan, underdogs to S Miss and the remaining SB schools primarily due to their years of FBS recruiting and App's depth issues at several key positions. MOST IMPORTANTLY the fact ASU has never had to endure an entire season playing a FBS schedule. Another thing, don't be fooled into thinking getting on planes 5 times this season won't be a major adjustment.

Why would we be a toss-up with S. Alabama who went 6-6 last year, but underdogs to Georgia State (0-12) and Idaho (1-11)?

I'm with you on FBS being tougher overall, but I do think we will be home favorites in those two games.

I may be wrong but isn't S Miss something like 1-23 over the last two years? Again I don't mean this as a slam to the Sun Belt, just my honest opinion. We are moving from the top of FCS to the lower level of FBS. I just don't see it as big a jump as some indicate. Yes it is a jump but not that huge. I still see 6 wins.

The SoCon hasn't been the best FCS league in years. I would say the bottom 2 or 3 teams in the Sun Belt are on par, but the rest of the league is a big jump up in competition. Especially over the course of an entire season.

I was referring to us being at the top of FCS rather than the SOCON being at the top.. They are ahaid of us but I just don't see them being leaps and bounds ahaid of us.

[ASUMountaineer]

We will be heavy favorites against Campbell & Liberty. A toss up with Ga So, S Alabama and Texas State. Big underdog to Michigan, underdogs to S Miss and the remaining SB schools primarily due to their years of FBS recruiting and App's depth issues at several key positions. MOST IMPORTANTLY the fact ASU has never had to endure an entire season playing a FBS schedule. Another thing, don't be fooled into thinking getting on planes 5 times this season won't be a major adjustment.

Why would we be a toss-up with S. Alabama who went 6-6 last year, but underdogs to Georgia State (0-12) and Idaho (1-11)?

I'm with you on FBS being tougher overall, but I do think we will be home favorites in those two games.

I may be wrong but isn't S Miss something like 1-23 over the last two years? Again I don't mean this as a slam to the Sun Belt, just my honest opinion. We are moving from the top of FCS to the lower level of FBS. I just don't see it as big a jump as some indicate. Yes it is a jump but not that huge. I still see 6 wins.

The SoCon hasn't been the best FCS league in years. I would say the bottom 2 or 3 teams in the Sun Belt are on par, but the rest of the league is a big jump up in competition. Especially over the course of an entire season.

I was referring to us being at the top of FCS rather than the SOCON being at the top.. They are ahaid of us but I just don't see them being leaps and bounds ahaid of us.

I don't think that the talent level between App and the SBC schools is significant, but the step up in competition over the course of the season may be where we struggle. Playing a full FBS season is much different from playing a full FCS season. I think the biggest talent gap would be found on the two side of the two-deep.

[Saint3333]

I agree the best 30 players on our squad and conference members is minimal, but the next 40 players there is a drop off, partly due to age. 4th quarters may be tough this year.

[Kgfish]

Some people are going to be surprised how good the "older" SB teams are across the lines and in the secondary.

[bcoach]

I don't think that the talent level between App and the SBC schools is significant, but the step up in competition over the course of the season may be where we struggle. Playing a full FBS season is much different from playing a full FCS season. I think the biggest talent gap would be found on the two side of the two-deep.[/quote]

Point taken but by the same token this schedule includes 2 FCS schools, a first year FBS, and two weak sisters. I think we will be one of the better first pear programs FBS has seen. I am sticking to my 6 games

[ASUMountaineer]

Point taken but by the same token this schedule includes 2 FCS schools, a first year FBS, and two weak sisters. I think we will be one of the better first pear programs FBS has seen. I am sticking to my 6 games

I don't disagree at all that we may perform better. I think the potential is there. I honestly have no idea how many games we could possibly win. I didn't watch enough Sun Belt teams play last season to really form an opinion. Obviously, we'll be favored against 3-5 teams. Assuming we win those, we will have a chance. If we pull another A&T or CSU close loss, we may not. My post wasn't to really make a prediction, but to suggest that there is a gap between the lower level FBS programs and the upper level FCS programs. As mentioned above, I think the biggest gap will be in the trenches and two-deeps. We will see what happens, and I remain cautiously optimistic--and I'm pulling for you to be sandbagging on 6 wins.

[bcoach]

Point taken but by the same token this schedule includes 2 FCS schools, a first year FBS, and two weak sisters. I think we will be one of the better first pear programs FBS has seen. I am sticking to my 6 games

I don't disagree at all that we may perform better. I think the potential is there. I honestly have no idea how many games we could possibly win. I didn't watch enough Sun Belt teams play last season to really form an opinion. Obviously, we'll be favored against 3-5 teams. Assuming we win those, we will have a chance. If we pull another A&T or CSU close loss, we may not. My post wasn't to really make a prediction, but to suggest that there is a gap between the lower level FBS programs and the upper level FCS programs. As mentioned above, I think the biggest gap will be in the trenches and two-deeps. We will see what happens, and I remain cautiously optimistic--and I'm pulling for you to be sandbagging on 6 wins.

I appreciate you pulling for me because if we have a couple of losses to the A&t types again I am going to jump off a tall building

[Kgfish]

If wse have such a high level of talent where has it been? Many try to make 2013 an anomaly but a lot of close games in a weak SoCon clearly indicates we have been on the knife's edge of being very average the past 3 years. If not for Price's spectacular catch at Samford and Ga Southern missing 3 FG's we don't even make the playoffs in 2012. And let's certainly not forget the last 3 trips to the playoffs. Pure domination... or was that purely dominated?

[bcoach]

If wse have such a high level of talent where has it been? Many try to make 2013 an anomaly but a lot of close games in a weak SoCon clearly indicates we have been on the knife's edge of being very average the past 3 years. If not for Price's spectacular catch at Samford and Ga Southern missing 3 FG's we don't even make the playoffs in 2012. And let's certainly not forget the last 3 trips to the playoffs. Pure domination... or was that purely dominated?

Well he did make the catch and they did miss the field goals and that is how games are won in football every week. Guess what? most teams don't make the playoffs, so you have done something just to get there. I am sick to death of this elitist attitude that I see from some fans. We have had a winning program for years and have more players in the NFL than any other FCS program. We have not gone s far in the last few years as we did in 5,6,and 7 but we sure as hell have not collapsed. WE ARE GOING TO MARCH INTO THE SB NEXT YEAR AND KICK SOME ASS. Sorry if that will disappoint you!

[WVAPPeer]

If wse have such a high level of talent where has it been? Many try to make 2013 an anomaly but a lot of close games in a weak SoCon clearly indicates we have been on the knife's edge of being very average the past 3 years. If not for Price's spectacular catch at Samford and Ga Southern missing 3 FG's we don't even make the playoffs in 2012. And let's certainly not forget the last 3 trips to the playoffs. Pure domination... or was that purely dominated?

Come on Fish :>)
IF - David Tyree hadn't make that ridiculous catch? - IF Laettner hadn't made that shot? - IF Jordan hadn't made that shot? (several times) - IF Big Papi hadn't hit that home run? --- Hell, if JMU hadn't fumbled or Corey hadn't blocked that FG? --- Come on Man

[Cincy App]

That is the point I was trying to make early in this thread. We have so many unknowns that I think it is unreasonable to EXPECT 6 wins next year.

I expected more than 4 wins last season but I adapted. There is nothing wrong with stating expectations on a messageboard. It seems that is's OK to anticipate 8+ losses but not OK to expect 5-6 wins. I plan to live in the optimistic. I also believe that a team is not better simply because they have been FBS for awhile (i.e. - Idaho).

[JTApps1]

If wse have such a high level of talent where has it been? Many try to make 2013 an anomaly but a lot of close games in a weak SoCon clearly indicates we have been on the knife's edge of being very average the past 3 years. If not for Price's spectacular catch at Samford and Ga Southern missing 3 FG's we don't even make the playoffs in 2012. And let's certainly not forget the last 3 trips to the playoffs. Pure domination... or was that purely dominated?

Well he did make the catch and they did miss the field goals and that is how games are won in football every week. Guess what? most teams don't make the playoffs, so you have done something just to get there. I am sick to death of this elitist attitude that I see from some fans. We have had a winning program for years and have more players in the NFL than any other FCS program. We have not gone s far in the last few years as we did in 5,6,and 7 but we sure as hell have not collapsed. WE ARE GOING TO MARCH INTO THE SB NEXT YEAR AND KICK SOME ASS. Sorry if that will disappoint you!

How is saying we should temper our expectations nextyear an elitist attitude Saying we (a first year team) are on equal footing as teams that are established FBS programs is much more elitist than saying we will need a couple of years to reach that level. It's not a knock on us to point out thatwe havent had the access to the level of players FBS schools get up until this year. It's unreasonable to think any FCS team can recruit at that level. Im talking top to bottom in a class.

[asutrnr81]

If wse have such a high level of talent where has it been? Many try to make 2013 an anomaly but a lot of close games in a weak SoCon clearly indicates we have been on the knife's edge of being very average the past 3 years. If not for Price's spectacular catch at Samford and Ga Southern missing 3 FG's we don't even make the playoffs in 2012. And let's certainly not forget the last 3 trips to the playoffs. Pure domination... or was that purely dominated?

Come on Fish :>)
IF - David Tyree hadn't make that ridiculous catch? - IF Laettner hadn't made that shot? - IF Jordan hadn't made that shot? (several times) - IF Big Papi hadn't hit that home run? --- Hell, if JMU hadn't fumbled or Corey hadn't blocked that FG? --- Come on Man

If is the middle word in life....one of the best movies of all time! Apocalypse Now!

..."Do you know that 'if' is the middle word in life? If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you"

Kutrz was the man.....a mad man!

[yosefederation]

While we are on the subject, here is an article that I found from last December.http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... ball-bowls

[bcoach]

If wse have such a high level of talent where has it been? Many try to make 2013 an anomaly but a lot of close games in a weak SoCon clearly indicates we have been on the knife's edge of being very average the past 3 years. If not for Price's spectacular catch at Samford and Ga Southern missing 3 FG's we don't even make the playoffs in 2012. And let's certainly not forget the last 3 trips to the playoffs. Pure domination... or was that purely dominated?

Well he did make the catch and they did miss the field goals and that is how games are won in football every week. Guess what? most teams don't make the playoffs, so you have done something just to get there. I am sick to death of this elitist attitude that I see from some fans. We have had a winning program for years and have more players in the NFL than any other FCS program. We have not gone s far in the last few years as we did in 5,6,and 7 but we sure as hell have not collapsed. WE ARE GOING TO MARCH INTO THE SB NEXT YEAR AND KICK SOME ASS. Sorry if that will disappoint you!

How is saying we should temper our expectations nextyear an elitist attitude Saying we (a first year team) are on equal footing as teams that are established FBS programs is much more elitist than saying we will need a couple of years to reach that level. It's not a knock on us to point out thatwe havent had the access to the level of players FBS schools get up until this year. It's unreasonable to think any FCS team can recruit at that level. Im talking top to bottom in a class.

The elitist attitude I refer to is that attitude that says we have sucked for the last 4 years and the SOCON sucks and on and on. I am very sorry but the teams we have had over the last four years have been capable of winning a few games in the SB. NOBODY wins NCs or even gets to the finals every year. Making the playoffs makes you a good team. The elitist attitude is the one that says we have now gone to he11. We have not and just in case there is anyone out there that has not heard. We will win 6 next year