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[rbarthle17]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we were around 4 wins again next year. Even though the win column would be the same it would still be a big improvement over last year due to the competition. If we won 6 games next year I would be very happy all things considered.

Yes, they have to win at least 6 this year. We need the casual fan to keep coming and keep giving. A losing season to start off in FBS would be a PR disaster.

You and I may know that the competition is different, and that the scale for achievement can fluctuate because of this. The casual fan won't give two craps about that, and their dollars matter greatly in making this work. A bad start could be the difference between being the next FCS move up success story and being the next poster child for why to stay put.

Last year there was no pressure. It was a throwaway year. 2014 is the total opposite.

[EastHallApp]

I wonder how many teams have increased their win total from their last FCS season to their first FBS season? I am certainly hoping we do and think it's a realistic goal, but my guess is that's not the way it usually plays out.

[Goapps15]

My view:

Have to win:
Campbell
Liberty

Favored to win:
Ga. State
Idaho

More or less toss-ups:
La-Monroe
@Southern Miss
S. Alabama
@Ga. Southern

Moderate underdog:
@Troy

Clear underdog:
@Michigan
@La-Lafayette
@Ark. State


The key is to get those first four I listed. Do that, and I like our odds of finding a couple more wins among the rest.

I agree with your write-up with one exception, LA-Monroe. They have been a doormat program for decades. Yes they have had a few good years in a row but they lost 20+ seniors, including their all-time great QB Browning. I can see them struggling again and the fact that this game is in Boone makes it a game we will be favored to win.

I consider Michigan, UL-L, and Ark. State as losses, especially since the latter two are on the road.

Campbell, Liberty and Idaho are Must-Wins with Georgia State close to that category. Those are 4 very winnable home games and games we are expected to win.

Georgia Southern, Troy, South Alabama, and Southern Miss are toss up games. We need to win two of these 4 at least, with 3 of the 4 being a possibility. Southern Miss is coming off a rough few years but have traditionally had a very good program. Georgia Southern and Troy are both good teams but beatable even on the road.

South Alabama is a game in Boone that will be interesting. They were extremely strong down the stretch knocking off UL-L to get to 6-6 last year. I see them as the best opponent we play in Boone next year.

With all that being said if we improve I can see anywhere from 5-7 wins for the Apps next year. If everything goes bad 4 wins and if everything goes our way 8 wins. Thoughts?

[Goapps15]

The 3 offensive positions that will be interesting to watch this off-season are Offensive Line, Quarterback, and Wide Receiver.

I also see improved OL play with Nunn, Edge-Campbell, Gossett, and Collins playing more often. I think 3 of those 4 will play significant time on the OL if not starting for us this fall.

The QB position will be an all out battle. Kam's stats were good but his decision making at times, lack of arm strength, and inability to throw on the run will hurt him more in the SB. I think Taylor Lamb will very likely step in and give Kam a run for his money at QB this spring and maybe take the job. Taylor has better arm strength and throws better on the run than Kam. Our QB no matter who it is will have to improve on arm strength and ability to throw on the run from last year.

The Wide Receiver position is wide open. A lot of new faces and a lot of people who still having something to prove on the current roster. Malachi and Simms have had nice moments and should have a good chance to step in and play. The rest will battle to see who will be playing and getting the majority of the reps at WR for this football team.

[EastHallApp]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we were around 4 wins again next year. Even though the win column would be the same it would still be a big improvement over last year due to the competition. If we won 6 games next year I would be very happy all things considered.

Yes, they have to win at least 6 this year. We need the casual fan to keep coming and keep giving. A losing season to start off in FBS would be a PR disaster.

You and I may know that the competition is different, and that the scale for achievement can fluctuate because of this. The casual fan won't give two craps about that, and their dollars matter greatly in making this work. A bad start could be the difference between being the next FCS move up success story and being the next poster child for why to stay put.

Last year there was no pressure. It was a throwaway year. 2014 is the total opposite.

I kind of see it the opposite way - to some extent, both 2013 and 2014 are/were basically one long exhibition, but I think it's harder to justify going 4-8 in FCS with most of the roster returning from a team that won a share of the conference title than it would be having a losing season in year 1 of FBS (which historically has probably been the norm for teams moving up).

I would think most fans would instinctively get that the competition after "moving up" would be tougher, even if they're not familiar with the opponents. At least, I hope so.

I would also say that how competitive we are matters. Going 4-8 with a bunch of close losses would be a lot easier to sell going into 2015 than the same record with a lot of blowouts. Not that I'd be thrilled with either, of course.

[Kgfish]

We have to win 6 games. Really, how could we not?

"7 wins and a maybe at stAte....."

"If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed."

You guys must actually believe that nonsense Cobb said about the SunBelt being a glorified FCS conference. I hope you guys paid attention to the comments coming from the coaching staff following national signing day.

Sloan said that the experience of recruiting as an FBS member was different than as an FCS program. “Most of the teams we are recruiting against are conference schools like South Alabama, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, and schools like Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, whereas before we were recruiting a lot against a Wofford or an Elon and people of that nature,” he said. “So it did go to a different level as far as the caliber of player you’re dealing with.”

“Most of these kids had multiple offers and they were multiple FBS offers,” Sloan said. “I don’t know how many of them would have let us in the door this time last year.”

Sloan said that it’s all about the ‘B’ in FBS.

“That means so much more to these kids than the FCS,” Sloan said. “They all want to play at the highest level possible.”

Satterfield agreed. He said that being an FBS school is a significant selling point in recruiting.
“We’re not playing for the chance to go a national championship or the playoffs, but kids want to play at the FBS level,” he said.

Satterfield said it’s a markedly better class than what would have been netted as an FCS program and, obviously, it has to be.

“You look at the quality of it and these are players who can obviously play at a lot of different places at the FBS level."

The majority of SunBelt schools have been recruiting these types of players FOR YEARS. How anyone can say ASU "should" or "needs to" win 6-7 games next year baffles me. I'm all for lofty expectations bust there comes a point where reality has to settle in. This isn't going to be nearly as easy as some of you think.

[bcoach]

We have to win 6 games. Really, how could we not?

"7 wins and a maybe at stAte....."

"If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed."

You guys must actually believe that nonsense Cobb said about the SunBelt being a glorified FCS conference. I hope you guys paid attention to the comments coming from the coaching staff following national signing day.

Sloan said that the experience of recruiting as an FBS member was different than as an FCS program. “Most of the teams we are recruiting against are conference schools like South Alabama, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, and schools like Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, whereas before we were recruiting a lot against a Wofford or an Elon and people of that nature,” he said. “So it did go to a different level as far as the caliber of player you’re dealing with.”

“Most of these kids had multiple offers and they were multiple FBS offers,” Sloan said. “I don’t know how many of them would have let us in the door this time last year.”

Sloan said that it’s all about the ‘B’ in FBS.

“That means so much more to these kids than the FCS,” Sloan said. “They all want to play at the highest level possible.”

Satterfield agreed. He said that being an FBS school is a significant selling point in recruiting.
“We’re not playing for the chance to go a national championship or the playoffs, but kids want to play at the FBS level,” he said.

Satterfield said it’s a markedly better class than what would have been netted as an FCS program and, obviously, it has to be.

“You look at the quality of it and these are players who can obviously play at a lot of different places at the FBS level."

The majority of SunBelt schools have been recruiting these types of players FOR YEARS. How anyone can say ASU "should" or "needs to" win 6-7 games next year baffles me. I'm all for lofty expectations bust there comes a point where reality has to settle in. This isn't going to be nearly as easy as some of you think.

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

[EastHallApp]

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

For years before the move we were dominating the SoCon and winning between 10 and 14 games a year.

[bcoach]

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

For years before the move we were dominating the SoCon and winning between 10 and 14 games a year.

Sorry. I thought last year was a freak, not the future.

[EastHallApp]

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

For years before the move we were dominating the SoCon and winning between 10 and 14 games a year.

Sorry. I thought last year was a freak, not the future.

I don't think we're going to go 4-8 forever (or even this year, for that matter), but which do you think is a more relevant predictor of the 2014 season - our results in 2013 or in 2007?

[Kgfish]

We have to win 6 games. Really, how could we not?

"7 wins and a maybe at stAte....."

"If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed."

You guys must actually believe that nonsense Cobb said about the SunBelt being a glorified FCS conference. I hope you guys paid attention to the comments coming from the coaching staff following national signing day.

Sloan said that the experience of recruiting as an FBS member was different than as an FCS program. “Most of the teams we are recruiting against are conference schools like South Alabama, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, and schools like Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, whereas before we were recruiting a lot against a Wofford or an Elon and people of that nature,” he said. “So it did go to a different level as far as the caliber of player you’re dealing with.”

“Most of these kids had multiple offers and they were multiple FBS offers,” Sloan said. “I don’t know how many of them would have let us in the door this time last year.”

Sloan said that it’s all about the ‘B’ in FBS.

“That means so much more to these kids than the FCS,” Sloan said. “They all want to play at the highest level possible.”

Satterfield agreed. He said that being an FBS school is a significant selling point in recruiting.
“We’re not playing for the chance to go a national championship or the playoffs, but kids want to play at the FBS level,” he said.

Satterfield said it’s a markedly better class than what would have been netted as an FCS program and, obviously, it has to be.

“You look at the quality of it and these are players who can obviously play at a lot of different places at the FBS level."

The majority of SunBelt schools have been recruiting these types of players FOR YEARS. How anyone can say ASU "should" or "needs to" win 6-7 games next year baffles me. I'm all for lofty expectations bust there comes a point where reality has to settle in. This isn't going to be nearly as easy as some of you think.

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

Not EVERYBODY. Only those ignorant to the facts and drunk with the elixir and hype following the Michigan game. You said "If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed.

How so? Last year we win 4 games. This year we play a schedule that....

Michigan = Georgia (in terms of win probability)
Campbell < Char Southern
So Miss > Montana
Liberty = NC A&T
ULM > Samford
ULL > Wofford
Ark State > UTC
Troy > Furman
Ga State > WCU
NMSU > Elon
Idaho > Citadel

[Appsolutley]

"For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS."

I don't remember that comment. I do remember quite a few folks saying that we could compete against the lower third. I was one of them, and I still believe that. And given a couple more recruiting classes and some added experience for our coaching staff, I believe we will win against many of those teams. But to expect that to start happening next year is unrealistic.

[JTApps1]

Look at the schedule. We have to win 6 games. Really, how could we not?

We HAVE to win 6??? Did you forget how many games we won last year against much weaker competition? I know Georgia State and Idaho have struggled, but they are still better than all but a few of the teams on last years schedule. Of course Georgia Southern is a carry over so we know where we stand there. Plus obviously the two FCS teams, but we did lose to A&T and Charleston Southern last year. After that though every team on the schedule is an upgrade over what we faced last year. Individually I would say there are a good number of teams we could beat, but when you're talking about playing 10 FBS teams it is going to be difficult.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we were around 4 wins again next year. Even though the win column would be the same it would still be a big improvement over last year due to the competition. If we won 6 games next year I would be very happy all things considered.

I just can't agree with that. If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed.

I just think a lot of fans are underestimating teams like UL-M and USA. Monroe had wins over Wake Forest and UL-L plus they won 4 of their last 6. Someone mentioned we weren't the same team by the end of the year, but that applies to other teams as well. South Alabama had wins over two bowl teams, and beat WKU who should have gone to a bowl with 8 wins. They also ended hot winning their last 3 games.

You're right that this is schedule is as easy at it will get going forward, but that sure doesn't mean we will waltz through it and win 7 or 8 games. I still think you're not realizing how much more difficult it is to play 10 FBS teams in a year especially when we are very young on the 2 deep. I also think a lot of people don't want to acknowledge the talent gap between the Sun Belt and SoCon. The worst SB teams are on par with the best SoCon teams, and the rest are upgrades.

[bcoach]

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

For years before the move we were dominating the SoCon and winning between 10 and 14 games a year.

Sorry. I thought last year was a freak, not the future.

I don't think we're going to go 4-8 forever (or even this year, for that matter), but which do you think is a more relevant predictor of the 2014 season - our results in 2013 or in 2007?

Neither one. You are talking about two extremes. I am talking about the middle. 2008,9,10,11,12 all should win 6 games against next years schedule. I would never use last years record as a gauge for any future years. Last year was a freak. Does anybody really think last year had anything to do with the talent that was available? Play that season over again with the same players and the same coaches and I guarantee we have more than 4 wins and most probably more than 6. Last year was a freak. It should be treated by the fans as never happening.

[bcoach]

Look at the schedule. We have to win 6 games. Really, how could we not?

We HAVE to win 6??? Did you forget how many games we won last year against much weaker competition? I know Georgia State and Idaho have struggled, but they are still better than all but a few of the teams on last years schedule. Of course Georgia Southern is a carry over so we know where we stand there. Plus obviously the two FCS teams, but we did lose to A&T and Charleston Southern last year. After that though every team on the schedule is an upgrade over what we faced last year. Individually I would say there are a good number of teams we could beat, but when you're talking about playing 10 FBS teams it is going to be difficult.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we were around 4 wins again next year. Even though the win column would be the same it would still be a big improvement over last year due to the competition. If we won 6 games next year I would be very happy all things considered.

I just can't agree with that. If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed.

I just think a lot of fans are underestimating teams like UL-M and USA. Monroe had wins over Wake Forest and UL-L plus they won 4 of their last 6. Someone mentioned we weren't the same team by the end of the year, but that applies to other teams as well. South Alabama had wins over two bowl teams, and beat WKU who should have gone to a bowl with 8 wins. They also ended hot winning their last 3 games.

You're right that this is schedule is as easy at it will get going forward, but that sure doesn't mean we will waltz through it and win 7 or 8 games. I still think you're not realizing how much more difficult it is to play 10 FBS teams in a year especially when we are very young on the 2 deep. I also think a lot of people don't want to acknowledge the talent gap between the Sun Belt and SoCon. The worst SB teams are on par with the best SoCon teams, and the rest are upgrades.

I agree that 7-8 wins becomes a stretch but I still think 6 is the number we should expect.

[JTApps1]

"For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS."

I don't remember that comment. I do remember quite a few folks saying that we could compete against the lower third. I was one of them, and I still believe that. And given a couple more recruiting classes and some added experience for our coaching staff, I believe we will win against many of those teams. But to expect that to start happening next year is unrealistic.

Exactly! If this was year 3 or 4 in the Sun Belt then I would say we could win 8-10 games. However, this is year 1 and we're coming off a rough season. We as a fan base have to keep things in perspective for the next couple of years. Hopefully most of our fans are knowledgeable enough to realize this.

[EastHallApp]

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

For years before the move we were dominating the SoCon and winning between 10 and 14 games a year.

Sorry. I thought last year was a freak, not the future.

I don't think we're going to go 4-8 forever (or even this year, for that matter), but which do you think is a more relevant predictor of the 2014 season - our results in 2013 or in 2007?

Neither one. You are talking about two extremes. I am talking about the middle. 2008,9,10,11,12 all should win 6 games against next years schedule. I would never use last years record as a gauge for any future years. Last year was a freak. Does anybody really think last year had anything to do with the talent that was available? Play that season over again with the same players and the same coaches and I guarantee we have more than 4 wins and most probably more than 6. Last year was a freak. It should be treated by the fans as never happening.

LOL, hope you're right. I don't think I'm talking about any "extreme" by saying last year's team more closely resembles this year's in terms of roster and coaching makeup than any previous year's does. In fact, I think that statement is pretty obvious on its face for every team in college sports.

I do agree we underachieved relative to our talent, but it didn't exactly come out of nowhere (see zero playoff wins since 2010). Hopefully we've hit rock bottom and can now start to rebound.

I'm not saying we won't win 6 this year. I just hope if we do, fans will appreciate it as a successful season rather than a birthright.

[EastHallApp]

Let me say this another way bcoach - please name as many teams as you can that increased their win total by 2 or more in their first season moving from FCS to FBS.

[bcoach]

We have to win 6 games. Really, how could we not?

"7 wins and a maybe at stAte....."

"If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed."

You guys must actually believe that nonsense Cobb said about the SunBelt being a glorified FCS conference. I hope you guys paid attention to the comments coming from the coaching staff following national signing day.

Sloan said that the experience of recruiting as an FBS member was different than as an FCS program. “Most of the teams we are recruiting against are conference schools like South Alabama, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, and schools like Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, whereas before we were recruiting a lot against a Wofford or an Elon and people of that nature,” he said. “So it did go to a different level as far as the caliber of player you’re dealing with.”

“Most of these kids had multiple offers and they were multiple FBS offers,” Sloan said. “I don’t know how many of them would have let us in the door this time last year.”

Sloan said that it’s all about the ‘B’ in FBS.

“That means so much more to these kids than the FCS,” Sloan said. “They all want to play at the highest level possible.”

Satterfield agreed. He said that being an FBS school is a significant selling point in recruiting.
“We’re not playing for the chance to go a national championship or the playoffs, but kids want to play at the FBS level,” he said.

Satterfield said it’s a markedly better class than what would have been netted as an FCS program and, obviously, it has to be.

“You look at the quality of it and these are players who can obviously play at a lot of different places at the FBS level."

The majority of SunBelt schools have been recruiting these types of players FOR YEARS. How anyone can say ASU "should" or "needs to" win 6-7 games next year baffles me. I'm all for lofty expectations bust there comes a point where reality has to settle in. This isn't going to be nearly as easy as some of you think.

I am not simply looking at it as a "move to the FBS" I am looking at the teams we will play. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures Southern Miss is 1-23. What about this schedule am I not seeing? For years before the move everybody and his brother said we were better than the lower third of FBS. Now we are in that lower third and we are supposed to struggle? I still maintain we really should win 6 or we have a problem.

Not EVERYBODY. Only those ignorant to the facts and drunk with the elixir and hype following the Michigan game. You said "If we only have 4 wins we have problems. This is probably the weakest schedule we will ever have. In fact I pray it is the weakest schedule we will ever have. Just my opinion but if I thought we would only win 4 games with this schedule I would be very depressed.

How so? Last year we win 4 games. This year we play a schedule that....

Michigan = Georgia (in terms of win probability)
Campbell < Char Southern
So Miss > Montana
Liberty = NC A&T
ULM > Samford
ULL > Wofford
Ark State > UTC
Troy > Furman
Ga State > WCU
NMSU > Elon
Idaho > Citadel

Not sure I agree with your comparisons and I don't use last year as a gauge for anything. I don't discount your opinion, I just have a different one is all.
So let's put it this way. Tell me why we should not win the following
Campbell
So Miss
Liberty
Ga State
NMSU
Idaho
That is my 6 and I'm sticking to it

[bcoach]

Let me say this another way bcoach - please name as many teams as you can that increased their win total by 2 or more in their first season moving from FCS to FBS.

What does it matter? Forget the move and just look at the schedule. Pretend we are the still FCS and look at that schedule. You don't think we could win 6 games? Forget last year. last years problems were more than coaching and talent.