Tommy Bowman Reflects on ASU FB in the WSJ

[asu66]

Reflections on Samford loss, and App State's season

Posted: Monday, October 14, 2013 2:52 pm
Tommy Bowman

Understatement alert… It has not been an easy season for first-year coach Scott Satterfield of Appalachian State.

It sure didn’t get any easier this past weekend, getting walloped 34-10 at home by Samford and compounded by the dismissal of talented receiver Sean Price.

The Mountaineers’ confidence has to be about shot after Saturday’s loss. The toughest part of Satterfield’s job might still be ahead.

“There’s no question this is a season of ‘What are you going to do when your back is against the wall?’” Satterfield said. “It seems like we’ve been like this all year. We come into the locker room and it’s not very much fun to face a group of men that has worked hard but not getting fruits of the labor.”

A lack of offense was the primary culprit on Saturday. That wouldn’t have been the top guess going against Samford, which had scored in droves but had given up a fair amount of points.

Add that to previous items on the list – youth on defense, an unsettled situation at quarterback, player suspensions, a first-time head coach, new coordinators, title and playoff ineligibility and some opponents that were better than expected.

It’s already been a long season for the Mountaineers.

“The only thing we can do is continue to work,” Satterfield said.

Saturday’s loss all but ensured the program’s first losing season since 1993, the year Satterfield was a freshman quarterback.

At 1-5, the Mountaineers would have to run the table – including beating Georgia – to finish above .500.
It’s a tough road ahead. After Saturday’s game at Furman, the Mountaineers still have to face formidable Southern Conference opponents Georgia Southern, Chattanooga and Wofford as well as Georgia before closing the season against Western Carolina.

One interesting component coming out of this season will be the tempering of external expectations. That’s one thing that Appalachian football hasn’t had in years.

Those arguing against a move to the FBS and Sun Belt Conference next season on the basis of resulting in more losses might not have an argument. The losses are mounting before the move, which won’t be a boon to recruiting or fan interest, but could ease the expectations pressure next year in a new league and at a new level.

This season could be an anomaly. Time will tell.

The run of 19 straight winning seasons is rather amazing, given the fine line between winning and losing. It stood to reason there had to be a blip eventually. Given the transition, perhaps this was as good a time as any. The key will be the recovery.

For now, the Mountaineers will just have to endure, just like it had to do when Samford tacked on a gratuitous touchdown with 22 seconds left instead of taking a knee.

“Maybe five or six years of frustration having getting beat, and they know we’re not going to play them anymore, we’re out of this league,” Satterfield said. “I anticipate everybody that we play in this league to give us their best shot. It’s the last time they’re going to be able to play us.

“When you’ve had so much success over the years against a lot of these teams, they’re going to let it all hang out and try to do the best they can do to try to score as many points as they can score…. They know there’s no repercussion.”

[87ASUgrad]

Getting their "best shot" this season is right. I hope we can shoot back better at Furman this weekend. That last Samford touchdown Saturday should come as no surprise. Those "SOCON, SOCON..." chants from the Samford fans after the game were hard to endure too.

[JonW]

I thought every season we expected to receive every team's best shot? The only difference this year is that we won't play any of them next year (or if ever again).

[oldfart]

It's 10:32 in Statesboro, GA and FURMAN STILL SUCKS!!

[scatman77]

It's 10:32 in Statesboro, GA and FURMAN STILL SUCKS!!

Amen and AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HeffnerIV]

Getting their "best shot" this season is right. I hope we can shoot back better at Furman this weekend. That last Samford touchdown Saturday should come as no surprise. Those "SOCON, SOCON..." chants from the Samford fans after the game were hard to endure too.

I thought that's what they were chanting. Let then have their pride. It is their only win against us in conference history, if I remember correctly

[oldfart]

It's Thursday October 17th- 8:15am and Furman still SUCKS!

[scatman77]

It's Thursday October 17th- 8:15am and Furman still SUCKS!

Audibly....

[luvyosef]

All I can say is that it has taken years for these teams to finally feel good about themselves against App. Let them have it. As the saying goes, "even a blind pig finds an acorn every now and then." Go App!

[Appsolutely]

It's Thursday October 17th- 8:15am and Furman still SUCKS!

...the chrome off a trailer hitch, an orange through a 50-ft. garden hose, the quarters out of a parking meter, the red out of Christmas, etc.