SB Nation team preview App State

[mtnjax]

Thought this article was an interesting read with a good tidbit on timing a move to FBS and how is kind of impossible to pick the right time

http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... er-preview

[huskie3]

Thought this article was an interesting read with a good tidbit on timing a move to FBS and how is kind of impossible to pick the right time

http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... er-preview

Interesting read indeed. I thought it was a fair evaluation, I just wish the Moore situation whole story was known by national media (all the years Moore said he had no interest in being in DI again). I am optimistic APP will be better than .500 next year.

[Maddog1956]

Thought this article was an interesting read with a good tidbit on timing a move to FBS and how is kind of impossible to pick the right time

http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... er-preview

Not too back...I was a little surprised by this quote "They dominated the Southern Conference, FCS' SEC, from 2005-12., but it was nice to hear.

[Saint3333]

I'm certainly not predicting a 7 win season.

Our easier conference games are going to be more like the Wofford/Furman/UTC type games. We don't have Elon or WCU's on our conference schedule any longer and until we get depth and experience a season over .500 is going to be tough.

[EastHallApp]

Yeah, there were a couple little mistakes here and there (sounded like the author was unaware that WKU is leaving the Sun Belt), but overall, he seemed pretty knowledgeable. Certainly one of the more in-depth writeups of App's roster that I've seen.

As for predictions, I'd be thrilled with 6-6. Mainly I just want us to appear competitive enough that we look ready to go bowling in 2015.

[MAD Doctor]

I guess all's fair when you finish 4-8, but I don't agree with his persistent "theme" of bad timing. Considering today's landscape, it would appear we made the best move we could, when we could. While we were focused on our three winning national championships, new territory for us, we couldn't just stop and jump to FBS overnight. We all know how time consuming the protocol was with the feasibility studies, Boards, etc...Plus, if it was our market size that kept CUSA from being interested in 2012, it was certainly no larger in 2009. Bad timing would have been to wait a little longer and get shut out of expansion altogether. We have arrived in the Sun Belt and FBS. What we do now, is up to us. GO APPS!

[mtnjax]

As far as the timing, I don't think he took into consideration the moratorium on teams moving up to FBS

[JTApps1]

Whether you agree with all, some, or none of his conclusions it is nice to get this sort of coverage over 7 months before kickoff. It will be very interesting to see the difference in exposure going forward compared to our FCS days.

[bcoach]

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

[mtnjax]

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

I agree. There are at least 6 winnable games there with maybe an upset or 2 we could pull off

[Deano]

I thought it was an interesting article with some good statistics. Its hard to say when the perfect time to jump up was. I think some of our hesitation was waiting on things to go down between us and CUSA. When that didn't happen, our only option at that point was the Sunbelt. You can blast the Sunbelt and say it was only a lateral move, but a move with Georgia Southern kept a good rivalry and we have a chance now to become a powerhouse in the Sunbelt. What matters is that we as fans pack the stadium and show support and that our team as least wins a few their first season.

[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.

[WataugaMan]

"but we did lose to A&T and Charleston Southern last year."

The team at the end of last season was much different than the one that lost to A&T and Charleston Southern (at start of last season), things were starting to come together. I'm not saying it will happen, however, I would not be surprised to see 6 wins next season either.

[Maddog1956]

"but we did lose to A&T and Charleston Southern last year."

The team at the end of last season was much different than the one that lost to A&T and Charleston Southern (at start of last season), things were starting to come together. I'm not saying it will happen, however, I would not be surprised to see 6 wins next season either.

I agree, I think that's one thing the article did point out is that we finished better than we started and that we had a very young team with several returning players. I don't think they went into it but it doesn't look like our recruiting hurt us either and our coaches have had a year to see what didn't work.

From game one last year we just didn't look prepared and I think that was our main problem and it took awhile to recover. That's not to blame anyone, there was just a lot of changes and maybe not enough time.

While the article did hit a lot on timing I think it was just to have a theme and for interesting reading. Because the same source had put us as one of the top teams that should move up.

I might would have liked CUSA better at first, but now I don't really know if it matters much. CUSA isn't what it was and I think SB got a couple good teams this year.

I think 4-6 wins would be a good season, especially if it includes a couple FBS teams. Anything more would be gravy/outstanding. Anything less would be surprising.

[EastHallApp]

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.

[asutrnr81]

My view:

Have to win:
Campbell "W"
Liberty "W"

Favored to win:
Ga. State "W"
Idaho "W"

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

Moderate underdog:
@Troy

Clear underdog:
@Michigan
@La-Lafayette
@Ark. State Toss-up!


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.

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

[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.

[EastHallApp]

My view:

Have to win:
Campbell "W"
Liberty "W"

Favored to win:
Ga. State "W"
Idaho "W"

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

Moderate underdog:
@Troy

Clear underdog:
@Michigan
@La-Lafayette
@Ark. State Toss-up!


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.

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

Hope you're right!

I should note that my breakdown is based on zero research of opponents' rosters. I'm just roughly assuming most will be similar to where they were last year, though obviously that won't be the case for all.

[ASUDieHard]

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.

Wow. I can't even begin to grasp how depressed you must have been with the 4 wins we mustered with last year's schedule.

[bcoach]

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.

Wow. I can't even begin to grasp how depressed you must have been with the 4 wins we mustered with last year's schedule.

You hit that nail on the head. Last season was just plain embarrassing. I sat there during games and wondered if I was dreaming. Worst display of football for the available talent I have ever seen. There may be a hundred excuses for our performance last year but they are just that. EXCUSES !! It was horrible.