Come on guys, snap out of it for a second.

This is a transition year with a new head coach. That's tough for any team. To make things worse, and the single piece of information many GSU folks don't want to address, is the fact that what made you decent in the past, your quirky offense, isn't around like it used to be with the new HC.

You put all that together and this doesn't look good. It also means that pointing to wins in previous years are irrelevant. It's not the same team, and it isn't even substantially the same system.

Some realistic expectations would be a good thing folks.

(08-26-2014 02:56 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Well, I seem to have riled up the GSU homers.

Poked the hornets nest.

Tell us we'll be bad is not something we take lightly. We've had 3 losing seasons since restarting football in 1982. Most of us can't comprehend making predictions like that. :)

(08-26-2014 03:27 PM)The Black Flag Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 02:56 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Well, I seem to have riled up the GSU homers.

Poked the hornets nest.

Tell us we'll be bad is not something we take lightly. We've had 3 losing seasons since restarting football in 1982. Most of us can't comprehend making predictions like that. :)

Well, I wasn't trying to be insulting and I'd be happy to be wrong, because it would be wonderful for the Conference.

But, still, reasonably, not that great.

(08-26-2014 03:28 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 03:27 PM)The Black Flag Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 02:56 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Well, I seem to have riled up the GSU homers.

Poked the hornets nest.

Tell us we'll be bad is not something we take lightly. We've had 3 losing seasons since restarting football in 1982. Most of us can't comprehend making predictions like that. :)

Well, I wasn't trying to be insulting and I'd be happy to be wrong, because it would be wonderful for the Conference.

But, still, reasonably, not that great.

I wasn't arguing that we won't have a great season, but just arguing that your reasoning for us getting curb stomped by NC State doesn't make sense. That's all. 6-6 would make me very happy.

(08-26-2014 03:06 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Come on guys, snap out of it for a second.

This is a transition year with a new head coach. That's tough for any team. To make things worse, and the single piece of information many GSU folks don't want to address, is the fact that what made you decent in the past, your quirky offense, isn't around like it used to be with the new HC.

You put all that together and this doesn't look good. It also means that pointing to wins in previous years are irrelevant. It's not the same team, and it isn't even substantially the same system.

Some realistic expectations would be a good thing folks.

I just read the thread and you baited it in that direction. There is only one guy that has some unreasonable predictions.

(08-26-2014 03:06 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Come on guys, snap out of it for a second.

This is a transition year with a new head coach. That's tough for any team. To make things worse, and the single piece of information many GSU folks don't want to address, is the fact that what made you decent in the past, your quirky offense, isn't around like it used to be with the new HC.

You put all that together and this doesn't look good. It also means that pointing to wins in previous years are irrelevant. It's not the same team, and it isn't even substantially the same system.

Some realistic expectations would be a good thing folks.

This is what I think will make the difference... New Offense + New Coach + 1st year in FBS makes a winning season unlikely. Hell, in the pros, the Titans are facing a very similar situation (new defensive scheme and new coach) and I'm expecting a rough one as well... But again, this is why we play the games...

(08-26-2014 12:02 PM)The4thOption Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 09:43 AM)RowdyAlumni Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 01:02 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  I really dont get this 6-6 thing, just sounds like a BS # to throw out.

Now we could come out and just stink it up, and our new offense could be a huge fail.

But I just dont see 6 losses on the schedule. We would have to lose what I believe are all 3 of our "swing" games. And we would have to lose all three of the "big" games.

"Big" games: NCSTATE = we may win this one. If we still had the old 3-0 - I'd have no doubt, but I'm hoping to suprise some folks.

GT: OK - they have some huge question marks, but I think we come short/ hope I'm wrong.
Navy: - Going to be a fight, Gotta give their O the edge - hope I'm wrong.

So just say we get 1 of those to go our way.

"swing" games: App State (always a fight), Troy and Texas St.

App: OUR HOUSE = We WIN!
Troy: OUR HOUSE = We WIN!
Texas State: This aint 2005 and we have pay back to issue = WE WIN...

Ok- Say only 1 goes our way or 2?

That is maybe 4 losses - probably only 3.

I realize that USA is better and it wont be easy but unless our new offense just doesnt work, I think we win it.

Then: NMSU,Idaho, Sav State and GAST = 4 wins most likley.

I gotta believe we go between 8-4 and 9-3. At worse 7-5.
I'm gonna say 8-4 - at least until I see us at NC State.

6-6? No way. Maybe if we had App's schedule.

Nothing like predicting a winning season as the only option for your first year in FBS. This thread may need to get bumped later in the season.

Well honestly, It isn't hard to see due to the schedule.
The huge question for me is our offense. Can they stay on the field and score points? Like I said, if that is bad - we likely have a losing season.
But given WF's history and our players - I gotta believe we will score some points.

It is harder for me to see a losing season than a winning one given the schedule. If we were playing App's schedule with Michigan and ArkState and UL - Then things would be different.

You guys can face palm all you want, but some of you are probably the same crew who was wondering if we would even play our starters against Alabama and or were wondering if we would even get a first down.

As far as the not beating App thing, well - Now we have replay which would have probably changed the outcome a couple of times n the last few years. Except for last year - there haven't been any blowouts in a while either way - usually very close so this is listed as a swing game. I think we have the edge in this one this time. What else would you expect?

I cant see us losing all 3 swing games.\ Till it happens.

Didn't mean to leave ULM out - should probably be added to the swing games.

I'm not fearing Texas State either, this head start thing will mean less than more in this game. We have some great players. They may be deeper, but they aren't SEC or ACC kind of deep and we've done pretty well against those kind of depth charts.

I gave credit to USA for being improved - better than us? I wont believe that unless they beat us.

I love how some of our guys want to talk about losing to Samford and Furman etc. Last year. Yea, lets all forget about the 19 players out and the experimental stuff we were running. That wont translate to the field for this season.

We will win more than we lose!
I'll risk sporting an Avatar of all the teams we lose to for the season from the end of the season to the beginning of the next IF we don't, against anyone who wants to venture using a GA Southern avatar over the same time period if their team loses to us.

So, now.. bend over and spell RUN!

This is far from being over confident, the schedule is just set up pretty nice for our first year in imop.

(08-26-2014 12:02 PM)The4thOption Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 09:43 AM)RowdyAlumni Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 01:02 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  I really dont get this 6-6 thing, just sounds like a BS # to throw out.

Now we could come out and just stink it up, and our new offense could be a huge fail.

But I just dont see 6 losses on the schedule. We would have to lose what I believe are all 3 of our "swing" games. And we would have to lose all three of the "big" games.

"Big" games: NCSTATE = we may win this one. If we still had the old 3-0 - I'd have no doubt, but I'm hoping to suprise some folks.

GT: OK - they have some huge question marks, but I think we come short/ hope I'm wrong.
Navy: - Going to be a fight, Gotta give their O the edge - hope I'm wrong.

So just say we get 1 of those to go our way.

"swing" games: App State (always a fight), Troy and Texas St.

App: OUR HOUSE = We WIN!
Troy: OUR HOUSE = We WIN!
Texas State: This aint 2005 and we have pay back to issue = WE WIN...

Ok- Say only 1 goes our way or 2?

That is maybe 4 losses - probably only 3.

I realize that USA is better and it wont be easy but unless our new offense just doesnt work, I think we win it.

Then: NMSU,Idaho, Sav State and GAST = 4 wins most likley.

I gotta believe we go between 8-4 and 9-3. At worse 7-5.
I'm gonna say 8-4 - at least until I see us at NC State.

6-6? No way. Maybe if we had App's schedule.

Nothing like predicting a winning season as the only option for your first year in FBS. This thread may need to get bumped later in the season.

Well honestly, It isn't hard to see due to the schedule.
The huge question for me is our offense. Can they stay on the field and score points? Like I said, if that is bad - we likely have a losing season.
But given WF's history and our players - I gotta believe we will score some points.

It is harder for me to see a losing season than a winning one given the schedule. If we were playing App's schedule with Michigan and ArkState and UL - Then things would be different.

You guys can face palm all you want, but some of you are probably the same crew who was wondering if we would even play our starters against Alabama and or were wondering if we would even get a first down.

As far as the not beating App thing, well - Now we have replay which would have probably changed the outcome a couple of times n the last few years. Except for last year - there haven't been any blowouts in a while either way - usually very close so this is listed as a swing game. I think we have the edge in this one this time. What else would you expect?

I cant see us losing all 3 swing games.\ Till it happens.

Didn't mean to leave ULM out - should probably be added to the swing games.

I'm not fearing Texas State either, this head start thing will mean less than more in this game. We have some great players. They may be deeper, but they aren't SEC or ACC kind of deep and we've done pretty well against those kind of depth charts.

I gave credit to USA for being improved - better than us? I wont believe that unless they beat us.

I love how some of our guys want to talk about losing to Samford and Furman etc. Last year. Yea, lets all forget about the 19 players out and the experimental stuff we were running. That wont translate to the field for this season.

We will win more than we lose!
I'll risk sporting an Avatar of all the teams we lose to for the season from the end of the season to the beginning of the next IF we don't, against anyone who wants to venture using a GA Southern avatar over the same time period if their team loses to us.

So, now.. bend over and spell RUN!

This is far from being over confident, the schedule is just set up pretty nice for our first year in imop.

Figured the SBC let you write up your own schedule when saw GaSo schedule.
Funny how now Florida was the worst Florida team in 40 years, but before the game most of the critics wouldn't have given GaSo a snowballs chance of staying within four points last year.
Think GaSo will have a decent winning record considering their schedule.

I think GS (and App to a slightly lesser extent) have some of the biggest question marks of any move-ups we've seen. Most of history says they won't win many, but no one has moved up with their history of winning. The new HC just adds another variable...maybe there are growing pains, but weird stuff like 2013 Auburn happens, too.

My cowardly guess says that the Eagles win 4 or 5 this year...but I really won't be surprised if the number moves a lot in either direction.

(08-26-2014 05:15 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  but no one has moved up with their history of winning.

There is one example, Marshall. They were a strong I-AA program leading up to their transition and went 10-3, 12-1 and 13-0 in their first three I-A seasons. But there are rules with their name on them due to how they made the move and I highly doubt either us or App will have similar success. Though I do think we will do better than UMASS, UConn, and WKU did in their first few seasons.

(08-26-2014 03:06 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Come on guys, snap out of it for a second.

This is a transition year with a new head coach. That's tough for any team. To make things worse, and the single piece of information many GSU folks don't want to address, is the fact that what made you decent in the past, your quirky offense, isn't around like it used to be with the new HC.

You put all that together and this doesn't look good. It also means that pointing to wins in previous years are irrelevant. It's not the same team, and it isn't even substantially the same system.

Some realistic expectations would be a good thing folks.

In '09 we had an air raid coach and a very young team. Our OL was so awful that our offense was basically halfback dives, bubble passes, and swing passes. We lost by 30 to an 8-win UNC team.

The next year we transitioned back to the option. In our second game we lost to a good Navy Squad 13-6.

I can see us being 4-8, maybe even 3-9 if a lot of unknowns don't turn out good for us. But your game-by-game breakdown I don't really buy at all. There's not a single conference game I think won't be winnable.

(08-26-2014 02:12 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 02:08 PM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 01:12 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 01:08 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(08-26-2014 12:52 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  If you walk through the schedule and are honest with it given the realities of the GSU team...

NC State- L
---There isn't much of a chance in this one. A win against the worst Florida team in 40 years doesn't mean you have a chance. A loss by 24 or more points.

What might these realities be? That we had a zillion injuries last year and our coaches did a lot of things on offense - like practicing one offense in the spring and doing something different in the season - they would never do on a year where we were eligible for the playoffs and conference title?

I'm not very confident we will beat NC State, but if 24 is your spread I'll take us all day and twice on Sunday. That's a typical spread for us going up against top-10 SEC teams like UGA and Alabama. One of the worst teams our program ever had lost by 30 to a UNC team that won 8 games and is most likely a good bit better than NC State will be this year.

A first year head coach, and all that goes along with that, during a move up year.

That is ugly.

That logic doesn't make sense. A move up year wouldn't make us worse against a bad acc team. New head coach, sure. Moving up? No.

I was talking about the entire season.

You will get stomped by NC State because even their 3rd string kids have as much talent as your starters.

Bar some miracle, the 20.5 point spread seems about right.

The only irrational / idiotic thing you have said. NC State rarely gets four star kids their classes are made up of three star and two star kids.

Also how is it going to be a miracle when they were atrocious last year and barely beat the inferior FCS team on their schedule? Is adding a transfer QB off the BCS team we just beat gonna make that much of a difference from last year?

BTW I am thinking 6-6.

Well, seems we have a heated on here.

A couple of things: Nobody here speaks for "most Southern fans" - maybe most of our vocal fans over here on this message board, but the feeling at "Our House" is a bit different. In a nut shell, we expect to win. Period.

Now I have sand bagged with the best of them, and I don't have a problem with it mostly. But lately all the kowtowing going on around here is beginning to make me nauseated. Anybody remember the game plan I talked about against UF? And that FB that even some of our GSU brothers said would not play... "but he did!". Anybody remember all the "curb stomping" comments? Probably some of the same people talking now.

And Ok, worse UF team in 40 years? Still better than a lot of programs. They beat Tenn. UGA beat them by a field goal! South Carolina almost lost to them. #2 Ranked Defense in the SEC.

But alas, We no longer have our flexbone vaunted triple option (seriously tears falling as I type that) - No not seriously, but yes I'm still "crying" over it.
So - I've said what happens is going to depend greatly on WF's implementation of the new offense. Well, I've admitted it could go ugly. BUT - I don't believe it will. BECAUSE, I think that this system has enough elements of our old 3-0 that it will be smoother than our previous transition away from the flex. IF we lean on a true triple threat with a real option to run up the middle, i think we will find early success. IF we run a lot of zone read double option and then have our QB's scrambling and trowing the ball up for grabs - we will get killed. We will see on Saturday.

I believe Georgia Southern is ready - YESTERYEAR! To stand toe to toe with any program in the Sun Belt. Win or Lose - we will bring strong competition as will App State. USA more established than Georgia Southern? "I don't think so Tim", I'd never heard of them until about 2 years ago. How long they been playing football? 4 - 5 years?

Heck as I understand this article, the writer agrees with me that better than 6-6 is likely. Or maybe that isn't what "go over" means - I'm not sure as I'm usually not a beating man.

But curb stomped by N.C. State? Well.... could happen but not likely.
Your money is safe with us beating the spread at least. I think this is anybody's game. But - they do have the edge in this one.

And I think we will go undefeated versus Idaho, NMSU and ... OK forgot who the other one.

So just to clarify: I can live with 5-7 - might happen. I wouldnt say it was a terrible year considering the double transition we are making. More likely we beat the 6-6 prediction. And I believe that THAT opinion is shared by more of the Southern Fan base than the majority of us on this board. Call me crazy! Ok - you already did. But remember many of you did when I thought we had a chance against UF.

And NC State is worse than UF!

You went 7-4 last year.... With your old coach, your old system, in your old confernce, in your old division. You have none of that and those four losses came against the likes of Samford, go Dawgs.


Come on guys!

It will be a smoother transition than it was for Ga. State but a winning season? That's a big if.

But, like I said, I'd love to be wrong because it's good for the conference but it doesn't make unreasonable expectations any more reasonable.

(08-26-2014 10:33 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  You went 7-4 last year.... With your old coach, your old system, in your old confernce, in your old division. You have none of that and those four losses came against the likes of Samford, go Dawgs.


Come on guys!

It will be a smoother transition than it was for Ga. State but a winning season? That's a big if.

But, like I said, I'd love to be wrong because it's good for the conference but it doesn't make unreasonable expectations any more reasonable.

7-4 with one of the 7 being against the #2 Defense in the SEC.

4 Loses:
19 players injured/out. Experimenting. No post season or championship to play for. Sandbagging for this season

Samford wouldnt go undefeated in the Sun Belt. They didn't last year!

Our old conference used to be the SEC of the FCS.

New Coach: Growing pains yes, but he is a winner.

New system: Similar enough to transition easier than some. We will see if it happens sooner than later.

#1 Recruiting class in the Sun Belt

A program that believes that they are supposed to win every game. And that means a lot.

Cant wait to "get it on"

And if it weren't all an "if", we wouldnt need to play the games. We'd just look to the sports writers and fans to tell us all what is going to happen.

Last year isn't a reason to have high or low expectations for this year. The conference losses don't discourage me and the Florida win doesn't get my hopes up. The only take-away from the Florida game was that our presumptive starting QB Kevin Ellison matured a lot last year and has some real potential.

It was a bizarre and very atypical year from the get-go starting with our coaches running one offense in the spring and doing something different for most of the season. We gave a zillion different looks and did a ton of changing positions around on offense (a lot of that was due to injuries, though).

Wish GS the best, but don't get too full of it, cause it can bite you:

(08-27-2014 11:24 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Wish GS the best, but don't get too full of it, cause it can bite you:

God I hate App State.

(08-27-2014 11:26 AM)sidslidkid Wrote:  

(08-27-2014 11:24 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Wish GS the best, but don't get too full of it, cause it can bite you:

God I hate App State.

And we appreciate it.

I can wait to see NCST in the playoff...good lawd Any top ten FCS team could have done what they did last year. Yet one off season puts them on the same level of top ten recruiting teams.

(08-26-2014 10:33 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  You went 7-4 last year.... With your old coach, your old system, in your old confernce, in your old division. You have none of that and those four losses came against the likes of Samford, go Dawgs.


Come on guys!

It will be a smoother transition than it was for Ga. State but a winning season? That's a big if.

But, like I said, I'd love to be wrong because it's good for the conference but it doesn't make unreasonable expectations any more reasonable.

Guess they should have started their third stringers to cover that "reasonable" spread.