Here's my rose-colored take

[ViewCrew87]

Dude has no clue about Black Saturday's support of App.

[HappyHippie]

Unfortunately, I picked this game as the one I would travel down to Boone to watch this year. The loss really surprised me - I had predicted a comfortable win. It was a disappointing game to watch and it almost spoiled my weekend. But a few days have passed, I'm back in Michigan now and I feel a little better this evening. Tonight my thought is it was only one game and it's still a long way to go to the end of the season. App State can still have another great season but the team has to turn the corner this weekend. This game in Chattanooga is a must win if I ever saw one.

And I would like to make one final comment. I am slowly gaining some respect for the triple option. I watched my team, Central Michigan, play SE Missouri State (FCS) two weeks ago. SE Missouri State also runs the triple option and in the first half CMU looked like they had no clue how to cover that offense. At one point we were down by quite a bit. However, we apparently did figure it out to some extend in the second half because SE Missouri State only scored three points after the break. CMU ended up winning the game but it was not easy.

The thing that bothers me is CMU hardly ever sees the triple option so to some extent I am not surprised we had trouble defending it. I told one of my friends I would like to see CMU play one of the teams in the SoCon that has been running this offense for some time. I really don't think CMU could win a matchup like that. But App State sees it every year from The Citadel, Wolford and Georgia Southern. Unfortunately, in this game App State's defense looked like it was facing the triple option for the first time and that I just don't understand.

It was the first time most of this years TEAM competed against a talented TO attack. Were you questioning our preparedness against GSU last year. We have a very young TEAM that got kicked in the teeth. BEAT UTC!

[HappyHippie]

Dude has no clue about Black Saturday's support of App.

Nor does he know mine - Beat UTC!

[WVAPPeer]

You guys must stop disparaging the name "Dude" - there is only one Dude - The Dude, Jeff Lebowski, The Dude Abides, or Duderino if you are not into all that brevity thing -

[WVAPPeer]

Look up the scores of the Southern Conference versus other conferences when the rubber meets the road, it is very poor. The SmallCon includes 6 others, it's not just APP and The Gnat Swarm versus other conferences. For example, you will not find a marqee OOC win for Elon's program since joining the SmallCon. When has Wofford had one, when given the chance. Ok, Montana, but how long ago was that?

When it comes to quality OOC games, the SoCon consistently plays at the home of the FBS teams. Furman gave Butch's UNC team all they could handle. Wofford gave Clemson a tough gamelosing by TD in Death Valley. They lost to SEC member USC by 7 and 10. I just don't see why you singled out Wofford.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant OOC as OOC FCS. You'll be hard pressed to find any quality wins recently by the SoCon.

Personally I consider every playoff win a Quality OCC Win - when it is one and done there is huge pressure and even if we are favored to win and should win it is still one and done - sometimes much more pressure on the team which should win - see Duke / Lehigh ---

[midlandchip]

Unfortunately, I picked this game as the one I would travel down to Boone to watch this year. The loss really surprised me - I had predicted a comfortable win. It was a disappointing game to watch and it almost spoiled my weekend. But a few days have passed, I'm back in Michigan now and I feel a little better this evening. Tonight my thought is it was only one game and it's still a long way to go to the end of the season. App State can still have another great season but the team has to turn the corner this weekend. This game in Chattanooga is a must win if I ever saw one.

And I would like to make one final comment. I am slowly gaining some respect for the triple option. I watched my team, Central Michigan, play SE Missouri State (FCS) two weeks ago. SE Missouri State also runs the triple option and in the first half CMU looked like they had no clue how to cover that offense. At one point we were down by quite a bit. However, we apparently did figure it out to some extend in the second half because SE Missouri State only scored three points after the break. CMU ended up winning the game but it was not easy.

The thing that bothers me is CMU hardly ever sees the triple option so to some extent I am not surprised we had trouble defending it. I told one of my friends I would like to see CMU play one of the teams in the SoCon that has been running this offense for some time. I really don't think CMU could win a matchup like that. But App State sees it every year from The Citadel, Wolford and Georgia Southern. Unfortunately, in this game App State's defense looked like it was facing the triple option for the first time and that I just don't understand.

It was the first time most of this years TEAM competed against a talented TO attack. Were you questioning our preparedness against GSU last year. We have a very young TEAM that got kicked in the teeth. BEAT UTC!

HappyHippi, my position was/is this - the problem was with our defense and that falls on the coaches and preperation. In regard to how young the team is I will point out there are three freshmen on defense and the rest have been around for a while including the four seniors. Most of them have seen the triple option. I was not questioning our preparedness for GSU last year, I am questioning our preparedness for The Citadel. Finally, we can both agree we got kicked in the teeth.

Beyond that I'm not going to defend my statements or my position on The Citadel game. I think most folks have moved on from that one and are looking forward to the game this weekend. I know I am and I suspect you are as well. Let's focus on watching to a nice rebound in Chattanooga.

[HappyHippie]

Totally agree. Chemistry wins CHAMPIONSHIPS. Beat UTC!