You've now played Troy, TxState, ULM, Western Kentucky, and the Cajuns. To finish the season, you've got stAte, and USA to go.

Though you're still winless, I believe your team is improving overall each week and believe you could win your first game before the season ends.

What's been your impression of the teams you've faced to date...regardless of their overall win-loss record or standing in the Belt?

(11-18-2013 07:21 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  You've now played Troy, TxState, ULM, Western Kentucky, and the Cajuns. To finish the season, you've got stAte, and USA to go.

Though you're still winless, I believe your team is improving overall each week and believe you could win your first game before the season ends.

What's been your impression of the teams you've faced to date...regardless of their overall win-loss record or standing in the Belt?

My overall impression is that the step-up in competition from FCS is not as big as I thought it would be.

(11-19-2013 11:25 AM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(11-18-2013 07:21 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  You've now played Troy, TxState, ULM, Western Kentucky, and the Cajuns. To finish the season, you've got stAte, and USA to go.

Though you're still winless, I believe your team is improving overall each week and believe you could win your first game before the season ends.

What's been your impression of the teams you've faced to date...regardless of their overall win-loss record or standing in the Belt?

My overall impression is that the step-up in competition from FCS is not as big as I thought it would be.

While playing in the FCS, did Ga St normally go winless?

(11-19-2013 11:29 AM)BraveCajun Wrote:  

(11-19-2013 11:25 AM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(11-18-2013 07:21 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  You've now played Troy, TxState, ULM, Western Kentucky, and the Cajuns. To finish the season, you've got stAte, and USA to go.

Though you're still winless, I believe your team is improving overall each week and believe you could win your first game before the season ends.

What's been your impression of the teams you've faced to date...regardless of their overall win-loss record or standing in the Belt?

My overall impression is that the step-up in competition from FCS is not as big as I thought it would be.

While playing in the FCS, did Ga St normally go winless?

We have only played 3 seasons, none winless.

6-5
3-8
1-10

(11-19-2013 11:25 AM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(11-18-2013 07:21 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  You've now played Troy, TxState, ULM, Western Kentucky, and the Cajuns. To finish the season, you've got stAte, and USA to go.

Though you're still winless, I believe your team is improving overall each week and believe you could win your first game before the season ends.

What's been your impression of the teams you've faced to date...regardless of their overall win-loss record or standing in the Belt?

My overall impression is that the step-up in competition from FCS is not as big as I thought it would be.

Considering our inconsistent QB play , yeah I am surprised at how well we have stayed in games. If Bell isnt suspended for a quarter, what does the Louisiana game look like? Will take a couple of years, but immediately we need to move at least 2 QBs off this roster. That and we need linemen and an Omaha Steaks account.

(11-19-2013 11:29 AM)BraveCajun Wrote:  

(11-19-2013 11:25 AM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(11-18-2013 07:21 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  You've now played Troy, TxState, ULM, Western Kentucky, and the Cajuns. To finish the season, you've got stAte, and USA to go.

Though you're still winless, I believe your team is improving overall each week and believe you could win your first game before the season ends.

What's been your impression of the teams you've faced to date...regardless of their overall win-loss record or standing in the Belt?

My overall impression is that the step-up in competition from FCS is not as big as I thought it would be.

While playing in the FCS, did Ga St normally go winless?

We've been more competitive against Sun Belt Teams than we were against CAA teams in general. Most of that is better coaching/attitude, but I didn't make it past halftime for most of our games last year. I've been in my seat after halftime for every Sun Belt game, and I didn't expect to be because I thought the step-up in competition would more than cancel-out any improvement in the team. That has not been the case.

For Ga. State and all other teams that step up from FCS, I think the biggest issue is depth and quality players. Most start-ups have very competitive players at the skill positions, they just don't have as many in the trenches. I think it shows in the later quarters as those teams get tired and established FBS teams rotate more players during the game. Also, as the season goes on and injuries start piling up, you can see a difference. Has a lot to do with scholarship limits and playing younger players the first few years.

One final thing is that FBS teams tend to overlook new teams more than they should and that makes the scores closer. Coaches can warn players all day not to take them lightly, but its just human nature.

(11-19-2013 12:55 PM)Rik Flair Wrote:  For Ga. State and all other teams that step up from FCS, I think the biggest issue is depth and quality players. Most start-ups have very competitive players at the skill positions, they just don't have as many in the trenches. I think it shows in the later quarters as those teams get tired and established FBS teams rotate more players during the game. Also, as the season goes on and injuries start piling up, you can see a difference. Has a lot to do with scholarship limits and playing younger players the first few years.

One final thing is that FBS teams tend to overlook new teams more than they should and that makes the scores closer. Coaches can warn players all day not to take them lightly, but its just human nature.

Exactly. We were beating SJSU team last year at halftime that went on to be ranked. We also hung with a ranked LA Tech. Did the same to Texas Tech the year before. Depth was our killer and still isn't to the level of established Sun Belt teams.

I am too surprised how competitive GaSt has been in it's Sun Belt play. I am very impressed with how they have handled themselves. Good job guys I really like CTM.

The most pleasant surprise has been how well GSU has played since the UTC debacle; the coaches watched a team quit and said work hard or leave. Some left and those staying are working hard. We've got some playmakers, but lack depth and strength. After UTC, I really wondered if future games would be over by the end of the first quarter (the consensus) or halftime. The fact that most SBC games have been close in the third quarter or later has been a surprise.

It's going to take GSU fully three-four years before the coaches have recruited and added depth and talent, but some team, some where, some day, will fall to the Panthers and the agony of that loss will be rivaled only by the esctasy of our victory.

I don't buy into the "play down to the competition" or teams have "overlooked" GSU; let's give the other team some credit for competing. I played soccer in college and when we played against stronger teams, ranked, that opposition had to deal with us, had to fight to compete with us as much as we fought to compete with them.

I credit our play to the coaches. 90% same team from last year, but our players are playing so much harder than last.

We have legit FCS players on our roster starting + young FBS players. Our starting middle linebacker is 6 foot 200 pounds. That's not gonna cut when we have high school linebacker commits that are 6'3 and 230 pounds coming in. We'll get there and I'm proud of how our team is playing.

(11-19-2013 02:54 PM)gsuncc Wrote:  The most pleasant surprise has been how well GSU has played since the UTC debacle; the coaches watched a team quit and said work hard or leave. Some left and those staying are working hard.

What exactly was the UTC debacle? Can you give us some details of what transpired?

It was typical of last year. UTC pushed us around EARLY and immediately on the sidelines heads were down and players quit. It was over less than halfway into the 1st qtr. It was the second game of this season. CTM when nuts afterwards for like 48 hours. Hasnt been the same team since.

UTC is a good team as well as Samford so don't feel bad by losing to those teams. Don't get too caught up in this FBS/FCS player thing because frankly for the mid-majors the gap is not that great.

(11-19-2013 04:24 PM)panama Wrote:  It was typical of last year. UTC pushed us around EARLY and immediately on the sidelines heads were down and players quit. It was over less than halfway into the 1st qtr. It was the second game of this season. CTM when nuts afterwards for like 48 hours. Hasnt been the same team since.

Thanks Panama.

Brings to mind a couple of the Cajun games this year....WKU and NMSU....both teams with big leads early but the Cajuns didn't panic and most certainly didn't quit.

(11-19-2013 04:24 PM)panama Wrote:  It was typical of last year. UTC pushed us around EARLY and immediately on the sidelines heads were down and players quit. It was over less than halfway into the 1st qtr. It was the second game of this season. CTM when nuts afterwards for like 48 hours. Hasnt been the same team since.

Honestly who knew UTC and Samford would be the best two teams in the SoCon who is typically the best or second best conference in the FCS. UTC is for the first time I have ever seen them a legit team, Samford has been on the edge of being really good for a while. Never would I have ever believed they would be on top of the SoCon at the same time EVER but thats why you play the games. Bottom line not as huge embarrassment for folks who still follow FCS football as it would have been just a year ago. A seated playoff caliber FCS team can beat the a lot of FBS teams with no help. A team like NDSU as we can see can beat the majority of FBS teams.

Honestly you can see GaState is getting better, just hope not to much before our game next year.

(11-19-2013 04:20 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(11-19-2013 02:54 PM)gsuncc Wrote:  The most pleasant surprise has been how well GSU has played since the UTC debacle; the coaches watched a team quit and said work hard or leave. Some left and those staying are working hard.

What exactly was the UTC debacle? Can you give us some details of what transpired?

Panama described it well. One thing Miles said after the game was telling; he mentioned that during the second half he wasn't watching the game per se, but the players and their eyes, the body language, the defeatism. It made him realize that the hole he climbed into was deeper than he thought when he took the job. He essentially told players, man up or leave. Complete refocus since then. Hasn't translated into wins, but certainly a major attitude adjustment happened.

When he turned around Indiana State, he dismissed something like half the team the first season. ISU didn't win a game his first year, only 1 game the next (I think I have that right). He's not about immediate results, but longer term, which is good but requires the fans (cue comments about GSU's six or seven fans) to be patient.