Haisten Willis: Georgia Southern preview

[43rd Parallel]

(Guess someone didn't get the memo about the outlook for the Mountaineer defense.)

AN EXCERPT:

On the other hand, there's no reason to think Georgia Southern can't open with a win at West Virginia. Though the defense must play lights out, WVU isn't known for preventing points when the other team has the ball. One prognosticator already likes Southern's chances.

Georgia may still be a bridge too far even with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback.

LINK

 

[CE4WVU]

But if we lose this game, we have VERY big problems and we will be in store for a long season. Not to mention everyone from Seattle to Key West will be lighting up our message board. Pitt, VT and Marshall fans especially would not let us live down this setback.

 

[Coolridge69Vette]

I agree that the message boards would be on overload status with this kind of loss, and I cringe to the thoughts of losing this game.....but if WVU did lose (and I don't expect they will) its not the same thing as being beat by an Appy State or similar school.....although I'd still be highly disappointed. GS gave NC State all they wanted, probably should have beat Georgia Tech and did beat Florida a season or so ago. So they aren't afraid to schedule up and have experience playing in such venues. I hope we prepare for this game as well as we would for any Power 5 game. If we don't, WVU could be in a dogfight. I'm hoping for WVU to come out clicking on all cylinders on Offense and also prove that the Defensive hype is justified.

 

[GeorgiaSouthernValleyBoy]

(Guess someone didn't get the memo about the outlook for the Mountaineer defense.)

AN EXCERPT:

On the other hand, there's no reason to think Georgia Southern can't open with a win at West Virginia. Though the defense must play lights out, WVU isn't known for preventing points when the other team has the ball. One prognosticator already likes Southern's chances.

Georgia may still be a bridge too far even with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback.

LINK

The writer is a Georgia Southern grad. He also poster on the Eagles messageboard. He is a True Blue Eagle Fan.

 

[WarezEER]

Hail...........if Ga Southern beats WV ................Holgs probably won't get on the bus that carries the players back to MoTown. He would likely call RR in Zona to find out how he handled the Michigan loss to Appalachian State. Remember that? Stuff happens.

 

[Keyser76]

Ain't no way we lose to Ga. Southern.

 

[TKEON286]

Carr was the coach at Michigan when they lost to Appalachian St not rich rod

 

[GoWVU]

I agree that the message boards would be on overload status with this kind of loss, and I cringe to the thoughts of losing this game.....but if WVU did lose (and I don't expect they will) its not the same thing as being beat by an Appy State or similar school.....although I'd still be highly disappointed.

It would be pretty much the same type of loss in any practical sense of that term. Appalachian St was coming off 2 straight national titles in FCS/I-AA at the time they beat Michigan, and would go on to win their 3d in a row that fall. Georgia Southern was one of the premier programs in the FCS/I-AA level for many years, having won the national title 6 times. Both schools had extended periods as superpowers in that division, and both schools moved up to the FBS in 2014.

Rather than splitting hairs over what type of loss it would be, though, I think the much more alarming thing for WVU is that such a loss would clearly indicate we completely lack the ability to turn around the remainder of our season as Michigan did in 2007. Remember that after losing to Appy St in the home opener that year, the Wolverines also got pounded 39-7 in Ann Arbor by Oregon the following week. Rather than going into freefall, Michigan somehow circled the wagons and ripped off 8 consecutive victories before closing the Big Ten schedule with losses against Wisconsin and Ohio St. Carr went out a winner at the Citrus Bowl when the Wolverines defeated Florida, who was squarely between national-championship seasons on either side of that one.

In other words, if we somehow lose to Georgia Southern would you honestly believe WVU still had the ability to rebound and finish 9-4 with a New Year's Day victory over an SEC power like an Alabama or somebody similar? Of course not. The loss itself would probably be less of an issue than the totally bleak omen it would signify for the remainder of the season.

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers_rivals]

Comparisons to Appalachian State, the other Mountaineers, is appropriate and maybe a bit disturbing because it's on Georgia Southern's schedule on a Thursday night for all to see on TV.

If WVU loses to GaSo, then we ARE in trouble. Doesn't mean we can't win a few games. But if a Power 5 team can't beat a Little 5 team, it IS in for a rough season.

I seriously doubt it will happen. But nothing is guaranteed in life, and certainly not in college football. But upsets are rare. That's they the horse that beat the greatest horse of all time gave his name to that term.

I am much more concerned about trying to survive the October Octupus Onslaught of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and TCU, 3 of them on the road. THAT is a major mountain to climb.


M anhandle Georgia Southern

O bliterate Liberty

U nilaterally decimate Maryland

N euter Oklahoma

T rample Oklahoma State

A nnihilate Baylor

I ncinerate TCU

N ail Texas Tech

E rectile dysfunction Texas

E viscerate Kansas

R ip open a new one for Iowa State

S kewer Kansas State

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

It would be pretty much the same type of loss in any practical sense of that term. Appalachian St was coming off 2 straight national titles in FCS/I-AA at the time they beat Michigan, and would go on to win their 3d in a row that fall. Georgia Southern was one of the premier programs in the FCS/I-AA level for many years, having won the national title 6 times. Both schools had extended periods as superpowers in that division, and both schools moved up to the FBS in 2014.

Rather than splitting hairs over what type of loss it would be, though, I think the much more alarming thing for WVU is that such a loss would clearly indicate we completely lack the ability to turn around the remainder of our season as Michigan did in 2007. Remember that after losing to Appy St in the home opener that year, the Wolverines also got pounded 39-7 in Ann Arbor by Oregon the following week. Rather than going into freefall, Michigan somehow circled the wagons and ripped off 8 consecutive victories before closing the Big Ten schedule with losses against Wisconsin and Ohio St. Carr went out a winner at the Citrus Bowl when the Wolverines defeated Florida, who was squarely between national-championship seasons on either side of that one.

In other words, if we somehow lose to Georgia Southern would you honestly believe WVU still had the ability to rebound and finish 9-4 with a New Year's Day victory over an SEC power like an Alabama or somebody similar? Of course not. The loss itself would probably be less of an issue than the totally bleak omen it would signify for the remainder of the season.

I simply do not follow how a loss to GS would mean this team would "completely lack the ability to turn around the remainder of our season ..." I just don't follow that. Did anyone think that Ohio State was going to go on and win the National Championship after losing to VaTech?

I think we win. If they weren't starting essentially a new offensive line this would be a game to be concerned about. But even then their offense is designed to minimize the physical demands of the offensive line. It still might be an interesting game.

It's going to be pretty funny if we merely pull out a 4th quarter victory over this team because I am sure all of the doom and gloomers will be in full speed ahead mode.

I don't think there will be an in-between outcome to this game. We come out and handle them from early on or we pull it out in the 4th. And a loss, as disappointing as that may be, is simply not inconceivable. But it won't be the end of the season.

 

[Orlaco]

....no, a loss won't be the end of the season.... ...but it will be very telling regarding the rest of it.

At the beginning of July WVU was a 38 point fav (at some sites) and moved down to the low 30's ( high 20's) a week later. Sure it went as low as 18 (aka still an expected blowout) and now has settled to around 20....and the only thing that's changed is that GS has lost how many starters (for several reasons) ??

It's moronic to think that a loss wouldn't clearly show that WVU is in for a very long and unsuccessful season.

 

[JJD]

(Guess someone didn't get the memo about the outlook for the Mountaineer defense.)

AN EXCERPT:

On the other hand, there's no reason to think Georgia Southern can't open with a win at West Virginia. Though the defense must play lights out, WVU isn't known for preventing points when the other team has the ball. One prognosticator already likes Southern's chances.

Georgia may still be a bridge too far even with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback.

LINK

Like the tongue in cheek. Will WVU continue its recent winning ways against Georgia schools in football?

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

....no, a loss won't be the end of the season.... ...but it will be very telling regarding the rest of it.

At the beginning of July WVU was a 38 point fav (at some sites) and moved down to the low 30's ( high 20's) a week later. Sure it went as low as 18 (aka still an expected blowout) and now has settled to around 20....and the only thing that's changed is that GS has lost how many starters (for several reasons) ??

It's moronic to think that a loss wouldn't clearly show that WVU is in for a very long and unsuccessful season.

Just as it would have been moronic to predict that Ohio State would win the national championship after losing to Virginia Tech? A loss to GS could very well be devastating. Or it might not be. The only thing moronic would be to definitively predict what would happen one way or the other.

I'm really sorry I tweaked your nose so hard that you're now resorting to illogical posts.

 

[Orlaco]

Yea... ...GS is VT like.... ....in a Big 5 power conference and all.....

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

Yea... ...GS is VT like.... ....in a Big 5 power conference and all.....

Yea ... this comment completely avoids my main point that you simply do not know how the team would respond if it were to lose to GS.

But since you are the dog to my Dr. Pavlov I'll go ahead and say this: If OSU can win a national championship after losing to VaTech, WVU "could" still go on to have a good season if it were to lose to GS.

Ding! Ding!

 

[Chazz Michael Michaels]

We'll see what happens, but my guess is we won't cover the 20 points. I see a 27-17 type score with us getting behind early. I'm actually surprised it's at 20 pts (spread). This isn't a FCS team - they proved that last year.
Their two backs look really good. Need to put a couple big hits on that 170lb qb (Dillon or Joseph?) and that would change the game.