Why is ASU being picked to be no. 1?

[Green26]

This is a serious question. Why is App St being picked to be no. 1?

While I don't follow teams other than Montana closely, I would have thought Richmond would be no. 1. Richmond won the national championship, and I believe returns alot of players.

I know ASU still has Edwards at qb. What else causes people to believe they will be very good (and no. 1)?

Just curious (and too lazy to look hard). Thx.

[ASU_MBA]

we return 9 players on D and 7-8 pm on offense. Our defense should be the best we have put on the field in a long long time...Only honest weak link I can see is depth at the O line, other than that this team could be and many people think it will be the best team at App yet..I believe we are just now seeing the payoff in recruiting from the Michigan win and Nat'l Championships etc..last two recruiting classes have been awesome..

but the only poll that matters is the one after 'Nooga...we shall see what team ASU puts together during the McNeese State game on the 12th. ECU game may have some questions with the offense......AE if he plays and how much rust he has to knock off...

[BDKJMU]

This is a serious question. Why is App St being picked to be no. 1?

While I don't follow teams other than Montana closely, I would have thought Richmond would be no. 1. Richmond won the national championship, and I believe returns alot of players.

I know ASU still has Edwards at qb. What else causes people to believe they will be very good (and no. 1)?

Just curious (and too lazy to look hard). Thx.

Who cares who is picked #1 preseason. Its pretty much irrelevant.
-As the previous poster stated, only thing that's relevant is who's picked #1 after Nooga.
-I would add maybe Mon, Nov 26, the date the last polls should come out before the selection show Sun, Nov 22nd, since the polls are part of the GPI which the selection committee uses.

Really, those polls in Nov and Dec are the only 2 polls that matter. xcoffeex

[mlbowl]

...as long as they have Armanti...I'll pick them number 1... as a Griz fan...I just hope we have a chance to take them down at the end!

[Zoo]

Who cares who is picked #1 preseason. Its pretty much irrelevant.
-As the previous poster stated, only thing that's relevant is who's picked #1 after Nooga.
-I would add maybe Mon, Nov 26, the date the last polls should come out before the selection show Sun, Nov 22nd, since the polls are part of the GPI which the selection committee uses.

Really, those polls in Nov and Dec are the only 2 polls that matter. xcoffeex

I agree 100%.

Preseason polls are just there to be there, in my opinion.

[Bam]

It's not where you start, it is where you finish. Sorry I could not resist.

[DLS]

This is a serious question. Why is App St being picked to be no. 1?

While I don't follow teams other than Montana closely, I would have thought Richmond would be no. 1. Richmond won the national championship, and I believe returns alot of players.

I know ASU still has Edwards at qb. What else causes people to believe they will be very good (and no. 1)?

Just curious (and too lazy to look hard). Thx.

because they are PREseason polls. "PRE" to this season. that's why when you look at what appstate is returning from an injured team that made it to the quarterfinals last year compared to what other teams are returning, they should be no. 1 hands down. it's about what it looks like on paper as of right now. not how you think things are going to shake out.

[ur2k]

It's a lifetime achievement award for AE. #1 or #2 at this point in time really doesn't do a whole lot but give us something to talk about.

[MasonJar]

Who cares who is picked #1 preseason. Its pretty much irrelevant.
-As the previous poster stated, only thing that's relevant is who's picked #1 after Nooga.
-I would add maybe Mon, Nov 26, the date the last polls should come out before the selection show Sun, Nov 22nd, since the polls are part of the GPI which the selection committee uses.

Really, those polls in Nov and Dec are the only 2 polls that matter. xcoffeex

I'll agree. At this point, it is all on paper. According to lots of folks associated with the program, this is the best ASU team "on paper" ever, I can see co-number ones between ASU and Richmond to start the season. The Spiders deserve some respect.xbeerchugx

Hopefully the Mountaineers can transfer the paper hype to the field!xpopcornx

[DLS]

I'll agree. At this point, it is all on paper. According to lots of folks associated with the program, this is the best ASU team "on paper" ever, I can see co-number ones between ASU and Richmond to start the season. The Spiders deserve some respect.xbeerchugx

Hopefully the Mountaineers can transfer the paper hype to the field!xpopcornx

i think it definitely comes down to ur and app for the number 1 and 2 spots but ur lost some key players unlike app. not saying they dont have anyone to fill those spots but with regards to how it looks on paper you have to go with known quantities. that's why app should take the #1 spot hands down.

[Green26]

Thanks, ASU_MBA. At least you were smart and nice enough to answer the question.

Some of these other yahoos apparently couldn't understand the question. I've never understood why so many people on message boards move topics from the one at hand to something that may or may not be related, without even bothering to address the topic at hand. Jeez, I wanted to know why so many people think ASU will be so good this year. I don't care who is no. 1 in a pre-season poll. I didn't realize ASU had so many returners or that some believe it could be their best team ever. I thought ASU had lost a good number of players, including perhaps 3 of its o-line starters. Thx again.

[biggie]

Thanks, ASU_MBA. At least you were smart and nice enough to answer the question.

Some of these other yahoos apparently couldn't understand the question. I've never understood why so many people on message boards move topics from the one at hand to something that may or may not be related, without even bothering to address the topic at hand. Jeez, I wanted to know why so many people think ASU will be so good this year. I don't care who is no. 1 in a pre-season poll. I didn't realize ASU had so many returners or that some believe it could be their best team ever. I thought ASU had lost a good number of players, including perhaps 3 of its o-line starters. Thx again.
Lost 2 OL starters (IIRC), but have others filling in that have started before. Depth on OL is only possible problem. We have a lot of moving around from other positions and a few people who can play any OL position. Possibly using more 2 TE sets this year as well I'd say (used that against Woff well last year).

Lost a Senior WR, but have a RS-Soph (Quick) that started some and seen as possible NFL talent.

Lost a couple from Defense, but plenty to make up from that. Roman (LB) and Legree(FS) anchor the defense, but the DL shouldn't be over looked.

Also returning 3 starters from last year that were Redshirted due to season ending injury by the 3rd week last year (CB, DE, and our starting RB).

[DLS]

so the title of this thread should have been "Why do people think asu is going to be good?"

but what do i know, im just a yahoo.

[Saint3333]

I have Richmond as #1 on my preseason poll. Much like last year JMU and ASU had a lot coming back, but I'll always side with the prior year champion. On paper ASU may very well be #1, but UR has a ton coming back too sans those stud DEs. Montana and others are loaded as well. The FCS playoffs should be fun if all those teams stay healthy.

[JMU Newbill]

Why is ASU being picked to be no. 1?


Because they beat Michigan.... remember?

[89Hen]

For any of you who may have voted AppSt #1, would you switch if AppSt loses to ECU and UR beats Duke? I know many people don't make changes based on I-A games. xeyebrowx

[ASUG8]

For any of you who may have voted AppSt #1, would you switch if AppSt loses to ECU and UR beats Duke? I know many people don't make changes based on I-A games. xeyebrowx

FWIW, Duke is #89 on Sagarin vs. a #73 for ECU - if you put stock in preseason rankings, I'd say a #68 ASU loss to #73 ECU is a battle more of equals, while #75 Richmond over #89 Duke would be an expected marginal win for UR. Cliffs: keep the current rankings given your scenario. xthumbsupx

Personally, I'd love to see both pull of the "upset".

[McNeese75]

For any of you who may have voted AppSt #1, would you switch if AppSt loses to ECU and UR beats Duke? I know many people don't make changes based on I-A games. xeyebrowx

:) I voted UR #1 BUT, if I had voted ASU #1 and they lose to ECU and UR beats Duke, I am making UR #1. Likewise, if ASU wins and UR loses, ASU will be my #1 the following week. If they both lose then it will be Grambling :D

[DLS]

For any of you who may have voted AppSt #1, would you switch if AppSt loses to ECU and UR beats Duke? I know many people don't make changes based on I-A games. xeyebrowx

i would. regardless if you schedule an fbs team or not, they are still a part of your schedule and do count as either a win or a loss.

[BDKJMU]

I have Richmond as #1 on my preseason poll. Much like last year JMU and ASU had a lot coming back, but I'll always side with the prior year champion. On paper ASU may very well be #1, but UR has a ton coming back too sans those stud DEs. Montana and others are loaded as well. The FCS playoffs should be fun if all those teams stay healthy.

sans also 1st team All CAA (and I think made a few AA lists as well) tailback Vaughn. Also lost their big fullback Crone and a starting OG. Like ASU, losing 5 starters/17 of 22 coming back from the NC team. UR has a good TB in Sr Justin Forte who was injured last season to replace Vaugh. QB in his 4th yr as a starter. Richmond should be very good to great at every position on both sides of the ball with the possible exception at de end. Also not sure about their depth. But IMHO its pretty ridiculous for an albeit meaningless pre season poll not to have UR #1.

[Saint3333]

BDK you may be confused I do have UR #1.

As for the previous question to FBS wins/loses it depends on the scores of those games. I expect UR to beat or be within a TD of Duke and maintain their #1 ranking after week one. Although if ASU beat ECU they would jump UR regardless.

But if Montana can escape a tough game against Western State (not sure which state...) with a win while UR and ASU loses to FBS foes they have to be #1.

[BDKJMU]

BDK you may be confused I do have UR #1.

As for the previous question to FBS wins/loses it depends on the scores of those games. I expect UR to beat or be within a TD of Duke and maintain their #1 ranking after week one. Although if ASU beat ECU they would jump UR regardless.

But if Montana can escape a tough game against Western State (not sure which state...) with a win while UR and ASU loses to FBS foes they have to be #1.

Baloney. The notion of Montana jumping ahead of UR and ASU for beating a Div II (which basically doesn't count) while UR & ASU would have a loss to a I-A (which again basically doesn't count) is nuts. the end of the season if ASU and UR are 10-1 and Montana was 11-0 they would all be 10-0 vs I-AA, and UR and ASU would likely remain ahead of Montana.

And I wasn't confused- I was refering to the TSN poll

[ASUMountaineer]

BDK you may be confused I do have UR #1.

As for the previous question to FBS wins/loses it depends on the scores of those games. I expect UR to beat or be within a TD of Duke and maintain their #1 ranking after week one. Although if ASU beat ECU they would jump UR regardless.

But if Montana can escape a tough game against Western State (not sure which state...) with a win while UR and ASU loses to FBS foes they have to be #1.

Perhaps it's a state like Appalachian is a state. Just getting that out before anyone else.

Of course, we can be a state, because we're HOT HOT HOT, so get over it! xlolx

[DLS]

But IMHO its pretty ridiculous for an albeit meaningless pre season poll not to have UR #1.

you think it's ridiculous to put a team with not only the top two preseason offensive and definsive players but also the only fcs player to make the nagurski list, same team that retains all of it's backfield and gets back it's starting rb from injury, with one of if not the deepest group of recievers, one of if not the deepest group of d-backs, one of if not the deepest group of d-linemen, and two linebackers with over 120 tackles each last season, . . . . ahead of a team which lost 3-4 key contributing players? xeyebrowx

[KiddBrewer]

why is ASU being picked to be no. 1?


because thats how every year starts, duh.xsmiley_wix

[Saint3333]

Baloney. The notion of Montana jumping ahead of UR and ASU for beating a Div II (which basically doesn't count) while UR & ASU would have a loss to a I-A (which again basically doesn't count) is nuts. the end of the season if ASU and UR are 10-1 and Montana was 11-0 they would all be 10-0 vs I-AA, and UR and ASU would likely remain ahead of Montana.

And I wasn't confused- I was refering to the TSN poll

Your sarcasm meter must be broke, that was a joke, of course Montana shouldn't jump them.

[MasonJar]

For any of you who may have voted AppSt #1, would you switch if AppSt loses to ECU and UR beats Duke? I know many people don't make changes based on I-A games. xeyebrowx

I would.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

you think it's ridiculous to put a team with not only the top two preseason offensive and definsive players but also the only fcs player to make the nagurski list, same team that retains all of it's backfield and gets back it's starting rb from injury, with one of if not the deepest group of recievers, one of if not the deepest group of d-backs, one of if not the deepest group of d-linemen, and two linebackers with over 120 tackles each last season, . . . . ahead of a team which lost 3-4 key contributing players? xeyebrowx

Richmond returns its Quarterback, its entire WR corps, its entire O-line, its Defensive tackles, its entire linebacking corps, its entire secondary, both specialists. We beat you by 20 at your place. We are the defending champs.

We have 6 players on Pre-season All America Teams. We have several others on All CAA teams.

I hope we get the Rubber Match this year.

[ASUMountaineer]

Richmond returns its Quarterback, its entire WR corps, its entire O-line, its Defensive tackles, its entire linebacking corps, its entire secondary, both specialists. We beat you by 20 at your place. We are the defending champs.

We have 6 players on Pre-season All America Teams. We have several others on All CAA teams.

I hope we get the Rubber Match this year.

UR #1 until they lose. Defending Champs earn that right, IMO.

[DLS]

Richmond returns its Quarterback, its entire WR corps, its entire O-line, its Defensive tackles, its entire linebacking corps, its entire secondary, both specialists. We beat you by 20 at your place. We are the defending champs.

We have 6 players on Pre-season All America Teams. We have several others on All CAA teams.

I hope we get the Rubber Match this year.

you beat us by 20 at our place with a very banged up team and that was last year with the 3-4 key players that you are losing this year. im not predicting what would happen if we played head to head for this year's opener. i'm just speaking clearly from an "on paper" point of view and "on paper" i will say very confidently that appstate is the clear cut #1.

[james_lawfirm]

Richmond returns its Quarterback, its entire WR corps, its entire O-line, its Defensive tackles, its entire linebacking corps, its entire secondary, both specialists. We beat you by 20 at your place. We are the defending champs.

We have 6 players on Pre-season All America Teams. We have several others on All CAA teams.

I hope we get the Rubber Match this year.


I understand all of the above. But, UR did lose its 2 DEs & its best RB (not sure about the other). And, by the way, your 2 DEs last year were the best I have seen since Hunter & Murrell (App. '05). (Notice I did not even mention that AE was injured in our last game.)

It seems to me this argument is much ado about nothing. We'll prove it on the field soon. What it boils down to right now is if a voter weighs the fact that Richmond is the defending Nat'l Champ, regardless of returning players, then that voter is very likely to vote UR #1. It becomes a much closer call though if that voter weighs being the defendant champ less, and considers the returning players more. It is possible that voter would still vote UR #1, BUT that voter could then just as easily vote ASU #1 too. That seems to be what's going on here.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

I didn't mention that that Logan played the Appachian game with a screw in his foot either.

While Josh Vaughan will be missed, we all know that Running back is about the easiest position to replace on the football field.

Which starters does Appalachian lose?

[DLS]

I didn't mention that that Logan played the Appachian game with a screw in his foot either.

While Josh Vaughan will be missed, we all know that Running back is about the easiest position to replace on the football field.

Which starters does Appalachian lose?

banks, love, bieschke, and one other lineman.

but we get back mcduffie, robertson, devon moore, acitelli, bennett and a few other starters from injuries. all of our skill positions intact and very deep. we had a ridiculous number of players with atleast one start last season.

app had around 40 surgeries in the last year. we were hurt to say the least.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

banks, love, bieschke, and one other lineman.

but we get back mcduffie, robertson, devon moore, acitelli, bennett and a few other starters from injuries. all of our skill positions intact and very deep. we had a ridiculous number of players with atleast one start last season.

app had around 40 surgeries in the last year. we were hurt to say the least.

Bottom line is both teams are going to be very good.

Remember that we lost to Appalachian by 20 two years ago without Logan and Sidbury (and our all-conference safety). The result of that game may have been very different with those guys playing. Both games have been played at the Rock too. I hope we can get you up here next time.

I know it really doesn't matter, but I think the defending national champion that returns 18 of 24 starters deserves to be #1 until they lose. That said, they very may lose on September 5th!

[phillyAPP]

Bottom line is both teams are going to be very good.

Remember that we lost to Appalachian by 20 two years ago without Logan and Sidbury (and our all-conference safety). The result of that game may have been very different with those guys playing. Both games have been played at the Rock too. I hope we can get you up here next time.

I know it really doesn't matter, but I think the defending national champion that returns 18 of 24 starters deserves to be #1 until they lose. That said, they very may lose on September 5th!

AMEN

UR is the National Champs until someone DETHRONES them !!!!!

They earned it on the field and have RIGHTS to keep it until it's taken from them, ON THE FIELD !!!

GO APP

[DLS]

Bottom line is both teams are going to be very good.

Remember that we lost to Appalachian by 20 two years ago without Logan and Sidbury (and our all-conference safety). The result of that game may have been very different with those guys playing. Both games have been played at the Rock too. I hope we can get you up here next time.

I know it really doesn't matter, but I think the defending national champion that returns 18 of 24 starters deserves to be #1 until they lose. That said, they very may lose on September 5th!

it's not just about how many are returning, in fact it's mostly about WHO you are returning. we arent just keeping the same starters from last year, we're actually gaining some back, MORE than we lost.

vaughn was a large piece of your offense and your DE's were game changers. without them i think UR suffers a little. i still think they are the number two team though.

the 09 app team is the best we've looked preseason wise in . . . . well . . . forever.

[rjg129]

AMEN

UR is the National Champs until someone DETHRONES them !!!!!

They earned it on the field and have RIGHTS to keep it until it's taken from them, ON THE FIELD !!!

GO APP

are you going to the App and Eagles games 12/13?

[catatac]

banks, love, bieschke, and one other lineman.

but we get back mcduffie, robertson, devon moore, acitelli, bennett and a few other starters from injuries. all of our skill positions intact and very deep. we had a ridiculous number of players with atleast one start last season.

app had around 40 surgeries in the last year. we were hurt to say the least.

I'm gonna go ahead and call BS on that one. xthumbsupx

[Green26]

Does this include cosmetic surgeries?

[DLS]

I'm gonna go ahead and call BS on that one. xthumbsupx

hold one sec, it's a quote from a jerry moore interview last month, i'll try and find it . . . .


[edit]

i stand corrected 29 surguries since last august. close to 40 in the last year and a half"

my b.

[BDKJMU]

Richmond returns its Quarterback, its entire WR corps, its entire O-line, its Defensive tackles, its entire linebacking corps, its entire secondary, both specialists. We beat you by 20 at your place. We are the defending champs.

We have 6 players on Pre-season All America Teams. We have several others on All CAA teams.

I hope we get the Rubber Match this year.

Lost one of your starting offensive guards.

[BDKJMU]

I didn't mention that that Logan played the Appachian game with a screw in his foot either.

While Josh Vaughan will be missed, we all know that Running back is about the easiest position to replace on the football field.

Which starters does Appalachian lose?



banks, love, bieschke, and one other lineman.

but we get back mcduffie, robertson, devon moore, acitelli, bennett and a few other starters from injuries. all of our skill positions intact and very deep. we had a ridiculous number of players with atleast one start last season.

app had around 40 surgeries in the last year. we were hurt to say the least.

You also lost Courman. He was listed as a starter at WR vs JMU and in the playoffs. The other lineman would be your OT Coley.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

Lost one of your starting offensive guards.

Kondorossy has enough experience for me to be comfortable in saying we return our entire offensive line. He will be an improvement over Lehner.

[MarchingMountaineer]

How many other FCS teams had even 20 injuries that required surgery in the last year?

The only poll that matters is the one on November 23rd. The last one in December is just a ranking of the losers, since there's only one winner in the FCS, and everyone knows who that is before the last poll comes out.