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Here's an article from the Post and Courier out of Charleston, SC.

http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/jul ... tbal11288/

There's only one new head coach in Southern Conference football this season, but plenty of story lines as league coaches meet for their annual preseason rouser in Greenville today.

Here are five questions to ponder as one of the nation's top Division I-AA (sorry, that's Football Championship Subdivision) conferences gets ready for the 2007 season

I like how he finally acknowldegds it is now FCS.

The answer to all five questions...... NO

The questions:

1. Can Appalachian State win a third straight national title?
2. Can The Citadel meet higher expectations?
3. Can Chris Hatcher revive Georgia Southern football?
4. Will quarterback Renaldo Gray stay healthy at Furman?
5. Is Wofford really that good?

1. Can Appalachian State win a third straight national title? I think we will make a deep run, but don't think we will win it
2. Can The Citadel meet higher expectations? NO
3. Can Chris Hatcher revive Georgia Southern football? Yes, but not in one year
4. Will quarterback Renaldo Gray stay healthy at Furman? Highly unlikely
5. Is Wofford really that good? No, Top 25, yes, but not Top 15

1. Can Appalachian State win a third straight national title? Yes, if we stay relatively healthy
2. Can The Citadel meet higher expectations? No
3. Can Chris Hatcher revive Georgia Southern football? Not this year, but once he gets his own recruits in, probably so
4. Will quarterback Renaldo Gray stay healthy at Furman? Nope, neither can Felton
5. Is Wofford really that good? A lot of people are basing Wofford's ranking on last years performance in Boone. I was less impressed with App that day than Wofford, simply because we couldn't hold on to the ball. Wofford should end the season around 10-15

I just love the fact that nobody give Georgia Southern a shot this year. That just where we want to be.

BoroNative wrote:I just love the fact that nobody give Georgia Southern a shot this year. That just where we want to be.

Interesting thought, but after last season what evidence is there that GSU will be able to rebound and compete at the top of SoCon?

Not smack, just asking a question.

GSU recruited players for the old offense, then GSU got a new coach who recruited different players for a new offense, and this year GSU has....what type of offense? Some players are able to adapt (Delaware dramatically switched offenses in 2002 and won it all in 2003 with a lot of the previous coach's players, so it can happen), but three coaches in three years with different schemes can be a tough adjustment for a lot of players.

Any thoughts on how GSU will overcome those potential issues?

The Cats wrote:The answer to all five questions...... NO

umm...I'd say #3 is very likely.

butlergsu wrote:

The Cats wrote:The answer to all five questions...... NO

umm...I'd say #3 is very likely.

Where's the "homer alert" button

What's GSU's offense going to look like this year. Are they still evolving into a passing team, or is the option making a comeback?

WA Griz wrote:What's GSU's offense going to look like this year. Are they still evolving into a passing team, or is the option making a comeback?

I hope the hell we look NOTHING like last year I think you'll see alot of spread'em out and throw it stuff. Just when those LB's start cheating back for coverage, one of our many running threats will hit a hole and be gone. If you blitz in, you'll leave the middle open for a Jayson Foster crossing route. Oh, and don't forget those 6'3" WR that will kill you on the deep route. We have a plethora of QB options. Watch for mismatches and don't blink or the play will be over.

WA Griz wrote:What's GSU's offense going to look like this year. Are they still evolving into a passing team, or is the option making a comeback?

Hatcher comes from the Hal Mumme coaching tree, so expect a wide open passing game with the running game being heavy on traps, sweeps and draws as GSU has an extremely deep and talented RB pool.

His teams at Valdosta State lit up the score board and put up gaudy passing numbers, but almost always seemed to have a 1000 yard back too.

I would imagine that GSU's fortunes will rest on the QB play. If they can get a QB to perform at an all-conference level (and that's asking a lot) they'll be really good as there is talent abound most everywhere else. If the QB plays mediocre to poor, like last year (though a bad offensive scheme, poor QB coaching and unimaginative play calling certainly didn't help), then the team will be mediocre to poor.

The thing I really rest my hopes on is Hatcher and Gillespie's track records developing QB's. Hatcher coached Daunte Culpepper, Dusty Bonner, and Fabian Walker to real success; while Gillespie as a HS coach won consecutive state titles, had his last 3 QB's sign D-1 schollies, and was the QB coordinator at the Atlanta Nike Camp.

The resumes are there, how they'll produce at GSU remains to be seen.

blueballs,

Thanks for the detailed insight. Hope GSU can erase last year's frustration.

I almost hate to see the veer go away. GSU always had kids who were quick, smart players that weren't necessarily what the IA guys were looking for, I'm talking O-line in particular where a sub 300 pound guy with a case of the quicks can really do something in an option scheme. And who the hell sees option football anyway? It made it a real challgenge to prepare for.