SoCon Football Coaches Tab Appalachian State as Favorite

[Mountaineer]

Mountaineers look to win fifth consecutive SoCon football title

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference football coaches have unanimously selected Appalachian State as the preseason favorite to win the league crown in 2009.

ASU, winners of four consecutive SoCon crowns including a shared title with Wofford in 2007, received eight first-place votes in the balloting, the maximum number allowed as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. The Mountaineers return 18 starters this season, including seven on offense and 9-of-11 on defense.

Highlighting the list of returnees is 2008 Walter Payton Award winner and SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Armanti Edwards. The senior quarterback, who compiled 3,843 yards of total offense and was responsible for 41 touchdowns in 2008, has rewritten the SoCon record book. Edwards enters his final campaign as the league’s all-time leader in total offense, touchdowns responsibilities and rushing yards by a quarterback.

Following ASU (64 points) in the coaches’ voting is Wofford (53). The Terriers finished in second place a season ago as their only league loss came at the hands of Appalachian State. Coach Mike Ayers has the task of replacing 13 players from his ‘08 starting 22, and will look for strong line play from senior defensive lineman Mitch Clark and junior offensive lineman Pat Illig to set the tone for his 2009 squad.

2009 SoCon Football Preseason Coaches Poll

Place School (First-place votes) Points

1. Appalachian State (8) 64
2. Wofford 53
3. Elon 51
4. Furman 40
5. Georgia Southern (1) 39
6t. The Citadel 26
6t. Samford 26
8. Western Carolina 15
9. Chattanooga 10

http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle. ... =204765732

[ChetSteadman]

Interesting that Coach Moore sees GSU as the top team in the league (since he can't vote for App). It appears the coaches thing this will be a three horse race this season. I'd like to see three teams in the playoffs, but I'm not sure what other two (behind ASU, of course) would be there.

If I had to handicap the league honestly, I'd say:
1. ASU
2. Wofford
3. GSU
4. Elon
5. Furman
5. Samford
7. El Cid
8. WCU
9. UT-C

[JMUpurplehazed]

Favorite to win the Socon ...now there is a surprise.

Has the NCAA penciled in a home playoff date in Boone already?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Favorite to win the Socon ...now there is a surprise.

Has the NCAA penciled in a home playoff date in Boone already?

What'd I miss? This is the SoCon coaches and I would have assumed they would pick it like this. What does that have to do with the NCAA penciling in home playoff games? If you had to make a pick now who would you pick and if you would pick ASU then I would imagine you would be penciling in the home playoff games as well wouldn't you?

[Mountaineer]

What'd I miss?

Nothing other than PurpleHazed still being butt-hurt from the FUMBLE in 2007.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

What'd I miss?

Nothing other than PurpleHazed still being butt-hurt from the FUMBLE in 2007.

Ahhh yes, I never even put that together it's such old news. Are JMU fans still worked up about being sent on the road? I don't wanna pick on a new guy but you can lose a game like that at home as well.

[slycat]

I thought this was Samfords year?

[JMUpurplehazed]

Mountain

I'm over the fumble that gave App State the NC...App State made their own luck that day

My comment about the NCAA already choosing a date for a Boone playoff game has nothing to do with the SoCon coaches picking the 'neers to win the SoCon and everything to do with App State having an all home playoff advantage for what seems like, what, every year...for winning the SoCon Sincere question, when was the last time App State played a playoff game besides 'Nooga?

The spoils of winning the CAA South --- playoff game in Boone, NC---home of the mighty SoCon champs...beating APP in Boone is not the problem, home sweet home is true baby!

[ASUMountaineer]

Mountain

I'm over the fumble that gave App State the NC...App State made their own luck that day

My comment about the NCAA already choosing a date for a Boone playoff game has nothing to do with the SoCon coaches picking the 'neers to win the SoCon and everything to do with App State having an all home playoff advantage for what seems like, what, every year...for winning the SoCon Sincere question, when was the last time App State played a playoff game besides 'Nooga?

The spoils of winning the CAA South --- playoff game in Boone, NC---home of the mighty SoCon champs...beating APP in Boone is not the problem, home sweet home is true baby!

If teams ranked higher than ASU kept up their end of the bargain, in 2007 ASU would have been on the road in the second round. As for 2007, quit yer bitching Nancy. JMU won its division, (not the whole thing) ASU won its conference...to the victor for the spoils is true baby!!

As to your sincere question, see above. It has just worked out that way. 2005 we were the #2 team in the country (always gets home field), 2006 we were #1 (always gets home field), and 2007 (already mentioned) we won our conference, JMU didn't win the CAA (just the South). Had McNeese St. won, ASU would have been in St. Charles--they didn't, we were higher ranked (and had more money) than EWU. Don't let anything like facts get in the way.

[Grizalltheway]

Mountain

I'm over the fumble that gave App State the NC...App State made their own luck that day

My comment about the NCAA already choosing a date for a Boone playoff game has nothing to do with the SoCon coaches picking the 'neers to win the SoCon and everything to do with App State having an all home playoff advantage for what seems like, what, every year...for winning the SoCon Sincere question, when was the last time App State played a playoff game besides 'Nooga?

The spoils of winning the CAA South --- playoff game in Boone, NC---home of the mighty SoCon champs...beating APP in Boone is not the problem, home sweet home is true baby!

Uh, when you bring in 20,000+ for every game, the NCAA is going to give you as many home playoff games as possible. Duh.

[Mountaineer]

Looks like Hazed has already found Rose's stash.

Props to ASUM and WTAG.

[SUUTbird]

They made the obvious pick with App State taking the SOCON Title but i honestly think people are underestimating Samford as they surprised alot of people in the conference last year by beating a few teams and playing very well vs conference powers ASU, Wofford and Elon. My Picks;

1. ASU
2. Wofford
3. Samford
4. Elon
5. GSU
6. Citadel
7. Furman
8. WCU
9. UT-C

[JMUpurplehazed]

Mountain

If App starts the season at #1 there is a very good chance that App ends the season at number #1 because nobody in the SoCon can beat App without you guys not showing up...I'm not saying everybody in the SoCon sucks but there is a sizeable gap between App St and the rest of the SoCon....I hear ya on your 20,000 strong...peace.

Good luck against ECU (you play them this year, yes?) I hate App State but I gotta go with FCS...

[AshevilleApp]

Mountain

If App starts the season at #1 there is a very good chance that App ends the season at number #1 because nobody in the SoCon can beat App without you guys not showing up...I'm not saying everybody in the SoCon sucks but there is a sizeable gap between App St and the rest of the SoCon....I hear ya on your 20,000 strong...peace.

Good luck against ECU (you play them this year, yes?) I hate App State but I gotta go with FCS...

Thanks for the support. I think. It seems to me though that you don't understand how tough a conference we play in. Georgia Southern, Wofford, Elon and Furman all have a shot at beating us. The only one of those four that we have at home is Georgia Southern.

[ASUMountaineer]

Mountain

If App starts the season at #1 there is a very good chance that App ends the season at number #1 because nobody in the SoCon can beat App without you guys not showing up...I'm not saying everybody in the SoCon sucks but there is a sizeable gap between App St and the rest of the SoCon....I hear ya on your 20,000 strong...peace.

Good luck against ECU (you play them this year, yes?) I hate App State but I gotta go with FCS...

When a team wins the National Title it usually starts out # 1 pre-season the next season, or pretty close. In 2004 though, ASU went 6-5 winning no games on the road. ASU certainly didn't start out #1 (or #2) in 2005, but did go into the playoffs #2. ASU won the NC, following year ASU is #1 and lost only 1 game to NC State--hard to argue ASU being #1 going into the playoffs--earning home field in 2006 and wins the NC. So, of course, 2007 ASU is #1 pre-season and then beat Michigan and shared the SoCon title--ended up ranked #5 going into the playoffs. In all sports the higher ranked team usually gets home field. Not trying to be a douche, but your post made it sound like ASU didn't deserve home games or their rankings. The facts tell otherwise. If JMU was #1, they would have home field throughout the playoffs.

It's one of those things...that, it's not the NCAA GIVING ASU home games, ASU earned those games. I'm not saying JMU didn't in 2007, that's another story and topic--unrelated to ASU.

Thanks for the support, I too hope we beat the crap out of EZU. I am the same way, I hate Georgia Southern more than the Taliban, but I'll be pulling for them to pull out the victory in Chapel Hill this season. Just as I pulled for JMU to beat the Dukies last year.