Georgia Southern @ Delaware Official Semifinal Game Thread

[89Hen]

I went to the GSU/UD game Labor Day weekend in 2002 and had a blast except for the outcome of the game.

Not to be Debbie downer but we were all set to attend that game to kickoff the season on my dad's birthday and we got the call the day before that he died suddenly.

[Baldy]

There are two questions that will determine the outcome of the game IMO.

1) How do the UD OL and Devlin respond to the pressure? And make no mistake, Devlin will be feeling the heat more so than he has any this year. GSU's defensive front is good.

2) Can UD's suspect defensive front stop GSU's **** dive? I don't care how much experience your defensive coaches have against defending the flexbone option, if you can't contain that **** dive you're going to get gashed without GSU even having to throw the ball.

It's going to be a good one. A much better game than, uh, whatever that other playoff game there is that's going on Friday.

And the third question.

3) How will GSU stop both Devlin and AP?

Oh I don't know 93, we have already beaten the #1 and #2 seeds in this tournament.
I know UD is on a different level than App or W&M, but I think we can can get lucky again and find a way.

[93henfan]

And the third question.

3) How will GSU stop both Devlin and AP?

Oh I don't know 93, we have already beaten the #1 and #2 seeds in this tournament.
I know UD is on a different level than App or W&M, but I think we can can get lucky again and find a way.

Yeah, you beat an App team that was exposed on Saturday and you beat a W&M team that obviously had no clue how to defend the TO.

Can't wait 'til Saturday.

[gsueagle2424]

I think another advantage for Eagle Nation is the fact that Coach Monken has recently played you guys. He faced you 3 times as an assistant at Navy and 2 or 3 times at Southern as an assistant. He knows what to expect from you guys. I'm not saying this is going to be an easy game because we haven't had any of those this year (with exception of Savannah State).

I will say that some of you Delaware fans will be surprised when you get hit in the mouth with the Triple Option.

[93henfan]

I will say that some of you Delaware fans will be surprised when you get hit in the mouth with the Triple Option.

Wait a minute, you said your guy has seen Delaware multiple times. Did we not see the triple option (and with FBS players) that he ran?

[89Hen]

I will say that some of you Delaware fans will be surprised when you get hit in the mouth with the Triple Option.

Delaware has seen (and beaten) the triple option many times.

[Gil Dobie]

Go Eagles!

I'm a fan of Georgia Southern for the rest of the playoffs and it's blueballs fault

You're a good man, Gil... I don't care what Cap'n Cat said about you.

I'm also a fan of option football too, grew up watching the Bison run the veer for many years.

[State Line Liquors]

There are two questions that will determine the outcome of the game IMO.

1) How do the UD OL and Devlin respond to the pressure? And make no mistake, Devlin will be feeling the heat more so than he has any this year. GSU's defensive front is good.

2) Can UD's suspect defensive front stop GSU's **** dive? I don't care how much experience your defensive coaches have against defending the flexbone option, if you can't contain that **** dive you're going to get gashed without GSU even having to throw the ball.

It's going to be a good one. A much better game than, uh, whatever that other playoff game there is that's going on Friday.

I agree 100% with both of these points. Though I'll admit point 1 is the issue that concerns me more.

I think UD will have to show a bit more creativity and resolve in responding to the teams that are able to get pressure. Devlin will also need to keep a sharper mental clock, as I think he's held onto the football far too long in some situations this year. I think we could take advantage of defense willing to take risks with a few dump passes over the middle to Pierce or Naugle. The pitch was a wrinkle that we've added recently that has helped us get the running game to the edge faster as well, and can negate a great deal of the overzealous backfield pressure.

On point 2, I think UDs defense actually matches up very nicely against GSU's option. This isn't a team that misses many assignment or tackles. We're not a defense based on lots of risk taking. I'm sure GSU will find their successes on offense because I think you're a good team, but I do think the Delaware defense can control the GSU O vs. UD D matchup.

And YES. I think this is going to be a great game! Love me some playoffs!

[GannonFan]

The biggest thing UD needs to do is to make GSU settle for FG's and not TD's. GSU will get yards, but where UD has really shined this year is keeping teams out of the endzone. If they keep doing that Saturday, they'll be playing in a few weeks in Texas.

[Thumper 76]

I will say that some of you Delaware fans will be surprised when you get hit in the mouth with the Triple Option.

Delaware has seen (and beaten) the triple option many times.

But struggle apparently when GSU runs it

[Baldy]

Oh I don't know 93, we have already beaten the #1 and #2 seeds in this tournament.
I know UD is on a different level than App or W&M, but I think we can can get lucky again and find a way.

Yeah, you beat an App team that was exposed on Saturday and you beat a W&M team that obviously had no clue how to defend the TO.

Can't wait 'til Saturday.

Ok, your excuses are App was exposed and W&M was clueless.

Whats gonna be your excuse if UD happens to be the unluckiest team in American football history and loses on Saturday?

Besides, W&M's inability to stop our offense doesn't take away from the fact that they only generated 9 points and just a little over 200 yards of offense.

Good luck.

[Baldy]

I will say that some of you Delaware fans will be surprised when you get hit in the mouth with the Triple Option.

Delaware has seen (and beaten) the triple option many times.

But, you've lost more than won.

[ChickenMan]

True.. but GSU isn't Navy.

[89Hen]

Delaware has seen (and beaten) the triple option many times.

But, you've lost more than won.

Ahhh, no. 2-2 with GSU, 1-0 vs Wofford, 3-1 vs El Cid, countless wins over URI when they ran it... Heck, the Hens are even close to .500 with Navy.

[Baldy]

But, you've lost more than won.

Ahhh, no. 2-2 with GSU, 1-0 vs Wofford, 3-1 vs El Cid, countless wins over URI when they ran it... Heck, the Hens are even close to .500 with Navy.

Well, I can promise you that The Citadel didn't run the TO when UD played them in 2003, 2002, 2000, and 1999.
Rhode Island? Seriously? UD was 4-2 vs. the Rams during Stowers' tenure. A winning record, no doubt, but those 4 wins don't really constitute "countless" victories.
Besides, none of this really matters. What does matter is how your players fare against it on Saturday.

[Baldy]

True.. but GSU isn't Navy.

True, but this season's matchup on 9/11 pretty much proved that they are close.

[jd of de]

The biggest thing UD needs to do is to make GSU settle for FG's and not TD's. GSU will get yards, but where UD has really shined this year is keeping teams out of the endzone. If they keep doing that Saturday, they'll be playing in a few weeks in Texas.

[93henfan]

But, you've lost more than won.

Ahhh, no. 2-2 with GSU, 1-0 vs Wofford, 3-1 vs El Cid, countless wins over URI when they ran it... Heck, the Hens are even close to .500 with Navy.

These redneck doofuses don't deal in facts, 89. Stop trying to present them.

[Pwns]

So let's see here...App. State outgains Nova, misses five 4th down conversions, and on top of that UD didn't have to play Nova with the one player that scored five touchdowns in that game.

On the other hand, GSU puts up 423 rushing yards on the CAA team that was, what, second in rushing defense in the CAA going into the game? Not to mention we held them to fewer yards than UNC and all of the elite CAA defenses minus New Hampshire, and all of those teams were playing W&M's backup QB whereas GSU played the number 1 guy.

And you're just going to disregard the latter game as a fluke and use the former as your barometer? Interesting.

It's also interesting that people think URI is comparable to GSU. We're a few steps faster than they are, as you will find out. Not to mention the coaching is better (GSU's record with Stowers coaching was underwhelming).

[ChickenMan]

So let's see here...App. State outgains Nova, misses five 4th down conversions

Apparently I was watching a different Nova/ASU game.. you know the one where Villanova kicked the crap out of the SoCon champ...

[jd of de]

@Pwns - You keep throwing out lots of numbers that make you look good. Your team must be perfect. Keep talking my friend and bring everything you got. We'll be here. Until then we'll just wait quietly for your arrival cause we know the biggest mouth always has the littlest d i c k.

[00bluehen]

Why do GSU fans keep mentioning W&M's "#1 guy?" Which W&M QB are you referring to? Callahan? He's the guy who led W&M back after UD had dominated the Tribe O with Paulus at the helm. His insertion into the game was a surprise to most--W&M fans included. So he beat us after we didn't game plan for him...by one point...when we missed a FG at the buzzer. BFD.

Honestly, we just shouldn't play on Saturday. GSU thumped the Tribe, who beat us. Just give GSU the pass to Tejas.

All I gotta say is thank the dadgum baby Jebus Samford ain't in this here tournament, or we'd all be in trouble.

[Pwns]

@Pwns - You keep throwing out lots of numbers that make you look good. Your team must be perfect. Keep talking my friend and bring everything you got. We'll be here. Until then we'll just wait quietly for your arrival cause we know the biggest mouth always has the littlest d i c k.

Honestly, we just shouldn't play on Saturday. GSU thumped the Tribe, who beat us. Just give GSU the pass to Tejas.
.

Wow. Talk about reading comprehension problems.

[93henfan]

And to think that six years of pretty good relations between Delaware and Georgia Southern fans all unraveled in three short days...

[bobbythekidd]

These redneck doofuses don't deal in facts, 89. Stop trying to present them.

WHOA! Doofuses? Really? Try to keep those gloves up buddy.