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Not trying to look past CSU but which game is our most important next year in regards to hopefully being SoCon champs. Wofford, Citadel????

Someone else?

CSU.

The next one; and the one after that.

THPaladin wrote: ↑

Fri May 10, 2019 8:32 am

Not trying to look past CSU but which game is our most important next year in regards to hopefully being SoCon champs. Wofford, Citadel????

Someone else?

If we look past Charleston Southern, the season will be off on a bad note which could spell doom.

To get to your question though, our first three SoCon game are home against Mercer and ETSU and at Samford. We won a thriller against the former, and lost against the two latter opponents. So all will probably be a battle. We will know exactly where we sit in the league after those games, and to have a true shot at the league and/or at-large in playoffs, we better hope we are at least 2-1 in league play heading into the bye. None of the other SoCon games worry me as much as those first three.

Agree, those first 3 will be the key.

With the caveat that every game is important, my thoughts.

On the nonconference schedule, I think CSU and Point are close to "must win" games for Furman. They are at home against teams we should be heavily favored to beat. We need to put those two wins "in the barn."

We will be underdogs against VT and GSU. Neither team is a juggernaut. We've played with VT before and GSU will be the caliber of a good-not-great FCS team. Having two FBS teams on the schedule is going to make the CSU/Point games that much more important. If we notch a win against either VT or GSU, that'll be a boon.

There are not too many soft landings in SoCon play. I do not think you can boil it down to which game will be most important. Most folks seem to peg Furman and Wofford as the teams to beat this preseason, so you'd probably have to circle the game against the Terriers as the one to watch (if I had to pick one).

Looking around the league, we should be well positioned to make a run at a back to back conference title. I would bet that if you posed this question to other teams in SoCon as to their team's most important game of the year, I'd bet most (maybe all) would circle the Furman game.

This team is going to have to learn how to do something we really haven't done since 2006 - they are going to need to play like the favorite and know that the target is on their back and every team is coming for them.

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Fri May 10, 2019 2:22 pm

With the caveat that every game is important, my thoughts.

On the nonconference schedule, I think CSU and Point are close to "must win" games for Furman. They are at home against teams we should be heavily favored to beat. We need to put those two wins "in the barn."

We will be underdogs against VT and GSU. Neither team is a juggernaut. We've played with VT before and GSU will be the caliber of a good-not-great FCS team. Having two FBS teams on the schedule is going to make the CSU/Point games that much more important. If we notch a win against either VT or GSU, that'll be a boon.

There are not too many soft landings in SoCon play. I do not think you can boil it down to which game will be most important. Most folks seem to peg Furman and Wofford as the teams to beat this preseason, so you'd probably have to circle the game against the Terriers as the one to watch (if I had to pick one).

Looking around the league, we should be well positioned to make a run at a back to back conference title. I would bet that if you posed this question to other teams in SoCon as to their team's most important game of the year, I'd bet most (maybe all) would circle the Furman game.


This team is going to have to learn how to do something we really haven't done since 2006 - they are going to need to play like the favorite and know that the target is on their back and every team is coming for them.

Would have to disagree a little w underlined. I think most teams would think Wofford is most important as they have made the playoffs (and SoCon champs) most consistently lately.. We are getting there and doing great! - 2017 playoffs, 2018 SoCon champs but right now I would put them at the top.

As for our most important games its the first 6 - after the last few Septembr starts we HAVE to start better ! 4-2 or even 3-3 (w VTech in there) sure would feel nice

CSU
Georgia State
VTech
Mercer
ETSU
Samford

*I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little. The difference last year was stark - think about the Samford game where he left mid-game.. or the ETSU debacle where he was just working his way back. I think we will be fine EVENTUALLY but it may take a year or at least 5 games for the new QB to get going... I am glad we have VTech early as a loss there wouldn't be held against us. Hopefully we can beat CSU even in our new QBs first game.. If Roberts were back I would be more hopeful about Georgia State. But Mercer / ETSU / Samford scare me as those are good teams vs a new QB.. wish VMI and Point were earlier in season

I hear you loud and clear. The wildcard is the development of whichever QB or QBs get the call. Think we have potential to have a memorable year. I feel like a second year in system for Sisson and Grainger under Quarles Will be big for them. And who knows .... the MTSU transfer couldget here and be the real deal. Who knows. Heard he is enrolled for May. If the OL can play up to their potential it will a big big plus.

All the conference games are huge IMO but the game against the hated Terriers is the one I’ve got circled. I hate this time of the year. Outside of fishing and golf not much to do for fun other than speculate about the upcoming season.

"I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little"

This!! The above sums it up. Let's face it, if we do not get excellent QB play it could be a long year. I do not mean average to decent, it will have to be excellent.

apaladin wrote: ↑

Fri May 10, 2019 9:47 pm

"I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little"

This!! The above sums it up. Let's face it, if we do not get excellent QB play it could be a long year. I do not mean average to decent, it will have to be excellent.

Every team loses seniors. Roberts was a good player, but we thought the same thing when Blazejowski graduated - how are we going to replace that production? We did.

Furman has just about the best situation for any young QB - an offense that does not put too much weight on any single player, a strong offensive line, good skill players, a good running game, a good defense, and a good kicker.

In 2013 our offense was bad and we won a SoCon title largely by playing good defense and moving the ball just far enough to get it within Ray Early's field goal range. This team is much better than that team, in my opinion.

gofurman wrote: ↑

Fri May 10, 2019 4:47 pm

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Fri May 10, 2019 2:22 pm

With the caveat that every game is important, my thoughts.

On the nonconference schedule, I think CSU and Point are close to "must win" games for Furman. They are at home against teams we should be heavily favored to beat. We need to put those two wins "in the barn."

We will be underdogs against VT and GSU. Neither team is a juggernaut. We've played with VT before and GSU will be the caliber of a good-not-great FCS team. Having two FBS teams on the schedule is going to make the CSU/Point games that much more important. If we notch a win against either VT or GSU, that'll be a boon.

There are not too many soft landings in SoCon play. I do not think you can boil it down to which game will be most important. Most folks seem to peg Furman and Wofford as the teams to beat this preseason, so you'd probably have to circle the game against the Terriers as the one to watch (if I had to pick one).

Looking around the league, we should be well positioned to make a run at a back to back conference title. I would bet that if you posed this question to other teams in SoCon as to their team's most important game of the year, I'd bet most (maybe all) would circle the Furman game.


This team is going to have to learn how to do something we really haven't done since 2006 - they are going to need to play like the favorite and know that the target is on their back and every team is coming for them.

Would have to disagree a little w underlined. I think most teams would think Wofford is most important as they have made the playoffs (and SoCon champs) most consistently lately.. We are getting there and doing great! - 2017 playoffs, 2018 SoCon champs but right now I would put them at the top.

As for our most important games its the first 6 - after the last few Septembr starts we HAVE to start better ! 4-2 or even 3-3 (w VTech in there) sure would feel nice

CSU
Georgia State
VTech
Mercer
ETSU
Samford

*I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little. The difference last year was stark - think about the Samford game where he left mid-game.. or the ETSU debacle where he was just working his way back. I think we will be fine EVENTUALLY but it may take a year or at least 5 games for the new QB to get going... I am glad we have VTech early as a loss there wouldn't be held against us. Hopefully we can beat CSU even in our new QBs first game.. If Roberts were back I would be more hopeful about Georgia State. But Mercer / ETSU / Samford scare me as those are good teams vs a new QB.. wish VMI and Point were earlier in season

You know who else has a new QB? Samford and ETSU. Mercer has a talented sophomore who has looked good in limited action, but has about the same in-game experience as Darren Grainger.

I may be in the minority, but I think we're better than Wofford. They lost a bunch of their defense to graduation, including most of their defensive backfield and defensive line (which includes their best defensive player). On offense, they lost their top two rushers.

Flagman wrote: ↑

Fri May 10, 2019 9:37 am

The next one; and the one after that.

Agree completely. Most important game for Furman football is the next upcoming game. After that, same will be true: the most important game on the schedule will still be the next one.

*I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little. The difference last year was stark - think about the Samford game where he left mid-game.. or the ETSU debacle where he was just working his way back. I think we will be fine EVENTUALLY but it may take a year or at least 5 games for the new QB to get going... I am glad we have VTech early as a loss there wouldn't be held against us. Hopefully we can beat CSU even in our new QBs first game.. If Roberts were back I would be more hopeful about Georgia State. But Mercer / ETSU / Samford scare me as those are good teams vs a new QB.. wish VMI and Point were earlier in season
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[quote="The Jackal" post_id=14056 time=1557575784 user_id=52]
You know who else has a new QB? Samford and ETSU. Mercer has a talented sophomore who has looked good in limited action, but has about the same in-game experience as Darren Grainger.

I may be in the minority, but I think we're better than Wofford. They lost a bunch of their defense to graduation, including most of their defensive backfield and defensive line (which includes their best defensive player). On offense, they lost their top two rushers.
[/quote]

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Agree. So glad ETSU and Sam have new QBs! I give Mercer a big edge there as they have two great QBs w winning experience returning. I could see Mercer making a real push this year. They were decimated w QB injuries and honestly outplayed us in the second half w a QB on a gimpy wheel. If he plays the whole game I think we lose. I would have to think through it but Mercer probably has the second best QB situation in the conference to Western ...

ETSU doesn't exactly have a "new" QB. He is a transfer from Temple and started the first 4 games last year until Henrik replaced him in the FU game. Until that game he had pretty good stats and started several games for Temple. In 2017 he threw for 245 yards and 2 TD's against Notre Dame. Different but still a QB with plenty of experience.