Looking back, Looking forward

[The Jackal]

There's a lot of be proud of this season. I was massively impressed with the improvement in the team with a few new faces on the field and with the headset.

I have no idea who returns next season. By my calculations, nearly the entire team has eligibility remaining. We'll lose some. Some will stay. We have the potential to be very good next season.

On offense, Huff was a clear storyline. Next season, he will have far more time and a full spring in the offense with Coach Roper and I can only imagine will continue to improve.

Beyond him, I think you saw the emergence this season as Joshua Harris as a true WR1. 44 catches and nearly 600 yards receiving as a sophomore. He has a really bright future in this offense and could quickly become one of the SoCon's top pass catchers.

Running backs had a great season and look like they are going to reload next season. There's depth and quality at that position going 5 deep.

The broadcast indicated that Hendrix said maybe the entire offensive line could return. That would be huge.

Defensively, I think we saw the emergence of Kam Brinson as a phenomenal defensive back. If Brinson and Hugh Ryan can return, that would be a huge boon for the defense. Both are excellent.

The linebacking corps was excellent. The pass rush didn't skip a beat after the graduation of Hope and McKoy.

I'd expect Furman to keep the same formula next season and try to keep depth along the defensive front four. That 8 man rotation/two platoon was stellar all season, especially against the run.

Our CBs had great moments and some struggles this season. Remember, though, that most of our CBs (Morris, Robinson, and Yates) are sophomores. They're going to continue to get better.

I expect next year we will have the advantage of starting the season much higher ranked than this year (I don't think we were a top 25 team until after the ETSU game, and even then not in every poll). That's always a big advantage as it requires less climbing and more sustaining during the season. Through two rounds of the playoffs, the home teams, I think, are 15-1, so we see the benefit of being at home in the post season and potentially seeded.

The future is very bright. Get a good class in December, plug a few transfers in, keep who we can, and let's get loaded up for next season.

[purplehorse123]

I expect NDSU to beat Samford so no one in conference will get more playoff experience (two playoff games) than us this year. Sammy will get an extra week of practice. This playoff experience (a win at home and a loss on the road) will help us moving forward.

CCH, now with 6 years of head coaching experience and 5 playoff games at Furman should be getting wiser.

Again I cannot say it enough-I think we learned “how to win games” this year instead of finding ways to lose. A winning mentality is huge.

A 10-3 season and two playoff games, beating a CAA team and playing in Texas, all add up and should help recruiting.

I don’t know why we cannot be in the playoffs almost every year.

And yes starting the season higher up in the polls and home playoff games are huge. There is a “system” and you have to play by the rules but clearly the playoff rules need to be changed.

[cavedweller2]

The extra week of practice won’t do Sammy much good. Their next years mercenaries “transfers” won’t be in bham until after the first of the year at the earliest.

[The Jackal]

I expect NDSU to beat Samford so no one in conference will get more playoff experience (two playoff games) than us this year. Sammy will get an extra week of practice. This playoff experience (a win at home and a loss on the road) will help us moving forward.

CCH, now with 6 years of head coaching experience and 5 playoff games at Furman should be getting wiser.

Again I cannot say it enough-I think we learned “how to win games” this year instead of finding ways to lose. A winning mentality is huge.

A 10-3 season and two playoff games, beating a CAA team and playing in Texas, all add up and should help recruiting.

I don’t know why we cannot be in the playoffs almost every year.

And yes starting the season higher up in the polls and home playoff games are huge. There is a “system” and you have to play by the rules but clearly the playoff rules need to be changed.

I think there is risk/reward in the transfer portal. Look at Western Carolina. Feels like half their team is transferring out.

I believe you'll see the best teams keep building culture. Guys want to play there and don't want to leave for "greener pastures."

[FUwolfpacker]

VMI and ETSU have the most transfers right now. Western has a good bit but honestly it’s mostly QB’s and a couple WR’s. My guess is that offense will have no problem getting those two positions.

I think the route Furman is going, building culture with guys who have played a lot of football together, is likely the most stable route to success. If we can avoid major transfer losses, we should be able to build each year. The transfer portal is probably more boom or bust, but may have a higher ceiling if you can get the right guys for what you want to do.

[Roundball]

VMI and ETSU have the most transfers right now. Western has a good bit but honestly it’s mostly QB’s and a couple WR’s. My guess is that offense will have no problem getting those two positions.

I think the route Furman is going, building culture with guys who have played a lot of football together, is likely the most stable route to success. If we can avoid major transfer losses, we should be able to build each year. The transfer portal is probably more boom or bust, but may have a higher ceiling if you can get the right guys for what you want to do.

The NCAA is going to have to address the transfer portal. This past Friday, the guys on WCCP talked about the ugly part of the portal, the part that very few want to talk about. Evidently, there were hundreds of players that transferred, only to have to sit out this past year because of academics or because there was no room for them on the teams they went to. These kids are chasing a dream only to wake up to a nightmare.

[FUwolfpacker]

Only about 40% end up placing anywhere from some numbers I saw. Crazy but I guess that’s the risk you take. They probably need to do something but I don’t think they know where or how to start based on their track record

[AstroDin]

Adding on… let's not forget we lost our starting SPUR in the Clemson game and our starting DE in the CSU game. Expectations are Achina and JJ will be ready for next season.

Possibly the most significant upside for next season will be getting two quality offensive linemen back from injuries. Vollmer and Petit have been on the sidelines for every game. Hopefully, the DINS will bring in the linemen they want to reload.

As far as Furman and the transfer portal - I'd expect Furman to be frugal and cherry-pick from the portal. Furman has offered a VMI graduate DL/NG; having another 6-3 300-run stopper would be awesome.

[AstroDin]

^^ Furman has just offered Dartmouth CB Tyron Herring.
A 6-2 205 corner, from Delray Beach, FL

[gman84]

I expect NDSU to beat Samford so no one in conference will get more playoff experience (two playoff games) than us this year. Sammy will get an extra week of practice. This playoff experience (a win at home and a loss on the road) will help us moving forward.

CCH, now with 6 years of head coaching experience and 5 playoff games at Furman should be getting wiser.

Again I cannot say it enough-I think we learned “how to win games” this year instead of finding ways to lose. A winning mentality is huge.

A 10-3 season and two playoff games, beating a CAA team and playing in Texas, all add up and should help recruiting.

I don’t know why we cannot be in the playoffs almost every year.

And yes starting the season higher up in the polls and home playoff games are huge. There is a “system” and you have to play by the rules but clearly the playoff rules need to be changed.

We should be in the playoffs every year. Not an excuse, but this will be the first year CCH will return a true starting qb. That is key to continued success.

[Affirm]

We SHOULD be in the playoffs every year.
Even so, it is a lot harder for us to get in the playoffs ANY year than for the average FBS team to get in a bowl game EVERY year.

[Affirm]

Beat Tennessee Tech.
TTU lost to Samford by only 5 in game 3.
TTU lost by 3 in OT at Kennesaw State.
TTU lost to NCCU (Celebration Bowl bound) by only 2 in TTU’s final game.
Beat Tennessee Tech.
Complete the game competently at USC. Use the money as wisely as possible.
Beat Kennesaw State.
Maintain a respectable ranking going into SoCon play.
Proceed to each and every SoCon game, the hardest ones to the “easier” ones, with will-win mindset.
Win the SoCon.
Get a bye.
Get home playoff games.
Win at least 3 playoff games.
Finish the season with a top-8 ranking.
If we falter, get back up and back on track as quickly as possible.
Which of the above goals are not realistic?
(Yes, I know the above may seem ironic coming from Affirm, who is often predicting a loss and a not-great W-L record. Affirm’s predictions are often to try keep people, including Affirm, from being overconfident and unrealistic.)
(PS: I did not post any prediction for the UIW game; but if I had been forced to predict, I would have posted something like UIW 57 - Furman 32.)

[gofurman]

OK, question - I thought someone said the SoCon is one of the only conferences that doesn't allow undergraduate intra-conference transfers.

1) Is that true? I don't know.

2) If so, per Astro and others, even if intra-conference you CAN take grad transfers?? Per Astro "Furman has offered a VMI graduate DL/NG; having another 6-3 300-run stopper would be awesome."

3) Do other conferences allow undergraduate intra-conference transfers?

Thanks for the answers !!!

[Davemeister]

Sounds like affirm has become a True Believer in competitive Furman Football!

[Affirm]

Sounds like affirm has become a True Believer in competitive Furman Football!

Wants to be
Hopes to be
Keeping our present coaching staff, or the equivalent, would help make it so. (That would be true also for basketball.)