I’d like to rethink the first four games. This isn’t revisionist history, oh gosh no, this is something to throw out as something as food for thought. In no way will this defend bad play. Rather, the point is to provide perspective. That’s one of our favorite words on The Strut.
The season opened with a game at Virginia. It was in the back of my mind, as it is fairly certain that many held this thought, revenge was eminent. As Coach Beck pointed out, this is his best team at Coastal. We know the outcome, but how has UVa done in the time since we played them? Here’s their results to date. They’re 4-1 overall. In a couple of polls, the Cavaliers have broken into the top twenty five. The Wahoo’s smallest point output came in a 35-31 loss to NC State and they’re averaging 45.6 points per game. Virginia has scored 63 total points in the first quarter, 80 in the second, and given up nine total points in the fourth quarter all season.
Charleston Southern just snapped a fourteen game losing streak with an exciting 31-24 win. We’d all agree that our 13-0 win may have caused more ire than the loss the week before to Virginia. The fact of the matter is that CSU isn’t that great of a team. The stats show it and they sit at 1-4 on the season right now.
East Carolina shut us out in the second home game of the season. Currently, the Pirates are 3-2 having just defeated Army 28-6. The two losses were against NC State (who defeated UVa in a close one too) and BYU. In their victories, ECU beat Campbell 56-3 and us 38-0. The three wins have been three strong defensive showings. Certainly coupled with the poor showing in the CSU win, the home shutout ruffled the feathers of many in Teal Nation. Looking into East Carolina on the season, they’re averaging 30.4 points per game and giving up 13.4 points per game. The Pirate offense is outgaining its opponents by nearly seven hundred yards total so far. They’ve given up six total points in the first quarter all season.
The Jaguars (or Swamp Kitties if you’re a Strut fan) sit at 1-4 right now. They won their first game of the season against Morgan State, played two tight ones against a very good Tulane (33-31) and respectable effort against Auburn (31-15). When we had the Jag Nation Radio hosts on the podcast with us, they expressed that they were curious which USA team would show up. Fortunately for us, we got the one we beat. Coastal won 38-20 in Mobile and more than a few eyebrows were raised.
The question remains, “Has CCU football managed to turn the corner on the season and begun to show the necessary improvement in order to move forward? Ja’Vin Simpkins and Dominic Knicely are emerging as a formidable two headed monster in the backfield while Jevon Edwards and Jalen John are making major contributions. Tad Hudson appears to have settled into the starting role since taking over against East Carolina. Hudson’s rating is at 92.23 and he’s thrown for 321 yards and two TDs with two INTs. The defense continues to be led by Shane Bruce and, thus far, has been the highlight of the season.
With the remaining schedule all Sun Belt Conference play, with the exception of South Carolina, the goals as outlined by Coach Beck are still in tact. Time will tell how the Chants finish. However, a look back the first four opponents could reveal that it’s possible that we are exactly where we should be. Two wins and two losses may have been where most predicted the team would be at this point of the season. It is important to note, that it can be argued it MUST look better. Going forward, perspective will guide us as the season evolves.
Chants Up!
Chilly
The season opened with a game at Virginia. It was in the back of my mind, as it is fairly certain that many held this thought, revenge was eminent. As Coach Beck pointed out, this is his best team at Coastal. We know the outcome, but how has UVa done in the time since we played them? Here’s their results to date. They’re 4-1 overall. In a couple of polls, the Cavaliers have broken into the top twenty five. The Wahoo’s smallest point output came in a 35-31 loss to NC State and they’re averaging 45.6 points per game. Virginia has scored 63 total points in the first quarter, 80 in the second, and given up nine total points in the fourth quarter all season.
Charleston Southern just snapped a fourteen game losing streak with an exciting 31-24 win. We’d all agree that our 13-0 win may have caused more ire than the loss the week before to Virginia. The fact of the matter is that CSU isn’t that great of a team. The stats show it and they sit at 1-4 on the season right now.
East Carolina shut us out in the second home game of the season. Currently, the Pirates are 3-2 having just defeated Army 28-6. The two losses were against NC State (who defeated UVa in a close one too) and BYU. In their victories, ECU beat Campbell 56-3 and us 38-0. The three wins have been three strong defensive showings. Certainly coupled with the poor showing in the CSU win, the home shutout ruffled the feathers of many in Teal Nation. Looking into East Carolina on the season, they’re averaging 30.4 points per game and giving up 13.4 points per game. The Pirate offense is outgaining its opponents by nearly seven hundred yards total so far. They’ve given up six total points in the first quarter all season.
The Jaguars (or Swamp Kitties if you’re a Strut fan) sit at 1-4 right now. They won their first game of the season against Morgan State, played two tight ones against a very good Tulane (33-31) and respectable effort against Auburn (31-15). When we had the Jag Nation Radio hosts on the podcast with us, they expressed that they were curious which USA team would show up. Fortunately for us, we got the one we beat. Coastal won 38-20 in Mobile and more than a few eyebrows were raised.
The question remains, “Has CCU football managed to turn the corner on the season and begun to show the necessary improvement in order to move forward? Ja’Vin Simpkins and Dominic Knicely are emerging as a formidable two headed monster in the backfield while Jevon Edwards and Jalen John are making major contributions. Tad Hudson appears to have settled into the starting role since taking over against East Carolina. Hudson’s rating is at 92.23 and he’s thrown for 321 yards and two TDs with two INTs. The defense continues to be led by Shane Bruce and, thus far, has been the highlight of the season.
With the remaining schedule all Sun Belt Conference play, with the exception of South Carolina, the goals as outlined by Coach Beck are still in tact. Time will tell how the Chants finish. However, a look back the first four opponents could reveal that it’s possible that we are exactly where we should be. Two wins and two losses may have been where most predicted the team would be at this point of the season. It is important to note, that it can be argued it MUST look better. Going forward, perspective will guide us as the season evolves.
Chants Up!
Chilly