How does Georgia State compare with other FCS teams?
Georgia State’s football team is 0-5 this season as it prepares to host New Hampshire on Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
UNH is 3-2, 1-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. It averages 36.6 points per game with a rushing offense that’s averaging 244.8 yards per game.
That average doesn’t bode well for the Panthers’ defense, which is giving up more than 200 rushing yards per game.
Here’s what New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell had to say about Georgia State:
“You watch them on tape and see a lot of good things and see them making plays. And then you see there’s always something that comes up – a fumble or interception – and that mistake costs them.
“Impressed by both their quarterbacks. Their both redshirt freshmen who can and throw
“[Donald] Russell is a physical, punishing running back.
“Defensively, their nose guard is a big son of a gun, he might be the biggest guy in the league and he leads them in tackles.
“Playing a freshman linebacker Joe Peterson who is tough.”
FCS ranks
Some of you have wondered if Georgia State is the worst team in FCS.
Of course, there’s no way to know that. The Panthers are having issues. Luckily for them, there’s another team that’s also having issues, and the Panthers play them next week: Rhode Island.
The Rams are averaging fewer points than the Panthers, fewer rushing yards per game (by almost 50) and the defenses are statistically similar.
But here’s where Georgia State would ranks in the FCS, if its stats counted. Because of the transition to the FBS, Georgia State’s stats won’t found on the NCAA site. This is where they would be, if they did count:
Total offense: 287.6
FCS rank: 102
Total defense: 459.8
FCS rank: 102
Scoring offense: 10
FCS rank: 119
Scoring defense: 38.4
FCS rank: 107
Rushing offense: 104.6
FCS rank: 100
Rushing defense: 210.6
FCS rank: 96
Passing offense: 183
FCS rank: 82
3rd down conversion: 35
FCS rank: 84
Opp. 3rd down conversion: 52
FCS rank: 113
– Doug Roberson, AJC. Please follow me on twitter @ajcgsu
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29 comments Add your comment
GSU alumni
October 1st, 2012
10:35 am
It is good to know that we are near the bottom of the list. I am proud of GSU panthers.
shocked
October 1st, 2012
10:53 am
Doug,
how many total teams are there?
Go Panthers
October 1st, 2012
10:55 am
To Ga Southern Fans:
Ga State fan here……. going forward I think it would be a good idea for you to keep a list of the alias/names of the posters attacking you and your school. Instead of saying all fans are talking trash please refer to said list and good luck with the rest of your season.
Go Panthers!!
October 1st, 2012
11:03 am
Actually surprised it isn’t worse.
Then I have to remind myself that we have a Hall of Fame coach and it just rattled my brain.
Doug Roberson
October 1st, 2012
11:03 am
120.
panama
October 1st, 2012
11:05 am
@shocked
124
Perspective
October 1st, 2012
11:07 am
It’s never been more true: “Things can only get better from here.”
GaDawg
October 1st, 2012
11:08 am
The most important question now is who will be the next coach and when will it be announced?
DownTownATL
October 1st, 2012
11:23 am
If I had stats like that at MY job, I would have been fired already!
Who Cares?
October 1st, 2012
11:23 am
#bigboyfootball, #fcsissmalltime, #fcssucks, #gsuisinatlanta, #therealgsu, #pleasedontconfusemygsuwithyourgsu
Bleed Blue
October 1st, 2012
11:27 am
@ Who Cares
Got to give some props to a Southern Troll.
#pleasedontconfusemygsuwithyourgsu
That one had me laughing.
Corro'll Driskell
October 1st, 2012
11:32 am
Without a doubt, Georgia State University’s football has challenges this school season. I am writing it off as growing pains for a Univerity Football team three years in the mix. Keep pressing on GSU… we have your back.
Go Panthers!!
October 1st, 2012
11:57 am
Even the most established programs will have bad seasons.
That ours comes in year 3 and on the heels of an FBS announcement is terribly unfortunate. The timing is terrible.
But by no means should anyone assume this is a permanent condition.
Chicken Bone
October 1st, 2012
12:02 pm
FULLBACK
Alum
October 1st, 2012
12:16 pm
0-11 UCF 2004
BigBird73
October 1st, 2012
12:25 pm
Georgia Sounthern fielded a “club” team in 1982 and 1983, playing military teams, the Jacksonville Police Dept. team, and some small colleges and FSU JV teams. In 1985 and 1986 we won back-to-back national championships in the FCS division in only our second and third years in the league. We won again in 1989 as we became the first college program in the 20th century to go 15-0. We followed that with Nat. Cahmpionship #4 in 1990. We won 2 more in 1999 and 2000. We have also been runners up twice and have a 32-2 playoff record at home, and an overall record of 277-107-1 since 1984. This year we are 5th in total defense and 25th in total offense in the FCS. That is what a championship program looks like. Good Luck in the Sunbelt GA. State – maybe we can arrange an out of conference game after we join Conf. USA.
JoeMoe
October 1st, 2012
12:44 pm
What an expensive embarrassment. Just …why?
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 1st, 2012
1:37 pm
@BigBird73 – Georgia Southern won’t win a national championship this year with the way the offense is playing. McKinnon is a great athlete but doesn’t throw well, Youyoute got benched the other night, and the offense looks like a fumble machine. The Eagles may not even win the Southern Conference if improvements aren’t made.
As far as FBS, it’s highly unlikely we’ll join Conference USA anytime soon. The Sun Belt looks to be a better fit geographically and it also appears there’s some interest from them should the conference expand again and add a championship game. Besides, the Sun Belt appears poised to possibly pass Conference USA in football quality in the proximate future and would offer Southern the chance for an in-state rivalry with Georgia State (and probably a chance to maintain the rivalry with App. State).
Perspective
October 1st, 2012
2:17 pm
I think it’s remarkable what GaSo did as a startup. The mocking of their “six flags” that I see from our fanbase is petty. That’s an achievement that deserves respect. Hell, if it was US winning titles that fast, I know our fans would be shouting about it.
That all being said, starting an FCS program in 2010 is a far cry than what it was in the early 80s.
There is no assurance that GaSo could duplicate that run if it started out today.
Old Dominion is more likely the new standard to beat.
Astonishing Werepanther
October 1st, 2012
2:51 pm
Whatever the standard is, we’re falling short of it right now. I do think we’re going to get past these growing pains, though. All we can really do is keep supporting the team and try to keep other aspects of the university (bball, academics, local presence) on the right track to maintain our value to the conference.
I don’t mock GaSo’s six flags, by the way. I think they’re a pretty awesome accomplishment. I just don’t think the flags trump everything else when conferences target future members.
Kennesaw Mtn. Landis
October 1st, 2012
10:17 pm
You know it’s bad when Georgia Southern fans are starting to be nice to us.
“Bless their hearts”
Walking with a Panther
October 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
Even worst when State fans are tripping over themselves to be apologetic Southern fan. Talk about taking it with no vaseline!!!!
urinal and constipation reader
October 2nd, 2012
7:55 am
all this is hilarious…but southern troll is correct, a sun belt invite for Ga Southern is most likely(as opposed to C USA, and probably more preferred. A GSU/GSU rivalry is natural..matter of fact it is already here and no football games have been played.
GaStateBen
October 2nd, 2012
9:25 am
The next coach hire will be critical to the success of State football. You either continue to blunder for the next 5 years or make some progress and actually get some butts in seats.
Roy
October 2nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Sorry GSU fans things can and will get worst. The can’t compete in division II how can anyone expect them to do better when they move up to divison I. I wish them well however its going to get ulgy!
GSU Men's BB Fan
October 2nd, 2012
5:44 pm
It’s worse people. Not worst. Things will get worse.
Go Panthers!!
October 2nd, 2012
6:27 pm
It’s also FCS or FBS, not DII or DI.
Both FCS and FBS are DI.
There are currently seven D1 schools in Georgia, I believe…
UGA
Ga Tech
GSU
Georgia Southern
Mercer
Kennesaw State
Savannah State
Only UGA and Tech are FBS, and GSU is FBS transitional.
GB's Hamburgers
October 2nd, 2012
11:25 pm
They need to give up football or whatever it is they are trying to play.
icons pack
October 7th, 2012
9:12 am
It agree, this idea is necessary juts by the way