Still more people in the stands than an smu football game.

We get the real thing next week

Last NCAA Season, all games, Per Game S/SOG/G
TAMU 18.09/8.32/2.05
FSU 17.78/8.78/3.26
UT 20.46/8.29/2.92
ARK 17.82/7.77/2.64

Coach G is well aware of these stats, which is why he emphasized the need to attract finishers.

The incredibly small sample of 1.5 exhibition games does not indicate much change in the stat line regarding S/G, but time will tell.

(Yes, we gave FSU two good games last year, and arguably their toughest in their championship run, although UNC may argue that they did manage to tie them in a regular season match.)

Defense matters too.
Last season, all games, Goals Against Average
TAMU 1.080
FSU 0.609
UT 1.125
ARK 0.955

We ranked 119 in GAA. FSU 17. ARK was 87. UT, well, we don't want to be like them!

***
Finally, just to go back to our 2014 season, our only 'Final 4' appearance,
In all 27 games, per game, S/SOG/G and GA: 20.15/9.44/2.56 and 1.00

Thanks for the stats and great comments!

I recall a preseason video with Coach G talking about needing finishers. Do not recall the exact dialogue but he said he showed prospective players videos from last year where we had the ball in front of the opponents goal many times but could not get it in the net. He told them (paraphrasing) "I need players who will finish those chances". Like showing catnip to a cat!

How many forwards did he bring in this year? Freshmen and transfers? How many talented midfielders who can defend really well, provide great assists and score?

Quite a few.

I would like to see Taylor Jernigan score anywhere close to like she did in high school - was a goal-scoring machine. I was watching for her all last year but as a freshman she did not get a lot of minutes (238).

We do have the talent but it's like in every other sport - have to get all the pieces working together and in sync. Sooner much better than later.

Coach G said in the comments after the SMU game the number of days of practices the team had before that game. Seven or eight or something like that. Not many. Need many more than that in a team sport for everyone to play well together. It will come.

Sooooo, I think we will do better this year than last. Can we score goals like FSU? Maybe. Possible. I hope so!

Gig 'Em !!

Other teams high up on my College Cup possibility list (in alphabetical order):

Arkansas
Clemson
Duke
Michigan State
TCU
Texas A&M
USC
Virginia

— Chris Henderson (@chris_awk) August 13, 2024