Two more?

[Saint3333]

https://x.com/Harry_MiniumODU/status/19 ... 2297791550

This would indicate a major shakeup coming and defense for that shakeout.

I’m skeptical at this timing.

[Stonewall]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

[BallantyneApp]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

[AppWyo]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

[Seattleapp]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

I’ll get skewered for this but I’d love if furman joined the sunbelt.

[Saint3333]

If we’re with Furman athletically that would be a bad sign.

[fjblair]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

I’ll get skewered for this but I’d love if furman joined the sunbelt.

Ugh, no. Consider yourself skewered.

[AppWyo]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

I’ll get skewered for this but I’d love if furman joined the sunbelt.

Ugh, no. Consider yourself skewered.

Appalachian loves to hate purple.

[Bigdaddyg1]

Seems like the NFL and MLB kind of figured out that some of their divisions were geographically stupid. The Reds used to play in the NL West with LA and SF. The NFL made their divisions better as well. College athletic conferences are so stupid especially at our level. It might also be my age talking but that whole brand thing gets way overblown. Outside of the school fan bases who cares about any G5 level school? Are there pockets of Coastal fans in Ohio? The answer to lots of the issues is really simple. Keep all G5 level conferences geographically centralized. We really have no business flying to south La or Texas for conference games. How many App fans travel to La or Texas for a basketball game? Same for those teams coming to Boone.

[AppinVA]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

I’ll get skewered for this but I’d love if furman joined the sunbelt.

I have a sudden taste for shish kabobs.

[ASUFan4863]

Conversations should begin shifting from who we would love to see join the SBC to where we would love to see App go.

[T-Dog]

I know this will sound like FCSers did a decade ago but the grass ain't always greener. There should be a move just to make a move. Most tires you kick dont need air.

And at the end of the day, even if you have the best league with top schools, someone's gotta go 3-9.

[appbroker20]

You should be. There is a lot of dissatisfaction, discussion and planning going on within and between some of the Sunbelt schools.

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

I’ll get skewered for this but I’d love if furman joined the sunbelt.

I have a sudden taste for shish kabobs.

I would kill to see an early season Furman beatdown in boonetown instead of Lindenwood.

[BambooRdApp]

Not surprising. There’s a very large resource gap between the east and west schools.

No offense to La tech, but their addition when we had La Monroe showed the ambition of the western schools

I think the main thing is how much some of the schools in the west cannot stand La Tech and want the opportunity to show how unsuperior they are. Just like we want to show Charlotte and ECU how unsuperior they are.

I really think regional rivalries are more important to building solid programs than national brand recognition. I am not saying national brand recognition is not important, but being able to talk junk to your coworkers about what your school did to their school on the football field is priceless.

The rivalry between Marshall, Georgia Southern, Furman, and even Western Carolina is the foundation that Appalachian has built its entire football program upon. Even Lenoir Rhyne was at one time one of Appalachian's rivals. I would even go as far as to say that the SBC conference resurrected itself on the rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian, because it showed the teams left in the Sun Belt Conference what a proper rivalry should look like.

Really it is not keeping up with the Jones's is not what college sports is all about it is taking down your rivals. What are your alumni willing to give to make that happen? Basically, you are only as good as your rivals.

That is what makes the east so much fun for us is that we know the history between us and JMU and Marshall. Coastal did what they needed to do to take us down and they have built a program that should not be taken lightly.

I have never liked the weakest link analogy, which some people believe some schools in the SBC to be. I like the cable analogy which says we are stronger because of all the strands. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the ... -link.html https://www.roundforge.com/articles/all ... nch-cable/

I’ll get skewered for this but I’d love if furman joined the sunbelt.

I have a sudden taste for shish kabobs.

I would kill to see an early season Furman beatdown in boonetown instead of Lindenwood.

All for this... however, no desire to have them join the conference. Seems like a step back if we did...like adding La. Tech.

[ASUFan4863]

I know this will sound like FCSers did a decade ago but the grass ain't always greener. There should be a move just to make a move. Most tires you kick dont need air.

And at the end of the day, even if you have the best league with top schools, someone's gotta go 3-9.

The best league will no longer be determined by the W/L records. It will be financial.

[AppDub]

Conversations should begin shifting from who we would love to see join the SBC to where we would love to see App go.

This right here. If regional rivalries is what we are interested in, we are a regional brand. We should be focused on remaining as a national brand and growing it further. Not looking to going back to the socon

[canes_mj]

Important they get this right. If they can add 2 more good brands, like an ECU for example (have no idea who'd be candidates, just using them as an example), that have a great fanbase and football culture, then this would strengthen the conference/brand and create more good matchups weekly, as has happened with the Big 10 and SEC and their recent additions. If they add the wrong schools, it'll be like what the ACC has done, filling the conference with schools no one cares about, causing more games that no one wants to watch (stanford vs BC..who needs tickets?), and diminish the payouts per school.

Any idea which schools he could be referring to?

[CornCobPipes]

Conversations should begin shifting from who we would love to see join the SBC to where we would love to see App go.

Exactly.....Hence the reason of Gill casting the notion of adding more after LaTech. He's planning for fallout. The problem looking ahead for the SBC is it cant seek from the AAC who is changing name to the American only conference(AC) unless it gets hit like the PAC12 did which isn't as likely because the ACC will get hit before they would which would mean the ACC maybe picks from that residual. The only schools the SBC could expand with would be from the FCS pool or MAC or CUSAs established leftovers from there FCS adds.

For us to look ahead to a move as things stand the only opportunity (and not without risk) would be the American or the ACC. From the way things sound the SEC is getting ready to take maybe 4 including UNC from the ACC. So the question becomes what will the ACC backfill with? You can bet they will raid the American first.

[fjblair]

Seems like the NFL and MLB kind of figured out that some of their divisions were geographically stupid. The Reds used to play in the NL West with LA and SF. The NFL made their divisions better as well. College athletic conferences are so stupid especially at our level. It might also be my age talking but that whole brand thing gets way overblown. Outside of the school fan bases who cares about any G5 level school? Are there pockets of Coastal fans in Ohio? The answer to lots of the issues is really simple. Keep all G5 level conferences geographically centralized. We really have no business flying to south La or Texas for conference games. How many App fans travel to La or Texas for a basketball game? Same for those teams coming to Boone.

Until the early 90's the Atlanta Braves were in the NL West.

[ASUFan4863]

Conversations should begin shifting from who we would love to see join the SBC to where we would love to see App go.

Exactly.....Hence the reason of Gill casting the notion of adding more after LaTech. He's planning for fallout. The problem looking ahead for the SBC is it cant seek from the AAC who is changing name to the American only conference(AC) unless it gets hit like the PAC12 did which isn't as likely because the ACC will get hit before they would which would mean the ACC maybe picks from that residual. The only schools the SBC could expand with would be from the FCS pool or MAC or CUSAs established leftovers from there FCS adds.

For us to look ahead to a move as things stand the only opportunity (and not without risk) would be the American or the ACC. From the way things sound the SEC is getting ready to take maybe 4 including UNC from the ACC. So the question becomes what will the ACC backfill with? You can bet they will raid the American first.

The ACC is what I’m looking to and personally hoping for. A future ACC that includes App would obviously not be the ACC today, but it would be better than the Sun Belt today.

If UNC, Clemson, Miami and FSU go to the SEC, where does Duke, Nc State, UVA, VT, Ga Tech? There are so many possibilities for App to join the ACC alongside strong regional brands as well.

Some of the older folks may not be happy at cutting ties with Georgia Southern, but it may be an opportunity that can’t be passed up.