Almost a sellout!!

[SpeedkingATL]

I'm excited to see App and Toledo get it on, don't care where they are playing. A great match up and a chance to see most of these seniors play one more time for the black and gold. There WILL BE a party in Lot H again this year I promise!!

[Rekdiver]

I've been to every play off home game all 3 National Championships and the Camellia Bowl last year so if I have a conflict and cant go this year and want to complain about what I see a a slight I think I've earned the right to do so. Folding your arms and accepting whatever bone is thrown your way is ignorant.

[NewApp]

WOW....thought I would never see us bitching about going to a bowl. We can always move back down to FCS and play teams like Mars Hill instead of Wake Forest.

We were going to play NC Central before Miami came along. Comparable to Mars Hill in many respects.

You mean a bowl bound 9-2 D1 team is equivalent to a 5-6 D2 team that lost to Samford 77-7.

I didn't know that. NCCU is bowl bound? What bowl? I thought they were I-AA.

[mountaineerman]

WOW....thought I would never see us bitching about going to a bowl. We can always move back down to FCS and play teams like Mars Hill instead of Wake Forest.

We were going to play NC Central before Miami came along. Comparable to Mars Hill in many respects.

You mean a bowl bound 9-2 D1 team is equivalent to a 5-6 D2 team that lost to Samford 77-7.

I didn't know that. NCCU is bowl bound? What bowl? I thought they were I-AA.

If I'm not mistaken it's the celebration bowl against grambilng meac vs swac predominantly African American schools

[Saint3333]

I've been to every play off home game all 3 National Championships and the Camellia Bowl last year so if I have a conflict and cant go this year and want to complain about what I see a a slight I think I've earned the right to do so. Folding your arms and accepting whatever bone is thrown your way is ignorant.

There are so many fans that have done just that and thanks for supporting the program all these years. Even though your schedule may not allow you to attend this year, consider buying a ticket for the game through the ticket office. Ticket sales to bowl games (through our ticket office) can sometimes be the reason a program is selected for bowl games in future years.

[AppOrange]

If you don't want to go, that's fine, but please don't bitch about it, only hurts the program. See you there with crew in tow, cant wait till Thursday night, that's when we leave for Montgomery.

I don't think expressing displeasure with the SunBelt for not rewarding a conference champ with a choice venue, opponent and destination is going to hurt the program....in fact just the opposite of we can't tell recruits there is a plum for post season then imo that hurts worse. I think we would get more folks to go to NO or Orlando. I know I'd bring the whole family.

But it doesn't work that way and never will unless money becomes unimportant. For years bowls have taken the teams that travel well, its basically a chamber of commerce event masquerading as a sporting event. Hotel rooms, food, spending in town is the driver, not the game itself. I don't love it and before I went to APP would get routinely screwed by VT (as a Syracuse native) in the big East because even though we would routinely finish above them in the standings, they always traveled like champs and would go wherever in droves (thus getting a better bowl). The reason I think complaining about it is no good is that it puts a negative spin on the whole thing, rather than building more and more excitement within the fan base. If only 70% of us are excited to go and supporting it, meh, but if 99% of us are excited and talking it up, it becomes the thing to do, people prioritize it and go because they want to be a part . . . not feeling the negativity and opting out. If we traveled really well, there is no telling what doors that would open . . . complaining about it does not help . . . yes it is your right, I just think it is counterproductive to what we are trying to do long term . . . but feel free I guess.

If you sit passively and don't tell your AD and conference you think we got the short end of the deal then they will assume everyone is satisfied. After all we support our school, led the SunBelt in attendance and won a championships. Your bowl game in NO or Orlando would be higher rated with us there.

Not to beat a dead horse, but those that put the bowl game on, don't care about ratings as much as they care about bringing people into their city to spend money . . . that's it, they don't care about how the match-up looks on TV or how the game is ranked on espn as "most intriguing game". If the NO Bowl could get 50K fans to bring in Wofford vs VMI, they would host it. I respect your opinions however, just dont agree with your reasoning. In an effort to drop this topic as I do feel it is a bit toxic, i will bow out of any further conversation as to not keep it going.

[hapapp]

WOW....thought I would never see us bitching about going to a bowl. We can always move back down to FCS and play teams like Mars Hill instead of Wake Forest.

We were going to play NC Central before Miami came along. Comparable to Mars Hill in many respects.

You mean a bowl bound 9-2 D1 team is equivalent to a 5-6 D2 team that lost to Samford 77-7.

I didn't know that. NCCU is bowl bound? What bowl? I thought they were I-AA.

If I'm not mistaken it's the celebration bowl against grambilng meac vs swac predominantly African American schools

You are correct. The MEAC and SWAC champs don't participate in the FCS playoffs.

[appbio91]

We were going to play NC Central before Miami came along. Comparable to Mars Hill in many respects.

You mean a bowl bound 9-2 D1 team is equivalent to a 5-6 D2 team that lost to Samford 77-7.

I didn't know that. NCCU is bowl bound? What bowl? I thought they were I-AA.

If I'm not mistaken it's the celebration bowl against grambilng meac vs swac predominantly African American schools

You are correct. The MEAC and SWAC champs don't participate in the FCS playoffs.

So they don't participate or don't get an automatic bid for conference champion?

[appbio91]

Bowl ticket site shows only tickets for the west side (and premium stuff). So if we are on the East side again sales must be okay.

[Appsolutely]

You mean a bowl bound 9-2 D1 team is equivalent to a 5-6 D2 team that lost to Samford 77-7.

I didn't know that. NCCU is bowl bound? What bowl? I thought they were I-AA.

If I'm not mistaken it's the celebration bowl against grambilng meac vs swac predominantly African American schools

You are correct. The MEAC and SWAC champs don't participate in the FCS playoffs.

So they don't participate or don't get an automatic bid for conference champion?

The MEAC vs. SWAC game generates far too much revenue for either conference champion to get involved with the FCS. Last year's game generated attendance of 35,000+.

[NewApp]

WOW....thought I would never see us bitching about going to a bowl. We can always move back down to FCS and play teams like Mars Hill instead of Wake Forest.

We were going to play NC Central before Miami came along. Comparable to Mars Hill in many respects.

You mean a bowl bound 9-2 D1 team is equivalent to a 5-6 D2 team that lost to Samford 77-7.

I didn't know that. NCCU is bowl bound? What bowl? I thought they were I-AA.

If I'm not mistaken it's the celebration bowl against grambilng meac vs swac predominantly African American schools

i.e. HBCU's

[Boone Goon]

I've been to every play off home game all 3 National Championships and the Camellia Bowl last year so if I have a conflict and cant go this year and want to complain about what I see a a slight I think I've earned the right to do so. Folding your arms and accepting whatever bone is thrown your way is ignorant.

I applaud your historical attendance and agree you've earn the right to sit this one out if you choose. I agree with your earlier comment that if you want change you can't just accept whats given to you.

I thoroughly dislike it when this board spirals into name calling, but I hope we can share our thoughts and not get to that...

My disagreement (with you or others) is the logic that by boycotting this year's game we're increasing our likelihood of getting chosen by a better bowl in the future. I also disagree with people's assessment the Camellia Bowl and Montgomery less desirable than New Orleans.

Here's what I want in a bowl game:
1) 2-3 day weekend with my fellow App State friends and my family watching App play
2) a packed stadium
3) the best possible competition
I realize this might not be yours, or anyone elses, but it's where I'm coming from.

I was in Montgomery last year with one child and a number of friends. This year I'm bringing 2 kids, my dad and friends. If we were going to New Orleans I wouldn't bring any of my kids. I've spent a ton of time in New Orleans over the years, and if I never go back it will be too soon. The food is great, but the crime, the poverty, the smell, the crime and the crime makes it a terrible destination in my opinion. If people haven't been I get the appeal, but it's lost on me. Montgomery by comparison has a small southern town charm and multiple good restaurants & bars all within walking distance of the game/hotel/pep rally/parade route that I can walk morning, noon and night without worry. In short, it's a place we can have fun while being family friendly.

I hope App one day is able to fill a 50,000 stadium, but that day is far into the future. And until we're able to consistently fill Kidd-Brewer each week, I don't see it happening at a bowl game more than 3 hours from Charlotte. People are puffing out their chests over "winning the Sunbelt attendance" right now, but I was at our home games and there was a lot of silver showing through. If that's going to happen when the weather was very good and the schedule was excellent, how are we reconciling the fact that we have a right to go to a "better bowl" in our 2nd year of eligibility?

In another string I asked the question: "Why would any P5 conference, or 'better bowl' replace us with one of the opponents they currently have slated?" Until we bring more money in the form of sponsors, TV eyes, and/or ticket sales the answer is: they wouldn't.

For these reasons I think Montgomery is the perfect bowl destination for App and our fans.

[appbio91]

http://m.wbrc.com/myfoxal/pm_/contentde ... d:9u5O2hZD

[GoBoone]

I've been to every play off home game all 3 National Championships and the Camellia Bowl last year so if I have a conflict and cant go this year and want to complain about what I see a a slight I think I've earned the right to do so. Folding your arms and accepting whatever bone is thrown your way is ignorant.

I applaud your historical attendance and agree you've earn the right to sit this one out if you choose. I agree with your earlier comment that if you want change you can't just accept whats given to you.

I thoroughly dislike it when this board spirals into name calling, but I hope we can share our thoughts and not get to that...

My disagreement (with you or others) is the logic that by boycotting this year's game we're increasing our likelihood of getting chosen by a better bowl in the future. I also disagree with people's assessment the Camellia Bowl and Montgomery less desirable than New Orleans.

Here's what I want in a bowl game:
1) 2-3 day weekend with my fellow App State friends and my family watching App play
2) a packed stadium
3) the best possible competition
I realize this might not be yours, or anyone elses, but it's where I'm coming from.

I was in Montgomery last year with one child and a number of friends. This year I'm bringing 2 kids, my dad and friends. If we were going to New Orleans I wouldn't bring any of my kids. I've spent a ton of time in New Orleans over the years, and if I never go back it will be too soon. The food is great, but the crime, the poverty, the smell, the crime and the crime makes it a terrible destination in my opinion. If people haven't been I get the appeal, but it's lost on me. Montgomery by comparison has a small southern town charm and multiple good restaurants & bars all within walking distance of the game/hotel/pep rally/parade route that I can walk morning, noon and night without worry. In short, it's a place we can have fun while being family friendly.

I hope App one day is able to fill a 50,000 stadium, but that day is far into the future. And until we're able to consistently fill Kidd-Brewer each week, I don't see it happening at a bowl game more than 3 hours from Charlotte. People are puffing out their chests over "winning the Sunbelt attendance" right now, but I was at our home games and there was a lot of silver showing through. If that's going to happen when the weather was very good and the schedule was excellent, how are we reconciling the fact that we have a right to go to a "better bowl" in our 2nd year of eligibility?

In another string I asked the question: "Why would any P5 conference, or 'better bowl' replace us with one of the opponents they currently have slated?" Until we bring more money in the form of sponsors, TV eyes, and/or ticket sales the answer is: they wouldn't.

For these reasons I think Montgomery is the perfect bowl destination for App and our fans.

And if you wear a pair of white tennis shoes in NO, they'll be nasty black by the time you leave. I'm taking my 8 year old to the bowl and I'm darn happy it ain't in the big easy!

[MountaineerKidd]

Any idea of how many tickets we have sold so far?

[wncapp78]

I have worked for years on securing and retaining a college basketball tournament. While butts in seats and heads in beds are hugely important, so is the national exposure of a national telecast on ESPN. And a big part of the national exposure is looking good on ESPN. To say the the bowls don't care about how the game "looks" on TV is an incorrect statement. It is a very important part of the overall equation that is required for success.