?Future Non-Conference Schedules?

[ELCubano1]

I'm sorry, but I honestly can't get excited about playing GW and ETSU nor would I ever consider coming to Boone to watch these games...I was hoping that we left the FCS to avoid playing soft teams, but I guess I'm wrong. If we're ever going to do something about our SOS, playing these games are a complete waste of time. I don't expect anyone to agree. Just stating my opinion...

This year is an anomaly. I would expect at least one FCS team on our schedule. If they are "local" even better because they might bring a few fans with them. Don't get me wrong, this year is very exciting but I think if we hit the conference schedule banged up we might wish for a soft team to rest some guys.

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I'll stick with my earlier comment. I'm looking for us to improve our SOS and receive a top 25 ranking. Being banged up is part of competing against tough teams. I don't want to dodge anyone and instead have a FCS school that just reinstated football so we can avoid getting banged up. I would much prefer playing better quality teams than a local FCS to see how many people they bring...

[PhillyApp1]

El Cubano, we would not be in the BCS without our games as fcs with Michigan , Auburn, LSU....
From a philly Cubano

[ELCubano1]

Firstly I agree that I'd prefer to schedule home and homes with G5 members over FCS games, that said:

App plays two FCS opponents over the next four seasons. Only two ACC programs play less than two FCS programs over that same span (FSU and Miami), most play three, and three ACC programs play one every year. http://www.fbschedules.com/

Your expectation was for App to play fewer FCS opponents than ACC teams currently do, I'm not sure that's realistic.

If we stick to averaging one FCS team every two years and maintain six home games that will be pretty solid scheduling, especially if we continue finishing above .500.

If you read my comment carefully, which you did not, I was talking about "soft" teams not FCS teams. A soft team can be a FCS or FBS team. We are scheduling a team (twice)that just reinstated football and are in this case a FCS team which will NEVER enhance our SOS. Furthermore, I would never look to compare a P5 schedule with ours because you would be forgetting the teams in their conference that they play each year. A P5 can schedule FCS opponents and still have a greater SOS than a upcoming G5, like App, that decides to play cupcake teams like ETSU, etc. Again, I'm talking about improving the SOS. I never stated let's quit playing FCS teams. I stated "soft" teams so we can improve the SOS...

[huskie3]

If we want the P5's to play us we have to willing to give FCS programs a chance also. You can't have your cake without sharing it with others.

[Saint3333]

You listed two "soft teams" (GW and ETSU), both of which are FCS programs... if you had chosen UMass I may not have been "confused".

You make it sound so simple, scheduling teams multiple years in advance while transitioning from the FCS to the FBS. Sorry, it isn't, and every App fan should be pleased to date with the schedule we've put together.

If you're disappointed with our schedule in years 3-6 of our transition you're expectations were way too high.

I encourage you to look at other G5 program schedules (programs not named Boise, Houston, Cincy, etc because I'm sure you'd like to cherry pick established top 25 programs to prove your point). It takes time to build to that level.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Here's an idea...Let Doug do his thing and we support App State no matter who they play. I've seen App State play the likes in Lenoir Rhyne at home and will be there for the Miami game. I can assure everyone my game day experience will be the same no matter who we play. I don't donate or purchase season tickets with the hopes of getting to pick who we play. I do it for my love of App.

[WVAPPeer]

And the Holes will have played 4 FCS teams in the last 2 seasons -

[bcoach]

And the Holes will have played 4 FCS teams in the last 2 seasons -

As long as we never have to play them I'll be happy.

[JTApps1]

Firstly I agree that I'd prefer to schedule home and homes with G5 members over FCS games, that said:

App plays two FCS opponents over the next four seasons. Only two ACC programs play less than two FCS programs over that same span (FSU and Miami), most play three, and three ACC programs play one every year. http://www.fbschedules.com/

Your expectation was for App to play fewer FCS opponents than ACC teams currently do, I'm not sure that's realistic.

If we stick to averaging one FCS team every two years and maintain six home games that will be pretty solid scheduling, especially if we continue finishing above .500.

If you read my comment carefully, which you did not, I was talking about "soft" teams not FCS teams. A soft team can be a FCS or FBS team. We are scheduling a team (twice)that just reinstated football and are in this case a FCS team which will NEVER enhance our SOS. Furthermore, I would never look to compare a P5 schedule with ours because you would be forgetting the teams in their conference that they play each year. A P5 can schedule FCS opponents and still have a greater SOS than a upcoming G5, like App, that decides to play cupcake teams like ETSU, etc. Again, I'm talking about improving the SOS. I never stated let's quit playing FCS teams. I stated "soft" teams so we can improve the SOS...

I would prefer to play an all FBS schedule every year, but it is unrealistic to expect that which is why few FBS do it. If we are going to play FCS teams then I'd rather play local teams than just chase top names from FCS. It would cost too much to bring in those teams, and making money by having a home game is the whole point of playing these teams. They won't be very competitive games (hopefully), but each team will bring some fans and we should get a lot of guys experience. No need to pay $200,000 to bring in Montana or NDSU.

[AtlAppMan]

Ideally we would play an all FBS schedule every game. Ideally we would have a set of home and home games with other quality G5 opponents. Ideally we have a couple of P5 opponents on our schedule every year without both of them being for pay away games.

Reality is scheduling at FBS level is a bit skill and luck since you now have to work 3-8 years or more in advance. Reality is we are a G5 with less leverage with many P5 schools regarding schedule negotiation. Reality is GW and ETSU are probably placeholders for now with options should a prettier girl come along. We may have to keep them but could dump them.

Reality is we probably don't consistently get what we want every year, maybe never but rather just get as much as we can.

One other thing, Given the current strength of the SBC as a whole, since we want the best SOS we can muster and aspire to be a top 25 team and want to get to a NY6 bowl, we have to assume that our fluff games should be our Weakest SBC brethren not some OOC FCS game.