Theoretical new conferences

[bigdaddyg]

If all 128 BCS level teams were completely reshuffled to create 5 power conferences of 12 teams each and then the remaining placed into G5 level conferences of 10-12 each would App be in a P5? These theoretical conferences would be strongest to weakest. A Kansas or Vanderbilt for example might not make the top 5.

A lot of days til we play again! Lol

[moonshine]

Football only?

[bigdaddyg]

Football only?

Yes. Don't want to think about basketball and other sports. Ugh

[HighlandsApp]

Our overall athletic budget puts us in the bottom 10% of FBS schools. There is no way that we will ever be in a P5. In the next few years there will be a P4 consisting of only PAC, B1G, SEC and ACC. Hopefully CUSA and Sun Belt merge so that we have a nice regional division that consists of some combination of AppState, Charlotte, ODU, JMU, GaSo, GaSt, Coastal, WKU, MidTen, Troy, SoAl, UAB, FIU and FAU.

[bigdaddyg]

Our overall athletic budget puts us in the bottom 10% of FBS schools. There is no way that we will ever be in a P5. In the next few years there will be a P4 consisting of only PAC, B1G, SEC and ACC. Hopefully CUSA and Sun Belt merge so that we have a nice regional division that consists of some combination of AppState, Charlotte, ODU, JMU, GaSo, GaSt, Coastal, WKU, MidTen, Troy, SoAl, UAB, FIU and FAU.

Understood. This topic is just purely theoretical based on strength of the football teams. Has nothing to do with other sports or budget, attendance, track around the field or anything else. There are currently teams in P5 conferences that there by name only. Obviously a Houston would be included. Doubtful that a Kansas or Vanderbilt would be able ncluded.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

WITH CURRENT TEAM...

We are good enough to be in a P5 conference. Probably finish 6-6 or 7-5 and make a bowl.

[appgrad95&97]

Just dreaming here, but how about:

Marshall
ODU
ECU
UNCC
ASU
GaSo
Ga St
Central FL
SoFl
UAB
MTSU
Memphis

[EastHallApp]

So, would a more direct way to phrase the question be "Is App currently one of the top 60 football programs in the nation?" Or am I misunderstanding?

[app97]

Our overall athletic budget puts us in the bottom 10% of FBS schools. There is no way that we will ever be in a P5. In the next few years there will be a P4 consisting of only PAC, B1G, SEC and ACC. Hopefully CUSA and Sun Belt merge so that we have a nice regional division that consists of some combination of AppState, Charlotte, ODU, JMU, GaSo, GaSt, Coastal, WKU, MidTen, Troy, SoAl, UAB, FIU and FAU.

take out one of the Alabama schools, add Marshall, and I think you have a feasible, regional conference. Or, take out all of the Bama schools and the Florida schools, and add Marshall. Then, you would have travel partners in bball that make sense, along with in-state or nearby rivalries developing, such as....

GaSt/GaSo
WKU/MTSU
Appstate/Marshall
Coastal/UNCC
ODU/JMU
Troy/S Alabama/UAB?

although we're not in WV, we could rekindle an old rivalry, and Charlotte is closer to Myrtle Beach than we are. We would still be further from a travel partner than any other team, but we will probably deal with that scenario no matter how we slice it...unless UNCC becomes our partner at some point instead of Coastal.

[bigdaddyg]

So, would a more direct way to phrase the question be "Is App currently one of the top 60 football programs in the nation?" Or am I misunderstanding?

Yes that's what I was saying. Obviously rankings can dictate and part of the argument says some P5's ain't P5's.

[EastHallApp]

So, would a more direct way to phrase the question be "Is App currently one of the top 60 football programs in the nation?" Or am I misunderstanding?

Yes that's what I was saying. Obviously rankings can dictate and part of the argument says some P5's ain't P5's.

In that case, I'd say we're right around the cutline if we're going strictly by on-field strength. If you're looking at program infrastructure things like budget, fan base size, TV contract, etc., then no.

[bigdaddyg]

So, would a more direct way to phrase the question be "Is App currently one of the top 60 football programs in the nation?" Or am I misunderstanding?

Yes that's what I was saying. Obviously rankings can dictate and part of the argument says some P5's ain't P5's.

In that case, I'd say we're right around the cutline if we're going strictly by on-field strength. If you're looking at program infrastructure things like budget, fan base size, TV contract, etc., then no.

Strictly team on the field. Top conference is the best 12. That being said would UT be in the top conference?

Alabama
Clemson
Ohio St
Michigan
Washington
Louisville
Etc

2nd conference includes the next best 12.

5th includes 49-60.

I would think we are close if not definitely in the #5.

[appgrad95&97]

It seems to me that there is a huge difference between a team and a program. We have probably been a top 50-60 team over the past few years, but we are nowhere near that level in terms of a program. Louisville is a top 10 team, but not a top 10 program. Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Texas are top 10 programs but not top 10 teams.

[bigdaddyg]

It seems to me that there is a huge difference between a team and a program. We have probably been a top 50-60 team over the past few years, but we are nowhere near that level in terms of a program. Louisville is a top 10 team, but not a top 10 program. Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Texas are top 10 programs but not top 10 teams.

I think this topic made more sense to me. I think a reshuffle puts Houston in the top conference- this year. Texas and Notre Dame might be in the 3rd best. Fla St maybe in the 2nd at this point.

[diehardapp18]

Just dreaming here, but how about:

Marshall
ODU
ECU
UNCC
ASU
GaSo
Ga St
Central FL
SoFl
UAB
MTSU
Memphis

I think this would be a dream scenario for App fans every where but just don't think it's realistic. Could you imagine the meltdown ECU fans would have if they got moved to a conference with App? They view us as inferior in every where. Damn I'd love to play them this year

[Goapps15]

Just dreaming here, but how about:

Marshall
ODU
ECU
UNCC
ASU
GaSo
Ga St
Central FL
SoFl
UAB
MTSU
Memphis

I think this would be a dream scenario for App fans every where but just don't think it's realistic. Could you imagine the meltdown ECU fans would have if they got moved to a conference with App? They view us as inferior in every where. Damn I'd love to play them this year

USF and UCF aren't likely. Drop those two. Add Western KY and Troy.

Having MTSU/WKU is a fit. Only 90 minutes apart. Troy and UAB about the same. ODU and ECU close. App and Charlotte. Ga Southern and Ga State. That would be a great regional ten team base for a conference.

[AppDawg]

Just dreaming here, but how about:

Marshall
ODU
ECU
UNCC
ASU
GaSo
Ga St
Central FL
SoFl
UAB
MTSU
Memphis

I think this would be a dream scenario for App fans every where but just don't think it's realistic. Could you imagine the meltdown ECU fans would have if they got moved to a conference with App? They view us as inferior in every where. Damn I'd love to play them this year

USF and UCF aren't likely. Drop those two. Add Western KY and Troy.

Having MTSU/WKU is a fit. Only 90 minutes apart. Troy and UAB about the same. ODU and ECU close. App and Charlotte. Ga Southern and Ga State. That would be a great regional ten team base for a conference.

Yes, and drop UNCC and Ga St. Replace with Marshall and Southern Miss.

Absolutely nothing about UNCC/GaSt excites me.

[moonshine]

I believe one could make an argument for App to be included in the top 60 programs, however, I think most would agree this will never happen in our lifetime. If we are picking 10 teams to start a new conference, I'd like to see:

App
Marshall
ECU
ODU
WKU

GS
Troy
USA
MTSU
USM

To get to 12, take 2 of the following (most likely take 3 of the 5 below as ECU would want no part of this conference):
CCU - gets the conference in SC, good overall athletic department - lacks overall support, FBS transitional
UNCC - good market, solid soccer and golf, Price helping the b-ball program - football in it's infancy, small football stadium
GSU - good market, ok b-ball, Turner Field - lacks overall support
UAB - good market, good b-ball, good football coach - restarting football due to lack of support, 3rd team from AL
JMU - decent athletics, gives App a purple team to hate if ECU isn't interested, strong support - FCS move-up, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Academics on par with the Ivies.

[EastHallApp]

Oh, what the hey, it wasn't really the original question, but as long as we're drawing up dream G5 leagues... I like to start by basically throwing the Sun Belt and CUSA into a pot and rearranging them so they make more sense geographically. Obviously there are several schools from the AAC that would strengthen either league, but I'll leave them out of it for now since most of them would probably rather remain where they are (or move up, of course).

CUSA

Northern Division

Appalachian State
Charlotte
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
Western Kentucky

Southern Division

Coastal Carolina
Florida Atlantic
Florida Intl
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Troy

(Could flip App and Coastal to make the divisions a little more balanced in the short term.)


Sun Belt

East Division

Arkansas State
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
South Alabama
Southern Mississippi
UAB

West Division

Louisiana Tech
North Texas
Rice
Texas San Antonio
Texas State
UTEP

[bigdaddyg]

Oh, what the hey, it wasn't really the original question, but as long as we're drawing up dream G5 leagues... I like to start by basically throwing the Sun Belt and CUSA into a pot and rearranging them so they make more sense geographically. Obviously there are several schools from the AAC that would strengthen either league, but I'll leave them out of it for now since most of them would probably rather remain where they are (or move up, of course).

CUSA

Northern Division

Appalachian State
Charlotte
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
Western Kentucky

Southern Division

Coastal Carolina
Florida Atlantic
Florida Intl
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Troy

(Could flip App and Coastal to make the divisions a little more balanced in the short term.)


Sun Belt

East Division

Arkansas State
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
South Alabama
Southern Mississippi
UAB

West Division

Louisiana Tech
North Texas
Rice
Texas San Antonio
Texas State
UTEP

LOL yeah this was not remotely close to what I was asking but whatever! I believe you know what I was after. Might as well just let this topic continue to go in this direction. Guess my wording wasn't clear. At the beginning of the season I would have put us in the 4th conference- somewhere in the 37-48 group. Now maybe in the 5th based on recent showings.