Here is how our conference schedule shakes out for 2018-2019:
2018
Home
Georgia State
Louisiana
South Alabama
Troy

Away
Arkansas State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Texas State

2019
Home
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
ULM
Texas State

Away
Georgia State
Louisiana
South Alabama
Troy
http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2017/8/14 ... -2019.aspx

Hate that Arkansas State is off the schedule again in 2019. Of course, we still might see them in the CC game (hopefully)

appaneer1984 wrote:Here is how our conference schedule shakes out for 2018-2019:
2018
Home
Georgia State
Louisiana
South Alabama
Troy

Away
Arkansas State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Texas State

2019
Home
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
ULM
Texas State

Away
Georgia State
Louisiana
South Alabama
Troy
http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2017/8/14 ... -2019.aspx

Put a TBD under home for when we host the conference title game

I want a home game with Arkansas State, we owe them.

Back-to-back trips to San Marcos... hmmm

It is good that home games against Georgia Southern and Troy are on alternating years. While it was a LOT of fun hosting both of them at KBS in 2015, the 2016 home slate was a letdown with neither on it.

This way we're guaranteed a home game every season against what I would argue are App's two biggest rivals in the current era.

SayYesToTheRock wrote:It is good that home games against Georgia Southern and Troy are on alternating years. While it was a LOT of fun hosting both of them at KBS in 2015, the 2016 home slate was a letdown with neither on it.

This way we're guaranteed a home game every season against what I would argue are App's two biggest rivals in the current era.

Agreed, it take a few years but I suspect a decade from now people will look forward to the Troy game the way we looked at Marshall in my day, and Ga Southern ever since.

The AD's voted to allow Troy and S Alabama to play every year as cross divisional rivals. I'd like to see similar setups for the rest of the schools, particularly an App State vs. Arkansas St match up annually.

GO 'NEERS!

the problem with tagging us and Arkansas State for guaranteed matchups is that we only have a two game history. Our "rivalry" is purely a function of the fact we have both been at the top of the conference. If either team fell on hard times, the matchup wouldn't mean much. Also, if we both remain at the top, we would meet in the championship game anyway. I generally agree that I'd like to play Arkansas State every year, but I'd rather not play them twice and geographically we aren't natural rivals like Troy and USA. The addition of the Conference Championship game kind of eliminates the urgent need for a guaranteed match up.

Yosef84 wrote:the problem with tagging us and Arkansas State for guaranteed matchups is that we only have a two game history. Our "rivalry" is purely a function of the fact we have both been at the top of the conference. If either team fell on hard times, the matchup wouldn't mean much. Also, if we both remain at the top, we would meet in the championship game anyway. I generally agree that I'd like to play Arkansas State every year, but I'd rather not play them twice and geographically we aren't natural rivals like Troy and USA. The addition of the Conference Championship game kind of eliminates the urgent need for a guaranteed match up.

I'm talking about cross divisional rivalries, not within the same division. Troy is already in our division so that's n/a. AD's already voted for Troy and S Alabama to play annually so S Alabama wouldn't work.

Having an annual cross divisional match up w/ Ark St only helps to boost an already weak SOS year in and year being in Sun Belt.

ASUGoose wrote:

Yosef84 wrote:the problem with tagging us and Arkansas State for guaranteed matchups is that we only have a two game history. Our "rivalry" is purely a function of the fact we have both been at the top of the conference. If either team fell on hard times, the matchup wouldn't mean much. Also, if we both remain at the top, we would meet in the championship game anyway. I generally agree that I'd like to play Arkansas State every year, but I'd rather not play them twice and geographically we aren't natural rivals like Troy and USA. The addition of the Conference Championship game kind of eliminates the urgent need for a guaranteed match up.

I'm talking about cross divisional rivalries, not within the same division. Troy is already in our division so that's n/a. AD's already voted for Troy and S Alabama to play annually so S Alabama wouldn't work.

Having an annual cross divisional match up w/ Ark St only helps to boost an already weak SOS year in and year being in Sun Belt.

Yeah, I get that but BECAUSE they aren't in our division, we would likely meet in the championship game if both teams remain at the top. GS and Troy would be our natural rivals, but they're already in our division. Troy and USA game is protected because they are geographic rivals but are in different divisions. That was my point.

Arkansas State's already finishing the regular season with 4-5 losses every year. Playing us just means one more is likely, and I doubt the Sun Belt loves the idea of having a 7-5 or even worse, 6-6 team playing in the conference title game.

Anyway, to the point about Troy being our archrival a decade from now - if we're still in the Sun Belt as presently constituted by that time, I'd consider that a disappointment.

AppDawg wrote:Back-to-back trips to San Marcos... hmmm

I agree, why do we make the trip twice? Thanks for pointing this out. I want to go this Fall but I can't make it happen, I would next year but the trip to Penn State is more attractive.

I would like to hear from Karl Benson on the rationale for us making the trip twice.

Louisiana makes back to back trips to Boone. Most everyone does it 2017-18.

EastHallApp wrote:Arkansas State's already finishing the regular season with 4-5 losses every year. Playing us just means one more is likely, and I doubt the Sun Belt loves the idea of having a 7-5 or even worse, 6-6 team playing in the conference title game.

Anyway, to the point about Troy being our archrival a decade from now - if we're still in the Sun Belt as presently constituted by that time, I'd consider that a disappointment.

Troy won five straight SBC titles in the mid-2000's and then held on to a long-time coach a few years too long. They are now coming out of the rebuild phase and will be championship contender most years.

While the bar is low, Troy has more football tradition than anyone not name App and GS in the SBC.

Saint3333 wrote:

EastHallApp wrote:Arkansas State's already finishing the regular season with 4-5 losses every year. Playing us just means one more is likely, and I doubt the Sun Belt loves the idea of having a 7-5 or even worse, 6-6 team playing in the conference title game.

Anyway, to the point about Troy being our archrival a decade from now - if we're still in the Sun Belt as presently constituted by that time, I'd consider that a disappointment.

Troy won five straight SBC titles in the mid-2000's and then held on to a long-time coach a few years too long. They are now coming out of the rebuild phase and will be championship contender most years.

While the bar is low, Troy has more football tradition than anyone not name App and GS in the SBC.

True, my comment wasn't meant as a knock on Troy. Just that my hope is that within a decade, we'll be in a league with Marshall, GS, WKU, ODU etc. (And I think Gillin and numerous other relevant ADs have a similar vision.) Would be great if Troy's part of that as well.

Arkansas State will be a fun team to remember when we're doing bigger and better things. In the meantime, let's just win the games on our schedule.

WVAppsfan wrote:

AppDawg wrote:Back-to-back trips to San Marcos... hmmm

I agree, why do we make the trip twice? Thanks for pointing this out. I want to go this Fall but I can't make it happen, I would next year but the trip to Penn State is more attractive.

I would like to hear from Karl Benson on the rationale for us making the trip twice.

4 Home --- 4 Away - now with divisions, I am guessing ---

2018 home schedule is gonna be good.