Ok before anyone hands down some smart comment, hear me out. I watched the Boise State / Virginia beatdown on Friday night and then watched our game with ODU yesterday . Boise State has quite a few years of building depth on us but they are the one G5 team that I feel that App can one day emulate. I know all of the jokes about Karl Benson saying that us or Ga Southern are the next "Boise State" and all but App would do well to copy their path in becoming a G5 power to be dealt with.
I swear I feel better about App football than I have in 8 or 9 years.

I think we need to pump the breaks on the whole Boise State thing. First and foremost we need to schedule a game with ECU and beat them. They have done a good job of scheduling mediocre ACC teams and beating them to gain recognition. For example, the VT game yesterday was "impressive", but that VT team (especially the offense) sucks and will be a mid to bottom ACC team. WE ARE COMPETING WITH ECU DIRECTLY FOR RECRUITS AND IT WOULD HELP US TO PLAY THEM.

on a side note, for those not in favor of stadium expansion....see ECU. In the late 90's/early 2000's they expanded and while not always full, it has helped them to get more "big games". Those that say, well ODU/Charlotte have scheduled big games with a small staiudm. They are in a larger market and are playing there for recruiting purposes. ECU is in a similar situation to us, they had to build the facility to get others to come. I'm not saying 50k, just a solid 30k with upgraded facilities (with an option to further enhance, not grow, just enhance in the future). I know people are sick of hearing this, but I truly believe we need to make public a more detailed master plan on stadium expansion for the future (not what was released a couple of years ago).

That rant aside, I fully believe we are headed in the right direction and could gain credibility of top tier G5 teams.

MDaniels, when you say App should "copy their path," what are you thinking specifically?

I think Boise State is what every G5 team wants to emulate. Heck, they were even on the cover of the EA NCAA football game a couple years ago.
Will we ever reach that level? I hope so, but I think it will take quite a few years. If we stay at the top of the Sun Belt over that time, win games against top tier G5 teams and a few low to mid tier P5 teams, I can see us getting some National Attention especially if we do well in bowl games.

I couldn't help but take notice when the ASN announcers were talking about our team yesterday that they kept reminding fans that "this is the same team that beat Michigan and won 3 straight Nat'l Championships." Sure those were great things in our history, but this year's team and future teams have nothing to do with those events. Will we ever get past being known as the team who beat Michigan?

S.Lewis15 wrote:I think Boise State is what every G5 team wants to emulate. Heck, they were even on the cover of the EA NCAA football game a couple years ago.
Will we ever reach that level? I hope so, but I think it will take quite a few years. If we stay at the top of the Sun Belt over that time, win games against top tier G5 teams and a few low to mid tier P5 teams, I can see us getting some National Attention especially if we do well in bowl games.

I couldn't help but take notice when the ASN announcers were talking about our team yesterday that they kept reminding fans that "this is the same team that beat Michigan and won 3 straight Nat'l Championships." Sure those were great things in our history, but this year's team and future teams have nothing to do with those events. Will we ever get past being known as the team who beat Michigan?

Well I was wondering the same thing. Same team? Different players, different head coach, different AD, different league. Different OC different DC What is the same?

bcoach wrote:

S.Lewis15 wrote:I think Boise State is what every G5 team wants to emulate. Heck, they were even on the cover of the EA NCAA football game a couple years ago.
Will we ever reach that level? I hope so, but I think it will take quite a few years. If we stay at the top of the Sun Belt over that time, win games against top tier G5 teams and a few low to mid tier P5 teams, I can see us getting some National Attention especially if we do well in bowl games.

I couldn't help but take notice when the ASN announcers were talking about our team yesterday that they kept reminding fans that "this is the same team that beat Michigan and won 3 straight Nat'l Championships." Sure those were great things in our history, but this year's team and future teams have nothing to do with those events. Will we ever get past being known as the team who beat Michigan?

Well I was wondering the same thing. Same team? Different players, different head coach, different AD, different league. Different OC different DC What is the same?

Our commitment to fielding the best program possible.

not long ago, I took great pride when people talked about the Michigan game, now I cringe when someone mentions it. People only know us by that game, its time to take the next step forward and put that game in archives, but that's never going to happen playing a glorified high school stadium (words of one of our recruits), not going to go into that discussion again, since we debated it for an entire week last month. As far as using Boise State as a model for success, I don't think we could pick a better program to copy, what I love about them, is they have built the program to such level that it has become a very desirable coaching stop. They have lost a lot of quality coaches to bigger programs, but they have had no problems finding great coaches to fill the openings and continue to move forward as a top 15 program. We are a long, long way from being mention in the same breath as Boise St, but I think we have much greater upside than a lot of our fellow G5 programs, including Georgia Southern, ULL, and Ark State.

I too grow tiresome of people's correlation of Appalachian with Michigan. But if you think about it Boise St is still remembered for beating Oklahoma.

AppinVA wrote:

bcoach wrote:

S.Lewis15 wrote:I think Boise State is what every G5 team wants to emulate. Heck, they were even on the cover of the EA NCAA football game a couple years ago.
Will we ever reach that level? I hope so, but I think it will take quite a few years. If we stay at the top of the Sun Belt over that time, win games against top tier G5 teams and a few low to mid tier P5 teams, I can see us getting some National Attention especially if we do well in bowl games.

I couldn't help but take notice when the ASN announcers were talking about our team yesterday that they kept reminding fans that "this is the same team that beat Michigan and won 3 straight Nat'l Championships." Sure those were great things in our history, but this year's team and future teams have nothing to do with those events. Will we ever get past being known as the team who beat Michigan?

Well I was wondering the same thing. Same team? Different players, different head coach, different AD, different league. Different OC different DC What is the same?

Our commitment to fielding the best program possible.

Sounds good.

Just one thing to note here, Boise St. is not in the Pac-12 right now because of their academic standards, or lack thereof. While emulating their success on the football field is something we'd all like to do, I don't think we want to sacrifice our integrity to do it. I'd rather we just carve out the AppState path to FBS success than following in someone else's tracks.

AppinVA wrote:

bcoach wrote:

S.Lewis15 wrote:I think Boise State is what every G5 team wants to emulate. Heck, they were even on the cover of the EA NCAA football game a couple years ago.
Will we ever reach that level? I hope so, but I think it will take quite a few years. If we stay at the top of the Sun Belt over that time, win games against top tier G5 teams and a few low to mid tier P5 teams, I can see us getting some National Attention especially if we do well in bowl games.

I couldn't help but take notice when the ASN announcers were talking about our team yesterday that they kept reminding fans that "this is the same team that beat Michigan and won 3 straight Nat'l Championships." Sure those were great things in our history, but this year's team and future teams have nothing to do with those events. Will we ever get past being known as the team who beat Michigan?

Well I was wondering the same thing. Same team? Different players, different head coach, different AD, different league. Different OC different DC What is the same?

Our commitment to fielding the best program possible.

Absolutely the commitment is the same but this team stands on its own. It deserves to be respected for their own accomplishments and not the accomplishments of a team from history. That is all I meant by my comment. This team deserves accolades of their own. They need not ride on anyone's coat tails.

EastHallApp wrote:MDaniels, when you say App should "copy their path," what are you thinking specifically?

I , in no way, shape , or form want App to loosen academic standards in order to find success on the gridiron at the FBS level. Rather, I was speaking to the "play anyone , anywhere, anytime" mantra that we have historically always adhered to. I am well aware that we don't need more than 1 Clemson type of game per season. However, this week I witnessed a lot of growth and who knows, maybe some of it was due to having our backs against the wall after the Clemson game.
I think that we are already recruiting like Boise and other successful G5 programs. Lets just keep it up and continue to utilize our walk on program which has always been an App resource.

bcoach wrote:

AppinVA wrote:

bcoach wrote:

S.Lewis15 wrote:I think Boise State is what every G5 team wants to emulate. Heck, they were even on the cover of the EA NCAA football game a couple years ago.
Will we ever reach that level? I hope so, but I think it will take quite a few years. If we stay at the top of the Sun Belt over that time, win games against top tier G5 teams and a few low to mid tier P5 teams, I can see us getting some National Attention especially if we do well in bowl games.

I couldn't help but take notice when the ASN announcers were talking about our team yesterday that they kept reminding fans that "this is the same team that beat Michigan and won 3 straight Nat'l Championships." Sure those were great things in our history, but this year's team and future teams have nothing to do with those events. Will we ever get past being known as the team who beat Michigan?

Well I was wondering the same thing. Same team? Different players, different head coach, different AD, different league. Different OC different DC What is the same?

Our commitment to fielding the best program possible.

Absolutely the commitment is the same but this team stands on its own. It deserves to be respected for their own accomplishments and not the accomplishments of a team from history. That is all I meant by my comment. This team deserves accolades of their own. They need not ride on anyone's coat tails.

Fair point, and I agree, but the commitment that got us here, the commitment that got a win over Michigan, is the same that has us with one of the 20 best overall (17th, maybe?) win percentages. It's the same commitment that will lead us on to whatever big thing lies ahead. Like the commercial says -- if we were a geico commercial -- "if you're Appalachian State, you win football games (and beat Michigan). It's who you are."

Might not make some here happy but let's become the next ECU first and then Boise State. ECU should be out model first. They have done a superior job building their program. We need to compete directly with them on the field and for recruits as well. And win both battles.

MDaniels84 wrote:

EastHallApp wrote:MDaniels, when you say App should "copy their path," what are you thinking specifically?

I , in no way, shape , or form want App to loosen academic standards in order to find success on the gridiron at the FBS level. Rather, I was speaking to the "play anyone , anywhere, anytime" mantra that we have historically always adhered to. I am well aware that we don't need more than 1 Clemson type of game per season. However, this week I witnessed a lot of growth and who knows, maybe some of it was due to having our backs against the wall after the Clemson game.
I think that we are already recruiting like Boise and other successful G5 programs. Lets just keep it up and continue to utilize our walk on program which has always been an App resource.

I agree we are getting some great recruits but go take a look at Boise's 2016 commitment list on Rivals and then look at anybody's in the Sun Belt. There is no comparison I am afraid.

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One thing to remember is Bosie State didnt become "Bosie State" until their 10th season in FBS when they beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. They built their program first in the Big West for a few years before moving into the WAC. It took them winning 4 straight WAC Championships to really get noticed, and then the Fiesta Bowl to really get on the map.

We will likely have to put together multiple Sun Belt Championship season, and win our bowl games to get the national stage. Luckily we have had our spotlight moment with Michigan already so we could recognition a little quicker than most.

bcoach wrote:Well I was wondering the same thing. Same team? Different players, different head coach, different AD, different league. Different OC different DC What is the same?

Yep, all that stuff is different.

But, it is the tradition of winning that is the same. THAT is what ODU does not have, but App does. Charlotte does not have it. GaSo has it.

It is that tradition of winning that means alot. If you expect to win, you win. You can see it in the demeanor of other teams. Sometimes, by the middle of the first quarter, the other team looks like they don't want to play anymore. The only exception being military schools ... they have the training or character or whatever it takes to keep playing hard even if they are down 40 - 0. Anyone remember VMI back in the early 1990s? - they came in here & beat an undefeated ASU team to take away home field advantage in the playoffs.

Of course, some of it has to do with support by the administration and alumni.

But the traditional of winning is an intangible that is very important.

boonetown1 wrote:I think we need to pump the breaks on the whole Boise State thing. First and foremost we need to schedule a game with ECU and beat them. They have done a good job of scheduling mediocre ACC teams and beating them to gain recognition. For example, the VT game yesterday was "impressive", but that VT team (especially the offense) sucks and will be a mid to bottom ACC team. WE ARE COMPETING WITH ECU DIRECTLY FOR RECRUITS AND IT WOULD HELP US TO PLAY THEM.

on a side note, for those not in favor of stadium expansion....see ECU. In the late 90's/early 2000's they expanded and while not always full, it has helped them to get more "big games". Those that say, well ODU/Charlotte have scheduled big games with a small staiudm. They are in a larger market and are playing there for recruiting purposes. ECU is in a similar situation to us, they had to build the facility to get others to come. I'm not saying 50k, just a solid 30k with upgraded facilities (with an option to further enhance, not grow, just enhance in the future). I know people are sick of hearing this, but I truly believe we need to make public a more detailed master plan on stadium expansion for the future (not what was released a couple of years ago).

That rant aside, I fully believe we are headed in the right direction and could gain credibility of top tier G5 teams.

Where would we get the money to expand the stadium any significant amount? We are practically giving away tickets as it is. 4 for $99 for example.

Getting $99.00 for 4 tickets is better than $0.00 and seeing aluminum on TV.

AppSt94 wrote:Getting $99.00 for 4 tickets is better than $0.00 and seeing aluminum on TV.

True, but we should be in a position where we didn't have to virtually give away free seats. The CW on here that when we moved up attendance would "automatically" increase dramatically and we would be needing expansion within a couple years. Well we don't except in some people's dreams.