2017 Schedule Speculation

[Saint3333]

SOS really took a hit switching out Akron and Troy.

[WataugaMan]

A game against North Dakota State would be interesting, if a FCS game is being considered.

Interesting, yes. Also, an absolutely horrible idea.

Agreed with EastHallApp here. Why play any FCS team you could lose to? That's how Jim Grobe did it at Wake.

We're no Wake, we would win.

[luvyosef]

I was under the impression we were hosting Coastal in a conference game in 2017 and that they would knock one of this year's road teams off the rotation?

This is true. We play Coastal at home in 2017 so we won't play Troy.

Thanks. So our 2017 home slate will be Savannah St, Wake, Coastal, Ga Southern, UL-L, and New Mexico State. That's not bad. Wake, Coastal and Stink will bring good crowds. I just don't like TWO non-Saturday games. One? Fine. Two? No.

Go Apps!

[EastHallApp]

A game against North Dakota State would be interesting, if a FCS game is being considered.

Interesting, yes. Also, an absolutely horrible idea.

Agreed with EastHallApp here. Why play any FCS team you could lose to? That's how Jim Grobe did it at Wake.

We're no Wake, we would win.

Iowa and Kansas State aren't Wake, either.

We might win that game, we might not. The point is, it's a (figurative) no-win situation. If we win, it does virtually nothing for us; if we lose, we make headlines for losing to an FCS.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

A game against North Dakota State would be interesting, if a FCS game is being considered.

Interesting, yes. Also, an absolutely horrible idea.

Agreed with EastHallApp here. Why play any FCS team you could lose to? That's how Jim Grobe did it at Wake.

We're no Wake, we would win.

Iowa and Kansas State aren't Wake, either.

We might win that game, we might not. The point is, it's a (figurative) no-win situation. If we win, it does virtually nothing for us; if we lose, we make headlines for losing to an FCS.

Very true.

[bh2oson]

Does the Sun Belt Championship game start next year? Any ideas on how that game will be scheduled? Possibly the best record hosting?

[AppStateNews]

Does the Sun Belt Championship game start next year? Any ideas on how that game will be scheduled? Possibly the best record hosting?

It starts in 2018. And yes, the highest seed (best record) will have the game on their home turf.

[Yosef84]

A game against North Dakota State would be interesting, if a FCS game is being considered.

Interesting, yes. Also, an absolutely horrible idea.

Agreed with EastHallApp here. Why play any FCS team you could lose to? That's how Jim Grobe did it at Wake.

We're no Wake, we would win.

Iowa and Kansas State aren't Wake, either.

We might win that game, we might not. The point is, it's a (figurative) no-win situation. If we win, it does virtually nothing for us; if we lose, we make headlines for losing to an FCS.

That is the dilemma of playing GOOD FCS teams. They ARE dangerous and the risk/reward equation doesn't balance. That's precisely why Wake stopped playing us. It sucked when we were on the other side, but I think we actually respected that they at least admitted that was the deal. NDSU is absolutely no joke. I absolutely believe we are a better team but if we played them 10 times, I doubt we win all 10. We would win the majority but they would give us a run. I'm not saying that to diminish App in any way. I'm just acknowledging that they are a unique animal in FCS these days and deserve respect.

[ASUGoose]

It will be Savannah State. Just confirmed from a very credible source.

That's a pretty disappointing fill. I can only assume that means there was absolutely no one else available on that date. I'm not opposed to playing an FCS opponent, but it should be one that moves the needle at least a little for our fans.

If true I also agree this is disappointing. I'd like to only play FCS schools from the state of NC. This was Spurrier's philosophy as well while in Columbia to attempt to only play FCS schools in SC to keep money in state. I like this approach.

[HighlandsApp]

It will be Savannah State. Just confirmed from a very credible source.

That's a pretty disappointing fill. I can only assume that means there was absolutely no one else available on that date. I'm not opposed to playing an FCS opponent, but it should be one that moves the needle at least a little for our fans.

If true I also agree this is disappointing. I'd like to only play FCS schools from the state of NC. This was Spurrier's philosophy as well while in Columbia to attempt to only play FCS schools in SC to keep money in state. I like this approach.

I like idea of playing A&T and Central as our go to fcs teams. Their fans travel well and are the most polite in all of football. Throw in SC State periodically and all is good. We should not pay big $$$ to a SoCon team.

[AppGrad78]

I'm not so concerned with the "who" in our 2017 schedule as the "when."

There was a time not many years ago when playing on a Wednesday or Thursday night made sense so that we could play in front of a television audience, attendance be damned. But now that practically all of our games are available on ESPN3, that thinking doesn't hold as much water. I understand the Sun Belt's dilemma. Television sets the agenda. But unfortunately that agenda impacts the league's marquee programs more severely than the others. My hope is the league's ADs and chancellors vote to limit to one the number of non-Saturday home games a Sun Belt team is required to play each season. That seems like a reasonable compromise.

[T-Dog]

Another 2017 note, the UMass away game will be in Amherst. UMass isn't having another home game in Foxboro til 2018.

[EastHallApp]

I'm not so concerned with the "who" in our 2017 schedule as the "when."

There was a time not many years ago when playing on a Wednesday or Thursday night made sense so that we could play in front of a television audience, attendance be damned. But now that practically all of our games are available on ESPN3, that thinking doesn't hold as much water. I understand the Sun Belt's dilemma. Television sets the agenda. But unfortunately that agenda impacts the league's marquee programs more severely than the others. My hope is the league's ADs and chancellors vote to limit to one the number of non-Saturday home games a Sun Belt team is required to play each season. That seems like a reasonable compromise.

Sounds great for us. Might not go over as well when it comes time for a new deal with ESPN and Benson is asking them to put the likes of Texas State-ULM in primetime.

[AppGrad78]

I'm not so concerned with the "who" in our 2017 schedule as the "when."

There was a time not many years ago when playing on a Wednesday or Thursday night made sense so that we could play in front of a television audience, attendance be damned. But now that practically all of our games are available on ESPN3, that thinking doesn't hold as much water. I understand the Sun Belt's dilemma. Television sets the agenda. But unfortunately that agenda impacts the league's marquee programs more severely than the others. My hope is the league's ADs and chancellors vote to limit to one the number of non-Saturday home games a Sun Belt team is required to play each season. That seems like a reasonable compromise.

Sounds great for us. Might not go over as well when it comes time for a new deal with ESPN and Benson is asking them to put the likes of Texas State-ULM in primetime.

OK. So let's continue to prostitute ourselves and watch attendance wither. Attendance is the lifeblood of G5 football, not television.

[AppinATL]

Interesting, yes. Also, an absolutely horrible idea.

Agreed with EastHallApp here. Why play any FCS team you could lose to? That's how Jim Grobe did it at Wake.

We're no Wake, we would win.

Iowa and Kansas State aren't Wake, either.

We might win that game, we might not. The point is, it's a (figurative) no-win situation. If we win, it does virtually nothing for us; if we lose, we make headlines for losing to an FCS.

That is the dilemma of playing GOOD FCS teams. They ARE dangerous and the risk/reward equation doesn't balance. That's precisely why Wake stopped playing us. It sucked when we were on the other side, but I think we actually respected that they at least admitted that was the deal. NDSU is absolutely no joke. I absolutely believe we are a better team but if we played them 10 times, I doubt we win all 10. We would win the majority but they would give us a run. I'm not saying that to diminish App in any way. I'm just acknowledging that they are a unique animal in FCS these days and deserve respect.

I agree 100%. Scheduling NDSU would be just plain stupid. Nothing to gain, big time egg on our face if we lose. Have people forgotten the feeling after the Liberty game? And they weren't even that good.

[ericsaid]

As a member of FBS, App owes nothing to NCCU and shouldn't schedule them solely based on the fact that they were dropped for Miami.

Except that we actually do owe them a game based on the fact that they were dropped for Miami:

http://www.appstatesports.com/ViewArtic ... =210529089

"To make room for Miami on Appalachian State’s 2016 schedule, Appalachian and North Carolina Central mutually agreed to move their ‘16 matchup to a still-to-be-determined future date."

We owe an FCS team a game. A school that most any FBS team would welcome with open arms as they are not a whole lot better than Savannah State.

[Goapps15]

I'm not so concerned with the "who" in our 2017 schedule as the "when."

There was a time not many years ago when playing on a Wednesday or Thursday night made sense so that we could play in front of a television audience, attendance be damned. But now that practically all of our games are available on ESPN3, that thinking doesn't hold as much water. I understand the Sun Belt's dilemma. Television sets the agenda. But unfortunately that agenda impacts the league's marquee programs more severely than the others. My hope is the league's ADs and chancellors vote to limit to one the number of non-Saturday home games a Sun Belt team is required to play each season. That seems like a reasonable compromise.

Sounds great for us. Might not go over as well when it comes time for a new deal with ESPN and Benson is asking them to put the likes of Texas State-ULM in primetime.

OK. So let's continue to prostitute ourselves and watch attendance wither. Attendance is the lifeblood of G5 football, not television.

It is not our decision as you saw with the Georgia State game. It is the conferences call along with the TV partners. I would like to see the one home game limit but that will never happen. With Troy off of the schedule next year, GSU is our only appealing home conference game to the TV viewers.

[Stonewall]

Mid-week games should be limited in number,(2), and always follow both teams bye week(s).

[MAD Doctor]

I'd like A&T or Liberty. I don't believe either would be celebrating on our field this time.

[diehardapp18]

Does the Sun Belt Championship game start next year? Any ideas on how that game will be scheduled? Possibly the best record hosting?

I don't like how home game goes to best record. Aren't there gonna be sun belt divisions now? Championship game should flip flop between divisions on a yearly basis. Giving home game to team with the best record could encourage teams to keep from challenging themselves on their out of conference schedules