GaSo Meeting

[GoAppsGo92]

Glass,

We are on the short, short, short list. Never said it was a done deal, and folks are smart enough to keep the details away from a FOI request. We all understand at this point that the presidents have to decide on who to invite. But we should also be smart enough to know that Benson does not waste his time plowing fields that he does not expect to harvest.

All will be clear soon.

[MountainMan]

To folks that are underwhelmed by the AppStateNation story: you are officially in denial.
......... We are on the short, short, short list.

No denial at all.

I want to see a move to FBS. I think there will be a move to FBS. It could be very soon. I think we are on the short short short list of the Sun Belt.

It's just that I thought those things last week and last month just as strongly as I do today. I'm underwhelmed simply because I don't see any NEW news.

[GlassOnion]

I dont know if we'll get an invite anytime soon, this june at the earliest, and after next season at the latest. If we declare before june, this year we're ineligable for playoffs, and still stuck at 63 schollies. If we declare after next season, we recruit as an FBS team, and are then ineligable the next season, but have 74 schollies.

And there is still the quivering bowl of jelly that is FBS right now. Something could happen in the next year to close our spot for years.

[GoAppsGo92]

To folks that are underwhelmed by the AppStateNation story: you are officially in denial.
......... We are on the short, short, short list.

No denial at all.

I want to see a move to FBS. I think there will be a move to FBS. It could be very soon. I think we are on the short short short list of the Sun Belt.

It's just that I thought those things last week and last month just as strongly as I do today. I'm underwhelmed simply because I don't see any NEW news.

Gotcha. Understand what you are saying. I think it is news that this map came from Benson. Why send GAGA a map with AppState on there too if we are not thought of as a package deal? Why not send a map to Southern's new AD to show them how THEY look on the map and leave AppState off? Why not have OTHER potential members on the map? Why just AppState and GAGA Southern?

[hapapp]

Liberty is a mill. Tens of thousands of online students paying them money, with very little overhead. They've got a billion $ endowment too. Not exactly a fair comparison.

Cobb has already presented a financial plan that gets App to about $25 mill. without putting it on the backs of students. Some of those other schools have already tapped out their student fees in FCS.

Just checked, and 83% of JMU's budget comes from student fees, and theyre spending $34 million. App's is 50.1%. If we can get to $25 million with 30% less in fees, which the feasablity committee says we can, we'll be alright.

Getting to that $25m figure might have been under a different scenario than exists now.

I'm not opposed to the move and hope it comes sooner than later but I'm not convinced we will make such a move as soon as many seem to think. I certainly hope to be wrong.

[AppStateNation]

Fools gold if you think that map means we have an official invitation, yes. It is not a smoking gun at all.

But to say nothing in this FOIA is new is just wrong. Not to mention I haven't even released everything in it yet.

[AppStateNation]

NBC Sports has an article on it now. Not just old news.

[RankinApp]

To folks that are underwhelmed by the AppStateNation story: you are officially in denial. While its not time to celebrate our official move to FBS, we can at least start to make a shopping list for food and decorations.

If you guys donated $10 bucks to the athletic department every time you posted about the move being imminent or happening the track could be removed from KBS and we could get some new stands built.

Frankly, with MTSU gone and possible WKU..the teams left in the Belt are a sorry looking bunch. And that's damn unfortunate because I'd like to see App in FBS, but man..that's an awful group.

[happyappy84]

To folks that are underwhelmed by the AppStateNation story: you are officially in denial. While its not time to celebrate our official move to FBS, we can at least start to make a shopping list for food and decorations.

If you guys donated $10 bucks to the athletic department every time you posted about the move being imminent or happening the track could be removed from KBS and we could get some new stands built.

Frankly, with MTSU gone and possible WKU..the teams left in the Belt are a sorry looking bunch. And that's damn unfortunate because I'd like to see App in FBS, but man..that's an awful group.

Not nearly as awful a group as Furman, Wofford, Wesern, Elon, Citadel, etc.

Great find by AppStateNation. The people saying it is nothing new are crazy. It confirms what we have all just been speculating about for years now.

[fjblair]

In the past two years I have gone from indifference on the FBS/FCS thing to "God please just get us out of the Southern Conference".

[GlassOnion]

NBC Sports has an article on it now. Not just old news.

Yes. And NBC Sports took it so seriously, that they mistook Georgia State for Georgia Southern.

On top of that, the guy states :

"Both Georgia Southern and Appalachian State have been highly successful in FCS football, but haven’t – to date – made any open attempts to move up to the FBS level, which would be required for full membership in the Sun Belt."
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... w-members/

Somehow, our announcement that we're looking for an FBS home has always gone un noticed.

[RankinApp]

Not nearly as awful a group as Furman, Wofford, Wesern, Elon, Citadel, etc.

Well..other than Western and Elon, the other schools mentioned have won a few games against us in football the past couple years. Let's not even discuss basketball (my head is in the sand).

So academically..yeah, I'd much rather be associated with the SoCon bunch than the Hyphenated-States in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Not to mention the ridiculousness of the some of the schools being tossed around.

Delaware has never made mention of moving up and at present is trying to stave off a serious lack of support for the football program.

Jax State? Missouri State? Sam Houston? Chatt? Towson?! Good grief.

Benson's pretty much throwing darts at the wall and seeing what sticks.

[GoAppsGo92]

To folks that are underwhelmed by the AppStateNation story: you are officially in denial. While its not time to celebrate our official move to FBS, we can at least start to make a shopping list for food and decorations.

If you guys donated $10 bucks to the athletic department every time you posted about the move being imminent or happening the track could be removed from KBS and we could get some new stands built.

Frankly, with MTSU gone and possible WKU..the teams left in the Belt are a sorry looking bunch. And that's damn unfortunate because I'd like to see App in FBS, but man..that's an awful group.

Wow. That "sorry bunch" you refer to had a winning record in 2012 against the current line up of CUSA, and got 4 teams in post season bowls... which featured, by the way, NONE of the teams that are leaving the SBC. So you want FBS but you don't want to be in the league that takes new FBS teams? Last time I checked, the ACC and SEC were not considering us. CUSA? That league is forming up to be an absolute joke. All the teams we would want to play are gone except for Marshall.

So, a solid FBS league that is keeping all of its performing teams stands to invite us and our number one SoCon rival and you punch that gift horse right smack in the mouth? Why? Because they might lose WKU? When is the last time they played us? 2002?

CFB is changing. FBS/FCS tilts are going by the wayside due to SOS issues. If we don't get 1-2 $400k paydays a year even with our support, FCS becomes a even bigger loser. There are BIG payouts for all FBS conferences in store once the playoff format begins, and that format will undoubtedly expand beyond the top 4 teams. This may be the last train out of Berlin, and we are complaining about the seats.

[GoAppsGo92]

Not nearly as awful a group as Furman, Wofford, Wesern, Elon, Citadel, etc.

Delaware has never made mention of moving up and at present is trying to stave off a serious lack of support for the football program.

Jax State? Missouri State? Sam Houston? Chatt? Towson?! Good grief.

Benson's pretty much throwing darts at the wall and seeing what sticks.

So what does that make us? You just laughed off some of the better teams in the entire FCS division. So the thought of taking the best of what the FCS league can offer to expand the conference is "throwing darts and seeing what sticks"? Again, what choice does he have? Should he have ECU on speed dial? North Carolina State? I think the list has some pretty good names on it... including ours.

[RankinApp]

This may be the last train out of Berlin, and we are complaining about the seats.

If the train's derailing does it matter where we're sitting?

[RankinApp]

So what does that make us? You just laughed off some of the better teams in the entire FCS division.

The records of the mentioned teams over the past 10 years. Those are the better teams in the division? Better - it appears we think drastically different meanings when it comes to that word.

Jax State: 73-39
Miss State: 42-67
Sam Houston: 69-50
Chatt: 40-72
Towson: 47-66

No denying, that the Sun Belt is going to be the entry point into FBS, providing we actually get an invite (you know, the one we've been getting going on a year and a half now - the bags are packed). Doesn't mean the current teams in the conference are less than inspiring, regardless of bowl appearance or wins over a depleted C-USA.

*sniffs*

That's desperation I smell.

[GoAppsGo92]

So what does that make us? You just laughed off some of the better teams in the entire FCS division.

The records of the mentioned teams over the past 10 years. Those are the better teams in the division? Better - it appears we think drastically different meanings when it comes to that word.

Jax State: 73-39
Miss State: 42-67
Sam Houston: 69-50
Chatt: 40-72
Towson: 47-66

No denying, that the Sun Belt is going to be the entry point into FBS, providing we actually get an invite (you know, the one we've been getting going on a year and a half now - the bags are packed). Doesn't mean the current teams in the conference are less than inspiring, regardless of bowl appearance or wins over a depleted C-USA.

*sniffs*

That's desperation I smell.

CUSA wasn't depleted last year when the SBC had a winning record against them. Sam Houston was in the FCS championship the last two years. Chattanooga has put together a very competitive program, and while we have beat them by the skin of our teeth, GSU has not been so lucky. Towson has done quite well over the last couple years and has been in contention for the CAA championship. Miss State has just authorized a $40 million dollar investment in thier football program and facilities. Jax State is a very solid program as shown by your posting of the record.

The only thing you need to smell is coffee... I think you need to sober up.

[RankinApp]

The only thing you need to smell is coffee...

Sam Houston has been terrible minus the past two years. It remains to be seen if they can keep the momentum.
Chattanooga - if by competitive you mean .500 ball over the past few years and craptastic before that, sure.
Towson - A couple good years but mediocre otherwise. Their stadium has a capacity of 11,000 and is a struggle to fill.
Missouri State is the dreg of the MVFC. And the $40 isn't guaranteed and most are considering it a pipe dream. Even their own fans do think there's much a chance of a move up.
Jax State does have the best record. They were also on probation for a couple years for APR issues. Just lovely to be associated with, no?

Gotta work harder to spin that bunch into something positive. Step it up dude.

US News Rankings of the Sun Belt schools.

WKU
Regional South - 33

Georgia State
National - Not Ranked

Troy
Regional South - 67

South Alabama
National - Not Ranked

Lousiana-Lafayette
National - Not Ranked

Lousiana-Monroe
Regional South - 91

Arkansas State
Regional South - 56

Arkansas-LR
National - Not Ranked

UT-Arlington
National - Not Ranked

Texas State
Regional West - 46

At least we'd be pulling the rest of the schools up academically.

[GoAppsGo92]

The only thing you need to smell is coffee...

Sam Houston has been terrible minus the past two years. It remains to be seen if they can keep the momentum.
Chattanooga - if by competitive you mean .500 ball over the past few years and craptastic before that, sure.
Towson - A couple good years but mediocre otherwise. Their stadium has a capacity of 11,000 and is a struggle to fill.
Missouri State is the dreg of the MVFC. And the $40 isn't guaranteed and most are considering it a pipe dream. Even their own fans do think there's much a chance of a move up.
Jax State does have the best record. They were also on probation for a couple years for APR issues. Just lovely to be associated with, no?

Gotta work harder to spin that bunch into something positive. Step it up dude.

US News Rankings of the Sun Belt schools.

WKU
Regional South - 33

Georgia State
National - Not Ranked

Troy
Regional South - 67

South Alabama
National - Not Ranked

Lousiana-Lafayette
National - Not Ranked

Lousiana-Monroe
Regional South - 91

Arkansas State
Regional South - 56

Arkansas-LR
National - Not Ranked

UT-Arlington
National - Not Ranked

Texas State
Regional West - 46

At least we'd be pulling the rest of the schools up academically.

I'm not going to argue with you on academics of the SBC because I knew that prior to this discussion, and agree we would enhance the league. If I could pick ANY league of likely suitors, the MAC would be the best fit overall... but they have shown no interest in expanding publicly.

Don't be so callus about Chattanooga though. If they had managed to beat us any one of the last three years, I think the Mocs would be in higher regard. And, for the SBC, they fill a nice hole in the map. B Ball is pretty good too. Of all the schools I would feel sorry for when GAGA and AppState leave... it would be Chatty. We would be leaving them high and dry...surrounded by "small privates" Oh, and Western.

Towson has done more than compete in the CAA, they won it outright in 2011.

Mo State - They are sitting on a gold mine and are just starting to realize it. They would only be what, the second FBS team in the state if they made the jump? What a huge opportunity for them. They are late to the party, and I think that makes them a very unlikely candidate at this time. I personally think SBC will go to 12 FB teams... with NMST and Mo State as likely Western Division adds at a later date. I don't think you will see any additional Southland schools in the SBC.

As for Jax, Let's not drag APR into this... or I will have to remind you about some schools we are associated with right now in the SoCon that are faced with resolving the exact same thing. It hasn't hurt our rep too badly being in the same conference with them. Having said that, I think they are unlikely candidates. already two AL schools in the SBC. There will be a voting block against them I'm somewhat certain.

[GoAppsGo92]

What I like about the SBC is it looks to be making a decision between solid programs that fit the geography rather than markets. CUSA is taking a bet on Charlotte... a huge bet. Not to mention grabing MTSU in the vain hope of getting the Nashville market... and the FIU FAU sisters to get TV sets in Orlando and Boca. I think time will prove out that recruiting a collection of community colleges that have no real success in football will be a losing strategy. The MWC, MAC and SBC will have the best SOS which will be so important for bowl selection and the new payout plan for the FBS playoffs.

Not to mention the fact that we can schedule Charlotte and MTSU as OOC games with home and home contracts once we get an invite.