Illinois State

[87ASUgrad]

(1) ain't nobody good, so we have a good chance as any to win - if the team is fired up and don't come out like we did vs Citadel. (2) kill the 3rd down bell - nothing special 'cause most stadiums ring it and it has been a signal for us that other team is gonna get a first down. (3) on Labor Day, most were saying we'll take 7-4 with this team. Well, our team done better.

I agree 100% with your #1 & #3. You also are correct IMO on #2 that a lot of other teams are are using the 3rd down bell.

I think we need to keep the 3rd down bell though. I wish it were not true, but when that bell rings at "The Rock" it seems like a wake up call and reminds a lot of our fans that they are actually at a Mountaineer football game and to get off of their butts and make some noise...at least for one play. (It reminds me the Physc studies of Professor Pavlov's experiments with the dogs and classical conditioning responses).

We have got a few false start calls at home on the other teams this year that may have been caused by the noise level. The number of fans in attendance will probably be down compared to the regular season average for the Illinois St game on Dec 1st. That is the case historically for Boone playoff games. But the fans that do show up are the real App State fans and we need the fans that do show up to be loud and rowdy. The bell seems to help.

[Blackangold4]

Unfortunately I think that we are still not allowed to play the bells during the playoffs. Seems like a silly rule to me but there are other weirder ones in every sport.

[mtnjax]

Unfortunately I think that we are still not allowed to play the bells during the playoffs. Seems like a silly rule to me but there are other weirder ones in every sport.

Hasn't stopped them in the past. They're not supposed to play the entrance video either, but they have since 2007. I think 2005 and 2006 were the only times they really followed those rules, but have said screw it since.

I believe the visiting team has to complain about for it to stop. I seem to remember one visiting team saying they didn't care what we did, that they wanted to play in the tough environment

[GoApps70]

If the visiting team has to complain first, that's great. Take a bell outside the stadium, up the side of the hill, and ring it if you have to.

[AppAlum1]

Actually, I think the rule is that if we have third down bells for App, there must be third down bells for the visitor.

Whatever. Ain't the NCAA grand?

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Actually, I think the rule is that if we have third down bells for App, there must be third down bells for the visitor.

Whatever. Ain't the NCAA grand?

One thing about the rule that I kinda, sorta see is that it keeps a team with more money being allowed to be at an unfair advantage over a much smaller but possibly way better team, all due to having money or lack thereof, since the bottom 17 schools are bidding to host based on $.

How many NCAA playoffs are hosted and how many of those draw a crowd big enough to make a difference - FCS playoffs and maybe baseball? Do other sports draw big enough crowds at a hosted site to become part of the game? I don't know myself but asking questions.

[WataugaMan]

Yes, the NCAA just wants to be fair, in each and everything they put their hands on.

[AppAlum1]

One thing about the rule that I kinda, sorta see is that it keeps a team with more money being allowed to be at an unfair advantage over a much smaller but possibly way better team, all due to having money or lack thereof, since the bottom 17 schools are bidding to host based on $.

Unfair advantage? More money?

It seems to me the system rewards well run programs. What's wrong with that?

Plus, I've tried less money & I've tried more money. I like more money.

[TheMoody1]

One thing about the rule that I kinda, sorta see is that it keeps a team with more money being allowed to be at an unfair advantage over a much smaller but possibly way better team, all due to having money or lack thereof, since the bottom 17 schools are bidding to host based on $.

Unfair advantage? More money?

It seems to me the system rewards well run programs. What's wrong with that?

Plus, I've tried less money & I've tried more money. I like more money.

You know who he voted for.

[AppAlum1]

One thing about the rule that I kinda, sorta see is that it keeps a team with more money being allowed to be at an unfair advantage over a much smaller but possibly way better team, all due to having money or lack thereof, since the bottom 17 schools are bidding to host based on $.

Unfair advantage? More money?

It seems to me the system rewards well run programs. What's wrong with that?

Plus, I've tried less money & I've tried more money. I like more money.

You know who he voted for.

Aw, man, I was trying to start an argument with McLeansville guy.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

One thing about the rule that I kinda, sorta see is that it keeps a team with more money being allowed to be at an unfair advantage over a much smaller but possibly way better team, all due to having money or lack thereof, since the bottom 17 schools are bidding to host based on $.

Unfair advantage? More money?

It seems to me the system rewards well run programs. What's wrong with that?

Plus, I've tried less money & I've tried more money. I like more money.

You know who he voted for.

Aw, man, I was trying to start an argument with McLeansville guy.

Actually I don't completely disagree with you and others' views on the NCAA re: playoffs and home field advantage. Just because I am not calling the NCAA a bunch of idiots does not mean I approve of how they handle playoffs. However, I am able to see nuances and shades of grey (up to about 49 shades). From what I know, and I could be wrong, the FCS playoffs do not make money for the NCAA. I don't care if the NCAA makes money on the playoffs, they are a non-profit in theory, but someone has to pay the bill. The way the playoffs are run helps bring in the most money to cover costs as much as possible. Generally the better teams are the same teams with more money and bigger crowds. If everyone was seeded then there would be a good many Wagner's hosting home games and bringing in few dollars to help offset the travel cost of the visiting team and if truly seeded 1-20 it could be a team from California traveling to an NEC school. Having the money to buy a home game is not letting the teams settle it on the field but letting the richer team buy an advantage first. The NCAA takes the edge off of this a little, and I am ok with that.

The NCAA does some things I have a hard time understanding and am able to see the other side of the issue, even if I don't agree with it 100%.

And as I type this I am glad ASU has the money to get the home game Saturday and I hope we meet Wagner in Boone as well.

I guess my point is that if we were outbid by a team not as good as us, but had deep pockets I have a hunch many on here would be renting their garments in anger, and calling for an end to money playing too large of a part in the playoffs.

[goapps93]

The way I understand the whole "home field advantage" thing is that except for the seeds home teams are actually only "host institutions". I seem to remember attending playoff games when we were a seed and we could do all the regular home game stuff but games I attended that we were not seeds we were not allowed to do any of our normal home game stuff. I remember a few playoff games in which we were not a seed, maybe even before seeding was done, where the stadium seemed like a ghost town when we walked in; no music playing, Yosef's Locker Room(before it was actually called that) was not open but there was a table set up selling generic NCAA paraphernalia. Some of that may have changed since then but that's the way I remember hearing it explained in the past. I agree with that protocol in that money should not buy a team home field advantage. I also think that they should go ahead and seed the entire field and allow true home field advantage.

[AppAlum1]

McLeansville:

OK, I'll buy that. IMO there's nothing inherently "wrong" with allowing bids to determine home games. It gives an advantage to schools who deserve the advantage, due to better planning, better organization, better fundraising, better success in the past (and, yes, that means more money). If a better team can come to the higher bid teams and win, so be it. And, that has happened to App for the last couple years. The exception is the seeded teams. They do have to make a minimum bid, but they don't have to outbid their opponent to get the home game.

Let me offer an example. A few years ago (2009?) App played Richmond in Richmond's old, old, old, city-run stadium (Richmond no longer plays there). Now, granted Richmond was a seed that year so the bid did not matter. But, let's assume neither Richmond nor App were seeded, so home field would be determined by the higher bid & App would get it. No question that such a playoff game at KBS would be better for everyone that a game at Richmond's old city stadium. Fans, teams, visitors, home team, officials, NCAA top brass, sportscasters (if there are any), all would have a better time at KBS than at the old Richmond stadium.

And, the same line of thinking goes for the northern schools. Note that Wagner had all of 3,000 persons in attendance in their playoff game. Okie-dokie.

So, if I have to choose between money & no money, I choose money.

[AppinVA]

One thing about the rule that I kinda, sorta see is that it keeps a team with more money being allowed to be at an unfair advantage over a much smaller but possibly way better team, all due to having money or lack thereof, since the bottom 17 schools are bidding to host based on $.

Unfair advantage? More money?

It seems to me the system rewards well run programs. What's wrong with that?

Plus, I've tried less money & I've tried more money. I like more money.

You know who he voted for.

Aw, man, I was trying to start an argument with McLeansville guy.

Actually I don't completely disagree with you and others' views on the NCAA re: playoffs and home field advantage. Just because I am not calling the NCAA a bunch of idiots does not mean I approve of how they handle playoffs. However, I am able to see nuances and shades of grey (up to about 49 shades). From what I know, and I could be wrong, the FCS playoffs do not make money for the NCAA. I don't care if the NCAA makes money on the playoffs, they are a non-profit in theory, but someone has to pay the bill. The way the playoffs are run helps bring in the most money to cover costs as much as possible. Generally the better teams are the same teams with more money and bigger crowds. If everyone was seeded then there would be a good many Wagner's hosting home games and bringing in few dollars to help offset the travel cost of the visiting team and if truly seeded 1-20 it could be a team from California traveling to an NEC school. Having the money to buy a home game is not letting the teams settle it on the field but letting the richer team buy an advantage first. The NCAA takes the edge off of this a little, and I am ok with that.

The NCAA does some things I have a hard time understanding and am able to see the other side of the issue, even if I don't agree with it 100%.

And as I type this I am glad ASU has the money to get the home game Saturday and I hope we meet Wagner in Boone as well.

I guess my point is that if we were outbid by a team not as good as us, but had deep pockets I have a hunch many on here would be renting their garments in anger, and calling for an end to money playing too large of a part in the playoffs.

Yeah, but Richmond is in a much bigger market than Boone...Shouldn't they have the advantage?

[appmaj]

Any word on ticket sales at this point?

[biggie]

I'm guessing it has to be low, out of our normal 30+ people, I know of 3-4 going so far.

[App Band]

GOT MINE!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[appmaj]

GOT MINE!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[appst890]

I'm guessing it has to be low, out of our normal 30+ people, I know of 3-4 going so far.

My son's 5th and 6th Grade YFL team won the "Super Bowl". Their regular season schedule was a brutal conflict with App's home schedule. Needless to say he is ultra-hyped that we are at home and he finally gets to a game this year. I'm bringing him and 5 other players and their father's up for the game. It will be first ASU game for many of them. They will be just as excited to be there if attendance is 10,000 or 30,000.

[AppAlum1]

I'm guessing it has to be low, out of our normal 30+ people, I know of 3-4 going so far.

My son's 5th and 6th Grade YFL team won the "Super Bowl". Their regular season schedule was a brutal conflict with App's home schedule. Needless to say he is ultra-hyped that we are at home and he finally gets to a game this year. I'm bringing him and 5 other players and their father's up for the game. It will be first ASU game for many of them. They will be just as excited to be there if attendance is 10,000 or 30,000.

Congrats! Hope y'all have fun! Have the young-uns hang out over where the team runs out of the locker room onto the field either before the game or after they go back into the locker room after the game. If we win, players will come out to meet & greet (I think).

Remind all to dress warmly & bring something for players to sign.

My guess for attendance will be @ 18k - 20k.