SunBelt is a JOKE

[Saint3333]

hahahaha now this is a joke. You and I didn’t get along from the days shortly after the three peat because you were convinced App should stay FCS. You supported the move after it was decided, but if you would have been in charge we’d still be in the SOCon. Now that would have been much more disappointing than the current state of the SBC.

[WVAPPeer]

"Solid burn Branch, solid burn." - Trolls

“Solid burn returned”

Jesus I’ve seen that movie too many times.

What movie?

[WVAPPeer]

So you are calling me and Firemoose liars? Grow up

[BeauFoster]

"Solid burn Branch, solid burn." - Trolls

“Solid burn returned”

Jesus I’ve seen that movie too many times.

What movie?

Trolls. Cute little kid movie, not too terrible to watch as an adult.

[ericsaid]

"Solid burn Branch, solid burn." - Trolls

“Solid burn returned”

Jesus I’ve seen that movie too many times.

As have I, was pleasantly surprised.

[Saint3333]

WV, if you are claiming today that you wanted to leave the SoCon for the SBC pre-2014 that is in fact a lie.

[ericsaid]

hahahaha now this is a joke. You and I didn’t get along from the days shortly after the three peat because you were convinced App should stay FCS. You supported the move after it was decided, but if you would have been in charge we’d still be in the SOCon. Now that would have been much more disappointing than the current state of the SBC.

Pissing contest aside, seeing what's going on with North Dakota State and JMU, everyone should be glad we left. It's seriously a nightmare scenario from a competition standpoint.

[WVAPPeer]

Thanks - we watch all those kid movies with our granddaughter - Have seen Trolls a couple of times just don't remember that line - all of those movies are so good - much better than most of the crap that is out these days ---

[BTK2000]

Real talk: let’s say hell froze over and app was invited as full members to the American tomorrow. The American schools receive north of $6 million a year on their media payout. The belt receives $3 or $400 thousand per year. Would the travel/ operating costs of the American be more than they are in the belt and could that extra money be Applied to coaching salary to theoretically increase performance without a significant change in the current booster/ fee income that’s currently generated?

[VNova]

Real talk: let’s say hell froze over and app was invited as full members to the American tomorrow. The American schools receive north of $6 million a year on their media payout. The belt receives $3 or $400 thousand per year. Would the travel/ operating costs of the American be more than they are in the belt and could that extra money be Applied to coaching salary to theoretically increase performance without a significant change in the current booster/ fee income that’s currently generated?

ECU is the closest travel location at 150 miles. Cincinnati is 350 miles. Navy is 425 miles. Temple and Memphis are 550 miles. UCF and USF are about 625 miles. Tulane is 750. Tulsa, Houston, and SMU are about 1000 miles.

Ark State is 620, CCU is 285, GaSo is 320, GaSt is 280, ULM is 771, ULL is 860, USA 611, Troy is 470, and TxSt is 1200 miles.

If someone who has better knowledge of travel costs can take these distances and work some number magic, that would be better than my SWAG.

[ASUTed]

As much as I hate to think about “being passed over”, we have to grow our brand - and that includes growing our conference and it’s credibility within the college football landscape. If the Belt is to be our long term home (long term being relative), all we can do is play our hand as well as possible. We need to pressure the conference to be active in promoting all members, get the leadership on the radio and TV, get other ADs to promote themselves and each other. It’s the only way we can make this dump livable. Slap some lipstick on this pig and keep beating P5 schools, it’s all we got.

This is the most realistic truth, read this! This is the only way.

[hapapp]

The Sun Belt was the perfect landing spot for us. It has allowed us to achieve a level of success that is unmatched by any other team that has made the transition. It seems rather hypocritical and, indeed, arrogant to now criticize the body that gave us a chance. I get the frustration and disappointment, because that was my initial reaction. But, I don't blame the Belt, or any particular individual.

Yes, our bowl tie ins need to improve but they are a far cry from where they were when we joined. As has the Belt`s position among the G5. All the moaning and groaning won't change our current status. We need to keep our head down and keep plowing ahead. That's how we got where we are today, not through a sense of entitlement.

[APP93]

The Sun Belt was the perfect landing spot for us. It has allowed us to achieve a level of success that is unmatched by any other team that has made the transition. It seems rather hypocritical and, indeed, arrogant to now criticize the body that gave us a chance. I get the frustration and disappointment, because that was my initial reaction. But, I don't blame the Belt, or any particular individual.

Yes, our bowl tie ins need to improve but they are a far cry from where they were when we joined. As has the Belt`s position among the G5. All the moaning and groaning won't change our current status. We need to keep our head down and keep plowing ahead. That's how we got where we are today, not through a sense of entitlement.

Exactly, we are in the SB because that is the only conference that would take us...and it's been a good fit as we were able to compete immediately.

This is mid-major football, same as FCS. App is a mid major program, has been for many, many years and will be until they are invited into a P5 conference (don't expect that in my lifetime) But that is ok; great fun and exciting football is played at this level. Student athletes can come here and have a great experience.

App is in the SBC, so they have a vested interest in elevating the perception of the conference as do all of the other schools. SB football has definitely improved since we entered and will continue to improve and grow.

The bowl system is a completely different animal and does need to be re-vamped to focus more on best match-ups and regional locations, but that is a different argument...we knew what the SB bowl ti-ins were before we joined...this is mid-major football, this is how it works.

[bigdaddyg]

Now that I had a good night’s sleep, read a few comments and started a cup of coffee I want to ask- is there really a NET advantage to moving to the AAC? I like the post above that shows the miles differences for the schools. There are some pretty hefty trips for both conferences but it seems like much more for the AAC. We would garner more TV money obviously. Now think about the 4 (maybe only 3 Saturday) home football conference games, assuming a possible Thursday night game. The opponents would typically be better but would they bring larger numbers? I’m thinking of the Florida’s, Houston, SMU and Cincinnati. We are all butt hurt (me included) about our bowl situation but it is in fact one more game. At the end of the day is there a world of difference between the NO Bowl and the Liberty Bowl against a 6-6 or 7-5 P5? Again it’s one game. I for one would like to see us in Charlotte or Myrtle Beach next year as it’s an easy close drive. I just want to see us play one more game regardless of the opponent. Much has been written about how we finish as it relates to the preseason poll next year. Will we be just a memory by next July/August? I guarantee there will be the usual suspects ranked regardless of how they finished this season. The whole brand thing is about ridiculous. We became a brand after beating Michigan because that was the reference for us every time we were on a decent ESPN broadcast. Hopefully we have done more to advance our name at this point. Unless we can move physically to a larger market we will have to simply win 10+ games every year. Look at Boise. They made a lot of noise for years but you don’t hear anything about them unless they get to about 9-1 or so when the voting counts.

[Capt. Ed]

What a bunch of losers and helpless victims this morning, disrespecting all App has accomplished over the years because you feel insulted.

Playing the blame game is for little felines and children. Negative and over the top reactions to disappointment shows a lack of character and maturity of which we're going to need a lot in the coming year.

Stop this crap and focus on what's important now. Number 1 is supporting our players who don't seem to have given up. Next is supporting our AD in the coaches search and hoping we don't lose him too. Last, supporting the Sun Belt, especially ULL, Georgia Southern, and Ark. State. The league is our home and the member schools our brothers.

[AppSt12]

Just my 2 cents in this cauldron of anger. We as fans do not have to be grateful for anything that happens just because the Sun Belt took us, we also need to be humble and grateful when neccessary. To me, there is only 1 thing any App fan should be angry about and that is the terrible Sun Belt Bowl tie ins. That is it. We should not in turn hate the Sun Belt, it's been great for us....just the terrible bowl tie ins. How does this look?

Reasons to by Angry:

1. The Sun Belt has the worst Bowl Tie ins ever.

Reasons to be Happy;

1. Drink is gone now instead of next year. We have 9 returning offensive starters plus depth and 5 returning defensive starters plus depth. I'd rather give this team to a new coach as opposed to 2021.

2. #20 in CFB playoff poll. I think is fair. I dont think anyone has an argument we were disrespected, in fact I would say we have grown in just 5 years to the biggest midmajor brand outside of Boise and the AAC.

3. 14th double digit win season, 22nd conference title and chance at 5-0 in Bowls.

4. Chance to start ranked next season can give us a big leg up in the NY6 race.




Here me clear. Going to New Orleans sucks. No disrespect to UAB. They are a good team, just sucks you can go 7-5 or 12-1 and go to the same Bowl. We could have lost to ETSU, Charlotte, UNC, South Carolina, Georgia Southern and South Alabama and we'd still be playing UAB in NO. Any fan that tells you you must be continent has no right to do so and may be guilty of thinking small compared with some of us....but we should be immensely proud of where these players have brought this program. While we haven't made the NY6 yet...I believe because of our all time winning percentage, conference titles, consistent double digit win seasons and bowl success we have an argument as the 2nd/3rd most successful mid major program of all time. And the last 5 years really helped cement that.

[WVAPPeer]

I'm not sure where you guys got all this "entitled" crap - Please take a minute and go back and read my initial post as the OP and tell me exactly where I am wrong - there was no disrespect for our opponent or where the bowl is located and nothing but praise for what was accomplished this year - Maybe I am missing something???

[MAD Doctor]

I'm frustrated with the conference as well, but we are in unchartered territory for both ourselves AND the conference, and it's not like every year the SBC has a 12 win team fighting for a Cotton Bowl bid. With that said, the new Commissioner needs to take off the training wheels and ADVOCATE for his teams. Mike Aresco of the AAC just took him to school and the CFB ranking committee took note. Our teams have clearly caught and passed the MAC and CUSA, and its time to review and revise bowl tie-ins. The G5s will continue to treat us like the old Sunbelt as long as we let them. There's no justification for a Top 20 team to have a non-champion CUSA team as a ceiling. We should be lining up against a Cincy, Boise, or Minnesota.

[hapapp]

We're not in the Belk Bowl because the commissioner didn't throw a tantrum, we likely aren't there because the SEC insisted on a having a team assigned to that bowl. Navy got the spot in the Liberty Bowl that was vacated by the SEC.

The Belt's tie-ins need to fixed, but that doesn't happen just because we want them to. I'm sure there is a timetable at work to alter them and we have to follow that.

[WVAPPeer]

We're not in the Belk Bowl because the commissioner didn't throw a tantrum, we likely aren't there because the SEC insisted on a having a team assigned to that bowl. Navy got the spot in the Liberty Bowl that was vacated by the SEC.

The Belt's tie-ins need to fixed, but that doesn't happen just because we want them to. I'm sure there is a timetable at work to alter them and we have to follow that.

Thanks - that makes sense and thank you for not using the words "build our brand"