Just in asu going back to Camilla

[bigdaddyg]

Talk of the FCS playoffs really gets old. Hardly anyone even knows it exists or is going on. Go to ESPN.com and look for any mention of the playoffs. About all you will see are the scores crawling on the screen Saturday. Interesting points though as far as how the players feel. Got to wonder what percentage even care one way or the other. They have been going at it since August and now have to practice for several more weeks. Obviously coaches dig the extra time to evaluate. I'm sure that given the option most players would choose Orlando if Disney is part of the deal and New Orleans as well. I feel certain that a great majority are enthusiastic about playing another game but probably don't really care who we play. They are still 18-22 year old young men who want to have fun. Alabama guys want the exposure and are thinking about the draft.

[WVAPPeer]

You know there really is no reason for some to keep slamming the 1-AA playoffs - we loved them when we were a part of them just as the teams now competing love them and a chance to win some extra games and maybe even a National Championship - Who really cares if ESPN barely mentions them - When we were going every year I was excited about our next game and whether it was on TV or not really made little difference to me - And I would guess most of you if you are being honest --- It is good football and just because we have moved on I think it is quite short-sighted to think they are now the equivalent of DII or DIII ---

I am very happy as to where APP is now - it was time and the time was right - We aren't going back but continually "knocking" FCS diminishes what we accomplished when we were there ---

By the way, the playoffs are on ESPN3 just as we have been several times this season - I plan to watch some of the games ---

[t4pizza]

You know there really is no reason for some to keep slamming the 1-AA playoffs - we loved them when we were a part of them just as the teams now competing love them and a chance to win some extra games and maybe even a National Championship - Who really cares if ESPN barely mentions them - When we were going every year I was excited about our next game and whether it was on TV or not really made little difference to me - And I would guess most of you if you are being honest --- It is good football and just because we have moved on I think it is quite short-sighted to think they are now the equivalent of DII or DIII ---

I am very happy as to where APP is now - it was time and the time was right - We aren't going back but continually "knocking" FCS diminishes what we accomplished when we were there ---

By the way, the playoffs are on ESPN3 just as we have been several times this season - I plan to watch some of the games ---

I agree that at one time I really enjoyed the playoffs. My issue, and where I disagree, is that it is still good football and NOT the equivalent of DII or DIII. I think between the playoffs being expanded so that practically anyone with a winning record gets in coupled with the fact that so many schools have left FCS to FBS has left a watered down playoff of teams that are comparable to DII or DIII teams of 20 years ago. My main desire to leave FCS was simply to get back to playing like minded and like sized schools instead of small schools with barely any interest from fans of the school. There was a post about G5 realignment into regional conferences a few weeks ago. I couldn't help but notice, and commented, that of the second option nearly every school that was proposed to be in the conference was FCS while I was at App (88-93). The mass exodus over the last 20-25 years has left FCS a shell of what it once was and the playoffs have suffered as a result. It is just not what it once was, and it won't ever be again because FCS has lost too much.

[WVAPPeer]

Pizza - I agree with your point about playing like-minded and like-sized schools and I think I get what else you are saying but I'm not sure it is based on fact --- As best I can calculate (which in itself leaves much to be desired) there are:
FBS - 128 teams - 4 in playoffs = 3%
FCS - 125 teams - 24 in playoffs = 19%
DII - 171 teams - 28 in playoffs = 16%
DIII - 230 teams - 32 in playoffs = 14%

Actually every FBS team with a winning record (and a couple without) go to post season - 62.5%

FCS has been back-filled by good programs moving up such as ND State, APP and GaSo and other who have left FCS to join the FBS come in at the bottom and must prove themselves which I would guess is exactly what a team moving from DII to FCS would experience - It doesn't mean the division is watered down ---

[NewApp]

You know there really is no reason for some to keep slamming the 1-AA playoffs - we loved them when we were a part of them just as the teams now competing love them and a chance to win some extra games and maybe even a National Championship - Who really cares if ESPN barely mentions them - When we were going every year I was excited about our next game and whether it was on TV or not really made little difference to me - And I would guess most of you if you are being honest --- It is good football and just because we have moved on I think it is quite short-sighted to think they are now the equivalent of DII or DIII ---

I am very happy as to where APP is now - it was time and the time was right - We aren't going back but continually "knocking" FCS diminishes what we accomplished when we were there ---

By the way, the playoffs are on ESPN3 just as we have been several times this season - I plan to watch some of the games ---

I agree that at one time I really enjoyed the playoffs. My issue, and where I disagree, is that it is still good football and NOT the equivalent of DII or DIII. I think between the playoffs being expanded so that practically anyone with a winning record gets incoupled with the fact that so many schools have left FCS to FBS has left a watered down playoff of teams that are comparable to DII or DIII teams of 20 years ago. My main desire to leave FCS was simply to get back to playing like minded and like sized schools instead of small schools with barely any interest from fans of the school. There was a post about G5 realignment into regional conferences a few weeks ago. I couldn't help but notice, and commented, that of the second option nearly every school that was proposed to be in the conference was FCS while I was at App (88-93). The mass exodus over the last 20-25 years has left FCS a shell of what it once was and the playoffs have suffered as a result. It is just not what it once was, and it won't ever be again because FCS has lost too much.

I loved both FCS and now, FBS. It can also be added that the present bowl system also allows almost any program with a winning record, or even a 6-6 record, to get to go to a bowl. It seems some on here have alluded to the fact that perhaps a 5-7 team might get to play in a bowl of some sort. Correct me if I'm wrong about the 5-7 teams.

[t4pizza]

There is no doubt that the bowl system is watered down and yes many 5-7 teams end up making a bowl game. The biggest difference is that bowl games don't decide national titles. My main point is that I don't find the FCS playoffs to be nearly as exciting as they were years ago and I think part of that is the fact they are watered down. When nearly 1 out of every 5 teams has a chance in that tournament, it lets in undeserving teams. We were all in FCS long enough to know that there just aren't that many deserving teams in FCS that 19% should be in the playoffs. Even when it was only 16, those last 3-4 teams were usually not all that impressive.