With Akron off the schedule, who do you think we look to fill the open slot? We now have September 9 and 16 open.

Good question. Honestly I think the most likely result is FCS, though I imagine Gillin will look to see if there are any opportunities for something better first. The one thing I can't see us doing is scheduling a second $ game.

NCCU

Was this game moved at Akron's request or did we initiate the move? Is it possible that we initiated the move because we had something else pending already?

Because I'm a geek for this stuff, I did a little research on which G5 teams might either have an opening or an FCS game they could consider buying out. I didn't see any likely candidates who have an open date on 9/9 or 9/16 and actually need to add a game. So I put the teams in two categories: 1) Those who play an FCS on one of our open dates, and 2) those who are open on one of our open dates and play an FCS on another (non-week 1) date.

FCS on one of those dates

USF (Stony Brook on 9/2, open on 9/9; 6 other home games)
UNCC (I know, I know)
UAB (CCU on 9/16; 6 road games already)

Open date/FCS on other non-Wk1 date/7 home games

UCF (9/9)
Memphis (9/9)

Wild card

Boise State – road game @ BYU; if BYU joins Big XII for 2017, would they keep this game?

Only three G5 teams are in need of a 12th game, FIU, NIU, WMU, and all are in need of a home game as well. We're looking at an FCS game unless other games are moved as well.

Looking at that list, if I were Gillin, I think I'd first approach USF, then UCF.

USF is a program that's at the point of contending for the NY6 bid, but their 2017 OOC schedule is terrible (@ San Jose State; Stony Brook; Illinois; UMass). And keep in mind they play in the weaker division of the AAC. Dropping Stony Brook for us would give them a nice boost in SoS. They have an open slot in 2019 that could be the return game.

UCF is a strong brand that's rebuilding, and they could conclude that playing a H&H with us might make more financial sense than whatever they're paying Maine to visit on 9/30

EastHallApp wrote:Looking at that list, if I were Gillin, I think I'd first approach USF, then UCF.

USF is a program that's at the point of contending for the NY6 bid, but their 2017 OOC schedule is terrible (@ San Jose State; Stony Brook; Illinois; UMass). And keep in mind they play in the weaker division of the AAC. Dropping Stony Brook for us would give them a nice boost in SoS. They have an open slot in 2019 that could be the return game.

UCF is a strong brand that's rebuilding, and they could conclude that playing a H&H with us might make more financial sense than whatever they're paying Maine to visit on 9/30

You really are a geek. Very informative though. Did more research than me. I just created a poll haha.

The question remains, why was the game moved? Without being able to answer that question, you can't possibly reach a viable conclusion as to what the end result will be. If App initiated the move, it's likely a reaction to talks with another program to openings for a H-H deal. If Akron initiated the move, it leaves App with a void to fill and Akron is likely making a scheduling move. I doubt it would be beneficial to drop the game for an FCS game. If any of you "geeks" want to scour for hints of scheduling moves by programs mentioned as possible future match-ups, you will likely find your answer.

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.

Programs that could play at App on Sept. 9:
- UCF (they would have to buy out the Sept. 30 Maine game)
- UConn (they would have to buy out the Aug. 31 Holy Cross game)
- USF (they would have to buy out the Sept. 2 Stony Brook game)
- Memphis (they would have to buy out the Sept. 23 Southern Illinois game)
- Tulane
- Kansas State
- Texas Tech
- California (would have to buy out Sept. 9 Weber State game)
- Washington (would have to buy out Sept. 9 Montana game)
- Southern California
- Vanderbilt (would have to buy out Sept. 9 Alabama A&M game)
- Texas A&M (would have to buy out Sept. 9 Nichols State game)
- Rutgers (would have to buy out Sept. 9 Morgan State game)

Programs that could play at App on Sept. 16:
- Florida State
- Utah State
- Iowa State
- West Virginia (would have to buy out Sept. 16 Delaware State game)
- Oregon State
- Washington State
- Colorado (would have to buy out Sept. 16 Northern Colorado game)

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

ericsaid wrote:
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."

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: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.

appst89 wrote:

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: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.

While I'll agree it's a disappointing matchup, I'd much rather face an FCS that we are guaranteed to beat. I do not want it being a game in the second half.

appst89 wrote:

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: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.

Yea. Do you think this will hurt season ticket sales next year?

appst89 wrote:

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: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 suspect the price was right.

Yosef84 wrote:Was this game moved at Akron's request or did we initiate the move? Is it possible that we initiated the move because we had something else pending already?

Yes. They had an imbalance in their OOC schedule.

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote:

appst89 wrote:

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: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.

Yea. Do you think this will hurt season ticket sales next year?

Doubt it. How many people can you envision saying "I was going to buy season tickets, but now that we aren't playing Akron..."

And I'm with Goapps15. I don't want an FCS game to be interesting, I want it to be a massacre where we pull our starters early in the third quarter. Whether the victim is Elon or Savannah State makes no difference to me.

If it is indeed SavSt then that is very disappointing. One would thing there would be a more competitive FCS out there that we could schedule and that App fans might travel to see. That said it's better than an additional road game.

We will have at a minimum one mid-week home game probably two in GS and Troy.

2017 - FCS, Wake, ULL, Troy on Wednesday or Thursday, GS on Thursday, and NMSU.