Comparison: Appalachian State Mountaineers and Charlotte 49ers football


The Charlotte Observer
Posted: Sunday, Mar. 31, 2013
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App. State, Charlotte bringing major-college football near you

A Look At The Leagues

Keeping track of membership in Conference USA and the Sun Belt is difficult, as both leagues have seen more than their share of comings and goings the past few years. And there’s more to come.

Conference USA

2012-13 membership

Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida, East Carolina, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Houston, Rice, Southern Methodist, Texas-El Paso, Tulane, Tulsa.

2013-14

Adding: Charlotte (non-football sports), Old Dominion, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, Texas-San Antonio. Losing: Memphis, Houston, SMU, Central Florida.

2014-15

Losing*: East Carolina, Tulane.

2015-16

Adding: Charlotte football.

*Tulsa also reportedly leaving in 2014.

Sun Belt

2012-13 membership

Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky, Arkansas-Little Rock**, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, North Texas.

2013-14

Adding: Georgia State, Texas-Arlington**, Texas State. Losing: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, North Texas.

2014-15

Adding: Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Idaho***, New Mexico State***.

**Doesn’t play football

***Football-only membership

A Look At The Schools

Appalachian State Charlotte
Boone LOCATION Charlotte
Mountaineers MASCOT 49ers
1899 FOUNDED 1946
17,344 ENROLLMENT 26,232
Kidd Brewer (24,050) STADIUM McColl-Richardson Field* (15,300)
20 (10 men, 10 women) VARSITY SPORTS 17** (9 men, 8 women)
$16 million ATHLETIC BUDGET (FCS) $17.5 million
$19.5 million (est.) ATHLETIC BUDGET (FBS) $19.8 million (est.)
FCS titles (2005-07) TOP SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT Men’s basketball Final Four (1977)
*pending stadium being named  

**includes football in 2013-14

Football Schedules

Charlotte

2013

Aug. 31, Campbell.

Sept. 7, Chowan; 14, N.C. Central; 21, Bye; 28, at Presbyterian.

Oct. 5, Gardner-Webb; 12, UNC Pembroke; 19, Bye; 26, at Charleston Southern.

Nov. 2, at Coastal Carolina; 9, Wesley (Del.); 16, at Old Dominion; 23, at Morehead State.

2014 (subject to change)

Aug. 28, at Campbell.

Sept. 6, Johnson C. Smith; 13, at N.C. Central; 20, at Elon; 27, Charleston Southern.

Oct. 4, at Gardner-Webb; 11, at The Citadel; 18, Bye; 25, Old Dominion.

Nov. 1, at Western Carolina; 8, Coastal Carolina; 15, Wesley (Del.); 22, Morehead State.

Other seasons (subject to change):

2015: Georgia State (Sept. 3); Presbyterian (Sept. 12); Temple (Oct. 3).

2016: Eastern Michigan (Sept. 3); at Kansas State (Sept. 10); at Temple (Sept. 24), Elon (Oct. 1).

2017: at Eastern Michigan (Sept. 2).

2019: at Virginia Tech (TBA).

Appalachian State*

2013

Aug. 31, at Montana.

Sept. 7, N.C. A&T, 21, at Elon; 28, Charleston Southern.

Oct. 5, at The Citadel, 12, Samford; 19, at Furman; 26, Georgia Southern.

Nov. 2, Chattanooga; 9, at Georgia; 16, at Wofford; 23, Western Carolina.

*only future opponent scheduled is at Michigan, Sept. 30, 2014.

Bowl Tie-Ins

Conference USA (6): Liberty, Hawaii, Armed Forces, Beef O’Brady’s, Military, New Orleans.

Sun Belt (2): New Orleans, GoDaddy.com.

2013 C-USA bowl results

Beef O’Brady’s: Central Florida (C-USA) 38, Ball State 17

Hawaii: Southern Methodist (C-USA) 34, Fresno State 10

Liberty: Tulsa (C-USA) 31, Iowa State 17

Armed Forces: Rice (C-USA) 34, Air Force 14

New Orleans: Louisiana-Lafayette 43, East Carolina 34 (C-USA)

2013 Sun Belt bowl results

Go.Daddy.com: Arkansas State (SBC) 17, Kent State

New Orleans: Louisiana-Lafayette (SBC) 43, East Carolina 34

Moving On Up

Requirements to move up from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS):

• Sponsor a minimum of 16 sports, including a minimum of six men’s or mixed teams and eight women’s teams. Two emerging sports may be used to satisfy the eight women’s teams requirement.

• Schedule at least 60 percent of football games against FBS teams, including at least five home games.

• Average at least 15,000 in attendance for home games over a rolling two-year period.

• Provide an average of at least 90 percent of the maximum football scholarships (85) over a rolling two-year period.

• Offer a minimum of 200 scholarships or at least $4 million in scholarships each year.

Source: NCAA.com

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/0 ... rylink=cpy

Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

Interesting numbers. We have a football team and we are increasing our athletic budget by $3 mil. and Charlotte is a start up and expects to increase their budget by less than $2 mil once they start playing.

AppinATL wrote:Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

Will at least their fans will not have to take a hit in their pocket book traveling to games, and that's what it is all about, right? Man, wish we could schedule Lenior Rhyne again. NOT

AppSt94 wrote:Interesting numbers. We have a football team and we are increasing our athletic budget by $3 mil. and Charlotte is a start up and expects to increase their budget by less than $2 mil once they start playing.

And they have 3 less sports. That means two things 1)we are spread too thin and 2) all their travel in the A-10 ain't cheap.

AppinATL wrote:Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

This would make an interesting case study on how to build a fan base.

1. Does an easy schedule = wins = increase in fans?

Or

2. Does an easy schedule = bad opponents = fan apathy

vegattk wrote:

AppinATL wrote:Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

This would make an interesting case study on how to build a fan base.

1. Does an easy schedule = wins = increase in fans?

Or

2. Does an easy schedule = bad opponents = fan apathy

IMO it's riskier than that. UNCC is selling that they're big time, many in their fanbase will expect wins vs those teams. Imagine if they have a losing season, say only 3-4 wins or less. It wont be pretty.

97APP wrote:

vegattk wrote:

AppinATL wrote:Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

This would make an interesting case study on how to build a fan base.

1. Does an easy schedule = wins = increase in fans?

Or

2. Does an easy schedule = bad opponents = fan apathy

IMO it's riskier than that. UNCC is selling that they're big time, many in their fanbase will expect wins vs those teams. Imagine if they have a losing season, say only 3-4 wins or less. It wont be pretty.

I'm thinking the same thing... Especially them having a losing season with a schedule like that! At least App has a record going into the FBS. It'll take our fans quite a bit longer to drop off the bandwagon should we go into a downward slide.

vegattk wrote:

97APP wrote:

vegattk wrote:

AppinATL wrote:Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

This would make an interesting case study on how to build a fan base.

1. Does an easy schedule = wins = increase in fans?

Or

2. Does an easy schedule = bad opponents = fan apathy

IMO it's riskier than that. UNCC is selling that they're big time, many in their fanbase will expect wins vs those teams. Imagine if they have a losing season, say only 3-4 wins or less. It wont be pretty.

I'm thinking the same thing... Especially them having a losing season with a schedule like that! At least App has a record going into the FBS. It'll take our fans quite a bit longer to drop off the bandwagon should we go into a downward slide.

First UNCC must assemble a band wagon in order for fans to drop off the band wagon. They had a very hard time selling out their PSL's of a TINY stadium, even with all this start-up hype. With one of the largest student body's in NC and no college experience to speak of, they very likely have the worst graduate:fan ratio in the State.

There have never been more than 9k UNCC fans at a sporting event. Those of them that think they already need to expand their 15k seat venue might want to wait a little while.

I'm not too worried about it. Reality will come crashing down on them in a few short years.

I think UNCC is going to sprint off the starting line.

Unfortunately for them, theyre in a marathon.

Gonzo wrote:

vegattk wrote:

97APP wrote:

vegattk wrote:

AppinATL wrote:Wow, that's a really ambitious schedule the Niners put together for the next couple of years. No wonder they are so proud of themselves

This would make an interesting case study on how to build a fan base.

1. Does an easy schedule = wins = increase in fans?

Or

2. Does an easy schedule = bad opponents = fan apathy

IMO it's riskier than that. UNCC is selling that they're big time, many in their fanbase will expect wins vs those teams. Imagine if they have a losing season, say only 3-4 wins or less. It wont be pretty.

I'm thinking the same thing... Especially them having a losing season with a schedule like that! At least App has a record going into the FBS. It'll take our fans quite a bit longer to drop off the bandwagon should we go into a downward slide.

First UNCC must assemble a band wagon in order for fans to drop off the band wagon. They had a very hard time selling out their PSL's of a TINY stadium, even with all this start-up hype. With one of the largest student body's in NC and no college experience to speak of, they very likely have the worst graduate:fan ratio in the State.

There have never been more than 9k UNCC fans at a sporting event. Those of them that think they already need to expand their 15k seat venue might want to wait a little while.

I'm not too worried about it. Reality will come crashing down on them in a few short years.

When was the last time we had 9K at a sporting event other than football?

I like how the CO failed to mention the Sun Belt went to four bowls last year instead of just the two they have tie-ins with. Hopefully that was just an oversight and not them trying to make UNCC to appear better than App.

From and UNCC perspective you've been told that your first two recruiting classes were made of 40 two star recruits. You have a superior coach and superior athletes to everyone on your schedule with the exception of ODU and maybe CCU (due to depth).

9-2 is their success mark.

JCline0429 wrote:When was the last time we had 9K at a sporting event other than football?

If we were a one-trick pony like UNCC, we might see such support for basketball.

Just saying, how can you expect to exceed 15,000 when you're not even sure that many fans exist at all?

Saint3333 wrote:From and UNCC perspective you've been told that your first two recruiting classes were made of 40 two star recruits. You have a superior coach and superior athletes to everyone on your schedule with the exception of ODU and maybe CCU (due to depth).

9-2 is their success mark.

Not to mention that their hard corps fanbase (the ones on the message boards) has spent the last 2 years belittling the FCS as unworthy of their magnificent presence. The humble pie will be served cold the next few falls...

Gonzo wrote:

JCline0429 wrote:When was the last time we had 9K at a sporting event other than football?

If we were a one-trick pony like UNCC, we might see such support for basketball.

Just saying, how can you expect to exceed 15,000 when you're not even sure that many fans exist at all?

Anyone who has seen our basketball teams play might argue we are a one trick pony. Yes baseball had a good season last year, but one year does not a success make. I think it is funny how people on this board seem to have to belittle other schools programs in order to make theirs seem important. The truth of the matter is UNCC will be like any other school starting out. They will have ups and down. We will be like any other school moving up. We will probably get our butts handed to us for a few years until we are able to recruit the talent that exist at that level. The way I have seen fans leaving early for the last couple of years when we were WINNING I expect to see attendance drop off.

ASUchipman wrote: The way I have seen fans leaving early for the last couple of years when we were WINNING I expect to see attendance drop off.

Students leave early at every school. You can only stuff so many mini bottles in your socks.

Ill break the difference down for you:

Appalachian All Time Football Wins : 564 wins - 313 Losses - 28 ties

UNCC All Time Football Wins 0-0-0

'Nough said.

UNCC really needed for us to remain in the FCS for the forseeable future, so they could build their program, and pass us. Now, they are years behind us in terms of tradition, fan support, and facilies. Can they catch us someday, sure, but, as of this moment, they are years behind every FBS program in North Carolina. Personally, I think it would greatly benefit both programs to start playing each other on a yearly basis but the arrogence of the UNCC administration seems to be a big problem. I wonder if they will have a change of heart after 2 or 3 losing seasons, and fan support drops off the cliff.

I definitely think it is in both schools' best interest to develop an on-field rivalry. I do, however, understand why they do not want to play us immediately. It would be a blood bath. They know that, and it would completely deflate their recruiting efforts. Once they get a few seasons under their belt, the games will start. It should be interesting to see how long it takes.