What's next for Appalachian State?

[8993]

With football season now officially over for Appalachian State, it's time to reflect on a remarkable season and look forward to our hopes for the future.

In that regard, what do you foresee happening as we move forward? Will Appalachian State become a Sun Belt or G5 powerhouse? Will Kidd Brewer Stadium see a facelift/expansion after a huge growth in exposure? Will we be able to convince our coaches to stick around for a while longer? And lastly, are we in the Sun Belt for a long time to come or do we get called up elsewhere after some time?

Thanks for another amazing season, Mountaineer fans. This fanbase is absolutely outstanding and we are all so fortunate to have such a dedicated and thriving athletic department to root for. Hi hi yikas!

[luvyosef]

While not right away, I do think the G5 conferences will slim down and become more regional again sooner than later. Perhaps a name change but I see a conference with App, Marshall, Old Dominion, etc, etc on the horizon. It was an awesome 2015! Go Apps!

[Capt. Ed]

Ok, I'll bite. Here's my SWAG:

SB Power for many years.

Top 25 G5 program but not in same tier as BYU, Boise State, Buffalo, etc., able to compete with the Marshal's, SM, NIU, and Middle Tennessee's of the world.

Kidd Brewer will grow but slowly given the still tight economics of being a state school with an alumni base that is basically stingy.

I think Satterfield will be gone at the end of next year if he can come close to this years success. I hope we are grooming his replacement now.

I now think the SB is the best conference for us, UNLESS the South Eastern G5's come to their senses and realize we need to reorganize on a geographic basis.

And remember, this prognostication is worth exactly zero.

[Yosefus]

Next year will be hard to match this year. Strength of schedule will be much tougher. However, who would have thought App State would be where they are 11-2 first year bowl eligible and some top 25 talk mid season. Much more than I ever expected this quickly.
We need to have success to move anywhere. But whats the rush?
Great season! Can't wait to see what's in store next fall.

[Rick0714]

APPsolutely a great season! Next year it will very, very difficult to match this season's success. In the conference, StAte is losing Knighten, GaSo losing their starting QB, but Troy and a few others are improving. We should be the favorites but, as AVery Hall said on the post-game, the SunBelt writers and coaches are very, very unlikely to give one of the "upstarts" any pre-season love. I hate the word "powerhouse", it has the air of someone being "dominant" and we had a lot of tight games this year, but we should be a top-tier SunBelt team for the foreseeable future, but, and this is a HUGE but, this is not taking into account the possibility of some key injuries. No team can take a swarm of injuries in the trenches, key starters, etc. Our depth will get better each year but the starters are starters for a reason.

[Appsolutely]

Take advantage of the current momentum; recruit, recruit, recruit and bring in some significant corporate money.

[S.Lewis15]

Next season, I can see us losing to Tennessee and playing a close tough game with Miami but winning the other out of conference games and we can possibly run the table in the conference in a best case scenario. More likely, I see a 9-3 or 8-4 season next year.

We're losing a few players after this season, but I'm excited to see those guys who have been waiting in the wings step up.

I think within the next 5-7 years we will become a quality top tier Sun Belt Powerhouse and top G5 school. The Michigan win gave us national name recognition and I think that added with our current success will help greatly with recruiting. Further Kidd Brewer renovations will make App State a premier G5 destination.

[Yosef10]

I think we will be perennial sunbelt contenders for the foreseeable future. With another season like this Satt could very well be gone at the end of next year. If we could get Satt to stay for 10 or so years I could see us as the Boise/BYU of the G5. Unless there is another round of expansion I don't see us changing conferences, the only one I would want to see us go to would be the AAC and we don't really fit the bill university wise for that conference.

As for expansion I think this year was a clear indication that more seats are completely unnecessary at this point in time. Hopefully this season and bowl win will change that going forward. Like I've said before, instead of adding seats I would love to just have a cohesive and professional looking stadium. I'd be fine with 25k seats as long as the east side looked remotely as good as the west....Maybe one day

[APPdiesel]

I've heard that DG really wants to make the entrance plaza / Owens Field House his crowning jewel. Just like Satt, I doubt we keep Doug for more than 5 more years.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

[Yosef10]

I've heard that DG really wants to make the entrance plaza / Owens Field House his crowning jewel. Just like Satt, I doubt we keep Doug for more than 5 more years.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

You heard what he may want to do with it? But yeah I agree he won't be here for too long but I also never expected him to be.

[huskie3]

I would like to see the YOSEF area moved into a new building in the Owens FH area, complete with additional suite and club seating. I think that would encourage growth in YOSEF and corporate giving (there is a waiting list for Club Seats now).

[Rekdiver]

I'm a little more focused on the immediate. We have a bunch of banged up kids who need rehab and surgery. Again our lack of size was telling in spots and depth at WR and OLine was painfully obvious. We have some big holes to fill. We're it not for the Herculean job of our S& C staff that game ( and many others) was lost. If we are going to play with the big boys like Miami and Tennessee we gotta get bigger and stronger. I'm sure the coaches are on the recruiting trail as soon as they are allowed and I expect more from our new footprint.

This season is over for the coaches. While we reveille in the moment these guys will be thinking about next year.

[APPdiesel]

I've heard that DG really wants to make the entrance plaza / Owens Field House his crowning jewel. Just like Satt, I doubt we keep Doug for more than 5 more years.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

You heard what he may want to do with it? But yeah I agree he won't be here for too long but I also never expected him to be.

No. Just that it's something he'd really like to do.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

[ASUTodd]

I would put forth that Satterfield's commitment to Appalachian is one that exceeds dollar signs.

[Capt. Ed]

I would put forth that Satterfield's commitment to Appalachian is one that exceeds dollar signs.

The spirit and culture of Appalachian is a huge plus for us all. Scott mentioned it in his post game comments. I believe he has a true commitment, but there may come a day when the number of zeros and common sense overcome him and he will move on. He is too young to do otherwise.

Let's hope its a long ways off.

[8993]

Personally, I would love to see Owens torn down to make way for something truly beautiful there. That building does not match the rest of the stadium and is somewhat of an eyesore in comparison to the west side of the stadium. Even if it was more hill seats for a while to come, I would be okay with that. I just think it looks out of place and not exactly "Appalachian"-ish.

[MtnDevil95]

Losing Satt and/or Gillin is one of my biggest fears, followed quickly by Woody and the S&C coach heading off to bigger dollars and bigger programs.

Barring that happening in the next 3-4 years, I really believe with this current coaching and Athletic Dept staff the program can capitalize on this season. Recruiting and rehabilitation of the injured returners will be absolutely critical.

I think we could scare Tennessee, and I can see 1 of 2 things happening when The U comes to Boone. Either the team is pumped up and punches Miami in the nose with an outcome similar to the GaSo game this year (closer score), or the team is pumped up and makes some bad mistakes and get blown off the mountain.

Beyond those 2 games, I would be surprised for App to repeat 10 wins, although it is certainly possible to drop UT and Miami and run the rest of the table. I feel like next season is more likely 8-4 or 9-3 and I would not be surprised if the team falls 1 game short of the conference title again. I do think we're in another bowl come December 2016.

Long term, as long as we have the staff, I can see Appalachian building into being in the same conversation with Boise St, Houston, or Memphis. I can see some top 25 rankings and really I believe this is a program capable of a New Year's Six invitation.

[hapapp]

We have some huge holes to fill so that might temper expectations on a 10 win season but we might be surprised as to who develops in filling those positions. If we can get our WR corps up to snuff we could find ourselves in a similar position next year. Obviously, a key to future success is to continue to develop depth.

[sixtoes9134]

What's next? Solid recruiting class due to this seasons success.

[appbanker]

I see us remaining at the top of the Sunbelt and don't see us switching conferences until there is a major shuffling of all G5s. I think Satterfield stays longer than next year. I think his commitment to App is more than just chasing dollars. That's not to say he won't leave for the right opportunity, but it won't be just for money. I am more concerned about losing other coaches and S&C. DG I can see sticking around to build up the other programs and creating a legacy of a well rounded athletics program. As far as stadium expansion, I think that may still be a few years away. Keep winning like this year and it will happen.