Charlie Cobb was right ---

[WVAPPeer]

--- well, at least about one thing? --- "The SunBelt is not much more than a glorified FCS conference" ---
DO NOT GET ME WRONG HERE - I AM VERY HAPPY AS TO WHERE THE MOUNTAINEERS ARE NOW AND EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME !!!

When 2 teams move up from FCS and are two of the top 3 teams in the first two years with a combined conference record of 27-5 and the only bowl winners this season it does make one wonder -

My question is this - Are APP and GSU simply better even playing with less scholarship players? - Could APP and GSU done this in any other FBS conference? - Is the SB just that weak that 2 new programs can basically dominate?

I have really enjoyed "most" of the last two seasons and thoroughly this season - there are so many benefits to be FBS - It has been a great journey !!!

[WataugaMan]

Could APP and GSU done this in any other FBS conference?

Not totally sure, however, given the events of the last week I'd say we could compete very well in the MAC!

[ASUPATCH]

Blame App and GSU, not the sunbelt.

[ASUPATCH]

Beat a ODU Wyoming and Ohio, 3 other ganf of 5 conferences, so I would say it isnt a sunbelt issue, rather an App issue. We are pretty darn good. While in the FCS we were throttled soundly by Wyoming.

[AppfaninCAALand]

My dad and I were having this exact conversation the other day. I have always thought the top FCS programs could compete with any of the G5. This year, our guys bested one of the better MAC teams and destroyed what turned out to be be a competitive CUSA team in ODU and a bottom rung MWC squad while GS handled two upper level MAC teams pretty easy. All while the rest of conference was pretty sad against the rest of FBS.

It does make you think. I dare say NDSU could have probably won at least three of the G5 conferences this year. And Jax St, CCU, JMU, Richmond, Illinois St, or SHSU would have pretty competitive as well.

The hypothesis will be tested again in '17 is the Chants do well.

[fjblair]

Cobb was wrong and so is the OP. ASU, GSU and other schools that were at the top of FCS have for years been able to compete with G5 and many non elite P5 teams, we just never got to play them. You can't compare the handful of dominant FCS programs to the rest of FCS. It isn't a SB thing, it's a great football program thing.

[Capt. Ed]

Cobb was wrong and so is the OP. ASU, GSU and other schools that were at the top of FCS have for years been able to compete with G5 and many non elite P5 teams, we just never got to play them. You can't compare the handful of dominant FCS programs to the rest of FCS. It isn't a SB thing, it's a great football program thing.

Agree, FBS has opened the doors to greater challenges and rewards. As late as last year, our reputation rested on 3 NC's and beating Michigan. Those were becoming ancient history very fast.

We're now building our program based on bowl wins, matches against strong P5's, and top 25 ratings. Our recruiting and support will continue to increase as we gain success in the larger world outside FCS.

[Yosef10]

CFB is cyclical. If we made the transition back in say 2010 I don't think the move up goes as smoothly. By the way we're not playing with less scholarships, we're at the 85 mark in pretty sure. Also, I don't agree with Cobb in any way but even if the sunbelt was a "glorified FCS conference", it's still 100x better than the SoCon or any other actual FCS conference. We can stop this now.

[APPdiesel]

We're now building our program based on bowl wins, matches against strong P5's, and top 25 ratings. Our recruiting and support will continue to increase as we gain success in the larger world outside FCS.

1 bowl win, and we've never been ranked. I'm not taking anything at all away from this team. But we as a fan base need to temper our expectations and stay rooted in reality. We've had 1 great season at the FBS level. We have not "arrived" yet - we're still climbing that mountain. I'm here to enjoy the climb not rush to the destination just to post a "we made it" selfie.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

[Capt. Ed]

We're now building our program based on bowl wins, matches against strong P5's, and top 25 ratings. Our recruiting and support will continue to increase as we gain success in the larger world outside FCS.

1 bowl win, and we've never been ranked. I'm not taking anything at all away from this team. But we as a fan base need to temper our expectations and stay rooted in reality. We've had 1 great season at the FBS level. We have not "arrived" yet - we're still climbing that mountain. I'm here to enjoy the climb not rush to the destination just to post a "we made it" selfie.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

Never meant to say "we made it". My post was about the new opportunity FBS gives us to build our program in a bigger context. Emphasis on build. We have a lot to do to achieve our vision.

But, being Appalachian as I am, I believe we will continue to grow and achieve. Not in a straight line, but overall up in direction.

[APPdiesel]

Didn't mean to make it sound like I was singling you out ed. I just had a conversation with a fellow App-addict last night and he said he'd seen a few places where people were getting a little too high on their horses too quickly. Most of us thought we could maybe hit this 10-11 win mark by 2017-18. A successful program doesn't measure itself on 1 good season but on consistent success. I think regular 10 win seasons are very possible for App in the Sunbelt.

twitter.com/DieselOnRadio

[ASUTodd]

The Socon might have won two games against some of the Sunbelt, but would have lost the majority of them. While some teams starters could hang, once the game wore on the depth would have been an issue and they would lose. App had always been a team with awesome strength and conditioning...and so has GSU. You also have to have a motivated team, school, and fanbase. App and GSU have both. There are other schools that could make the jump but some didnt have the balls to do so...cough, JmU, cough....

[clayton]

Boy, do you know how to write an attention grabbing headline.



If you took App and GaSo out of the conversation, and did a head-to-head challenge with the Sun Belt and the current SoCon, the Sun Belt MIGHT lose one.

If the current Sun Belt played the FCS top ten, I think it could go either way.

[TheMoody1]

The Socon might have won two games against some of the Sunbelt

They definitely lost one, as Idaho beat Wofford.

[hapapp]

My dad and I were having this exact conversation the other day. I have always thought the top FCS programs could compete with any of the G5. This year, our guys bested one of the better MAC teams and destroyed what turned out to be be a competitive CUSA team in ODU and a bottom rung MWC squad while GS handled two upper level MAC teams pretty easy. All while the rest of conference was pretty sad against the rest of FBS.

It does make you think. I dare say NDSU could have probably won at least three of the G5 conferences this year. And Jax St, CCU, JMU, Richmond, Illinois St, or SHSU would have pretty competitive as well.

The hypothesis will be tested again in '17 is the Chants do well.

I believe USA defeated MWC champ San Diego State.

[Yosef10]

Dumbest thread. I really don't know why some of you love talking about FCS so much, other than to pass the time while you're bored and stir something up on a message board. A win in the freaking Camellia bowl has gotten as much if not more attention than a "national championship" at the FCS level, certainly more so than any playoff game.

PS. Satt was on the Adam and Joe show here in Raleigh yesterday. Adam Gold said a couple times he knew of a few high power App boosters who, after this recent bowl game, are "All in" on FBS and the game really did validate the move. If these people of importance have moved on, so should you guys up here.


PSS. Gillin was on the scott Hamilton show yesterday as well, I only caught the tail end but in that little bit of time he stated that after seeing attendance numbers this year at KBS there are absolutely no plans for expansion but he would be looking into boosting the amentities and making the game more of an event. Also mentioned in the coming years doing something to Owens, not necessarily adding seats unless we show the need over the next 2-3 years.

[WVAPPeer]

I wasn't referring to the SoCon in particular - Just the top tier teams in each conference - many have beaten FBS teams over the last few years - AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT --- WAS CHARLIE COBB RIGHT ABOUT THIS? --- THAT IS ALL ---

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

It never is an argument until Yosef 10 makes it an argument. He or she feels it is their personal duty to turn a simple civil adult conversation into an argument. Typically he/she starts by calling a post "stupid". He/she can't accept the fact that people have different views and opinions.

Now to address your original post which referenced a quote from Cobb...

Cobb was simply saying the Sun Belt is viewed by the majority that watch CFB as just a low tier slightly above FCS level conference. And he is correct, for the time being. I said it in another "dumb thread" until Sun Belt teams win some OOC games against good to great G5 teams and keep P5 games close, we will always be viewed as a bottom feeder as a whole conference.

The reality is Sun Belt was the only conference that wanted App State.

[fjblair]

It never is an argument until Yosef 10 makes it an argument. He or she feels it is their personal duty to turn a simple civil adult conversation into an argument. Typically he/she starts by calling a post "stupid". He/she can't accept the fact that people have different views and opinions.

Now to address your original post which referenced a quote from Cobb...

Cobb was simply saying the Sun Belt is viewed by the majority that watch CFB as just a low tier slightly above FCS level conference. And he is correct, for the time being. I said it in another "dumb thread" until Sun Belt teams win some OOC games against good to great G5 teams and keep P5 games close, we will always be viewed as a bottom feeder as a whole conference.

The reality is Sun Belt was the only conference that wanted App State.

Which had nothing to do with football or the University and everything to do with television market and dollar signs.

[NewApp]

The Socon might have won two games against some of the Sunbelt

They definitely lost one, as Idaho beat Wofford.

By a FG at Idaho.